Research on enhancing enzymatic degradation of anti-digestive peptides containing D-amino acids through N-terminal acetylation.

The incorporation of D-amino acids can influence the structure and enzymatic stability of proteins or peptides, especially when they are introduced at enzyme cleavage sites, significantly inhibiting the enzymatic hydrolysis of peptides. The abnormal accumulation of these peptides has been linked to age-related conditions, including cataracts and Alzheimer's disease. N-terminal acetylation, an essential post-translational modification, significantly enhances the physicochemical properties of peptides and plays an essential role in regulating their performance within biological systems.

Effect of Glycosylation on the Enzymatic Degradation of D-Amino Acid-Containing Peptides.

The accumulation of D-amino acid-containing peptides is associated with age-related diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and cataracts, while glycosylation is an important modification of proteins and plays a key role in improving the physicochemical properties of peptides and facilitating their regulation in biological systems. This study investigates the effects of glycosylation position, glycan number, and monosaccharide structure on the conformation and enzymatic degradation of D-amino acid-containing peptides, using KYNEtWRSED (5-t) as a model peptide and six monosaccharides as model glycans. The results demonstrated that glycosylation inhibited the enzymatic degradation of 5-t in the presence of most serine-like proteases.

Reticular Synthesis of Covalent Organic Frameworks with kgd-v Topology and Trirhombic Pores.

Two-dimensional (2D) covalent organic frameworks (COFs) with designable pore structures can be synthesized under the guidance of topology diagrams. Among the five existing edge-transitive topological nets, topology is considered a fine candidate for constructing COFs with ultramicropores. However, all of the reported COFs with topology need the use of -symmetric monomers, which are limited in compound type and difficult to synthesize.

Chiral Amino Acids Mediate Mitochondria-Dependent Apoptosis of Human Proximal Tubular Epithelial Cells Under Oxidative Stress.

Amino acids are the basic structural units of life, and their intake levels affect disease and health. In the case of renal disease, alterations in amino acid metabolism can be used not only as a clinical indicator of renal disease but also as a therapeutic strategy. However, the biological roles and molecular mechanisms of natural chiral amino acids in human proximal tubular epithelial cells (HK-2) remain unclear.

Effects of mirror-image nucleosides on DNA replication and transcription in human cells.

Mirror-image nucleosides, as potential antiviral drugs, can inhibit virus DNA polymerase to prevent virus replication. Conversely, they may be inserted into the DNA strands during DNA replication or transcription processes, leading to mutations that affect genome stability. Accumulation of significant mutation damage in cells may result in cell aging, apoptosis, and even uncontrolled cell division.

Identification and validation of serum MUC17 as a non-invasive early warning biomarker for screening of gastric intraepithelial neoplasia.

Background: The early diagnosis and treatment of Gastric Intraepithelial Neoplasia (GIN) are pivotal for improving the survival rates of patients with gastric cancer (GC). Regrettably, reliable noninvasive biomarkers for GIN screening are currently lacking.

Methods: mRNA data from the GEO database, pan-cancer data from the TCGA database, and a gene list of exocrine proteins were subjected to integrated analysis to identify a noninvasive biomarker for GIN.

Light-Promoted Extraction of Precious Metals Using a Porphyrin-Integrated One-Dimensional Covalent Organic Framework.

Precious metals are valuable materials for the chemical industry, but they are scarce and pose a risk of supply disruption. Recycling precious metals from waste is a promising strategy, here we tactfully utilize light irradiation as an environmental-friendly and energy-saving adjunctive strategy to promote the reduction of precious metal ions, thereby improving the adsorption capacity and kinetics. A newly light-sensitive covalent organic framework (PP-COF) was synthesized to illustrate the effectiveness and feasibility of this light auxiliary strategy.

Identification of 3-hydroxyaspartate with two chiral centers by capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry and vibrational circular dichroism independent of single enantiomer standard.

Background: 3-Hydroxyaspartate(3-HA) is a non-proteinaceous amino acid whose four stereoisomers have different biological functions, making it meaningful to separate and analyze them. A combination of capillary zone electrophoresis-mass spectrometry (CZE-MS) and electron circular dichroism enables the separation and analysis of the four stereoisomers of 3-HA, but relies on enantiomeric standards. In contrast, the new method based on vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) can successfully confirm the peak order of the four enantiomers simultaneously without a single enantiomeric standard.

An anoikis-related gene signature predicts prognosis, drug sensitivity, and immune microenvironment in cholangiocarcinoma.

Background: Cholangiocarcinoma is a malignant invasive biliary tract carcinoma with a poor prognosis. Anoikis-related genes are prognostic features of a variety of cancers. However, the value of prognostication and therapeutic effect of anoikis-related genes in cholangiocarcinoma have not been reported.

Antifungal mechanism of cell-free supernatant produced by and its efficacy for the control of pear Valsa canker.

Introduction: Pear Valsa canker, caused by (), poses a major threat to pear production. We aimed to assess the effectiveness of the cell-free supernatant (CFS) produced by () to control the development of pear Valsa canker and reveal the inhibitory mechanism against the pathogenic fungi.

Results: Using morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analysis, the pathogen G1H was identified as , and the biocontrol fungus WJ561 was identified as .

Identification and validation of a novel predictive signature based on hepatocyte-specific genes in hepatocellular carcinoma by integrated analysis of single-cell and bulk RNA sequencing.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma represents a significant global burden in terms of cancer-related mortality, posing a substantial risk to human health. Despite the availability of various treatment modalities, the overall survival rates for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma remain suboptimal. The objective of this study was to explore the potential of novel biomarkers and to establish a novel predictive signature utilizing multiple transcriptome profiles.

Evolution of Peritoneal Dialysis-Associated Peritonitis: Pathogen, Antibiotic Resistance, and the Impact of Lymphocyte Count on Treatment Outcomes.

Purpose: Antibiotic administration leads to alterations in pathogenic organisms and antibiotic resistance, posing a significant risk to peritoneal dialysis patients' health. This study aimed to investigate changes in the cause-specific peritonitis, pathogen profiles, antibiotic resistance, and the prognostic factors among patients with peritoneal dialysis-associated peritonitis (PDAP) at our center.

Patients And Methods: We included 463 PDAP patients who attended Peking University Shenzhen Hospital between 2002 and 2023.

Benzalkonium Chloride and Benzethonium Chloride Effectively Reduce Spore Germination of Ginger Soft Rot Pathogens: and .

Ginger soft rot is a serious soil-borne disease caused by and , resulting in reduced crop yields. The application of common chemical fungicides is considered to be an effective method of sterilization, and therefore, they pose a serious threat to the environment and human health due to their high toxicity. Benzalkonium chloride (BAC) and benzethonium chloride (BEC) are two popular quaternary ammonium salts with a wide range of fungicidal effects.

Red cell distribution width to albumin ratio predicts treatment failure in peritoneal dialysis-associated peritonitis.

Background: This study aims to investigate the potential correlation between baseline red cell distribution width (RDW) to albumin ratio (RAR) levels and treatment failure in peritoneal dialysis-associated peritonitis (PDAP) patients.

Methods: A retrospective single-center study was conducted on 286 PDAP patients. Logistic regression and generalized estimation equation (GEE) analyses were employed to assess the relationship between RAR and treatment failure.

Decreased Peripheral Blood Lymphocyte Count Predicts Poor Treatment Response in Peritoneal Dialysis-Associated Peritonitis.

Purpose: Peripheral blood lymphocyte counts is a pivotal parameter in assessing the host's immune response during maladies and the equilibrium of the immune system which has been found to correlate with various diseases progression and prognosis. However, there was no study on patients with peritoneal dialysis-associated peritonitis (PDAP). We sought to investigate the prognostic value of baseline peripheral blood lymphocyte count in PDAP patients.

Effect of Modification Strategies on the Biological Activity of Peptides/Proteins.

Covalent attachment of biologically active peptides/proteins with functional moieties is an effective strategy to control their biodistribution, pharmacokinetics, enzymatic digestion, and toxicity. This review focuses on the characteristics of different modification strategies and their effects on the biological activity of peptides/proteins and illustrates their relevant applications and potential.

Migration mechanism and risk assessment of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in the Ya'Er Lake oxidation pond area, China.

The migration mechanisms, sources, and environmental risks of 29 legacy and emerging perfluorinated and polyfluoroalkyl species present in an oxidation pond (Ya'Er Lake) were investigated for treating sewage based on the analysis of their occurrence and distribution. The concentration of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in pond area was between 0.30 and 63.

Self-Assembly Nanostructure Induced by Regulation of G-Quadruplex DNA Topology via a Reduction-Sensitive Azobenzene Ligand on Cells.

The control of DNA assembly systems on cells has increasingly shown great importance for precisely targeted therapies. Here, we report a controllable DNA self-assembly system based on the regulation of G-quadruplex DNA topology by a reduction-sensitive azobenzene ligand. Specifically, three azobenzene multiamines are developed, and AzoDiTren is identified as the best G4 binder, which displays high affinity and specificity for G4 DNA.

Reversible On-Off Photoswitching of DNA Replication Using a Dumbbell Oligodeoxynucleotide.

In most organisms, DNA extension is highly regulated; however, most studies have focused on controlling the initiation of replication, and few have been done to control the regulation of DNA extension. In this study, we adopted a new strategy for azODNs to regulate DNA extension, which is based on azobenzene oligonucleotide chimeras regulated by substrate binding affinity, and the conformation of the chimera can be regulated by a light source with a light wavelength of 365 nm. The results showed that the primer was extended with Taq DNA polymerase after visible light treatment, and DNA extension could be effectively hindered with UV light treatment.

Effect of Mini-PEGs Modification on the Enzymatic Digestion of D-Amino Acid-Containing Peptides under the Action of PROK.

It was previously reported that D-amino acid-containing peptides exhibited the ability to resist enzymatic hydrolysis. This study investigated the influence of mini-PEGs modification on enzymatic hydrolysis ability of D-amino acid-containing peptides. The results showed that PEGylation promoted enzymatic hydrolysis of the D-amino acid-containing peptide, especially, the cleavage rate of the D-amino acid-containing peptide 6-w with PEG modification at the N-ends was up to 17 times higher in the presence of proteinase K (PROK) compared to those without PEG modification.

Replicative bypass studies of l-deoxyribonucleosides in Vitro and in E. coli cell.

L-nucleosides were the most important antiviral lead compounds because they can inhibit viral DNA polymerase and DNA synthesis of many viruses, whereas they may lead to mutations in DNA replication and cause genomic instability. In this study, we reported the replicative bypass of L-deoxynucleosides in recombinant DNA by restriction enzyme-mediated assays to examine their impact on DNA replication in vitro and in E. coli cells.

Superelastic 3D Assembled Clay/Graphene Aerogels for Continuous Solar Desalination and Oil/Organic Solvent Absorption.

Superelastic, arbitrary-shaped, and 3D assembled clay/graphene aerogels (CGAs) are fabricated using commercial foam as sacrificial skeleton. The CGAs possess superelasticity under compressive strain of 95% and compressive stress of 0.09-0.

Major Advances in Emerging Degrader Technologies.

Recently, degrader technologies have attracted increasing interest in the academic field and the pharmaceuticals industry. As one of the degrader technologies, proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) have emerged as an attractive pharmaceutical development approach due to their catalytic ability to degrade numerous undruggable disease-causing proteins. Despite the remarkable progress, many aspects of traditional PROTACs still remain elusive.

Washed microbiota transplantation reduces serum uric acid levels in patients with hyperuricaemia.

Background: Previous studies have found that hyperuricaemia (HUA) is closely related to intestinal flora imbalance.

Aim: The current study investigated the effects and safety of washed microbiota transplantation (WMT) on serum uric acid (SUA) levels in different populations.

Methods: A total of 144 patients who received WMT from July 2016 to April 2020 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University and had SUA data before treatment were selected.