β-pseudoUridine

OBJECTIVES: To set up a novel simple, sensitive, and reliable ion-pairing HPLC method for the synchronous separation of several purines, pyrimidines, N-acetylated amino acids, and dicarboxylic acids for the chemical diagnosis and screening of inborn errors of metabolism (IEM).

We previously found that drinking beer reduces chromosome aberrations in blood lymphocytes that were collect and irradiated in vitro. In this study, human whole-blood was in vitro exposed to 200kVp X-rays or 50keV/microm carbon ions in the presence or absence of beer, ethanol and beta-pseudouridine (one of the beer components). All three agents reduced the chromosome aberrations (dicentric) caused by either X-rays or carbon ions of 4Gy. The maximum protection for X-rays by ethanol, beer and beta-pseudouridine was 64, 26 and 34%, respectively, while the maximum protection for carbon-ion by ethanol, beer and beta-pseudouridine was 22, 26 and 32%, respectively. It is concluded that beta-pseudouridine, a nucleoside present in tRNA, is a potent protector against damage caused by radiation with direct and indirect actions.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a progressive demyelinating process considered as an autoimmune disease, although the causes of this pathology have not been yet fully established. Similarly to other neurodegenerations, MS is characterized by a series of biochemical changes affecting to different extent neuronal functions; great attention has been given to oxidative/nitrosative stress and to alterations in mitochondrial functions. According to previous data, MS patients show significant changes in the circulating concentrations of different metabolites, although it is still unclear whether uric acid undergoes to decrease, increase, or no change under this pathological condition. In this study, we report the serum metabolic profile in terms of purines, pyrimidines, creatinine, malondialdehyde, ascorbic acid, nitrite, and nitrate in a group of 170 MS patients. The results show increase in circulating uric acid and other oxypurines (hypoxanthine and xanthine), as well as in uridine and β-pseudouridine.