Article
Oncology
Lourdes Sainero-Alcolado, Muhammad Mushtaq, Judit Liano-Pons, Aida Rodriguez-Garcia, Ye Yuan, Tong Liu, Maria Victoria Ruiz-Perez, Susanne Schlisio, Oscar Bedoya-Reina, Marie Arsenian-Henriksson
Summary: This study demonstrates that the simultaneous activation of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and estrogen receptor alpha (ER alpha) promotes neuronal differentiation, reduces cell viability, and decreases tumor burden in neuroblastoma. This combination therapy leads to metabolic reprogramming and lipid droplet accumulation. Additionally, the sequential expression of ER alpha, GR, and retinoic acid receptor alpha (RAR alpha) during adrenal gland development is observed. Patients with higher combined expression of GR, ER alpha, and RAR alpha mRNA have elevated expression of neuronal differentiation markers and a favorable outcome.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Charannya Sozheesvari Subhramanyam, Qiong Cao, Cheng Wang, Zealyn Shi-Lin Heng, Zhihong Zhou, Qidong Hu
Summary: piRNAs can regulate neuronal gene expression during neuronal differentiation and interact with specific RNA-binding proteins, providing new avenues for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
MOLECULAR NEUROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Lanlan Yu, Ruonan Wang, Tao Wen, Lei Liu, Tao Wang, Shuli Liu, Haiyan Xu, Chenxuan Wang
Summary: Rapid antigen detection tests are crucial for the early diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2, and the discovery of a high-affinity binder is essential for the development of such tests. In this study, a peptide binder R1 was identified through surface biopanning, which exhibited high affinity for the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. The R1-functionalized gold nanoparticles showed concentration-dependent response to RBD and selectivity over other proteins.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Christoph Eilenberger, Mario Rothbauer, Konstanze Brandauer, Sarah Spitz, Eva-Kathrin Ehmoser, Seta Kuepcue, Peter Ertl
Summary: Stem cell technology and embryonic stem cell models are crucial for studying neurogenesis and early brain development. However, the lack of standardization and comparability in the establishment of embryoid bodies (EBs) hinders the broader application of stem cell technology. This study focuses on optimizing differentiation protocols and the size of EBs to enhance the reliability of neurodevelopmental in vitro models.
Article
Plant Sciences
Jim P. Fouracre, C. Jill Harrison
Summary: The life cycle of land plants consists of two distinct stages, the haploid gametophyte and the diploid sporophyte. Indeterminate apical growth evolved independently in bryophytes and ferns gametophytes, as well as vascular plant sporophytes. Recent studies suggest that the ancestral sporophyte was more complex than previously thought.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ane Nishitha Vijayan, Aishwarya Satish, Poornima Balan, Purna Sai Korrapati
Summary: This study evaluated the expression of scaffold protein CULLIN2 in neuronal cells and found that it plays a crucial role in nerve differentiation and regeneration.
NEUROCHEMISTRY INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Ji Hong Kim, Chae Hwan Cho, Jae Hwan Shin, Moon Seop Hyun, Eunha Hwang, Tae Jung Park, Jong Pil Park
Summary: An electrochemical biosensor was developed to detect the HA protein in the envelope of the influenza virus, using high-affinity peptide-displaying phage particles identified through phage display technology. The sensor showed good performance characteristics, including low limit of detection, high reproducibility, and compatibility with human plasma samples. The sensor system demonstrated advantages such as low cost, rapid analysis, and minimal sample volume requirement, making it suitable for rapid and effective detection of the influenza virus antigen.
SENSORS AND ACTUATORS B-CHEMICAL
(2021)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Samiksha Sardana, Anneroos E. Nederstigt, Marc P. Baggelaar
Summary: S-palmitoylation is a lipid modification that plays a role in neuronal development and neurodegenerative diseases. In this study, two methods were used to identify S-palmitoylated proteins and sites during neuronal differentiation. A subset of high-confidence S-palmitoylated proteins were identified, suggesting an important role for S-palmitoylation in neuronal differentiation.
JOURNAL OF PROTEOME RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ran Ke, Samson I. S. Lok, Kailash Singh, Billy K. C. Chow, Leo T. O. Lee
Summary: The study identified the heterocomplex formation between PAC1R and GIPR, which suppressed downstream signaling events of PAC1R, leading to inhibition of neuronal differentiation.
JOURNAL OF NEUROCHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Wisurumuni Arachchilage Hasitha Maduranga Karunarathne, Yung Hyun Choi, Sang Rul Park, Chang-Min Lee, Gi-Young Kim
Summary: This study reveals that BPA inhibits osteoblast differentiation and bone formation by activating ROR alpha, potentially causing bone-resorptive diseases such as osteoporosis.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Santino Blando, Ivana Raffaele, Luigi Chiricosta, Andrea Valeri, Agnese Gugliandolo, Serena Silvestro, Federica Pollastro, Emanuela Mazzon
Summary: This study investigates the effect of cannabidiol (CBD) on neuronal differentiation at different concentrations and reveals a potential correlation between CBD, neurodifferentiation, and retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptors (RORs).
Article
Biology
Kenichiro Ito, Yoshihiko Matsuda, Ayako Mine, Natsuki Shikida, Kazutoshi Takahashi, Kyohei Miyairi, Kazutaka Shimbo, Yoshimi Kikuchi, Atsushi Konishi
Summary: In this study, a new multivalent peptide format, STaMPtides, was developed as mimetics of growth factors and cytokines. These peptides can be secreted by bacteria and possess biological activity. Cell-based assays demonstrated the potential of STaMPtides in cell culture.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Claudia A. Rivera, Violaine Randrian, Wilfrid Richer, Yohan Gerber-Ferder, Maria-Graciela Delgado, Aleksandra S. Chikina, Annika Frede, Chiara Sorini, Mathieu Maurin, Hana Kammoun-Chaari, Sara M. Parigi, Christel Goudot, Mar Cabeza-Cabrerizo, Sylvain Baulande, Sonia Lameiras, Pierre Guermonprez, Caetano Reis e Sousa, Marc Lecuit, Helene D. Moreau, Julie Helft, Danijela Matic Vignjevic, Eduardo J. Villablanca, Ana-Maria Lennon-Dumenil
Summary: There are two pools of cDC2s in the small intestine, originating from common pre-DC precursors, and their phenotypes are influenced by food-derived retinoic acid.
Article
Immunology
Adrian Straub, Simon Grassmann, Sebastian Jarosch, Lena Richter, Philipp Hilgendorf, Monika Hammel, Karolin I. Wagner, Veit R. Buchholz, Kilian Schober, Dirk H. Busch
Summary: Repetitive pathogen exposure leads to the dominant outgrowth of high-affinity T cell clones, but low-affinity clones also expand and form immunological memory. The role of these low-affinity clones in protection against pathogens with immune escape mutations is unclear. By studying the TCR repertoire and functionality of CD8+ T cells, researchers reconstructed defined repertoires that could be tracked during immune responses. They found that selective clonal expansion is regulated by TCR avidity thresholds, and recruitment of broad TCR repertoires allows for flexible secondary responses to mutant epitopes. Understanding the development of T cell responses is important for enhancing immunotherapies and vaccines.
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Reza Karimi-Soflou, Akbar Karkhaneh, Iman Shabani
Summary: This study successfully prepared nanoparticles with tunable size and accurately controlled physico-biological properties for efficient neuronal differentiation of stem cells. The nanoparticles, made from amphiphilic chitosan oligosaccharide-cholesterol copolymers, were self-assembled into spherical micelles in a microfluidic chip. Retinoic acid was encapsulated in the core of the micelles, which could escape lysosome, accumulate in the cytoplasm, and release the drug in a sustained pattern. The nanoparticles showed desirable safety and cellular uptake via lipid-raft endocytosis, leading to upregulated expression levels of neuronal factors.
BIOMATERIALS ADVANCES
(2022)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Clorissa L. Washington-Hughes, Shubhrajit Roy, Herana Kamal Seneviratne, Senthilkumar S. Karuppagounder, Yulemni Morel, Jace W. Jones, Alex Zak, Tong Xiao, Tatiana N. Boronina, Robert N. Cole, Namandje N. Bumpus, Christopher J. Chang, Ted M. Dawson, Svetlana Lutsenko
Summary: This study reveals the importance of Cu transporter Atp7b in maintaining Cu homeostasis in the brain during postnatal development. Loss of Atp7b function leads to morphological changes in choroid plexus and affects Cu transporters Atp7a and Slc31a, resulting in Cu deficit and associated imbalance of catecholamines and lipids. These findings contribute to our understanding of the neuropathology of Wilson disease.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Ruizhi Deng, Eva Medico-Salsench, Anita Nikoncuk, Reshmi Ramakrishnan, Kristina Lanko, Nikolas A. Kuhn, Herma C. van der Linde, Sarah Lor-Zade, Fatimah Albuainain, Yuwei Shi, Soheil Yousefi, Ivan Capo, Evita Medici van den Herik, Marjon van Slegtenhorst, Rick van Minkelen, Geert Geeven, Monique T. Mulder, George J. G. Ruijter, Dieter Luetjohann, Edwin H. Jacobs, Henry Houlden, Alistair T. Pagnamenta, Kay Metcalfe, Adam Jackson, Siddharth Banka, Lenika De Simone, Abigail Schwaede, Nancy Kuntz, Timothy Blake Palculict, Safdar Abbas, Muhammad Umair, Mohammed AlMuhaizea, Dilek Colak, Hanan AlQudairy, Maysoon Alsagob, Catarina Pereira, Roberta Trunzo, Vasiliki Karageorgou, Aida M. Bertoli-Avella, Peter Bauer, Arjan Bouman, Lies H. Hoefsloot, Tjakko J. van Ham, Mahmoud Issa, Maha S. Zaki, Joseph G. Gleeson, Rob Willemsen, Namik Kaya, Stefan T. Arold, Reza Maroofian, Leslie E. Sanderson, Tahsin Stefan Barakat
Summary: Hereditary spastic paraplegias (HSP) are rare inherited disorders characterized by lower limb spasticity and muscle weakness. Researchers identified bi-allelic truncating variants in the AMFR gene in HSP-affected individuals, leading to a better understanding of the disease. The absence of AMFR disrupts lipid homeostasis and affects ER morphology, but treatment with statins shows potential therapeutic implications.
ACTA NEUROPATHOLOGICA
(2023)
Correction
Cell Biology
Kassiani Skouloudaki, Ioannis Christodoulou, Dilan Khalili, Vasilios Tsarouhas, Christos Samakovlis, Pavel Tomancak, Elisabeth Knust, Dimitrios K. Papadopoulos
JOURNAL OF CELL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Editorial Material
Cell Biology
Oded Rechavi, Pavel Tomancak
Summary: We propose an alternative approach to determine authorship in scientific papers by emphasizing the identification of idea generation, experiment conduct, and data analysis. To facilitate this process, we suggest two simple methods that can profoundly transform the assessment of authors' contributions.
NATURE REVIEWS MOLECULAR CELL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Saeed Bohlega, Ali H. Abusrair, Zainah Al-Qahtani, Francisco J. Guzman-Vega, Reshmi Ramakrishnan, Haya Aldosari, Amaal Aldakheel, Salma Al-Qahtani, Dorota Monies, Stefan T. Arold
Summary: This study identified a new phenotype associated with PDE10A mutations, which is caused by an abnormality in the GAF-B domain and affects the function of PDE10A.
PARKINSONISM & RELATED DISORDERS
(2023)
Editorial Material
Cell Biology
Michael Schubert, Pierre Germain
Article
Cell Biology
Matteo Bozzo, Deianira Bellitto, Andrea Amaroli, Sara Ferrando, Michael Schubert, Simona Candiani
Summary: POU genes are a conserved family of transcription factors that play key roles in cell type specification and neurogenesis. This study aimed to investigate the role of retinoic acid (RA) signaling in the regulation of POU genes. Using amphioxus as a model, the expression patterns of POU genes were examined during development. It was found that RA signaling regulates the expression of Brn1/2/4 and Pou4 genes in specific tissues, indicating a dual role of RA signaling in providing patterning information and specifying neural cell types.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
R. K. Subbarao Malireddi, Ratnakar R. Bynigeri, Raghvendra Mall, Eswar Kumar Nadendla, Jon P. Connelly, Shondra M. Pruett-Miller, Thirumala-Devi Kanneganti
Summary: Transforming growth factor-beta-activated kinase 1 (TAK1) is a central regulator of innate immunity, cell death, inflammation, and cellular homeostasis. Many pathogens carry TAK1 inhibitors (TAK1i), but inhibition or deletion of TAK1 induces spontaneous inflammatory cell death, PANoptosis, which promotes pathological inflammation. Therefore, understanding the molecular mechanisms that regulate TAK1i-induced cell death is crucial.
Article
Biology
Ploy Adisornkanj, Rajit Chanprasit, Steven Eliason, Juan M. Fons, Worrachet Intachai, Sissades Tongsima, Bjorn Olsen, Stefan T. Arold, Chumpol Ngamphiw, Brad A. Amendt, Abigail S. Tucker, Piranit Kantaputra
Summary: Study identified an extremely rare mutation in the PTPN23 gene that is associated with mesiodens. This mutation was found in seven family members with mesiodens and six family members without the condition. Further research showed that the PTPN23 mutation reduces phosphatase activity, leading to the formation of mesiodens.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Aljouhra AlHargan, Mohammed A. AlMuhaizea, Rawan Almass, Ali H. Alwadei, Maha Daghestani, Stefan T. Arold, Namik Kaya
Summary: Compound heterozygous mutations in SHQ1 are associated with a rare neurological disorder characterized by developmental delay, cerebellar degeneration, seizures, and dystonia. This study reports three patients with a homozygous variant in SHQ1, but with a milder phenotype than previously described cases. The patients had developmental delay and seizures, and imaging analysis showed diffuse white matter hypomyelination. In silico analysis confirmed the pathogenicity of the variant.
HUMAN GENOME VARIATION
(2023)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Yulemni Morel, Jace W. Jones
Summary: Lipid peroxidation is crucial in the development of various diseases, as it causes oxidative damage to lipids, leading to dysfunction and death of cells. This study presents an analytical approach for characterizing the structure of oxidized products of specific types of phospholipids, providing insights into the initial impact of lipid peroxidation on cellular membranes and their role in redox biology.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR MASS SPECTROMETRY
(2023)
Article
Biology
Chi-Chuan Lin, Lukasz Wieteska, Guillaume Poncet-Montange, Kin Man Suen, Stefan T. Arold, Zamal Ahmed, John E. Ladbury
Summary: Interactions between the peripheral juxtamembrane and C-terminal tail regions and the phosphorylation state of the kinase domain of FGFR2 fine tunes its signaling outputs.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Toxicology
Albert Braeuning, Patrick Balaguer, William Bourguet, Jordi Carreras-Puigvert, Katreece Feiertag, Jorke H. Kamstra, Dries Knapen, Dajana Lichtenstein, Philip Marx-Stoelting, Jonne Rietdijk, Kristin Schubert, Ola Spjuth, Evelyn Stinckens, Kathrin Thedieck, Rik van den Boom, Lucia Vergauwen, Martin von Bergen, Neele Wewer, Daniel Zalko
Summary: In the past, the focus of analyzing the endocrine disrupting properties of chemicals was mainly on estrogenic or androgenic properties, as well as steroidogenesis and thyroid signaling. However, more recent attention has been given to the disruption of energy metabolism and related signaling pathways by exogenous substances known as metabolism-disrupting chemicals (MDCs). This paper provides an overview of the efforts within the EU-funded Partnership for the Assessment of Risks of Chemicals (PARC) to develop novel in vitro methods for detecting endocrine metabolic disruptors and improving the toxicological toolbox.
FRONTIERS IN TOXICOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Xiao-Min Ren, Richard C. Chang, Yikai Huang, Angelica Amorim Amato, Coralie Carivenc, Marina Grimaldi, Yun Kuo, Patrick Balaguer, William Bourguet, Bruce Blumberg
Summary: 2,4-Di-tert-butylphenol (2,4-DTBP) is a commercial antioxidant and toxic natural secondary metabolite detected in humans. This study demonstrates that 2,4-DTBP and related compounds act as obesogens and endocrine disruptors by activating nuclear receptors. The findings suggest the importance of developing safer antioxidants that do not interact with crucial nuclear receptors to avoid adverse effects on human development and physiology.