BODIPY nanoparticles functionalized with lactose for cancer-targeted and fluorescence imaging-guided photodynamic therapy.

A series of four lactose-modified BODIPY photosensitizers (PSs) with different substituents (-I, -H, -OCH, and -NO) in the para-phenyl moiety attached to the meso-position of the BODIPY core were synthesized; the photophysical properties and photodynamic anticancer activities of these sensitizers were investigated, focusing on the electronic properties of the different substituent groups. Compared to parent BODIPY H, iodine substitution (BODIPY I) enhanced the intersystem crossing (ISC) to produce singlet oxygen (O) due to the heavy atom effect, and maintained a high fluorescence quantum yield (Φ) of 0.45.

Dihydrocapsaicin induces translational repression and stress granule through HRI-eIF2α phosphorylation axis.

Stress granules (SGs) are cytoplasmic biomolecular condensates that are formed against a variety of stress conditions when translation initiation is perturbed. SGs form through the weak protein-protein, protein-RNA, and RNA-RNA interactions, as well as through the intrinsically disordered domains and post-translation modifications within RNA binding proteins (RBPs). SGs are known to contribute to cell survivability by minimizing the stress-induced damage to the cells by delaying the activation of apoptosis.

Loss of MeCP2 causes subtle alteration in dendritic arborization of retinal ganglion cells.

Methyl-CpG-binding protein (MeCP2) is highly expressed in neurons. It plays an important role in the development of synapses and the formation of circuits in the central nervous system (CNS). Mutations in cause neurodevelopmental disorders and mental retardation in humans.