Targeting S6K/NFκB/SQSTM1/Polθ signaling to suppress radiation resistance in prostate cancer.

In this study we have identified POLθ-S6K-p62 as a novel druggable regulator of radiation response in prostate cancer. Despite significant advances in delivery, radiotherapy continues to negatively affect treatment outcomes and quality of life due to resistance and late toxic effects to the surrounding normal tissues such as bladder and rectum. It is essential to develop new and effective strategies to achieve better control of tumor.

Reversing the Trend: Deciphering Self-Assembly of Unconventional Amphiphiles Having Both Alkyl-Chain and PEG.

In the field of molecular self-assembly, the core of an assembly is always made up of hydrophobic moiety like a long alkyl chain, whereas the outer part has always been a hydrophilic moiety such as poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), or charged species. Hence, reversing the trend to manifest self-assembled structures with a PEG core and a surface consisting of alkyl chains in aqueous system is incredibly challenging. Herein, we architected a unique class of cationic bolaamphiphiles containing low molecular weight PEG and alkyl chains of different lengths.

Application of zinc oxide nanoflowers in environmental and biomedical science.

Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanostructures can be synthesized in nanoforms of spheres, rods, flowers, disks, walls, etc., among which nanoflowers have gained special attention due to their versatile biomedical and pollutant remedial applications in waste water and air. ZnO nanoflowers have an ultrasmall size with a huge surface area to volume ratio due to their hexagonal petal structures which render them superior compared to the nanoparticles of other shapes.

In-silico studies to analyse the possible interactions of CircPPP1R12A translated peptide with Mst proteins.

The Mammalian sterile 20 kinase (Mst) pathway controls organ development by regulating cell proliferation through apoptosis and has a noncanonical role in cancer. Overexpression of the peptide translated from circular RNA, circPPP1R12A, corelated with the activation of YAP, an oncogene whose expression is triggered upon dysregulation of Mst signalling. The exact mode of molecular interaction(s) leading to inactivation of the Mst pathway by this peptide is hitherto unknown.

The Role of Bystander Effect in Ultraviolet A Induced Photoaging.

Exposure to sunlight, mainly UVA, leads to typical changes in the features of the skin known as photoaging. UVA irradiation induces the expression of proteases that are responsible for the degradation of the extracellular matrix proteins to results in photoaging; it also downregulates the expression of proteins that are needed for the skin structure. Since, it is known that cells in the neighborhood of irradiated cells, but not directly exposed to it, often manifest responses like their irradiated counterparts, it is important to evaluate if these bystander cells too, can contribute to photoaging.

Characterizations of a novel peptide encoded by a circular RNA using in-silico analyses.

CircRNAs have gained importance in recent times due to their involvement in gene regulation and also in the prognosis of cancer. Generally, the circRNA directly interact with miRNA or RNA binding proteins to exert their action, but some of them can be translated. These translated peptides often participate in the regulation of cellular processes.

Bystander effect of ultraviolet A radiation protects A375 melanoma cells by induction of antioxidant defense.

Ultraviolet (UV) irradiated cells release factors that result in varied responses by non-irradiated cells via bystander effects (BE). The UV-BE is dependent on the cell types involved and on the wavelength of the radiation. Using conditioned medium from UVA-irradiated A375 human melanoma cells (UVA-CM), UVA-bystander response was evaluated on the viability of naïve A375 cells.

SIRT1 inhibition-induced senescence as a strategy to prevent prostate cancer progression.

Emerging evidence suggests an important role for SIRT1, a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD)-dependent deacetylase in cancer development, progression and therapeutic resistance; making it a viable therapeutic target. Here, we examined the impact of resveratrol-mediated pharmacological activation of SIRT1 on the progression of HGPIN lesions (using the Pten mouse model) and on prostate tumor development (using an orthotopic model of prostate cancer cells stably silenced for SIRT1). We show that precise SIRT1 modulation could benefit both cancer prevention and treatment.

Application of coke breeze for removal of colour from coke plant wastewater.

Treatment of coking waste water has always been a challenge because of its complex and toxic nature. Numbers of technologies like biological treatment, advanced oxidation processes, activated carbon treatment etc. are available for removal of color and organic contaminants from wastewater.

Controlled synthesis of organic two-dimensional nanostructures reaction-driven, cooperative supramolecular polymerization.

The bottom-up approach of supramolecular polymerization is an effective synthetic method for functional organic nanostructures. However, the uncontrolled growth and polydisperse structural outcome often lead to low functional efficiency. Thus, precise control over the structural characteristics of supramolecular polymers is the current scientific hurdle.

Evidence for 2-Methoxyestradiol-Mediated Inhibition of Receptor Tyrosine Kinase RON in the Management of Prostate Cancer.

2-Methoxyestradiol (2-ME) possesses anti-tumorigenic activities in multiple tumor models with acceptable tolerability profile in humans. Incomplete understanding of the mechanism has hindered its development as an anti-tumorigenic compound. We have identified for the first-time macrophage stimulatory protein 1 receptor (MST1R) as a potential target of 2-ME in prostate cancer cells.

Studies to explore the UVA photosensitizing action of 9-phenylacridine in cells by interaction with DNA.

Acridine and its derivatives are well known for their DNA binding properties. In this report, we present our findings on evaluating different binding parameters of the interaction of 9-phenylacridine (ACPH) with DNA. Absorption spectroscopic studies including standard and reverse titration, the effects of ionic strength and temperature on titration, and Job plot analysis were done to calculate the binding constant and determine the different thermodynamic parameters and stoichiometry of the binding.

Correction: Thermodynamically stable vesicle formation of biodegradable double mPEG-tailed amphiphiles with sulfonate head group.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1039/D0RA05613H.].

9-phenyl acridine photosensitizes A375 cells to UVA radiation.

Acridines are an important class of bioactive molecules having varied uses. Its derivative, 9-phenylacridine (ACPH) had been found to exhibit antitumor activity both in cell lines and model. Its DNA binding ability and absorbance in the ultraviolet range encouraged us to investigate its role as a photosensitizer with UVA radiation.

Thermodynamically stable vesicle formation of biodegradable double mPEG-tailed amphiphiles with sulfonate head group.

The development of efficient, biodegradable and biocompatible surfactants has become a pressing need because of adverse effects of surface-active compounds on the aquatic environment and human health. Cleavable surfactants containing a labile functional group have the ability to eliminate some of these problems. Consequently, PEGylated amphiphiles have found widespread applications in pharmaceutics, household purposes, and drug delivery.

pH-Responsive Vesicle Formation by PEGylated Cholesterol Derivatives: Physicochemical Characterization, Stability, Encapsulation, and Release Study.

PEGylated vesicles are known to serve as blood-persistent drug-delivery systems (DDSs) with potential applications in intravenous drug administration. pH-responsive PEGylated vesicles are also among the most promising stimuli-responsive carriers for drug delivery and controlled release for cancer chemotherapy. Herein, we report design and synthesis of two novel pH-responsive amphiphiles by coupling a cholesterol (Chol) and poly(ethylene glycol) chain with l-cysteine amino acid through hydrolysable linkages.

Anticancer activity of a 1,4-dihydropyridine in DMBA-induced mouse skin tumor model.

Antitumor potential of a 1,4-dihydropyridine derivative (DHP-8) has been successfully studied previously in a number of cancer cell lines including the human melanoma cells, A375. In order to validate its anticancer activity, DMBA induced tumor in Swiss Albino mice was considered for this study. DMBA causes skin carcinoma in murine systems and is an important in vivo model for evaluating the efficacy of any new chemical entity against skin cancer.

Attenuation of NAD[P]H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 aggravates prostate cancer and tumor cell plasticity through enhanced TGFβ signaling.

NAD[P]H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) regulates cell fate decisions in response to stress. Oxidative stress supports cancer maintenance and progression. Previously we showed that knockdown of NQO1 (NQO1) prostate cancer cells upregulate pro-inflammatory cytokines and survival under hormone-deprived conditions.

Untangling the association between environmental endocrine disruptive chemicals and the etiology of male genitourinary cancers.

Endocrine disrupting chemicals disrupt normal physiological function of endogenous hormones, their receptors, and signaling pathways of the endocrine system. Most endocrine disrupting chemicals exhibit estrogen/androgen agonistic and antagonistic activities that impinge upon hormone receptors and related pathways. Humans are exposed to endocrine disrupting chemicals through food, water and air, affecting the synthesis, release, transport, metabolism, binding, function and elimination of naturally occurring hormones.

Insight into the binding of a synthetic nitro-flavone derivative with human poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase 1.

Flavones are important bioactive compounds, many of which are effective in cancer therapy for their ability to target enzymes related to DNA repair and cell proliferation. In this report, the interaction of a synthetic nitroflavone, 2,4-nitrophenylchromen-4-one (4NCO) with human poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (hPARP1) was investigated to explore its inhibitory action. Its interaction with hPARP1 was compared with that of other inhibitors through molecular docking studies.

Contextual role of E2F1 in suppression of melanoma cell motility and invasiveness.

The general transcription factor E2F1 reportedly functions in a protumorigenic manner in several cancer models. We show that the genetic context of cancer cells influence E2F1's role to impede the protumorigenic role. Thirty to fifty percent of melanoma patients carry mutant BRAF with about 90% of mutant BRAF melanomas being V mutation.