The present work describes a complete and reversible transformation of DNA's properties allowing solubilization in organic solvents and subsequent chemical modifications that are otherwise not possible in an aqueous medium. Organo-soluble DNA (osDNA) moieties are generated by covalently linking a dsDNA fragment to a polyether moiety with a built-in mechanism, rendering the process perfectly reversible and fully controllable. The precise removal of the polyether moiety frees up the initial DNA fragment, unaltered, both in sequence and nature.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNeurons from layer II of the entorhinal cortex (ECII) are the first to accumulate tau protein aggregates and degenerate during prodromal Alzheimer's disease. Gaining insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying this vulnerability will help reveal genes and pathways at play during incipient stages of the disease. Here, we use a data-driven functional genomics approach to model ECII neurons in silico and identify the proto-oncogene DEK as a regulator of tau pathology.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAlzheimer's disease (AD) is a debilitating neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the accumulation of β-amyloid (Aβ), C99, and Tau in vulnerable areas of the brain. Despite extensive research, current strategies to lower Aβ levels have shown limited efficacy in slowing the cognitive decline associated with AD. Recent findings suggest that C99 may also play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of AD.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHigh-power screening (HPS) technologies, such as DNA-encoded library (DEL) technology, could exponentially increase the dimensions of the chemical space accessible for drug discovery. The intrinsic fragile nature of DNA is associated with cumbersome limitations and DNA durability (e.g.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Highly palatable food triggers behavioral responses including strong motivation. These effects involve the reward system and dopamine neurons, which modulate neurons in the nucleus accumbens (NAc). The molecular mechanisms underlying the long-lasting effects of highly palatable food on feeding behavior are poorly understood.
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