Comparative genomics analyses of Actinobacteriota identify Golgi phosphoprotein 3 (GPP34) as a widespread ancient protein family associated with sponge symbiosis.

Background: Sponges harbor microbial communities that play crucial roles in host health and ecology. However, the genetic adaptations that enable these symbiotic microorganisms to thrive within the sponge environment are still being elucidated. To understand these genetic adaptations, we conducted a comparative genomics analysis on 350 genomes of Actinobacteriota, a phylum commonly associated with sponges.

Fusarium oxysporum assisted green synthesis of small-sized silver nanoparticles for high antibacterial, and photocatalytic decolorization performances.

Background: Novel platforms using nanotechnology-based medicines have exponentially increased in our daily lives. The unique characteristics of metal oxide and noble metals nanoparticles make them suitable for different fields including antimicrobial agents, cosmetics, textiles, wound dressings, and anticancer drug carriers.

Methods: This study focuses on the biosynthesis of small-sized SNPs using exo-metabolites of Fusarium oxysporum via bioprocess optimization using Plackett-Burman (PBD) and central composite designs (CCD) while evaluating their multifaceted bioactivities.

Aberrant splicing in Huntington's disease accompanies disrupted TDP-43 activity and altered m6A RNA modification.

Huntington's disease (HD) is caused by a CAG repeat expansion in the HTT gene, leading to altered gene expression. However, the mechanisms leading to disrupted RNA processing in HD remain unclear. Here we identify TDP-43 and the N6-methyladenosine (m6A) writer protein METTL3 to be upstream regulators of exon skipping in multiple HD systems.

Algae- and bacteria-based biodegradation of phthalic acid esters towards the sustainable green solution.

Phthalic acid esters are widely used worldwide as plasticizers. The high consumption of phthalates in China makes it the world's largest plasticizer market. The lack of phthalic acid ester's chemical bonding with the polymer matrix facilitates their detachment from plastic products and subsequent release into the environment and causes serious threats to the health of living organisms.

Intellectual frameworks to understand complex biochemical systems at the origin of life.

Understanding the emergence of complex biochemical systems, such as protein translation, is a great challenge. Although synthetic approaches can provide insight into the potential early stages of life, they do not address the equally important question of why the complex systems of life would have evolved. In particular, the intricacies of the mechanisms governing the transfer of information from nucleic acid sequences to proteins make it difficult to imagine how coded protein synthesis could have emerged from a prebiotic soup.

Apoptotic priming in senescence predicts specific senolysis by quantitative analysis of mitochondrial dependencies.

Cellular senescence contributes to a variety of pathologies associated with aging and is implicated as a cellular state in which cancer cells can survive treatment. Reported senolytic drug treatments act through varying molecular mechanisms, but heterogeneous efficacy across the diverse contexts of cellular senescence indicates a need for predictive biomarkers of senolytic activity. Using multi-parametric analyses of commonly reported molecular features of the senescent phenotype, we assayed a variety of models, including malignant and nonmalignant cells, using several triggers of senescence induction and found little univariate predictive power of these traditional senescence markers to identify senolytic drug sensitivity.

Bioinformatics approaches to multi-omics analysis of the potential of CDKN2A as a biomarker and therapeutic target for uterine corpus endometrial carcinoma.

Uterine corpus endometrial carcinoma (UCEC) is a significant cause of cancer-related mortality among women worldwide. Prior research has demonstrated an association between cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2 A (CDKN2A) and various tumors. As a member of the INK4 family, CDKN2A is involved in cell cycle regulation by controlling CDKs.

Rapid and quantitative functional interrogation of human enhancer variant activity in live mice.

Functional analysis of non-coding variants associated with congenital disorders remains challenging due to the lack of efficient in vivo models. Here we introduce dual-enSERT, a robust Cas9-based two-color fluorescent reporter system which enables rapid, quantitative comparison of enhancer allele activities in live mice in less than two weeks. We use this technology to examine and measure the gain- and loss-of-function effects of enhancer variants previously linked to limb polydactyly, autism spectrum disorder, and craniofacial malformation.

Development of a Phototriggered Diradical Phosphoamination Strategy of Alkenes.

Aminophosphonates serve as extremely important moieties with respect to their activities in biological systems. However, incorporating a Nitrogen and Phosphorus moiety by conventional techniques in ionic mode is usually associated with extensive prefunctionalization of the substrates, employing harsh conditions and reagents that limit the viability of these methods. Introducing both of these components as radicals may be a viable option.

Targeting Protein Kinase C-α Prolongs Survival and Restores Liver Function in Sepsis: Evidence from Preclinical Models.

Sepsis is a life-threatening organ failure resulting from a poorly regulated infection response. Organ dysfunction includes hepatic involvement, weakening the immune system due to excretory liver failure, and metabolic dysfunction, increasing the death risk. Although experimental studies correlated excretory liver functionality with immune performance and survival rates in sepsis, the proteins and pathways involved remain unclear.

Structural and Functional Insights into UDP-N-acetylglucosamine-enolpyruvate Reductase (MurB) from Brucella ovis.

The peptidoglycan biosynthetic pathway involves a series of enzymatic reactions in which UDP-N-acetylglucosamine-enolpyruvate reductase (MurB) plays a crucial role in catalyzing the conversion of UDP-N-acetylglucosamine-enolpyruvate (UNAGEP) to UDP-N-acetylmuramic acid. This reaction relies on NADPH and FAD and, since MurB is not found in eukaryotes, it is an attractive target for the development of antimicrobials. MurB from Brucella ovis, the causative agent of brucellosis in sheep, is characterized here.

Label free, capillary-scale blood flow mapping in vivo reveals that low-intensity focused ultrasound evokes persistent dilation in cortical microvasculature.

Non-invasive, low intensity focused ultrasound is an emerging neuromodulation technique that offers the potential for precision, personalized therapy. An increasing body of research has identified mechanosensitive ion channels that can be modulated by FUS and support acute electrical activity in neurons. However, neuromodulatory effects that persist from hours to days have also been reported.

The galactokinase enzyme of yeast senses metabolic flux to stabilize galactose pathway regulation.

Nutrient sensors allow cells to adapt their metabolisms to match nutrient availability by regulating metabolic pathway expression. Many such sensors are cytosolic receptors that measure intracellular nutrient concentrations. One might expect that inducing the metabolic pathway that degrades a nutrient would reduce intracellular nutrient levels, destabilizing induction.

Microplastics can alter structural configurations of human non-canonical G-quadruplex DNA.

Microplastics (MP) with a diameter of less than 150 μm can enter the lymph and bloodstream systems, induce cellular toxicity and damage DNA. G-quadruplexes (GQs) are tetraplex DNA secondary structures found in the human genomes that play important roles in replication, transcription and genomic integrity. Comprehending the biological and molecular processes underlying the activities of MPs could aid in estimating potential hazards to humans.

Identification of ABHD6 as a lysophosphatidylserine lipase in the mammalian liver and kidneys.

Lysophosphatidylserine (lyso-PS) is a potent hormone-like signaling lysophospholipid, which regulates many facets of mammalian biology and dysregulation in its metabolism is associated with several human neurological and autoimmune diseases. Despite the physiological importance and causal relation with human pathophysiology, little is known about the metabolism of lyso-PS in tissues other than the nervous and immune systems. To address this problem, here, we attempted to identify one (or more) lipase(s) capable of degrading lyso-PS in different mammalian tissues.

A novel LC-MS/MS assay for low concentrations of creatinine in sweat and saliva to validate biosensors for continuous monitoring of renal function.

Monitoring of kidney function traditionally relies on plasma creatinine concentrations, necessitating invasive blood draws. Non-invasively obtainable biofluids, such as sweat and saliva, present a patient-friendly alternative with potential for continuous monitoring. This study focusses on developing and validating a novel Liquid Chromatography- tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) assay as a reference test for measuring low creatinine concentrations in sweat and saliva.

Transforming literature screening: The emerging role of large language models in systematic reviews.

Systematic reviews (SR) synthesize evidence-based medical literature, but they involve labor-intensive manual article screening. Large language models (LLMs) can select relevant literature, but their quality and efficacy are still being determined compared to humans. We evaluated the overlap between title- and abstract-based selected articles of 18 different LLMs and human-selected articles for three SR.

The helmeted hornbill casque is reinforced by a bundle of exceptionally thick, rod-like trabeculae.

Among hornbill birds, the critically endangered helmeted hornbill (Rhinoplax vigil) is notable for its casque (a bulbous beak protrusion) being filled with trabeculae and fronted by a very thick keratin layer. Casque function is debated but appears central to aerial jousting, where birds (typically males) collide casques at high speeds in a mid-flight display that is audible for more than 100 m. We characterized the structural relationship between the skull and casque anatomy using X-ray microtomography and quantitative trabecular network analysis to examine how the casque sustains extreme impact.

USP5 inhibits anti-RNA viral innate immunity by deconjugating K48-linked unanchored and K63-linked anchored ubiquitin on IRF3.

Interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3) is a central hub transcription factor that controls host antiviral innate immunity. The expression and function of IRF3 are tightly regulated by the post-translational modifications. However, it is unknown whether unanchored ubiquitination and deubiquitination of IRF3 involve modulating antiviral innate immunity against RNA viruses.

Leveraging cancer mutation data to inform the pathogenicity classification of germline missense variants.

Innovative and easy-to-implement strategies are needed to improve the pathogenicity assessment of rare germline missense variants. Somatic cancer driver mutations identified through large-scale tumor sequencing studies often impact genes that are also associated with rare Mendelian disorders. The use of cancer mutation data to aid in the interpretation of germline missense variants, regardless of whether the gene is associated with a hereditary cancer predisposition syndrome or a non-cancer-related developmental disorder, has not been systematically assessed.

Terminology in ecology and evolutionary biology disproportionately harms marginalized groups.

The discipline of ecology and evolutionary biology (EEB) has long grappled with issues of inclusivity and representation, particularly for individuals with systematically excluded and marginalized backgrounds or identities. For example, significant representation disparities still persist that disproportionately affect women and gender minorities; Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC); individuals with disabilities; and people who are LGBTQIA+. Recent calls for action have urged the EEB community to directly address issues of representation, inclusion, justice, and equity.

Persistence of Phi6, a SARS-CoV-2 surrogate, in simulated indoor environments: Effects of humidity and material properties.

The SARS-CoV-2 virus caused the COVID-19 pandemic and brought major challenges to public health. It is transmitted via aerosols, droplets, and fomites. Among these, viral transmission through fomites is not well understood although it remains a very important transmission route.

Thermal Adaptation in Worldwide Collections of a Major Fungal Pathogen.

Adaptation to new climates poses a significant challenge for plant pathogens during range expansion, highlighting the importance of understanding their response to climate to accurately forecast future disease outbreaks. The wheat pathogen is ubiquitous across most wheat production regions distributed across diverse climate zones. We explored the genetic architecture of thermal adaptation using a global collection of 411 strains that were phenotyped across a wide range of temperatures and then included in a genome-wide association study.