Article
Cell Biology
Cyril Cheret, Marcelo Ganzella, Julia Preobraschenski, Reinhard Jahn, Gudrun Ahnert-Hilger
Summary: VGLUTs play a dual role in neurons by filling synaptic vesicles with glutamate and regulating intracellular Pi levels through transport activity. Studies have shown that VGLUT-mediated Pi influx is counteracted by Pi efflux, highlighting the importance of VGLUTs in both glutamate loading and Pi restoration.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ngadhnjim Latifi, Aline Maria Mack, Irem Tellioglu, Salvatore Di Giorgio, Thorsten Stafforst
Summary: Site-directed RNA base editing allows significant and programmable changes to genetic information, paving the way for new therapeutic approaches. While adenosine-to-inosine editing tools have been extensively explored, the engineering of tools for cytidine-to-uridine editing is lagging behind. In this study, we demonstrate that the cytidine deaminase domain from the ADAR2 adenosine deaminase, taken from the RESCUE-S tool, shows efficient and programmable editing when the RNA targeting mechanism is changed to SNAP-tag-based. Optimization of the guide RNA chemistry further improves editing yields, expanding the tool's substrate scope. SNAP-CDAR-S outperforms RESCUE-S in editing efficiency and perturbing the β-catenin pathway, with similar levels of off-target editing observed for both tools.
NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Yanchen Zhang, Penggang Bai, Yibin Zhuang, Tao Liu
Summary: This study reports the discovery of two methyltransferases in Cnidium monnieri involved in the biosynthesis of O-methyl coumarins, which catalyze multistep methylations in the process.
JOURNAL OF NATURAL PRODUCTS
(2022)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Seyedeh Fatemeh Sadeghian Motahar, Fereshteh Noroozi Tiyoula, Elaheh Motamedi, Mehrshad Zeinalabedini, Kaveh Kavousi, Shohreh Ariaeenejad
Summary: The selection of an appropriate amylase for hydrolysis poultry feed is crucial for achieving improved digestibility and high-quality feed. This study immobilized two metagenome-derived alpha-amylases on cellulose nanocrystals and employed computational methods to characterize and compare their degradation efficiencies. The experimental and computational results demonstrated the improved performance of the immobilized alpha-amylases, highlighting the utility of computational methods for enzyme selection and providing insights into enhancing feed digestibility and quality.
BIOCONJUGATE CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Chizuru Ito, Tsukasa Makino, Tohru Mutoh, Masahide Kikkawa, Kiyotaka Toshimori
Summary: Normal sperm flagellar shape and movement are crucial for fertilization. The proteins ODF4, AK1, and AK2 play important roles in the morphology and function of sperm flagella. Deletion of ODF4 leads to abnormal flagellar shape and movement, resulting in male infertility. This study demonstrates the relationship between ODF4, AK1, and AK2 in regulating flagellar structure and function.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Jenifer R. Gold, Tamara Grubb, Michael H. Court, Nicolas F. Villarino
Summary: The plasma pharmacokinetics of acetaminophen following oral administration of a single dose of 20 or 40 mg/kg to neonatal foals were determined. The results showed that the plasma disposition of acetaminophen in neonatal foals is similar to adult horses. However, further research is needed to determine the safety and optimal dosage regimen for treating pain and fever in neonatal foals in this age group.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Andres Gambini, Olinda Briski, Natalia Gabriela Canel
Summary: Nuclear transfer techniques are important tools for studying epigenetic reprogramming, nucleus-cytoplasm compatibility, pluripotency state, and genetic preservation or edition in animals. When the nuclear donor cell is an oocyte, egg, or a zygote, these techniques have clinical relevance for patients with repeated failures in ART.
MOLECULAR REPRODUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Marton Tompa, Zoltan Kraboth, Bence Galik, Bela Kajtar, Attila Gyenesei, Bernadette Kalman
Summary: This study reveals the immune evasion mechanism of glioblastoma through the suppression of the IL-7 receptor-mediated pathway, highlighting it as a potential new treatment target.
Review
Immunology
Stefan Rose-John, Brendan J. Jenkins, Christoph Garbers, Jens M. Moll, Juergen Scheller
Summary: This review discusses the discovery of the IL-6 trans-signalling pathway and the development of biologics that specifically inhibit this pathway. Targeting IL-6 trans-signalling can decrease disease-promoting activities of IL-6 without blocking its protective actions.
NATURE REVIEWS IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Rujuan Zhang, Mingshu Wang, Anchun Cheng, Qiao Yang, Ying Wu, Renyong Jia, Shun Chen, Dekang Zhu, Mafeng Liu, Xinxin Zhao, Shaqiu Zhang, Juan Huang, Xumin Ou, Sai Mao, Qun Gao, Yanling Yu, Ling Zhang, Yunya Liu, Bin Tian, Leichang Pan
Summary: In this study, the cDNA sequence of duck CD40 gene was cloned and its role in antiviral innate immune response was confirmed, indicating the importance of duck CD40 molecule in the immune responsiveness against certain viruses. These findings provide valuable insights for a better understanding of the avian immune system.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Lintian Yuan, Xuancheng Fu, Wen Yu, Huagen Wei, Fan Dong, Ludan Zhang, Guiyan Wang, Huihua Dong, Fengting Lv, Yuguang Wang
Summary: Research suggests that oligo(p-phenylene vinylene) (OPV) commonly used in manufacturing organic solar batteries, can specifically target and photodynamically sterilize intracellular Porphyromonas gingivalis and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), without affecting healthy cells under dark conditions. The chemical composition of OPV allows it to bind to cell membranes and can be excited by dental blue light curing lamps. Compared to antibiotics and traditional photosensitizers, OPV proves to be a potentially superior solution for eradicating intracellular microbial infections in both fundamental research and clinical applications.
NPG ASIA MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Somayyeh Rahimnahal, Amir Meimandipour, Jamal Fayazi, Ali Asghar Karkhane, Mehdi Shamsara, Mohammadtaghi Beigi Nassiri, Hamed Mirzaei, Michael R. R. Hamblin, Hossein Tarrahimofrad, Hamid Bakherad, Javad Zamani, Yahya Mohammadi
Summary: The keratinase KRLr1 secreted by Bacillus licheniformis has potential industrial applications. The recombinant KRLr1 was successfully expressed, purified, and found to have optimum activity at pH 6 and 37 degrees C. It exhibited increased activity in the presence of Ca2+ and Mg2+. Digestion of feathers with the recombinant enzyme showed higher amounts of cysteine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, and lysine compared to other amino acids. Molecular dynamics simulation indicated strong interaction between KRLr1 and chicken feather keratin 4 (FK4).
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Carmen Cuellar, Marta Rodero, Jaime Perez-Griera, Lorena Galindo-Regal, Francisca Lopez-Chulia, Carlos Garcia-Ballesteros, Juan Carlos Andreu-Ballester
Summary: IL-7 plays a crucial role in lymphocyte development, particularly for gamma delta T cells. This study discovered that the presence of anti-Anisakis simplex antibodies is associated with a reduction in the frequency of certain lymphocyte subpopulations, and there is a correlation between IL-7 levels and specific antibodies.
INTERNATIONAL IMMUNOPHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Bohuai Xiao, Suhang He, Mingjun Sun, Jianghao Zhou, Zhiye Wang, Yunchuan Li, Simin Liu, Werner M. Nau, Shuai Chang
Summary: This study introduces a versatile recognition tunneling technique using doubly cucurbit[7]uril-functionalized electrodes to form supramolecular junctions that capture analytes dynamically by host-guest complexation, resulting in characteristic changes in their single-molecule conductance. For structurally related drug molecules and mixtures, distinct current switching signals related to their intrinsic conductance properties and pH-dependent effects are observed.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zhongmin Wang, Ying Li, Taotao Peng, Ying Su, Xiaoting Luo, Wanjun Han, Hongjian Zhang, Jianqing Ruan, Chunshan Gui
Summary: Phenolsulfonphthalein (PSP) is a sulfonphthalein dye used as a diagnostic agent and pH indicator in cell culture medium. The excretion of PSP into urine and bile is mediated by specific transporters, while the molecular mechanism for its transport into hepatocytes is still unclear. Studies suggest that major hepatic uptake transporters OATP1B1, OATP1B3, and OATP2B1 are involved in the hepatic uptake of PSP, along with MRP2-mediated efflux into bile.