Deep dive into the diversity and properties of rhodopsins in actinomycetes of the family Geodermatophilaceae.

In recent decades, most studies of microbial rhodopsins have focused on their identification and characterization in aquatic bacteria. In 2021, actinomycetes of the family Geodermatophilaceae, commonly inhabiting terrestrial ecosystems in hot and arid regions, have been reported to contain rhodopsins with DTEW, DTEF and NDQ amino acid motifs. An advanced bioinformatics analysis performed in this work additionally revealed NTQ rhodopsin and heliorhodopsins.

Reconstruction of the Reaction of Andalusicin Lantibiotic Modification by Lanthionine Synthetase AncKC in a Heterologous Escherichia coli System.

The increasing resistance of microorganisms to antibiotics makes it a necessity that we search for new antimicrobial agents. Due to their genetically encoded nature, peptides are promising candidates for new antimicrobial drugs. Lantipeptide andalusicin exhibits significant antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria, making it a promising scaffold for the development of DNA-encoded libraries of lantibiotics.

Genomes of Alphanucleorhabdovirus Physostegiae Isolates from Two Different Cultivar Groups of .

Plant rhabdoviruses cause considerable economic losses and are a threat to the agriculture of plants. Two novel virus isolates belonging to the family are identified by high-throughput sequencing (HTS) in Russian eggplant cultivars grown in the Volga river delta region for the first time. The phylogenetic inference of L protein (polymerase) shows that these virus isolates belong to Alphanucleorhabdovirus physostegia (-PhCMoV), and their minus-sense RNA genomes have the typical gene order 3'-nucleocapsid (N)-X protein (X)-phosphoprotein (P)-Y protein (Y)-matrix protein (M)-glycoprotein (G)-polymerase (L)-5' observed in some plant-infecting alphanucleorhabdoviruses.

Disruption of Poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation Improves Plant Tolerance to Methyl Viologen-Mediated Oxidative Stress via Induction of ROS Scavenging Enzymes.

ADP-ribosylation (ADPRylation) is a mechanism which post-translationally modifies proteins in eukaryotes in order to regulate a broad range of biological processes including programmed cell death, cell signaling, DNA repair, and responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. Poly(ADP-ribosyl) polymerases (PARPs) play a key role in the process of ADPRylation, which modifies target proteins by attaching ADP-ribose molecules. Here, we investigated whether and how PARP1 and PARylation modulate responses of plants to methyl viologen (MV)-induced oxidative stress.

Phase I Clinical Evaluation of Designed Ankyrin Repeat Protein [Tc]Tc(CO)-(HE)-Ec1 for Visualization of EpCAM-Expressing Lung Cancer.

A high level of EpCAM overexpression in lung cancer makes this protein a promising target for targeted therapy. Radionuclide visualization of EpCAM expression would facilitate the selection of patients potentially benefiting from such treatment. Single-photon computed tomography (SPECT) using Tc-labeled engineered scaffold protein DARPin Ec1 has shown its effectiveness in imaging tumors with overexpression of EpCAM in preclinical studies, providing high contrast just a few hours after injection.

Non-viral-mediated gene transfer of OX40 ligand for tumor immunotherapy.

Background: Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) is rapidly becoming a standard of care in the treatment of many cancer types. However, the subset of patients who respond to this type of therapy is limited. Another way to promote antitumoral immunity is the use of immunostimulatory molecules, such as cytokines or T cell co-stimulators.

TIR domains of TLR family-from the cell culture to the protein sample for structural studies.

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are key players in the innate immune system. Despite the great efforts in TLR structural biology, today we know the spatial structures of only four human TLR intracellular TIR domains. All of them belong to one of five subfamilies of receptors.

Fluoxetine and Ketamine Enhance Extinction Memory and Brain Plasticity by Triggering the p75 Neurotrophin Receptor Proteolytic Pathway.

Background: Diverse antidepressants were recently described to bind to TrkB (tyrosine kinase B) and drive a positive allosteric modulation of endogenous BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor). Although neurotrophins such as BDNF can bind to p75NTR (p75 neurotrophin receptor), their precursors are the high-affinity p75NTR ligands. While part of an unrelated receptor family capable of inducing completely opposite physiological changes, TrkB and p75NTR feature a crosslike conformation dimer and carry a cholesterol-recognition amino acid consensus in the transmembrane domain.

Henlea earthworm bioluminescence comprises violet-blue BRET from tryptophan 2-carboxylate to deazaflavin cofactor.

We recently identified the deazaflavin cofactor as a light emitter in novel bioluminescence (BL) system from Siberian earthworms Henlea sp. (Petushkov et al., 2023, Org.

Laser-Synthesized Germanium Nanoparticles as Biodegradable Material for Near-Infrared Photoacoustic Imaging and Cancer Phototherapy.

Biodegradable nanomaterials can significantly improve the safety profile of nanomedicine. Germanium nanoparticles (Ge NPs) with a safe biodegradation pathway are developed as efficient photothermal converters for biomedical applications. Ge NPs synthesized by femtosecond-laser ablation in liquids rapidly dissolve in physiological-like environment through the oxidation mechanism.

Assessment of the effects of amphiphilic poly (N‑vinylpyrrolidone) nanoparticles loaded with bortezomib on glioblastoma cell lines and zebrafish embryos.

Proteasome inhibitor bortezomib is an anticancer agent approved for treatment of multiple myeloma and mantle cell lymphoma. However, its application in other types of cancer, primarily in solid tumors, is limited due to poor pharmacokinetics, inefficient tissue penetration, low stability and frequent adverse effects. In the present study, a novel micellar nano-scaled delivery system was manufactured, composed of amphiphilic poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) nanoparticles loaded with bortezomib.

Synthesis and biological activity of imidazole phenazine derivatives as potential inhibitors for NS2B-NS3 dengue protease.

A series of new imidazole-phenazine derivatives were synthesized via a two-step process. The condensation of 2,3-diaminophenazine and benzaldehyde derivatives proceeds with intermediate formation of an aniline Schiff base, which undergoes subsequent cyclodehydrogenation . The structures of the synthesized compounds were characterized by 1D and 2D NMR, FTIR and HRMS.

MicroRNA miR-27a as a possible regulator of anti-inflammatory macrophage phenotype in preeclamptic placenta.

Introduction: The role of the TGFβ signaling pathway, an important cascade responsible for the anti-inflammatory polarization of macrophages, in the development of both early- and late-onset preeclampsia (eoPE and loPE), remains poorly understood. In this study, we examined the components of the TGFβ signaling cascade and macrophage markers within placental tissue in normal pregnancy and in PE.

Methods: Patients with eoPE, loPE, and normal pregnancy were enrolled in the study (n = 10 in each group).

Hormonal Status of Transgenic Birch with a Pine Glutamine Synthetase Gene during Rooting In Vitro and Budburst Outdoors.

Improving nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) is one of the main ways of increasing plant productivity through genetic engineering. The modification of nitrogen (N) metabolism can affect the hormonal content, but in transgenic plants, this aspect has not been sufficiently studied. Transgenic birch () plants with the pine glutamine synthetase gene were evaluated for hormone levels during rooting in vitro and budburst under outdoor conditions.

Nanoparticles based on MIL-101 metal-organic frameworks as efficient carriers of therapeuticRe radionuclide for nuclear medicine.

Nuclear medicine presents one of the most promising modalities for efficient non-invasive treatment of a variety of cancers, but the application of radionuclides in cancer therapy and diagnostics is severely limited by their nonspecific tissue accumulation and poor biocompatibility. Here, we explore the use of nanosized metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) as carriers of radionuclides to order to improve their delivery to tumour. To demonstrate the concept, we prepared polymer-coated MIL-101(Cr)-NHMOFs and conjugated them with clinically utilized radionuclideRe.

Crystal structure reveals canonical recognition of the phosphorylated cytoplasmic loop of human alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor by 14-3-3 protein.

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are ligand-gated ion channels composed of five homologous subunits. The homopentameric α7-nAChR, abundantly expressed in the brain, is involved in the regulation of the neuronal plasticity and memory and undergoes phosphorylation by protein kinase A (PKA). Here, we extracted native α7-nAChR from murine brain, validated its assembly by cryo-EM and showed that phosphorylation by PKA in vitro enables its interaction with the abundant human brain protein 14-3-3ζ.

Breast Cancer Cell Type and Biomechanical Properties of Decellularized Mouse Organs Drives Tumor Cell Colonization.

Tissue engineering has emerged as an indispensable tool for the reconstruction of organ-specific environments. Organ-derived extracellular matrices (ECM) and, especially, decellularized tissues (DCL) are recognized as the most successful biomaterials in regenerative medicine, as DCL preserves the most essential organ-specific ECM properties such as composition alongside biomechanics characterized by stiffness and porosity. Expansion of the DCL technology to cancer biology research, drug development, and nanomedicine is pending refinement of the existing DCL protocols whose reproducibility remains sub-optimal varying from organ to organ.

gen. et sp. nov. (Coleofasciculaceae, Coleofasciculales): A New Genus of Cyanobacteria Isolated from Sponge Fouling in Lake Baikal, Russia.

The proliferation of benthic cyanobacteria has been observed in Lake Baikal since 2011 and is a vivid manifestation of the ecological crisis occurring in the littoral zone. The cyanobacterium sp. has formed massive fouling on all types of benthic substrates, including endemic Baikal sponges.

Structure elucidation of Keroplatus (Diptera:Keroplatidae) fungus gnat oxyluciferin.

Bioluminescence of insects is a well-known natural phenomenon in the focus of interest of scientific research. While the mechanisms of bioluminescence in Coleoptera have been extensively studied, there is a lack of information about the chemistry of light emission in Diptera species. Here we report the Keroplatus spp.

Upconversion Nanoparticles Intercalated in Large Polymer Micelles for Tumor Imaging and Chemo/Photothermal Therapy.

Frontiers in theranostics are driving the demand for multifunctional nanoagents. Upconversion nanoparticle (UCNP)-based systems activated by near-infrared (NIR) light deeply penetrating biotissue are a powerful tool for the simultaneous diagnosis and therapy of cancer. The intercalation into large polymer micelles of poly(maleic anhydride-alt-1-octadecene) provided the creation of biocompatible UCNPs.

Merging Johnson-Claisen and Aromatic Claisen [3,3]-Sigmatropic Rearrangements: Ytterbium Triflate/2,6-Di--butylpyridine Catalytic System.

General synthetic approach toward phenols with a polyfunctional side-chain is described. It is based on two subsequent [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangements, in particular, Johnson-Claisen and aromatic Claisen. Facilitation of the reaction sequence is achieved by the separation of steps and discovery of the efficient catalysts for aromatic Claisen rearrangement.

Plant Poly(ADP-Ribose) Polymerase 1 Is a Potential Mediator of Cross-Talk between the Cajal Body Protein Coilin and Salicylic Acid-Mediated Antiviral Defence.

The nucleolus and Cajal bodies (CBs) are sub-nuclear domains with well-known roles in RNA metabolism and RNA-protein assembly. However, they also participate in other important aspects of cell functioning. This study uncovers a previously unrecognised mechanism by which these bodies and their components regulate host defences against pathogen attack.

Total Synthesis of Racemic Thieno[3,2-]thiochromene Tricarboxylate, a Luciferin from Marine Polychaeta .

We report the first total synthesis of racemic luciferin, a thieno[3,2-]thiochromene tricarboxylate comprising a 6-6-5-fused tricyclic skeleton with three sulfur atoms in different electronic states. The key transformation is based on tandem condensation of bifunctional thiol-phosphonate, obtained from dimethyl acetylene dicarboxylate, with benzothiophene-6,7-quinone. The presented convergent approach provides the synthesis of the target compound with a previously unreported fused heterocyclic core in 11 steps, thus allowing for unambiguous confirmation of the chemical structure of luciferin by 2D-NMR spectroscopy.

Fruit Characteristics of Transgenic pear (Pyrus communis L.) Trees During Long-Term Field Trials.

The quality of transgenic fruits was studied only for apple, plum and citrus. We first evaluated the transgenic fruit characteristics of pear, which is one of the most consumed fruit crops. The size, shape and biochemical composition of fruits from field-grown pear trees with marker genes were analyzed for 5 years.

Markers of NETosis in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Antiphospholipid Syndrome.

Neutrophil Extracellular Traps (NETs) have been implicated in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) pathogenesis. The myeloperoxidase-deoxyribonucleic acid (MPO-DNA) complex and nucleosomes are serum markers of NETosis. The aim of this study was to assess these NETosis parameters as markers for SLE and APS diagnosis and their association with clinical features and disease activity.