Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ana Valente, Luis Vieira, Maria Joao Silva, Celia Ventura
Summary: DNA methylation is an epigenetic mechanism that involves the addition of a methyl group to a cytosine residue in CpG dinucleotides, which are particularly abundant in gene promoter regions. Studies have shown that modifications of DNA methylation may have an impact on the adverse health effects caused by exposure to environmental toxicants. This review aims to investigate the possible impact of nanomaterials on DNA methylation.
Article
Oncology
Jake A. Kloeber, Zhenkun Lou
Summary: The acquisition of DNA damage is an early driving event in tumorigenesis, and DNA damage is also a targetable vulnerability in cancer cells. Researchers are exploring the cellular and molecular mechanisms governing DNA integrity, discussing the relationship between DNA repair and tumorigenesis, and how oncogenes promote DNA damage through replication stress.
SEMINARS IN CANCER BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yara Maayah, Humza Nusrat, Geordi Pang, Mauro Tambasco
Summary: This study explored the feasibility of using plasmid DNA-based detectors to assess the DNA damaging effectiveness of radiotherapy X-ray beams after undergoing long-distance shipment. The results showed that the 100 kVp irradiation caused a higher rate of DNA double strand breaks compared to the 6 MV beams, and the 100 kVp irradiation also resulted in a higher ratio of DSBs to SSBs compared to the 6 MV beam.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lindsey Carlsen, Wafik S. El-Deiry
Summary: The TP53 gene, encoding the tumor suppressor protein p53, is mutated in around 50% of cancers. After DNA damage, p53 acts as a transcription factor to activate target genes for cell fates such as apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, and DNA repair. The complex regulatory network controlling target gene selection by p53 varies across contexts such as treatment type, cell type, and tissue type.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Review
Oncology
Larissa Costa de Almeida, Felipe Antunes Calil, Joao Agostinho Machado-Neto, Leticia Veras Costa-Lotufo
Summary: Cancer genome instability is caused by various defects in DNA repair machinery, making cancer cells more vulnerable to DNA targeting agents. The interaction between DNA repair deficiency and increased effects of DNA targeting agents emphasizes the importance of double-strand break (DSB) repair. Despite limitations, DNA-targeting drugs play a crucial role in cancer therapy when combined with targeted therapy and immunotherapy.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Bintian Zhang, Eathen Ryan, Xu Wang, Stuart Lindsay
Summary: Proteins, as molecular electronic components, have a long electronic decay length of around 10 nm, high contact resistance, and extreme sensitivity to chemical details of the contact. The conductance of even large bioelectronic assemblies is largely controlled by the conductance of the contacts. Using engineered streptavidin tetramers with defined ratios of active to dead monomers, researchers found a strong dependence of conductance on the separation of biotin molecules, indicating a short-range tunneling interaction within streptavidin. The presence of hexaglutamate tails on active monomers enhances conductance significantly through an electronic resonance effect in protein conductance.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2021)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Carla Bautista, Souhir Marsit, Christian R. Landry
Summary: The study found that although both hybrids and parents can adapt to DNA damage conditions, hybrids adapt at a slower rate and with a higher cost. This could be due to the interaction between DNA damage and the inherent genetic instability in hybrids.
EVOLUTIONARY APPLICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Anna Banasiak, Nicolo Zuin Fantoni, Andrew Kellett, John Colleran
Summary: Several classes of copper complexes have been found to induce oxidative DNA damage, leading to cell death and showing potential as anticancer agents. By analyzing a new compound library, it was discovered that TPMA complexes are a promising class of DNA damaging agents with tunable activity.
Article
Critical Care Medicine
John J. Marini, Lauren T. Thornton, Patricia R. M. Rocco, Philip S. Crooke
Summary: Although airway pressures and volumes provide relevant information about lung mechanics, they do not fully capture the forces acting on the lung tissues themselves. To better understand the development of ventilator-induced lung injury, it is important to consider factors such as alveolar dimension and morphology.
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Peixia Li, Yayin Du, Jingru Qiu, Donghai Li, Guiling Li, Gang Shan
Summary: A nuclear-targeted photosensitizer PARP-PS is developed as a dual-mode DNA-damaging agent and immune activator for tumor ablation. PARP-PS can block the DNA repair pathway by inhibiting and degrading PARP1, enhancing ROS-mediated DNA damage.
ADVANCED HEALTHCARE MATERIALS
(2023)
Review
Oncology
Jordan D. Lewicky, Alexandrine L. Martel, Mukul Raj Gupta, Rene Roy, Galaxia M. Rodriguez, Barbara C. Vanderhyden, Hoang-Thanh Le
Summary: Many traditional cancer treatments induce DNA damage, and the cGAS-STING signaling axis helps to explain their immunostimulatory effects. The cGAS-STING axis has the potential to overcome barriers in cancer immunotherapy and address immunosuppressive tumor microenvironments. The balance between antitumor and protumor/inflammatory activities of the cGAS-STING axis is critical in utilizing its immunotherapeutic potential.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yu-Jin Kim, Jihun Song, Dong-Hyun Lee, Soong Ho Um, Suk Ho Bhang
Summary: Low-energy white light from an LED can selectively inhibit cancer cell proliferation without affecting normal cells, offering a potential treatment for cancer.
JOURNAL OF PHOTOCHEMISTRY AND PHOTOBIOLOGY B-BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xin Wang, Shengyuan Shao, Tianyu Zhang, Qianqian Zhang, Dinglong Yang, Jianmin Zhao
Summary: This study evaluated the effects of poly-styrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs) exposure on the gills of mussels. The results showed that PS-NPs exposure led to an increase in total antioxidant capacity, inhibition of acetylcholine activity, alteration in ion content and transport enzyme activity, as well as interference with metabolic enzyme activity and lipids content. These findings provide important information on the physiological responses of invertebrate gills to PS-NPs exposure.
MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Sarah S. Poulsen, Stefan Bengtson, Andrew Williams, Nicklas R. Jacobsen, Jesper T. Troelsen, Sabina Halappanavar, Ulla Vogel
Summary: The study found differences in transcriptomic responses in the lung and liver of mice after exposure to graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO). GO exposure induced more differentially expressed genes, affected more functions and pathways compared to rGO. The differences in responses suggest that physicochemical properties play a significant role in biological effects of graphene-based materials.
TOXICOLOGY AND APPLIED PHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Qinglin Sun, Tianyu Li, Yang Yu, Yang Li, Zhiwei Sun, Junchao Duan
Summary: The toxicological effects of nanomaterials on health and the environment are gradually attracting attention due to the epigenetic alterations they cause, including DNA methylation, noncoding RNA expression, and histone modifications. These alterations can contribute to the onset and development of various diseases and serve as potential biomarkers for early diagnosis and prevention.
WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-NANOMEDICINE AND NANOBIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)