Publications by authors named "B S Melnik"

It is the purpose of this review to compare differences in postnatal epigenetic programming at the level of DNA and RNA methylation and later obesity risk between infants receiving artificial formula feeding (FF) in contrast to natural breastfeeding (BF). FF bears the risk of aberrant epigenetic programming at the level of DNA methylation and enhances the expression of the RNA demethylase fat mass- and obesity-associated gene (), pointing to further deviations in the RNA methylome. Based on a literature search through Web of Science, Google Scholar, and PubMed databases concerning the dietary and epigenetic factors influencing gene and FTO protein expression and FTO activity, FTO's impact on postnatal adipogenic programming was investigated.

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Enhancing protein stability holds paramount significance in biotechnology, therapeutics, and the food industry. Circular permutations offer a distinctive avenue for manipulating protein stability while keeping intra-protein interactions intact. Amidst the creation of circular permutants, determining the optimal placement of the new N- and C-termini stands as a pivotal, albeit largely unexplored, endeavor.

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Ice-binding proteins are crucial for the adaptation of various organisms to low temperatures. Some of these, called antifreeze proteins, are usually thought to inhibit growth and/or recrystallization of ice crystals. However, prior to these events, ice must somehow appear in the organism, either coming from outside or forming inside it through the nucleation process.

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Article Synopsis
  • Researchers created 16 mutant versions of HlyIICTD to study how changes in its surface amino acids affect its interaction with a monoclonal antibody (HlyIIC-20), which inhibits hemolysis.
  • The study found that certain mutations altered the structure of the antibody’s target site, confirming that flexibility in HlyIICTD is crucial for the toxin’s effectiveness, and identified specific amino acids (N339 and K340) that are important for the antibody binding.
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