Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Alexis J. Apostolos, Noel J. Ferraro, Brianna E. Dalesandro, Marcos M. Pires
Summary: Bacterial cell walls act as formidable barriers protecting cells, with peptidoglycan being the principal component. The biosynthesis and remodeling of peptidoglycan are tightly regulated and targeted by antibiotics and the human immune system. A novel assay platform called SaccuFlow has been developed for evaluating peptidoglycan interactions, showing versatility and compatibility with various bacteria types.
ACS INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Qi-Hang Zhou, Xia Lv, Zhen-Hao Tian, Moshe Finel, Lei Feng, Peng-Chao Huo, Ya-Di Zhu, Yin Lu, Jie Hou, Guang-Bo Ge
Summary: Human UDP-glucuronosyltransferase enzymes play a crucial role in glucuronidation and detoxification. A novel fluorescence-based microplate assay was developed for screening inhibitors efficiently. Through extensive experiments, a suitable substrate was identified, the assay was successfully developed, and high-throughput screening of enzyme inhibitors was achieved.
ANALYTICA CHIMICA ACTA
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Leili Abkar, Florentin M. Wilfart, Marta Piercey, Graham A. Gagnon
Summary: This study aims to develop a repeatable and reliable protocol to monitor bacterial growth and analyze the maximum growth rate in 96-well plates. By investigating various issues and assessing the repeatability, the researchers obtained reliable and accurate data. This study is of great importance for the application of microplate reader methods.
JOVE-JOURNAL OF VISUALIZED EXPERIMENTS
(2022)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Sang Won Lee, Erick L. Johnson, Hainsworth Shin, J. Alex Chediak, Yi Wang, K. Scott Phillips, Dacheng Ren
Summary: The specific topography of biomaterials is crucial for their interactions with cells and the safety of medical implants. Antifouling materials can be designed with topographic features to repel microbes, while undesired topographies of implants can cause complications. To guide the design of safer biomaterials and implants, a high-throughput microplate biofilm assay was developed to quantitatively assess bacterial adhesion to different topographic surface features. The results showed that surface area itself is not a good predictor for adhesion, while the size and spacing of topographic features play an important role.
ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Xiaopan Gao, Kaixiang Zhu, Bo Qin, Vincent Olieric, Meitian Wang, Sheng Cui
Summary: Orf9b, a unique accessory protein of SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV, interacts with TOM70 to potentially interfere with immunity and suppress interferon responses by inhibiting the Hsp90/TOM70 interaction. The specific mechanisms of these interactions shed light on the pathogenesis of these coronaviruses.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Review
Chemistry, Applied
Fernando A. Bellesi, Ana M. R. Pilosof
Summary: This review focuses on the interactions between proteins/peptides and bile salts, discussing their potential impacts on physiological processes such as bile excretion, lipid transport and absorption, and lipid hydrolysis. Studies have shown that these interactions may affect these processes and further research is needed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms at a molecular level.
FOOD HYDROCOLLOIDS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Guangzhen Huang, Zhudong Liu, Shaohua Gu, Bin Zhang, Jianghua Sun
Summary: In this study, 14 OBP genes were identified from the antennae transcriptomes and genomic data of S. guani for the first time. The expression profiles of these genes showed that SguaOBP2/5/6/11/12/13 were specifically highly expressed in the female antennae. Ligand binding assays revealed that SguaOBP12 had high binding affinity with several chemical compounds, while SguaOBP11 demonstrated high or medium binding affinity with them. Molecular docking and RNAi experiments further explored the molecular interactions and behavioral functions of SguaOBP11 and SguaOBP12 with these odor molecules.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Robbert J. de Haas, Jannick van Ossenbruggen, Jeffrey van der Hoeven, Roel J. Timmermans, Roderick P. Tas, Ilja K. Voets, Renko de Vries
Summary: Solid interfacing biomaterials are crucial for bionanotechnology and biosensing applications. Flat solenoidal proteins are suitable scaffolds for designing solid-binding proteins, and a variant called RiSiBP-6 has been developed through mutation and shown to bind strongly to silica surfaces. The fusion of sfGFP-RiSiBP-6 allows for the functional display of a monolayer of sfGFP cargo on silica surfaces, indicating the potential of flat solenoidal proteins as scaffolds for solid-binding protein design.
ADVANCED MATERIALS INTERFACES
(2023)
Review
Cell Biology
Kelsie A. Leary, Michael J. Ragusa
Summary: This article reviews the methods used to investigate membrane binding by the core autophagy machinery and accessory proteins involved in autophagy in yeast. It also summarizes key experiments demonstrating how each autophagy protein interacts with membranes.
Article
Microbiology
Marianna Dourou, Caterina Anna Maria La Porta
Summary: The nucleation dynamic assay is used to identify microbial behaviors, such as the interactions between Trichoderma fungi and other members of soil microflora. Trichoderma-based fungicides are being researched as an alternative to synthetic ones, but the impact on the soil microbiome is not well-studied. In this study, twelve fungi were isolated from Italian vineyards, including three Trichoderma strains and nine other plant-associated fungi. Through a dual nucleation assay, it was observed that Trichoderma strains exhibited both neutral and antagonistic interactions with different fungi, including plant pathogens. The findings emphasize the importance of studying fungal interactions to understand the impact of fungal-based biological fungicides on soil communities.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Luiza H. Galarion, Jennifer K. Mitchell, Christopher P. Randall, Alex J. O'Neill
Summary: This study described several Staphylococcus aureus whole-cell biosensors for cell-wall biosynthesis inhibitors. One of the validated biosensors, P-murZ, showed specific and sensitive detection of these inhibitors, making it a valuable tool for high-throughput screening in antibacterial drug discovery.
JOURNAL OF ANTIMICROBIAL CHEMOTHERAPY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kartikay Prasad, Pratibha Gour, Saurabh Raghuvanshi, Vijay Kumar
Summary: This study used a network-based systems biology approach to investigate the molecular interactions of RNA binding proteins (RBPs) between COVID-19, human cancers, and neurological disorders. The findings highlight the comorbidities and complexity of COVID-19 and suggest drug repurposing as a strategy to improve clinical conditions associated with COVID-19.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Thomas H. Kapral, Fiona Farnhammer, Weihao Zhao, Zhi J. Lu, Bojan Zagrovic
Summary: This study analyzes a comprehensive set of CLIP-seq experiments and reveals widespread autogenous interactions across different organisms. The results suggest that autogenous interactions play a central role in regulating RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) and support the possibility of a fundamental connection between coding and binding.
NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ke Yang, Liang Zhao, Xufei An, Likun Chen, Jiabin Ma, Jinshuo Mi, Yan-Bing He
Summary: Solid-state lithium metal batteries (SSLMBs) are potential candidates for high-energy-density energy storage devices. However, there is a lack of evaluation criterion to assess the research status and overall performance of SSLMBs. In this study, a comprehensive descriptor called Li+ transport throughput (phi Li+) is proposed to estimate the actual conditions and output performance of SSLMBs. The phi Li+ is defined as the molar number of Li+ passing through the electrode/electrolyte interface per unit area in an hour (mol m(-2) h(-1)), considering the cycle rate, electrode areal capacity, and polarization. The phi Li+ of liquid, quasi-solid-state, and solid-state batteries are evaluated, and three key aspects are highlighted to achieve a high value of phi Li+ in solid-state battery systems through efficient ion transport across phases, gaps, and interfaces. The concept of phi Li+ provides important guidelines for the large-scale commercialization of SSLMBs.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Peng He, Shannon Faris, Reddy Sudheer Sagabala, Payel Datta, Zihan Xu, Brian Callahan, Chunyu Wang, Benoit Boivin, Fuming Zhang, Robert J. Linhardt
Summary: Cholesterol, an important lipid in animal cell membranes, can bind to various soluble proteins, transport proteins, and membrane-bound proteins. However, studying the interactions between cholesterol and proteins in aqueous solutions is challenging due to the low solubility of cholesterol, often necessitating the use of organic co-solvents or surfactant additives. In this study, a biotinylated cholesterol derivative was synthesized and immobilized on a streptavidin chip for analysis using surface plasmon resonance (SPR). The kinetics of cholesterol interactions with cholesterol-binding proteins, hedgehog protein and tyrosine phosphatase 1B, were determined.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Olesya Plazyo, Weilong Hao, Jian-Ping Jin
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Physiology
Han-Zhong Feng, J. -P. Jin
EXPERIMENTAL PHYSIOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Felipe Hornos, Han-Zhong Feng, Bruno Rizzuti, Martina Palomino-Schatzlein, David Wieczorek, Jose L. Neira, J. -P. Jin
Summary: The conserved C-terminal end segment of troponin I (TnI) regulates muscle relaxation by reducing the Ca2+-sensitivity of myofibrils and promoting relaxation without decreasing force production. The isolated C-terminal 27 amino acid peptide from human cardiac TnI (HcTnI-C27) interacts with tropomyosin and can potentially improve diastolic function of the heart, making it a promising therapeutic approach.
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Dongshan Yang, Xiubin Liang, Brooke Pallas, Mark Hoenerhoff, Zhuoying Ren, Renzhi Han, Jifeng Zhang, Y. Eugene Chen, Jian-Ping Jin, Fei Sun, Jie Xu
Summary: This study successfully generated CFTR-Delta F508 rabbits using CRISPR/Cas9 technology and confirmed their germline transmission. This provides a new tool for research on cystic fibrosis models and lays the foundation for future biomedical studies.
FRONTIERS IN GENETICS
(2021)
Article
Surgery
Tzu-Bou Hsieh, Han-Zhong Feng, Jian-Ping Jin
Summary: Deletion of calponin 2 effectively reduces postoperative peritoneal adhesion, presenting a novel molecular target for clinical prevention.
Calponin 2 KO mice developed significantly less postoperative peritoneal adhesions with reduced infiltration of F4/80(+) macrophages at the adhesion sites and less myofibroblast differentiation compared to WT mice.
JOURNAL OF INVESTIGATIVE SURGERY
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Masataka Kawai, Jian-Ping Jin
Summary: Vertebrate cardiac muscle exhibits larger systolic force with increasing end diastolic chamber volume, known as Frank-Starling Law or length dependent activation (LDA). This phenomenon is explained by factors such as lattice spacing, increased Ca2+ sensitivity, titin-mediated rearrangement of myosin heads, and stretch activation, which may share mechanisms with insect muscles. Sarcomere stiffness caused by titin in vertebrate muscles is a key contributor to LDA.
JOURNAL OF MUSCLE RESEARCH AND CELL MOTILITY
(2021)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Xiubin Liang, Mohamad Bouhamdan, Xia Hou, Kezhong Zhang, Jun Song, Ke Hao, Jian-Ping Jin, Zhongyang Zhang, Jie Xu
Summary: The study identified a new CF animal model that exhibits intestinal dysbiosis phenotype, which may facilitate research and development of novel treatments for CF-associated gastrointestinal diseases. The fecal microbiomes of CF rabbits showed lower richness and diversity compared to wild-type rabbits, indicating significant taxonomic and functional dysbiosis.
JOURNAL OF PERSONALIZED MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Airong Qian, Tzu-Bou Hsieh, M. Moazzem Hossain, Jim J-C Lin, J-P Jin
Summary: Calponin 2 is a crucial protein regulating cell motility-related functions and cell division. Proper expression levels and degradation of calponin 2 play essential roles in normal cytokinesis. PKC phosphorylation-triggered degradation of calponin 2 may determine the rate of cell division.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-CELL PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Monica Rasmussen, Han-Zhong Feng, J-P Jin
Summary: The troponin-based calcium regulation of muscle contraction emerged approximately 700 million years ago and has largely conserved functions during evolution. However, cardiac troponin I (TnI) in vertebrates has evolved specific muscle type-specific isoforms, including phosphorylation sites for beta-adrenergic regulation. This rapid evolution suggests a high selection value for vertebrate hearts to adapt to increased metabolic demands on land.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR EVOLUTION
(2022)
Review
Physiology
Monica Rasmussen, Jian-Ping Jin
Summary: The regulation of muscle contraction by troponin is essential for muscle quality, with specific isoforms expressed in different types of muscle fibers and adapted during development, aging, exercise, and disuse. Mutations in troponin subunits can lead to myopathies, making troponin variants useful markers for defining muscle quality and function. Understanding troponin modifications and mutants is crucial for improving human health by addressing age-related declines in muscle function and myopathies.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Chad M. Warren, Monika Halas, Paul H. Goldspink, Han-Zhong Feng, Anthony W. Herren, Beata M. Wolska, Pieter P. de Tombe, Jian-Ping Jin, R. John Solaro
Summary: In this study, the impact of chronic expression of cTnI-ND in transgenic mouse hearts was investigated. It was found that the modification of cTnI-ND in the sarcomere initiates changes in the phosphorylation signaling pathways, which may be involved in the chronic-adaptive response to stressors.
MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR BIOCHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Physiology
Monica Rasmussen, Jian-Ping Jin
Summary: This study introduces a novel approach using monoclonal antibodies as molecular probes to detect and monitor conformational changes of troponin subunits. The effectiveness of this approach in assessing ligand-induced conformations of troponin subunits in physiological conditions is demonstrated through a comparison of high-throughput microplate assay and localized surface plasmon resonance. This method requires small amounts of protein and is free of protein modification.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tianxin Cao, Shirin Akhter, J-P Jin
Summary: Troponin T (TnT) is a key component of the troponin complex involved in regulating muscle contraction. It has evolved through alternative splicing to generate isoforms with muscle type-specific functions. The C-terminal region of TnT has a variable splicing segment that interfaces with other subunits and is important for its function. The evolution of TnT isoforms is associated with functional differences in muscle contraction.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Physiology
Tzu-Bou Hsieh, Jian-Ping Jin
Summary: Deletion of calponin 2 exacerbates age-progressive degeneration of the glomerular structure and function as filtration barrier, suggesting a critical role of calponin 2 in podocytes and providing a new molecular target for understanding the pathogenesis of proteinuria and therapeutic development.
PHYSIOLOGICAL REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Physiology
Han-Zhong Feng, Xupei Huang, Jian-Ping Jin
Summary: This study demonstrates that restrictive deletion of the N-terminal extension of cardiac troponin I enhances the Frank-Starling response of the heart by increasing myofilament sensitivity to passive tension rather than relying on resting sarcomere length.
JOURNAL OF GENERAL PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)