Article
Chemistry, Applied
Fen Li, Meng-Meng Wang, Qing-Hua Liu, Zhang-Wen Ma, Jun-Jiao Wang, Zi-Yi Wang, Jia-Wei Tang, Jing-Wen Lyu, Zuo-Bin Zhu, Liang Wang
Summary: This study investigates the important roles of two glycogen degradation enzymes in the structural alterations of glycogen in E. coli. The research concludes that glycogen phosphorylase plays a dominant role in glycogen structural stability control.
CARBOHYDRATE POLYMERS
(2023)
Article
Spectroscopy
Gregor Hostnik, Jelena Tosovic, Sara Stumpf, Anja Petek, Urban Bren
Summary: The pH dependence of the UV/Vis spectrum of gallic and ellagic acid was measured in a buffer-free solution to obtain reliable data at wavelengths below 230 nm. Calculated spectra were compared to experimental spectra to explain absorption peaks in terms of main electronic transitions. Good agreement was observed between experimental and calculated spectra at low and near-neutral pH values. Incorporating calculated spectra of oxidized species of gallic acid and ellagic acid with one lactone ring open also achieved satisfactory agreement at high pH values.
SPECTROCHIMICA ACTA PART A-MOLECULAR AND BIOMOLECULAR SPECTROSCOPY
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Medicinal
Nazia Nazam, Nasimudeen R. Jabir, Iftikhar Ahmad, Saif A. Alharthy, Mohd Shahnawaz Khan, Rashid Ayub, Shams Tabrez
Summary: Cancer is a global health problem that is on the rise, and ovarian cancer is one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide. Current treatments for ovarian cancer have limited effectiveness and come with side effects, recurrence risk, and drug resistance. Therefore, there is a need for alternative, cost-effective, and safer therapeutic strategies.
Article
Plant Sciences
Dulce Lourdes Morales-Ferra, Miguel Angel Zavala-Sanchez, Enrique Jimenez-Ferrer, Celeste Trejo-Moreno, Manases Gonzalez-Cortazar, Claudia I. Gamboa-Gomez, Fernando Guerrero-Romero, Alejandro Zamilpa
Summary: This study evaluated the effects of Octovalvis on metabolic syndrome parameters in a C57BL6J mouse hypercaloric diet model. The results showed that the hydroalcoholic extract and ethyl acetate fraction of Octovalvis significantly decreased body weight gain, fasting glycemia, blood pressure, free fatty acid concentration, and insulin resistance, while improving postprandial triglyceridemia. These effects are possibly due to the high contents of corilagin and ellagic acid in Octovalvis.
Article
Plant Sciences
Martina Jakovljevic Kovac, Stela Jokic, Igor Jerkovic, Maja Molnar
Summary: This study extracted gallic acid, ellagic acid, and hydrolyzable tannins (HT) from Alchemilla vulgaris L. plant using different deep eutectic solvents (DESs). Choline chloride:urea (1:2) was found to be the most suitable solvent. Extraction by stirring and heating was the most effective method for obtaining the highest amounts of gallic acid, ellagic acid, and HT.
Article
Chemistry, Organic
Francesc Navarro, Salha Hamri, Rosa Reches, Miquel Vinas, Daniel Jahani, Jaume Ginard, Josep Vilardell, Olga Abian, M. Dolors Pujol
Summary: Researchers have successfully synthesized ellagic acid from methyl gallate through a five-step synthetic route with a 38% overall yield. The synthesis involves ketal protection, regioselective bromination, bis-lactonization, C-C bond formation between the aromatic rings of the galloyl groups, and ketal deprotection. Ellagic acid exhibits slight inhibitory activity against SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro.
SYNTHESIS-STUTTGART
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sonia Rocha, Mariana Lucas, Alberto N. Araujo, M. Luisa Corvo, Eduarda Fernandes, Marisa Freitas
Summary: The study presents a colorimetric method for measuring the activity of glycogen phosphorylase, providing optimal parameters for enzyme concentration, substrate concentration, and temperature. The method was validated using known inhibitors and can be applied for high-throughput screening of potential GP inhibitors in the future.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Thais Silva da Rocha, Alessandro de Lima, Jurandy do Nascimento Silva, Geni Rodrigues Sampaio, Rosana Aparecida Manolio Soares Freitas, Renan Danielski, Adriano Costa de Camargo, Fereidoon Shahidi, Elizabeth Aparecida Ferraz da Silva Torres
Summary: Jua, an underexplored fruit from Brazil, is rich in antioxidant substances. This study found that ultrasound-assisted extraction with water as the solvent resulted in the highest total phenolic content and antiradical activity. The extracted pulp from Jua contains ellagic acid, which exhibits higher antioxidant activity compared to other well-known fruits. This study provides new information about the potential use of Jua as a source of phenolic compounds.
Article
Cell Biology
Dominika Drulis-Fajdasz, Adam Krzystyniak, Alicja Puscian, Agata Pytys, Kinga Gostomska-Pampuch, Natalia Pudelko-Malik, Jerzy L. Wisniewski, Piotr Mlynarz, Arkadiusz Miazek, Tomasz Wojtowicz, Jakub Wlodarczyk, Kamila Dus-Szachniewicz, Agnieszka Gizak, Jacek R. Wisniewski, Dariusz Rakus
Summary: Inhibition of glycogen breakdown improves memory formation in old mice by stimulating neuroplasticity and affecting hippocampal proteome. However, in young animals, inhibition of glycogen degradation impairs memory formation without significant effects on cortical dendritic spines.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Dipranjan Laha, Jaganmay Sarkar, Jyotirindra Maity, Asmita Pramanik, Md Sariful Islam Howlader, Derek Barthels, Hiranmoy Das
Summary: This study investigated the effect of polyphenolic compounds on myeloid cell differentiation and found that these compounds inhibit osteoclast differentiation. The inhibition is achieved through the modulation of autophagy, reduction of ROS production, and regulation of intracellular calcium levels and mitochondrial membrane potentials.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Ana Beatriz Neves Martins, Mariana Canto, Daniel Perrone, Mariana Monteiro
Summary: Jaboticaba juice was produced by steam extraction and was found to be microbiologically safe. The addition of sucrose improved flavor, overall impression, and purchase intent scores. Phenolic compounds and anthocyanins contents changed during storage, with degradation rates depending on temperature and kinetic reactions.
Article
Plant Sciences
Xin Zhang, Wei Ran, Xiwang Li, Jin Zhang, Meng Ye, Songbo Lin, Miaomiao Liu, Xiaoling Sun
Summary: This study found that the exogenous application of gallic acid (GA) can induce a direct defense response of tea plants against tea geometrid larvae by activating jasmonic acid and phenylpropanoid pathways. However, the preference of tea geometrid female moths and larval parasitoids was not affected by the exogenous GA treatment.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Charline Richard-Dazeur, Philippe Jacolot, Celine Niquet-Leridon, Luc Goethals, Nicolas Barbezier, Pauline M. Anton
Summary: This study compared the effectiveness of methanol and water extraction methods in total polyphenol content and HPLC-DAD analysis. The results showed that water extraction had lower total polyphenol content compared to methanol extraction, but yielded better results in HPLC-DAD analysis. Therefore, total polyphenol content cannot be used as a reference to determine the extraction solvent due to the specific properties of each polyphenol.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Gyles E. Cozier, Emma C. Newby, Sylva L. U. Schwager, R. Elwyn Isaac, Edward D. Sturrock, K. Ravi Acharya
Summary: This study investigates the two isoforms of human angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) and their different substrate specificities and structural features. By studying the structural characteristics of each domain, more specific and potent ACE inhibitors can be designed to reduce side effects and potentially be used clinically.
Article
Integrative & Complementary Medicine
Dingkun Zhang, Xuan Deng, Mengqi Li, Min Qiu, Yifan Zhang, Gefei Li, Yurou Jiang, Peng Tan, Sanhu Fan, Youde Zheng, Junzhi Lin, Li Han, Haozhou Huang
Summary: This study investigated the effects of five drying methods on the chemical composition transformation and anti-fatigue effect of Phyllanthus emblica (PE). The results showed that hot-air-dried PE at 100 degrees Celsius had the best anti-fatigue effect. Ellagic acid may be a key component in the anti-fatigue function of PE.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rafailia A. A. Beta, Athanasios Kyritsis, Veroniki Douka, Eirini Papanastasi, Marianna Rizouli, Demetres D. Leonidas, Dimitrios Vlachakis, Nikolaos A. A. Balatsos
Summary: This study determined the catalytic site of the circadian deadenylase Hesperin in plants and explored its catalytic mechanism and efficiency. The findings contribute to the understanding of the intricate mechanisms of circadian mRNA turnover.
Article
Immunology
Katie E. Lineburg, Emma J. Grant, Srividhya Swaminathan, Demetra S. M. Chatzileontiadou, Christopher Szeto, Hannah Sloane, Archana Panikkar, Jyothy Raju, Pauline Crooks, Sweera Rehan, Andrea T. Nguyen, Lea Lekieffre, Michelle A. Neller, Zhen Wei Marcus Tong, Dhilshan Jayasinghe, Keng Yih Chew, Christian A. Lobos, Hanim Halim, Jacqueline M. Burrows, Alan Riboldi-Tunnicliffe, Weisan Chen, Lloyd D'Orsogna, Rajiv Khanna, Kirsty R. Short, Corey Smith, Stephanie Gras
Summary: Efforts are being made to understand the immune response to SARS-CoV-2, with a focus on T cell immunity and cross-recognition with seasonal coronaviruses. Research has shown that the N protein of SARS-CoV-2 induces an immunodominant response and T cells demonstrate cross-reactivity towards certain coronaviruses through specific peptide conformations.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ioannis Tsialtas, Achilleas Georgantopoulos, Maria E. Karipidou, Foteini D. Kalousi, Aikaterini G. Karra, Demetrios D. Leonidas, Anna-Maria G. Psarra
Summary: Estrogens play a crucial role in regulating both reproductive and non-reproductive system physiology, with a particular impact on the nervous system. The presence of mitochondrial estrogen receptor beta (mtER beta) has been shown to directly participate in neuronal physiology maintenance. Overexpression of mtER beta in N2A cells enhances resistance to apoptotic stimuli, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic target for degenerative diseases associated with mitochondrial dysfunction.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Theodora G. A. Solovou, Constantine Garagounis, Efthimios Kyriakis, Charalambos Bobas, Georgios E. Papadopoulos, Vassiliki T. Skamnaki, Kalliope K. Papadopoulou, Demetres D. Leonidas
Summary: The study investigated a plant SK kinase (LjSK1) and found that it displayed optimal kinase activity at pH 8.0 and 20 degrees C, showing some differences compared to mammalian homologues. Mutagenesis studies revealed some conservation and regulatory mechanisms of LjSK1.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Demetres D. Leonidas, Spyros E. Zographos, Katerina E. Tsitsanou, Vassiliki T. Skamnaki, George Stravodimos, Efthimios Kyriakis
Summary: The crystal structures of glycogen phosphorylase in free T-state and R-state, as well as in R-state complexed with allosteric activators IMP and AMP, were reported at improved resolution. This study provides detailed insight into the conformational changes of glycogen phosphorylase during the transition from T-state to R-state.
ACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA SECTION F-STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Christopher Szeto, Andrea T. Nguyen, Christian A. Lobos, Demetra S. M. Chatzileontiadou, Dhilshan Jayasinghe, Emma J. Grant, Alan Riboldi-Tunnicliffe, Corey Smith, Stephanie Gras
Summary: The study presents the crystallography structure of T cell receptor binding with a SARS-CoV-2 epitope, demonstrating the activation of CD8+ T cell response in COVID-19 patients and providing insights into TCR recognition mechanisms.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Athanasios Kyritsis, Eirini Papanastasi, Ioanna Kokkori, Panagiotis Maragozidis, Demetra S. M. Chatzileontiadou, Paschalina Pallaki, Maria Labrou, Sotirios G. Zarogiannis, George P. Chrousos, Dimitrios Vlachakis, Konstantinos Gourgoulianis, Nikolaos A. A. Balatsos
Summary: The poly(A) tail at the 3' end of mRNAs plays a crucial role in their stability, translational efficiency, and degradation. Deadenylases are a family of enzymes that catalyze the shortening and removal of the poly(A) tail, thus regulating gene expression. Dysregulation of gene expression is closely associated with cancer, making the study of deadenylases essential. In this study, we found that CNOT6 and CNOT7 are the most prevalent and interconnected deadenylases. Silencing specific deadenylases affects the regulation of specific transcripts, while multiple deadenylases can have overlapping functions in regulating the same transcripts.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Katrien Willegems, Jodene Eldstrom, Efthimios Kyriakis, Fariba Ataei, Harutyun Sahakyan, Ying Dou, Sophia Russo, Filip Van Petegem, David Fedida
Summary: The KCNQ1 ion channel plays critical roles in various organs and its loss of function leads to severe diseases. Researchers have used cryo-EM to determine the structure of KCNQ1 bound to ML277 and identified the binding site. These findings provide insights into the mechanism of the activator and potential therapeutic interventions for KCNQ1 loss of function pathologies.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Christian A. Lobos, Jonathan Downing, Lloyd J. D'Orsogna, Demetra S. M. Chatzileontiadou, Stephanie Gras
Summary: Understanding immune determinants controlling disease outcome is crucial for patient care and therapeutic development. HICs, a group of rare HIV+ individuals, can control the virus and maintain a low viral load without treatment, which is associated with the expression of HLA-B57 alleles. However, the specific immune response differences in HICs are still unclear.
BIOCHEMICAL SOCIETY TRANSACTIONS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Olga S. E. Papaioannou, Aikaterini C. Tsika, Magdalini Rovoli, Georgios E. Papadopoulos, George Kontopidis, Georgios A. Spyroulias, Demetres D. Leonidas
Summary: The interaction between human angiogenin (hAng) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) was studied using isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), mutagenesis, and NMR spectroscopy. The two proteins were found to directly interact with each other through in vitro immunoprecipitation studies, and their interaction was quantified using ITC. NMR spectroscopy and molecular dynamics simulations were used to map the interaction surface and construct a structural model for the complex. The validity of the model was confirmed by mutagenesis experiments. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the structural details and biological roles of hAng and PCNA.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Danillo G. Augusto, Lawton D. Murdolo, Demetra S. M. Chatzileontiadou, Joseph J. Sabatino, Tasneem Yusufali, Noah D. Peyser, Xochitl Butcher, Kerry Kizer, Karoline Guthrie, Victoria W. Murray, Vivian Pae, Sannidhi Sarvadhavabhatla, Fiona Beltran, Gurjot S. Gill, Kara L. Lynch, Cassandra Yun, Colin T. Maguire, Michael J. Peluso, Rebecca Hoh, Timothy J. Henrich, Steven G. Deeks, Michelle Davidson, Scott Lu, Sarah A. Goldberg, J. Daniel Kelly, Jeffrey N. Martin, Cynthia A. Vierra-Green, Stephen R. Spellman, David J. Langton, Michael J. Dewar-Oldis, Corey Smith, Peter J. Barnard, Sulggi Lee, Gregory M. Marcus, Jeffrey E. Olgin, Mark J. Pletcher, Martin Maiers, Stephanie Gras, Jill A. Hollenbach
Summary: Studies have shown that at least 20% of individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2 do not show symptoms. This study investigated the role of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) variation in mediating asymptomatic infection. The researchers identified a strong association between HLA-B*15:01 and asymptomatic infection.
Article
Immunology
Andrea T. Nguyen, Hiu Ming Peter Lau, Hannah Sloane, Dhilshan Jayasinghe, Nicole A. Mifsud, Demetra S. M. Chatzileontiadou, Emma J. Grant, Christopher Szeto, Stephanie Gras
Summary: This study provides a detailed characterization of the CD8(+) T cell response towards NP265_IAV and its IBV and ICV homologues, and identifies a potential vaccination target that is broad enough to cover all three influenza strains.
CLINICAL & TRANSLATIONAL IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Anastasia S. Tsagkarakou, Styliani A. Chasapi, Symeon M. Koulas, Ioannis Tsialtas, Efthimios Kyriakis, Christina E. Drakou, Sandor Kun, Laszlo Somsak, Georgios A. Spyroulias, Anna-Maria G. Psarra, Demetres D. Leonidas
Summary: p-Coumaroyl glucose is a potent inhibitor of human liver GP, showing antihyperglycaemic properties by promoting glucose uptake and insulin-sensitizing state in cells, while also enhancing the conversion of glucose metabolism towards lipid metabolism and glycerol-derived components in HepG2 cells as indicated by NMR metabolomics analysis.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Toxicology
Nikolaos Alexandris, George Lagoumintzis, Christos T. Chasapis, Demetres D. Leonidas, Georgios E. Papadopoulos, Socrates J. Tzartos, Aristidis Tsatsakis, Elias Eliopoulos, Konstantinos Poulas, Konstantinos Farsalinos
Summary: The study suggests a potential link between low smoking rates and COVID-19, indicating the crucial role of the Nicotinic Cholinergic System. By preventing the binding of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike glycoprotein to nAChRs, it may alleviate severe symptoms in COVID-19 patients.
TOXICOLOGY REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Demetra S. M. Chatzileontiadou, Christopher Szeto, Dhilshan Jayasinghe, Stephanie Gras
Summary: This protocol outlines the expression, purification, and crystallization of HLA-A*02:01 in complex with peptides derived from the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein, providing a method for visualizing viral peptides presented by HLAs for understanding T-cell responses.
