Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mauricio Serrano-Rubi, Lidia Jimenez, Jacqueline Martinez-Rendon, Marcelino Cereijido, Arturo Ponce
Summary: Gap junctional intercellular communication is reduced in cancer cells compared to normal cells, but the plant-derived substance ouabain enhances this communication in various cancer cell lines through signaling mechanisms involving Csrc, ErK1/2, and ROCK-Rho. This finding suggests a potential therapeutic strategy for influencing cancer progression.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Review
Cell Biology
Stefan Dhein, Aida Salameh
Summary: The heart relies on gap junction channels to maintain cell-cell coupling for efficient and rapid electrical conduction. Connexin expression and gap junction localization play crucial roles in modulating cardiac electrical properties, ultimately affecting cardiac stability and function.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alejandro Ogazon del Toro, Lidia Jimenez, Mauricio Serrano Rubi, Aida Castillo, Lorena Hinojosa, Jacqueline Martinez Rendon, Marcelino Cereijido, Arturo Ponce
Summary: Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) significantly increases gap junctional intercellular communication in epithelial cells, with this effect not requiring synthesis of new RNA or proteins but rather trafficking of pre-synthesized subunits. Furthermore, this effect is mediated by the E2 receptor, which triggers a signaling pathway involving activation of adenylyl cyclase and protein kinase A (PKA).
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alejandro Ogazon del Toro, Lidia Jimenez, Mauricio Serrano Rubi, Marcelino Cereijido, Arturo Ponce
Summary: The study shows that ouabain can enhance intercellular communication indirectly by promoting the production of PGE2, which acts independently of Na+-K+-ATPase. This mechanism was demonstrated in mixed monolayers of MDCK-S and MDCK-I cells, providing evidence for the role of PGE2 in communication between cells with different sensitivities to ouabain.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Risa Kawatsura, Yusuke Hara, Masako Akiyama, Noriko Tachikawa, Ken-Ichi Nakahama
Summary: Osteoblasts communicate through gap junctions and propagate cAMP to inhibit excess osteoclastogenesis.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Ceren Canse, Ecem Yildirim, Aylin Yaba
Summary: Cell-cell junctions play crucial roles in maintaining cell integrity, polarity, cell fate specification, and morphogenesis during embryonic development. By orchestrating mechanotransduction, morphokinetics, and signaling networks, these junctions, along with cell adhesion molecules and cytoskeletal elements, regulate the development of early embryos. This review focuses on the structure, organization, function, and expression pattern of cell-cell junction complexes during early embryonic development. Understanding the importance of dynamic junction formation and maturation processes will provide insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying developmental abnormalities in early embryos.
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yasuaki Anami, Wei Xiong, Aiko Yamaguchi, Chisato M. Yamazaki, Ningyan Zhang, Zhiqiang An, Kyoji Tsuchikama
Summary: Antibody-based therapy has achieved great success in treating various diseases, including cancers. However, the therapeutic efficacy of antibodies for central nervous system (CNS) diseases is limited by the low permeability of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). This study demonstrates that homogeneous conjugation of the synthetic BBB shuttle peptide Ang2 to a monoclonal antibody improves its binding affinity for brain microvascular endothelial cells and accumulation in normal brain tissues. In a mouse model, the homogeneous anti-EGFR mAb-Ang2 conjugate efficiently accumulates in intracranial tumors when administered intravenously. These findings suggest that homogeneous conjugation of BBB shuttle peptides like Ang2 is a promising approach to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of antibody agents for CNS diseases.
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Maria C. Lucana, Yolanda Arruga, Emilia Petrachi, Albert Roig, Roberta Lucchi, Benjami Oller-Salvia
Summary: This review explores the application of protease-resistant targeting peptides and cell-penetrating peptides, highlighting the use of enantio/retro-enantio isomerization and cyclization to enhance peptide efficiency and transport capacity. While conjugation provides some protection against proteolysis, modifying peptide sequences for increased protease resistance significantly improves homing and transport efficiency.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Shengxin Huang, Weijiang Chen, Zhong Fu, Yufei Fu, Nianwen Xiang, Xinjie Qiu, Weidong Shi, Dengfeng Cheng, Zhiyuan Zhang
Summary: The physics governing the propagation of lightning leaders and long spark leaders is not well understood. Positive and negative leaders behave differently. This study observed the stepwise development of positive leaders guided by a separate luminous structure in laboratory lightning-like discharges under high humidity. The existence of a bi-directional separate luminous structure connecting with the primary leader channel was also discovered. These findings contribute to a better understanding of positive long spark leaders and lightning leaders.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Nicholas G. G. Fischer, Alexandra C. C. Kobe, Jinhong Dai, Jiahe He, Hongning Wang, John A. A. Pizarek, David A. De Jong, Zhou Ye, Shengbin Huang, Conrado Aparicio
Summary: Inspired by the natural attachment of teeth, researchers have developed durable nanocoatings for percutaneous devices to prevent bacterial infection and reduce antibiotic usage. These nanocoatings mimic the secure attachment of teeth, with excellent durability and applicability.
ACTA BIOMATERIALIA
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Katalin Fusz, Tamas Kovacs-Oller, Peter Kobor, Edina Szabo-Meleg, Bela Volgyi, Peter Buzas, Ildiko Telkes
Summary: The study found regional differences in the distribution of connexin-36 in the retinas of different species, which affects the processing of visual input. There is a close correlation between the density of Prox1-immunoreactive amacrine cells and the density of Cx36-immunoreactive plaques, which may contribute to functional ON/OFF asymmetries in the retina.
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Marina Buyanova, Dehua Pei
Summary: Intracellular protein-protein interactions are challenging targets for traditional drug modalities. Macrocyclic peptides have proven to be effective inhibitors, but they are generally impermeable to the cell membrane. Recent advances in MP science and technology have allowed for the development of cell-permeable MPs that can modulate intracellular PPI targets.
TRENDS IN PHARMACOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Lucie Jelinkova, Hugo Jhun, Allison Eaton, Nikolai Petrovsky, Fidel Zavala, Bryce Chackerian
Summary: The study evaluated a VLP-based malaria vaccine targeting a novel epitope on CSP, showing high immunogenicity and protective efficacy against parasite infection in mice and macaques.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Dhanoop Manikoth Ayyathan, Gal Levy-Cohen, Moran Shubely, Sandy Boutros-Suleiman, Veronica Lepechkin-Zilbermintz, Michael Shokhen, Amnon Albeck, Arie Gruzman, Michael Blank
Summary: The study showed that targeting SMURF2 with synthetic peptides and peptidomimetics can stimulate its degradation, affecting cell growth and sensitivity to certain anticancer drugs. Additionally, a combination treatment of a SMURF2-targeting compound and the DNA-damaging drug etoposide significantly increased cytotoxicity in growing cells. These findings suggest that SMURF2 can be drugged through self-destructive autoubiquitination, impacting cell response to anticancer therapies.
JOURNAL OF ENZYME INHIBITION AND MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Khaled Hatabi, Yukari Hirohara, Yoshihiro Kushida, Yasumasa Kuroda, Shohei Wakao, James Trosko, Mari Dezawa
Summary: This study suggests that inhibiting GJ can up-regulate pluripotency gene expression in adherent cultured Muse cells, possibly involving the Cx43-YAP axis.
