Review
Nutrition & Dietetics
Nella Polidori, Eleonora Agata Grasso, Francesco Chiarelli, Cosimo Giannini
Summary: The impaired plasmatic levels of BCAAs in obese children and adolescents are associated with obesity-related metabolic disorders, potentially through the activation of the mTORC1 complex causing insulin resistance, and the accumulation of toxic metabolites leading to mitochondrial dysfunction and damage to pancreatic cells. These compounds may help in the early identification of complications related to pediatric obesity, but further studies are needed.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alex R. Ceseski, Amar S. Godar, Sara Ohadi, Kassim Al-Khatib
Summary: Weed resistance to acetohydroxyacid synthase (AHAS) inhibiting herbicides has become a major issue for rice growers worldwide since the early 1990s. In California, resistance to bensulfuron-methyl was first observed in Cyperus difformis in 1993, and since then, resistance to at least one AHAS inhibitor has been reported in most major rice weeds. This study investigated the magnitude and mechanisms of AHAS inhibitor cross-resistance in California populations of C. difformis, identifying six major patterns of cross-resistance and confirming the presence of both target-site and metabolic resistance.
PESTICIDE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Juan M. Vargas-Morales, Rocio Guizar-Heredia, Ana L. Mendez-Garcia, Berenice Palacios-Gonzalez, Alejandro Schcolnik-Cabrera, Omar Granados, Adriana M. Lopez-Barradas, Natalia Vazquez-Manjarrez, Isabel Medina-Vera, Miriam Aguilar-Lopez, Claudia Tovar-Palacio, Guillermo Ordaz-Nava, Ana K. Rocha-Viggiano, Eduardo Medina-Cerda, Nimbe Torres, Jose M. Ordovas, Armando R. Tovar, Martha Guevara-Cruz, Lilia G. Noriega
Summary: The study found that individuals with genetic variants in BCAT2 and BCKDH genes had significant differences in body weight, BMI, blood pressure, glucose, and certain circulating amino acid levels compared to those without these variants.
NUTRITION METABOLISM AND CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Zhonghua Sun, Xiuwei Li, Kai Wang, Ping Zhao, Jing Li, Weijing Wang, Maqsood Ahmed, Jamil Shafi, Bochui Zhao, Danni Fu, He Zhu, Mingshan Ji
Summary: The study found that populations of Sagittaria trifolia in paddy fields in Northeastern China have developed resistance to AHAS-inhibiting herbicides, with different populations showing resistance to different herbicides due to specific mutations in the AHAS gene. The resistant AHAS with mutations showed reduced sensitivity to feedback inhibition by BCAAs, leading to increased free BCAAs in the plants.
PESTICIDE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Agronomy
Rustem Ustun, Bulent Uzun
Summary: This study developed a novel herbicide-resistant soybean through the use of EMS mutagen. The mutagen was applied to the soybean seeds, resulting in the selection of a single resistant mutant. The AHAS gene regions of the mutant progeny were analyzed, revealing specific nucleotide changes and amino acid alterations responsible for herbicide resistance.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Barbara Kutasy, Zsolt Takacs, Judit Kovacs, Verelinde Bogaj, Syafiq A. Razak, Geza Hegedus, Kincso Decsi, Kinga Szekvari, Eszter Virag
Summary: Research using NGS technology on the AHAS enzyme in L. rigidum identified eight resistance-conferring amino acid mutation sites, with various amino acid substitutions observed among different samples. This study is the first to reveal that Pro197Thr in the AHAS enzyme confers a high level of resistance to the pyroxsulam herbicide.
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Wenjun Wang, Ting Li, Qi Chen, Shixiang Yao, Kaifang Zeng
Summary: As the most productive fruit in the world, there is a lack of research on disease resistance mechanisms in citrus. This study identified CsWRKY23 as a mediator of disease resistance in citrus, enhancing resistance to Penicillium digitatum. Through DNA affinity purification sequencing and RNA sequencing, 48 direct target genes of CsWRKY23 were identified. CsWRKY23 contributed to SA synthesis pathway, ROS accumulation, and cell wall strengthening, forming a possible regulatory network for disease resistance.
Article
Cell Biology
Nasa Sinnott-Armstrong, Isabel S. Sousa, Samantha Laber, Elizabeth Rendina-Ruedy, Simon E. Nitter Dankel, Teresa Ferreira, Gunnar Mellgren, David Karasik, Manuel Rivas, Jonathan Pritchard, Anyonya R. Guntur, Roger D. Cox, Cecilia M. Lindgren, Hans Hauner, Richard Sallari, Clifford J. Rosen, Yi-Hsiang Hsu, Eric S. Lander, Douglas P. Kiel, Melina Claussnitzer
Summary: The study identified a bivariate risk locus at 3q21 and prioritized a causal variant in the adenylate cyclase 5 intron, which affects lipid metabolism in bone and diabetes-relevant cells. The findings were validated through manipulation of regulator SREBP1, target gene ADCY5, and variant rs56371916, suggesting a novel link between fatty acid oxidation and osteoblast differentiation. This work represents a framework for uncovering biological mechanisms affecting pleiotropic traits through systematic functional dissection of GWAS loci.
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Jennifer Lee, Archana Vijayakumar, Phillip J. White, Yuping Xu, Olga Ilkayeva, Christopher J. Lynch, Christopher B. Newgard, Barbara B. Kahn
Summary: Elevating circulating BCAA levels through supplementation did not worsen insulin resistance or glucose tolerance in diet-induced obese mice, despite alterations in metabolites. The effects of BCAAs on glucose homeostasis differ significantly between mice and obese rats/humans.
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Jennifer Lee, Archana Vijayakumar, Phillip J. White, Yuping Xu, Olga Ilkayeva, Christopher J. Lynch, Christopher B. Newgard, Barbara B. Kahn
Summary: This study found that mildly increasing circulating BCAAs and a subset of ACs through BCAA supplementation does not worsen insulin resistance or glucose tolerance in diet-induced obese mice. The effects of BCAAs on glucose homeostasis in this mouse model are different from those reported in obese rats and humans.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Eunyoung Lee, Zhenan Liu, Nhu Nguyen, Angus C. Nairn, Audrey N. Chang
Summary: In this study, the researchers identified the main isoform of PP1c beta expressed in cardiac myocytes and investigated its role in maintaining RLC phosphorylation in vivo. They found that cardiac muscle pathogenesis in PP1c beta knockout animals involves upregulation of total PP1c alpha in myocytes and non-muscle cells. Additionally, they discovered that phosphorylated myofibrillar cardiac myosin is dephosphorylated by both myosin-targeted and soluble MYPT-independent PP1c beta activities. These findings enhance our understanding of cardiac-MLCP in vivo.
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Cinta M. Papke, Kali A. Smolen, Mark R. Swingle, Lauren Cressey, Richard A. Heng, Mourad Toporsian, Liyong Deng, Jacob Hagen, Yufeng Shen, Wendy K. Chung, Arminja N. Kettenbach, Richard E. Honkanen
Summary: Functional genomic approaches have advanced the discovery and understanding of rare genetic disorders, such as PPP2R5D-related disorder. The disorder, characterized by intellectual disability, hypotonia, autism-spectrum disorder, macrocephaly, and dysmorphic features, is caused by de novo single nucleotide changes in PPP2R5D. Research has shown that the E420K variant in PPP2R5D leads to altered signaling networks that can be regulated by rapamycin.
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Shmuel Galili, Joseph Hershenhorn, Marvin Edelman, Vladimir Sobolev, Evgeny Smirnov, Orit Amir-Segev, Aharon Bellalou, Evgenia Dor
Summary: Chickpea is an important crop in Israel, but sensitive to imidazolinone herbicides. A chickpea line resistant to these herbicides was developed using chemical mutagenesis, with a point mutation detected in one of the genes encoding the AHAS catalytic subunit. The mutation provided resistance to a specific group of herbicides and showed single-gene semi-dominant inheritance pattern, as confirmed by genetic transformation in tobacco plants.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Hilary T. Brewis, Alice Y. Wang, Aline Gaub, Justine J. Lau, Peter C. Stirling, Michael S. Kobor
Summary: Chromatin structure remodeling is crucial for genome function, with histone variants playing a key role in regulating DNA accessibility. This study identified specific regions of the H2A.Z histone variant that contribute to its function, particularly in interactions with chromatin remodeling proteins. Additionally, the presence of H2A.Z is important for gene regulation and maintenance of heterochromatin-euchromatin boundaries.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Brittany L. Ford, Ting Wei, Hester Liu, Catherine E. Scull, Saman M. Najmi, Stephanie Pitts, Wenjun Fan, David A. Schneider, Marikki Laiho
Summary: This study investigates the role of RPA12 in the regulation of RPA194 in human cancer cells. The results show that RPA12 affects the expression and localization of RPA194 and RPA135, but does not influence the transcription activity of Pol I or its engagement with chromatin. Additionally, RPA12 does not impact the degradation of RPA194 mediated by the small-molecule Pol I inhibitor BMH-21. These findings provide new insights into the regulatory factors controlling the expression of the Pol I catalytic subunit.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Juri Sakata, Toshifumi Tatsumi, Akira Sugiyama, Akihiro Shimizu, Yuya Inagaki, Hiroto Katoh, Takefumi Yamashita, Kazuki Takahashi, Sho Aki, Yudai Kaneko, Takeshi Kawamura, Mai Miura, Masazumi Ishii, Tsuyoshi Osawa, Toshiya Tanaka, Shumpei Ishikawa, Masanobu Tsukagoshi, Michael Chansler, Tatsuhiko Kodama, Motomu Kanai, Hidetoshi Tokuyama, Kenzo Yamatsugu
Summary: This study reports an expression, refolding, and purification method for antibody-mimetic drug conjugate (AMDC). The AMDC uses a variable heavy chain of heavy chain-only antibodies (VHHs) as the targeting protein and non-covalently binds to a potent DNA-alkylating drug. The AMDC shows strong cytotoxic effects on cancer cells.
PROTEIN EXPRESSION AND PURIFICATION
(2024)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Yao Wang, Shaoting Weng, Yajie Tang, Sen Lin, Xiayue Liu, Wenhui Zhang, Gang Liu, Boomi Pandi, Yinrong Wu, Lei Ma, Lin Wang
Summary: In this study, a high yield of recombinant CD20 and claudin 18.2 proteins was achieved using an in vitro coupled transcription-translation system. The results showed that rituximab has a high affinity with CD20 protein. This study provides a novel concept for promoting the expression of multi-pass transmembrane proteins and lays the foundation for large-scale industrial production of membrane-associated drug targets.
PROTEIN EXPRESSION AND PURIFICATION
(2024)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Xiaobing Chen, Zijuan Zou, Wei Li, Xu Dong, Yi Chen, Yan Lu, Mingyue Zhu, Mengsen Li, Bo Lin
Summary: In this study, the fusion protein ImI-AFP3, composed of alpha-Conotoxin ImI and human alpha fetoprotein domain 3 (AFP3), was found to inhibit the growth and migration of lung cancer cells and showed synergistic effects with the drug gefitinib. These findings suggest that ImI-AFP3 is a promising candidate for the development of anticancer drugs.
PROTEIN EXPRESSION AND PURIFICATION
(2024)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Angel Castillo-Corujo, Mirva J. Saaranen, Lloyd W. Ruddock
Summary: This study successfully expressed two Fabs antibodies in the cytoplasm of E. coli using the CyDisCo system, achieving high yields and biological activity under industrially relevant fermentation conditions.
PROTEIN EXPRESSION AND PURIFICATION
(2024)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Junling Guo, Zhongyi Cheng, Zhemin Zhou
Summary: This study focused on a halophilic archaeal nitrile hydratase (NHase) and found that it exhibited higher tolerance to substrates and products compared to NHases from other sources. The unique genetic structure of this highly stable archaeal NHase could provide a theoretical foundation for modifying and enhancing the industrial application of NHase.
PROTEIN EXPRESSION AND PURIFICATION
(2024)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Yunlong Shen, Ruirui Zhang, Xiaohua Jiang, Jinliang Yang
Summary: The study developed a monoclonal antibody, B1M023, that can bind to LILRB1 with high affinity and block its binding to HLA-G. This antibody can promote the activation and IFN-gamma secretion of T cells, suggesting its potential applications in concomitant diagnosis and tumor immunotherapy.
PROTEIN EXPRESSION AND PURIFICATION
(2024)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Jun Jiang, Zhengqiang Jiang, Qiaojuan Yan, Susu Han, Shaoqing Yang
Summary: A novel alginate lyase gene from a marine bacterium showed efficient enzyme activity and stability, producing high conversion ratios of alginate oligosaccharides.
PROTEIN EXPRESSION AND PURIFICATION
(2024)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Xianghua Xiong, Yujin Qiu, Jiahao Zheng, Ling Zhou, Qingyang Wang, Jinglun Pang, Weicai Zhang, Huipeng Chen, Gang Liu, Xiaodong Han
Summary: A specific monoclonal antibody ML419 has been found to disrupt the recognition between Botulinum neurotoxin serotype A (BoNT/A) and FGFR3, effectively preventing BoNT/A from entering neurons. In vivo experiments show that ML419 has a strong protective effect, making it a promising candidate for the development of therapeutics against BoNT/A.
PROTEIN EXPRESSION AND PURIFICATION
(2024)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Maria Rain Jennings, Soohyon Min, Grace S. Xu, Kassandra Homayuni, Bhavana Suresh, Yusef Amir Haikal, John Blazeck
Summary: This study successfully produced Homo sapiens adenosine deaminase isoform 1 (HsADA1) and its variants through optimizing the recombinant expression process. The D8N variant of HsADA1 was found to be about 30% less active than the wildtype, but it better retained its activity in human serum. Additionally, the study revealed a previously undescribed phenomenon involving albumin that contributed to the increased activity of HsADA1 and the D8N variant in serum.
PROTEIN EXPRESSION AND PURIFICATION
(2024)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Oinam Sangita Devi, Senjam Sunil Singh, K. Rana, Sorokhaibam Jibankumar Singh, Wayenbam Sobhachandra Singh
Summary: A new lectin with hemagglutination activity was purified from the rhizome of Xanthosoma violaceum Schott. The lectin showed different reactions towards human red blood cells of different blood groups. It exhibited optimal hemagglutination activity at specific temperature and pH range, and showed good stability.
PROTEIN EXPRESSION AND PURIFICATION
(2024)