Article
Plant Sciences
Lu Xu, Fan Gao, Jia Feng, Junping Lv, Qi Liu, Fangru Nan, Xudong Liu, Shulian Xie
Summary: The relationship between beta-carotene synthesis and geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate synthase (GGPS) activity was investigated in 15 species of Dunaliella. The results showed that GGPS enzyme activity has a positive linear relationship with the beta-carotene synthesis content, suggesting the important role of GGPS in beta-carotene synthesis.
Article
Plant Sciences
Yashdeep Srivastava, Sandhya Tripathi, Bhawana Mishra, Neelam S. Sangwan
Summary: This study cloned and characterized a key enzyme, geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate synthase (WsGGPPS), involved in the terpenoid biosynthetic pathway in Withania somnifera. Overexpression of WsGGPPS resulted in increased levels of gibberellic acid. These findings provide important insights into the regulation of major metabolite biosynthesis in Withania somnifera.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Rauan Kaiyrzhanoy, Luke Perry, Clarissa Rocca, Maha S. Zaki, Heba Hosny, Cristiane Araujo Martins Moreno, Rahul Phadke, Irina Zaharieva, Clara Camelo Gontijo, Christian Beetz, Veronica Pini, Mojtaba Movahedinia, Edmar Zanoteli, Stephanie DiTroia, Sandrine Vuillaumier-Barrot, Arnaud Isapof, Mohammad Yahya Vahidi Mehrjardi, Nasrin Ghasemi, Anna Sarkozy, Francesco Muntoni, Sandra Whalen, Barbara Vona, Henry Houlden, Reza Maroofian
Summary: This study describes 11 affected individuals from four unpublished families with ultra-rare missense variants in GGPS1. While most patients exhibited the common clinical features of GGPS1 deficiency, only 46% had hearing loss. The study confirms the disease-causing role of biallelic variants in GGPS1 and suggests that hearing loss and ovarian insufficiency may be variable features of GGPS1-associated muscular dystrophy.
ANNALS OF CLINICAL AND TRANSLATIONAL NEUROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yihua Ma, Qingwen Chen, Yaoyao Wang, Fengxia Zhang, Chengyuan Wang, Guodong Wang
Summary: This study provides genetic evidence that GFPPS is responsible for the production of C25 terpenes in Arabidopsis. Blocking the sesterterpene pathway at the GFPPS step increases the production of GGPP-derived terpenes. The study also reveals that GFPPS directly decreases the activity of GGPPS through protein-protein interaction, leading to GGPP deficiency in planta.
JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Dahuan Li, Chunyan Li, Tianzhong Wang, Chong Zhang, Zhao Zhu, Guoxiu Zhang, Bangjiang Fang
Summary: In sepsis-induced acute lung injury, upregulation of GGPPS1 exacerbates lung damage by inhibiting autophagy and enhancing NLRP3 inflammasome activity, while exogenous GGPP administration reverses this process.
INTERNATIONAL IMMUNOPHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jacque L. Faylo, Trey A. Ronnebaum, David W. Christianson
Summary: The chemodiversity of terpenoid natural products is largely attributed to the catalysis of prenyltransferases and cyclases, which generate complex hydrocarbon compounds through chain elongation reactions. Terpene cyclization reactions are characterized by changes in chemical bonding of substrate carbon atoms, with different classes of cyclases based on the chemistry of carbocation formation.
ACCOUNTS OF CHEMICAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Wenxiang Feng, Teame Gereziher Mehari, Hui Fang, Meijun Ji, Zijian Qu, Mengxue Jia, Dongmei Wang, Allah Ditta, Muhammad K. R. Khan, Yunying Cao, Jianyong Wu, Baohua Wang
Summary: In this study, a total of 75 GGPS family members were identified in four cotton species. They were divided into three subgroups by evolutionary analysis and mainly located in chloroplasts and plastids. Gene silencing experiments revealed that GGPS plays an important regulatory role in photosynthesis.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Julia Barczuk, Natalia Siwecka, Weronika Lusa, Wioletta Rozpedek-Kaminska, Ewa Kucharska, Ireneusz Majsterek
Summary: Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia and a major therapeutic challenge. Aggregates of A beta and Tau proteins trigger a neuroinflammatory response and the formation of inflammasomes, particularly the NLRP3 inflammasome which plays a crucial role in AD pathology. Inhibitors of NLRP3 have shown promising results in reducing Tau and A beta aggregates and cognitive impairment.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Shitao Shi, Yi Chang, Jinhui Yu, Hui Chen, Qiang Wang, Yuping Bi
Summary: In this study, two novel genes AlGGPPS and AlIDI were identified from Aurantiochytrium and found to have better performance in the synthesis of β-carotene compared to the original genes. These findings provide new insights into the carotenoid biosynthetic pathway in Aurantiochytrium and offer potential elements for carotenoid engineering improvements.
Review
Immunology
John Le, Yathushigan Kulatheepan, Samithamby Jeyaseelan
Summary: The respiratory system has various innate immune mechanisms to cope with microbial infections and limit tissue damage. Macrophages, neutrophils, dendritic cells, epithelial cells, and endothelial cells play key roles in this immune response. Recognition of invading microorganisms by the myeloid and structural cells of the respiratory system triggers a signaling cascade that leads to the activation of transcription factors, induction of cytokines/chemokines, recruitment of immune cells, and subsequent clearance of microbes.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
ChengGe Zhang, HuanHuan Liu, YaXian Zong, ZhongHua Tu, HuoGen Li
Summary: In this study, the LtuGGPPS2 gene and its promoter were cloned from L. tulipifera, showing high homology to GGPPS genes of other plants and likely involvement in carotenoid and chlorophyll synthesis. Expression was highest in petals, and GUS staining indicated responsiveness to hormones. Overexpression increased carotenoid content and GGPPS enzyme activity, suggesting LtuGGPPS2 as a key terpenoid synthase in L. tulipifera flowers.
PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Agronomy
Longxiang Yan, Zhiyuan Fang, Na Zhang, Limei Yang, Yangyong Zhang, Mu Zhuang, Honghao Lv, Jialei Ji, Yong Wang
Summary: This study examined 10 BoGGPPS genes from B. oleracea and found that they are mainly expressed in chloroplasts and plastids. Similar BoGGPPS genes have similar structure and motifs. Distribution, collinearity, and Ka/Ks analysis revealed multiple duplications in the BoGGPPS gene family. Cis-acting element analysis suggests that cabbage BoGGPPS genes may participate in light and hormone responses. Three-dimensional structure analysis shows the abundance of α-helices and random coils among BoGGPPS members, indicating their important functions. The findings provide a basis for further exploration and functional analysis of BoGGPPS genes and their relationship with terpenoids in chlorophyll synthesis in B. oleracea.
Article
Immunology
Ji Hyeon Ryu, Jisu Park, Bo-Young Kim, Yeonye Kim, Nam Gyun Kim, Yong-Il Shin
Summary: This study investigates the effects and mechanisms of photobiomodulation (PBM) on fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and a mouse model of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). PBM significantly reduced proliferation, migration, and invasion of RA-FLSs, and inhibited synovial inflammation and cartilage degradation in the CIA model. PBM therapy also showed a synergistic effect when combined with methotrexate (MTX), a disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD).
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Jeremy Kiripolsky, Eileen M. Kasperek, Chengsong Zhu, Quan-Zhen Li, Jia Wang, Guan Yu, Jill M. Kramer
Summary: Primary Sjogren's syndrome, predominantly seen in women, is characterized by exocrine gland dysfunction and serious systemic manifestations. Research suggests that ECM degradation may represent a novel source of chronic B cell activation in the context of pSS.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Fulong Li, Baipeng Chen, Ming Xu, Yang Feng, Yongqiang Deng, Xiaoli Huang, Yi Geng, Ping Ouyang, Defang Chen
Summary: In this study, the pathogenic bacteria Elizabethkingia miricola was isolated from diseased bullfrogs, and transcriptome analysis revealed its role in immune activation and inflammatory response in the frog brain. This study is significant for identifying therapeutic targets and establishing effective measures to prevent and control bullfrog meningitis.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Correction
Chemistry, Applied
Luo Yang, Camille A. A. Correia, Chao-Jun Li
ADVANCED SYNTHESIS & CATALYSIS
(2023)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Xin Hua, Xiaodi Wu, Ke Xu, Ping Zhan, Hongbing Liu, Fang Zhang, Tangfeng Lv, Yong Song
Summary: This study aimed to compare the treatment responses of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with those of the corresponding zebrafish patient-derived xenograft (zPDX) models. Tumor cells from NSCLC patients were injected into zebrafish larvae, and the same antineoplastic drugs were tested in the constructed zPDX models. The chemosensitivity consistency rate between clinical responses and zPDXs was 76.9%.
EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Mingxin Liu, Zewen Wu, Xianghua Kong, Xu Zhang, Lida Tan, Hong Guo, Chao-Jun Li
Summary: The generation of BTX compounds from non-petroleum feedstocks is important for chemists in terms of sustainability. A novel synthesis of toluene catalyzed by GaN semiconductor nanowire arrays is reported, which can facilitate the generation of toluene from methane and methanol under both photo-irradiation and thermal conditions. Detailed computational studies revealed different mechanisms for photo- and thermal toluene synthesis.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Chao-Jun Li
Summary: Modern synthetic chemistry relies heavily on stoichiometric organometallic reagents to react with various electrophiles. However, the dependence on stoichiometric quantities of metals and organic halides leads to metal halide wastes and concerns on metal sustainability. Inspired by classical reduction reactions, our lab has developed a general strategy called HOME-Chemistry that directly uses abundant alcohols/aldehydes and ketones as feedstocks, releasing harmless water and nitrogen gas. This article provides a brief summary of this chemistry.
PURE AND APPLIED CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jianjin Yu, Renqin Zhan, Chao-Jun Li, Huiying Zeng
Summary: In this study, iodomethane was used as a C1 organocatalyst for the aerobic ortho-selective trifluoromethylation of pyridines without a transition metal. Trifluoroacetic acid was employed as an affordable and readily available trifluoromethyl source. The reaction showed good functional group compatibility and could selectively trifluoromethylate pyridine-containing drug molecules for late-stage functionalizations.
SCIENCE CHINA-CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Shirong Zhang, Wenxian Wang, Chunwei Xu, Yongchang Zhang, Xiuyu Cai, Qian Wang, Zhengbo Song, Ziming Li, Jinpu Yu, Wenzhao Zhong, Zhijie Wang, Jingjing Liu, Anwen Liu, Wen Li, Ping Zhan, Hongbing Liu, Tangfeng Lv, Liyun Miao, Lingfeng Min, Gen Lin, Long Huang, Jingping Yuan, Zhansheng Jiang, Xingxiang Pu, Chuangzhou Rao, Dongqing Lv, Zongyang Yu, Xiaoyan Li, Chuanhao Tang, Chengzhi Zhou, Junping Zhang, Hui Guo, Qian Chu, Rui Meng, Xuewen Liu, Jingxun Wu, Jin Zhou, Zhengfei Zhu, Weiwei Pan, Xiaowei Dong, Fei Pang, Kai Wang, Chao Yao, Guomin Lin, Site Li, Zhi Yang, Jiancheng Luo, Hongtao Jia, Xiuqing Nie, Liping Wang, Youcai Zhu, Xiao Hu, Yanru Xie, Xinqing Lin, Jing Cai, Yang Xia, Huijing Feng, Lin Wang, Yingying Du, Wang Yao, Xuefei Shi, Xiaomin Niu, Dongmei Yuan, Yanwen Yao, Jing Kang, Jiatao Zhang, Chao Zhang, Wenbin Gao, Jianhui Huang, Yinbin Zhang, Pingli Sun, Hong Wang, Mingxiang Ye, Dong Wang, Zhaofeng Wang, Bing Wan, Donglai Lv, Genhua Yu, Lin Shi, Yuanli Xia, Feng Gao, Xiaochen Zhang, Tao Xu, Wei Zhou, Haixia Wang, Zhefeng Liu, Nong Yang, Lin Wu, Qiming Wang, Guansong Wang, Zhuan Hong, Jiandong Wang, Meiyu Fang, Yong Fang, Yiping Zhang, Yong Song, Shenglin Ma, Wenfeng Fang, Yuanzhi Lu
Summary: Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) plays important roles in cell growth, differentiation, migration, and survival, and its alterations are associated with poor prognosis in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Previous clinical trials on HER2-altered NSCLC have explored various treatment options, but the results have been inconsistent. Recently, Trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd) was approved as the first targeted therapy for HER2-mutant NSCLC. Effective screening of patients is crucial for the clinical application of HER2-targeted agents, and various testing methods are available for diagnosis and treatment guidance.
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Juan Ye, Yaling Qi, Jiao Chen, Shihu Zhang, Boyuan Liu, Yinjuan Zhao, Xianwen Yuan, Qi Cheng, Yang Yang, Furong Zhang, Hongliang Gao, Haoran Wang, Jing Wu, Feng Zhu, Chaojun Li, Peng Cao, Bin Xue
Summary: Currently, there are no approved pharmacotherapies for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in clinical practice. Despite evidence suggesting that geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase (GGPPS) could be a potential therapeutic target for NAFLD, research on corresponding drug screening is limited. In this study, a GGPPS-targeted inhibitor, 4-AZ, was identified using a structure-based virtual small molecule screening method. The inhibitory effect of 4-AZ on GGPPS was confirmed through various assays, and its ability to attenuate hepatic steatosis and improve liver injury in mice was demonstrated. These findings highlight the potential of GGPPS inhibition as a novel strategy for the treatment of NAFLD.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ruofei Cheng, Chao-Jun Li
Summary: A novel method for the formation of Csp(3)-P-III bonds via the nickel-catalyzed cross-coupling of Umpolung carbonyls and phosphine chlorides is reported, resulting in alkylphosphines characterized as sulfides or borane-phosphine complexes with moderate to good yields. Valuable free alkylphosphines can be obtained by desulfurization or deboration of the products. The article also discusses a possible mechanistic pathway and represents the first example of using renewable carbonyls as latent organometallic reagents for cross-coupling.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Xinyu Li, Nannan Wang, Minhui Gui, Chengzhi Wang, Yibing Ding, Bing Bai, Chaojun Li, Jingzi Zhang, Lei Fang
Summary: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are highly morbid and deadly diseases worldwide, and current therapeutic approaches have limitations. A study on mouse hearts revealed critical proteomic changes during cardiac development, suggesting a potential therapeutic strategy for CVDs treatment.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jing Wu, Dandan Bu, Haiquan Wang, Di Shen, Danyang Chong, Tongyu Zhang, Weiwei Tao, Mengfei Zhao, Yue Zhao, Lei Fang, Peng Li, Bin Xue, Chao-Jun Li
Summary: The liver lipid metabolism of older individuals can become impaired and the circadian rhythm of genes involved in lipid metabolism is also disturbed. The transcription factor Egr-1 expression in the liver is shifted forward with age in male mice. Deletion of Egr-1 results in increased liver fat accumulation and disruption of rhythmic coupling of Egr-1 and Cidea at the transcriptional level.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Qi Cheng, Jing Wu, Yingqian Xia, Qing Cheng, Yinjuan Zhao, Peixiang Zhu, Wangling Zhang, Shihu Zhang, Lei Zhang, Yushan Yuan, Chaojun Li, Guiquan Chen, Bin Xue
Summary: This study investigates the role of protein prenylation in cerebellar morphogenesis by generating a mouse model with the inactivation of the Ggps1 gene in neural progenitor cells. The conditional knockout of Ggps1 leads to severe ataxia, deficient locomotion, decreased population and impaired proliferation of granule cell progenitors in the developing cerebellum, as well as increased expression of p21. These findings highlight the critical role of Ggpps-dependent protein prenylation in the proliferation of cerebellar granule cell progenitors during cerebellar development.
Article
Plant Sciences
Siyi Liang, Tian Tan, Danzi Wu, Chaojun Li, Huiqing Jing, Junwen Wu
Summary: This study discussed the seasonal variations of C, N, and P at the organ level in Pinus yunnanensis. The results showed significant influences of season and organ on the nutrient contents and ratios. The allocation patterns of P and N varied with stand age, highlighting the importance of nutrient management in P. yunnanensis plantation.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Kanchan Dutta, Mohsen Shahryari, Chao-Jun Li, Jan Kopyscinski
Summary: In this study, the rate-limiting step for the direct non-oxidative methane coupling to ethylene over gallium-nitride catalysts, which is the second C-H bond cleavage in methane to form methylene, was investigated. Isotope labelled experiments, in-situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS), 13C solid state-NMR, and kinetic modelling were used to decipher the reaction mechanism. The results showed that the supported GaN/SBA-15 catalyst had more aliphatic surface intermediates (CH3* and CH2*) compared to unsupported GaN catalysts, which had higher amounts of aromatics intermediates and coke deposition. The kinetic study confirmed the likelihood of the reaction pathway involving the fast abstraction of the first H from CH4 to form methyl (CH3*) surface intermediates, followed by the slow second C-H bond cleavage to form methylene (CH2*) and subsequent coupling to ethylene.
APPLIED CATALYSIS A-GENERAL
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jia-Le Zhang, Meng Lv, Chao-Fan Yang, Ying-Xi Zhu, Chao-Jun Li
Summary: Male fertility declines with age, potentially due to changes in the mevalonate pathway which result in decreased cholesterol synthesis and altered testis protein prenylation. Decreased cholesterol levels affect cholesterol modification, testosterone production, and remodeling of germ cell membranes. Aging-related metabolic disorders also disrupt the metabolic coupling between somatic cells and spermatogenic cells, leading to male fertility decline.
MOLECULAR REPRODUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Chuanming Liu, Wu Zuo, Guijun Yan, Shanshan Wang, Simin Sun, Shiyuan Li, Xinyi Tang, Yifan Li, Changjun Cai, Haiquan Wang, Wenwen Liu, Junshun Fang, Yang Zhang, Jidong Zhou, Xin Zhen, Tianxiang Feng, Yali Hu, Zhenbo Wang, Chaojun Li, Qian Bian, Haixiang Sun, Lijun Ding
Summary: With aging, abnormalities during oocyte meiosis become more prevalent, and the mechanisms of aging-related oocyte aneuploidy are not fully understood. This study reveals that disruptions in the mevalonate (MVA) pathway in granulosa cells (GCs) contribute to meiotic defects and aneuploidy in oocytes. Supplementation with MVA metabolites improves oocyte quality, suggesting a potential therapeutic strategy for promoting female reproductive longevity.