3,483 results match your criteria: "Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II; Medical Faculty; Heinrich-Heine-University; Duesseldorf[Affiliation]"

USF2 and TFEB compete in regulating lysosomal and autophagy genes.

Nat Commun

September 2024

Creative Research Initiatives Center for Epigenetic Code and Diseases, School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea.

Article Synopsis
  • * Research shows that USF2, in conjunction with HDAC1, represses lysosomal and autophagy genes when nutrients are abundant by altering histone modifications and chromatin structure.
  • * Under starvation, USF2 competes with TFEB to control gene expression related to lysosomes, and findings suggest that targeting USF2 could be beneficial for treating diseases linked to protein aggregation, like α1-antitrypsin deficiency.
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Assessing Autophagy Flux in Glioblastoma Temozolomide Resistant Cells.

Methods Mol Biol

September 2024

Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.

Autophagy is a critical cellular process involved in the degradation and recycling of cytoplasmic components, playing a dual role in cancer by either promoting cell survival or facilitating cell death. In glioblastoma (GB), autophagy has been implicated in resistance to the chemotherapeutic agent temozolomide (TMZ). This study presents a novel method to accurately measure autophagy flux in TMZ-resistant glioblastoma cells, combining advanced imaging techniques with biochemical assays.

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Effects of Losartan on Patients Hospitalized for Acute COVID-19: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Clin Infect Dis

September 2024

Division of Critical Care Medicine, and Centre for Heart Lung Innovation, St Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, Canada.

Article Synopsis
  • Researchers investigated the effect of losartan, an angiotensin receptor blocker, on 28-day mortality in hospitalized COVID-19 patients compared to usual care, due to its potential impact on angiotensin levels.
  • The study was stopped early due to safety concerns, showing that adverse events and hypotension were significantly higher in the losartan group (39.8% SAEs and 30.4% hypotension) versus the control group (27.2% SAEs and 15.3% hypotension).
  • There was no significant difference in 28-day mortality (6.5% for losartan vs. 5.9% for usual care), indicating that ARBs should be used cautiously in this patient population to
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Introduction: Radiotherapy (RT) is a technique widely used in oncology, acquiring special prominence in head and neck cancer (HNC). RT of HNC may be associated with secondary effects including skin reaction, being dermatitis the most common radio-induced side effect during treatment.

Purpose: The use of a wide variety of agents is reported to handle skin toxicity.

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Structural basis of the human transcriptional Mediator regulated by its dissociable kinase module.

Mol Cell

October 2024

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA; MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX, USA. Electronic address:

Article Synopsis
  • - The eukaryotic transcriptional Mediator consists of a large core (cMED) and a dissociable kinase module (CKM), which regulates RNA polymerase II recruitment and pre-initiation complex formation
  • - Cryoelectron microscopy revealed that the CKM binds to various areas on cMED, particularly through MED12 and MED13, with MED13's disordered region blocking RNA Pol II recruitment, thus inhibiting transcription
  • - Overall, the study's findings offer insights into how the CKM represses cMED function, contributing to our understanding of the transcription regulation process in eukaryotic cells.
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A New Immunogenic Structure of Polyepitopic Fusion against : In Silico Study.

Iran J Parasitol

January 2024

Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Infectious Diseases, Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.

Background: The lack of complete protection against leishmaniasis and the challenges of anti-leishmaniasis drug treatment have made the treatment process more difficult. This study aimed to develop a new strategy for preparing a vaccine against cutaneous leishmaniasis using some of the antigenic proteins of the parasite.

Methods: This study was carried out in 2022 at Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran.

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Bimetallic clusterzymes-loaded dendritic mesoporous silica particle regulate arthritis microenvironment ROS scavenging and YAP1 stabilization.

Bioact Mater

December 2024

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Key Laboratory of Musculoskeletal System Degeneration and Regeneration Translational Research of Zhejiang Province, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Medical College of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310016, China.

Clusterzymes are synthetic enzymes exhibiting substantial catalytic activity and selectivity, which are uniquely driven by single-atom constructs. A dramatic increase in antioxidant capacity, 158 times more than natural trolox, is noted when single-atom copper is incorporated into gold-based clusterzymes to form AuCu. Considering the inflammatory and mildly acidic microenvironment characteristic of osteoarthritis (OA), pH-dependent dendritic mesoporous silica nanoparticles (DMSNs) coupled with PEG have been employed as a delivery system for the spatial-temporal release of clusterzymes within active articular regions, thereby enhancing the duration of effectiveness.

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Article Synopsis
  • Researchers studied strokes from 1990 to 2021 to understand how many people get them and how they are affected around the world.
  • In 2021, strokes caused about 7.3 million deaths and were a major cause of health problems, especially in specific regions like Southeast Asia and Oceania.
  • There are differences in stroke risks based on where people live and their age, and some areas actually saw more strokes happening since 2015.
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Article Synopsis
  • A genomic database encompassing all eukaryotic species on Earth is crucial for scientific advancements, yet most species lack genomic data.
  • The Earth BioGenome Project (EBP) was initiated in 2018 by global scientists to compile high-quality reference genomes for approximately 1.5 million recognized eukaryotic species.
  • The European Reference Genome Atlas (ERGA) launched a Pilot Project to create a decentralized model for reference genome production by testing it on 98 species, providing valuable insights into scalability, equity, and inclusiveness for genomic projects.
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Capmatinib efficacy for METex14 non-small cell lung cancer patients: Results of the IFCT-2104 CAPMATU study.

Lung Cancer

October 2024

Department of Thoracic Oncology, CHU de Lille, CNRS, Inserm, Institut Pasteur de Lille, UMR9020-U1277-CANTHER, Lille, France. Electronic address:

Background: Capmatinib is a selective MET inhibitor with demonstrated efficacy in a phase II study of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients harboring METex14 mutations. However, the real-world outcomes of capmatinib are largely unknown. From June 2019, the French Early Access Program (EAP) provided capmatinib to METex14 NSCLC patients who were ineligible for or for whom first-line standard therapies had failed.

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Inflammation with expression of interleukin 6 (IL-6) in the central nervous system (CNS) occurs in several neurodegenerative/neuroinflammatory conditions and may cause neurochemical changes to endogenous neuroprotective systems. Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) are two neuropeptides with well-established protective and anti-inflammatory properties. Yet, whether PACAP and VIP levels are altered in mice with CNS-restricted, astrocyte-targeted production of IL-6 (GFAP-IL6) remains unknown.

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Numerous systemic diseases manifest with oral symptoms and signs. The molecular diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most prevalent neurodegenerative disease worldwide, currently relies on invasive or expensive methods, emphasizing the imperative for easily accessible biomarkers. In this study, we explored the expression patterns of key proteins implicated in AD pathophysiology within the taste buds of mice.

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The host-microbiome axis has been implicated in promoting anti-inflammatory immune responses. Yet, the underlying molecular mechanisms of commensal-mediated IL-10 production by regulatory B cells (Bregs) are not fully elucidated. Here, we demonstrate that bacterial CpG motifs trigger the signaling downstream of TLR9 promoting IκB-mediated expression of Blimp-1, a transcription regulator of IL-10.

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The NRF2 inducer CDDO-2P-Im provokes a reduction in amyloid β levels in Alzheimer's disease model mice.

J Biochem

November 2024

Department of Integrative Genomics, Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization, Tohoku University, 2-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8573, Japan.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common aetiology of dementia. The transcription factor NF-E2-related factor 2 (NRF2) induces the expression of genes encoding phase II detoxification and antioxidant genes. NRF2 is regulated by Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (KEAP1), and the KEAP1-NRF2 system is the key regulatory system involved in cytoprotection.

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Targeting Ras-, Rho-, and Rab-family GTPases via a conserved cryptic pocket.

Cell

October 2024

Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA. Electronic address:

The family of Ras-like GTPases consists of over 150 different members, regulated by an even larger number of guanine exchange factors (GEFs) and GTPase-activating proteins (GAPs) that comprise cellular switch networks that govern cell motility, growth, polarity, protein trafficking, and gene expression. Efforts to develop selective small molecule probes and drugs for these proteins have been hampered by the high affinity of guanosine triphosphate (GTP) and lack of allosteric regulatory sites. This paradigm was recently challenged by the discovery of a cryptic allosteric pocket in the switch II region of K-Ras.

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Article Synopsis
  • Bacterial exopolysaccharides (EPS) produced by a newly discovered strain (NEAU-3TGS) from an iron mine in Tunisia show potential in removing heavy metals from contaminated environments, particularly iron and lead.
  • Genomic analysis indicates NEAU-3TGS is likely a new bacterial species with a diverse genome structure and unique metabolic capabilities related to iron absorption.
  • Structural and chemical analyses of the EPS reveal key components, while heavy metal absorption experiments determine optimal conditions for maximum metal uptake, identifying specific binding interactions with siderophores in molecular modeling studies.
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Article Synopsis
  • RBC transfusions are critical for premature and sick infants but can lead to serious inflammatory responses, known as SIRS, potentially causing organ dysfunction.
  • The study investigated how these transfusions trigger inflammation in anemic mouse pups, using various experimental models to analyze cytokine levels and inflammatory responses.
  • Results showed that anemic pups had heightened inflammatory cytokine levels after transfusions, influenced by endotoxins and the expression of the trem1 receptor, suggesting that targeting trem1 could reduce inflammation and SIRS in these infants.
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Analyses of mitochondrial adaptations in human skeletal muscle have mostly used whole-muscle samples, where results may be confounded by the presence of a mixture of type I and II muscle fibres. Using our adapted mass spectrometry-based proteomics workflow, we provide insights into fibre-specific mitochondrial differences in the human skeletal muscle of men before and after training. Our findings challenge previous conclusions regarding the extent of fibre-type-specific remodelling of the mitochondrial proteome and suggest that most baseline differences in mitochondrial protein abundances between fibre types reported by us, and others, might be due to differences in total mitochondrial content or a consequence of adaptations to habitual physical activity (or inactivity).

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Article Synopsis
  • The formamidase (FMD) enzyme is crucial for the survival of Paracoccidioides lutzii by providing a secondary nitrogen source, especially under stressful conditions.
  • Research using Galleria mellonella larvae showed that silencing the fmd gene led to reduced fungal burden, disorganized nodules, and impaired immune response.
  • The study concludes that formamidase is a significant virulence factor for P. lutzii since its absence increased the larvae's survival rate, highlighting its role in immune stimulation.
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Unravelling DNA methylation dynamics during developmental stages in Quercus ilex subsp. ballota [Desf.] Samp.

BMC Plant Biol

September 2024

Agroforestry and Plant Biochemistry, Proteomics and Systems Biology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Cordoba, UCO-CeiA3, Cordoba, 14014, Spain.

Article Synopsis
  • DNA methylation plays a crucial role in plant growth and adaptability, yet it is under-researched in holm oak and other non-domesticated forest trees.
  • The study identified 13 DNA methyltransferase and 3 demethylase genes, with varying expression levels across different plant organs and developmental stages, showing that adult leaves have higher global DNA methylation levels.
  • Methylation patterns predominantly affected nuclear genes, particularly in regions associated with essential biological processes like photosynthesis and defense mechanisms, highlighting the importance of epigenetic variation in holm oak.
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Mapping the immunopeptidome of seven SARS-CoV-2 antigens across common HLA haplotypes.

Nat Commun

August 2024

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Infection and Immunity Program, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia.

Article Synopsis
  • Most COVID-19 vaccines focus on the Spike protein, but mutations in the virus highlight the need for broader vaccine development.
  • The study uses mass spectrometry to identify immunopeptides from seven stable SARS-CoV-2 proteins, mapping their interactions with various Human Leukocyte Antigens (HLA) worldwide.
  • Out of 248 unique peptides found, over half are novel, and testing shows T cell responses to several peptides, which could help create improved COVID vaccines targeting multiple virus proteins.
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Efficacy of systemic Chemotherapy on high-risk stage II and III Mucnious colon cancer. CHEMUCCA study part I.

Eur J Surg Oncol

November 2024

Surgical Oncology Unit, Reina Sofia University Hospital, Córdoba, Spain; GE09 Peritoneal and Retroperitoneal Oncologic Surgery Research Group, Maimonides Biomedical Research Institute of Córdoba (IMIBIC), Córdoba, Spain. Electronic address:

Background: Locally advanced colon cancer is a high-risk condition for tumour recurrence with poor survival. The current treatment is surgery followed by adjuvant chemotherapy based on fluoropyrimidines and oxaliplatin. This approach has improved the oncological outcomes on this population, however the mucinous condition has not been studied in depth and although the evidence is weak, it is thought to have a worse response to systemic chemotherapy.

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TRAP1 modulates mitochondrial biogenesis via PGC-1α/TFAM signalling pathway in colorectal cancer cells.

J Mol Med (Berl)

October 2024

Medical Oncology and Biomolecular Therapy Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, Viale Pinto 1, 71122, Foggia, Italy.

Metabolic rewiring promotes cancer cell adaptation to a hostile microenvironment, representing a hallmark of cancer. This process involves mitochondrial function and is mechanistically linked to the balance between mitochondrial biogenesis (MB) and mitophagy. The molecular chaperone TRAP1 is overexpressed in 60-70% of human colorectal cancers (CRC) and its over-expression correlates with poor clinical outcome, being associated with many cancer cell functions (i.

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Cancer and the Microbiome of the Human Body.

Nutrients

August 2024

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II, School of Pharmacy, University of Granada, Campus de Cartuja s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain.

Cancer remains a public health concern worldwide, with its incidence increasing worldwide and expected to continue growing during the next decades. The microbiome has emerged as a central factor in human health and disease, demonstrating an intricate relationship between the microbiome and cancer. Although some microbiomes present within local tissues have been shown to restrict cancer development, mainly by interacting with cancer cells or the host immune system, some microorganisms are harmful to human health and risk factors for cancer development.

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Relationship between Infant Feeding and the Microbiome: Implications for Allergies and Food Intolerances.

Children (Basel)

August 2024

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II, School of Pharmacy, University of Granada, Campus de Cartuja s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain.

Childhood is a critical period for immune system development, which is greatly influenced by the gut microbiome. Likewise, a number of factors affect the gut microbiome composition and diversity, including breastfeeding, formula feeding, and solid foods introduction. In this regard, several studies have previously demonstrated that breastfeeding promotes a favorable microbiome.

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