WGX50 mitigates doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity through inhibition of mitochondrial ROS and ferroptosis.

Background: Doxorubicin (DOX)-induced cardiotoxicity (DIC) is a major impediment to its clinical application. It is indispensable to explore alternative treatment molecules or drugs for mitigating DIC. WGX50, an organic extract derived from Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim, has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant biological activity, however, its function and mechanism in DIC remain unclear.

Supervised screening of Tecovirimat-like compounds as potential inhibitors for the monkeypox virus E8L protein.

Monkeypox virus (MPXV) is a budding public health threat worldwide, and there lacks a personalized drug availability to treat MPXV infections. Tecovirimat, an antiviral drug against pox viruses, is recently confirmed to be effective against the MPXV using nanomolar concentrations. Therefore, the current study considers Tecovirimat as a reference compound for a machine learning-based guided screening to scan bioactive compounds from the DrugBank with similar chemical features or moieties as the Tecovirimat to inhibit the MPXV E8L surface binding protein.

Discovery and characterization of the covalent SARS-CoV-2 3CL inhibitors from Ginkgo biloba extract via integrating chemoproteomic and biochemical approaches.

Background: The 3C-like proteases (3CLs) are cysteine-rich homodimeric proteins and can be covalently modified by numerous natural and synthetic compounds, which in turn, block the proteolytic activity or the formation of enzymatically active dimeric forms. Although herbal medicines have been widely used to treat COVID-19, identification of the key herbal constituents that can covalently modify the 3CLs in β-coronaviruses (CoVs) remains a big challenge.

Aims: To construct a comprehensive approach for efficient discovering the covalent SARS-CoV-2 3CL inhibitors from herbal medicines.

Chemo- and Site-Selective Lysine Modification of Peptides and Proteins under Native Conditions Using the Water-Soluble Zolinium.

Site-selective lysine modification of peptides and proteins in aqueous solutions or in living cells is still a big challenge today. Here, we report a novel strategy to selectively quinolylate lysine residues of peptides and proteins under native conditions without any catalysts using our newly developed water-soluble zoliniums. The zoliniums could site-selectively quinolylate K350 of bovine serum albumin and inactivate SARS-CoV-2 3CL covalently modifying two highly conserved lysine residues (K5 and K61).

[Analysis of peptides and proteins from Asini Corii Colla using nano LC-Q-Exactive-MS/MS].

This paper aims to systematically analyze the peptides and proteins from Asini Corii Colla(ACC) through shotgun proteomics. After high-pH reversed-phase fractionation, the proteins and peptides in the hydrolysate of ACC were further separated by nano LC-Q-Exactive-MS/MS under the following conditions: Thermo Scientific EASY column(100 μm×2 cm, 5 μm, C_(18)) as precolumn, Thermo Scientific EASY column(75 μm×100 mm, 3 μm, C_(18)) for solid phase extraction, gradient elution with 0.1% formic acid in water(mobile phase A) and 84% acetonitrile in water containing 0.

Sensing and imaging of exosomal CD26 secreted from cancer cells and 3D colorectal tumor model using a novel near-infrared fluorogenic probe.

Cancer-derived exosomes or their specific components hold great promise for early diagnosis and precise staging of cancers. This work aimed to construct a novel enzyme-activatable fluorescent substrate for real-time detection and in situ imaging of a key exosomal surface protein CD26 in various biological systems, as well as to reveal the relevance of exosomal CD26 to the tumorigenesis. For these purposes, a group of Gly-Pro amides deriving from several near-infrared fluorophores were designed on the basis of the unique prolyl-cleaving dipeptidease activity of CD26, while molecular docking simulations were applied to assess the possibility of the designed amides as CD26 specific substrates.

The long-term effects of superovulation on fertility and sexual behavior of male offspring in mice.

Purpose: To evaluate the long-term effects of superovulation on fertility and sexual behavior of male offspring in mice.

Method: The mice were superovaluted, and the fertility of male offspring (F1 generation and F2 generation) were evaluated in terms of the percentage of plugs and pregnancies, serum testosterone concentrations, and sperm motility. Furthermore, the sexual behavior of male offspring and sex ratio (F1 generation and F2 generation) were measured.

In vitro maturation of oocytes is not a risk factor for adult metabolic syndrome of mouse offspring.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of in vitro maturation (IVM) of oocytes on the serum cholesterol profile, glucose and insulin tolerance, blood pressure, and heart rate of adult mouse offspring.

Study Design: The serum cholesterol profile, glucose and insulin tolerance, blood pressure, and heart rate of adult offspring born from in vitro matured oocytes were compared with those of adult offspring born from in vivo matured oocytes.

Results: Offspring born from in vitro matured oocytes showed a normal serum cholesterol profile.

Effect of vitrification of mouse oocyte on the behavior of adult offspring.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of vitrification of mouse oocytes on the behavior of adult offspring.

Study Design: Oocytes from mice were vitrified, warmed and inseminated, and two-cell embryos were transferred to foster mothers. The behavioral characterization of the offspring was detected by the Morris water maze test, forced swimming test, and elevated plus maze test, and compared to that of offspring from fresh oocytes.