Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Rozhan Sonboli, Zeinab Najafi, Nahid Zarezadeh, Mohsen Yazdani, Hossein Behrouz
Summary: This study compared two different buffer systems for the electrophoretic separation of IgG(1) and IgG(2) Monoclonal Antibodies using the SDS-PAGE method. Results showed that a modified Tris-acetate system was superior in separating these proteins compared to the traditional Tris-glycine method. Interestingly, deglycosylation of IgG by PNGase-F enzyme did not significantly improve the SDS-PAGE results.
PROTEIN EXPRESSION AND PURIFICATION
(2021)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Haonan Wang, Binbin Ke, Wenxi Wang, Jianghong Guo, Wang Ying, Shuangcheng Ma, Hong Jiang
Summary: This study collected human fibrinogen products from the market and identified the presence of impurity proteins. Twelve major impurity proteins were identified and screened, and it was found that these impurity proteins existed in the form of polymers, which could be an important cause of adverse reactions.
JOURNAL OF CHROMATOGRAPHY B-ANALYTICAL TECHNOLOGIES IN THE BIOMEDICAL AND LIFE SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Gabriel Ibrahin Tovar, Patricia Rivas-Rojas, Juan Manuel Lazaro-Martinez, Claudio Javier Perez, Federico Javier Wolman, Guillermo Javier Copello
Summary: This study investigated the influence of Sodium Acetate Trihydrate (SAT) on the gelling stage of a chitin hydrogel, utilizing various characterization techniques to study its effect on the material's micro and nanostructure. The results demonstrated that the amount of SAT in the gelling solution can induce changes in the supramolecular interaction among the polysaccharide chains and alter the structural characteristics of the material. Additionally, the polymer-water interactions were found to be affected by this structural ordering, with implications for biotechnological, biomedical, and food applications.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Baorui Cheng, Yu Zhong, Yuqing Qiu, Suriyanarayanan Vaikuntanathan, Jiwoong Park
Summary: Generating electricity from a salinity gradient, known as osmotic power, has been made possible with the development of ultrathin membranes that have molecule-specific short-range interactions. These membranes have demonstrated giant gateable osmotic power with a record high power density. Molecular dynamics simulations have confirmed that the functionalized nanopores in these membranes are small enough for high selectivity and large enough for fast cross-membrane transport, enabling reversible gateable operation.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jessica L. Faubel, Wenbin Wei, Jennifer E. Curtis
Summary: A method for sculpting ultra-thick, enzyme-generated hyaluronan polymer brushes with light is presented, where the patterning mechanism is driven by reactive oxygen species created by photochemical interactions. Indirect spatial control over the grafting density and quantitative variation of the brush height is achieved by inactivating the enzyme in an energy dose-dependent manner. This method lays the foundation for flexible and quantitative sculpting of complex three-dimensional landscapes in enzyme-generated hyaluronan brushes.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Hui Ji, Shubao Shao, Kaiyuan Liu, Tonghui Wu, Shengping Shen, Shuwen Zhang, Minglong Xu
Summary: This study presents a mechanical design approach to enhance flexoelectricity by creating an elastic modulus gradient, and combining material design with non-uniform geometric shape, resulting in a significant improvement of the flexoelectric effect.
MECHANICS OF MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Lisha Liu, Kun Xu, Qian Li, John Daniels, Hua Zhou, Jiangyu Li, Jing Zhu, Jan Seidel, Jing-Feng Li
Summary: This study investigates the giant domain wall current obtained through conductive atomic force microscopy, showing the formation of conductive pathways of charged defects accumulated along domain walls and traversing the nanocrystals. Various domain walls can be manipulated by electric field in a perpendicular architecture. The perpendicular array structure of BiFeO(3) nanocrystals shows great potentials for developing perpendicular nanoelectronic prototypes.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Jiahao Dong, Yifei Li, Yuying Zhou, Alan Schwartzman, Haowei Xu, Bilal Azhar, Joseph Bennett, Ju Li, R. Jaramillo
Summary: This article demonstrates that wide-band gap compound semiconductors such as ZnO, ZnS, and CdS have large photoplastic and photoelastic effects mediated by point defects. The mechanical properties of these materials vary significantly under moderate illumination, with the strongest effect observed under above-band-gap illumination. The study also shows that giant optomechanical effects can be tuned through materials processing.
PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Quanguo Zhang, Xuenan Shui, Mukesh Kumar Awasthi, Tian Zhang, Jiabin Yang, Huan Zhang, Zhou Chen, Caihong Zou, Danping Jiang
Summary: The study demonstrates that pretreatment with [Bmim]acetate can effectively enhance delignification and hydrogen production efficiency of giant reed. The optimal conditions include 6 g/L [Bmim]acetate, treatment at 70 degrees Celsius for 4 hours, resulting in a delignification rate of 26.7%, a 1.7-fold increase in sugar yield, and a 61.7% increase in hydrogen yield.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yuxin Ding, Lingling Zhao, Yanqun Liu, Jingxin Sun, Yuzhen Pi, Jun-Hua Shao
Summary: This study investigated the effects of NaCl and temperature on the gelation of Antheraea pernyi pupa raw powder. The results showed that both NaCl and temperature had an impact on protein aggregation and gelation. Moderate levels of NaCl induced more compact three-dimensional structures and improved the rheological properties and water-holding capacity of the gel, while excessive salt ions destroyed the gel structure.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Violette Da Cunha, Morgan Gaia, Hiroyuki Ogata, Olivier Jaillon, Tom O. Delmont, Patrick Forterre
Summary: This study reveals the presence and expression of actin-related genes in viral genomes, suggesting that viruses recruited these genes from ancient protoeukaryotic hosts and transferred them to give rise to eukaryotic actins, which could have contributed to the emergence of the modern eukaryotic cytoskeleton.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Shakila H. Peli Thanthri, Thomas H. Linz
Summary: This report presents a microfluidic thermal gel transient isotachophoresis (TG-tITP) method for rapid and high-resolution separation of native proteins. By utilizing the viscosity response of thermal gels and temperature gradients, this method achieves a wide mass range separation with 15,000-fold less protein loading and five-fold faster analysis times.
ANALYTICAL AND BIOANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Xinyue Zhang, Qiutong Huang, Fangyingkai Wang, Hui Sun, Jiangang Xiao, Erik Jan Cornel, Yunqing Zhu, Jianzhong Du
Summary: Hierarchical self-assembly is demonstrated to prepare an unusual giant polymer vesicle with latticelike membrane. The final GVLM is formed through fusion-induced assembly of small polymer vesicles, offering new insights into hierarchical nanostructure preparation via chemical synthesis and FIPA.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Svenja Valet, Tatjana Bohlmann, Andreas Burkert, Gino Ebell
Summary: Agar gel pads have been used for electrochemical measurements, with a focus on establishing a standard method for measuring the stability of zinc corrosion product layer. The corrosion product layer resistance is a crucial factor, as higher resistance indicates better protection. However, the resistance level for freshly produced zinc samples is still unknown. Adding zinc acetate to the agar gel pads can prevent the formation of surface layer and allow measurement of almost corrosion product-free zinc surface.
JOURNAL OF ELECTROANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Shaobing Zhang, Yushan Jiang, Shuyan Zhang, Lin Chen
Summary: This study prepared emulsions of peanut and soy proteins using ultrasonication and induced them to form emulsion gels using CaCl2, TGase, and GDL. The results showed that the properties of peanut and soy protein-stabilized emulsion gels can be improved by selecting suitable coagulant concentrations, and GDL-induced emulsion gels exhibited more homogeneous and compact microstructures.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Helga Simon-Molas, Cristina Sanchez-de-Diego, Aurea Navarro-Sabate, Esther Castano, Francesc Ventura, Ramon Bartrons, Anna Manzano
Summary: Hyperactivation of the KEAP1-NRF2 axis is a common molecular trait in carcinomas from different origins. The transcriptional program induced by NRF2 involves antioxidant and metabolic genes that render cancer cells more capable of dealing with oxidative stress. This study provides the first evidence that NRF2 controls the expression of TIGAR at the transcriptional level, independently of p53.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Review
Cell Biology
Eva M. Perez-Villegas, Rocio Ruiz, Sara Bachiller, Francesc Ventura, Jose A. Armengol, Jose Luis Rosa
Summary: The HERC protein family plays important roles in neurodevelopment and neurodegenerative diseases. Mutations in HERC genes can lead to intellectual disability, epilepsy, dementia, and dysregulation of autophagy, resulting in cerebellar cell death and impaired motor control.
SEMINARS IN CELL & DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Joan Sala-Gaston, Leonardo Pedrazza, Juanma Ramirez, Arturo Martinez-Martinez, Lettie E. Rawlins, Emma L. Baple, Andrew H. Crosby, Ugo Mayor, Francesc Ventura, Jose Luis Rosa
Summary: Pathogenic variants in the HERC2 gene are associated with HERC2 Angelman-like syndrome. These variants affect intracellular signaling, leading to the activation of the C-RAF/MKK3/p38 pathway and an enhanced antioxidant response.
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR LIFE SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine
Diana Sanz-Serrano, Cristina Sanchez-de-Diego, Montse Mercade, Francesc Ventura
Summary: This study aims to establish and fully characterize a new cell line derived from human stem cells of the apical papilla (SCAPs) through immortalization with an SV40 large T antigen. The new cell line named Dental Stem Cells SV40 (DSCS) retains its morphology and expression of mesenchymal surface markers, shows higher proliferative capacity even at late passages, and has the potential for trilineage differentiation.
INTERNATIONAL ENDODONTIC JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Leonardo Pedrazza, Arturo Martinez-Martinez, Cristina Sanchez-de-Diego, Jose Antonio Valer, Carolina Pimenta-Lopes, Joan Sala-Gaston, Michal Szpak, Chris Tyler-Smith, Francesc Ventura, Jose Luis Rosa
Summary: Bone remodeling is a continuous process involving osteoblasts and osteoclasts, and imbalances can cause metabolic bone diseases like osteopenia. The HERC1 gene encodes an E3 ubiquitin ligase that affects cellular processes by regulating the ubiquitination of target proteins. Pathogenic variants in HERC1 have been associated with the neurodevelopmental disorder MDFPMR syndrome. This study shows that HERC1 regulates osteoblastogenesis and osteoclastogenesis, and its depletion increases gene expression of osteoblastic markers, leading to imbalanced bone homeostasis and osteopenia.
CELL DEATH & DISEASE
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kimberley McGrail, Paula Granado-Martinez, Rosaura Esteve-Puig, Sara Garcia-Ortega, Yuxin Ding, Sara Sanchez-Redondo, Berta Ferrer, Javier Hernandez-Losa, Francesc Canals, Anna Manzano, Aura Navarro-Sabate, Ramon Bartrons, Oscar Yanes, Mileidys Perez-Alea, Eva Munoz-Couselo, Vicenc Garcia-Patos, Juan A. Recio
Summary: This study reveals that under metabolic stress, NRAS-mutant melanoma cells activate a glycolysis pathway dependent on BRAF, which enhances the efficacy of sorafenib when combined with glycolysis inhibitors.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Teresa Villanueva-Carmona, Lidia Cedo, Ana Madeira, Victoria Ceperuelo-Mallafre, M. -Mar Rodriguez-Pena, Catalina Nunez-Roa, Elsa Maymo-Masip, Maria Repolles-de-Dalmau, Joan Badia, Noelia Keiran, Mercedes Mirasierra, Carolina Pimenta-Lopes, Joan Sabadell-Basallote, Ramon Bosch, Laura Caubet, Joan Carles Escola-Gil, Jose-Manuel Fernandez-Real, Nuria Vilarrasa, Francesc Ventura, Mario Vallejo, Joan Vendrell, Sonia Fernandez-Veledo
Summary: Adipose tissue secretes leptin to modulate energy homeostasis, and this process is regulated by succinate through its receptor SUCNR1. Deletion of Sucnr1 in adipocytes affects metabolic health based on nutritional status. Activation of SUCNR1 controls leptin expression via the circadian clock in an AMPK/JNK-C/EBPa-dependent manner. Succinate/SUCNR1 axis serves as a metabolite-sensing pathway mediating nutrient-related leptin dynamics to maintain whole-body homeostasis.
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jose Luis Rosa
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Joan Sala-Gaston, Laura Costa-Sastre, Leonardo Pedrazza, Arturo Martinez-Martinez, Francesc Ventura, Jose Luis Rosa
Summary: Large HERC ubiquitin ligases, belonging to the HECT E3 protein family, play a crucial role in different pathologies, including cancer and neurological diseases. Understanding the alterations in cell signaling in these diseases is important for identifying potential therapeutic targets.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
A. Martinez Cutillas, D. Sanz-Serrano, S. Oh, F. Ventura, A. Martinez de Ilarduya
Summary: Synthetic and functional grafts, such as the RGD-PEG-PLA-PGl-PLA-PEG-RGD scaffold used in this study, are a great alternative to conventional grafts. This multifunctional polymer provides physical support and precise signaling for cells to heal damaged tissues. The presence of PGl inner block enhances the toughness of the scaffold, while PEGylation improves its hydrophilicity. The functionalized RGD peptides on the scaffold surface significantly enhance cell adhesion and proliferation. These results make it a great candidate for temporary graft preparation.
MACROMOLECULAR BIOSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Carolina Pimenta-Lopes, Cristina Sanchez-de-Diego, Alexandre Deber, Andrea Egea-Cortes, Jose Antonio Valer, Albert Alcala, Andres Mendez-Lucas, Anna Esteve-Codina, Jose Luis Rosa, Francesc Ventura
Summary: Age-related and chemotherapy-induced bone loss is influenced by cellular senescence and the secretion of specific factors. The alternative complement system is found to play a central role in skeletal bone loss, with complement factor D being one of the most responsive factors. Osteoblasts and osteocytes activate complement, while monocytes and osteoclasts are the primary targets. Inhibition of the alternative complement pathway may have therapeutic benefits in osteopenic disorders.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Joan Roig-Soriano, Cristina Sanchez-de-Diego, Jon Esandi-Jauregui, Sergi Verdes, Carmela R. Abraham, Assumpcio Bosch, Francesc Ventura, Miguel Chillon
Summary: The gene alpha-Klotho produces two main transcripts, one encoding a transmembrane protein detected in serum as processed Klotho (p-KL), and the other coding for a putatively secreted protein (s-KL). While p-KL showed negative effects on mineral homeostasis and bone microstructure, s-KL demonstrated no apparent negative effects on mineral metabolism and presented unexpected beneficial effects on bone microstructure. These findings suggest that s-KL (but not p-KL) may be a safe therapeutic strategy for exploiting KL anti-aging protective effects.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)