New Regulatory roles for Human Serum Amyloid A.

The current study illuminates the multifaceted role of Serum Amyloid A (SAA), an essential acute-phase protein implicated in diverse biological realms, encompassing inflammation, oncogenesis, and stress modulation. With a focus on delineating the intricate protein-protein interactions orchestrated by SAA, this investigation unravels its diverse functions within the human physiological landscape. Utilizing the HepG2 cell line, renowned for its proficiency in facilitating SAA overexpression, we meticulously generated protein extracts after inducing SAA hyperexpression.

A novel artificial intelligence-based approach for identification of deoxynucleotide aptamers.

The selection of a DNA aptamer through the Systematic Evolution of Ligands by EXponential enrichment (SELEX) method involves multiple binding steps, in which a target and a library of randomized DNA sequences are mixed for selection of a single, nucleotide-specific molecule. Usually, 10 to 20 steps are required for SELEX to be completed. Throughout this process it is necessary to discriminate between true DNA aptamers and unspecified DNA-binding sequences.

Interaction of metallocene dichlorides with apo-human transferrin: A spectroscopic study and cytotoxic activity against human cancer cell lines.

Metallocene dichlorides (CpM(IV)Cl) are the first class of small and hydrophobic organometallic compounds classified as anticancer agents against numerous cancer cell lines and tumors. In this study, the antiproliferative activities of CpVCl,CpNbCl, CpHfCl and CpZrClwere assessed on two human cancer cell lines (HT-29 and MCF-7) using MTT assay. Spectroscopic studies were also conducted using these and other known metallocene dichlorides on apo-human transferrin (apo-hTf) at pH 7.

Fast Adhesion of Gold Nanoparticles (AuNPs) to a Surface Using Starch Hydrogels for Characterization of Biomolecules in Biosensor Applications.

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are the most thoroughly studied nanoparticles because of their remarkable optical properties. Color changes in assays that use AuNPs can be easily observed with the naked eye, resulting in sensitive colorimetric methods, useful for detecting a variety of biological molecules. However, while AuNPs represent an excellent nano-platform for developing analytical methods for biosensing, there are still challenges that must be overcome before colloidal AuNPs formulation can be successfully translated into practical applications.

Modelling and molecular docking studies of the cytoplasmic domain of Wsc-family, full-length Ras2p, and therapeutic antifungal compounds.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the budding yeast, must remodel initial cell shape and cell wall integrity during vegetative growth and pheromone-induced morphogenesis. The cell wall remodeling is monitored and regulated by the cell wall integrity (CWI) signaling pathway. Wsc1p, together with Wsc2p and Wsc3p, belongs to a family of highly O-glycosylated cell surface proteins that function as stress sensors of the cell wall in S.

A molecular docking study of the interactions between human transferrin and seven metallocene dichlorides.

Human Transferrin (hTf) is a metal-binding protein found in blood plasma and is well known for its role in iron delivery. With only a 30% of its capacity for Fe binding, this protein has the potential ability to transport other metal ions or organometallic compounds from the blood stream to all cell tissues. In this perspective, recent studies have described seven metallocene dichlorides (CpM(IV)Cl, M(IV)=V, Mo, W, Nb, Ti, Zr, Hf) suitable as anticancer drugs and less secondary effects than cisplatin.

Electrophoretic mobility-shift and super-shift assays for studies and characterization of protein-DNA complexes.

Gene expression is in part regulated by transcription factors that bind specific sequence motifs in genomic DNA. Transcription factors cooperate with the basal machinery to upregulate or downregulate transcription. Experimental data have revealed the importance of interactions among members of distinct families of transcription factors to form complexes that regulate gene expression.

Exploring transcription factor binding properties of several non-coding DNA sequence elements in the human NF-IL6 gene.

We examined several DNA segments upstream of the transcription start site of the human NF-IL6 gene to evaluate the predictions of two computational models developed to identify potential regulatory elements in the non-coding regions of genes. One model, comparative genomics, is based on the hypothesis that functional regulatory sequences can be localized in alignments of genomic DNA from several species. The other model is based on the hypothesis that protein-binding sites in genomic DNA may include sequence elements that occur frequently in proximal promoters of genes.

Exploring the characteristics of sequence elements in proximal promoters of human genes.

Central to reconstruction of cis-regulatory networks is identification and classification of naturally occurring transcription factor-binding sites according to the genes that they control. We have examined salient characteristics of 9-mers that occur in various orders and combinations in the proximal promoters of human genes. In evaluations of a dataset derived with respect to experimentally defined transcription initiation sites, in some cases we observed a clear correspondence of highly ranked 9-mers with protein-binding sites in genomic DNA.

Organization of the promoter region of the human NF-IL6 gene.

In monocyte/macrophages, the human NF-IL6 gene was activated by LPS or PMA. However, a robust response required stimulation of cells with both LPS and PMA. To examine the molecular basis of this response, we isolated human genomic DNA and determined the nucleotide sequence of a segment (6.