Publications by authors named "J J Mediavilla Bravo"
N-acyl l-homoserine lactones are signaling molecules used by numerous bacteria in quorum sensing. Some bacteria encode lactonases, which can inactivate these signals. Lactonases were reported to inhibit quorum sensing-dependent phenotypes, including virulence and biofilm.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFType II CRISPR endonucleases are widely used programmable genome editing tools. Recently, CRISPR-Cas systems with highly compact nucleases have been discovered, including Cas9d (a type II-D nuclease). Here, we report the cryo-EM structures of a Cas9d nuclease (747 amino acids in length) in multiple functional states, revealing a stepwise process of DNA targeting involving a conformational switch in a REC2 domain insertion.
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- The study revises the taxonomy of Neotropical Odontomachus ant species, identifying four new species and synonymizing one, resulting in a total of 27 recognized species in the region.
- It includes detailed descriptions of worker ants, gynes (queens), and males, along with high-quality images and dichotomous keys to aid identification.
- The findings also highlight morphological variabilities that suggest the presence of cryptic species and emphasize the need for further research on male genitalia to understand species relationships better.
Introduction: Leptin and ghrelin are two hormones that play a role in weight homeostasis. Leptin, which is produced primarily by adipocytes and is dependent on body fat mass, suppresses appetite and increases energy expenditure. Conversely, ghrelin is the "hunger hormone", it stimulates appetite and promotes fat storage.
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- Fibrinolysis plays a crucial role in the release of hematopoietic stem cells from bone marrow, affecting the development of B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL).
- Activation of plasmin, driven by annexin A2, alters the extracellular matrix (ECM), which impacts cancer cell growth by trapping the growth factor IGF1 and hindering signaling pathways.
- Inhibiting plasmin activation with ε-aminocaproic acid (EACA) shows promise in reducing tumor size and extending survival in B-ALL models, suggesting that targeting fibrinolysis could be a helpful addition to cancer treatment.