Synthetic Amine Linkers for Efficient Sortagging.

Enzymatic site-specific bioconjugation techniques, in particular sortase-mediated ligation, are increasingly used to generate conjugated proteins for a wide array of applications. Extension of the utility and practicality of sortagging for diverse purposes is critically dependent on further improvement of the efficiency of sortagging reactions with a wider structural variety of substrates. We present a comprehensive comparative mass spectrometry screening study of synthetic nonpeptidic incoming amine nucleophile substrates of Sortase A enzyme.

Epigenetic footprint enables molecular risk stratification of hepatoblastoma with clinical implications.

Background & Aims: Hepatoblastoma (HB) is a rare disease. Nevertheless, it is the predominant pediatric liver cancer, with limited therapeutic options for patients with aggressive tumors. Herein, we aimed to uncover the mechanisms of HB pathobiology and to identify new biomarkers and therapeutic targets in a move towards precision medicine for patients with advanced HB.

Magnetic moment inversion at giant flux jump: dynamical property of critical state in type-II superconductors.

Experimental evidence of tremendous magnetic moment dynamical inversion, from metastable trapping state to the state with essentially the same moment oriented in the opposite direction, appearing during giant flux jump connected to thermomagnetic avalanche process in superconducting YBaCuO single crystal, is presented. Magnetization inversion takes place in the system, without thermal contact between sample and sample holder, with a tremendous stored energy once the avalanche process is completed in quasi-adiabatic conditions. A model of magnetic moment inversion, caused by the jump between two metastable states of superconductor with the same energy storage, is presented and discussed in terms of the critical state with peculiar evolution of the critical-current spatial distribution.

pH regulators to target the tumor immune microenvironment in human hepatocellular carcinoma.

Interfering with tumor metabolism is an emerging strategy for treating cancers that are resistant to standard therapies. Featuring a rapid proliferation rate and exacerbated glycolysis, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) creates a highly hypoxic microenvironment with excessive production of lactic and carbonic acids. These metabolic conditions promote disease aggressiveness and cancer-related immunosuppression.

Identification of an Immune-specific Class of Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Based on Molecular Features.

Background & Aims: Agents that induce an immune response against tumors by altering T-cell regulation have increased survival times of patients with advanced-stage tumors, such as melanoma or lung cancer. We aimed to characterize molecular features of immune cells that infiltrate hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) to determine whether these types of agents might be effective against liver tumors.

Methods: We analyzed HCC samples from 956 patients.