Light-Induced Conjugation of Inorganic Phosphate and Sulfate with Aminocyclobutenediones under Aqueous Conditions.

Phosphate and sulfate groups play an important role in controlling the physical properties of biomolecules and artificial materials. However, despite their significance, the incorporation of phosphate or sulfate groups into aqueous organic compounds using non-enzymatic methods has been unprecedented. In this study, we have successfully conjugated inorganic phosphate and sulfate with aminocyclobutenedione derivatives via photochemical reactions under aqueous conditions.

Development of a Radiogallium-Labeled Heterodivalent Imaging Probe Targeting Negative Charges and Integrin on the Surface of Cancer Cell Membranes.

Radiopharmaceuticals targeting tumor-specific environments are powerful tools for cancer diagnosis and treatment. We previously demonstrated the considerable high tumor uptake of the cationic amphiphilic peptide, Ga-NOTA-KV6, in vivo. However, because this radioligand shows a relatively rapid clearance from the tumor over time, further structural optimization is necessary.

Hepatic stellate cells regulate liver fatty acid utilization via plasmalemma vesicle-associated protein.

The liver is essential for normal fatty acid utilization during fasting. Circulating fatty acids are taken up by hepatocytes and esterified as triacylglycerols for either oxidative metabolization and ketogenesis or export. Whereas the regulation of fatty acid oxidation in hepatocytes is well understood, the uptake and retention of non-esterified fatty acids by hepatocytes is not.

On the Maxillofacial Development of Mice, Mus musculus.

The maxillofacial region is one of the most complex areas in the vertebrate body plan. The homology of the upper jaw bones remain controversial, both between mammals and nonmammalian amniotes and among humans and other mammals, leading to various hypotheses on how this region evolved from ancestral amniotes to humans. As a key mammalian model, the mouse (Mus musculus) is vital for unraveling the evolution and development of the maxillofacial region experimentally.

A low-viscous and flowable zwitterionic liquid.

Zwitterionic liquids have attracted significant attention in various fields due to their low-toxicity and the ability to tune their functional properties. However, despite being liquid in thermo-dynamic definition, zwitterionic liquids are not commonly recognized as "liquids" by the general public because of their extremely high viscosity, comparable to that of peanut butter, which prevents stirring even with a strong magnetic stirrer. In this study, we developed a flowable and stirrable zwitterionic liquid, OEimOEC.

Controlling the carbon flux between glycolysis and the pentose phosphate pathway via targeted protein degradation in Corynebacterium glutamicum.

Controlling the carbon flux is important for efficient production of value-added chemicals using microbial cell factories. In this study, we developed a system to control the carbon flux in Corynebacterium glutamicum via targeted protein degradation. We employed an SspB-dependent protein degradation system targeting the SsrA tag and applied it to control the carbon flux.

Strategies for the Viral Exploitation of Nuclear Pore Transport Pathways.

Viruses frequently exploit the host's nucleocytoplasmic trafficking machinery to facilitate their replication and evade immune defenses. By encoding specialized proteins and other components, they strategically target host nuclear transport receptors (NTRs) and nucleoporins within the spiderweb-like inner channel of the nuclear pore complex (NPC), enabling efficient access to the host nucleus. This review explores the intricate mechanisms governing the nuclear import and export of viral components, with a focus on the interplay between viral factors and host determinants that are essential for these processes.

Dual-Functionalized Zwitterionic Polymers for Cell Cryopreservation.

Cryopreservation is an essential technique for the long-term preservation of cells. Some cells are challenging to cryopreserve, and novel cryoprotective agents are required. We previously reported a zwitterionic polymer (poly(ZI)) as a cryoprotectant that forms a polymer matrix surrounding the cells and partially prevents intracellular ice formation.

Stabilizing protein pharmaceuticals by imidazolium-type zwitterions.

An imidazolium-carboxylate-type zwitterion, OEimCC, thermally stabilizes the structure in the vicinity of heme in cytochrome . However, it remains unclear whether OEimCC can thermally stabilize protein pharmaceuticals, which are vulnerable to heating and shaking during production and transportation. In this study, we investigated the stabilization of the entire structure and function of insulin by OEimCC.

Proline enhances the hepatic induction of lipogenic gene expression in male hepatic fasn reporter mice.

Hepatic de novo lipogenesis (DNL) is increased by both carbohydrate intake and protein consumption. In hepatic fat synthesis, a key role is played by the induction of the hepatic expression of lipogenic genes, including Fasn, Scd1, and Srebf1. Regarding carbohydrate intake, increased blood glucose and insulin levels promote the expression of hepatic lipogenic genes.

Development of In-Labeled Monoclonal Antibodies Targeting SFTSV Structural Proteins for Molecular Imaging of SFTS Infectious Diseases by SPECT.

No effective vaccines or treatments are currently available for severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS), a fatal tick-borne infectious disease caused by the SFTS virus (SFTSV). This study evaluated the potential of In-labeled anti-SFTSV antibodies targeting SFTSV structural proteins as single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging agents for the selective visualization of SFTSV-infected sites. This study used nuclear medicine imaging to elucidate the pathology of SFTS and assess its therapeutic efficacy.

In Vivo Stability Improvement of Astatobenzene Derivatives by Introducing Neighboring Substituents.

At is a promising radiohalogen for targeted α therapy. However, some astatinated compounds undergo deastatination in vivo, leading to unintended astatine accumulation in nontarget tissues. Recently, a group reported that the in vivo stability of an astato group on an alkyl group could be improved by placing specific substituents around the astato group.

Peptide-Based Turn-On Fluorescent Probes for Highly Specific Detection of Survivin Protein in the Cancer Cells.

Survivin is highly expressed in most human cancers, making it a promising target for cancer diagnosis and treatment. In this study, we developed peptide probes consisting of Bor, a high-affinity survivin-binding peptide, and a survivin protein segment using peptide linkers as survivin-sensitive fluorescent probes (SSFPs). All conjugates were attached to 5(6)-carboxyfluorescein (FAM) at the -terminal as a fluorophore and to 4((4(dimethylamino)phenyl)azo)benzoic acid (DABCYL) at the -terminal as a quencher.

Development of Radiolabeled Probes with Improved Imaging Contrast by Releasing Urinary Excretable Radiolabeled Compounds from Thermosensitive Liposomes in the Blood.

In this study, thermosensitive liposomes (TSLs) encapsulating urinary excretable radiolabeled compounds were developed. We considered that the release of the radiolabeled compounds from the TSLs in the blood by heating the blood in peripheral tissues can achieve rapid clearance of radioactivity, resulting in improved imaging contrast. To demonstrate the hypothesis, classical TSLs mainly composed of 1,2-dipalmitoyl--glycero-3-phosphocholine with a phase transition temperature of 41 °C were used.

Ribosomal S6 kinase (RSK) plays a critical role in DNA damage response via the phosphorylation of histone lysine demethylase KDM4B.

Background: Epigenetic dysregulation affecting oncogenic transcription and DNA damage response is a hallmark of cancer. The histone demethylase KDM4B, a factor regulating these processes, plays important roles in estrogen receptor-mediated transcription and DNA repair in breast cancer. However, how oncogenic phospho-signal transduction affects epigenetic regulation is not fully understood.

RNA binding protein ZCCHC24 promotes tumorigenicity in triple-negative breast cancer.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) lacks the expression of hormone and HER2 receptors and is highly malignant with no effective therapeutic targets. In TNBC, the cancer stem-like cell (CSC) population is considered to be the main cause of resistance to treatment. Thus, the therapeutic targeting of this population could substantially improve patient survival.

Time and dose selective glucose metabolism for glucose homeostasis and energy conversion in the liver.

Hepatic glucose metabolism serves dual purposes: maintaining glucose homeostasis and converting glucose into energy sources; however, the underlying mechanisms are unclear. We quantitatively measured liver metabolites, gene expression, and phosphorylated insulin signaling molecules in mice orally administered varying doses of glucose, and constructed a transomic network. Rapid phosphorylation of insulin signaling molecules in response to glucose intake was observed, in contrast to the more gradual changes in gene expression.

Differences in the Renal Accumulation of Radiogallium-Labeled (Glu) Peptides Containing Different Optical Isomers of Glutamic Acid.

Acidic amino acid peptides have a high affinity for bone. Previously, we demonstrated that radiogallium complex-conjugated oligo-acidic amino acids possess promising properties as bone-seeking radiopharmaceuticals. Here, to elucidate the effect of stereoisomers of Glu in Glu-containing peptides [(Glu)] on their accumulation in the kidney, the biodistributions of [Ga]Ga-,'-bis-[2-hydroxy-5-(carboxyethyl)benzyl]ethylenediamine-,'-diacetic acid-conjugated (l-Glu) ([Ga]Ga-HBED-CC-(l-Glu)), [Ga]Ga-HBED-CC-(d-Glu), [Ga]Ga-HBED-CC-(dl-Glu), and [Ga]Ga-HBED-CC-(d-Glu-l-Glu) were compared.

A Supramolecular Biosensor for Rapid and High-Throughput Quantification of a Disease-Associated Niacin Metabolite.

Metabolic abnormalities play a pivotal role in various pathological conditions, necessitating the quantification of specific metabolites for diagnosis. While mass spectrometry remains the primary method for metabolite measurement, its limited throughput underscores the need for biosensors capable of rapid detection. Previously, we reported that pillar[6]arene with 12 carboxylate groups (P6AC) forms host-guest complexes with 1-methylnicotinamide (1-MNA), which is produced in vivo by nicotinamide -methyltransferase (NNMT).

High-Speed Atomic Force Microscopy Reveals Fluctuations and Dimer Splitting of the N-Terminal Domain of GluA2 Ionotropic Glutamate Receptor-Auxiliary Subunit Complex.

α-Amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid glutamate receptors (AMPARs) enable rapid excitatory synaptic transmission by localizing to the postsynaptic density of glutamatergic spines. AMPARs possess large extracellular N-terminal domains (NTDs), which are crucial for AMPAR clustering at synaptic sites. However, the dynamics of NTDs and the molecular mechanism governing their synaptic clustering remain elusive.

Phosphate-type zwitterionic liquid.

The imidazolium/phosphate zwitterionic liquid synthesised in this study dissolved cellulose and satisfies all other properties required for efficient cellulosic bioethanol production such as liquid at room temperature and low toxicity.