Antimicrobial Activity of Cyclic Lipopeptides and Their Role in the Host Adaptive Response to Changes in Environmental Conditions.

cyclic lipopeptides (CLP), part of the three main families-surfactins, iturins, and fengycins-are secondary metabolites with a unique chemical structure that includes both peptide and lipid components. Being amphiphilic compounds, CLPs exhibit antimicrobial activity in vitro, damaging the membranes of microorganisms. However, the concentrations of CLPs used in vitro are difficult to achieve in natural conditions.

Position-Dependent Effects of AP Sites Within an Promoter G-Quadruplex Scaffold on Quadruplex Stability and Repair Activity of the APE1 Enzyme.

Apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP) sites are endogenous DNA lesions widespread in human cells. Having no nucleobases, they are noncoding and promutagenic. AP site repair is generally initiated through strand incision by AP endonuclease 1 (APE1).

Potential Regulation of by miR-129-5p and miR-3613-3p and Their Prognostic Value in Gastric Cancer.

Gastric cancer (GC) remains the most common malignant tumor of the gastrointestinal tract and one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), including microRNAs (miRNAs), are involved in the pathogenesis and progression of GC and, therefore, may be potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. Our work was aimed at investigating the predicted regulation of by miR-129-5p and miR-3613-3p and the clinical value of their aberrant expression in GC.

Synthesis of New Polyfluoro Oligonucleotides via Staudinger Reaction.

Nowadays, nucleic acid derivatives capable of modulating gene expression at the RNA level have gained widespread recognition as promising therapeutic agents. A suitable degree of biological stability of oligonucleotide therapeutics is required for in vivo application; this can be most expeditiously achieved by the chemical modification of the internucleotidic phosphate group, which may also affect their cellular uptake, tissue distribution and pharmacokinetics. Our group has previously developed a strategy for the chemical modification of the phosphate group via the Staudinger reaction on a solid phase of the intermediate dinucleoside phosphite triester and a range of, preferably, electron deficient organic azides such as sulfonyl azides during automated solid-phase DNA synthesis according to the conventional β-cyanoethyl phosphoramidite scheme.

Cyclic Imines and Their Salts as Universal Precursors in the Synthesis of Nitrogen-Containing Alkaloids.

Alkaloids are predominantly nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compounds that are usually isolated from plants, and sometimes from insects or animals. Alkaloids are one of the most important types of natural products due to their diverse biological activities and potential applications in modern medicine. Cyclic imines were chosen as starting compounds for the synthesis of alkaloids due to their high synthetic potential.

Peptide AEDL and Glutathione Stimulates Root Development .

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are essential molecules involved in intercellular communication, signal transduction, and metabolic processes. Abiotic stresses cause the accumulation of excess ROS in plant cells. The issue of regulating the antioxidant protection of plants using natural and synthetic compounds with antioxidant activity still remains one of the most important and relevant areas of fundamental and applied research.

Innovative Therapies Targeting Drug-Resistant Biomarkers in Metastatic Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma (ccRCC).

A thorough study of Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma (ccRCC) shows that combining tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) shows promising results in addressing the tumor-promoting influences of abnormal immunological and molecular biomarkers in metastatic Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma (ccRCC). These abnormal biomarkers enhance drug resistance, support tumor growth, and trigger cancer-related genes. Ongoing clinical trials are testing new treatment options that appear more effective than earlier ones.

The Role and Mechanisms of the Hypocretin System in Zebrafish ().

Sleep is the most important physiological function of all animals studied to date. Sleep disorders include narcolepsy, which is characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness, disruption of night sleep, and muscle weakness-cataplexy. Narcolepsy is known to be caused by the degeneration of orexin-synthesizing neurons (hypocretin (HCRT) neurons or orexin neurons) in the hypothalamus.

Local Application of Minimally Manipulated Autologous Stromal Vascular Fraction (SVF) Reduces Inflammation and Improves Bilio-Biliary Anastomosis Integrity.

Bilio-biliary anastomosis (BBA) is a critical surgical procedure that is performed with the objective of restoring bile duct continuity. This procedure is often required in cases where there has been an injury to the extrahepatic bile ducts or during liver transplantation. Despite advances in surgical techniques, the healing of BBA remains a significant challenge, with complications such as stricture formation and leakage affecting patient outcomes.

Using the Radial Distribution Function to Analyze Atomic Force Microscopy Images of Colloidal Systems.

Biomacromolecules generally exist and function in aqueous media. Is it possible to estimate the state and properties of molecules in an initial three-dimensional colloidal solution based on the structure properties of biomolecules adsorbed on the two-dimensional surface? Using atomic force microscopy to study nanosized objects requires their immobilization on a surface. Particles undergoing Brownian motion in a solution significantly reduce their velocity near the surface and become completely immobilized upon drying.

You Win Some, You Lose Some: Modifying the Molecular Periphery of Nitrofuran-Tagged Diazaspirooctane Reshapes Its Antibacterial Activity Profile.

The use of the concept of privileged structures significantly accelerates the search for new leads and their optimization. 6-(methylsulfonyl)-8-(4-methyl-4-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)-2-(5-nitro-2-furoyl)-2,6-diazaspiro[3.4]octane has been identified as a lead, with MICs of 0.

Comparative Genomic Analysis Reveals Key Changes in the Genome of That Occurred During Classical Strain Improvement for Production of Antibiotic Cephalosporin C.

From the 1950s to the present, the main tool for obtaining fungal industrial producers of secondary metabolites remains the so-called classical strain improvement (CSI) methods associated with multi-round random mutagenesis and screening for the level of target products. As a result of the application of such techniques, the yield of target secondary metabolites in high-yielding (HY) strains was increased hundreds of times compared to the wild-type (WT) parental strains. However, the events that occur at the molecular level during CSI programs are still unknown.

Lipid Profile of Mayr in Adaptation to Natural Conditions in the Cryolithozone.

The prevalence of coniferous trees in the forest landscapes of northeastern Siberia is conditioned by their high frost resistance. The Kajander larch ( Mayr), which can survive under natural conditions (down to -60 °C) in the cryolithozone of Yakutia, is the dominant forest-forming species. We hypothesise that our study using HPTLC-UV/Vis/FLD, TLC-GC/FID, and GC-MS methods of seasonal features of the lipid profile of Kajander larch tissues will bring us closer to understanding the mechanisms of participation of lipid components in the adaptation of this valuable tree species to the cold climate of the cryolithozone.

Two Novel Mouse Models of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy with Similar Dmd Exon 51 Frameshift Mutations and Varied Phenotype Severity.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a severe X-linked genetic disorder caused by an array of mutations in the dystrophin gene, with the most commonly mutated regions being exons 48-55. One of the several existing approaches to treat DMD is gene therapy, based on alternative splicing and mutant exon skipping. Testing of such therapy requires animal models that carry mutations homologous to those found in human patients.

Transcriptional Changes Associated with Amyoplasia.

Arthrogryposis, which represents a group of congenital disorders, includes various forms. One such form is amyoplasia, which most commonly presents in a sporadic form in addition to distal forms, among which hereditary cases may occur. This condition is characterized by limited joint mobility and muscle weakness, leading to limb deformities and various clinical manifestations.

microRNA as an Important Mediator in the Regulation of Male Reproduction: Current State of the Problem.

During all periods of male ontogenesis, physiological processes responsible for the correct functioning of reproductive organs and spermatogenesis are under the influence of various factors (neuro-humoral, genetic, and paratypical). Recently, the attention of researchers has increasingly turned to the study of epigenetic factors. In scientific publications, one can increasingly find references to the direct role of microRNAs, small non-coding RNAs involved in post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression, in the processes of development and functioning of reproductive organs.

Evaluation of Polygenic Risk Score for Prediction of Childhood Onset and Severity of Asthma.

Asthma is a common complex disease with susceptibility defined through an interplay of genetic and environmental factors. Responsiveness to asthma treatment varies between individuals and is largely determined by genetic variability. The polygenic score (PGS) approach enables an individual risk of asthma and respective response to drug therapy.

Inhibitory Activity of - and -Functionalized Monoterpene Diols Towards Monoamine Oxidases A and B.

Monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) inhibitors are widely used as part of combination drug therapy for Parkinson's disease. As demonstrated in both in vitro and in vivo experiments, the monoterpenoid Prottremine and some of its derivatives exhibit high antiparkinsonian activity. In this study, the inhibitory activity of Prottremine and its derivatives (including 14 new 9-- and -derivatives) against MAO-A and MAO-B enzymes has been investigated for the first time.

In Vitro Effect of Estrogen and Progesterone on Cytogenetic Profile of Uterine Leiomyomas.

In the present study, we aimed to investigate intratumoral karyotype diversity as well as the estrogen/progesterone effect on the cytogenetic profile of uterine leiomyomas (ULs). A total of 15 UL samples obtained from 15 patients were cultured in the media supplemented with estrogen and/or progesterone and without adding hormones. Conventional cytogenetic analysis of culture samples revealed clonal chromosomal abnormalities in 11 out of 15 ULs.

Alpinetin Exhibits Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Effects in C57BL/6 Mice with Alcoholic Liver Disease Induced by the Lieber-DeCarli Ethanol Liquid Diet.

Alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) is a common non-communicable chronic liver disease characterized by a spectrum of conditions ranging from steatosis and alcohol-associated steatohepatitis (AH) to fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The pathogenesis of ALD involves a complex interplay of various molecular, biochemical, genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors. While the mechanisms are well studied, therapeutic options remain limited.

Domain Mobility in the ORF2p Complex Revealed by Molecular Dynamics Simulations and Big Data Analysis.

ORF2p (open reading frame 2 protein) is a multifunctional multidomain enzyme that demonstrates both reverse transcriptase and endonuclease activities and is associated with the pathophysiology of cancer. The 3D structure of the entire seven-domain ORF2p complex was revealed with the recent achievements in structural studies. The different arrangements of the CTD (carboxy-terminal domain) and tower domains were identified as the "closed-ring" and "open-ring" conformations, which differed by the hairpin position of the tower domain, but the structural diversity of these complexes has the potential to be more extensive.

Synthesis of New Promising BNCT Agents Based on Conjugates of -Dodecaborate Anion and Aliphatic Diamino Acids.

In this work, a series of boronated amidines based on the -dodecaborate anion and amino acids containing an amino group in the side chain of the general formula [BHNHC(NH(CH)CH(NH)COOH)CH], where n = 2, 3, 4, were synthesized. These derivatives contain conserved α-amino and α-carboxyl groups recognized by the binding centers of the large neutral amino acid transporter (LAT) system, which serves as a target for the clinically applied BNCT agent para-boronophenylalanine (BPA). The paper describes several approaches to synthesizing the target compounds, their acute toxicity studies, and tumor uptake studies in vivo in two tumor models.

Unusual Genomic and Biochemical Features of sp. nov-A Novel Bacterial Species Isolated from Anthill Soil.

The black garden ant () is a widely distributed species across Europe, North America, and North Africa, playing a pivotal role in ecological processes within its diverse habitats. However, the microbiome associated with remains poorly investigated. In the present study, we isolated a novel species, , from the soil of the anthill.

Changes in the Phenotype and Metabolism of Peritoneal Macrophages in Mucin-2 Knockout Mice and Partial Restoration of Their Functions In Vitro After L-Fucose Treatment.

In the development of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), peritoneal macrophages contribute to the resident intestinal macrophage pool. Previous studies have demonstrated that oral administration of L-fucose exerts an immunomodulatory effect and repolarizes the peritoneal macrophages in vivo in mice. In this study, we analyzed the phenotype and metabolic profile of the peritoneal macrophages from mice, as well as the effect of L-fucose on the metabolic and morphological characteristics of these macrophages in vitro.

Role Assessment of Water-Soluble Pharmaceutical Form of Phosphatidylcholine on the Catalytic Activity of Cytochrome P450 2C9 and 2D6.

This study aimed to investigate whether the water-soluble pharmaceutical form of phosphatidylcholine nanoparticles (wPC) stimulated the catalytic activity of CYP enzymes 2C9 and 2D6. We have shown that electroenzymatic CYP2C9 catalysis to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug naproxen as a substrate was enhanced from 100% to 155% in the presence of wPC in media. Electroenzymatic CYP2D6 activity in the presence of the adrenoceptor-blocking agent bisoprolol as a substrate was elevated significantly from 100% to 144% when wPC was added to potassium phosphate buffer solution.