Next Issue
Volume 14, June
Previous Issue
Volume 14, April
 
 

Biomolecules, Volume 14, Issue 5 (May 2024) – 97 articles

Cover Story (view full-size image): There is a constant need to develop new antibiotics to fight resistant bacteria. The synthesis of murepavadin, a cyclic antibacterial peptide in clinical development, was undertaken in order to optimize the preparative protocol, in particular, the use of new activation reagents. Classical approaches using carbodiimide/HOBt rendered low yields. The use of novel reagents based on OxymaPure® and Oxy-B is discussed together with the proper use of chromatographic conditions. Higher yields and purities were obtained. Finally, the antimicrobial activity was tested in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, including highly resistant strains. All murepavadin batches yielded the same highly active MIC values and proved that the chiral integrity of the molecule was preserved in the different synthetic protocols. View this paper
  • Issues are regarded as officially published after their release is announced to the table of contents alert mailing list.
  • You may sign up for e-mail alerts to receive table of contents of newly released issues.
  • PDF is the official format for papers published in both, html and pdf forms. To view the papers in pdf format, click on the "PDF Full-text" link, and use the free Adobe Reader to open them.
Order results
Result details
Section
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
13 pages, 7119 KiB  
Article
Efficacy of the Probiotic L. brevis in Counteracting the Demineralizing Process of the Tooth Enamel Surface: Results from an In Vitro Study
by Serena Altamura, Francesca Rosaria Augello, Eleonora Ortu, Davide Pietropaoli, Benedetta Cinque, Mario Giannoni and Francesca Lombardi
Biomolecules 2024, 14(5), 605; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom14050605 - 20 May 2024
Viewed by 1434
Abstract
Background. Enamel plays an essential role in protecting the underlying layers of the human tooth; therefore, preserving it is vital. This experimental study aimed to evaluate the potential ability of L. brevis to counteract the action of a demineralizing agent on dental enamel [...] Read more.
Background. Enamel plays an essential role in protecting the underlying layers of the human tooth; therefore, preserving it is vital. This experimental study aimed to evaluate the potential ability of L. brevis to counteract the action of a demineralizing agent on dental enamel morphology and mineral composition in vitro. Methods. The sample consisted of 12 healthy human posterior teeth. The coronal portion of each tooth was subdivided into two equal parts longitudinally. The specimens were randomly divided into four groups: artificial saliva, L. brevis suspension, demineralizing agent (DA), and DA plus L. brevis. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) were used to evaluate the surface micromorphology and the mineral content, respectively. The statistical analysis was conducted using a one-way ANOVA, followed by Tukey’s post hoc test. Results. SEM analysis did not highlight significant changes in the enamel microstructure of L. brevis-treated specimens compared to the control. DA-induced damage to the enamel structure was drastically reduced when the specimens were contextually exposed to the probiotic. The treatment with DA substantially reduced the weight % of crucial enamel minerals, i.e., Ca and P. Notably, the probiotic was able to reverse the demineralization process, bringing Ca and P weight % back to basal levels, including the Ca/P ratio. Conclusions. The findings indicate that L. brevis is able to efficiently protect the dental enamel surface from the damage caused by DA and increase the enamel resistance to demineralization. Overall, L. brevis confirms its efficacy in preventing or counteracting the action of carious lesions through a novel mechanism that protects the tooth surface under a chemical challenge that mimics the caries process. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Role of Probiotics in Health and Disease)
Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 5079 KiB  
Article
Hydrogels with Ultrasound-Treated Hyaluronic Acid Regulate CD44-Mediated Angiogenic Potential of Human Vascular Endothelial Cells In Vitro
by Kelum Chamara Manoj Lakmal Elvitigala, Wildan Mubarok and Shinji Sakai
Biomolecules 2024, 14(5), 604; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom14050604 - 20 May 2024
Viewed by 1505
Abstract
The development of hydrogels that allow vascular endothelial cells to form capillary-like networks is critical for advancing tissue engineering and drug discovery. In this study, we developed hydrogels composed of phenolated hyaluronic acid (HA-Ph) with an average molecular weight of 490–159 kDa via [...] Read more.
The development of hydrogels that allow vascular endothelial cells to form capillary-like networks is critical for advancing tissue engineering and drug discovery. In this study, we developed hydrogels composed of phenolated hyaluronic acid (HA-Ph) with an average molecular weight of 490–159 kDa via sonication in an aqueous solution. These hydrogels were synthesized by the horseradish peroxidase-catalyzed crosslinking of phenol moieties in the presence of hydrogen peroxide and phenolated gelatin. The sonication-degraded HA-Ph (198 kDa) significantly enhanced the migration ability of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) on cell culture plates when added to the medium compared to the original HA-Ph (490 kDa) and less-degraded HA-Ph (312–399 kDa). In addition, HUVECs cultured on these hydrogels formed networks that did not occur on hydrogels made from the original HA-Ph. CD44 expression and PI3K gene expression, both markers related to angiogenesis, were 3.5- and 1.8-fold higher, respectively, in cells cultured on sonication-degraded HA-Ph hydrogels than in those cultured on hydrogels comprising the original HA-Ph. These results highlight the potential of hydrogels containing sonication-degraded HA-Ph for tissue engineering and drug-screening applications involving human vascular endothelial cells. Full article
(This article belongs to the Collection Feature Papers in 'Biological and Bio- Materials' Section)
Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 4649 KiB  
Article
Cholesterol Modulation Attenuates the AD-like Phenotype Induced by Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Infection
by Blanca Salgado, Beatriz Izquierdo, Alba Zapata, Isabel Sastre, Henrike Kristen, Julia Terreros, Víctor Mejías, María J. Bullido and Jesús Aldudo
Biomolecules 2024, 14(5), 603; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom14050603 - 20 May 2024
Viewed by 1661
Abstract
Cholesterol, a crucial component of cell membranes, influences various biological processes, including membrane trafficking, signal transduction, and host-pathogen interactions. Disruptions in cholesterol homeostasis have been linked to congenital and acquired conditions, including neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Previous research from our [...] Read more.
Cholesterol, a crucial component of cell membranes, influences various biological processes, including membrane trafficking, signal transduction, and host-pathogen interactions. Disruptions in cholesterol homeostasis have been linked to congenital and acquired conditions, including neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Previous research from our group has demonstrated that herpes simplex virus type I (HSV-1) induces an AD-like phenotype in several cell models of infection. This study explores the interplay between cholesterol and HSV-1-induced neurodegeneration. The impact of cholesterol was determined by modulating its levels with methyl-beta-cyclodextrin (MβCD) using the neuroblastoma cell lines SK-N-MC and N2a. We have found that HSV-1 infection triggers the intracellular accumulation of cholesterol in structures resembling endolysosomal/autophagic compartments, a process reversible upon MβCD treatment. Moreover, MβCD exhibits inhibitory effects at various stages of HSV-1 infection, underscoring the importance of cellular cholesterol levels, not only in the viral entry process but also in subsequent post-entry stages. MβCD also alleviated several features of AD-like neurodegeneration induced by viral infection, including lysosomal impairment and intracellular accumulation of amyloid-beta peptide (Aβ) and phosphorylated tau. In conclusion, these findings highlight the connection between cholesterol, neurodegeneration, and HSV-1 infection, providing valuable insights into the underlying mechanisms of AD. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Biomarkers for Neurodegenerative Diseases)
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

11 pages, 1327 KiB  
Article
Accounting for NAD Concentrations in Genome-Scale Metabolic Models Captures Important Metabolic Alterations in NAD-Depleted Systems
by Roland Sauter, Suraj Sharma and Ines Heiland
Biomolecules 2024, 14(5), 602; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom14050602 - 20 May 2024
Viewed by 1392
Abstract
Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) is a ubiquitous molecule found within all cells, acting as a crucial coenzyme in numerous metabolic reactions. It plays a vital role in energy metabolism, cellular signaling, and DNA repair. Notably, NAD levels decline naturally with age, and this [...] Read more.
Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) is a ubiquitous molecule found within all cells, acting as a crucial coenzyme in numerous metabolic reactions. It plays a vital role in energy metabolism, cellular signaling, and DNA repair. Notably, NAD levels decline naturally with age, and this decline is associated with the development of various age-related diseases. Despite this established link, current genome-scale metabolic models, which offer powerful tools for understanding cellular metabolism, do not account for the dynamic changes in NAD concentration. This impedes our understanding of a fluctuating NAD level’s impact on cellular metabolism and its contribution to age-related pathologies. To bridge this gap in our knowledge, we have devised a novel method that integrates altered NAD concentration into genome-scale models of human metabolism. This approach allows us to accurately reflect the changes in fatty acid metabolism, glycolysis, and oxidative phosphorylation observed experimentally in an engineered human cell line with a compromised level of subcellular NAD. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue NAD Metabolism in Physiology and Pathology)
Show Figures

Figure 1

24 pages, 11094 KiB  
Article
Palmitic Acid Exerts Anti-Tumorigenic Activities by Modulating Cellular Stress and Lipid Droplet Formation in Endometrial Cancer
by Ziyi Zhao, Jiandong Wang, Weimin Kong, Meredith A. Newton, Wesley C. Burkett, Wenchuan Sun, Lindsey Buckingham, Jillian O’Donnell, Hongyan Suo, Boer Deng, Xiaochang Shen, Xin Zhang, Tianran Hao, Chunxiao Zhou and Victoria L. Bae-Jump
Biomolecules 2024, 14(5), 601; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom14050601 - 20 May 2024
Viewed by 2374
Abstract
Epidemiological and clinical evidence have extensively documented the role of obesity in the development of endometrial cancer. However, the effect of fatty acids on cell growth in endometrial cancer has not been widely studied. Here, we reported that palmitic acid significantly inhibited cell [...] Read more.
Epidemiological and clinical evidence have extensively documented the role of obesity in the development of endometrial cancer. However, the effect of fatty acids on cell growth in endometrial cancer has not been widely studied. Here, we reported that palmitic acid significantly inhibited cell proliferation of endometrial cancer cells and primary cultures of endometrial cancer and reduced tumor growth in a transgenic mouse model of endometrial cancer, in parallel with increased cellular stress and apoptosis and decreased cellular adhesion and invasion. Inhibition of cellular stress by N-acetyl-L-cysteine effectively reversed the effects of palmitic acid on cell proliferation, apoptosis, and invasive capacity in endometrial cancer cells. Palmitic acid increased the intracellular formation of lipid droplets in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Depletion of lipid droplets by blocking DGAT1 and DGAT2 effectively increased the ability of palmitic acid to inhibit cell proliferation and induce cleaved caspase 3 activity. Collectively, this study provides new insight into the effect of palmitic acid on cell proliferation and invasion and the formation of lipid droplets that may have potential clinical relevance in the treatment of obesity-driven endometrial cancer. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular and Cell Biology in Endometriosis and Endometrial Cancer)
Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 1982 KiB  
Article
Dual-Ring SNAREpin Machinery Tuning for Fast Synaptic Vesicle Fusion
by Matthieu Caruel and Frédéric Pincet
Biomolecules 2024, 14(5), 600; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom14050600 - 19 May 2024
Viewed by 1250
Abstract
During neurotransmission, neurotransmitters are released less than a millisecond after the arrival of the action potential. To achieve this ultra-fast event, the synaptic vesicle must be pre-docked to the plasma membrane. In this primed state, SNAREpins, the protein-coiled coils whose assembly provides the [...] Read more.
During neurotransmission, neurotransmitters are released less than a millisecond after the arrival of the action potential. To achieve this ultra-fast event, the synaptic vesicle must be pre-docked to the plasma membrane. In this primed state, SNAREpins, the protein-coiled coils whose assembly provides the energy to trigger fusion, are partly zippered and clamped like a hairpin and held open and ready to snap close when the clamp is released. Recently, it was suggested that three types of regulatory factors, synaptophysin, synaptotagmins, and complexins act cooperatively to organize two concentric rings, a central and a peripheral ring, containing up to six SNAREpins each. We used a mechanical model of the SNAREpins with two separate states, half-zippered and fully zippered, and determined the energy landscape according to the number of SNAREpins in each ring. We also performed simulations to estimate the fusion time in each case. The presence of the peripheral SNAREpins generally smoothens the energy landscape and accelerates the fusion time. With the predicted physiological numbers of six central and six peripheral SNAREpins, the fusion time is accelerated at least 100 times by the presence of the peripheral SNAREpins, and fusion occurs in less than 10 μs, which is well within the physiological requirements. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Mechanism Investigations into Membrane Fusion)
Show Figures

Figure 1

11 pages, 1692 KiB  
Article
3-Hydroxyanthranilic Acid Delays Paralysis in Caenorhabditis elegans Models of Amyloid-Beta and Polyglutamine Proteotoxicity
by Bradford T. Hull, Kayla M. Miller, Caroline Corban, Grant Backer, Susan Sheehan, Ron Korstanje and George L. Sutphin
Biomolecules 2024, 14(5), 599; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom14050599 - 18 May 2024
Viewed by 4105
Abstract
Age is the primary risk factor for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Huntington’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia and a leading cause of death in the elderly population of the United States. No effective treatments for these [...] Read more.
Age is the primary risk factor for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Huntington’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia and a leading cause of death in the elderly population of the United States. No effective treatments for these diseases currently exist. Identifying effective treatments for Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s, and other neurodegenerative diseases is a major current focus of national scientific resources, and there is a critical need for novel therapeutic strategies. Here, we investigate the potential for targeting the kynurenine pathway metabolite 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid (3HAA) using Caenorhabditis elegans expressing amyloid-beta or a polyglutamine peptide in body wall muscle, modeling the proteotoxicity in Alzheimer’s and Huntington’s disease, respectively. We show that knocking down the enzyme that degrades 3HAA, 3HAA dioxygenase (HAAO), delays the age-associated paralysis in both models. This effect on paralysis was independent of the protein aggregation in the polyglutamine model. We also show that the mechanism of protection against proteotoxicity from HAAO knockdown is mimicked by 3HAA supplementation, supporting elevated 3HAA as the mediating event linking HAAO knockdown to delayed paralysis. This work demonstrates the potential for 3HAA as a targeted therapeutic in neurodegenerative disease, though the mechanism is yet to be explored. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Advances in Mechanism and Regulation of Lifespan and Aging)
Show Figures

Figure 1

32 pages, 8907 KiB  
Article
Polydatin and Nicotinamide Rescue the Cellular Phenotype of Mitochondrial Diseases by Mitochondrial Unfolded Protein Response (mtUPR) Activation
by Paula Cilleros-Holgado, David Gómez-Fernández, Rocío Piñero-Pérez, José Manuel Romero Domínguez, Marta Talaverón-Rey, Diana Reche-López, Juan Miguel Suárez-Rivero, Mónica Álvarez-Córdoba, Ana Romero-González, Alejandra López-Cabrera, Marta Castro De Oliveira, Andrés Rodríguez-Sacristan and José Antonio Sánchez-Alcázar
Biomolecules 2024, 14(5), 598; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom14050598 - 18 May 2024
Viewed by 1786
Abstract
Primary mitochondrial diseases result from mutations in nuclear DNA (nDNA) or mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) genes, encoding proteins crucial for mitochondrial structure or function. Given that few disease-specific therapies are available for mitochondrial diseases, novel treatments to reverse mitochondrial dysfunction are necessary. In this [...] Read more.
Primary mitochondrial diseases result from mutations in nuclear DNA (nDNA) or mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) genes, encoding proteins crucial for mitochondrial structure or function. Given that few disease-specific therapies are available for mitochondrial diseases, novel treatments to reverse mitochondrial dysfunction are necessary. In this work, we explored new therapeutic options in mitochondrial diseases using fibroblasts and induced neurons derived from patients with mutations in the GFM1 gene. This gene encodes the essential mitochondrial translation elongation factor G1 involved in mitochondrial protein synthesis. Due to the severe mitochondrial defect, mutant GFM1 fibroblasts cannot survive in galactose medium, making them an ideal screening model to test the effectiveness of pharmacological compounds. We found that the combination of polydatin and nicotinamide enabled the survival of mutant GFM1 fibroblasts in stress medium. We also demonstrated that polydatin and nicotinamide upregulated the mitochondrial Unfolded Protein Response (mtUPR), especially the SIRT3 pathway. Activation of mtUPR partially restored mitochondrial protein synthesis and expression, as well as improved cellular bioenergetics. Furthermore, we confirmed the positive effect of the treatment in GFM1 mutant induced neurons obtained by direct reprogramming from patient fibroblasts. Overall, we provide compelling evidence that mtUPR activation is a promising therapeutic strategy for GFM1 mutations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mitochondrial Quality Control in Aging and Neurodegeneration)
Show Figures

Figure 1

11 pages, 4615 KiB  
Communication
In Search of Better Peptide-(Derived from PD-L2)-Based Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors
by Boris Klebansky, Marina Backer, Vitaliy Gorbatyuk, Olga Vinogradova and Joseph Backer
Biomolecules 2024, 14(5), 597; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom14050597 - 18 May 2024
Viewed by 1211
Abstract
Current anti-cancer immune checkpoint therapy relies on antibodies that primarily target the PD-1/PD-L1(-L2) negative regulatory pathway. Although very successful in some cases for certain cancers, these antibodies do not help most patients who, presumably, should benefit from this type of therapy. Therefore, an [...] Read more.
Current anti-cancer immune checkpoint therapy relies on antibodies that primarily target the PD-1/PD-L1(-L2) negative regulatory pathway. Although very successful in some cases for certain cancers, these antibodies do not help most patients who, presumably, should benefit from this type of therapy. Therefore, an unmet clinical need for novel, more effective drugs targeting immune checkpoints remains. We have developed a series of high-potency peptide inhibitors interfering with PD-1/PD-L1(-L2) protein–protein interaction. Our best peptide inhibitors are 12 and 14 amino acids long and show sub-micromolar IC50 inhibitory activity in the in vitro assay. The positioning of the peptides within the PD-1 binding site is explored by extensive modeling. It is further supported by 2D NMR studies of PD-1/peptide complexes. These results reflect substantial progress in the development of immune checkpoint inhibitors using peptidomimetics. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 4181 KiB  
Article
PPARγ Antagonists Exhibit Antitumor Effects by Regulating Ferroptosis and Disulfidptosis
by Shiyu Zhang, Ying Wang, Junjie Gu, Yang Yang, Jing Liang, Yimei Wang, Ning Ji, Ming Liu, Yingxin Zhang, Silu Sun, Qianming Chen and Jing Li
Biomolecules 2024, 14(5), 596; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom14050596 - 18 May 2024
Viewed by 4355
Abstract
Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) stands as a prevalent subtype of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, leading to disease recurrence and low survival rates. PPARγ, a ligand-dependent nuclear transcription factor, holds significance in tumor development. However, the role of PPARγ in the [...] Read more.
Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) stands as a prevalent subtype of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, leading to disease recurrence and low survival rates. PPARγ, a ligand-dependent nuclear transcription factor, holds significance in tumor development. However, the role of PPARγ in the development of OSCC has not been fully elucidated. Through transcriptome sequencing analysis, we discovered a notable enrichment of ferroptosis-related molecules upon treatment with PPARγ antagonist. We subsequently confirmed the occurrence of ferroptosis through transmission electron microscopy, iron detection, etc. Notably, ferroptosis inhibitors could not completely rescue the cell death caused by PPARγ inhibitors, and the rescue effect was the greatest when disulfidptosis and ferroptosis inhibitors coexisted. We confirmed that the disulfidptosis phenotype indeed existed. Mechanistically, through qPCR and Western blotting, we observed that the inhibition of PPARγ resulted in the upregulation of heme oxygenase 1 (HMOX1), thereby promoting ferroptosis, while solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11) was also upregulated to promote disulfidptosis in OSCC. Finally, a flow cytometry analysis of flight and multiplex immunohistochemical staining was used to characterize the immune status of PPARγ antagonist-treated OSCC tissues in a mouse tongue orthotopic transplantation tumor model, and the results showed that the inhibition of PPARγ led to ferroptosis and disulfidptosis, promoted the aggregation of cDCs and CD8+ T cells, and inhibited the progression of OSCC. Overall, our findings reveal that PPARγ plays a key role in regulating cell death in OSCC and that targeting PPARγ may be a potential therapeutic approach for OSCC. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Molecules for Cancer Treatment (2nd Edition))
Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 3294 KiB  
Article
Detection and Analysis of Antidiarrheal Genes and Immune Factors in Various Shanghai Pig Breeds
by Jinyong Zhou, Fuqin Liu, Mengqian He, Jun Gao, Caifeng Wu, Yeqing Gan, Yi Bian, Jinliang Wei, Weijian Zhang, Wengang Zhang, Xuejun Han, Jianjun Dai and Lingwei Sun
Biomolecules 2024, 14(5), 595; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom14050595 - 17 May 2024
Viewed by 1302
Abstract
The aim of this study was to identify effective genetic markers for the Antigen Processing Associated Transporter 1 (TAP1), α (1,2) Fucosyltransferase 1 (FUT1), Natural Resistance Associated Macrophage Protein 1 (NRAMP1), Mucin 4 (MUC4) and [...] Read more.
The aim of this study was to identify effective genetic markers for the Antigen Processing Associated Transporter 1 (TAP1), α (1,2) Fucosyltransferase 1 (FUT1), Natural Resistance Associated Macrophage Protein 1 (NRAMP1), Mucin 4 (MUC4) and Mucin 13 (MUC13) diarrhea-resistance genes in the local pig breeds, namely Shanghai white pigs, Fengjing pigs, Shawutou pigs, Meishan pigs and Pudong white pigs, to provide a reference for the characterization of local pig breed resources in Shanghai. Polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLR) and sequence sequencing were applied to analyze the polymorphisms of the above genes and to explore the effects on the immunity of Shanghai local pig breeds in conjunction with some immunity factors. The results showed that both TAP1 and MUC4 genes had antidiarrheal genotype GG in the five pig breeds, AG and GG genotypes of the FUT1 gene were detected in Pudong white pigs, AA antidiarrheal genes of the NRAMP1 gene were detected in Meishan pigs, the AB type of the NRAMP1 gene was detected in Pudong white pigs, and antidiarrheal genotype GG of the MUC13 gene was only detected in Shanghai white pigs. The MUC13 antidiarrhea genotype GG was only detected in Shanghai white pigs. The TAP1 gene was moderately polymorphic in Shanghai white pigs, Fengjing pigs, Shawutou pigs, Meishan pigs and Pudong white pigs, among which TAP1 in Shanghai white pigs and Shawutou pigs did not satisfy the Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. The FUT1 gene of Pudong white pigs was in a state of low polymorphism. NRAMP1 of Meishan pigs and Pudong white pigs was in a state of moderate polymorphism, which did not satisfy the Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. The MUC4 genes of Shanghai white pigs and Pudong white pigs were in a state of low polymorphism, and the MUC4 genes of Fengjing pigs and Shawutou pigs were in a state of moderate polymorphism, and the MUC4 genes of Fengjing pigs and Pudong white pigs did not satisfy the Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. The MUC13 gene of Shanghai white pigs and Pudong white pigs was in a state of moderate polymorphism. Meishan pigs had higher levels of IL-2, IL-10, IgG and TNF-α, and Pudong white pigs had higher levels of IL-12 than the other pigs. The level of interleukin 12 (IL-12) was significantly higher in the AA genotype of the MUC13 gene of Shanghai white pigs than in the AG genotype. The indicator of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) in the AA genotype of the TAP1 gene of Fengjing pigs was significantly higher than that of the GG and AG genotypes. The indicator of IL-12 in the AG genotype of the Shawutou pig TAP1 gene was significantly higher than that of the GG genotype. The level of TNF-α in the AA genotype of the NRAMP1 gene of Meishan pigs was markedly higher than that of the AB genotype. The IL-2 level of the AG type of the FUT1 gene was obviously higher than that of the GG type of Pudong white pigs, the IL-2 level of the AA type of the MUC4 gene was dramatically higher than that of the AG type, and the IgG level of the GG type of the MUC13 gene was apparently higher than that of the AG type. The results of this study are of great significance in guiding the antidiarrhea breeding and molecular selection of Shanghai white pigs, Fengjing pigs, Shawutou pigs, Meishan pigs and Pudong white pigs and laying the foundation for future antidiarrhea breeding of various local pig breeds in Shanghai. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Molecular Genetics)
Show Figures

Figure 1

23 pages, 6190 KiB  
Review
The Functional Significance of High Cysteine Content in Eye Lens γ-Crystallins
by Eugene Serebryany, Rachel W. Martin and Gemma R. Takahashi
Biomolecules 2024, 14(5), 594; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom14050594 - 17 May 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2227
Abstract
Cataract disease is strongly associated with progressively accumulating oxidative damage to the extremely long-lived crystallin proteins of the lens. Cysteine oxidation affects crystallin folding, interactions, and light-scattering aggregation especially strongly due to the formation of disulfide bridges. Minimizing crystallin aggregation is crucial for [...] Read more.
Cataract disease is strongly associated with progressively accumulating oxidative damage to the extremely long-lived crystallin proteins of the lens. Cysteine oxidation affects crystallin folding, interactions, and light-scattering aggregation especially strongly due to the formation of disulfide bridges. Minimizing crystallin aggregation is crucial for lifelong lens transparency, so one might expect the ubiquitous lens crystallin superfamilies (α and βγ) to contain little cysteine. Yet, the Cys content of γ-crystallins is well above the average for human proteins. We review literature relevant to this longstanding puzzle and take advantage of expanding genomic databases and improved machine learning tools for protein structure prediction to investigate it further. We observe remarkably low Cys conservation in the βγ-crystallin superfamily; however, in γ-crystallin, the spatial positioning of Cys residues is clearly fine-tuned by evolution. We propose that the requirements of long-term lens transparency and high lens optical power impose competing evolutionary pressures on lens βγ-crystallins, leading to distinct adaptations: high Cys content in γ-crystallins but low in βB-crystallins. Aquatic species need more powerful lenses than terrestrial ones, which explains the high methionine content of many fish γ- (and even β-) crystallins. Finally, we discuss synergies between sulfur-containing and aromatic residues in crystallins and suggest future experimental directions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physiological and Pathological Functions of Crystallins)
Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 6331 KiB  
Article
Reelin Regulates Developmental Desynchronization Transition of Neocortical Network Activity
by Mohammad I. K. Hamad, Obada Rabaya, Abdalrahim Jbara, Solieman Daoud, Petya Petrova, Bassam R. Ali, Mohammed Z. Allouh, Joachim Herz and Eckart Förster
Biomolecules 2024, 14(5), 593; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom14050593 - 17 May 2024
Viewed by 1494
Abstract
During the first and second stages of postnatal development, neocortical neurons exhibit a wide range of spontaneous synchronous activity (SSA). Towards the end of the second postnatal week, the SSA is replaced by a more sparse and desynchronized firing pattern. The developmental desynchronization [...] Read more.
During the first and second stages of postnatal development, neocortical neurons exhibit a wide range of spontaneous synchronous activity (SSA). Towards the end of the second postnatal week, the SSA is replaced by a more sparse and desynchronized firing pattern. The developmental desynchronization of neocortical spontaneous neuronal activity is thought to be intrinsically generated, since sensory deprivation from the periphery does not affect the time course of this transition. The extracellular protein reelin controls various aspects of neuronal development through multimodular signaling. However, so far it is unclear whether reelin contributes to the developmental desynchronization transition of neocortical neurons. The present study aims to investigate the role of reelin in postnatal cortical developmental desynchronization using a conditional reelin knockout (RelncKO) mouse model. Conditional reelin deficiency was induced during early postnatal development, and Ca2+ recordings were conducted from organotypic cultures (OTCs) of the somatosensory cortex. Our results show that both wild type (wt) and RelncKO exhibited an SSA pattern during the early postnatal week. However, at the end of the second postnatal week, wt OTCs underwent a transition to a desynchronized network activity pattern, while RelncKO activity remained synchronous. This changing activity pattern suggests that reelin is involved in regulating the developmental desynchronization of cortical neuronal network activity. Moreover, the developmental desynchronization impairment observed in RelncKO was rescued when RelncKO OTCs were co-cultured with wt OTCs. Finally, we show that the developmental transition to a desynchronized state at the end of the second postnatal week is not dependent on glutamatergic signaling. Instead, the transition is dependent on GABAAR and GABABR signaling. The results suggest that reelin controls developmental desynchronization through GABAAR and GABABR signaling. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Biological Factors)
Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 23477 KiB  
Article
Dapagliflozin Improves Angiogenesis after Hindlimb Ischemia through the PI3K-Akt-eNOS Pathway
by Li Han, Guoxin Ye, Wenjing Su, Yuankang Zhu, Wenqi Wu, Liangshi Hao, Jing Gao, Zhen Li, Fang Liu and Junli Duan
Biomolecules 2024, 14(5), 592; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom14050592 - 16 May 2024
Viewed by 1846
Abstract
Recently, the vascular protective effect of anti-diabetic agents has been receiving much attention. Sodium glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors had demonstrated reductions in cardiovascular (CV) events. However, the therapeutic effect of dapagliflozin on angiogenesis in peripheral arterial disease was unclear. This study aimed [...] Read more.
Recently, the vascular protective effect of anti-diabetic agents has been receiving much attention. Sodium glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors had demonstrated reductions in cardiovascular (CV) events. However, the therapeutic effect of dapagliflozin on angiogenesis in peripheral arterial disease was unclear. This study aimed to explore the effect and mechanism of dapagliflozin on angiogenesis after hindlimb ischemia. We first evaluated the effect of dapagliflozin on post-ischemic angiogenesis in the hindlimbs of rats. Laser doppler imaging was used to detect the hindlimb blood perfusion. In addition, we used immunohistochemistry to detect the density of new capillaries after ischemia. The relevant signaling pathways of dapagliflozin affecting post-ischemic angiogenesis were screened through phosphoproteomic detection, and then the mechanism of dapagliflozin affecting post-ischemic angiogenesis was verified at the level of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). After subjection to excision of the left femoral artery, all rats were randomly distributed into two groups: the dapagliflozin group (left femoral artery resection, receiving intragastric feeding with dapagliflozin (1 mg/kg/d), for 21 consecutive days) and the model group, that is, the positive control group (left femoral artery resection, receiving intragastric feeding with citric acid–sodium citrate buffer solution (1 mg/kg/d), for 21 consecutive days). In addition, the control group, that is the negative control group (without left femoral artery resection, receiving intragastric feeding with citric acid–sodium citrate buffer solution (1 mg/kg/d), for 21 consecutive days) was added. At day 21 post-surgery, the dapagliflozin-treatment group had the greatest blood perfusion, accompanied by elevated capillary density. The results showed that dapagliflozin could promote angiogenesis after hindlimb ischemia. Then, the ischemic hindlimb adductor-muscle tissue samples from three rats of model group and dapagliflozin group were taken for phosphoproteomic testing. The results showed that the PI3K-Akt-eNOS signaling pathway was closely related to the effect of dapagliflozin on post-ischemic angiogenesis. Our study intended to verify this mechanism from the perspective of endothelial cells. In vitro, dapagliflozin enhanced the tube formation, migration, and proliferation of HUVECs under ischemic and hypoxic conditions. Additionally, the dapagliflozin administration upregulated the expression of angiogenic factors phosphorylated Akt (p-Akt) and phosphorylated endothelial nitric oxide synthase (p-eNOS), as well as vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA), both in vivo and in vitro. These benefits could be blocked by either phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) or eNOS inhibitor. dapagliflozin could promote angiogenesis after ischemia. This effect might be achieved by promoting the activation of the PI3K-Akt-eNOS signaling pathway. This study provided a new perspective, new ideas, and a theoretical basis for the treatment of peripheral arterial disease. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 5060 KiB  
Article
Fusion with ARRDC1 or CD63: A Strategy to Enhance p53 Loading into Extracellular Vesicles for Tumor Suppression
by Min Liu, Yu Zhang, Jianfeng He, Wanxi Liu, Zhexuan Li, Yiti Zhang, Ao Gu, Mingri Zhao, Mujun Liu and Xionghao Liu
Biomolecules 2024, 14(5), 591; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom14050591 - 16 May 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1734
Abstract
Small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) have emerged as promising therapeutic agents and drug delivery vehicles. Targeted modification of sEVs and their contents using genetic modification strategies is one of the most popular methods. This study investigated the effects of p53 fusion with arrestin domain-containing [...] Read more.
Small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) have emerged as promising therapeutic agents and drug delivery vehicles. Targeted modification of sEVs and their contents using genetic modification strategies is one of the most popular methods. This study investigated the effects of p53 fusion with arrestin domain-containing protein 1 (ARRDC1) and CD63 on the generation of sEVs, p53 loading efficiency, and therapeutic efficacy. Overexpression of either ARRDC1–p53 (ARP) or CD63–p53 (CDP) significantly elevated p53 mRNA and protein levels. The incorporation of ARRDC1 and CD63 significantly enhanced HEK293T-sEV biogenesis, evidenced by significant increases in sEV-associated proteins TSG101 and LAMP1, resulting in a boost in sEV production. Importantly, fusion with ARRDC1 or CD63 substantially increased the efficiency of loading both p53 fusion proteins and its mRNA into sEVs. sEVs equipped with ARP or CDP significantly enhanced the enrichment of p53 fusion proteins and mRNA in p53-null H1299 cells, resulting in a marked increase in apoptosis and a reduction in cell proliferation, with ARP-sEVs demonstrating greater effectiveness than CDP-sEVs. These findings underscore the enhanced functionality of ARRDC1- and CD63-modified sEVs, emphasizing the potential of genetic modifications in sEV-based therapies for targeted cancer treatment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Topic Extracellular Vesicles in Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment)
Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 1417 KiB  
Article
MedicalCLIP: Anomaly-Detection Domain Generalization with Asymmetric Constraints
by Liujie Hua, Yueyi Luo, Qianqian Qi and Jun Long
Biomolecules 2024, 14(5), 590; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom14050590 - 16 May 2024
Viewed by 1369
Abstract
Medical data have unique specificity and professionalism, requiring substantial domain expertise for their annotation. Precise data annotation is essential for anomaly-detection tasks, making the training process complex. Domain generalization (DG) is an important approach to enhancing medical image anomaly detection (AD). This paper [...] Read more.
Medical data have unique specificity and professionalism, requiring substantial domain expertise for their annotation. Precise data annotation is essential for anomaly-detection tasks, making the training process complex. Domain generalization (DG) is an important approach to enhancing medical image anomaly detection (AD). This paper introduces a novel multimodal anomaly-detection framework called MedicalCLIP. MedicalCLIP utilizes multimodal data in anomaly-detection tasks and establishes irregular constraints within modalities for images and text. The key to MedicalCLIP lies in learning intramodal detailed representations, which are combined with text semantic-guided cross-modal contrastive learning, allowing the model to focus on semantic information while capturing more detailed information, thus achieving more fine-grained anomaly detection. MedicalCLIP relies on GPT prompts to generate text, reducing the demand for professional descriptions of medical data. Text construction for medical data helps to improve the generalization ability of multimodal models for anomaly-detection tasks. Additionally, during the text–image contrast-enhancement process, the model’s ability to select and extract information from image data is improved. Through hierarchical contrastive loss, fine-grained representations are achieved in the image-representation process. MedicalCLIP has been validated on various medical datasets, showing commendable domain generalization performance in medical-data anomaly detection. Improvements were observed in both anomaly classification and segmentation metrics. In the anomaly classification (AC) task involving brain data, the method demonstrated a 2.81 enhancement in performance over the best existing approach. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 4631 KiB  
Article
Gypenoside XVII Reduces Synaptic Glutamate Release and Protects against Excitotoxic Injury in Rats
by Cheng-Wei Lu, Tzu-Yu Lin, Kuan-Ming Chiu, Ming-Yi Lee and Su-Jane Wang
Biomolecules 2024, 14(5), 589; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom14050589 - 16 May 2024
Viewed by 1142
Abstract
Excitotoxicity is a common pathological process in neurological diseases caused by excess glutamate. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of gypenoside XVII (GP-17), a gypenoside monomer, on the glutamatergic system. In vitro, in rat cortical nerve terminals (synaptosomes), GP-17 [...] Read more.
Excitotoxicity is a common pathological process in neurological diseases caused by excess glutamate. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of gypenoside XVII (GP-17), a gypenoside monomer, on the glutamatergic system. In vitro, in rat cortical nerve terminals (synaptosomes), GP-17 dose-dependently decreased glutamate release with an IC50 value of 16 μM. The removal of extracellular Ca2+ or blockade of N-and P/Q-type Ca2+ channels and protein kinase A (PKA) abolished the inhibitory effect of GP-17 on glutamate release from cortical synaptosomes. GP-17 also significantly reduced the phosphorylation of PKA, SNAP-25, and synapsin I in cortical synaptosomes. In an in vivo rat model of glutamate excitotoxicity induced by kainic acid (KA), GP-17 pretreatment significantly prevented seizures and rescued neuronal cell injury and glutamate elevation in the cortex. GP-17 pretreatment decreased the expression levels of sodium-coupled neutral amino acid transporter 1, glutamate synthesis enzyme glutaminase and vesicular glutamate transporter 1 but increased the expression level of glutamate metabolism enzyme glutamate dehydrogenase in the cortex of KA-treated rats. In addition, the KA-induced alterations in the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor subunits GluN2A and GluN2B in the cortex were prevented by GP-17 pretreatment. GP-17 also prevented the KA-induced decrease in cerebral blood flow and arginase II expression. These results suggest that (i) GP-17, through the suppression of N- and P/Q-type Ca2+ channels and consequent PKA-mediated SNAP-25 and synapsin I phosphorylation, reduces glutamate exocytosis from cortical synaptosomes; and (ii) GP-17 has a neuroprotective effect on KA-induced glutamate excitotoxicity in rats through regulating synaptic glutamate release and cerebral blood flow. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Natural and Bio-derived Molecules)
Show Figures

Figure 1

11 pages, 1959 KiB  
Article
Cholesterol Oxime Olesoxime Assessed as a Potential Ligand of Human Cholinesterases
by Dora Kolić, Goran Šinko, Ludovic Jean, Mourad Chioua, José Dias, José Marco-Contelles and Zrinka Kovarik
Biomolecules 2024, 14(5), 588; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom14050588 - 15 May 2024
Viewed by 1111
Abstract
Olesoxime, a cholesterol derivative with an oxime group, possesses the ability to cross the blood–brain barrier, and has demonstrated excellent safety and tolerability properties in clinical research. These characteristics indicate it may serve as a centrally active ligand of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase [...] Read more.
Olesoxime, a cholesterol derivative with an oxime group, possesses the ability to cross the blood–brain barrier, and has demonstrated excellent safety and tolerability properties in clinical research. These characteristics indicate it may serve as a centrally active ligand of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), whose disruption of activity with organophosphate compounds (OP) leads to uncontrolled excitation and potentially life-threatening symptoms. To evaluate olesoxime as a binding ligand and reactivator of human AChE and BChE, we conducted in vitro kinetic studies with the active metabolite of insecticide parathion, paraoxon, and the warfare nerve agents sarin, cyclosarin, tabun, and VX. Our results showed that both enzymes possessed a binding affinity for olesoxime in the mid-micromolar range, higher than the antidotes in use (i.e., 2-PAM, HI-6, etc.). While olesoxime showed a weak ability to reactivate AChE, cyclosarin-inhibited BChE was reactivated with an overall reactivation rate constant comparable to that of standard oxime HI-6. Moreover, in combination with the oxime 2-PAM, the reactivation maximum increased by 10–30% for cyclosarin- and sarin-inhibited BChE. Molecular modeling revealed productive interactions between olesoxime and BChE, highlighting olesoxime as a potentially BChE-targeted therapy. Moreover, it might be added to OP poisoning treatment to increase the efficacy of BChE reactivation, and its cholesterol scaffold could provide a basis for the development of novel oxime antidotes. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

10 pages, 1246 KiB  
Article
A Practical Guide for the Quality Evaluation of Fluobodies/Chromobodies
by Urša Štrancar, Claudia D’Ercole, Lucia Cikatricisová, Mirna Nakić, Matteo De March and Ario de Marco
Biomolecules 2024, 14(5), 587; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom14050587 - 15 May 2024
Viewed by 1216
Abstract
Background: Fluorescent proteins (FPs) are pivotal reagents for flow cytometry analysis or fluorescent microscopy. A new generation of immunoreagents (fluobodies/chromobodies) has been developed by fusing recombinant nanobodies to FPs. Methods: We analyzed the quality of such biomolecules by a combination of gel filtration [...] Read more.
Background: Fluorescent proteins (FPs) are pivotal reagents for flow cytometry analysis or fluorescent microscopy. A new generation of immunoreagents (fluobodies/chromobodies) has been developed by fusing recombinant nanobodies to FPs. Methods: We analyzed the quality of such biomolecules by a combination of gel filtration and SDS-PAGE to identify artefacts due to aggregation or material degradation. Results: In the SDS-PAGE run, unexpected bands corresponding to separate fluobodies were evidenced and characterized as either degradation products or artefacts that systematically resulted in the presence of specific FPs and some experimental conditions. The elimination of N-terminal methionine from FPs did not impair the appearance of FP fragments, whereas the stability and migration characteristics of some FP constructs were strongly affected by heating in loading buffer, which is a step samples undergo before electrophoretic separation. Conclusions: In this work, we provide explanations for some odd results observed during the quality control of fluobodies and summarize practical suggestions for the choice of the most convenient FPs to fuse to antibody fragments. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 4253 KiB  
Article
SKGQA, a Peptide Derived from the ANA/BTG3 Protein, Cleaves Amyloid-β with Proteolytic Activity
by Yusuke Hatakawa, Rina Nakamura, Toshifumi Akizawa, Motomi Konishi, Akira Matsuda, Tomoyuki Oe, Motoaki Saito and Fumiaki Ito
Biomolecules 2024, 14(5), 586; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom14050586 - 15 May 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1142
Abstract
Despite the extensive research conducted on Alzheimer’s disease (AD) over the years, no effective drug for AD treatment has been found. Therefore, the development of new drugs for the treatment of AD is of the utmost importance. We recently reported the proteolytic activities [...] Read more.
Despite the extensive research conducted on Alzheimer’s disease (AD) over the years, no effective drug for AD treatment has been found. Therefore, the development of new drugs for the treatment of AD is of the utmost importance. We recently reported the proteolytic activities of JAL-TA9 (YKGSGFRMI) and ANA-TA9 (SKGQAYRMA), synthetic peptides of nine amino acids each, derived from the Box A region of Tob1 and ANA/BTG3 proteins, respectively. Furthermore, two components of ANA-TA9, ANA-YA4 (YRMI) at the C-terminus end and ANA-SA5 (SKGQA) at the N-terminus end of ANA-TA9, exhibited proteolytic activity against amyloid-β (Aβ) fragment peptides. In this study, we identified the active center of ANA-SA5 using AEBSF, a serine protease inhibitor, and a peptide in which the Ser residue of ANA-SA5 was replaced with Leu. In addition, we demonstrate the proteolytic activity of ANA-SA5 against the soluble form Aβ42 (a-Aβ42) and solid insoluble form s-Aβ42. Furthermore, ANA-SA5 was not cytotoxic to A549 cells. These results indicate that ANA-SA5 is a promising Catalytide and a potential candidate for the development of new peptide drugs targeting Aβ42 for AD treatment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Amyloid-Beta and Alzheimer’s Disease)
Show Figures

Figure 1

24 pages, 2029 KiB  
Review
Oncogenic Pathways and Targeted Therapies in Ovarian Cancer
by Carolina Lliberos, Gary Richardson and Antonella Papa
Biomolecules 2024, 14(5), 585; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom14050585 - 15 May 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2488
Abstract
Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is one of the most aggressive forms of gynaecological malignancies. Survival rates for women diagnosed with OC remain poor as most patients are diagnosed with advanced disease. Debulking surgery and platinum-based therapies are the current mainstay for OC treatment. [...] Read more.
Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is one of the most aggressive forms of gynaecological malignancies. Survival rates for women diagnosed with OC remain poor as most patients are diagnosed with advanced disease. Debulking surgery and platinum-based therapies are the current mainstay for OC treatment. However, and despite achieving initial remission, a significant portion of patients will relapse because of innate and acquired resistance, at which point the disease is considered incurable. In view of this, novel detection strategies and therapeutic approaches are needed to improve outcomes and survival of OC patients. In this review, we summarize our current knowledge of the genetic landscape and molecular pathways underpinning OC and its many subtypes. By examining therapeutic strategies explored in preclinical and clinical settings, we highlight the importance of decoding how single and convergent genetic alterations co-exist and drive OC progression and resistance to current treatments. We also propose that core signalling pathways such as the PI3K and MAPK pathways play critical roles in the origin of diverse OC subtypes and can become new targets in combination with known DNA damage repair pathways for the development of tailored and more effective anti-cancer treatments. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 1112 KiB  
Review
Glyoxalase System in Breast and Ovarian Cancers: Role of MEK/ERK/SMAD1 Pathway
by Muhanad Alhujaily
Biomolecules 2024, 14(5), 584; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom14050584 - 15 May 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1633
Abstract
The glyoxalase system, comprising GLO1 and GLO2 enzymes, is integral in detoxifying methylglyoxal (MGO) generated during glycolysis, with dysregulation implicated in various cancer types. The MEK/ERK/SMAD1 signaling pathway, crucial in cellular processes, influences tumorigenesis, metastasis, and angiogenesis. Altered GLO1 expression in cancer showcases [...] Read more.
The glyoxalase system, comprising GLO1 and GLO2 enzymes, is integral in detoxifying methylglyoxal (MGO) generated during glycolysis, with dysregulation implicated in various cancer types. The MEK/ERK/SMAD1 signaling pathway, crucial in cellular processes, influences tumorigenesis, metastasis, and angiogenesis. Altered GLO1 expression in cancer showcases its complex role in cellular adaptation and cancer aggressiveness. GLO2 exhibits context-dependent functions, contributing to both proapoptotic and antiapoptotic effects in different cancer scenarios. Research highlights the interconnected nature of these systems, particularly in ovarian cancer and breast cancer. The glyoxalase system’s involvement in drug resistance and its impact on the MEK/ERK/SMAD1 signaling cascade underscore their clinical significance. Furthermore, this review delves into the urgent need for effective biomarkers, exemplified in ovarian cancer, where the RAGE-ligand pathway emerges as a potential diagnostic tool. While therapeutic strategies targeting these pathways hold promise, this review emphasizes the challenges posed by context-dependent effects and intricate crosstalk within the cellular milieu. Insights into the molecular intricacies of these pathways offer a foundation for developing innovative therapeutic approaches, providing hope for enhanced cancer diagnostics and tailored treatment strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Biological Factors)
Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 3334 KiB  
Article
Nerve Bundle Density and Expression of NGF and IL-1β Are Intra-Individually Heterogenous in Subtypes of Endometriosis
by Mahfuza Sreya, Dwayne R. Tucker, Jennifer Yi, Fahad T. Alotaibi, Anna F. Lee, Heather Noga and Paul J. Yong
Biomolecules 2024, 14(5), 583; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom14050583 - 15 May 2024
Viewed by 1216
Abstract
Endometriosis is a gynecological disorder associated with local inflammation and neuroproliferation. Increased nerve bundle density has been attributed to increased expression of nerve growth factor (NGF) and interleukin–1β (IL-1β). Immunohistochemical analysis was carried out on 12 patients presenting with all three anatomic subtypes [...] Read more.
Endometriosis is a gynecological disorder associated with local inflammation and neuroproliferation. Increased nerve bundle density has been attributed to increased expression of nerve growth factor (NGF) and interleukin–1β (IL-1β). Immunohistochemical analysis was carried out on 12 patients presenting with all three anatomic subtypes of endometriosis (deep, superficial peritoneal, endometrioma) at surgery, with at least two surgically excised subtypes available for analysis. Immunolocalization for nerve bundle density around endometriosis using protein gene product 9.5 (PGP9.5), as well as NGF and IL-1β histoscores in endometriosis epithelium/stroma, was performed to evaluate differences in scores between lesions and anatomic subtypes per patient. Intra-individual heterogeneity in scores across lesions was assessed using the coefficient of variation (CV). The degree of score variability between subtypes was evaluated using the percentage difference between mean scores from one subtype to another subtype for each marker. PGP9.5 nerve bundle density was heterogenous across multiple subtypes of endometriosis, ranging from 50.0% to 173.2%, where most patients (8/12) showed CV ≥ 100%. The percentage difference in scores showed that PGP9.5 nerve bundle density and NGF and IL-1β expression were heterogenous between anatomic subtypes within the same patient. Based on these observations of intra-individual heterogeneity, we conclude that markers of neuroproliferation in endometriosis should be stratified by anatomic subtype in future studies of clinical correlation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular and Cell Biology in Endometriosis and Endometrial Cancer)
Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 2016 KiB  
Communication
Comparative Analysis of Posiphen Pharmacokinetics across Different Species—Similar Absorption and Metabolism in Mouse, Rat, Dog and Human
by Maria L. Maccecchini and Diane R. Mould
Biomolecules 2024, 14(5), 582; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom14050582 - 15 May 2024
Viewed by 2309
Abstract
Posiphen is a small molecule that exhibits neuroprotective properties by targeting multiple neurotoxic proteins involved in axonal transport, synaptic transmission, neuroinflammation, and cell death. Its broad-spectrum effects make it a promising candidate for treating neurodegenerative conditions, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. Despite extensive [...] Read more.
Posiphen is a small molecule that exhibits neuroprotective properties by targeting multiple neurotoxic proteins involved in axonal transport, synaptic transmission, neuroinflammation, and cell death. Its broad-spectrum effects make it a promising candidate for treating neurodegenerative conditions, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. Despite extensive investigation with animal models and human subjects, a comprehensive comparative analysis of Posiphen’s pharmacokinetics across studies remains elusive. Here, we address this gap by examining the metabolic profiles of Posiphen and its breakdown into two primary metabolites—N1 and N8—across species by measuring their concentrations in plasma, brain, and CSF using the LC-MS/MS method. While all three compounds effectively inhibit neurotoxic proteins, the N1 metabolite is associated with adverse effects. Our findings reveal the species-specific behavior of Posiphen, with both Posiphen and N8 being predominant in various species, while N1 remains a minor constituent, supporting the drug’s safety. Moreover, in plasma, Posiphen consistently showed fast clearance of all metabolites within 8 h in animal models and in human subjects, whereas in CSF or brain, the compound has an extended half-life of over 12 h. Combining all our human data and analyzing them by population pharmacokinetics showed that there are no differences between healthy volunteers, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s patients. It also showed that Posiphen is absorbed and metabolized in a similar fashion across all animal species and human groups tested. These observations have critical implications for understanding the drug’s safety, therapeutic effect, and clinical translation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Role of Amyloid Protein in Neurological Diseases)
Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 3111 KiB  
Article
Novel Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme-Inhibitory Peptides Obtained from Trichiurus lepturus: Preparation, Identification and Potential Antihypertensive Mechanism
by Jiaming Cao, Boyuan Xiang, Baojie Dou, Jingfei Hu, Lei Zhang, Xinxin Kang, Mingsheng Lyu and Shujun Wang
Biomolecules 2024, 14(5), 581; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom14050581 - 15 May 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1246
Abstract
Peptides possessing antihypertensive attributes via inhibiting the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) were derived through the enzymatic degradation of Trichiurus lepturus (ribbonfish) using alkaline protease. The resulting mixture underwent filtration using centrifugation, ultrafiltration tubes, and Sephadex G-25 gels. Peptides exhibiting ACE-inhibitory properties and DPPH free-radical-scavenging [...] Read more.
Peptides possessing antihypertensive attributes via inhibiting the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) were derived through the enzymatic degradation of Trichiurus lepturus (ribbonfish) using alkaline protease. The resulting mixture underwent filtration using centrifugation, ultrafiltration tubes, and Sephadex G-25 gels. Peptides exhibiting ACE-inhibitory properties and DPPH free-radical-scavenging abilities were isolated and subsequently purified via LC/MS-MS, leading to the identification of over 100 peptide components. In silico screening yielded five ACE inhibitory peptides: FAGDDAPR, QGPIGPR, IFPRNPP, AGFAGDDAPR, and GPTGPAGPR. Among these, IFPRNPP and AGFAGDDAPR were found to be allergenic, while FAGDDAPRR, QGPIGPR, and GPTGPAGP showed good ACE-inhibitory effects. IC50 values for the latter peptides were obtained from HUVEC cells: FAGDDAPRR (IC50 = 262.98 μM), QGPIGPR (IC50 = 81.09 μM), and GPTGPAGP (IC50 = 168.11 μM). Peptide constituents derived from ribbonfish proteins effectively modulated ACE activity, thus underscoring their therapeutic potential. Molecular docking and modeling corroborated these findings, emphasizing the utility of functional foods as a promising avenue for the treatment and prevention of hypertension, with potential ancillary health benefits and applications as substitutes for synthetic drugs. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 5848 KiB  
Article
Estetrol Inhibits Endometriosis Development in an In Vivo Murine Model
by Ana Sofia Zabala, Rocío Ayelem Conforti, María Belén Delsouc, Verónica Filippa, Maria Magdalena Montt-Guevara, Andrea Giannini, Tommaso Simoncini, Sandra Silvina Vallcaneras and Marilina Casais
Biomolecules 2024, 14(5), 580; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom14050580 - 15 May 2024
Viewed by 1846
Abstract
Endometriosis is characterized by the growth of endometrial-like tissue outside the uterus, and it is associated with alterations in the expression of hormone receptors and inflammation. Estetrol (E4) is a weak estrogen that recently has been approved for contraception. We evaluated [...] Read more.
Endometriosis is characterized by the growth of endometrial-like tissue outside the uterus, and it is associated with alterations in the expression of hormone receptors and inflammation. Estetrol (E4) is a weak estrogen that recently has been approved for contraception. We evaluated the effect of E4 on the growth of endometriotic-like lesions and the expression of TNF-α, estrogen receptors (ERs), and progesterone receptors (PRs) in an in vivo murine model. Endometriosis was induced surgically in female C57BL/6 mice. E4 was delivered via Alzet pump (3 mg/kg/day) from the 15th postoperative day for 4 weeks. E4 significantly reduced the volume (p < 0.001) and weight (p < 0.05) of ectopic lesions. Histologically, E4 did not affect cell proliferation (PCNA immunohistochemistry) but it did increase cell apoptosis (TUNEL assay) (p < 0.05). Furthermore, it modulated oxidative stress (SOD, CAT, and GPX activity, p < 0.05) and increased lipid peroxidation (TBARS/MDA, p < 0.01). Molecular analysis showed mRNA (RT-qPCR) and protein (ELISA) expression of TNF-α decreased (p < 0.05) and mRNA expression of Esr2 reduced (p < 0.05), in contrast with the increased expression of Esr1 (p < 0.01) and Pgr (p < 0.05). The present study demonstrates for the first time that E4 limited the development and progression of endometriosis in vivo. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Endometriosis)
Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 2014 KiB  
Article
BSA Binding and Aggregate Formation of a Synthetic Amino Acid with Potential for Promoting Fibroblast Proliferation: An In Silico, CD Spectroscopic, DLS, and Cellular Study
by Hayarpi Simonyan, Rosanna Palumbo, Satenik Petrosyan, Anna Mkrtchyan, Armen Galstyan, Ashot Saghyan, Pasqualina Liana Scognamiglio, Caterina Vicidomini, Marta Fik-Jaskólka and Giovanni N. Roviello
Biomolecules 2024, 14(5), 579; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom14050579 - 14 May 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1793
Abstract
This study presents the chemical synthesis, purification, and characterization of a novel non-natural synthetic amino acid. The compound was synthesized in solution, purified, and characterized using NMR spectroscopy, polarimetry, and melting point determination. Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) analysis demonstrated its ability to form [...] Read more.
This study presents the chemical synthesis, purification, and characterization of a novel non-natural synthetic amino acid. The compound was synthesized in solution, purified, and characterized using NMR spectroscopy, polarimetry, and melting point determination. Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) analysis demonstrated its ability to form aggregates with an average size of 391 nm, extending to the low micrometric size range. Furthermore, cellular biological assays revealed its ability to enhance fibroblast cell growth, highlighting its potential for tissue regenerative applications. Circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy showed the ability of the synthetic amino acid to bind serum albumins (using bovine serum albumin (BSA) as a model), and CD deconvolution provided insights into the changes in the secondary structures of BSA upon interaction with the amino acid ligand. Additionally, molecular docking using HDOCK software elucidated the most likely binding mode of the ligand inside the BSA structure. We also performed in silico oligomerization of the synthetic compound in order to obtain a model of aggregate to investigate computationally. In more detail, the dimer formation achieved by molecular self-docking showed two distinct poses, corresponding to the lowest and comparable energies, with one pose exhibiting a quasi-coplanar arrangement characterized by a close alignment of two aromatic rings from the synthetic amino acids within the dimer, suggesting the presence of π-π stacking interactions. In contrast, the second pose displayed a non-coplanar configuration, with the aromatic rings oriented in a staggered arrangement, indicating distinct modes of interaction. Both poses were further utilized in the self-docking procedure. Notably, iterative molecular docking of amino acid structures resulted in the formation of higher-order aggregates, with a model of a 512-mer aggregate obtained through self-docking procedures. This model of aggregate presented a cavity capable of hosting therapeutic cargoes and biomolecules, rendering it a potential scaffold for cell adhesion and growth in tissue regenerative applications. Overall, our findings highlight the potential of this synthetic amino acid for tissue regenerative therapeutics and provide valuable insights into its molecular interactions and aggregation behavior. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Protein Structure Prediction in Drug Discovery: 2nd Edition)
Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 1541 KiB  
Article
Effect of Flavonols of Aronia melanocarpa Fruits on Morphofunctional State of Immunocompetent Organs of Rats under Cyclophosphamide-Induced Immunosuppression
by Kseniya Bushmeleva, Alexandra Vyshtakalyuk, Dmitriy Terenzhev, Timur Belov, Evgeniy Nikitin and Vladimir Zobov
Biomolecules 2024, 14(5), 578; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom14050578 - 14 May 2024
Viewed by 1335
Abstract
Aronia melanocarpa berries contain many compounds with potential benefits for human health. The food flavonoids quercetin and rutin, found in significant amounts in the fruits of A. melanocarpa, are known to have favourable effects on animal and human organisms. However, data on [...] Read more.
Aronia melanocarpa berries contain many compounds with potential benefits for human health. The food flavonoids quercetin and rutin, found in significant amounts in the fruits of A. melanocarpa, are known to have favourable effects on animal and human organisms. However, data on the effect of flavonols isolated from black chokeberry on immune functions during immunosuppression are not available in the literature. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of flavonol fraction isolated from A. melanocarpa fruits, in comparison with pure quercetin and rutin substances, on the dysfunctional state of rat thymus and spleen in immunodeficiency. The study was performed on Wistar rats. The animals were orally administered solutions of the investigated substances for 7 days: water, a mixture of quercetin and rutin and flavonol fraction of A. melanocarpa. For induction of immunosuppression, the animals were injected once intraperitoneally with cyclophosphamide. Substance administration was then continued for another 7 days. The results showed that under the influence of flavonols, there was a decrease in cyclophosphamide-mediated reaction of lipid peroxidation enhancement and stimulation of proliferation of lymphocytes of thymus and spleen in rats. At that, the effect of the flavonol fraction of aronia was more pronounced. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

21 pages, 2359 KiB  
Review
NEDD4 and NEDD4L: Ubiquitin Ligases Closely Related to Digestive Diseases
by Jiafan Xu, Wang Jiang, Tian Hu, Yan Long and Yueming Shen
Biomolecules 2024, 14(5), 577; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom14050577 - 13 May 2024
Viewed by 1760
Abstract
Protein ubiquitination is an enzymatic cascade reaction and serves as an important protein post-translational modification (PTM) that is involved in the vast majority of cellular life activities. The key enzyme in the ubiquitination process is E3 ubiquitin ligase (E3), which catalyzes the binding [...] Read more.
Protein ubiquitination is an enzymatic cascade reaction and serves as an important protein post-translational modification (PTM) that is involved in the vast majority of cellular life activities. The key enzyme in the ubiquitination process is E3 ubiquitin ligase (E3), which catalyzes the binding of ubiquitin (Ub) to the protein substrate and influences substrate specificity. In recent years, the relationship between the subfamily of neuron-expressed developmental downregulation 4 (NEDD4), which belongs to the E3 ligase system, and digestive diseases has drawn widespread attention. Numerous studies have shown that NEDD4 and NEDD4L of the NEDD4 family can regulate the digestive function, as well as a series of related physiological and pathological processes, by controlling the subsequent degradation of proteins such as PTEN, c-Myc, and P21, along with substrate ubiquitination. In this article, we reviewed the appropriate functions of NEDD4 and NEDD4L in digestive diseases including cell proliferation, invasion, metastasis, chemotherapeutic drug resistance, and multiple signaling pathways, based on the currently available research evidence for the purpose of providing new ideas for the prevention and treatment of digestive diseases. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 1694 KiB  
Article
Apigenin Provides Structural Protection to Human Fibrinogen against Nitrosative Stress: Biochemical and Molecular Insights
by Aisha Farhana, Abdullah Alsrhani, Yusuf Saleem Khan, Mohammad Salahuddin, Mohammed Ubaidullah Sayeed and Zafar Rasheed
Biomolecules 2024, 14(5), 576; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom14050576 - 13 May 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1147
Abstract
Background: Peroxynitrite (ONOO) is an oxidant linked with several human pathologies. Apigenin, a natural flavonoid known for its health benefits, remains unexplored in relation to ONOO effects. This study investigated the potential of apigenin to structurally protect fibrinogen, an essential [...] Read more.
Background: Peroxynitrite (ONOO) is an oxidant linked with several human pathologies. Apigenin, a natural flavonoid known for its health benefits, remains unexplored in relation to ONOO effects. This study investigated the potential of apigenin to structurally protect fibrinogen, an essential blood clotting factor, from ONOO-induced damage. Methods: Multi-approach analyses were carried out where fibrinogen was exposed to ONOO generation while testing the efficacy of apigenin. The role of apigenin against ONOO-induced modifications in fibrinogen was investigated using UV spectroscopy, tryptophan or tyrosine fluorescence, protein hydrophobicity, carbonylation, and electrophoretic analyses. Results: The findings demonstrate that apigenin significantly inhibits ONOO-induced oxidative damage in fibrinogen. ONOO caused reduced UV absorption, which was reversed by apigenin treatment. Moreover, ONOO diminished tryptophan and tyrosine fluorescence, which was effectively restored by apigenin treatment. Apigenin also reduced the hydrophobicity of ONOO-damaged fibrinogen. Moreover, apigenin exhibited protective effects against ONOO-induced protein carbonylation. SDS-PAGE analyses revealed that ONOOtreatment eliminated bands corresponding to fibrinogen polypeptide chains Aα and γ, while apigenin preserved these changes. Conclusions: This study highlights, for the first time, the role of apigenin in structural protection of human fibrinogen against peroxynitrite-induced nitrosative damage. Our data indicate that apigenin offers structural protection to all three polypeptide chains (Aα, Bβ, and γ) of human fibrinogen. Specifically, apigenin prevents the dislocation or breakdown of the amino acids tryptophan, tyrosine, lysine, arginine, proline, and threonine and also prevents the exposure of hydrophobic sites in fibrinogen induced by ONOO. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Previous Issue
Next Issue
Back to TopTop