Modulation of DAPK1 expression by its alternative splice variant DAPK1-215 in cancer.

Background: Death-Associated Protein Kinase 1 (DAPK1) family members are calcium/calmodulin-regulated serine/threonine kinases implicated in cell death, normal development, and human diseases. However, the regulation of DAPK1 expression in cancer remains unclear.

Methods: We examined the expression and functional impact of a DAPK1 splice variant, DAPK1-215, in multiple cancer cell lines.

Enzyme-catalyzed high-performing reaction with in-situ amplified photocurrent on carbon-functionalized inorganic photoanode for immunosensing.

An enzyme-catalyzed high-performing reaction with in-situ amplified photocurrent was innovatively designed for the quantitative screening of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in biological fluids by coupling with carbon-functionalized inorganic photoanode. A split-type photoelectrochemical (PEC) immunoassay was initially executed with horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-labeled secondary antibody on the capture antibody-coated microtiter. Then, the photocurrent of carbon-functionalized inorganic photoanode were improved through enzymatic insoluble product.

Discovery and analysis of a novel antimicrobial peptide B1AW from the skin secretion of and improving the membrane-binding affinity through the construction of the lysine-introduced analogue.

In the development and study of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), researchers have kept a watchful eye on peptides from the brevinin family because of their extensive antimicrobial activities and anticancer potency. In this study, a novel brevinin peptide was isolated from the skin secretions of the Wuyi torrent frog, () named B1AW (FLPLLAGLAANFLPQIICKIARKC). B1AW displayed anti-bacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria (), methicillin-resistant (), and ().

Functional and Proteomic Insights into Aculeata Venoms.

Aculeate hymenopterans use their venom for a variety of different purposes. The venom of solitary aculeates paralyze and preserve prey without killing it, whereas social aculeates utilize their venom in defence of their colony. These distinct applications of venom suggest that its components and their functions are also likely to differ.

Pearson's principle-inspired hollow metal sulfide for amplified photoelectrochemical immunoassay for disease-related protein.

Designing a universal route for rational synthesis of a family of hollow multinary chalcogenide semiconductors for photoelectrochemical biosensors is still facing to the enormous challenges ahead. Herein a template-assisted CuO surface vulcanization and etching through a Pearson's hard and soft acid-base (HSAB) principle was utilized to synthesize hollow CuS photoactive materials for photocurrent detection of prostate-specific antigen (PSA). We initially synthesized cubic CuO and further surface sulfidation and HCl etching to obtain cubic CuS.

Single-atom Pt-anchored ZnCdS boosted photoelectrochemical immunoassay of prostate-specific antigen.

Photoelectrochemical immunoassays/immunosensors have been employed for biomarker detection, but most are lack of high-efficiency photo-electron transfer nanomaterials for widespread utilization. Herein we synthesized single-atom platinum-anchored ZnCdS nanostructures to construct an innovative photoelectrochemical (PEC) immunosensor for photocurrent determination of prostate-specific antigen (PSA). Improvement of the photocurrent on the sensing interface derived from the ion-exchange reaction between cupric oxide nanoparticle (CuO NP)-labeled secondary antibody and single-atom platinum-anchored ZnCdS.

Structure-Activity Relationship and Molecular Docking of a Kunitz-Like Trypsin Inhibitor, Kunitzin-AH, from the Skin Secretion of .

Kunitz-like trypsin inhibitors are one of the most noteworthy research objects owing to their significance in pharmacological studies, including anticarcinogenic activity, obesity regulation and anticoagulation. In the current study, a novel Kunitz-like trypsin inhibitor, Kunitzin-AH, was isolated from the skin secretion of . The novel peptide displayed a modest trypsin inhibitory activity with the inhibitor constant () value of 1.

Handheld pH meter-assisted immunoassay for C-reactive protein using glucose oxidase-conjugated dendrimer loaded with platinum nanozymes.

A simple and feasible pH meter-based immunoassay is reported for detection of C-reactive protein (CRP) using glucose oxidase (GOD)-conjugated dendrimer loaded with platinum nanozyme. Initially, platinum nanozymes were loaded into the dendrimers through an in situ synthetic method. Then, GOD and monoclonal anti-CRP antibody with a high molar ratio were covalently conjugated onto carboxylated dendrimers via typical carbodiimide coupling.

Boronate ester bond-based potentiometric aptasensor for screening carcinoembryonic antigen-glycoprotein using nanometer-sized CaCO with ion-selective electrode.

Phenylboronic acid-functionalized nanometer-sized CaCO particles (PBA-CaCO) were designed to determine the carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) glycoprotein with a portable Ca ion-selective electrode (Ca-ISE) through a typical boronate ester bond. CaCO nanospheres were conjugated to 3-aminophenylboronic acid by amine-epoxy reaction, whereas target CEA was captured into the aptasensing interface by the immobilized thiolated aptamer on gold substrate. Upon PBA-CaCO introduction, 3-aminophenylboronic acid labeled to CaCO microsphere specifically recognized with CEA glycoprotein based on sugar-boronic acid interaction to form a sandwiched complex.

Analysis of the expression, function, prognosis and co-expression genes of DDX20 in gastric cancer.

DDX20 (DEAD-box polypeptide 20) is implicated in many cellular processes involving alteration of RNA secondary structure. The role of DDX20 in gastric cancer is still unknown. In the research, the expression of DDX20 and the functional roles of DDX20 in gastric cancer were detected.

and MD Simulation Study to Explore Physicochemical Parameters for Antibacterial Peptide to Become Potent Anticancer Peptide.

Although the physicochemical properties of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and anticancer peptides (ACPs) are very similar, it remains unclear which specific parameter(s) of ACPs confer the major anticancer activity. By answering how to construct a short AMP/ACP that could easily be synthesized in the most cost effective way plus conferring a maximum anticancer effect is a very important scientific breakthrough in the development of protein/peptide drugs. In this study, an 18-amino-acids antimicrobial peptide, AcrAP1 (named AP1-Z1), was used as a template.

LFB: A Novel Antimicrobial Brevinin-Like Peptide from the Skin Secretion of the Fujian Large Headed Frog, .

Amphibians are a natural source of abundant antimicrobial peptides and thus have been widely investigated for isolation of such biomolecules. Many new antimicrobial peptide families have been discovered from amphibians. In this study, a novel antimicrobial peptide named Brevinvin (LFB) has been identified in the skin secretion from the Fujian large headed frog, .

Basal but divergent: Clinical implications of differential coagulotoxicity in a clade of Asian vipers.

Envenomations by Asian pitvipers can induce multiple clinical complications resulting from coagulopathic and neuropathic effects. While intense research has been undertaken for some species, functional coagulopathic effects have been neglected. As these species' venoms affect the blood coagulation cascade we investigated their effects upon the human clotting cascade using venoms of species from the Azemiops, Calloselasma, Deinagkistrodon and Hypnale genera.

Backfilling rolling cycle amplification with enzyme-DNA conjugates on antibody for portable electrochemical immunoassay with glucometer readout.

A simple and feasible electrochemical immunosensing protocol with glucometer readout was designed for the detection of low-abundance disease-related biomarker (alpha-fetoprotein; AFP) on the basis of backfilling rolling cycle amplification (RCA) with invertase-DNA conjugates on the detection antibody. The assay consisted of the immunoreaction, RCA reaction, DNA-invertase hybridization and glucose measurement. Initially, a sandwiched immunoreaction was carried out between anti-AFP capture antibody-coated microplate between nanogold-labeled pAb detection antibody conjugated with DNA primer (DNA-AuNP-pAb) in the presence of target ATP.

Magneto-controlled flow-injection device for electrochemical immunoassay of alpha-fetoprotein on magnetic beads using redox-active ferrocene derivative polymer nanospheres.

A new electrochemical immunosensing protocol by coupling with a magneto-controlled flow-through microfluidic device was developed for the sensitive detection of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) on magnetic beads (MB) using ferrocene derivative polymer nanospheres (FDNP) as the electroactive mediators. The immunosensing probe was prepared by covalent conjugation of monoclonal mouse anti-human AFP antibodies with magnetic beads, while the recognition element was constructed by means of immobilizing polyclonal rabbit anti-human AFP antibodies on the redox FDNP. Upon target AFP introduction, the sandwich-type immunoreaction was carried out between the immunosensing probe and the recognition element, and the formed immunocomplex was captured in the detection cell with an external magnet.

Habu coagulotoxicity: Clinical implications of the functional diversification of Protobothrops snake venoms upon blood clotting factors.

Venom can affect any part of the body reachable via the bloodstream. Toxins which specifically act upon the coagulation cascade do so either by anticoagulant or procoagulant mechanisms. Here we investigated the coagulotoxic effects of six species within the medically important pit viper genus Protobothrops (Habu) from the Chinese mainland and Japanese islands, a genus known to produce hemorrhagic shock in envenomed patients.

Identification and pharmaceutical evaluation of novel frog skin-derived serine proteinase inhibitor peptide-PE-BBI (Pelophylax esculentus Bowman-Birk inhibitor) for the potential treatment of cancer.

Amphibian venom-derived peptides have high potential in the field of anticancer drug discovery. We have isolated a novel Bowman-Birk proteinase inhibitor (BBI)-type peptide from the skin secretion of Pelophylax esculentus (PE) named PE-BBI, and evaluated its bio-functions and anti-cancer activity in vitro. PE-BBI is a heptadecapeptide with C-terminal amidation.

Triggering of cancer cell cycle arrest by a novel scorpion venom-derived peptide-Gonearrestide.

In this study, a novel scorpion venom-derived peptide named Gonearrestide was identified in an in-house constructed scorpion venom library through a combination of high-throughput NGS transcriptome and MS/MS proteome platform. In total, 238 novel peptides were discovered from two scorpion species; and 22 peptides were selected for further study after a battery of functional prediction analysis. Following a series of bioinformatics analysis alongside with in vitro biological functional screenings, Gonearrestide was found to be a highly potent anticancer peptide which acts on a broad spectrum of human cancer cells while causing few if any observed cytotoxic effects on epithelial cells and erythrocytes.

Does size matter? Venom proteomic and functional comparison between night adder species (Viperidae: Causus) with short and long venom glands.

Night adders (Causus species within the Viperidae family) are amphibian specialists and a common source of snakebite in Africa. Some species are unique in that they have the longest venom glands of any viper, extending approximately 10% of the body length. Despite their potential medical importance and evolutionary novelty, their venom has received almost no research attention.

The Roles of Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

The protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) family is involved in multiple cellular functions and plays an important role in various pathological and physiological processes. In many chronic diseases, for example cancer, PTP is a potential therapeutic target for cancer treatment. In the last two decades, dozens of PTP inhibitors which specifically target individual PTP molecules were developed as therapeutic agents.

Proteomic and functional variation within black snake venoms (Elapidae: Pseudechis).

Pseudechis (black snakes) is an Australasian elapid snake genus that inhabits much of mainland Australia, with two representatives confined to Papua New Guinea. The present study is the first to analyse the venom of all 9 described Pseudechis species (plus one undescribed species) to investigate the evolution of venom composition and functional activity. Proteomic results demonstrated that the typical Pseudechis venom profile is dominated by phospholipase A toxins.

Cationicity-enhanced analogues of the antimicrobial peptides, AcrAP1 and AcrAP2, from the venom of the scorpion, Androctonus crassicauda, display potent growth modulation effects on human cancer cell lines.

The non disulphide-bridged peptides (NDBPs) of scorpion venoms are attracting increased interest due to their structural heterogeneity and broad spectrum of biological activities. Here, two novel peptides, named AcrAP1 and AcrAP2, have been identified in the lyophilised venom of the Arabian scorpion, Androctonus crassicauda, through "shotgun" molecular cloning of their biosynthetic precursor-encoding cDNAs. The respective mature peptides, predicted from these cloned cDNAs, were subsequently isolated from the same venom sample using reverse phase HPLC and their identities were confirmed by use of mass spectrometric techniques.

Ranakinestatin-PPF from the skin secretion of the Fukien gold-striped pond frog, Pelophylax plancyi fukienensis: a prototype of a novel class of bradykinin B2 receptor antagonist peptide from ranid frogs.

The defensive skin secretions of many amphibians are a rich source of bradykinins and bradykinin-related peptides (BRPs). Members of this peptide group are also common components of reptile and arthropod venoms due to their multiple biological functions that include induction of pain, effects on many smooth muscle types, and lowering systemic blood pressure. While most BRPs are bradykinin receptor agonists, some have curiously been found to be exquisite antagonists, such as the maximakinin gene-related peptide, kinestatin-a specific bradykinin B2-receptor antagonist from the skin of the giant fire-bellied toad, Bombina maxima.

Balteatide: a novel antimicrobial decapeptide from the skin secretion of the purple-sided leaf frog, Phyllomedusa baltea.

The skin secretions of Neotropical phyllomedusine leaf frogs have proven to be a rich source of biologically active peptides, including antimicrobials. The major families of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) reported are the dermaseptins and phylloseptins and the minor families are the dermatoxins, phylloxins, plasticins, distinctins, and medusins. Here, we report a novel AMP of 10 amino acid residues (LRPAILVRIKamide), named balteatide, from the skin secretion of wild Peruvian purple-sided leaf frogs, Phyllomedusa baltea.

Feleucins: novel bombinin precursor-encoded nonapeptide amides from the skin secretion of Bombina variegata.

The first amphibian skin antimicrobial peptide (AMP) to be identified was named bombinin, reflecting its origin from the skin of the European yellow-bellied toad (Bombina variegata). Bombinins and their related peptides, the bombinin Hs, were subsequently reported from other bombinid toads. Molecular cloning of bombinin-encoding cDNAs from skin found that bombinins and bombinin Hs were coencoded on the same precursor proteins.