Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Kazi Morshed Alom, Young Jun Seo
Summary: In this report, a method for selective and sensitive detection of methyl transferase activity is presented. This method utilizes a dsDNA probe with C3 spacers and dUThioTP-TdT polymerase-based poly-tailing. The probe contains a methyl transferase recognition sequence that can be methylated, unblocking the probe into two separate dsDNA forms with exposed 3' OH groups. This unblocked probe is then subjected to fluorescent dUThioTP-based tailing, producing a strong fluorescent signal indicating the presence of methyl transferase activity.
ANALYTICAL AND BIOANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Jun-Min Lee, Min-Ho Park, Bu-Soo Park, Min-Kyu Oh
Summary: This study achieved microbial production of S-methyl-methionine (SMM) by introducing a plant-derived MMT gene into engineered Saccharomyces cerevisiae sake K6.
JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL MICROBIOLOGY & BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Takafumi Ogawa, Koji Masumura, Yuki Kohara, Muneyoshi Kanai, Tomoyoshi Soga, Yoshikazu Ohya, T. Keith Blackwell, Masaki Mizunuma
Summary: Methionine restriction can extend lifespan and delay aging-associated pathologies. Supplementation with S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine (SAH) can mimic the effects of methionine restriction by reducing methionine levels and activating AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), thereby extending lifespan.
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Yun Shi, Ibrahim M. El-Deeb, Veronika Masic, Lauren Hartley-Tassell, Andrea Maggioni, Mark von Itzstein, Thomas Ve
Summary: Fibrillarin is a crucial enzyme involved in the methylation of ribosomal RNAs, playing key roles in viral infections and cancer development. Understanding the structure of hFBL can lead to the design of novel drugs with selective inhibitory effects against it.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Changqing Wu, Yu'e Liu, Wenju Liu, Tianhui Zou, Shaojuan Lu, Chengjie Zhu, Le He, Jie Chen, Lan Fang, Lin Zou, Ping Wang, Lihong Fan, Hongxiang Wang, Han You, Juxiang Chen, Jing-Yuan Fang, Cizhong Jiang, Yufeng Shi
Summary: This study identified the NNMT-DNMT1 axis as a critical molecular mechanism determining cancer cell sensitivity to OXPHOS inhibition, and revealed NNMT and DNMT1 as reliable biomarkers for OXPHOS-targeting cancer therapies.
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Seul Hoo Lee, Bongsang Kim, Kyung-Jin Kim
Summary: The study reported the biochemical and structural analysis of COMT enzyme from Niastella koreensis, revealing that its activity is mainly influenced by magnesium ion, but also shows significant activity with copper and zinc ions. Structural analysis showed that the region near the SAM binding site undergoes conformational changes upon binding of the cosubstrate and the metal ion. Additionally, by developing variants, the activity and selectivity of NkCOMT can be enhanced.
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Magnus Monne, Carlo M. T. Marobbio, Gennaro Agrimi, Luigi Palmieri, Ferdinando Palmieri
Summary: SAM is a crucial coenzyme involved in the modification of metabolites, DNA, RNA, and proteins. It is used by multiple enzymes in mitochondria for various important biological processes. Mutations in SAM-dependent enzymes are associated with human diseases.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mangal S. Kadam, V. L. S. Prasad Burra
Summary: Methylation plays a significant role in various diseases, and methyltransferases are important targets for drug development. However, the function of methyltransferases relies on the presence of SAM. This article provides a comprehensive analysis of SAM-receptor interactions and reveals crucial insights into the structure and function of SAM.
JOURNAL OF BIOMOLECULAR STRUCTURE & DYNAMICS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Syam Sundar Neti, Bo Wang, David F. Iwig, Elizabeth L. Onderko, Squire J. Booker
Summary: Fluoromethyl, difluoromethyl, and trifluoromethyl groups are important in pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals for their roles in efficacy and metabolic stability. Late-stage incorporation of fluorine-containing atoms in molecules has become a significant field in organic and medicinal chemistry, as well as synthetic biology. This study presents a novel fluoromethylating agent, FMeTeSAM, which is structurally and chemically similar to S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM) and supports efficient transfer of fluoromethyl groups to oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, and some carbon nucleophiles. FMeTeSAM is also applied in the fluoromethylation of precursors to oxaline and daunorubicin, two natural products with antitumor properties.
ACS CENTRAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biology
Nathaniel J. Stillson, Kyle E. Anderson, Norbert O. Reich
Summary: Epigenetic mechanisms, such as DNA methylation, play a crucial role in cancer development. Inhibiting abnormal DNA methylation by targeting DNA cytosine methyltransferases (DNMTs) has been validated as a clinical approach. This study proposes reversible and selective inhibitors of DNMT3A using molecular dynamics analysis and explores their binding energies. The findings suggest the potential of these small molecules to selectively target the active site of DNMT3A.
COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Review
Nutrition & Dietetics
Hammad Ullah, Ayesha Khan, Kannan R. R. Rengasamy, Alessandro Di Minno, Roberto Sacchi, Maria Daglia
Summary: Depression is a prevalent and serious health issue globally, and current treatment options are limited. SAMe and probiotics have shown potential therapeutic roles in depression by regulating microbial imbalance and reducing inflammation.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ryuichi Iwasaki, Tomohiro Bito, Atsushi Ishihara, Fumio Watanabe, Yukinori Yabuta
Summary: SAM and SAH are important biochemical intermediates, with SAM being the major methyl donor in vivo. The SAM to SAH ratio is a marker of methylation capacity. Stable isotope-labeled SAM and SAH are used to measure this ratio with high sensitivity. We focused on the SAHH of Pyrococcus horikoshii OT3 and prepared recombinant P. horikoshii SAHH to efficiently produce labeled SAH.
BIOSCIENCE BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Ching-Chi Hung, Bao-Ji Chen, Jiunn-Wang Liao, Yung-Ping Tai, Ching-Yi Chen
Summary: This study investigated the impact of seaweed supplementation on the distribution and metabolites of arsenic in broiler breasts, revealing significant variations between Ulva lactuca and Sargassum hemiphyllum var. chinense in terms of arsenic species and metabolites. The use of SHC-containing feeds in poultry production should be approached cautiously due to the potential accumulation of inorganic arsenic species in chicken breasts.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Zhong-Ce Hu, Chui-Mu Zheng, Yun-Chao Tao, Shu-Nan Wang, Yuan-Shan Wang, Zhi-Qiang Liu, Yu-Guo Zheng
Summary: This study aimed to increase the accumulation of S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM) in Saccharomyces cerevisiae by promoting ATP availability. The results showed that the lack of gene sod1 benefited ATP generation and positively regulated SAM synthesis. Additionally, improving substrate assimilation further enhanced SAM production. The SAM concentration of strain Delta SOD1 was increased from 7.3 g L-1 to 10.1 g L-1 in a 5-L fermenter.
ENZYME AND MICROBIAL TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Martina Carlessi, Lorenzo Mariotti, Francesca Giaume, Fabio Fornara, Pierdomenico Perata, Silvia Gonzali
Summary: Iodine deficiency is a global public health issue, and biofortification strategies in plants to increase iodine intake may pose environmental threats. Rice paddies are significant producers of methyl iodide, making agronomic iodine biofortification strategies unsuitable for this crop, potentially leading to increased iodine emissions.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Guadalupe Aguilar-Madrid, Juan Arturo Castelan-Vega, Cuauhtemoc Arturo Juarez-Perez, Rosa Maria Ribas-Aparicio, Iris Estrada-Garcia, Laura Baltierra-Jasso, Nicte Cervantes-Servin, Vanessa Mendez-Ortega, Luis C. Haro-Garcia, Francisco Raul Sanchez-Roman, Vianney Ortiz-Navarrete, Luis H. Fabila-Castillo, Anastasia Magana-Hernandez, Adolfo Chavez-Negrete, Fabio Abdel Salamanca-Gomez, Alicia Jimenez-Alberto
ARCHIVES OF MEDICAL RESEARCH
(2015)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Natalee Carapia-Minero, Juan Arturo Castelan-Vega, Nestor Octavio Perez, Aida Veronica Rodriguez-Tovar
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR MODELING
(2018)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Alicia Jimenez-Alberto, Patricia Parreiras, Juan Castelan-Vega, Lev Sirota, Juan Arciniega
Article
Immunology
Juan Castelan-Vega, Laura Corvette, Lev Sirota, Juan Arciniega
CLINICAL AND VACCINE IMMUNOLOGY
(2011)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Alicia Jimenez-Alberto, Esmeralda Alvarado-Facundo, Rosa Maria Ribas-Aparicio, Juan A. Castelan-Vega
Article
Virology
Wei Wang, Juan A. Castelan-Vega, Alicia Jimenez-Alberto, Russell Vassell, Zhiping Ye, Carol D. Weiss
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Karen Delgadillo-Gutierrez, Rosa Maria Ribas-Aparicio, Alicia Jimenez-Alberto, Gerardo Aparicio-Ozores, Juan A. Castelan-Vega
JOURNAL OF VIROLOGICAL METHODS
(2019)
Article
Biology
Alicia Jimenez-Alberto, Rosa Maria Ribas-Aparicio, Gerardo Aparicio-Ozores, Juan A. Castelan-Vega
COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY
(2020)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Abraham Reyes-Gastellou, Alicia Jimenez-Alberto, Juan Arturo Castelan-Vega, Gerardo Aparicio-Ozores, Rosa Maria Ribas-Aparicio
Summary: The study compared the sequences and computational structures of RNA-dependent RNA polymerases from CHIKV, DENV, and ZIKV, identifying conserved sites for potential antiviral drug design. Despite low sequence identity, the A, B, C, and E motifs were structurally well conserved, offering insights into critical target sites for drug design against these arboviruses.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR MODELING
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alejandro Escamilla-Gutierrez, Rosa Maria Ribas-Aparicio, Maria Guadalupe Cordova-Espinoza, Juan Arturo Castelan-Vega
Summary: RNA aptamers are single-stranded nucleic acids consisting of 20-100 nucleotides, showing high sensitivity and specificity towards particular molecular targets. The SELEX method for in vitro production and selection of aptamers is time-consuming and costly, which is why bioinformatics tools are proposed to reduce associated time and cost. This article presents strategies for modeling and analyzing the interaction with molecular targets, demonstrating the potential for in silico design of RNA aptamers through simplified methodologies.
NUCLEOSIDES NUCLEOTIDES & NUCLEIC ACIDS
(2021)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Karen Delgadillo-Gutierrez, Juan Arturo Castelan-Vega, Alicia Jimenez-Alberto, Mariana del Carmen Fernandez-Lizarraga, Gerardo Aparicio-Ozores, Gloria Paulina Monterrubio-Lopez, Rosa Maria Ribas-Aparicio
Summary: Influenza is a relevant problem with significant economic impact. Vaccination is considered the most effective tool for controlling and preventing influenza infections. However, the production of viral antigens for vaccines can pose biosafety risks, calling for new biotechnological alternatives. This study developed pseudotypes to detect neutralizing antibodies in avian sera, providing a versatile and safer platform for serological tools in quality control of veterinary vaccines against avian influenza.
JOURNAL OF VIROLOGICAL METHODS
(2022)