BrainMap

Mr. Marius Mihasan

PhD Habil

Professor - UNIVERSITATEA "ALEXANDRU IOAN CUZA" IASI

Other affiliations

Research Associate Professor - Department of Chemistry & Biomolecular Science, Clarkson University (United States of America)

Researcher | Teaching staff | Scientific reviewer

ResearcherID: B-1119-2010

Curriculum Vitae (20/03/2020)

Expertise & keywords

Nicotine - from toxic residue to metabolic derivatives with neuroprotective effects Call name:
PN-II 50BM/2016 2016 - 2017

Role in this project: Project coordinator

Coordinating institution: UNIVERSITATEA "ALEXANDRU IOAN CUZA" IASI

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

Affiliation: UNIVERSITATEA "ALEXANDRU IOAN CUZA" IASI (RO)

Project website: http://www.bio.uaic.ro/cercetare/grupuri/bioactive/content/grants/ro-ch2016.html

Abstract:

Both teams from Romania and P.R. China have the same main research interest: the nicotine catabolic pathway in bacteria. The research group from P.R. China coordinated by Tang H., PhD, have cloned, expressed, sequenced and characterized the enzymes nicotine oxidoreductase and 6-hydroxy-3-succinoylpyridine hydroxylase from Pseudomonas putida S16 and managed to show their implication in the transformation of nicotine to 2,5-dihydroxy-pyridine (DHP). The team from Romania, part of the a research group on ''Identification And Characterization Of Biological Active Molecules'' have identified the final degradation steps of nicotine metabolism in Arthrobacter nicotinovoras pAO1 and studied the effect the metabolic intermediate 6-hidroxy-nicotine on the learning and memory processes in rats. Both teams have knowledge, methods, plasmids and recombinant strains which allows the isolation of metabolic intermediates produced by the two bacteria: P. putida and A. nicotinovorans. As the objective of the project is to identify nicotine derivatives with neuroprotective effects, the combined scientific experience of the two teams will increase the repertoire of available nicotine derivatives for experimental testings. Beside the role in suppling the nicotine derivatives, each partner has at least one unique, complementary task. The group in Romania will be responsible for testing the selected nicotine derivatives on laboratory rats in order to identify their effects of memory and learning processes. The group from China is responsible of using genetic engineering techniques (gene-knockout, site-directed mutagenesis) for strain improvement in order to obtain the best yield for transformation of nicotine in valuable compounds. None of these complementary tasks can be fulfilled alone by the other partner.

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: Project coordinator

Coordinating institution: UNIVERSITATEA "ALEXANDRU IOAN CUZA" IASI

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

Affiliation: UNIVERSITATEA "ALEXANDRU IOAN CUZA" IASI (RO)

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.

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