June Olazar-Intxausti

Mintzen arteko Kontaktu Guneak (MKG) bi organuluren mintzak elkarrekin daudenean sortzen diren eskualdeak dira. Aingura-proteinen bidez mantentzen dira eta, bertan, proteina eta lipido espezifikoak aurki daitezke. Berriki, MKGen inguruko azterketak gero eta ohikoagoak bihurtu dira betetzen dituzten funtzio zelular garrantzitsuengatik, hala nola, ioien eta fosfolipidoen homeostasi prozesuak eta organulu ezberdinen fisio eta fusio prozesuak erregulatzea. Gainera, giza-osasunean ere rol garrantzitsua dutela ikusi da; izan ere, hainbat gaixotasunen garapenarekin erlazionatuta daude, esaterako, minbizia eta neuroendekapenezko gaixotasunekin. Azken urteotan, MKGen azterketarako bereizmen handiko fluoreszentzia mikroskopia (BHFM) beste teknika batzuen artean gailendu da. Lan honetan, MKGen ezaugarri eta funtzio biologikoak deskribatu eta laburbildu dira eta horien azterketarako eraginkorrak izan daitezkeen BHFM tekniken analisi sakona burutu da. Gainera, teknika bakoitzaren abantailak eta mugak jorratu dira. Amaitzeko, ikerketeta-helburua eta teknika bakoitzaren ezaugarriak kontuan harturik, BHFM teknika egokiena aukeratzeko gida bat garatu dugu.

Kolesterol zunda bioortogonal baten bidezko nanoeskala mailako lipido hetereogeneotasunaren behaketa zeluletan produkzioaren informazio-fitxa

The Raman phenomenon is based on the spontaneous inelastic scattering of light, which depends on the molecular characteristics of the dispersant. Therefore, Raman spectroscopy and imaging allow us to obtain direct information, in a label-free manner, from the chemical composition of the sample. Since it is well established that the development of many brain diseases is associated with biochemical alterations of the affected tissue, Raman spectroscopy and imaging have emerged as promising tools for the diagnosis of ailments. A combination of Raman spectroscopy and/or imaging with tagged molecules could also help in drug delivery and tracing for treatment of brain diseases. In this review, we first describe the basics of the Raman phenomenon and spectroscopy. Then, we delve into the Raman spectroscopy and imaging modes and the Raman-compatible tags. Finally, we center on the application of Raman in the study, diagnosis, and treatment of brain diseases, by focusing on traumatic brain injury and ischemia, neurodegenerative disorders, and brain cancer.

Interorganelle membrane contact sites (MCS) are areas of close vicinity between the membranes of two organelles that are maintained by protein tethers. Recently, a significant research effort has been made to study MCS, as they are implicated in a wide range of biological functions, such as organelle biogenesis and division, apoptosis, autophagy, and ion and phospholipid homeostasis. Their composition, characteristics, and dynamics can be studied by different techniques, but in recent years super-resolution fluorescence microscopy (SRFM) has emerged as a powerful tool for studying MCS. In this review, we first explore the main characteristics and biological functions of MCS and summarize the different approaches for studying them. Then, we center on SRFM techniques that have been used to study MCS. For each of the approaches, we summarize their working principle, discuss their advantages and limitations, and explore the main discoveries they have uncovered in the field of MCS.