Non-canonical signaling initiated by hormone-responsive G protein-coupled receptors from subcellular compartments.

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), the largest family of membrane receptors in the mammalian genomes, regulate almost all known physiological processes by transducing numerous extracellular stimuli including almost two-thirds of endogenous hormones and neurotransmitters. The traditional view held that GPCR signaling occurs exclusively at the cell surface, where the receptors bind with the ligands and undergo conformational changes to recruit and activate heterotrimeric G proteins. However, with the application of advanced biochemical and biophysical techniques, this conventional model is challenged by the elucidation of spatiotemporal GPCR activation with the evidence that receptors can signal from subcellular compartments to exhibit various molecular and cellular responses with physiological and pathophysiological relevance.

In situ synthesis of luminescent dsDNA-Cu NCs stained with a dsDNA-lighted fluorophore for rapid and stable detection of histamine in food.

Poisonous histamine is accumulated in stale meat and fermented foods. The rapid and stable detection of histamine is essential for food safety. Herein, a ratiometric fluorometric method for histamine detection was designed through in situ preparing double-stranded DNA‑copper nanoclusters (dsDNA-Cu NCs) stained with 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI).

Co-augmentation of a transport gene mfsT1 in Mycolicibacterium neoaurum with genome engineering to enhance ergothioneine production.

Ergothioneine (EGT) is a rare thiohistidine derivative with exceptional antioxidant properties. The blood level of EGT is considered highly reliable predictors for cardiovascular diseases and mortality, yet animals lack the ability to synthesize this compound. Free plasmids have been previously used to overexpress genes involved in the EGT biosynthetic pathway of Mycolicibacterium neoaurum.

Driving the conversion of phytosterol to 9α-hydroxy-4-androstene-3,17-dione in Mycolicibacterium neoaurum by engineering the supply and regeneration of flavin adenine dinucleotide.

Background: The conversion of phytosterols to steroid synthons by engineered Mycolicibacteria comprises one of the core steps in the commercial production of steroid hormones. This is a complex oxidative catabolic process, and taking the production of androstenones as example, it requires about 10 equivalent flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD). As the high demand for FAD, the insufficient supply of FAD may be a common issue limiting the conversion process.

Simple and cheap CRISPR/Cas12a biosensor based on plug-and-play of DNA aptamers for the detection of endocrine-disrupting compounds.

Endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) are widely distributed in the environment. Here, we present a CRISPR/Cas12a (CAS) biosensor based on DNA aptamers for point-of-care detection of EDCs. Two typical EDCs, 17β-estradiol (E2) and bisphenol A (BPA), were selected to be detected by the CAS biosensors via the plug-and-play of their DNA aptamers.

Xylenol orange-modified CdTe quantum dots as a fluorescent/colorimetric dual-modal probe for anthrax biomarker based on competitive coordination.

Bacillus anthracis spores can make humans infected with vicious anthrax, so it is significant to detect their biomarker 2,6-pyridinedicarboxylic acid (DPA). The development of dual-modal methods for DPA detection that are more flexible in practical applications remains a challenge. Herein, colorimetric xylenol orange (XO) was modified on fluorescent CdTe quantum dots (QDs) for dual-modal detection of DPA through competitive coordination.

Enzyme-free fluorescence determination of uric acid by combining CdTe quantum dots with metal-organic framework for signal amplification.

The composite of CdTe quantum dots (QDs) with ZIF-8 was elaborately designed and synthesized as an enzyme-free fluorescent probe for the sensitive determination of uric acid (UA), based on the fluorescence detection property of CdTe QDs and the signal amplification function of ZIF-8. The structure and feature of the composite were characterized with transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, and fluorescence spectrometry. With adding UA to the composite, the emission of CdTe QDs reduced due to the inner filter and dynamic quenching effects of UA, and the adsorption ability of ZIF-8 toward UA promoted the response signal of CdTe QDs.

Short-term Evaluation of Visual Quality, Amplitude of Accommodation, and Stereoacuity Between Patients With Moderate-to-High Myopia Who Underwent ICLV4c Implantation and SMILE.

Purpose: To compare the visual quality, accommodation, and stereoacuity between patients with a myopia magnitude of -3.00 to -8.50 diopters (D) who underwent ICLV4c (STAAR Surgical) implantation and small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE).

Bifunctional ratiometric fluorescent probe for sensing anthrax spore biomarker and tetracycline at different excitation channels.

Multifunctional fluorescent probes have received increasing attention for the sake of atom economy and high-density integration. Herein, CdTe quantum dots (QDs) modified with Eu were synthesized as the bifunctional ratiometric fluorescent probe for sensing two hazardous substances tetracycline (TC) and anthrax spore biomarker 2,6-dipicolinic acid (DPA) at different excitation channels, based on the discrepant excitation wavelengths of Eu and the fluorescence quenching of CdTe QDs after interaction with them. Both DPA and TC enhanced the red emission of Eu via antenna effect but caused the green emission of CdTe QDs to quench.

Recent advances in yeast genome evolution with stress tolerance for green biological manufacturing.

Green biological manufacturing is a revolutionary industrial model utilizing yeast as a significant microbial cell factory to produce biofuels and other biochemicals. However, biotransformation efficiency is often limited owing to several stress factors resulting from environmental changes or metabolic imbalance, leading to the slow growth of cells, compromised yield, and enhanced energy consumption. These factors make biological manufacturing competitively less economical.

CdTe QDs@ZIF-8 composite-based recyclable ratiometric fluorescent sensor for rapid and sensitive detection of chlortetracycline.

The residue problem in animal food products caused by the abuse of chlortetracycline (CTC) is one of the food safety issues that have attracted much attention. Herein, a composite was generated by embedding CdTe quantum dots (QDs) into ZIF-8 for ratiometric fluorescent analysis of CTC. With adding CTC, the green luminescence of CTC appeared under the sensitization effect of Zn in ZIF-8, but the red luminescence of CdTe QDs was reduced by the inner filtration effect of CTC.

A ratiometric fluorescence-scattering sensor for rapid, sensitive and selective detection of doxycycline in animal foodstuffs.

The residue problem of tetracycline antibiotics, especially doxycycline (DC), in animal foodstuffs has attracted much attention. This paper reported ZIF-8 and bovine serum albumin (BSA) as a ratiometric fluorescence-scattering sensor for DC. The mechanism relied on the disassembly of ZIF-8 caused by DC, bringing weakened second-order scattering, and the double fluorescence amplification of DC under ZIF-8 with BSA, inducing enhanced fluorescence.

Identification and characterization of two novel melanocortin-3 receptor mutations in Chinese obese individuals.

The melanocortin-3 receptor (MC3R) and melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R), known as neural melanocortin receptors, have been implicated to be critical components of the hypothalamic leptin-melanocortin pathway and related to obesity pathogenesis. In contrast to extensive evidence from physiologic, biological, genetic studies demonstrating that MC4R is a critical regulator in obesity, whether MC3R mutation causes obesity is still controversial. In the present study, we screened for coding variants in the MC3R gene of 176 obese individuals (mean BMI 34.

The Effects of Consumer-grade Virtual Reality Headsets on Adult Visual Function.

Introduction: Consumer-grade virtual reality (VR) headset is being used with increasing frequency nowadays, however, the effect on visual function is not clear.

Objectives: We here investigate whether using VR headset changes adults' visual function and take into account the possible factors.

Methods: We compared the uncorrected distant visual acuity (UDVA), uncorrected near visual acuity (UNVA), best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), low contrast visual acuity (LCVA), glare visual acuity (GVA), refractive error (RE), amplitude of accommodation (ACC), and pupil diameter (PD) before and after using VR headset 10 mintues at a time twice per day for 2 successive weeks in 40 volunteers with a mean age of 28.

Outcomes of 4 surgical adjuvants used for internal limiting membrane peeling in macular hole surgery: a systematic review and network Meta-analysis.

Aim: To compare the outcomes of four adjuvants used for internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling in macular hole surgery, including indocyanine green (ICG), brilliant blue G (BBG), triamcinolone (TA) and trypan blue (TB), through systematic review and random-effects Bayesian network Meta-analysis.

Methods: PubMed, Cochrane library databases and Web of Science were searched until August 2018 for clinical trials comparing the above four adjuvants. ORs for postoperative best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) improvement and primary macular hole closure rates were compared between the different adjuvants.

Gastrin, Cholecystokinin, Signaling, and Biological Activities in Cellular Processes.

The structurally-related peptides, gastrin and cholecystokinin (CCK), were originally discovered as humoral stimulants of gastric acid secretion and pancreatic enzyme release, respectively. With the aid of methodological advances in biochemistry, immunochemistry, and molecular biology in the past several decades, our concept of gastrin and CCK as simple gastrointestinal hormones has changed considerably. Extensive and studies have shown that gastrin and CCK play important roles in several cellular processes including maintenance of gastric mucosa and pancreatic islet integrity, neurogenesis, and neoplastic transformation.

Melanocortin Regulation of Inflammation.

Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), and α-, β-, and γ-melanocyte-stimulating hormones (α-, β-, γ-MSH), collectively known as melanocortins, together with their receptors (melanocortin receptors), are components of an ancient modulatory system. The clinical use of ACTH in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis started in 1949, originally thought that the anti-inflammatory action was through hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis and glucocorticoid-dependent. Subsequent decades have witnessed extensive attempts in unraveling the physiology and pharmacology of the melanocortin system.

Effects of glyphosate on soybean metabolism in strains bred for glyphosate-resistance.

To produce high quality, glyphosate-resistant soybeans, we crossed Jinda 73 and glyphosate-resistant RR1 (Roundup Ready First Generation) (RR1) resulting in 34 hybrid strains. To determine the effects of glyphosate on soybean metabolism, we grew the two parents upto the seedling stage, and measured chlorophyll, soluble sugar, malondialdehyde (MDA), relative conductivity and proline. Then, we treated the plants with glyphosate and measured the same factors again.

Therapeutic strategies for diseases caused by loss-of-function mutations in G protein-coupled receptors.

As one of the largest families of cell membrane proteins, G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are involved in regulating almost all physiological processes by transducing extracellular signals into the cytoplasm. Since the first discovery of naturally occurring mutations in Rhodopsin gene in 1990, hundreds of loss-of-function mutations in multiple GPCRs have been identified to be pathogenic for more than 30 diverse human diseases, making these defective receptors important drug targets for personalized medicine. In this review, we aim to elucidate the etiologies of five common inherited diseases caused by six of the most extensively studied GPCRs.

Regulation of prostate cancer by hormone-responsive G protein-coupled receptors.

Regulation of prostate cancer by androgen and androgen receptor (AR), and blockade of AR signaling by AR antagonists and steroidogenic enzyme inhibitors have been extensively studied. G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are a family of membrane receptors that regulate almost all physiological processes. Nearly 40% of FDA-approved drugs in the market target GPCRs.

Neuroprotection and repair of 3'-blocking DNA ends by glaikit (gkt) encoding Drosophila tyrosyl-DNA phosphodiesterase 1 (TDP1).

Tyrosyl-DNA phosphodiesterase (TDP1) is a phylogenetically conserved enzyme critical for the removal of blocking lesions at the 3' ends of DNA or RNA. This study analyzes the Drosophila TDP1 gene ortholog glaikit (gkt) and its possible role(s) in the repair of endogenous DNA lesions and neuroprotection. To do so, we studied a homozygous PiggyBac insertion (c03958) that disrupts the 5' UTR of gkt.