Critical Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 6

Critical Analysis - Essay Example In this paper, the authors report on the effects of PDNF on tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) activity, a rate-limiting enzyme during the synthesis of dopamine and other catecholamine neurotransmitters. TH is important because it is involved in increasing the production of neurotransmitters. The study came up with the following additional actions of PDNF: Strengths. The paper has many strengths. First, it presented data that was based on solid experimentation that covered a wide range of immunological, molecular, and imaging techniques. The data was clearly presented using graphs and images. The discussion was straightforward and concise. The strongest point of the study is the methodology followed to arrive at the results. The authors arrived at their results through a series of experiments that each showed the action of PDNF on TH. To show that PDNF increased the TH expression in PC12 cells and primary mesencephalic neurons, the authors grew the cells in media that was treated several times with PDNF. Results obtained with immunostains were confirmed using immunoblots. Western blots and SDS-PAGE were also utilized. The study also used a luciferase gene assay to check the effect of PDNF on the promoter of TH. The method used to confirm the mechanism of action of PDNF on TH was done in a simple manner, where a construct of a mutation for the cAMP response element (CRE) labelled with luciferase transfected to PC12 cells. This step was able to show the effect of CRE on the action of PDNF on TH promoter activity. The discussion portion was able to summarize in a clear manner the results of the experiments, and related these to previous work done in the field of TH activation. The paper points to the mechanisms that could explain the action of PDNF. As an example, it was pointed out that PDNF mediated the phosphorylation of serine residues in the catalytic sites of TH. The phosphorylation activity of PDNF was