The α-synuclein protein can adopt several different conformations that cause neurodegeneration. Different α-synuclein conformers cause at least three distinct α-synucleinopathies: multiple system atrophy (MSA), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), and Parkinson's disease (PD). In earlier studies, we transmitted MSA to transgenic (Tg) mice and cultured HEK cells both expressing mutant α-synuclein (A53T) but not to cells expressing α-synuclein (E46K). Now, we report that DLB is caused by a strain of α-synuclein prions that is distinct from MSA. Using cultured HEK cells expressing mutant α-synuclein (E46K), we found that DLB prions could be transmitted to these HEK cells. Our results argue that a third strain of α-synuclein prions likely causes PD, but further studies are needed to identify cells and/or Tg mice that express a mutant α-synuclein protein that is permissive for PD prion replication. Our findings suggest that other α-synuclein mutants should give further insights into α-synuclein prion replication, strain formation, and disease pathogenesis, all of which are likely required to discover effective drugs for the treatment of PD as well as the other α-synucleinopathies.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2113489119 | DOI Listing |
Anal Chem
January 2025
School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China.
5-Methylcytosine (5mC) and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) are crucial epigenetic modifications in eukaryotic genomic DNA that regulate gene expression and are associated with the occurrence of various cancers. Here, we combined bisulfite conversion with 4-acetamido-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-oxopiperridinium tetrafluoroborate (ACTBF, TCI) oxidation to develop a label-free and sequence-independent isothermal amplification (BTIA) assay for a genome-wide 5mC and 5hmC analysis. The BTIA strategy can distinguish 5mC and 5hmC signatures from other bases with high sensitivity and good specificity, avoiding sophisticated chemical modifications and expensive protein labeling.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCurr Pharm Des
January 2025
Centre of Experimental Medicine and Surgery, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India.
Introduction: Fungal endophytes have mutualistic associations with the plant's host, communicating through genetic and metabolic processes. As a result, they gain the ability to generate therapeutically effective metabolites and their derivatives.
Methods: The current study aims to assess antioxidant potential along with the identification of robust metabolites within the crude extract of a potent endophytic fungus Xylaria ellisii isolated from leaf tissues of the Acorus calamus Linn plant.
Int J Biol Macromol
January 2025
College of Ocean Food and Biological Engineering, Jimei University, Xiamen 361021, China. Electronic address:
Hemoglobin, composed of α- and β-chains, is essential for oxygen transport and is key in diagnosing and treating gastrointestinal and blood disorders. It also aids in detecting blood contamination and estimating transfusion volumes. Immunological methods, based on antigen-antibody interactions, are distinguished by their high sensitivity and accuracy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt Immunopharmacol
January 2025
National Engineering Laboratory for Resource Development of Endangered Crude Drugs in Northwest China, Key Laboratory of Medicinal Resources and Natural Pharmaceutical Chemistry (Shaanxi Normal University), The Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710119, China. Electronic address:
Inflammation underlies a wide variety of physiological and pathological processes, the Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation model is widely recognized as a classical inflammatory paradigm, while Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) serves as a potent immunosuppressant capable of inhibiting immune responses and mitigating inflammation. However, its in vivo instability and the high cost associated with purification have imposed limitations on its clinical application. Therefore, we propose a therapeutic strategy for genetically modifying extracellular vesicles (HEVs) derived from HEK-293 T cells to incorporate TGF-β which holds potential for mitigating LPS-induced inflammation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMolecules
January 2025
Department of Organic Chemistry, University of Valencia, E-46100 Burjassot, Spain.
The natural products combretastatins A-1 and A-4 are potent antimitotic and vascular-disrupting agents through their binding at the colchicine site in tubulin. However, these compounds suffer from a low water solubility and a tendency to isomerize to the inactive stilbenes. In this study, we have prepared a series of 18 -restricted triazole analogues of combretastatin A-4 (CA-4), maintaining, in all cases, the 3,4,5-trimethoxy phenyl ring A, with the aim of investigating the substitution pattern on the B-ring in a systematic way.
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