BrainMap

LUCIAN HRITCU

Profesor univ. dr. habil.

- UNIVERSITATEA "ALEXANDRU IOAN CUZA" IASI

Teaching staff

Curriculum Vitae (05/05/2016)

Expertise & keywords

Effects of 6-hydroxy-nicotine on chlorisondamine-induced oxidative stress and neurotoxicity: relevance for Alzheimer’s disease Call name: Projects for Young Research Teams - RUTE -2014 call
PN-II-RU-TE-2014-4-0106 2015 - 2017

Role in this project:

Coordinating institution: UNIVERSITATEA "ALEXANDRU IOAN CUZA" IASI

Project partners: UNIVERSITATEA "ALEXANDRU IOAN CUZA" IASI (RO)

Affiliation:

Project website: http://www.bio.uaic.ro/cercetare/grupuri/bioactive/content/grants/te2015.html

Abstract:

The search for neuroprotective therapeutics for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has been recently geared toward the identification of modulators for nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR). Using computational methods, the Arthrobacter nicotinovorans metabolic intermediate 6-hidroxy-nicotine (6HNic) have been identified as a putative nAChR ligand. The cognitive-functions tests performed on normal rats showed that chemically synthesized 6HNic has positive effects on spatial memory, mainly by decreasing brain oxidative stress.The current research funding application aims to form a young team with the goal to isolate 6HNic and to evaluate its potential of improving the cognitive and non-cognitive functions in a rodent model of AD. For this, the Arthrobacter nicotinovorans enzyme responsible for 6HNic production will be cloned, expressed, purified and further used to produce the compound in an in-vitro reaction. After its isolation by HPLC from the reaction mixture, 6HNic will be injected in chlorisondamine-treated rats and its neuroprotective and anti-oxidant properties will be assessed using a combination of behavioral tests, flow-cytometry and biochemistry techniques. Also, the systemic toxicity as well as pro-apoptotic properties will be investigated, in an attempt to fully characterize the compound and to conclude its applicability in the field of AD.

The characterization of pathophysiological protein modifications by bio-affinity mass spectrometric methods Call name: Projects for Young Research Teams - RUTE -2014 call
PN-II-RU-TE-2014-4-0920 2015 - 2017

Role in this project:

Coordinating institution: UNIVERSITATEA "ALEXANDRU IOAN CUZA" IASI

Project partners: UNIVERSITATEA "ALEXANDRU IOAN CUZA" IASI (RO)

Affiliation:

Project website: https://teclu.chem.uaic.ro/brindusapetre

Abstract:

All pathophysiological disorders from neurodegenerative diseases to diabetes, heart diseases, cancer and rare diseases are characterized by damage in structure or function of essential biological macromolecules (e.g. peptides, proteins and enzymes). The proposed research project comprises two major objectives: (i), Neurological Abeta peptide involved in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and the effect of oxidative stress will be investigated by structural mass spectrometry (MS) in combination with bioaffinity strategies. The major interest is to obtain detailed understanding of oxidative Abeta aggregation mechanism, investigating toxic oligomeric species formed in the initial step of this process. Synthetic nitrated Abeta peptides will be used for identification, characterization and quantification of oligomers in AD mouse models. (ii), Moreover we propose to start developing new mass spectrometric based approaches for early diagnostic of treatable rare diseases. Lysosomal storage diseses (LSD’s) are a large group of rare metabolic disorders caused by the deficiency of single enzymes in metabolizing biopolymer substrates. Synthetic substrates for a few defected lysosomal enzymes will be synthesized and used for fluorimetric and mass spectrometric based diagnostic approaches. Together our data will improve the quality of methods and will increase further research interest regarding intrigue parallels existing between pathology of AD and lysosomal Niemann-Pick rare disorder.

FILE DESCRIPTION	DOCUMENT
List of research grants as project coordinator or partner team leader	Download (223.6 kb) 22/11/2019
Significant R&D projects for enterprises, as project manager
R&D activities in enterprises
Peer-review activity for international programs/projects