Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Paola Valentini, Bianca Pierattini, Elsa Zacco, Damiano Mangoni, Stefano Espinoza, Natalie A. Webster, Byron Andrews, Piero Carninci, Gian Gaetano Tartaglia, Luca Pandolfini, Stefano Gustincich
Summary: SINEUPs are a novel class of natural and synthetic non-coding antisense RNA molecules that can increase the translation of a target mRNA, with a modular organization. Through chemical modifications, SINEUP activity can be realized, with the m6A and psi combination showing the best performance and improved stability.
MOLECULAR THERAPY-NUCLEIC ACIDS
(2022)
Review
Plant Sciences
Sergey M. Rozov, Elena Deineko
Summary: This article introduces different approaches for increasing the yield of recombinant proteins, including transporting the target protein to cell compartments with low protease activity. The mechanisms of protein targeting, types and structures of signal peptide sequences, and the impact of protein targeting on yield are discussed, along with the search for signal sequences based on their primary structure.
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Nicklas Osterlund, Sebastian K. T. S. Warmlander, Astrid Graslund
Summary: Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) derived from a prion protein (PrP) have exhibited disease-modifying properties against prion proteins and the amyloid-beta (A beta) peptide in Alzheimer's disease. These CPPs can interact with PrP/A beta and redirect their aggregation pathways, resulting in reduced cell-toxicity.
Review
Oncology
Jiani Xing, Haizhou Liu, Wei Jiang, Lihong Wang
Summary: This article summarizes the regulatory pathways of mammalian lncRNA-encoded peptides in influencing muscle function, mRNA stability, and gene expression, as well as their promoting and inhibiting functions in different cancers and other diseases. It also introduces the computational predicting methods and data resources for predicting the coding ability of lncRNA, aiming to provide references for further coding research and contribute to revealing the potential prospects for targeted tumor therapy.
FRONTIERS IN ONCOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Neil C. Dalvie, Christopher A. Naranjo, Sergio A. Rodriguez-Aponte, Ryan S. Johnston, J. Christopher Love
Summary: We found that incomplete cleavage of the signal peptide causes the formation of an aggregated product-related variant of the SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain. By extending the N-terminus with a short functional peptide or using the EAEA residues from the native signal peptide, we eliminated this variant and significantly improved the secreted protein titer. We applied this strategy to other recombinant subunit vaccine antigens and consistently eliminated the same aggregated product-related variant. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the addition of a single amino acid to the N-terminus can achieve improved quality and secreted titer.
MICROBIAL CELL FACTORIES
(2022)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Marianna Teixeira de Pinho Favaro, Jan Atienza-Garriga, Carlos Martinez-Torro, Eloi Parlade, Esther Vazquez, Jose Luis Corchero, Neus Ferrer-Miralles, Antonio Villaverde
Summary: The recent outbreaks of Ebola, avian influenza, monkeypox, and the COVID-19 pandemic have highlighted the urgent need for effective and cost-effective vaccines against infectious diseases. New DNA or RNA-based vaccination strategies have shown promise, but their long-term protection needs to be evaluated. Subunit vaccines based on recombinant proteins obtained from genetic engineering also have potential for development.
MICROBIAL CELL FACTORIES
(2022)
Review
Engineering, Chemical
Yu-Hsiang Chi, Li-Fen Huang
Summary: A plant cell-based recombinant protein expression system has advantages in biosafety and cost, but its yields need to be improved. This review updates and highlights potential strategies to improve the alpha Amy3-based rice suspension cell-based system.
Article
Cell Biology
Wan-Hui Guo, Qi Guo, Ya-Lin Liu, Dan-Dan Yan, Li Jin, Rong Zhang, Jing Yan, Xiang-Hang Luo, Mi Yang
Summary: This study identifies a rs3819316 C > T mutation in lncRNA Reg1cp as a risk factor for Type 2 diabetes (T2D). Analysis of a Chinese population reveals that individuals with Mut-Reg1cp have a higher likelihood of developing T2D and exhibit impaired insulin secretion and increased insulin resistance. Further investigations demonstrate that Mut-Reg1cp disrupts insulin mRNA stability by inhibiting PTBP1 phosphorylation in islet beta cells, leading to the development of insulin resistance.
CELL DEATH & DISEASE
(2022)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Ke Ma, Lei Deng, Haizhen Wu, Jianhua Fan
Summary: Microalgae are widely distributed organisms in nature that play a vital role in reducing industrial carbon emissions. They have the unique advantage of being able to carry out photosynthesis and harbor both prokaryotic and eukaryotic expression systems, making them a popular host for recombinant proteins. This article focuses on the latest technological progress in selectable markers for genetic engineering of microalgae, particularly the model species Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. The development of genetic tools and strategies has made it more feasible to develop microalgae chloroplasts as green factories for producing recombinant proteins. However, further techniques and toolkits need to be developed for efficient and markerless editing of plastid genomes.
BIORESOURCES AND BIOPROCESSING
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Qiangnu Zhang, Teng Wei, Lesen Yan, Siqi Zhu, Wen Jin, Yu Bai, Yuandi Zeng, XiaoFei Zhang, Zexin Yin, Jilin Yang, Wenjian Zhang, Meilong Wu, Yusen Zhang, Liping Liu
Summary: This study reveals that a liver-specific putative lncRNA, AC115619, is expressed at low levels in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and encodes a micropeptide, AC115619-22aa. The encoded micropeptide plays a crucial role in the regulation of tumor progression by inhibiting the assembly of the m6A methyltransferase complex. This finding suggests that AC115619 and its encoded micropeptide could serve as potential prognostic markers and therapeutic targets for HCC.
Article
Cell Biology
Aoran Luo, Xiaoxiao Lan, Qiongzi Qiu, Qing Zhou, Jia Li, Mengting Wu, Pengyuan Liu, Honghe Zhang, Bingjian Lu, Yan Lu, Weiguo Lu
Summary: In this study, the researchers identified and explored the function and mechanism of long non-coding RNA surfactant associated 1 (SFTA1P) in cervical cancer. They found that SFTA1P is upregulated in cervical tumor tissues and its high expression is associated with poor prognosis. Knockdown of SFTA1P inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of cervical cancer cells in vitro, as well as tumorigenesis and metastasis in vivo. Mechanistically, SFTA1P was shown to interact with polypyrimidine tract binding protein 1 (PTBP1) to regulate the stability of tropomyosin 4 (TPM4) mRNA, thereby resulting in malignant cell phenotypes. These findings provide a potential therapeutic strategy to target the SFTA1P-PTBP1-TPM4 axis in cervical cancer.
CELL DEATH & DISEASE
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Juze Yang, Xinyi Qian, Qiongzi Qiu, Lingling Xu, Meidie Pan, Jia Li, Jiayi Ren, Bingjian Lu, Ting Qiu, Enguo Chen, Kejing Ying, Honghe Zhang, Yan Lu, Pengyuan Liu
Summary: This study reveals the significant role of the LCAT1-IGF2BP2-CDC6 axis in promoting the growth and migration of lung cancer cells, highlighting the critical role of LCAT1 in m(6)A-dependent gene regulation as well.
CELL DEATH & DISEASE
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mengting Deng, Xueqin Lv, Long Liu, Jianghua Li, Guocheng Du, Jian Chen, Yanfeng Liu
Summary: The increasing global population and protein demand pose challenges for food supply. Synthetic biology-based microbial cell factories are promising for scalable and cost-effective production of alternative proteins, especially milk proteins.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Shuangying Chao, Yuhang Liu, Ning Ding, Yue Lin, Qian Wang, Junwen Tan, Wei Li, Yang Zheng, Xuejun Hu, Junming Li
Summary: In this study, the expression system of anti-GFP VHHs in E. coli was optimized, and it was found that signal peptides like OmpA and PelB can efficiently enhance the solubility of VHHs without affecting their bioactivity. This provides a novel strategy for the industrial production of soluble VHHs and the research of other VHHs.
FRONTIERS IN MOLECULAR BIOSCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Hu Zeng, Jiahao Huang, Jingyi Ren, Connie Kangni Wang, Zefang Tang, Haowen Zhou, Yiming Zhou, Hailing Shi, Abhishek Aditham, Xin Sui, Hongyu Chen, Jennifer A. Lo, Xiao Wang
Summary: The precise control of mRNA translation is crucial in posttranscriptional gene regulation, but it is challenging to study it systematically at the transcriptomic scale with spatial and single-cell resolution. The researchers developed a method called RIBOmap to detect cellular translatome. The study revealed cell cycle-dependent translational control and colocalized translation of functional gene modules.
Article
Neurosciences
Lara Masperone, Marta Codrich, Francesca Persichetti, Stefano Gustincich, Silvia Zucchelli, Giuseppe Legname
Summary: The cellular prion protein (PrP(C)) interacts with TRAF6 protein, resulting in the redistribution and aggregation of PrP(C) through indirect modulation of PrP(C) ubiquitination. This novel interaction may uncover possible mechanisms of cell clearance and reorganization in prion diseases.
MOLECULAR NEUROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Elsa Zacco, Owen Kantelberg, Edoardo Milanetti, Alexandros Armaos, Francesco Paolo Panei, Jenna Gregory, Kiani Jeacock, David J. Clarke, Siddharthan Chandran, Giancarlo Ruocco, Stefano Gustincich, Mathew H. Horrocks, Annalisa Pastore, Gian Gaetano Tartaglia
Summary: In this study, aptamers specific for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis protein TDP-43 were successfully designed and used to track TDP-43 phase transition in vitro and in cells.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Developmental Biology
Keagan Dunville, Fabrizio Tonelli, Elena Novelli, Azzurra Codino, Verediana Massa, Anna Maria Frontino, Silvia Galfre, Francesca Biondi, Stefano Gustincich, Matteo Caleo, Luca Pandolfini, Claudia Alia, Federico Cremisi
Summary: By re-activating WNT signalling and using specific laminin isoforms, neural progenitor cells with a gene expression profile resembling human embryonic DG cells can be cultured in vitro. These cells play a crucial role in prolonging the neural stem state and extending progenitor cell proliferation, while laminin 511 signalling maintains their capability to undergo hippocampal neurogenesis.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Silvia Maggi, Carlotta Bon, Stefano Gustincich, Valter Tucci, Raul R. Gainetdinov, Stefano Espinoza
Summary: Trace amine-associated receptor 5 (TAAR5) modulates cognitive processes, potentially affecting the number of errors and the rate of task improvement.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Yavor Hadzhiev, Lucy Wheatley, Ledean Cooper, Federico Ansaloni, Celina Whalley, Zhelin Chen, Sara Finaurini, Stefano Gustincich, Remo Sanges, Shawn Burgess, Andrew Beggs, Ferenc Mueller
Summary: In anamniote embryos, the major wave of zygotic genome activation occurs during the mid-blastula transition, while some genes escape repression and contribute to the minor wave. The mechanisms underlying the minor wave of genome activation are not well understood. This study investigated a specific transcription body involved in the minor wave of activation in zebrafish and found that it is not essential for global transcription in the minor wave. Instead, distinct promoter architectures and promoter-autonomous mechanisms regulate the minor wave of genome activation.
DEVELOPMENTAL CELL
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Caterina Gasperini, Kiril Tuntevski, Silvia Beatini, Roberta Pelizzoli, Amanda Lo Van, Damiano Mangoni, Rosa M. Cossu, Giovanni Pascarella, Paolo Bianchini, Pascal Bielefeld, Margherita Scarpato, Meritxell Pons-Espinal, Remo Sanges, Alberto Diaspro, Carlos P. Fitzsimons, Piero Carninci, Stefano Gustincich, Davide De Pietri Tonelli
Summary: Piwil2 is crucial for neurogenesis in the adult hippocampus, and its expression is related to the dynamic expression of piRNAs. Depletion of Mili and piRNAs affects aNPCs differentiation, induces senescence, and generates reactive glia in the adult hippocampus. Mili depletion results in the modulation of transcripts with sequences complementary or homologous to piRNAs, including repetitive elements and mRNAs encoding essential proteins for proper neurogenesis.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Flavia Carton, Simona Casarella, Dalila Di Francesco, Emma Zanella, Annarita D'urso, Luca Di Nunno, Luca Fusaro, Diego Cotella, Maria Prat, Antonia Follenzi, Francesca Boccafoschi
Summary: Cells of the cardiovascular system are exposed to various mechanical forces that are crucial for cardiac development and functions. Focal adhesion (FA) complexes and actomyosin networks play vital roles in regulating cellular behaviors related to cytoskeleton dynamics, cell adhesion, migration, differentiation, and tissue organization. This study investigates the involvement of FA in cardiomyocyte differentiation, focusing on vinculin and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) family. The results show that differentiation conditions upregulate FAK-Tyr397 and vinculin, leading to their translocation to the cell membrane. Mechanical stretching also affects the cell shape and the length and number of vinculin-positive FAs, indicating the significant role of mechanotransductive pathways in cardiomyocyte differentiation and cytoskeleton rearrangement.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Emanuela Kerschbamer, Michele Arnoldi, Takshashila Tripathi, Miguel Pellegrini, Samuele Maturi, Serkan Erdin, Elisa Salviato, Francesca Di Leva, Endre Sebestyen, Erik Dassi, Giulia Zarantonello, Matteo Benelli, Eric Campos, M. Albert Basson, James F. Gusella, Stefano Gustincich, Silvano Piazza, Francesca Demichelis, Michael E. Talkowski, Francesco Ferrari, Marta Biagioli
Summary: CHD8 suppression leads to reduction in histone H3K36me3 peaks and altered alternative splicing patterns. The study also reveals a novel interaction between CHD8 and the splicing regulator hnRNPL, providing mechanistic insights into the CHD8 suppression-derived splicing phenotype.
NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mauro Esposito, Nicolo Gualandi, Giovanni Spirito, Federico Ansaloni, Stefano Gustincich, Remo Sanges
Summary: L1 LINEs are transposable elements that can replicate within the genome. They may have been positively selected for beneficial cellular functions, but their deregulation can lead to diseases. miRNAs and ceRNAs regulate transcript levels in somatic cells. This study found that L1s may act as ceRNAs and help interpret transcriptomic responses.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Gianluca D'Onofrio, Marcello Scala, Mariasavina Severino, Roberta Roberti, Ferruccio Romano, Patrizia De Marco, Michele Iacomino, Simona Baldassari, Paolo Uva, Marco Pavanello, Stefano Gustincich, Pasquale Striano, Federico Zara, Valeria Capra
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF HUMAN GENETICS
(2023)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Bianca Pierattini, Sabrina D 'Agostino, Carlotta Bon, Omar Peruzzo, Andrej Alendar, Azzurra Codino, Gloria Ros, Francesca Persichetti, Remo Sanges, Piero Carninci, Claudio Santoro, Stefano Espinoza, Luca Pandol, Paola Valentini, Stefano Gustincich
Summary: SINEUPs are natural and synthetic antisense long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) that selectively enhance translation of target mRNAs. This is achieved by increasing their association with polysomes through two RNA domains: an embedded inverted SINEB2 element and an antisense region. It has been found that SINEUPs are N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modified by the METTL3 enzyme, and this modification is necessary for their activity.
MOLECULAR THERAPY-NUCLEIC ACIDS
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Federico Ansaloni, Stefano Gustincich, Remo Sanges
Summary: In mice, MERVL elements coordinate the activation of the zygotic genome (ZGA), while LINE-1 elements have emerged as key regulators of murine ZGA. LINE-1 transcripts are required to switch off the transcriptional program initiated by MERVL sequences, indicating an antagonistic interplay between LINE-1 and MERVL pathways.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Hospitality, Leisure, Sport & Tourism
Enrico Ballestra, Andrea Battaglino, Diego Cotella, Giacomo Rossettini, Eleuterio A. Sanchez-Romero, Jorge Hugo Villafane
Summary: Studies show that patients' expectations of treatment outcomes can influence conservative treatment for working-age patients with CLBP.
RETOS-NUEVAS TENDENCIAS EN EDUCACION FISICA DEPORTE Y RECREACION
(2022)
Review
Hospitality, Leisure, Sport & Tourism
Elisa Fiore, Camilo Corbellini, Lara Acucella, Stefano Gargano, Eleuterio A. Sanchez-Romero, Diego Cotella, Jorge Hugo Villafane
Summary: This review provides an update on the characterization and impact of musculoskeletal pain in COVID-19 survivors. The study found that SARS-CoV-2 has various effects on musculoskeletal pain, but the pathogenesis of the pain remains unclear. Preliminary data suggests that widespread pain similar to musculoskeletal pain may characterize symptoms after COVID-19 infection.
RETOS-NUEVAS TENDENCIAS EN EDUCACION FISICA DEPORTE Y RECREACION
(2022)
