Zone Defense: How Metformin Guards Diabetic Kidneys
A high-resolution spatial study has revealed that metformin targets distinct regions in diabetic kidneys, acting with anatomical precision rather than uniformly. Using MALDI-MS imaging and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry, researchers mapped metabolic and proteomic changes across the cortex (Cor), outer medulla (OM), and inner medulla (IM) of diabetic mouse kidneys.
The study identified eight region-specific metabolic biomarkers – including NADH, p-cresol sulfate, inosinic acid, and glycerylphosphorylethanolamine – that were altered in diabetic nephropathy. Metformin therapy reversed these shifts in a zone-specific manner: boosting protective metabolites in the cortex and outer medulla, while suppressing harmful compounds like p-cresol sulfate in the inner medulla.
Additional spatial proteomics, powered by laser microdissection and Orbitrap-Astral MS, revealed that metformin’s top protein target was NPHS2, a key player in maintaining kidney filtration. The results offer a detailed atlas of how metformin modulates diabetic kidney disease, paving the way for region-targeted therapeutics.
Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles Detected in Milk, Despite Food Ban
Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) particles, including engineered nanoparticles, have been detected in human, animal, and infant formula milk – despite a European ban on TiO₂ (E171) as a food additive. Published in Science of the Total Environment, the study raises concerns over ongoing environmental exposure and potential health risks for infants.
The research team from INRAE detected Ti-containing particles in all animal milk samples and 83 percent of infant formulas, using high-resolution techniques such as single-particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, X-ray fluorescence, and micro-XANES spectroscopy. Particle concentrations reached up to billions per liter, with most measuring under 100 nm in size.
Mineral speciation revealed rutile as the dominant form of TiO₂, alongside anatase, ilmenite, and pseudobrookite. Human breastmilk samples varied widely in nanoparticle content – up to 15-fold – suggesting differences in exposure or metabolism. The detection of titanium hot spots across milk samples highlights the need for stronger monitoring and regulation.
The findings suggest milk is an overlooked route of TiO₂ exposure, challenging the assumption that regulatory bans have eliminated the risk. The authors emphasise that further research should focus on vulnerable populations such as newborns and nursing mothers.
New Mitophagy Pathway Reveals Therapeutic Targets for Parkinson’s
Cell biologists have uncovered a new pathway for mitophagy – the cellular process that clears damaged mitochondria – which could reshape treatment strategies for Parkinson’s disease.
Published in Nature Cell Biology, the study from the University of Vienna’s Max Perutz Labs reveals that the mitophagy receptors BNIP3 and NIX can initiate autophagosome formation independently of the canonical FIP200/ULK1 route. Instead, scientists discovered that these receptors directly recruit WIPI2 and WIPI3 proteins – typically considered downstream players – to initiate mitochondrial turnover.
Structural modeling, biochemical reconstitution, and mass spectrometry confirmed that WIPI proteins operate upstream of the usual autophagy machinery in this non-canonical route. Notably, tethering WIPI proteins to mitochondria was sufficient to trigger mitophagy even in the absence of BNIP3 and NIX, suggesting cells have a flexible toolkit for initiating mitochondrial clearance.
While the well-known PINK1/Parkin route still relies on TBK1 kinase activation, this WIPI-mediated route bypasses it entirely – offering new therapeutic targets for diseases linked to mitophagy dysfunction. “This challenges the textbook view of how autophagy begins,” commented lead author Elias Adriaenssens. “Targeting these alternative triggers could help rescue defective pathways in neurodegenerative diseases.”
Beam Me Up, Teflon
A new method combining electron beam (EB) irradiation with heat has achieved complete decomposition of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), commonly known as Teflon, at significantly lower energy costs. Researchers at Japan’s National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology demonstrated that heating PTFE to 370 °C during EB irradiation resulted in 100 percent gas conversion at a 5.0 MGy dose – cutting energy demands by up to 50 percent compared to traditional pyrolysis.
Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) identified breakdown products as oxidized fluorocarbons and perfluoroalkanes, which could be recovered and reused industrially. Supporting analyses – including thermogravimetric analysis, FT-IR, and SEM-EDX spectroscopy – confirmed accelerated decomposition and oxidation at elevated temperatures. X-ray diffraction showed that PTFE crystallite size nearly doubled under high-temperature irradiation, suggesting structural reorganization that boosts degradation efficiency.
As a member of the PFAS family, PTFE poses serious environmental challenges. This high-temperature EB method offers a scalable, energy-efficient strategy for fluoropolymer recycling, potentially halving PTFE processing costs from 2.8–4 MWh/ton. The approach supports circular material use and presents a promising alternative to conventional high-heat disposal methods.
(Mass) Spectacular and Strange
Scentience
Could something as subtle as scent be capable of silently steering our social responses? Quite possibly, suggests a new study…
Researchers from the University of Tokyo used gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to track how women’s body odor changes across the menstrual cycle, identifying three volatile compounds that increased significantly during ovulation. When added to a model armpit odor, these compounds made male participants rate the scent as more pleasant – and the associated female faces as more attractive and feminine. Saliva tests even showed reduced stress, as measured by amylase.
“It’s not conclusive evidence of human pheromones,” commented senior author Kazushige Touhara, “but these compounds may act in a pheromone-like way, shaping social perception and physiological state.” The team now plans to investigate how these ovulatory odors interact with emotion and perception in the brain.
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