Machine Learning Methods for Gene Selection in Uveal Melanoma.

Uveal melanoma (UM) is the most common primary intraocular malignancy with a limited five-year survival for metastatic patients. Limited therapeutic treatments are currently available for metastatic disease, even if the genomics of this tumor has been deeply studied using next-generation sequencing (NGS) and functional experiments. The profound knowledge of the molecular features that characterize this tumor has not led to the development of efficacious therapies, and the survival of metastatic patients has not changed for decades.

The presence of a G-quadruplex prone sequence upstream of a minimal promoter increases transcriptional activity in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Non-canonical secondary structures in DNA are increasingly being revealed as critical players in DNA metabolism, including modulating the accessibility and activity of promoters. These structures comprise the so-called G-quadruplexes (G4s) that are formed from sequences rich in guanine bases. Using a well-defined transcriptional reporter system, we sought to systematically investigate the impact of the presence of G4 structures on transcription in yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Interdependence of Molecular Lesions That Drive Uveal Melanoma Metastasis.

The metastatic risk of uveal melanoma (UM) is defined by a limited number of molecular lesions, somatic mutations (SF3B1 and BAP1), and copy number alterations (CNA): monosomy of chromosome 3 (M3), chr8q gain (8q), chr6p gain (6p), yet the sequence of events is not clear. We analyzed data from three datasets (TCGA-UVM, GSE27831, GSE51880) with information regarding M3, 8q, 6p, SF3B1, and BAP1 status. We confirm that BAP1 mutations are always associated with M3 in high-risk patients.

Transactivation by partial function P53 family mutants is increased by the presence of G-quadruplexes at a promoter site.

The effect of mutations in the P53 family of transcription factors on their biological functions, including partial or complete loss of transcriptional activity, has been confirmed several times. At present, P53 family proteins showing partial loss of activity appear to be promising potential candidates for the development of novel therapeutic strategies which could restore their transcriptional activity. In this context, it is important to employ tools to precisely monitor their activity; in relation to this, non-canonical DNA secondary structures in promoters including G-quadruplexes (G4s) were shown to influence the activity of transcription factors.

First Evidence of Anti-Steatotic Action of Macrotympanain A1, an Amphibian Skin Peptide from .

Many different amphibian skin peptides have been characterized and proven to exert various biological actions, such as wound-healing, immunomodulatory, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic effects. In this work, the possible anti-steatotic effect of macrotympanain A1 (MA1) (FLPGLECVW), a skin peptide isolated from the Chinese odorous frog , was investigated. We used a well-established in vitro model of hepatic steatosis, consisting of lipid-loaded rat hepatoma FaO cells.

Antioxidant and Antisteatotic Activities of Fucoidan Fractions from Marine and Terrestrial Sources.

Fucoidan is a fucose-rich sulfated polysaccharide typically found in the cell wall of marine algae but also recently isolated from terrestrial sources. Due to a variety of biological activities, including antioxidant properties, fucoidan exhibits an attractive therapeutic potential against a wide array of metabolic diseases associated with oxidative stress. We used FTIR, H NMR and C NMR spectroscopy to investigate the structural features of a fucoidan fraction extracted from the brown alga (CYS).

Antioxidant and Antisteatotic Activities of a New Fucoidan Extracted from Roots Harvested on Lebanese Mountains.

Fucoidan is a fucose-rich sulfated polysaccharide with attractive therapeutic potential due to a variety of biological activities, including antioxidant action. Fucoidan is typically found in the cell wall of marine brown algae, but extra-algal sources have also been discovered. In the present work, for the first time we extracted a water soluble fucoidan fraction from the roots of the terrestrial shrub This fucoidan fraction was termed FUFe, and contained fucose, glucose, sulfate, smaller amounts of monosaccharides such as galactose and mannose, and a minor quantity of proteins.

Synthesis, Photoisomerization, Antioxidant Activity, and Lipid-Lowering Effect of Ferulic Acid and Feruloyl Amides.

The Ugi four-component reaction employing naturally occurred ferulic acid (FA) is proposed as a convenient method to synthesize feruloyl tertiary amides. Applying this strategy, a peptoid-like derivative of ferulic acid (FEF77) containing 2 additional hydroxy-substituted aryl groups, has been synthesized. The influence of the configuration of the double bond of ferulic acid and feruloyl amide on the antioxidant activity has been investigated thanks to light-mediated isomerization studies.

Brown-Algae Polysaccharides as Active Constituents against Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is a metabolic disorder characterized by lipid overloading in hepatocytes that can progress pathogenically and even end in hepatocellular carcinoma. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease pharmacological treatment is still limited by unwanted side effects, whereas the use of food components with therapeutic potential is advisable. The culinary use of marine algae is traditional for some populations and reviving worldwide, with promising health outcomes due to the large number of bioactive compounds found in seaweeds.

Peptides for Skin Protection and Healing in Amphibians.

Amphibian skin is not to be considered a mere tegument; it has a multitude of functions related to respiration, osmoregulation, and thermoregulation, thus allowing the individuals to survive and thrive in the terrestrial environment. Moreover, amphibian skin secretions are enriched with several peptides, which defend the skin from environmental and pathogenic insults and exert many other biological effects. In this work, the beneficial effects of amphibian skin peptides are reviewed, in particular their role in speeding up wound healing and in protection from oxidative stress and UV irradiation.