Effective drug design screening in bacterial glycolytic enzymes via targeting alternative allosteric sites.

Three glycolytic enzymes phosphofructokinase (PFK), glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GADPH) and pyruvate kinase (PK) that belong to Staphylococcus aureus were used as targets for screening a dataset composed of 7229 compounds of which 1416 were FDA-approved. Instead of catalytic sites, evolutionarily less conserved allosteric sites were targeted to identify compounds that would selectively bind the bacteria's glycolytic enzymes instead of the human host. Seven different allosteric sites provided by three enzymes were used in independent screening experiments via docking.

Continental scale comparison of mycobiomes in Parmelia and Peltigera lichens from Turkey and South Korea.

Background: Lichens, traditionally considered as a simple partnership primarily between mycobiont and photobiont, are, in reality, complex holobionts comprised of a multitude of microorganisms. Lichen mycobiome represents fungal community residing within lichen thalli. While it is acknowledged that factors like the host lichen species and environmental conditions influence the structure of the lichen mycobiome, the existing research remains insufficient.

Investigating the cryoprotective efficacy of fructans in mammalian cell systems via a structure-functional perspective.

Fructans have long been known with their role in protecting organisms against various stress factors due to their ability to induce controlled dehydration and support membrane stability. Considering the vital importance of such features in cryo-technologies, this study aimed to explore the cryoprotective efficacy of fructans in mammalian cell systems where structurally different fructan polymers were examined on in vitro cell models derived from organs such as the liver, frequently used in transplantation, osteoblast, and cord cells, commonly employed in cell banking, as well as human seminal fluids that are of vital importance in assisted reproductive technology. To gain insights into the fructan/membrane interplay, structural differences were linked to rheological properties as well as to lipid membrane interactions where both fluorescein leakage from unilamellar liposomes and membrane integrity of osteoblast cells were monitored.

Exploring the potential of Halomonas levan and its derivatives as active ingredients in cosmeceutical and skin regenerating formulations.

Demand on natural products that contain biological ingredients mimicking growth factors and cytokines made natural polysaccharides popular in pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. Levan is the β-(2-6) linked, nontoxic, biocompatible, water-soluble, film former fructan polymer that has diverse applications in pharmacy and cosmeceutical industries with its moisturizing, whitening, anti-irritant, anti-aging and slimming activities. Driven by the limited reports on few structurally similar levan polymers, this study presents the first systematic investigation on the effects of structurally different extremophilic Halomonas levan polysaccharides on human skin epidermis cells.

Screening of antimicrobial activity and cytotoxic effects of two Cladonia species.

The present study explores the antimicrobial activity and cytotoxic effects in culture assays of two fruticose soil lichens, Cladonia rangiformis Hoffm. and Cladonia convoluta (Lamkey) Cout., to contribute to possible pharmacological uses of lichens.

Serum paraoxonase 1 activity in women with metabolic syndrome.

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a leading risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD) in women. Reduced paraoxonase 1 (PON1) activity may play a role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis through increased susceptibility to lipid peroxidation in patients with MetS.

Aim: To examine whether there is a relationship between serum PON1 activity and MetS in women.