Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Dekel David, Ziv Bentulila, Merav Tauber, Yair Ben-Chaim
Summary: GPCRs are involved in signal transduction processes, and although they span the cell membrane, they have not been considered to be regulated by membrane potential. Recent studies, however, have shown that several GPCRs are voltage regulated. This review discusses the advances in understanding the voltage dependence of GPCRs, the suggested molecular mechanisms, and the possible physiological roles.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Sergi Ferre, Francisco Ciruela, Carmen W. Dessauer, Javier Gonzalez-Maeso, Terence E. Hebert, Ralf Jockers, Diomedes E. Logothetis, Leonardo Pardo
Summary: The study proposes the concept of GPCR-effect assemblies (GEMMAs), which are pre-assembled before receptor activation and allow more efficient interactions between specific signaling components. This offers an alternative model to the conventional collision coupling model and explains the differential properties of GPCRs in different cellular environments.
PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Valentina Figueroa, Andrea Bunger, Jaime Ortiz, Jose Miguel Aguilera
Summary: This study developed a vocabulary to describe the sensory attributes of three seaweeds consumed in Chile and found that they had distinct sensory characteristics. It also revealed that cooked Pyropia spp. had the highest umami taste, while cooked D. antarctica was sweeter and had more caramel notes. The study further demonstrated that D. antarctica exhibited desirable descriptors such as caramel and marine aromas, while U. lactuca was perceived as bitter and moldy.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYCOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Nam Hyuk Kim, Sumin Kang, Ga Hyeon Park, Goeun Shim, Tae Hyun Kang, Yeon Gyu Yu
Summary: G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) have become a popular drug target due to their correlation with disease indications. However, preparing functional GPCRs and efficiently screening antibodies targeting GPCRs remain challenging. This study developed a platform to isolate GPCR-specific antibodies by addressing the difficulties in GPCR preparation, and successfully discovered three GPCR-specific antibodies.
Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Fanhua Wang, Mingyao Liu, Ning Wang, Jian Luo
Summary: This review discusses the role of G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) in osteoarthritis (OA), including the pathophysiological processes involved, preclinical and clinical trial data, and the challenges in developing therapies targeting GPCRs for OA.
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Kate F. Byrne, Ajay Pal, James F. Curtin, John C. Stephens, Gemma K. Kinsella
Summary: The focus of the review is on G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) targets, with chemokine, cannabinoid, and dopamine receptors showing promise. Further research is needed on potential targets such as MC4R, adhesion receptors, LPA, and Smo receptors to develop new drug-screening strategies for safe and effective GBM therapies.
DRUG DISCOVERY TODAY
(2021)
Article
Biology
Michael A. Skuhersky, Fei Tao, Rui Qing, Eva Smorodina, David Jin, Shuguang Zhang
Summary: The accurate predictions of protein structures by AlphaFold2 have revolutionized biology, particularly structural biology. This study compared native chemokine receptor structures with their water-soluble QTY variants, showing high structural similarity despite significant sequence differences. Insights gained from this study may facilitate the design of water-soluble membrane proteins and other aggregated proteins.
Article
Biology
Ramon Cierco Jimenez, Nil Casajuana-Martin, Adrian Garcia-Recio, Lidia Alcantara, Leonardo Pardo, Mercedes Campillo, Angel Gonzalez
Summary: The study analyzed 119,069 natural variants in human olfactory receptors, revealing a significant diversity of natural variations in the olfactory gene repertoire between individuals and populations, with a considerable number of changes occurring at the structurally conserved regions. Mutations in positions linked to the conserved GPCR activation mechanism were highlighted, which could imply phenotypic variation in olfactory perception.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Xin-heng He, Chong-zhao You, Hua-liang Jiang, Yi Jiang, H. Eric Xu, Xi Cheng
Summary: G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are important drug targets that play crucial roles in various physiological processes. Although extensive efforts have been made in the field of structural biology, a significant number of GPCR structures remain unsolved due to their structural instability. Recently, AlphaFold2 has been developed as a tool to predict the structure models of GPCRs and other functionally important proteins. However, our evaluation reveals several differences between the predicted models and experimental structures, such as the assembly of domains, shape of ligand-binding pockets, and conformation of binding interfaces. These differences hinder the use of predicted structure models in functional studies and structure-based drug design, where reliable high-resolution structural information is required.
ACTA PHARMACOLOGICA SINICA
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Wojciech Pietrus, Rafal Kurczab, Dagmar Stumpfe, Andrzej J. Bojarski, Juergen Bajorath
Summary: The study showed that introducing fluorine can significantly increase ligand potency, but the effect of fluorination on affinity varies depending on the fluorination position. Fluorination of the aromatic ring at the ortho position is favorable for potency enhancement, while fluorination of aliphatic fragments more often leads to a decrease in biological activity.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yunfang Xiong, Ran Ke, Qingyu Zhang, Wenjun Lan, Wanjun Yuan, Karol Nga Ieng Chan, Tom Roussel, Yifan Jiang, Jing Wu, Shuai Liu, Alice Sze Tsai Wong, Joong Sup Shim, Xuanjun Zhang, Ruiyu Xie, Nelson Dusetti, Juan Iovanna, Nagy Habib, Ling Peng, Leo Tsz On Lee
Summary: This study reports the effective modulation of a GPCR for cancer treatment using small activating RNAs (saRNAs) for the first time. The saRNAs promote the expression of MAS1, a GPCR that counteracts cancer cell proliferation and migration. By enhancing MAS1 expression, these saRNAs suppress tumorigenesis and inhibit tumor progression in multiple cancer models. This research not only provides a new strategy for cancer therapy by targeting the renin-angiotensin system, but also offers a new avenue to modulate GPCR signaling through RNA activation.
Review
Engineering, Biomedical
Yuhong Jiang, Yuke Li, Xiujuan Fu, Yue Wu, Rujing Wang, Mengnan Zhao, Canquan Mao, Sanjun Shi
Summary: The translation article introduces the interaction between G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and nanotechnology, as well as how nanotechnology can improve the efficacy and safety of GPCR-related drugs. Nanotechnology can encapsulate GPCR ligands to construct synthetic nano-GPCRs and precisely initiate sustained endosomal signal transduction through nanoparticles. Moreover, nanoparticles can enhance the potency of delivery systems by actively targeting specific cells through ligand-receptor binding and receptor-dependent endocytosis.
ACTA BIOMATERIALIA
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Laura Lemel, Katarzyna Niescierowicz, M. Dolores Garcia-Fernandez, Leonardo Darre, Thierry Durroux, Marta Busnelli, Mylene Pezet, Fabrice Rebeille, Juliette Jouhet, Bernard Mouillac, Carmen Domene, Bice Chini, Vadim Cherezov, Christophe J. Moreau
Summary: The study revealed a stable binding of cholesterol molecules to OXTR in the presence of orthosteric ligands, leading to a positive cross-regulation between cholesterol and orthosteric ligands, which preserves the activity of the receptor in cholesterol-depleted membranes.
JOURNAL OF LIPID RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ashley N. Ives, Henry A. Dunn, Hamid Samareh Afsari, Henrique Dos Santos Seckler, Max J. Foroutan, Erica Chavez, Rafael D. Melani, Ryan T. Fellers, Richard D. LeDuc, Paul M. Thomas, Kirill A. Martemyanov, Neil L. Kelleher, Reza Vafabakhsh
Summary: G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are the largest family of membrane receptors in humans and play a crucial role in regulating human physiology. Different phosphorylation states can occur on a single GPCR and each state encodes a unique signaling outcome. Traditional proteomic techniques provide limited quantitative information about GPCR phosphorylation states. This study presents a middle-down proteomic strategy and parallel reaction monitoring (PRM) to quantify the phosphorylation states of the C-terminal tail of mGluR2, a type of GPCR.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2022)
Review
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Alyssa Grogan, Emilio Y. Lucero, Haoran Jiang, Howard A. Rockman
Summary: G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) play key roles in cardiac health and disease, and are targeted for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Recent advancements in understanding GPCR signaling, regulation, and pharmacological properties have provided valuable insights.
CARDIOVASCULAR RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
M. Joao Nunes, Victoria Paz, Cristina M. Cordas, Joao Paulo Noronha, Luis C. Branco
Summary: The generalized use of antibiotics in veterinary medicine may lead to antibiotic resistance development and transmission to humans. To address this issue, it is important to improve antibiotic removal from water, and hydrophobic ionic liquids may offer a solution. A methodology using LC-MS/MS for the identification and quantification of five antibiotics was developed and successfully applied to a liquid-liquid extraction process.
ANALYTICAL METHODS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Roberta G. Leita, Maria P. Silva, Mario S. Diniz, Mauro Guerra
Summary: This study mapped the distribution of Hg and other trace elements in zebrafish exposed to mercury (II) chloride to assess toxicity and bioaccumulation. The results showed bioaccumulation of Hg in fish organs, particularly in the gills, and the accumulation process was dose-dependent. Additionally, exposure to mercury(II) chloride did not alter levels of other trace elements in fish tissues.
JOURNAL OF TRACE ELEMENTS IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Medicinal
Maria Joao Botelho, Jelena Milinovic, Narcisa M. Bandarra, Carlos Vale
Summary: This paper examined the natural toxins produced by marine dinoflagellates and their effects on Alzheimer's disease. The study found that these toxins can reduce the production of disease-causing proteins and improve neuronal function, thus preventing the development of AD. Additionally, the research revealed the mechanism of another group of toxins that inhibit protein phosphatase activity, providing a model for testing new drugs.
Article
Physiology
Carolina Madeira, Marta Dias, Ana Ferreira, Raul Gouveia, Henrique Cabral, Mario S. Diniz, Catarina Vinagre
Summary: The research found that high temperature is the main factor influencing coral health, with thermotolerant and thermosensitive corals showing different responses at high temperatures. Additionally, there are complex interactions between temperature, predation, and species, affecting coral responses at physiological and molecular levels.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Jelena Milinovic, Filipe M. J. Figueiredo, Joao Paulo Noronha, Jose Sardinha
Summary: The application of energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (ED-XRF) has shown potential for accurate and nondestructive analysis of macroelements in edible seaweeds, which can be widely used in the food industry.
JOURNAL OF FOOD COMPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
(2022)
Correction
Food Science & Technology
C. M. Duarte, M. C. Nunes, P. Gojard, C. Dias, J. Ferreira, C. Prista, J. P. Noronha, I. Sousa
JOURNAL OF FUNCTIONAL FOODS
(2022)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Jelena Milinovic, Carlos Vale, Manuel Azenha
Summary: This research summarizes the recent applications of multivariate analysis (MVA) in soil surveys, including identifying soil types or characteristics and predicting soil attributes. The study finds that principal component analysis (PCA) can group soils into clusters based on their differences, while partial least square regression (PLSR) is effective in predicting soil attributes.
JOURNAL OF SOILS AND SEDIMENTS
(2023)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Joao Coelho, Melanie Court, Eve Otjacques, Vanessa M. Lopes, Jose Ricardo Paula, Tiago Repolho, Mario Diniz, Rui Rosa
Summary: Anthropogenic climate change has increased the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, such as marine heatwaves (MHW), which have significant impacts on marine ecosystems. This study evaluated the effects of simulated MHWs and low tide conditions on the early development of common cuttlefish. The results showed that temperature had a significant impact on development time, while tidal emersion had no significant effect. The embryos of the cuttlefish exhibited remarkable resilience to emersion conditions, and the simulated MHWs did not cause any sub-lethal oxidative stress-related effects.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Karolina Zalewska, Isabel Pinto, Luis Cabrita, Malgorzata E. Zakrzewska, Joao P. Noronha, M. Nunes da Ponte, Luis C. Branco
Summary: Different Chiral Ionic Liquids (CIL) based on L-proline have been developed using simple and efficient synthetic methodologies. These CILs, with L-proline as a cation or anion combined with suitable counter-ions, were characterized to evaluate the influence of counter-ions on their properties. The most promising CILs were tested as chiral catalysts in asymmetric Michael addition reactions, achieving similar or even better conversions and enantioselectivities compared to L-proline, and showed good product extraction performance using supercritical CO2 processes.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Ricardo Ferraz, Nuno Santarem, Andreia F. M. Santos, Manuel L. Jacinto, Anabela Cordeiro-da-Silva, Cristina Prudencio, Joao Paulo Noronha, Luis C. Branco, Zeljko Petrovski
Summary: This study focused on the development of novel OSILs-API based on amphotericin B and their biological activity against Leishmania infantum. The compounds synthesized showed increased activity compared with starting chloride forms, with [P-6,P-6,P-6,P-14][AmB] identified as the most promising formulation. Synergism in antiprotozoal activity was also evaluated for [P-6,P-6,P-6,P-14][AmB], indicating its potential as an agent against leishmaniasis.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Pedro Catalao Moura, Jorge Manuel Fernandes, Mario Sousa Diniz, Viktor Fetter, Valentina Vassilenko
Summary: This study aims to deepen the understanding of the organoleptic profiles of three edible seaweeds by analyzing the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) they emit. By statistically processing the collected data, it is possible to accurately differentiate the characteristic patterns of these seaweeds. The utilization of GC-IMS technology increases knowledge regarding their organoleptic profiles and provides an important step forward in the inclusion of these highly nutritional ingredients in the human diet.
Article
Biology
Jaquelino Varela, Sandra Martins, Melanie Court, Catarina Pereira Santos, Jose Ricardo Paula, Ines Joao Ferreira, Mario Diniz, Tiago Repolho, Rui Rosa
Summary: Sharks are highly vulnerable to climate change and oxygen loss in the ocean, which threatens their survival. A study found that hypoxia caused increased mortality and changes in behavior and physiology in shark embryos. However, the effects of oxygen loss on shark embryos were minimal under projected end-of-the-century deoxygenation levels.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Antonio Cid-Samamed, M. S. Diniz
Summary: This short review discusses recent advances in supramolecular chemistry in achieving the aggregation of nanoplastics in aquatic systems. Polymer modification is used to design surfactants for aggregating other polymers from the environment. Salt additions aid in the coagulation of nanoplastics in these systems. The review also summarizes the latest research on the removal efficiency of nanoplastics in wastewater treatment plants.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Bruno Moreira-Leite, Rafael Antunes, Joao Cotas, Nuno Martins, Nuno Costa, Joao P. Noronha, Paulina Mata, Mario Diniz
Summary: The study aims to investigate the effects of minimal processing, specifically Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP), on the physicochemical characteristics and food safety of two seaweed species. Results show that the MAP treatment can inhibit the respiration rate of seaweeds, preserve their color and texture, and reduce microbial contamination. Both seaweeds met the food safety requirements during the 15-day storage period.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Patricia Branco, Mario Diniz, Helena Albergaria
Summary: Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and Brettanomyces bruxellensis are major contaminants in bioethanol fermentations. This study found that certain S. cerevisiae wine strains secrete antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) during alcoholic fermentation that can inhibit LAB and B. bruxellensis strains. The fuel-ethanol commercial starter S. cerevisiae Ethanol Red (ER) also secretes these AMPs, which can be used as a natural preservative to control contaminants in fuel-ethanol fermentations.
FERMENTATION-BASEL
(2022)