Modulation of Antioxidant Enzyme Expression of In Vitro Culture-Derived Reticulocytes.

The regulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in red blood cells (RBCs) is crucial for maintaining functionality and lifespan. Indeed, dysregulated ROS occurs in haematological diseases such as sickle cell disease and β-thalassaemia. In order to combat this, RBCs possess high levels of protective antioxidant enzymes.

Improved Specificity of Glutamate Decarboxylase 65 Autoantibody Measurement Using Luciferase-Based Immunoprecipitation System Assays.

Autoantibodies to glutamate decarboxylase (GADA) are widely used in the prediction and classification of type 1 diabetes. GADA radiobinding assays (RBAs) using N-terminally truncated antigens offer improved specificity, but radioisotopes limit the high-throughput potential for population screening. Luciferase-based immunoprecipitation system (LIPS) assays are sensitive and specific alternatives to RBAs with the potential to improve risk stratification.

ATG8-dependent LMX1B-autophagy crosstalk shapes human midbrain dopaminergic neuronal resilience.

The LIM homeodomain transcription factors LMX1A and LMX1B are essential mediators of midbrain dopaminergic neuronal (mDAN) differentiation and survival. Here we show that LMX1A and LMX1B are autophagy transcription factors that provide cellular stress protection. Their suppression dampens the autophagy response, lowers mitochondrial respiration, and elevates mitochondrial ROS, and their inducible overexpression protects against rotenone toxicity in human iPSC-derived mDANs in vitro.

SARS-CoV-2 spike variants differ in their allosteric responses to linoleic acid.

The SARS-CoV-2 spike protein contains a functionally important fatty acid (FA) binding site, which is also found in some other coronaviruses, e.g. SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV.

Identification and validation of novel microtubule suppressors with an imidazopyridine scaffold through structure-based virtual screening and docking.

Targeting the colchicine binding site of α/β tubulin microtubules can lead to suppression of microtubule dynamics, cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Therefore, the development of microtubule (MT) inhibitors is considered a promising route to anticancer agents. Our approach to identify novel scaffolds as MT inhibitors depends on a 3D-structure-based pharmacophore approach and docking using three programs MOE, Autodock and BUDE (Bristol University Docking Engine) to screen a library of virtual compounds.