Biomolecules, Volume 15, Issue 11

G-quadruplexes (G4s) are non-canonical nucleic acid structures that function as key regulatory elements in crucial cellular processes. Their biological functions are intrinsically linked to thermostability, which is governed by specific sequence feat...

Background: Piper nigrum L. (PNL) is a rich source of piperine, a bioactive alkaloid with pharmaceutical, cosmetic, nutritional supplement, and agricultural applications, yet efficient and sustainable extraction methods remain underexplored. Methods:...

Arsenic, a ubiquitous metalloid, is commonly found in surface waters; as well as serious human health issues, it also induces systemic diseases and carcinogenesis upon chronic exposure. To better understand how arsenic potentially alters the immune s...

Protein engineering is a rapidly evolving field that plays a critical role in transforming drug discovery and development. This innovative field harnesses the unique structural and functional properties of engineered proteins, such as monoclonal anti...

Microglia are the resident immune cells of the CNS, maintaining brain homeostasis partially through phagocytosis. In Alzheimer’s disease (AD), microglial phagocytosis is significantly impaired, contributing to the accumulation of pathological a...

Cellular senescence is an intricate process that severely restricts stem cell function. The N6-methyladenosine (m⁶A) eraser, fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) protein control several aspects of stem cell fate, including differentiation, self-rene...

This study investigates the structural dynamics of the TRAF2 C-terminal domain (TRAF2-C), a key adaptor protein in TNF receptor signaling. TRAF2 usually forms trimers, but its ability to dissociate into monomers is critical for regulating apoptosis,...

Bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) are multipotent progenitors with significant potential for bone tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. This study compared the mitochondrial imaging and transcriptome of BMSCs under two-dimensional (2D) and...

Small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs) and their host genes (SNHGs) are non-coding RNAs that are integral to tumorigenesis and progression. snoRNAs contribute to tumor progression primarily through RNA modification and engagement in intracellular signaling,...

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) represents a genetically heterogeneous group of inherited retinal dystrophies characterized by progressive photoreceptor degeneration and irreversible vision loss. Among the diverse pathogenic mechanisms, dysregulation of al...

Background: Although glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists and sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors have gained attention for their broad therapeutic effects, their influence on hematologic malignancy remains underexplo...

Sepsis is a major medical emergency, characterized by a dysfunctional immune response to infection, which often progresses to multiple organ failure and death. Early diagnosis and prognostic evaluation present significant challenges due to limitation...

Agmatine is a biogenic amine that functions as a neurotransmitter and exhibits anticonvulsant, antineurotoxic, and antidepressant properties. It can be metabolized into putrescine and urea by canonical agmatinases or by the agmatinase-like protein (A...

Reaction mechanisms and rate constants of the acylation reaction of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS3/NS4A serine protease with the NS4B/5A natural substrate were studied using SCC-DFTB/MM (self-consistent charge density functional tight binding/molecu...

Pentadecanoic acid (C15:0) is an odd-chain fatty acid (OCFA) with significant health benefits, mainly produced by microbial fermentation. To improve C15:0 production, this study compared the effects of different alcohols on C15:0 production in Yarrow...

The excessive use of conventional antibiotics in aquaculture has created significant challenges, making it essential to explore and develop effective alternatives. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have gained attention as potential therapeutic agents ow...

The activity of serpins uses a specific mechanism or process. This process comprises several steps and is related to significant structural changes that involve significant displacement of chain fragments and whole molecules of protease. An important...

The interaction between human salivary alpha-amylase (HSAmy) and amylase-binding oral streptococci (ABS) helps determine the bacteria that colonize the oral cavity by establishing dental biofilms. Streptococci are important pioneer species of the ora...

Sepsis is characterized by the over-production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) is a well-accepted model for recreating sepsis-induced renal injury in mice. The current study investigates how citronellol, a naturally o...

Skin wound healing is a highly regulated biological process that requires the coordinated activity of multiple cell types. However, this process can be significantly impaired by factors such as metabolic diseases and infections, posing ongoing challe...

CDKL5 deficiency disorder (CDD) is a rare developmental epileptic encephalopathy (DEE) caused by mutations in cyclin-dependent kinase-like 5 (CDKL5). The clinical manifestations include early and severe epilepsy, intellectual disability, motor abnorm...

Melanoma is the most aggressive and deadliest form of skin cancer, and the current treatments of melanoma have many limitations, which necessitate discovering new compounds and targets for melanoma. Two probes, 2155-14 and 2155-18, were identified to...

Excitation–contraction (EC) coupling in skeletal muscle requires a physical interaction between the voltage-gated calcium channel, dihydropyridine receptor (DHPR), and the ryanodine receptor (RyR1) Ca²⁺ release channel. Although the exact mode...

Although traditionally sidelined by live probiotic effects, Lactobacilli-derived Microbe-Associated Molecular Patterns (MAMPs) are emerging as potent modulators of innate and adaptive immune responses, capable of acting independently of bacterial via...

Covered stents have made a significant contribution to managing coronary artery perforation (CAP). Biocompatibility and toughness are critical properties for the covering membrane of covered stents. The mismatch between covered stents and patient cor...

The small GTPase RhoA and its downstream effector Rho-kinase (ROCK) have emerged as pivotal regulators of vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) contraction, endothelial function, and vascular remodeling. Activation of the RhoA/ROCK pathway enhances calc...

Quinone/hydroquinone couples play a crucial role in a variety of biochemical processes and chemical syntheses. Extending from our previous work, a practical dataset including the thermodynamic driving forces of 12 chemical processes for 118 quinone/h...

This study, for the first time, evaluated the therapeutic potential of resveratrol-loaded phytosome nanoparticles (RES-PNPs) against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) and associated testicular dysfunction, compared with free resveratrol (RES). Ninety m...

Sepsis is a clinical syndrome caused by abnormal host response to infection. Thrombocytopenia and platelet dysfunction are common findings in sepsis and associated with worse outcomes. The innate immune single-stranded RNA sensor, Toll-like Receptor-...

While persistent firing in glutamatergic neurons has been well-characterized, the intrinsic and synaptic mechanisms driving this phenomenon in neurogliaform cells (NGFCs), a subtype of GABAergic interneurons, remain unclear. This study investigates t...

The occurrence of amyloid-related imaging abnormalities (ARIAs), found in clinical trials for Aβ-immunotherapy, has been related to the antibody’s effector function on glial activation by the Fc portion of the antibody. The use of single-c...

Chronic pain conditions are debilitating and have an enormous impact on quality of life, yet underlying biological mechanisms remain poorly understood, hindering the development of diagnostic tools and effective treatments. Emerging evidence suggests...

(1) Background: this study aimed to determine whether a serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) threshold of 40 pg/mL represents a clinically relevant risk factor for vitamin D (VitD) deficiency and reduced bone mineral density (BMD). It also investigated po...

Ryanodine receptor 1-related myopathies (RYR1-RM) are caused by RYR1 gene variants and comprise a wide spectrum of histopathological manifestations. Here, we focus on patients carrying RYR1 variants and muscle histopathology consistent with central c...

Obesity-related kidney pathology (ORKP) is a major global issue that contributes to diabetic nephropathy and kidney cancer and leads to chronic/end-stage kidney disease. Current treatments for ORKP are limited because of the incomplete understanding...

Heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) are essential constituents of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and cell surface, orchestrating a wide range of biological processes, such as cell adhesion, migration, proliferation, and intercellular communication....

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is increasing in both prevalence and severity, highlighting the need for non-invasive biomarkers to assess disease activity. Extracellular vesicles (EVs), which carry molecular cargo fr...

Background: Cisplatin (CP) use is associated with testicular toxicity. Cuproptosis-related genes are associated with dysfunctional spermatogenesis. Additionally, the HMGB1/NF-κB axis has been involved in cuproptosis-mediated inflammation. The a...

Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) is a major pathogen responsible for significant economic losses in the global cattle industry. The diverse transmission routes and the characteristics of asymptomatic infections make it difficult to contain the spre...

Polymyxin antibiotics are often the last line of defense against multidrug-resistant Gram-negative pathogens. A key resistance mechanism involves the addition of 4-amino-4-deoxy-L-arabinose (L-Ara4N) to lipid A, mediated by the bifunctional enzyme Ar...

Kisspeptin is a neuropeptide recognised for a pivotal role within the reproductive system, but potentially important endocrine metabolic effects are less well understood. We examined effects of twice-daily intraperitoneal administration of saline veh...

The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is essential for maintaining retinal integrity, and its dysfunction underlies several progressive ocular diseases, including age-related macular degeneration, choroidal neovascularization (CNV), inherited retinal...

Physical exercise triggers the release of short-lived exerkines, such as interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin-10 (IL-10), which may help reduce systemic inflammation and mitigate the risk of chronic disease...

Salmonella Typhimurium, a significant intracellular foodborne pathogen, regulates host cell autophagy to achieve its own survival by injecting effector proteins into host cells via its type III secretion system (T3SS). Berberine hydrochloride (B...

Quiescence is a pivotal state for all living organisms and cells. However, recent research indicates a lack of uniformity among quiescent cells. That is, even if the primary feature of quiescence—the ability to restart divisions—is mainta...

Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 (HER2) is a key therapeutic target in breast cancer. However, the application of existing anti-HER2 antibody drugs is limited by such issues as large molecular weight and poor stability. In this study, a serie...

Type I interferons (IFN-I) are pivotal effectors of innate immunity and constitute a central axis of host defense against pathogens. Sensing of exogenous or endogenous nucleic acids by pattern-recognition receptors—exemplified by Toll-like rece...

Background: Hypoxia-induced oxidative stress compromises the survival and function of transplanted islets, contributing to high rates of islet transplantation failure. Methods: This study investigated the small-molecule mitochondrial fusion agonist S...

Cryptorchidism, characterized by undescended testes, is associated with infertility and increased cancer risk through complex, multifactorial pathophysiological mechanisms involving interconnected alterations in testicular microenvironment, including...

Lancehead pitvipers, Bothrops snakes, or, popularly, “jararacas”, are common and broadly distributed in the Americas, especially in Brazil, where they are responsible for causing a high number of snakebite accidents. Their venoms are able...