Article
Biology
Svetlana V. Markova, Marina D. Larionova, Igor A. Korotov, Eugene S. Vysotski
Summary: We have identified the minimal sequence required for the bioluminescent activity of copepod luciferases from Metridia longa and Gaussia princeps. This sequence displays high homology with other copepod luciferases, suggesting that the boundaries of the catalytic domain are the same for all known copepod luciferases. We have also demonstrated the involvement of the flexible C-terminus in retaining the bioluminescent reaction product and the successful use of a shortened mutant as a miniature bioluminescent reporter in living cells.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Vasilisa V. Krasitskaya, Maxim K. Efremov, Ludmila A. Frank
Summary: NanoLuc (NLuc) is a small-sized luciferase generated from Oplophorus gracilirostris with long-lasting bright bioluminescence triggered by furimazine. NLuc has been widely used as a reporter in various analytical systems. However, the fusion of NLuc with non-protein biospecific molecules has limitations, thus requiring chemical conjugation to produce biospecific luciferase derivatives. In this study, a combination of genetic engineering and chemical conjugation was used to obtain NLuc derivatives with activity comparable to intact NLuc.
BIOCONJUGATE CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alexander N. Kudryavtsev, Vasilisa V. Krasitskaya, Maxim K. Efremov, Sayana V. Zangeeva, Anastasia V. Rogova, Felix N. Tomilin, Ludmila A. Frank
Summary: Ca2+-triggered coelenterazine-binding protein (CBP) is a natural luciferase substrate that is soluble and stable in an aquatic environment, making it a convenient substrate for luciferase-based in vitro assay. A furimazine-apoCBP complex was prepared and verified as a substrate form for NanoLuc, which showed similar efficiency to coelenterazine. CBP can be recommended as a substrate for in vitro analytical application due to its water solubility, stability, and Ca2+-triggering character.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Aisha J. Syed, James C. Anderson
Summary: Bioluminescence is a natural phenomenon where living creatures produce light through a reaction between luciferin and luciferase. Various luciferin-luciferase pairs have different applications, such as gene assays and drug discovery. In recent years, bioluminescence has found increasing applications in biomedicine, including photodynamic therapy and neuron control.
CHEMICAL SOCIETY REVIEWS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Organic
Jie Li, Xiaoxu Wang, Gaopan Dong, Chongzheng Yan, Yuanyuan Cui, Zheng Zhang, Lupei Du, Minyong Li
Summary: Novel furimazine derivatives were designed and synthesized to expand the application of NLuc bioluminescence substrates, with compound A3 showing promising bioluminescence properties for in vivo imaging.
ORGANIC & BIOMOLECULAR CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Kenzo Yamatsugu, Motomu Kanai
Summary: Carbohydrates, as fundamental units in biological processes, play pivotal roles. Developing methods for synthesizing, functionalizing, and manipulating carbohydrates is essential for understanding their functions and creating sugar-based functional materials. New approaches to site-selective transformations of carbohydrates are of great significance for revolutionizing sugar chemistry and accessing sugars of interest.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Carlos Gil-Duran, Romina Sepulveda, Maximiliano Rojas, Victor Castro-Fernandez, Victoria Guixe, Inmaculada Vaca, Gloria Levican, Fernando D. Gonzalez-Nilo, Maria-Cristina Ravanal, Renato Chavez
Summary: This study analyzed the molecular mechanisms of the GH10 endoxylanase XynA. By eliminating a portion of the enzyme, new activities emerged and were found to be related to changes in secondary structure and dynamics. Molecular dynamics simulations revealed a previously unseen hinge-bending motion that further facilitated the emergence of the new activity.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ruonan Wu, Clyde A. Smith, Garry W. Buchko, Ian K. Blaby, David Paez-Espino, Nikos C. Kyrpides, Yasuo Yoshikuni, Jason E. McDermott, Kirsten S. Hofmockel, John R. Cort, Janet K. Jansson
Summary: Metagenomics has revealed the presence of auxiliary metabolic genes (AMGs) in soil viral genomes, and this study provides evidence that these AMGs actually produce functional proteins that can metabolize chitin. The crystal structure of a soil viral AMG product, which exhibits chitosanase activity, has been determined, providing insights into substrate specificity and enzyme mechanism. These findings support the idea that soil viruses contribute auxiliary functions to their hosts.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Arihant Kumar Singh, Kishan S. Italiya, Saibhargav Narisepalli, Deepak Chitkara, Anupama Mittal
Summary: This study investigated the efficacy of different drug-fatty acid prodrugs in type 1 diabetes models, and found that LSF-OA and LSF-PA demonstrated the most favorable physicochemical and pharmacological profiles among the prodrugs tested. The prodrugs showed increased plasma half-life of the antidiabetic molecule LSF, leading to improved blood glucose levels, insulin levels, biochemical parameters, and beta-cell integrity in diabetic animals.
JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Organic
Niels R. M. Reintjens, Martin D. Witte, Adriaan J. Minnaard
Summary: Thioglycosides or S-linked-glycosides are important glycomimetics that can be synthesized by glycosylating deoxythio sugar acceptors. A carbonyl group formed by site-selective oxidation of unprotected saccharides can be converted into a thiol moiety, allowing for the preparation of deoxythio sugars through S(N)1 substitution reactions. The combination of these deoxythio sugars with protecting group-free glycosylation of glycosyl fluorides enables a protecting group-free synthesis of thioglycosides.
ORGANIC & BIOMOLECULAR CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Lionel Nauton, Laurence Hecquet, Vincent Thery
Summary: The computational model for human transketolase revealed a different activation mechanism for thiamine diphosphate compared to yeast transketolase. The study also showed a perfect overlap between the model and high-resolution crystallographic structures in investigating the complete catalytic reaction pathway. Furthermore, it was found that a specific region of the thiamine diphosphate V form plays a role in cofactor stabilization rather than self-activation, offering potential insights for drug design and understanding of transketolase catalyzed reactions.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL INFORMATION AND MODELING
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Satoshi Inouye, Jun-ichi Sato, Yuiko Sahara-Miura, Yuri Tomabechi, Yuto Sumida, Shun-ichi Sekine, Mikako Shirouzu, Takamitsu Hosoya
Summary: Oplophorus luciferase and its mutant nanoKAZ have been studied for their luminescence activity and substrate selectivity. QL-nanoKAZ showed higher luminescence intensity with CTZ than with bis-CTZ, making it a potential reporter protein for luminescence assay systems.
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Yu Fang, Ye Li, Huaju Liang, Wenyan Li, Huabei Zhang
Summary: None of the previous Tc-99m-labeled fatty acids for myocardial imaging had potential clinical use over the past 40 years. Tc-99m-(C10-6-thia-CO2H)(MIBI)(5), however, is the first Tc-99m-labeled fatty acid to show good myocardial uptake, high target-to-nontarget ratios, and excellent myocardial imaging quality. It is more sensitive to myocardial fatty acid beta-oxidation compared to other compounds.
JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Jonathan L. Babulic, Chantelle J. Capicciotti
Summary: In this study, an exo-enzymatic strategy using recombinant human sialyltransferase ST6GAL1 and a diazirine-linked CMP-Neu5Ac derivative was developed to selectively introduce photo-cross-linking probes onto cell-surface glycoconjugates. This approach showed high efficiency and improved cross-linking compared to the current methods, and has the potential to interrogate and identify glycoconjugate ligands for diverse glycan-binding proteins.
BIOCONJUGATE CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Tanos C. C. Franca, Fernando D. Botelho, Michael L. Drummond, Steven R. LaPlante
Summary: This study investigates compounds for inhibiting ricin using molecular modeling and computational methods, identifies new potential drug targets, and suggests four compounds for experimental validation.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hideaki Ohtomo, Shinsuke Ito, Nicholas J. McKenzie, Michael Uckelmann, Masatoshi Wakamori, Haruhiko Ehara, Ayako Furukawa, Yasuo Tsunaka, Marika Shibata, Shun-ichi Sekine, Takashi Umehara, Chen Davidovich, Haruhiko Koseki, Yoshifum Nishimura
Summary: PRC1 and PRC2 play important roles in epigenetic gene regulation. H2A ubiquitination by PRC1 promotes H3K27 methylation by PRC2 through altering the dynamics of H3-tail and its contacts with DNA, with the linker-DNA being crucial for this process.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Akihiro Kobayashi, Tsubasa Matsuzawa, Takamitsu Hosoya, Suguru Yoshida
Summary: The interrupted Pummerer reaction of alkynyl sulfoxides with phenols is reported, leading to the efficient synthesis of various benz[b]furans through the unexplored electrophilic activation of the electron-deficient alkynyl sulfinyl group. Utilizing readily available alkynes, thiosulfonates, and phenols, we successfully prepared functionalized benz[b]furans.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zhouen Zhang, Takashi Niwa, Kenji Watanabe, Takamitsu Hosoya
Summary: In this study, a two-phase radiosynthetic method for the ipso-C-11-cyanation of aryl fluorides was developed, using nickel-mediated C-F bond activation. A practical protocol was established that does not require a glovebox, making it applicable for general PET centers. This method enabled the efficient synthesis of diverse [C-11]aryl nitriles, including pharmaceutical drugs. Stoichiometric reactions and theoretical studies demonstrated the significant promotion effect of lithium chloride on the oxidative addition, facilitating rapid C-11-cyanation.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Takashi Niwa, Tsuyoshi Tahara, Charles E. Chase, Francis G. Fang, Takayoshi Nakaoka, Satsuki Irie, Emi Hayashinaka, Yasuhiro Wada, Hidefumi Mukai, Kenkichi Masutomi, Yasuyoshi Watanabe, Yilong Cui, Takamitsu Hosoya
Summary: This study reports the successful 11C-radiolabeling of eribulin, an approved anticancer drug, which enables the quantitative measurement of eribulin migration into tumor tissue. The optimized synthetic method provides a reproducible way to produce [35-11C]eribulin with high radiochemical purity and molar activity. PET imaging using mice shows specific accumulation of [35-11C]eribulin in tumors without significant metabolic changes.
BULLETIN OF THE CHEMICAL SOCIETY OF JAPAN
(2023)
Article
Psychiatry
Manon Dubol, Jana Immenschuh, My Jonasson, Kayo Takahashi, Takashi Niwa, Takamitsu Hosoya, Sara Roslin, Johan Wikstrom, Gunnar Antoni, Yasuyoshi Watanabe, Mark Lubberink, Anat Biegon, Inger Sundstrom-Poromaa, Erika Comasco
Summary: The study investigated the availability of aromatase in healthy women before and after nicotine exposure. The findings suggest that nicotine acutely decreases aromatase availability in the thalamic area, indicating a potential mechanism mediating the effects of nicotine on human behavior.
COMPREHENSIVE PSYCHIATRY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Organic
Shinya Tabata, Mai Minoshima, Akihiro Kobayashi, Takamitsu Hosoya, Suguru Yoshida
Summary: Migrative thioamination of aryne intermediates using o-iodoaryl triflates and sulfilimines leads to the formation of highly functionalized o-thioaminated diaryl sulfides. The ring expansion of cyclic sulfilimines enables the synthesis of eight- and nine-membered organosulfur compounds from dibenzothiophene- and thianthrene-type sulfilimines, respectively.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yuko Murayama, Haruhiko Ehara, Mari Aoki, Mie Goto, Takeshi Yokoyama, Shun-ichi Sekine
Summary: Transcription termination is an essential step in gene regulation, and is mediated by the RNA translocase/helicase Rho in bacteria. The cryo-electron microscopy structure of the Thermus thermophilus RNA polymerase elongation complex (EC) bound to Rho reveals the binding sites and interactions between Rho and RNA polymerase. The study also suggests a general basis for gene regulation, as the Rho binding site overlaps with other macromolecule binding sites.
Review
Cell Biology
Tomoya Kujirai, Haruhiko Ehara, Shun-ichi Sekine, Hitoshi Kurumizaka
Summary: In eukaryotes, genomic DNA is packaged into chromatin and the nucleosome acts as a barrier to transcription. The RNA polymerase II elongation complex disassembles the nucleosome during transcription to allow passage. After transcription, the nucleosome is rebuilt by transcription-coupled nucleosome reassembly, which plays a crucial role in preserving epigenetic information. The histone chaperone FACT is involved in nucleosome disassembly, maintenance, and reassembly during transcription in chromatin. Recent structural studies have provided insights into the structural transitions of the nucleosome during transcription.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Satoshi Inouye, Kazuo Matsuda, Mitsuhiro Nakamura
Summary: Coelenterazine (CTZ) is a light-emitting source for bioluminescence in marine organisms. It can be sulfated by sulfotransferase(s), leading to the formation of sulfates such as CTZ C2-benzyl monosulfate. The sulfation process of CTZ was characterized using human cytosolic aryl sulfotransferase SULT1A1 as a model enzyme. Non-enzymatic oxidation products of CTZ were also identified as their monosulfates.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Seiya Hirai, Tomoya Kujirai, Munetaka Akatsu, Mitsuo Ogasawara, Haruhiko Ehara, Shun-ichi Sekine, Yasuyuki Ohkawa, Yoshimasa Takizawa, Hitoshi Kurumizaka
Summary: H3.8 is a non-allelic human histone variant derived from H3.3, forming an unstable nucleosome with more accessible entry/exit DNA regions compared to H3.3. This leads to altered RNAPII transcription profiles.
JOURNAL OF BIOCHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Takumi Oishi, Suguru Hatazawa, Tomoya Kujirai, Junko Kato, Yuki Kobayashi, Mitsuo Ogasawara, Munetaka Akatsu, Haruhiko Ehara, Shun-ichi Sekine, Gosuke Hayashi, Yoshimasa Takizawa, Hitoshi Kurumizaka
Summary: This study reveals that the N-terminal tail of histone H3 plays a role in RNAPII pausing at the SHL(-5) position of the nucleosome, and its acetylation directly alleviates this nucleosome barrier.
NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Organic
Jumpei Taguchi, Takumi Okuyama, Satomi Tomita, Takashi Niwa, Takamitsu Hosoya
Summary: An efficient method for producing 3-triazenylarynes from ortho-iodoaryl triflate-type precursors has been developed. The resulting arynes exhibit high regioselectivity in reactions with various arynophiles due to the presence of the triazenyl group. The 3-triazenylaryne precursors can be used as intermediates for the synthesis of diverse multisubstituted aromatic compounds through the transformation of the remaining triazenyl group in the aryne adducts and triazenyl group-directed ortho-C-H functionalization.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Soojung Hahn, Gyuri Kim, Sang-Man Jin, Jae Hyeon Kim
Summary: This study utilized three-dimensional intestinal organoids to investigate the effects of metformin on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and found that metformin can enhance intestinal barrier function and reduce levels of inflammatory cytokines.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2024)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
V. V. Sudarev, M. S. Gette, S. V. Bazhenov, O. M. Tilinova, E. V. Zinovev, I. V. Manukhov, A. I. Kuklin, Yu. L. Ryzhykau, A. V. Vlasov
Summary: This study investigated the self-assembly processes of ferritin-based protein complexes and obtained structurally characterized oligomeric states. These results provide new potential and opportunities for the application of ferritin in various fields.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2024)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yalda Sabaghi, Farnaz Pourfarzad, Leila Zolghadr, Azita Bahrami, Tahereh Shojazadeh, Alireza Farasat, Nematollah Gheibi
Summary: p-Coumaric acid (p-CA) is a plant compound with anti-cancer activities. This study designed a nano-liposomal carrier containing p-CA to enhance its effectiveness against melanoma cells. The findings showed that the liposomal form of p-CA had a greater impact on the cells. Kinetic modeling indicated that the best fitting model was zero-order.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2024)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
M. D. Nazmul Hasan, Md Mahfuzur Rahman, Al Asmaul Husna, Nobuhiro Nozaki, Osamu Yamato, Naoki Miura
Summary: This study investigated the expression of ncRNAs other than miRNAs in different histologic subtypes of canine mammary gland tumors (MGT). Three aberrantly expressed ncRNAs were identified as potential biomarkers for differentiating MGT subtypes. YRNA and tRFs expression levels were found to be decreased in metastatic compared to primary MGT cell lines.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2024)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Seine A. Shintani
Summary: In this study, the researchers used signal analysis to study the instantaneous amplitude and phase of sarcomeric oscillations in skeletal muscle. They identified two types of oscillations, sarcomeric oscillations and sarcosynced oscillations, and visualized their behavior during propagating waves. The researchers discovered the presence of sarcomeric defect holes and sarcomeric collision holes, which are important indicators for understanding the oscillation properties of sarcomeres. This finding has important implications for improving our understanding of muscle function and its regulatory mechanisms.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2024)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Shuanglin Zhang, Yuzhong Jia, Guolan Ma, Yanyan Yang, Zhenzhen Cao, Antao Luo, Zefu Zhang, Shihan Li, Jie Wen, Hanfeng Liu, Jihua Ma
Summary: Bupleurum is an antiarrhythmic agent that may exert its effects by inhibiting L-type calcium channels.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2024)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tomotaka Ohkubo, Yasuhiko Matsumoto, Hiroaki Sasaki, Kaoru Kinoshita, Yuki Ogasawara, Takashi Sugita
Summary: This study found that Citrobacter koseri inhibits the growth of Staphylococcus epidermidis, disrupting the balance between S. epidermidis and Staphylococcus aureus, and exacerbating inflammation in atopic dermatitis.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2024)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Toshifumi Asano, Philipp Sasse, Takao Nakata
Summary: A Cre recombination-based fluorescent reporter system was developed to monitor cell-cell fusion. The system successfully detected the formation of multinuclear myotubes and placental syncytiotrophoblast. This tool could facilitate the study of cell-to-cell fusion.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2024)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ke Shi, Yunlong Shan, Xiao Sun, Kuida Chen, Qiong Luo, Qiang Xu
Summary: This study found that low expression of TP53INP2 is associated with poor survival in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. As the malignancy of CRC progresses, TP53INP2 expression gradually decreases. Knockdown of TP53INP2 promotes CRC cell proliferation and tumor growth. Mechanistically, TP53INP2 deficiency decreases phosphorylation of beta-catenin, leading to increased accumulation and enhanced nuclear translocation and transcriptional activity. Additionally, TP53INP2 sequesters TIM50, inhibiting its activation of beta-catenin. In conclusion, downregulation of TP53INP2 promotes CRC progression by activating beta-catenin.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2024)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Martina Rossi, Fabio Tomaselli, Alejandro Hochkoeppler
Summary: Oligomeric enzymes are known for their higher catalytic rates compared to monomeric enzymes, but the extent of additivity in their activity is still not well understood. This study used tetrameric rabbit lactate dehydrogenase as a model to examine the kinetics of its catalytic action. Surprisingly, when the concentration of the limiting reactant exceeded that of a single subunit, there was a significant slowdown in the enzyme's conformational rearrangements.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2024)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Amin Sahraei, Mohammad Javad Shamsoddini, Fakhrossadat Mohammadi, Leila Hassani
Summary: This study explored the inhibitory effects of gallium curcumin, indium curcumin, and vanadyl curcumin on the amyloid fibrillation of hen egg white lysozyme, as well as the binding interactions of these metal complexes with the enzyme. The results showed that indium curcumin and vanadyl curcumin exhibited higher binding affinities and stronger inhibitory effects on amyloid fibrillation compared to gallium curcumin.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2024)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Takahiro Sasaki, Yoshiki Kuse, Shinsuke Nakamura, Masamitsu Shimazawa
Summary: PGRN deficiency plays a significant role in cardiac remodeling and arrhythmias post-myocardial infarction (MI), potentially by promoting metabolic abnormalities in macrophages.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2024)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hongwei Zhao, Yiqiang Li, Yibo Zhang, Chi Zhang
Summary: Electrical brain stimulation technology is commonly used to treat brain neurological disorders, but it can cause side effects. This study investigated the impact of electric fields on nerve fibers and revealed the possible origin of side effects. The findings provide guidance for selecting electrical parameters in clinical stimulation therapy.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2024)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Julia S. Scott, Lake-Ee Quek, Andrew J. Hoy, Johannes V. Swinnen, Zeyad D. Nassar, Lisa M. Butler
Summary: The fatty acid elongation enzyme ELOVL5 plays a critical role in promoting metastasis in prostate cancer. Knocking down ELOVL5 leads to the accumulation of malonyl-CoA, which inhibits fatty acid oxidation in mitochondria. This study highlights the importance of fatty acid elongation in regulating cell viability and provides a potential target for prostate cancer treatment.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2024)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Zan Zhou, Wen-jun Jiang, Li Li, Jun-qiang Si
Summary: This study investigates the effect of noise exposure on cognitive function in mice and explores the underlying molecular mechanisms. The findings suggest that noise exposure leads to increased inflammation, increased phosphorylation of Tau protein, and decreased levels of postsynaptic density protein, resulting in cognitive impairment.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2024)
