Complex IIa formation and ABC transporters determine sensitivity of OSCC to Smac mimetics.

Small molecule inhibitors of apoptosis proteins (IAPs) antagonists, known as Smac mimetics (SMs), activate non-canonical NF-κB and sensitize cancer cells to TNF-induced cell death. SMs are currently in phase III clinical trials for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) after promising phase II trials. To explore the utility of SMs in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), we tested nine human OSCC cell lines and correlated SM sensitivity with both IAP mutation and expression levels.

Imperatorin ameliorates ferroptotic cell death, inflammation, and renal fibrosis in a unilateral ureteral obstruction mouse model.

Background: Imperatorin is a naturally occurring furocoumarin derivative found in traditional Chinese medicine Angelica dahurica for its anticancer, antihypertensive, and antidiabetic properties. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a global health issue, characterized by a high prevalence, significant morbidity and mortality, and a range of related complications.

Objective: This study aims to investigate the protective effects of imperatorin treatment and the specific underlying mechanisms in progressive CKD.

Semiconductor Effect from Pd(II) Porphyrin Metal to Its Ligand in Photocatalytic N-Dealkylation.

In this work, four saddled Pd(II) porphyrins were developed as photocatalyst for N-dealkylation of triethyl Rhodamine (TER) under visible light, and their catalytic ability was found to be negatively related to the out-of-plane of their macrocycles. Two important relationships involving the metalloporphyrins as catalyst were revealed: (1) a photoexcitative semiconductor effect between the 4d - (Pd) and a(π) orbitals of Pd(II) porphyrin on the dealkylation. (2) a domino process from strap length, ring geometry, core deformation, d-π gap variation, to photocatalytic activity.

A ternary nucleotide-lanthanide coordination nanoprobe for ratiometric fluorescence detection of ciprofloxacin.

Ciprofloxacin (CIP) is a widely used broad-spectrum antibiotic and has been associated with various side effects, making its accurate detection crucial for patient safety, drug quality compliance, and environmental and food safety. This study presents the development of a ternary nucleotide-lanthanide coordination nanoprobe, GMP-Tb-BDC (GMP: guanosine 5'-monophosphate, BDC: 2-amino-1,4-benzenedicarboxylic acid), for the sensitive and ratiometric detection of CIP. The GMP-Tb-BDC nanoprobe was constructed by incorporating the blue-emissive ligand BDC into the Tb/GMP coordination polymers.

Two Key Amino Acids Variant of α-l-arabinofuranosidase from Str. 168 with Altered Activity for Selective Conversion Ginsenoside Rc to Rd.

α-l-arabinofuranosidase is a subfamily of glycosidases involved in the hydrolysis of l-arabinofuranosidic bonds, especially in those of the terminal non-reducing arabinofuranosyl residues of glycosides, from which efficient glycoside hydrolases can be screened for the transformation of ginsenosides. In this study, the ginsenoside Rc-hydrolyzing α-l-arabinofuranosidase gene, was cloned from and its codons were optimized for efficient expression in BL21 (DE3). The recombinant protein BsAbfA fused with an N-terminal His-tag was overexpressed and purified, and then subjected to enzymatic characterization.

Transport properties of simple organic molecules in a transmembrane cyclic peptide nanotube.

Multiple molecular dynamics simulations have been performed to explore the transport properties of single methane, methanol, and ethanol molecules through the water-filled transmembrane cyclic peptide nanotube (CPNT) of 8 × (WL)₄-POPE, as well as the potential application of this CPNT in the separation of an alcohol/water mixture. Molecular size and hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity were found to significantly influence molecular diffusion behavior in the channel. Methane and ethanol display more explicit distributions in midplane regions, while methanol mainly occurs in α-plane zones.