Biology subjects

Bartz, J.

Publications and source records attributed to Bartz, J..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2025

Fucoidans are senotherapeutics that enhance SIRT6-dependent DNA repair

Aging is marked by the accumulation of senescent cells (SnCs), which contribute to tissue dysfunction and age-related diseases. Senotherapeutics, including senolytics which specifically induce lysis of SnCs and senomorphics, which suppress the senescence phenotype, represent promising therapeutic interventions for mitigating age-related pathologies and extending healthspan. Using a phenotypic-based senescent cell screening assay, we identified fucoidans, a class of sulfated polysaccharides derived from brown algae and seaweed, as novel senotherapeutics. In particular, fucoidan from Fucus vesiculosus (Fucoidan-FV) displayed potent senomorphic activity in different types of SnCs, reduced senescence in multiple tissues in aged mice, and extended healthspan in a mouse model of accelerated aging. Fucoidan-FV also enhanced the deacetylation and mono-ADP-ribosylation (mADPr) activity of SIRT6 and improved DNA repair and reduced senescence, in part, through SIRT6-dependent pathways. In addition, Fucoidan-FV downregulated genes associated with inflammation, Wnt signaling, and ECM remodeling pathways in SnCs and increased expression of genes involved with DNA repair. These findings support the translational potential of fucoidans as novel senotherapeutics that also are able to improve SIRT6-mediated DNA repair.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2024

Detection and decontamination of chronic wasting disease prions during venison processing

Prion diseases, including chronic wasting disease (CWD), are caused by prions, which are misfolded aggregates of normal cellular prion protein. Prions possess many characteristics that distinguish them from conventional pathogens, in particular, an extraordinary recalcitrance to inactivation and a propensity to avidly bind to surfaces. In mid to late stages of CWD, prions begin accumulating in cervid muscle tissues. These features collectively create scenarios where occupational hazards arise for workers processing venison and pose risks to consumers through direct prion exposure via ingestion and cross-contamination of food products. In this work, we show that steel and plastic surfaces used in venison processing can be directly contaminated with CWD prions and that cross-contamination of CWD-negative venison can occur from equipment that had previously been used with CWD-positive venison. We also show that several decontaminant solutions (commercial bleach and potassium peroxymonosulfate) are efficacious for prion inactivation on these same surfaces.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2022

Ploidy modulates cell size and metabolic rate in Xenopus embryos

A positive correlation between genome size and cell size is well documented, but impacts on animal physiology are poorly understood. In Xenopus frogs, the number of genome copies (ploidy) varies across species and can be manipulated within a species. Here we show that triploid tadpoles contain fewer, larger cells than diploids and consume oxygen at a lower rate. Treatments that altered cell membrane stability or electrical potential abolished this difference, suggesting that a decrease in total cell surface area reduces basal energy consumption in triploids. Comparison of Xenopus species that evolved through polyploidization revealed that metabolic differences emerged during development when cell size scaled with genome size. Thus, ploidy affects metabolism by altering the cell surface area to volume ratio in a multicellular organism. One-Sentence SummaryThe amount of DNA per cell in a vertebrate modulates basal metabolism by altering cell size and plasma membrane energetics.

cell biology↗