Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Katreena Yamin, Swati Bijlani, Judith Berman, Awakash Soni, Joseph Shlomai, Bijoy Mukut Buragohain, Michal Werbner, Meital Gal-Tanamy, Avi Matityahu, Itay Onn
Summary: This study used two-photon microscopy to analyze chromosome condensation and found that mitotic chromosomes in unicellular eukaryotes are more condensed compared to interphase chromatin. The study also revealed decondensation of chromatin in human hepatoma cells infected by hepatitis C virus. The findings provide new insights into chromatin condensation during mitosis in unicellular organisms and the response of human cells to viral infection.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Zhi-Xuan Huang, Jing Li, Qing-Ping Xiong, Hao Li, En-Duo Wang, Ru-Juan Liu
Summary: Dnmt2, a member of the DNA methyltransferase superfamily, plays a crucial role in regulating cellular biological processes and intergenerational transmission of metabolic disorders, as well as its association with human cancers. Through studying specific tRNA substrates, its recognition mechanism has been revealed.
NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yan Ma, Wenhui Zeng, Yongbing Ba, Qin Luo, Yao Ou, Rongpeng Liu, Jingwen Ma, Yiyun Tang, Jie Hu, Haomiao Wang, Xuan Tang, Yuanyuan Mu, Qingjun Li, Yuqin Chen, Yiting Ran, Zhonghuai Xiang, Hanfu Xu
Summary: This study builds an atlas of the silkworm silk gland using single-cell RNA sequencing and reveals the heterogeneity of silk gland cells.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Physiology
Livia de Souza Goncalves, Wagner Ribeiro Pereira, Rafael Pires da Silva, Guilherme Carvalho Yamaguchi, Victor Henrique Carvalho, Bianca Scigliano Vargas, Leonardo Jensen, Marisa Helena Gennari de Medeiros, Hamilton Roschel, Guilherme Giannini Artioli
Summary: This study demonstrates the presence of anserine in the human heart ventricle and confirms its low expression in human skeletal muscle.
PHYSIOLOGICAL REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Ayad A. Al-Hamashi, Dongxing Chen, Youchao Deng, Guangping Dong, Rong Huang
Summary: This study reported the design and synthesis of bisubstrate analogues for PRMTs, with compound AH237 showing potent and selective inhibition towards PRMT4 and PRMT5. Computational studies provided insights into the high potency and selectivity of AH237, offering a valuable strategy for developing inhibitors for PRMTs in the future.
ACTA PHARMACEUTICA SINICA B
(2021)
Article
Physiology
Jie-Ping Wang, Chen-Chan Wei, Yun-Dong Peng, Hsuan-Yun Wang, Chi-Hsiang Hung, Yin-Hui Hong, Yuh-Feng Liou, Chien-Wen Hou
Summary: Caffeinated energy drink consumption can improve performance and reduce oxidative stress in triathlon athletes, although high doses may decrease performance. Individual differences should be considered when using caffeinated energy drinks.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Xu Yang, Dongbin Chen, Shirui Zheng, Meiyan Yi, Shanshan Wang, Yongjian Liu, Lianyan Jing, Zulian Liu, Dehong Yang, Yujia Liu, Linmeng Tang, James R. Walters, Yongping Huang
Summary: In lepidopteran insects, both nucleated and anucleated sperm are essential for fertilization. Prmt5 and Vasa genes play critical roles in regulating spermatogenesis in these insects.
Article
Agronomy
Candy M. Taylor, Gagan Garg, Jens D. Berger, Federico M. Ribalta, Janine S. Croser, Karam B. Singh, Wallace A. Cowling, Lars G. Kamphuis, Matthew N. Nelson
Summary: A mutation in a TGS1-like homologue was identified as a candidate gene for the efl mutation in narrow-leafed lupin, leading to changes in flowering phenology and vernalisation requirement. This study sheds light on the molecular mechanism of vernalisation control in narrow-leafed lupin and provides important insights into flowering time control in legume plants.
THEORETICAL AND APPLIED GENETICS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Vanessa Luciano, Ewgenij Proschak, Julian D. Langer, Stefan Knapp, Jan Heering, Rolf Marschalek
Summary: Dimerization of Taspase1 activates its serine protease function, while the newly developed inhibitor interferes with its function, potentially serving as a target for cancer therapy.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Katsuko Kajiya, Madoka Arino, Akari Koshio, Yuji Minami
Summary: This study measured the nutritional components and imidazole dipeptide levels of different commercial meats and examined their effect on taste using taste recognition devices. The results showed that the nutritional components varied depending on the type and part of the meat analyzed, and these components influenced the taste and texture of the meat. Anserine and carnosine were the main imidazole dipeptides detected, with meat containing higher levels of these dipeptides producing better sensory test results. Anserine was found to reduce bitterness and enhance umami taste when combined with carnosine.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Huimin Chen, Shuan Tao, Na Li, Qing Zhu, Liping Liu, Yeiwei Fang, Yao Xu, Wei Liang
Summary: This study investigated the co-distribution of ArdA and bla(KPC-2) plasmids in KPC-KP and explored the molecular mechanism of ArdA promoting KPC-KP spread. The results showed that ArdA was widely distributed in KPC-KP and had a good anti-restriction function. The coexistence of ArdA with bla(KPC-2) plasmids enables KPC-KP to evade restriction and facilitates gene transfer between bacterial species.
JOURNAL OF ANTIMICROBIAL CHEMOTHERAPY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Andrew L. Spencley, Shiran Bar, Tomek Swigut, Ryan A. Flynn, Cameron H. Lee, Liang-Fu Chen, Michael C. Bassik, Joanna Wysocka
Summary: The HUSH complex can recognize and silence foreign DNA without prior exposure. Endogenous targets of the complex fall into two classes based on the presence or absence of H3K9me3, which are distinguished by their transposon content and response to loss of HUSH. A genetic rearrangement induces a switch in HUSH targeting at the Sox2 locus, leading to silencing. HUSH interacts with WDR82 and MPP8 to associate with nascent RNA at sites of high RNAPII occupancy. The complex exploits evolutionarily ancient transcription termination machinery for co-transcriptional chromatin targeting and genome surveillance.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Sukanya Charoensin, Banyat Laopaiboon, Wuttigrai Boonkum, Jutarop Phetcharaburanin, Myra O. Villareal, Hiroko Isoda, Monchai Duangjinda
Summary: This study identified the presence of anserine in Thai native chickens and their crossbred meat, demonstrating their potential as functional meat sources rich in anserine and antioxidants. The research used nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to distinguish metabolites and relative concentrations, showing significantly higher levels of anserine in Thai native and crossbred chicken compared to commercial broiler chickens.
Article
Oncology
Shuangjie Liu, Zhuonan Liu, Chiyuan Piao, Zhe Zhang, Chuize Kong, Lei Yin, Xi Liu
Summary: The study reveals PRMT5 as a therapeutic target for bladder cancer and identifies FKA, extracted from the kava plant, as an inhibitor of PRMT5 for the treatment of bladder cancer.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Vani Pande, Nivedita Mitra, Saket Rahul Bagde, Ramanujam Srinivasan, Pananghat Gayathri
Summary: This study provides insights into the effect of nucleotide state on membrane binding of Spiro plasma citri MreB5 (ScMreB5) and the allosteric effect of Glu134 mutation and the bound nucleotide on membrane binding. The study suggests that MreB protein modulates bacterial morphology by controlling polymerization and disassembly.
JOURNAL OF CELL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Olga Krupska, Tomasz Kowalczyk, Malgorzata Beresewicz-Haller, Paulina Samczuk, Karolina Pietrowska, Krzysztof Zablocki, Adam Kretowski, Michal Ciborowski, Barbara Zablocka
Summary: The gerbil is commonly used to study cerebral ischemia, with different vulnerability and resistance observed in different regions of the hippocampus. Metabolomics analysis revealed specific changes in metabolites in the CA1 region in control and post-ischemic conditions, highlighting potential metabolic pathways and differences in response to ischemia.
MOLECULAR NEUROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Natasja Franceschini, Bas Verbruggen, Marianna A. Tryfonidou, Alwine B. Kruisselbrink, Hans Baelde, Karin E. de Visser, Karoly Szuhai, Anne-Marie Cleton-Jansen, Judith V. M. G. Bovee
Summary: Soft tissue sarcomas are rare cancers with complex genomics, making it difficult to identify driver events of malignant transformation. This study demonstrates the crucial role of p53 loss as an early event in sarcomagenesis, highlighting its importance in the transformation process towards sarcomas with complex genomics.
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Jordi C. J. Hintzen, Laust Moesgaard, Sebastian Kwiatkowski, Jakub Drozak, Jacob Kongsted, Jasmin Mecinovic
Summary: The study presents the development of actin-based peptidomimetics as inhibitors of human SETD3, with selenomethionine-containing beta-actin peptide identified as the most potent inhibitor. Computational docking and molecular dynamics simulations confirmed the rigid His73 binding pocket in SETD3 accommodates the inhibitor peptides with similar binding modes, providing a basis for further development of highly potent and selective SETD3 inhibitors.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Malgorzata Beresewicz-Haller, Olga Krupska, Pawel Bochomulski, Danuta Dudzik, Anita Checinska, Wojciech Hilgier, Coral Barbas, Krzysztof Zablocki, Barbara Zablocka
Summary: The study found that mitochondrial GLS1 activity against ischemic episodes is regulated by PKC beta II. Through the modulation of GLS1 activity and remodeling of mitochondria after exposure to ischemia-reperfusion, the hippocampal CA2-4 and DG regions show strong resistance, while the susceptible CA1 region does not experience the same changes.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Grzegorz Oracz, Michal Zarod, Maren Ewers, Helmut Laumen, Tomasz Gambin, Pawel Kaminski, Iwona Grabowska, Anna Drozak, Sebastian Kwiatkowski, Katarzyna Wertheim-Tysarowska, Elwira Kolodziejczyk, Alicja Domaszewicz, Barbara Dorozko, Joanna Kosinska, Stanislaw Gluszek, Dorota Koziel, Rafal Ploski, Jonas Rosendahl, Heiko Witt, Jakub Drozak, Agnieszka Magdalena Rygiel
Summary: The study found that loss of function variants of TRPV6 are associated with increased risk of early-onset CP in Polish and German patients, confirming that TRPV6 is a novel CP susceptibility gene.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sebastian Kwiatkowski, Maria Bozko, Michal Zarod, Apolonia Witecka, Kubra Kocdemir, Adam K. Jagielski, Jakub Drozak
Summary: This study reports the purification, identification, and biochemical characterization of 4-oxo-L-proline reductase (BDH2) in mammals. Through mass spectrometry analysis, BDH2 was identified as the only candidate for the reductase. The study shows that BDH2 catalyzes the reversible reduction of 4-oxo-L-proline to cis-4-hydroxy-L-proline. These findings are important for understanding the source of cis-4-hydroxy-L-proline in mammalian tissues.
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Organic
Nurgul Bilgin, Laust Moesgaard, Marijn N. Maas, Jordi C. J. Hintzen, Apolonia Witecka, Jakub Drozak, Jacob Kongsted, Jasmin Mecinovic
Summary: The role of Ile71 residue in beta-actin on human SETD3 catalysis was examined. It was found that the 'secondary' Ile71 binding pocket regulates the substrate efficiency of beta-actin and can accommodate structurally diverse hydrophobic side chains. Water thermodynamics calculations revealed that high-energy water molecules occupy the Ile71 pocket and are released upon Ile71 binding, contributing to the formation of SETD3-beta A complex. These findings are important for the design and development of chemical probes targeting SETD3.
ORGANIC & BIOMOLECULAR CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Review
Biology
Apolonia Witecka, Sebastian Kwiatkowski, Takao Ishikawa, Jakub Drozak
Summary: SETD3 is a histidine methyltransferase specific to actin, known for catalyzing the methylation of H73 residue in human actin or its equivalent in other metazoans. While initially identified as a methyltransferase for histone H3, SETD3's main substrate is now recognized as H73 in actin, contributing to the maintenance of cytoskeleton integrity. Its role in various biological processes, such as cell cycle regulation, apoptosis, carcinogenesis, hypoxic response, and enterovirus pathogenesis, is being increasingly explored.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Giovanni Bisello, Katarzyna Kusmierska, Marcel M. Verbeek, Jolanta Sykut-Cegielska, Michel A. A. P. Willemsen, Ron A. Wevers, Krystyna Szymanska, Jaroslaw Poznanski, Jakub Drozak, Katarzyna Wertheim-Tysarowska, Agnieszka Magdalena Rygiel, Mariarita Bertoldi
Summary: Aromatic amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) deficiency is a rare monogenic disease that causes intellectual disability, movement disorders, and autonomic dysfunction. In this study, a novel mutation of AADC was identified, which resulted in a significant decrease in enzymatic activity. The defect was found to be due to the mispositioning of the catalytically competent intermediate. These findings provide insights into the pathogenesis of AADC deficiency and a potential target for precision therapy.
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR LIFE SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jordi C. J. Hintzen, Huida Ma, Hao Deng, Apolonia Witecka, Steffen B. Andersen, Jakub Drozak, Hong Guo, Ping Qian, Haitao Li, Jasmin Mecinovic
Summary: This study integrates synthetic, biocatalytic, biostructural, and computational analyses of human SETD3-catalyzed methylation of actin peptides. The findings suggest that SETD3 has a broader substrate scope beyond histidine, including various N-nucleophiles on the aromatic and aliphatic side chains. The research provides insight into the potential of SETD3 to catalyze efficient methylation of several histidine mimics, offering mechanistic and functional understanding of actin histidine methylation.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Cleo C. L. van Aanhold, Angela Koudijs, Kyra L. Dijkstra, Ron Wolterbeek, Jan A. Bruijn, Cees van Kooten, Hans J. Baelde
Summary: The study found that transfection with sFLT1 did not aggravate renal fibrosis and peritubular capillary loss, but reduced the expression of pro-fibrotic and pro-inflammatory markers. sFLT1 mRNA levels were not correlated with interstitial fibrosis or PTC loss in human samples.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tessa Gerrits, Isabella J. Brouwer, Kyra L. Dijkstra, Ron Wolterbeek, Jan A. Bruijn, Marion Scharpfenecker, Hans J. Baelde
Summary: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) involves progressive deterioration of renal function, characterized by glomerular sclerosis, tubular atrophy, and interstitial fibrosis. Endoglin, expressed in endothelial cells and fibroblasts, may function as a co-receptor of TGF signaling and potentially play a role in the progression of CKD. The study found that endoglin was upregulated in patients with CKD, particularly those with chronic allograft dysfunction and diabetic nephropathy. The overexpression of endoglin in human kidney fibroblasts also resulted in increased mRNA and protein upregulation of ECM components, suggesting its significance as a therapeutic target for the prevention of end-stage renal disease.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Sheena L. M. Ong, Isadora P. Gomes, Hans J. Baelde, Fabricio Passador-Santos, Bruno A. B. de Andrade, Inge H. Briaire-de Bruijn, Israel L. Cavalcante, Willem H. Schreuder, Anne-Marie Cleton-Jansen, Arjen H. G. Cleven, Karoly Szuhai, Carolina C. Gomes, Judith V. M. G. Bovee
Summary: This study found that there are molecular differences between solitary jaw simple bone cysts (SBC) and SBC of long bones. The NFATC2 rearrangement is absent in jaw SBC, suggesting a non-neoplastic, reactive origin.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Qing Yong, Kyra L. Dijkstra, Carin van der Keur, Jan A. Bruijn, Michael Eikmans, Hans J. Baelde
Summary: Insufficient immune tolerance during pregnancy is associated with pathological conditions such as preeclampsia (PE). The expression of sFLT1 protein in human placenta is regulated by MIF during early pregnancy and preeclampsia. sFLT1 plays an important role in the modulation of inflammation in early pregnancy and preeclampsia.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Physiology
Ramzi Khalil, Josephine D. D. Bonnemaijer, Reinhold Kreutz, Herman P. Spaink, Pancras C. W. Hogendoorn, Hans J. Baelde
Summary: Transmembrane protein 14A (TMEM14A) is an important protein involved in maintaining the integrity of the glomerular filtration barrier. It suppresses Bax-mediated apoptosis and its expression is increased in proteinuric renal diseases.
PHYSIOLOGICAL REPORTS
(2023)