Publications by authors named "F Bracher"

Coinfections with (Mtb) and HIV-1 present a critical health challenge and require treatment for survival. We found that human M1 macrophages inhibit Mtb growth, while M2 macrophages, characterized by elevated Sirt2 expression, permit Mtb growth. Further, we found that HIV-1 augmented Sirt2 gene expression in MФs.

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The aromatic amino acid hydroxylases (AAAHs) phenylalanine hydroxylase, tyrosine hydroxylase, and tryptophan hydroxylases 1 and 2 are structurally related enzymes that contain an active site iron atom and depend on tetrahydrobiopterin (BH) as cosubstrate. Due to their important roles in synthesis of serotonin, dopamine, noradrenaline, and adrenaline and their involvement in cardiovascular, neurological, and endocrine disorders, AAAHs have been targeted by substrate analogs, iron chelators, and allosteric ligands. Phenylalanine hydroxylase is also off-target of the histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor panobinostat.

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Two pore channels are lysosomal cation channels with crucial roles in tumor angiogenesis and viral release from endosomes. Inhibition of the two-pore channel 2 (TPC2) has emerged as potential therapeutic strategy for the treatment of cancers and viral infections, including Ebola and COVID-19. Here, we demonstrate that antagonist SG-094, a synthetic analog of the Chinese alkaloid medicine tetrandrine with increased potency and reduced toxicity, induces asymmetrical structural changes leading to a single binding pocket at only one intersubunit interface within the asymmetrical dimer.

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Clickable chemical tools are essential for studying the localization and role of biomolecules in living cells. For this purpose, alkyne-based close analogs of the respective biomolecules are of outstanding interest. Here, in the field of phytosterols, we present the first alkyne derivative of sitosterol, which fulfills the crucial requirements for such a chemical tool as follows: very similar in size and lipophilicity to the plant phytosterols, and correct absolute configuration at C-24.

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Article Synopsis
  • The liver X receptor (LXR) is important for treating heart problems, but some treatments can cause liver issues.
  • Desmosterol is a special molecule that helps LXR fight inflammation without making liver problems worse.
  • A study tested a drug called SH42 on mice to see if it helps atherosclerosis, but while it changed some fat levels, it didn't actually help reduce atherosclerosis in the mice.
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