Polymorphisms in DNA Repair and Xenobiotic Biotransformation Enzyme Genes and Lung Cancer Risk in Coal Mine Workers.

Background: Currently coal mining employs over 7 million miners globally. This occupational setting is associated with exposure to dust particles, heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and radioactive radon, significantly increasing the risk of lung cancer (LC). The susceptibility for LC is modified by genetic variations in xenobiotic detoxification and DNA repair capacity.

Lesion Recognition and Cleavage of Damage-Containing Quadruplexes and Bulged Structures by DNA Glycosylases.

Human telomeres as well as more than 40% of human genes near the promoter regions have been found to contain the sequence that may form a G-quadruplex structure. Other non-canonical DNA structures comprising bulges, hairpins, or bubbles may have a functionally important role during transcription, replication, or recombination. The guanine-rich regions of DNA are hotspots of oxidation that forms 7,8-dihydro-8-oxoguanine, thymine glycol, and abasic sites: the lesions that are handled by the base excision repair pathway.

Polymorphisms in DNA repair genes in lung cancer patients living in a coal-mining region.

Air pollutants and ionizing radiation are well-known carcinogens involved in the pathogenesis of lung cancer, and residents of coal-mining regions are exposed routinely to these agents. Polymorphisms in DNA repair genes may be associated with an increased risk of malignant transformation. We investigated associations between the risk of lung cancer in residents of the coal-mining region and polymorphisms in the genes APEX1 (rs1130409), hOGG1 (rs1052133), XRCC1 (rs25489, rs25487), XRCC2 (rs3218536), XRCC3 (rs861539), ADPRT/PARP1 (rs1136410), XPD/ERCC2 (rs13181), XPG/ERCC5 (rs17655), XPC (rs2228001), ATM (rs1801516), and NBS1 (rs1805794).

Cow Milk Lactoferrin Possesses Several Catalytic Activities.

Lactoferrin (LF) is a Fe-binding glycoprotein, that was first recognized in milk and then in other epithelial secretions and barrier body fluids to which many different functions have been attributed to LF including protection from iron-induced lipid peroxidation, immunomodulation, cell growth regulation, DNA and RNA binding, as well as transcriptional activation, еtс. The polyfunctional physiological role of LF is still unclear, but it has been suggested to be responsible for primary defense against microbial and viral infections. It was shown previously that human milk LF possesses several enzymatic activities: DNase, RNase, ATPase, phosphatase, and amylase.

Human serum and milk albumins are metal-dependent DNases.

It is known that that human serum albumin (HSA) and alpha-lactalbumin (LA) possess DNA-binding sites. Electrophoretically homogeneous HSA and LA containing no canonical enzymes were isolated from human sera and milk. Here we have analyzed for the first time the possibility of DNA hydrolysis by these proteins.

The potential of circulating cell-free RNA as a cancer biomarker: challenges and opportunities.

Cancer statistics show that recent improvements in cancer management are only mildly effective in the absence of reliable biomarkers for the detection, diagnosis and monitoring of malignant disease. Recently circulating nucleic acids have been suggested as potential biomarker candidates to fill this role. Areas covered: This review focuses on the different types of circulating RNA biomarkers under investigation, describing the latest advances in their development and application to clinical settings, as well as challenges that researchers face in the process.

How human serum albumin recognizes DNA and RNA.

We show here for the first time that HSA possesses two nucleic acid-(NA) binding sites and we estimated the relative contributions of the nucleotide links of (pN)n to their total affinity for these binding sites with higher and lower affinity for NAs. The minimal ligands of these binding sites are orthophosphate (Kd=3.0 and 20.

Polymorphisms of GSTM1, GSTT1, GSTP1 genes and chromosomal aberrations in lung cancer patients.

Purpose: To study the potential links between genetic polymorphisms in the GSTT1, GSTM1, GSTP1 genes and the frequency of chromosomal aberrations (CAs) in lung cancer patients and healthy residents in Russian Federation.

Methods: 200 cells in well-spread metaphase with 46 chromosomes were examined for 353 newly diagnosed lung cancer patients (males) who received medical treatment in the Kemerovo Regional Oncology Center (Kemerovo, Russian Federation), and 300 healthy males from Kemerovo, Russian Federation. The polymorphisms of the GSTM1 del and GSTT1 del genes were analysed by multiplex PCR.

Towards standardization of next-generation sequencing of FFPE samples for clinical oncology: intrinsic obstacles and possible solutions.

Background: Next generation sequencing has a potential to revolutionize the management of cancer patients within the framework of precision oncology. Nevertheless, lack of standardization decelerated entering of the technology into the clinical testing space. Here we dissected a number of common problems of NGS diagnostics in oncology and introduced ways they can be resolved.

Plasma miR-19b and miR-183 as Potential Biomarkers of Lung Cancer.

Lung cancer is a complex disease that often manifests at the point when treatment is not effective. Introduction of blood-based complementary diagnostics using molecular markers may enhance early detection of this disease and help reduce the burden of lung cancer. Here we evaluated the diagnostic potential of seven plasma miRNA biomarkers (miR-21, -19b, -126, -25, -205, -183, -125b) by quantitative reverse transcription PCR.

Complete Genome Sequence of the Oncolytic Sendai virus Strain Moscow.

We report here the complete genome sequence of Sendai virus Moscow strain. Anecdotal evidence for the efficacy of oncolytic virotherapy exists for this strain. The RNA genome of the Moscow strain is 15,384 nucleotides in length and differs from the nearest strain, BB1, by 18 nucleotides and 11 amino acids.

Chromosome aberrations in peripheral blood lymphocytes of lung cancer patients exposed to radon and air pollution.

Lung cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer. The aim of this study was to validate chromosome aberrations in peripheral blood lymphocytes of lung cancer patients living in a region with high air pollution and increased background radon levels as a biomarker of cancer risk. A total of 417 lung cancer patients and 468 control participants were analysed using a chromosome aberration assay in peripheral blood lymphocytes.

Protocol for miRNA isolation from biofluids.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been identified as promising biomarkers in cancer and other diseases. Packaging of miRNAs into vesicles and complexes with proteins ensures their stability in biological fluids but also complicates their isolation. Conventional protocols used to isolate cell-free RNA are generally successful in overcoming these difficulties; however, they are costly, labor-intensive, or heavily reliant on the use of hazardous chemicals.

No Evidence of a Common DNA Variant Profile Specific to World Class Endurance Athletes.

There are strong genetic components to cardiorespiratory fitness and its response to exercise training. It would be useful to understand the differences in the genomic profile of highly trained endurance athletes of world class caliber and sedentary controls. An international consortium (GAMES) was established in order to compare elite endurance athletes and ethnicity-matched controls in a case-control study design.

A simple approach to prepare molecularly imprinted polymers from nylon-6.

A convenient and simple approach for the preparation of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) based on polyamide (nylon-6) was developed. The polymer matrix formation occurred during the transition of nylon from dissolved to solid state in the presence of template molecules in the initial solution. 2,2,2-Trifluoroethanol (TFE) was chosen as a main solvent for the polyamide.