MFN2-mediated decrease in mitochondria-associated endoplasmic reticulum membranes contributes to sunitinib-induced endothelial dysfunction and hypertension.

Unlabelled: Treatment of cancer patients with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) often results in hypertension, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. This study aimed to examine the role of mitochondrial morphology and function, particularly mitochondria-associated endoplasmic reticulum membranes (MAMs), in sunitinib-induced hypertension.

Methods: Both in vitro and in vivo experiments performed to assesse reactive oxygen species (ROS), nitric oxide (NO), endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation, systemic blood pressure, and mitochondrial function in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and C57BL/6 mouse aortic endothelial cells, under vehicle or sunitinib treatment condition.

Ultralong purely organic aqueous phosphorescence supramolecular polymer for targeted tumor cell imaging.

Purely organic room-temperature phosphorescence has attracted attention for bioimaging but can be quenched in aqueous systems. Here we report a water-soluble ultralong organic room-temperature phosphorescent supramolecular polymer by combining cucurbit[n]uril (CB[7], CB[8]) and hyaluronic acid (HA) as a tumor-targeting ligand conjugated to a 4-(4-bromophenyl)pyridin-1-ium bromide (BrBP) phosphor. The result shows that CB[7] mediated pseudorotaxane polymer CB[7]/HA-BrBP changes from small spherical aggregates to a linear array, whereas complexation with CB[8] results in biaxial pseudorotaxane polymer CB[8]/HA-BrBP which transforms to relatively large aggregates.

Oxidative Stress Induces Neuronal Apoptosis Through Suppressing Transcription Factor EB Phosphorylation at Ser467.

Background/aims: This study determined the role and mechanism of action of transcription factor EB (TFEB) in H2O2-induced neuronal apoptosis.

Methods: SH-SY5Y cells were treated with Akt inhibitor/activator and different concentrations of H2O2. Cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometric analysis.

Fine regulation of ARF17 for anther development and pollen formation.

Background: In Arabidopsis, the tapetum and microsporocytes are critical for pollen formation. Previous studies have shown that ARF17 is expressed in microsporocytes and tetrads and directly regulates tetrad wall synthesis for pollen formation. ARF17 is the direct target of miR160, and promoterARF17::5mARF17 (5mARF17/WT) transgenic plants, which have five silent mutations within the miR160-complementary domain, are sterile.

PAQR3 controls autophagy by integrating AMPK signaling to enhance ATG14L-associated PI3K activity.

The Beclin1-VPS34 complex is recognized as a central node in regulating autophagy via interacting with diverse molecules such as ATG14L for autophagy initiation and UVRAG for autophagosome maturation. However, the underlying molecular mechanism that coordinates the timely activation of VPS34 complex is poorly understood. Here, we identify that PAQR3 governs the preferential formation and activation of ATG14L-linked VPS34 complex for autophagy initiation via two levels of regulation.

Chromium level and intake from Chinese made tea.

Tea is a popular drink around the world. It is also one of the sources of metal intake. The objectives of this study were to assess chromium (Cr) intake from popular green, oolong, black and Pu-erh tea.

Stable expression of native Coagulation factor VIII using the 2A self-processing sequence and furin cleavage site.

Hemophilia A is an X-linked recessive bleeding disorder, widely prevalent throughout the world, for which, replacement therapy is the current treatment done by infusion of either recombinant FVIII or human plasma derived FVIII. The expression of FVIII is limited by many aspects, bioengineered FVIII with increased the activity and/or the stability can overcome some of these limitations. We demonstrate that a furin cleavage site (RKRR) and a 2A self-processing peptide derived from FMDV can efficiently and apparently facilitate the equimolar expression of full-length FVIII heavy and light chains from a single ORF, and the FVIII heavy and light chain can self-assemble to form a functional molecule in vivo and in vitro.

Small peptides derived from the Lys active fragment of the mung bean trypsin inhibitor are fully active against trypsin.

The Bowman-Birk protease inhibitors have recently attracted attention for their potential as cancer preventive and suppressing agents. They contain two canonical binding loops, both consisting of nine highly conserved residues capable of inhibiting corresponding serine proteases. In this study, we cloned the cDNA of the mung bean trypsin inhibitor, one of the most studied Bowman-Birk protease inhibitors.

[Transient expression of foreign ble gene in Dunaliella salina].

Plasmid pSP124S with ble gene was transformed into D. salina cell by electroporation. The retention and expression of foreign gene in D.

Two engineered eglin c mutants potently and selectively inhibiting kexin or furin.

Eglin c with mutants L45R and D42R at the P(1) and P(4) positions has been reported to become a stable inhibitor toward the proprotein convertases (PC), furin and kexin, with a K(i) of 2.3x10(-8) and 1.3x10(-10) M, respectively.