Review
Genetics & Heredity
Dongdong Lu, Jixian Zhai, Mengli Xi
Summary: The endosperm is a crucial storage tissue in plant seeds, providing nutrients for embryos or seedlings during seed development and germination. Although genetic information in the endosperm cannot be directly passed on, its inherited epigenetic marks have an impact on gene expression and subsequently influence embryo and seed growth. Understanding the effects of endosperm DNA methylation on crop yield and traits is highly significant.
FRONTIERS IN GENETICS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ji-Yun Shang, Xue-Wei Cai, Yin-Na Su, Zhao-Chen Zhang, Xin Wang, Nan Zhao, Xin-Jian He
Summary: This study reveals a previously unknown mechanism for the regulation of DNA methylation, showing that ATX1-5 proteins play a crucial role in plant development, survival, and the regulation of DNA methylation. The redundant ATX paralogues promote the expression and H3K4me3 levels of both RNA-directed DNA methylation genes and active DNA demethylation genes to regulate DNA methylation.
JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Dapeng Sun, Xiaojie Gan, Lei Liu, Yuan Yang, Dongyang Ding, Wen Li, Junyao Jiang, Wenbin Ding, Linghao Zhao, Guojun Hou, Jian Yu, Jie Wang, Fu Yang, Shengxian Yuan, Weiping Zhou
Summary: DNA methylation plays a crucial role in the development and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study systematically illustrated the dynamic changes in DNA methylation from premalignant to early-stage HCC. The findings showed that DNA hypermethylation of tumor suppressor genes was predominant in early-stage HCC, particularly affecting the expression of ZNF334. Moreover, high expression of ZNF334 was associated with longer overall survival and relapse-free survival in patients. Overall, this study provides important insights into the role of DNA methylation in HCC and suggests ZNF334 as a potential target for early diagnosis and precise treatment.
CELL DEATH & DISEASE
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Wenxiang Li, Yi Yu, Xuanrong Chen, Qian Fang, Anqi Yang, Xinyu Chen, Lei Wu, Chengyu Wang, Dechuan Wu, Sihong Ye, Dexiang Wu, Genlou Sun
Summary: More methylation changes occur in the late interval of wheat seed development, with protein and starch synthesis-related pathways enriched. This study provides novel insights into the dynamic changes of m(6)A and its roles in wheat grain development.
Review
Chemistry, Medicinal
Pedro de Sena Murteira Pinheiro, Lucas Silva Franco, Carlos Alberto Manssour Fraga
Summary: One key aspect of small-molecule drug discovery and development is analyzing the relationship between chemical structure and biological activity. Understanding the effects that cause significant changes in activity is crucial for designing and optimizing bioactive molecules. The methylation effect, or magic methyl effect, stands out due to numerous examples showing profound changes in pharmacodynamic or pharmacokinetic properties. This paper summarizes recent examples, providing an overview of the current state of the art and contributing to a better understanding of the methylation effect in bioactive small-molecule drug candidates.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jacek Rysz, Beata Franczyk, Magdalena Rysz-Gorzynska, Anna Gluba-Brzozka
Summary: The modifications in genomic DNA methylation play a crucial role in regulating normal and pathological cellular processes, and are associated with the development of diseases such as atherogenesis, cancers, and chronic kidney disease (CKD). Altered DNA methylation can affect the progression of renal disease by modulating the expression of pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic genes, as well as genes essential for kidney development and function. Understanding the genetic-epigenetic profile is important for unraveling the processes underlying CKD development and improving the ability to identify individuals at risk and choose appropriate disease management.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Adrian Krzyzanowski, Lea Marie Esser, Anthony Willaume, Renaud Prudent, Christoph Peter, Peter't Hart, Herbert Waldmann
Summary: The PRMT5-MEP50 methyltransferase is a major target for the development of anticancer drugs. Researchers have designed and synthesized a new peptide compound that specifically inhibits the interaction between PRMT5 and adaptor proteins RioK1 and pICln. This new inhibitor has great potential for further biological investigations.
JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Takashi Goto, Takashi Soyano, Meng Liu, Tomoko Mori, Masayoshi Kawaguchi
Summary: Nodule development requires spatiotemporal coordination between root epidermis and root cortex. In this study, we found that IAA carboxyl methyltransferase 1 (IAMT1) is transiently induced in wild-type roots at early stages of infection, but shows different expression dynamics in the mutant daphne. Knockdown of one of the IAMT1s, IAMT1a, inhibits nodule development in the root cortex. We also observed an increase in root MeIAA levels with rhizobial infection, and application of MeIAA induces expression of the symbiotic gene NIN in the absence of infection.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ling-Feng Zha, Jing-Lin Wang, Xiang Cheng
Summary: This review outlines how diverse RNA methylation alterations affect immune cell development and biological activity, as well as the role of RNA methylation in health and disease, to provide a molecular basis for future immunotherapies.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Maria I. Pozo, Benjamin J. Hunt, Gaby Van Kemenade, Jose M. Guerra-Sanz, Felix Waeckers, Eamonn B. Mallon, Hans Jacquemyn
Summary: Overall, the altered methylation patterns improved cooperation between workers without affecting abnormal worker dominance or caste determination. Treated colonies tended to develop faster with more workers at a given developmental stage, while control colonies had higher male production.
Article
Plant Sciences
Zi-Yuan Wang, Wan-Tong Qu, Tong Mei, Nan Zhang, Nai-Ying Yang, Xiao-Feng Xu, Hai-Bo Xiong, Zhong-Nan Yang, Qing-Bo Yu
Summary: This study further analyzed the function of AtRsmD in chloroplast development and photosynthesis, revealing its distinct regulatory roles in chloroplast translation.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yalan Yang, Xinhao Fan, Junyu Yan, Muya Chen, Min Zhu, Yijie Tang, Siyuan Liu, Zhonglin Tang
Summary: The study generated the first single-base resolution DNA methylome and transcriptome maps of porcine skeletal muscle across 27 developmental stages. The results showed a decrease in overall methylation level from embryo to adult, and identified over 40,000 developmentally differentially methylated CpGs.
NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Tania Chakraborty, Joshua T. Trujillo, Timmy Kendall, Rebecca A. Mosher
Summary: In this study, the researchers identified the second subunit of Pol IV, NRPD2, in grass plants and found that it functions with NRPD1 in small RNA production and CHH methylation in leaves. The homozygous nrpd2 mutants do not have gametophytic defects or embryo lethality, but adult plants are dwarf and sterile.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ramendu Parial, Hui Li, Jia Li, Stephen Archacki, Zhongcheng Yang, Isabel Z. Wang, Qiuyun Chen, Chengqi Xu, Qing K. Wang
Summary: m6A RNA methylation plays a crucial role in vascular development by regulating the AKT signaling pathway.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Junxiao Su, Shaokui Yi, Zexia Gao, Khalid Abbas, Xiaoyun Zhou
Summary: DNA methylation plays a crucial role in regulating the expression patterns of aromatase genes cyp19a1a and cyp19a1b during gametogenesis in Misgurnus anguillicaudatus. Methylation negatively regulates the expression of cyp19a1a in the ovaries, while cyp19a1b expression fluctuates in the brain but maintains high methylation levels. This study highlights the importance of DNA methylation in mediating gonadal development in teleosts.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2023)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Eri Imagawa, Tsuyoshi Konuma, Emalyn E. Cork, George A. Diaz, Kimihiko Oishi
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Kimihiko Oishi, Casey Siegel, Emalyn E. Cork, Hongjie Chen, Eri Imagawa
Summary: Cytosolic PEPCK deficiency (PCKDC) is a rare autosomal recessive inborn error of metabolism characterized by hypoglycemia, lactic acidosis, and liver failure. Nutritional intervention can improve growth restriction symptoms, and timely clinical monitoring and molecular testing are crucial for preventing poor clinical outcomes.
JOURNAL OF HUMAN GENETICS
(2021)
Article
Critical Care Medicine
Layne J. Silver, Stephanie Pan, John C. Bucuvalas, Jessica A. Reid-Adam, Kimihiko Oishi, George Ofori-Amanfo, Sandeep Gangadharan
Summary: The objective of this study was to determine the incidence, severity, and risk factors of postoperative acute kidney injury in pediatric liver transplant patients. The study found that acute kidney injury is common in these patients, and is associated with the severity of preoperative synthetic liver function.
JOURNAL OF INTENSIVE CARE MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Thomas W. Pawlowski, Jason Z. Stoller, Natalie E. Rintoul, Holly L. Hedrick, Michael D. Quartermain, Maria Fraga
Summary: The study suggests that POCUS is more accurate in evaluating ECMO venous cannula position than plain radiography, and there is substantial agreement between POCUS and echocardiography, indicating that POCUS may be a better method for assessing ECMO venous cannula position.
JOURNAL OF PERINATOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Pediatrics
Masatoshi Iijima, Daishi Hirano, Kentaro Yokoi, Hiroshi Kobayashi, Masako Fujiwara, Hiroyuki Ida, Kimihiko Oishi
Summary: Hunter syndrome is a lysosomal storage disease caused by a deficiency of the enzyme iduronate sulfatase. Upper airway obstruction is a major complication, and the severity of this obstruction is correlated with disease severity as assessed by neurocognitive function-based scoring systems. The Modified Mallampati classification can be a useful tool in evaluating disease severity and predicting respiratory complications in Hunter syndrome.
PEDIATRICS INTERNATIONAL
(2021)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Jason Z. Stoller, Maria Victoria Fraga
Summary: The study found high success rates of real-time ultrasound-guided LP when performed by neonatologist, with a first attempt success rate of 65% and overall success rate of 100%. There was a 69% rate of nontraumatic LP, and CSF RBC count was inversely correlated with PMA and weight at the time of LP.
JOURNAL OF PERINATOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Pediatrics
Naoto Nishizaki, Daishi Hirano, Kimihiko Oishi, Toshiaki Shimizu
Summary: This study evaluated the quality and reliability of Japanese YouTube videos about nocturnal enuresis. The results showed that most of these videos were of low quality, and healthcare experts should upload higher quality content.
PEDIATRICS INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Critical Care Medicine
Benjamin W. Kozyak, Maria Fraga, Courtney E. Juliano, Shazia Bhombal, David A. Munson, Erik Brandsma, Jason Z. Stoller, Ankit Jain, Russell Kesman, Malorie Meshkati, Caroline Y. Noh, Aaron G. Dewitt, Andrew T. Costarino, David A. Hehir, Alan M. Groves
Summary: Real-time ultrasound guidance combined with liver pressure improves the success rate of umbilical venous cannulation, especially in neonates with congenital heart disease.
PEDIATRIC CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Eri Imagawa, Latisha Moreta, Vinod K. Misra, Claire Newman, Tsuyoshi Konuma, Kimihiko Oishi
Summary: A mild phenotype including cleft palate, hypotonia, developmental delay, and minor dysmorphisms was observed in a 3-year-old male with a missense RBM10 variant. The variant affected the expression of downstream genes NUMB and TNRC6A through alternative splicing regulation, resulting in non-lethal developmental delays.
JOURNAL OF HUMAN GENETICS
(2023)
Article
Peripheral Vascular Disease
William Corder, Jason Z. Stoller, Maria Fraga
Summary: A retrospective review of 477 ultrasound guided peripheral arterial cannulations in infants found a first attempt success rate of 65% and an overall success rate of 86%. Success rates varied significantly by arterial location, with the radial artery having the highest success rates (72%, 91%) and the posterior tibial artery having the lowest (44%, 71%). Greater age and weight were associated with higher success rates (p = 0.006, p = 0.002). The use of real-time ultrasound guidance can improve success rates and an infant's weight and selected artery are strong predictors of success. Procedural ultrasound can reduce unnecessary attempts and minimize procedure-related harm.
JOURNAL OF VASCULAR ACCESS
(2023)
Article
Pediatrics
Maria V. Fraga, Kevin C. Dysart, Jason Z. Stoller, Matthew Huber, Anysia Fedec, Laura Mercer-Rosa, Haresh Kirpalani
Summary: This study aimed to determine the efficacy of inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) in reducing pulmonary artery pressure in infants with severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) as measured by echocardiography. The results showed that iNO significantly reduced pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in infants with severe BPD.
Article
Pediatrics
Haruhide Sakaguchi, Daishi Hirano, Aya Saito, Yoichi Takemasa, Chisato Umeda, Saori Miwa, Akira Ito, Kimihiko Oishi
Summary: We retrospectively evaluated the effectiveness and safety of tolvaptan in infants with congestive heart failure caused by congenital heart disease. The results suggest that tolvaptan can be safely and effectively used at a low dosage, and no significant adverse events were observed.
PEDIATRICS INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Meeting Abstract
Critical Care Medicine
Benjamin Kozyak, Maria Fraga, Courteny Juliano, Shazia Bhombal, David Munson, Erik Brandsma, Jason Stoller, Ankit Jain, Russell Kesman, Malorie Meshkati, Caroline Noh, Aaron DeWitt, Andrew Costarino, David Hehir, Alan Groves
CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE
(2022)
Meeting Abstract
Pediatrics
Benjamin W. Kozyak, Alan M. Groves, Maria V. Fraga, Courtney E. Juliano, Shazia Bhombal, David A. Munson, Erik Brandsma, Jason Z. Stoller, Ankit Jain, Andrew T. Costarino, David A. Hehir
Review
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Pankaj Prasun, Ilona Ginevic, Kimihiko Oishi
Summary: Fatty liver disease encompasses a range of liver diseases, with NAFLD being a global epidemic linked to modern dietary habits and lifestyle. ALD and NAFLD are the two main etiologies, with common themes in progression despite differing triggers for steatosis onset. Understanding the role of mitochondrial dysfunction in the pathogenesis of these diseases is crucial for more effective interventions.
TRANSLATIONAL GASTROENTEROLOGY AND HEPATOLOGY
(2021)