Reliable amplification of highly repetitive or low complexity sequence DNA enabled by superhelicase-mediated isothermal amplification.

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) requires thermal cycling to melt DNA and proceed through the subsequent cycles of DNA synthesis needed for exponential amplification. Previously, we engineered a superhelicase, with enhanced processivity and speed, to replace this traditional PCR melting step with enzymatic DNA unwinding while retaining desired PCR characteristics, such as multi-kb amplicon size and applicability to cloning and gene editing outcome assessment. This isothermal amplification method is named SHARP (SSB-Helicase Assisted Rapid PCR) because single-stranded DNA binding protein (SSB) and superhelicases are added to standard PCR reagents.

A monomeric structure of human TMEM63A protein.

OSCA/TMEM63 is a newly identified family of mechanically activated (MA) ion channels in plants and animals, respectively, which convert physical forces into electrical signals or trigger intracellular cascades and are essential for eukaryotic physiology. OSCAs and related TMEM16s and transmembrane channel-like (TMC) proteins form homodimers with two pores. However, the molecular architecture of the mammalian TMEM63 proteins remains unclear.

The mechanism of ferroptosis and its related diseases.

Ferroptosis, a regulated form of cellular death characterized by the iron-mediated accumulation of lipid peroxides, provides a novel avenue for delving into the intersection of cellular metabolism, oxidative stress, and disease pathology. We have witnessed a mounting fascination with ferroptosis, attributed to its pivotal roles across diverse physiological and pathological conditions including developmental processes, metabolic dynamics, oncogenic pathways, neurodegenerative cascades, and traumatic tissue injuries. By unraveling the intricate underpinnings of the molecular machinery, pivotal contributors, intricate signaling conduits, and regulatory networks governing ferroptosis, researchers aim to bridge the gap between the intricacies of this unique mode of cellular death and its multifaceted implications for health and disease.

Antibacterial effect of synthetic ultra-short lipopeptide on Streptococcus agalactiae and its active on bacterial mastitis in mice.

Streptococcus agalactiae mastitis is one of the significant threats to the milk industry. The traditional antibiotic treatment method is easy to cause the emergence of resistant strains, and the problem of drug residue is increasingly severe. In this study, we designed and synthesized five lipopeptides.

Identification of G protein-coupled receptors required for vitellogenesis and egg development in an insect with panoistic ovary.

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), a superfamily of integral transmembrane proteins regulate a variety of physiological processes in insects. Juvenile hormone (JH) is known to stimulate Vitellogenin (Vg) synthesis in the fat body, secretion into the hemolymph and uptake by developing oocytes. However, the role of GPCRs in JH-dependent insect vitellogenesis and oocyte maturation remains elusive.

[Recurrent Angelman syndrome caused by a rare partial deletion of UBE3A gene].

Objective: To provide genetic testing for two brothers with mental retardation and epilepsy.

Methods: Array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) was used to detect copy number variations in the two patients, their parents and maternal grandparents. Methylation-specific multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MS-MLPA) was utilized to delineate the deleted region in the pedigree.

Serial expression and activity analysis of LNK-16: a bovine antimicrobial peptide analogue.

Indolicidin is a broad-spectrum antimicrobial peptide (AMP) with great therapeutic potential; however, high manufacturing costs associated with industrial-scale chemical synthesis have limited its delivery. Therefore, the use of recombinant DNA technology to produce this peptide is urgently needed. In this study, a new methodology for the large-scale production of a novel bovine AMP was developed.