Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hae-Seul Choi, Kwang-Hyun Baek
Summary: Apoptosis is a structured cell death process involving cell morphology and biochemical changes, and the ubiquitin-proteasome system regulates the protein levels. Targeting UPS enzymes and controlling proteasomal degradation of apoptotic proteins could be a unique approach for cancer treatment.
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR LIFE SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Liqiang Zhou, Caihong Dong, Li Ding, Wei Feng, Luodan Yu, Xinwu Cui, Yu Chen
Summary: This study developed a nano-sensitizer system that simultaneously encapsulated ferumoxytol to induce dual ferroptosis/apoptosis pathways by SDT. Ferumoxytol delivers excessive iron into cancer cells, leading to tumor metabolic rewiring and enhanced sensitivity to SDT-induced cell apoptosis. The modulation of ferroptosis checkpoints through ferritinophagy by SDT improves ferroptosis sensitivity and achieves synergistic tumor suppression.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Thomas Fischer, Oliver Hartmann, Michaela Reissland, Cristian Prieto-Garcia, Kevin Klann, Nikolett Pahor, Christina Schuelein-Voelk, Apoorva Baluapuri, Bulent Polat, Arya Abazari, Elena Gerhard-Hartmann, Hans-Georg Kopp, Frank Essmann, Mathias Rosenfeldt, Christian Muench, Michael Flentje, Markus E. Diefenbacher
Summary: Loss of PTEN leads to increased resistance of lung cancer cells to radiation therapy, but with significant dependence on ATM kinase. Inhibition of ATM can restore sensitivity to radiation therapy and synergize with it.
CELL AND BIOSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Pan Pan, Weiwei Ge, Zhiwei Lei, Wei Luo, Yuqing Liu, Zhanwen Guan, Lumiao Chen, Zhenyang Yu, Miaomiao Shen, Dingwen Hu, Qi Xiang, Wenbiao Wang, Pin Wan, Mingfu Tian, Yang Yu, Zhen Luo, Xulin Chen, Heng Xiao, Qiwei Zhang, Xujing Liang, Xin Chen, Yongkui Li, Jianguo Wu
Summary: A study reveals that SARS-CoV-2 employs a distinctive anti-apoptotic mechanism through its N protein to suppress cell apoptosis, thereby promoting viral replication. This explains why SARS-CoV-2 can effectively replicate in asymptomatic individuals and indicates a risk of enhanced coinfection with other viruses.
SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION AND TARGETED THERAPY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Eslam R. R. El-Sawy, Zeinab A. A. El-Shahid, Ahmed A. F. Soliman, Amr Nassrallah, Ahmed B. B. Abdelwahab, Gilbert Kirsch, Heba Abdelmegeed
Summary: A new series of aplysinopsin analogs were synthesized and their cytotoxic activity against prostate cancer was investigated. Five analogs exhibited high antitumor activity by suppressing the expression of the anti-apoptotic gene Bcl2 and increasing the expression of the pro-apoptotic genes p53, Bax and Caspase 3. The dual mechanism of action via apoptosis and cell cycle arrest induction contributed to the antitumor activity of aplysinopsin analogs. Therefore, these newly synthesized analogs are promising candidates for further preclinical studies against prostate cancer.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Asmaa F. Khafaga, Sara E. El-Kazaz, Ahmed E. Noreldin
Summary: Boswellic acid (BA) is a powerful compound known for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties, derived from the gum-resin of Boswellia serrate. The study demonstrates that Boswellia serrata extract can protect against neurobehavioral toxicity induced by fipronil in male albino rats, showing significant neuroprotective effects by modulating oxidative, inflammatory, and apoptotic pathways.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Handa Song, Borong Lin, Qiuling Huang, Tianlin Sun, Wenjun Wang, Jinling Liao, Kan Zhuo
Summary: The effector Mj2G02 from Meloidogyne javanica described in this study suppresses plant immune response, facilitating nematode parasitism. In planta RNA interference targeting Mj2G02 impairs M. javanica parasitism, and Mj2G02-transgenic Arabidopsis lines are more susceptible to M. javanica. The effector Mj2G02 suppresses plant immune response possibly by reducing endogenous jasmonoyl-isoleucine (JA-Ile) levels and upregulating jasmonate ZIM-domain (JAZ) genes to repress JA-responsive genes.
MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Kannan Raja, Venkatachalam Balamurugan, Subramaniam Selvakumar, Krishnan Vasanth
Summary: The study showed that silver nanoparticles synthesized from plant extract of Striga angustifolia exhibit potential antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anticancer activities. These nanoparticles demonstrate significant ability in DPPH radical scavenging, inhibition against bacterial and fungal strains, and anti-proliferative effects on lung cancer cell lines, making them a potential candidate for drug delivery.
JOURNAL OF DRUG DELIVERY SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biology
James M. Pemberton, Dang Nguyen, Elizabeth J. Osterlund, Wiebke Schormann, Justin P. Pogmore, Nehad Hirmiz, Brian Leber, David W. Andrews
Summary: The anti-apoptotic protein PUMA resists displacement by BH3 mimetics through its binding with both the BH3 motif and a novel binding site within the carboxyl-terminal sequence (CTS). Understanding this resistance mechanism will aid in the design of more effective anti-apoptotic protein inhibitors.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Parul Gupta, Shubhangini Tiwari, Abhishek Singh, Amit Pal, Amit Mishra, Sarika Singh
Summary: Rivastigmine, a clinical drug for Alzheimer's disease, not only inhibits acetylcholinesterase activity and improves cognition, but also has significant effects on disease-related pathological mechanisms, including tau levels, amyloid aggregation, biochemical alterations, ER functionality, protein degradation machinery, and neuronal apoptosis.
BIOCHEMICAL JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sofie Mossner, Doreen Manuela Floss, Juergen Scheller
Summary: Research focused on a synthetic cytokine receptor activation strategy, particularly highlighting the noncovalent trimers of the tumor necrosis factor superfamily, explored the impact of synthetic cytokine receptors on cellular signaling, showing the potential to induce pro-apoptotic and anti-apoptotic signaling through synthetic cytokine receptors.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mohamed El-Sherbiny, H. Nada Eisa, F. Nada Abo El-Magd, M. Nehal Elsherbiny, Eman Said, E. Ahmed Khodir
Summary: Betulin has a beneficial therapeutic impact on AA-induced UC by reducing inflammation and suppressing colonic apoptosis. The potential underlying mechanisms may involve modulation of the TLR4/NF-Kappa B pathway and downstream signaling pathways.
ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Cell Biology
Keywan Mortezaee, Jamal Majidpoor
Summary: The low frequency of durable responses in patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) requires additional strategies to enhance immune responses against cancer. Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) is a cytokine often expressed in tumors and promotes an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). TGF-beta also influences the efficacy of anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy. Combining TGF-beta inhibitors with anti-PD(L)1 has shown promising results, and clinical trials are currently underway to investigate the use of agents with bifunctional capacity and fusion proteins to reinvigorate immune responses against advanced stage cancers, particularly those with an immunologically cold ecosystem.
JOURNAL OF CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Tom Wiesen, Daphne Atlas
Summary: Parkinson's disease is characterized by the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons, and current treatments only provide symptomatic relief without slowing disease progression. In this study, a novel molecule combining levodopa with an antioxidant was synthesized and shown to alleviate motor disabilities and reduce inflammation in animal and cell models. These findings suggest a potential disease-modifying treatment for Parkinson's disease.
CELL DEATH & DISEASE
(2022)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Boma F. Eddie-Amadi, Anthonet N. Ezejiofor, Chinna N. Orish, Joaquim Rovira, Theodore A. Allison, Orish E. Orisakwe
Summary: This study evaluated the protective role of banana peel extract on heavy metal mixture mediated hepatorenal toxicity using a rat model. The findings suggest that banana peel extract can reduce the bioavailability of metals and decrease the damage caused by hepatorenal toxicity.
FOOD AND CHEMICAL TOXICOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Jessica A. Cross, Derek. N. Woolfson, Mark P. Dodding
Summary: Researchers characterized the first structural interface between KHC and cargo adaptor, revealing a heterotrimeric coiled-coil complex that enhances direct binding between KHC and RNA. This finding demonstrates the structural plasticity of the KHC tail as a platform for protein-protein interactions and how a cargo adaptor protein can modify a motor-RNA interface to promote transport.
GENES & DEVELOPMENT
(2021)
Editorial Material
Cell Biology
Michael Way, Sharon Ahmad
JOURNAL OF CELL SCIENCE
(2022)
Editorial Material
Cell Biology
Sharon Ahmad, Michael Way
JOURNAL OF CELL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Guto G. Rhys, Jessica A. Cross, William M. Dawson, Harry F. Thompson, Sooruban Shanmugaratnam, Nigel J. Savery, Mark P. Dodding, Birte Hoecker, Derek N. Woolfson
Summary: This article describes a de novo synthetic peptide system that can efficiently deliver into cells and has the ability of subcellular targeting.
NATURE CHEMICAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biology
Angika Basant, Michael Way
Summary: The positioning of pTyr motifs plays a crucial role in the signal cascade driving the movement and spread of Vaccinia virus. Only specific spatial arrangements of pTyr motifs result in the recruitment of N-WASP and Arp2/3 complex-mediated actin polymerization, indicating that the relative position of pTyr adaptor binding sites is optimized for signal output.
Article
Cell Biology
Amadeus Xu, Angika Basant, Sibylle Schleich, Timothy P. Newsome, Michael Way
Summary: The study reveals that intracellular mature viruses (IMVs) and intracellular enveloped viruses (IEVs) can undergo microtubule-based motility and recruit the kinesin-1 motor protein for transport. IMVs are the first and most abundant infectious form of vaccinia virus during its replication cycle. These findings provide insights into the transport mechanism of the virus.
JOURNAL OF CELL SCIENCE
(2023)
Editorial Material
Cell Biology
Michael Way
JOURNAL OF CELL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Johannes F. Weijman, Sathish K. N. Yadav, Katherine J. Surridge, Jessica A. Cross, Ufuk Borucu, Judith Mantell, Derek N. Woolfson, Christiane Schaffitzel, Mark P. Dodding
Summary: By combining computational structure prediction with single-particle negative-stain electron microscopy, researchers have uncovered the coiled-coil architecture of heterotetrameric kinesin-1 in its compact state. The folding of the complex is enabled by an unusual flexion in the scaffold, bringing the kinesin heavy chain-light chain interface close to a tetrameric assembly. This framework provides insights into the activation mechanism of kinesin-1.
Editorial Material
Cell Biology
Michael Way
JOURNAL OF CELL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Luyan Cao, Foad Ghasemi, Michael Way, Antoine Jegou, Guillaume Romet-Lemonne
Summary: Activation of the Arp2/3 complex by actin nucleation-promoting factors leads to the formation of branching actin filaments, while direct nucleation of linear actin filaments is induced by SPIN90-Arp2/3. Interestingly, the VCA motifs of certain proteins destabilize existing branches and linear filament ends. However, branch stabilizer cortactin and destabilizer GMF have similar effects on SPIN90-activated Arp2/3. These findings highlight the importance of understanding the similarities and differences between the two mechanisms in regulating actin cytoskeleton dynamics, as well as the differential responses of branched and linear filaments to aging and mechanical stress.
Editorial Material
Cell Biology
Michael Way
JOURNAL OF CELL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Miguel Hernandez-Gonzalez, Thomas Calcraft, Andrea Nans, Peter B. Rosenthal, Michael Way
Summary: A new pseudohexagonal lattice made of trimeric pillars forms inside immature vaccinia virus particles during maturation, leading to the transition from non-infectious spherical virions to infectious brick-shaped virions. The viral membrane becomes corrugated as it adapts to the newly formed viral core without membrane removal.
Article
Cell Biology
Elena Sindram, Andres Caballero-Oteyza, Naoko Kogata, Shaina Chor Mei Huang, Zahra Alizadeh, Laura Gamez-Diaz, Mohammad Reza Fazlollhi, Xiao Peng, Bodo Grimbacher, Michael Way, Michele Proietti
Summary: The Arp2/3 complex is essential for the formation of branched actin networks. We identified a frameshift variant in the ARPC5 gene in a child with recurrent infections and birth defects. Loss of ARPC5 affects actin cytoskeleton organization and leads to developmental defects in mice. ARPC5 should be considered as a candidate gene for early-onset immunodeficiency.
DISEASE MODELS & MECHANISMS
(2023)
Editorial Material
Cell Biology
Michael Way
JOURNAL OF CELL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jessica A. Cross, Magda S. Chegkazi, Roberto A. Steiner, Derek N. Woolfson, Mark P. Dodding
Summary: Synthetic peptides, mimicking natural interactions, can compete for protein-protein interactions, but designing peptides with improved interactions remains a challenge. By using a fragment-linking strategy, a high-affinity ligand, KinTag, was successfully designed for kinesin-1, leading to enhanced cellular cargo transport efficiency.
CELL CHEMICAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
