Search Results (9,522)

Background: Su(var)3-9 SET genes encode key histone methyltransferases that catalyze H3K9 methylation, a modification generally associated with heterochromatin formation and transcriptional repression. Methods: We identified 23 GmSu(var)3-9 SETs and systematically characterized their tissue-specific epigenetic modifications as well as their phylogenetic relationships, chromosomal distributions, conserved domains, gene structures, GO annotations, collinearity, cis-regulatory elements, and expression profiles across diverse tissues and under salt stress. Results: These genes were divided into seven groups, exhibiting diverse structures and uneven distribution on chromosomes. Gene structure and conserved motif analyses revealed high structural diversity among family members, with variations in intron–exon distribution, conserved motifs, and functional domains. Promoter analysis detected multiple cis elements responsive to light, hormones, and abiotic stresses. Most genes showed preferential expression in meristems, roots, and leaves, and responded to salt stress. Co-expression network analysis revealed that these genes were co-expressed with stress- and development-related genes. GmSUVH12 histone modifications exhibited obvious tissue specificity. Conclusions: Overall, these results provided insights into the evolutionary and functional roles of GmSu(var)3-9 SETs in soybean. Full article

(-)-Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) possesses potent bioactivities but its applications in functional cosmetics is severely limited by its poor water solubility and chemical instability. To overcome these challenges, this study engineered a recombinant levansucrase from Vibrio natriegens to catalyze the transfructosylation of EGCG. The conversion rate of EGCG to fructoside reached 65.59%. The purified product was unequivocally identified as EGCG-1F, with a fructosyl group linked to the 3′-hydroxyl group. Compared to pristine EGCG, EGCG-1F exhibited remarkably enhanced water solubility (96.6-fold that of EGCG) and aqueous stability under acidic and thermal conditions. Biological evaluation revealed that EGCG-1F significantly enhanced HaCaT cell migration, upregulated the expression of basement membrane-associated collagens in ultraviolet B-damaged HaCaT cells, and modulated ultraviolet A-induced senescence in human dermal fibroblasts by type I collagen, type III collagen and matrix metalloproteinase-1 balance. This study demonstrates that enzymatic fructosylation is an effective approach to generate a stable and safe EGCG derivative with potential applications in skin barrier repair and anti-aging functional cosmetics. Full article

With the introduction of Navarixin in clinical trials, the role of squaric acid derivatives as bioisosteres gained popularity. Because of their distinctive electronic properties and hydrogen-bonding capacity, these compounds hold considerable promise for medicinal chemistry applications. In this study, a series of novel furan- and thiophene-containing squaric acid derivatives was synthesized via base-catalyzed nucleophilic substitution and characterized by spectroscopic techniques. The structures of three compounds were additionally confirmed by X-ray crystallography. Density functional theory calculations showed good agreement with the experimental vibrational spectra. In silico evaluation predicted favorable drug-like characteristics, including compliance with Lipinski’s rule of five and high gastrointestinal absorption. The cytotoxic activity of the synthesized compounds was assessed against HeLa, HT-29, HL-60, A-549, and MCF-7 cancer cell lines, as well as the non-cancerous CCL-1 cell line. Several derivatives displayed moderate to strong antiproliferative activity with selectivity toward malignant cells. Compound 3d exhibited the most pronounced improvement (five-fold) over Navarixin in HL-60 cells 5.81 µM, while compounds 3a and 3c demonstrated superior potency and selectivity in A-549 cells (10.33 µM and 9.65 µM). These findings identify squaric acid derivatives as promising candidates for further anticancer drug development and structure–activity relationship studies. Full article

In this study, an ecofriendly microfluidic microbial biocathode electrolysis cell is developed for hydrogen production. Low-cost microbial catalysts are employed on single-walled carbon nanotube cathodes instead of noble metal (platinum) catalysts. The channel layer for the electrolyte flow is fabricated from polydimethylsiloxane and coated with Parylene C to minimize oxygen permeability. A miniaturized electrolysis cell is constructed by depositing electrodes onto a glass substrate and bonding them to a polydimethylsiloxane channel layer via plasma surface treatment. The establishment of the biocathode during the start-up procedure is analyzed, and the hydrogen production performance of the biocathode microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) is evaluated under various applied voltages and electrolyte flow rates. At higher applied voltages and optimal flow rates, biofilm formation is well-developed, resulting in a peak hydrogen production rate of 14.8 m³ H₂ m⁻³ d⁻¹. The developed MEC biocathode demonstrates significant performance, achieving a current density of 0.22 A m⁻², corresponding to 69% of that of a platinum-catalyzed cathode MEC, while exhibiting a substantially longer operating duration of 12 h. These results demonstrate the potential to overcome the inherent limitations of biocathodes, thereby addressing the high cost and low durability of conventional platinum-catalyzed MECs. Compared with conventional MEC systems, the proposed microfluidic configuration enables membraneless operation with reduced internal resistance and rapid biofilm formation, demonstrating its potential as a compact and cost-effective platform for biohydrogen production. Full article

Nicotine is the main psychoactive component of tobacco and is considered to be the main substance responsible for the development of tobacco addiction. The main enzyme responsible for nicotine metabolism, CYP2A6, catalyzes the conversion of nicotine to cotinine and the subsequent metabolism of cotinine to trans-3′-hydroxycotinine. CYP2A6 activity is known to be modulated by various compounds, such as quercetin. This repeated-measures study examined the effects of short-term quercetin supplementation on urinary nicotine metabolism biomarkers in adult users of conventional and alternative nicotine products. Seventy-two participants completed a two-week study protocol involving first-morning urine collection at four time points: baseline, immediately after three days of quercetin supplementation (500 mg/day), seven days after supplementation, and ten days after supplementation. Urinary nicotine, cotinine, and trans-3′-hydroxycotinine concentrations were measured, and the nicotine metabolite ratio was calculated as trans-3′-hydroxycotinine/cotinine. Repeated-measures analysis of variance was used to evaluate biomarker changes over time according to sex, nicotine product type, and self-reported nicotine consumption intensity. Quercetin supplementation did not consistently alter nicotine metabolism biomarkers, while a descriptive increase in median urinary nicotine concentration after supplementation was observed in participants reporting lower daily nicotine consumption compared with other groups. These findings suggest that further studies are warranted to better clarify the effects of quercetin on nicotine metabolism across different levels of nicotine exposure. Full article

Collapsin Response Mediator Protein 2 (CRMP2) has emerged as a central node in the pathogenesis of chronic pain, functioning as a multimodal ‘molecular switch’ that regulates microtubule dynamics, ion channel trafficking, and synaptic plasticity. The dysregulation of CRMP2, particularly through aberrant post-translational modifications (PTMs) such as phosphorylation and SUMOylation, is a critical driver of both peripheral and central sensitization. This review systematically examines the structure, regulation, and multifaceted roles of CRMP2 in pain signaling pathways. We then critically evaluate a spectrum of CRMP2-targeted therapeutic strategies, including small-molecule inhibitors, peptide-based agents, and gene silencing, highlighting their promising preclinical efficacy and safety profiles. Despite challenges in targeting specificity and central nervous system delivery, we posit that innovations in delivery systems, precision medicine, and AI-assisted drug design will catalyze the clinical translation of CRMP2-based, non-opioid analgesics, offering a paradigm shift in chronic pain management. Full article

Cucurbiturils (CB[n]) are rigid glycoluril-based macrocycles possessing well-defined hydrophobic cavities capable of forming stable host–guest complexes in water. Owing to these properties, CB[n]-containing supramolecular polymer gels have attracted increasing attention as functional composite materials in modern materials science. This review summarizes recent progress in the development of cucurbituril-based supramolecular gels, with particular attention to synthetic approaches, network design, and emerging applications. Both conventional acid-catalyzed methods and more sustainable synthetic strategies for cucurbituril preparation and functionalization are discussed. We further consider the role of CB[n] macrocycles as reversible crosslinking units in polymer networks and analyze how host–guest interactions influence the mechanical properties, self-healing behavior, and stimuli responsiveness of the resulting materials. Recent applications in biomedical engineering, soft electronics, and environmental remediation are also highlighted, demonstrating how molecular-level supramolecular interactions can determine the macroscopic performance of these composite systems. The review concludes with perspectives on scalable synthesis, processing integration, and future directions in supramolecular composite materials. Full article

The hormonal vitamin D metabolite, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25D), produced primarily in the kidney, acts in numerous end-organs via the nuclear vitamin D receptor (VDR) to trigger molecular events that orchestrate bone mineral homeostasis, immune responsiveness, and aspects of behavior. Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) encodes a neuronally expressed enzyme that catalyzes the initial, rate-limiting step in the production of several catecholamine neurotransmitters and hormones, including dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine. Herein we report that TH mRNA is significantly induced (2.5-fold) and NURR1 mRNA is induced 9.3-fold by 10 nM 1,25D in differentiated human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells. Similar results were observed in human U87 glioblastoma cells (TH, 2.6-fold; NURR1, 3.6-fold). Comparative analysis of TH gene promoter-proximal sequences from human, mouse, and rat identifies candidate NURR1-responsive elements (NBREs) at the following positions: −35, −855, −1470, and −2343 bp in the human gene; −34 and −961 bp in the mouse gene; and −34, −350, and −873 bp in the rat gene, consistent with NURR1 acting as a recurring regulatory factor at TH promoters across mammalian species. Furthermore, by interrogating VDR ChIP-seq/cistrome datasets, we identified candidate vitamin D-responsive elements (VDREs) at the human NURR1 locus that provide a plausible genomic framework for direct regulation of NURR1 by 1,25D/VDR. We propose that 1,25D-liganded VDR acts as a primary inducer of NURR1, which in turn secondarily activates expression of the TH gene, thereby defining a transcriptional route through which 1,25D/VDR signaling may influence TH-linked dopaminergic gene programs. Retinoid X receptor (RXR) may facilitate both NURR1-dependent and -independent potentiation of TH transcription because the rexinoid, bexarotene, significantly enhances TH mRNA in human U87 cells, either alone (2.0-fold) or in combination with 1,25D (4.1-fold). In addition, bexarotene and its novel analogs, A41 and A55, induce NURR1 mRNA expression in U87 cells by 2.8-, 3.1-, and 4.8-fold, respectively, with A55 outperforming the parent compound at matched concentration. Because Parkinson’s disease is characterized by the selective degeneration of dopaminergic neurons and impaired NURR1-dependent transcriptional programs, our findings identify a 1,25D/VDR–NURR1–RXR transcriptional axis as a previously underappreciated regulatory framework for studying TH gene expression and dopaminergic gene regulation in Parkinson’s disease-relevant neural contexts. Full article

Background/Objectives: Aerobic glycolysis is a standard mechanism that cancer cells use to support their anabolic processes. Lactate and proton production, byproducts of this LDHA-catalyzed transformation of pyruvate, may contribute to acidifying the tumor microenvironment and to repressing the cytotoxic activity of anti-tumor immune cells. Prostate cancer radiotherapy outcome could be diminished by cancer cell metabolism and immunosuppression. Methods: The tumor infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) density was assessed in 110 prostate adenocarcinoma biopsies from patients treated with radical radiotherapy. Immunohistochemistry was performed to evaluate LDH5 expression by cancer cells (encoded by the LDHA gene). Results: Higher tumor stages (T3 and T4) were associated with lower TIL density (p = 0.02). Approximately half of the patients (51%) displayed strong LDH5 cancer cell expression, which was linked with advanced T-stage and higher Gleason scores (p = 0.05 and p = 0.01, respectively). High LDH5 expression was significantly correlated with low TIL density (p ≤ 0.0004). In univariate analysis, high LDH5 and low TIL density were associated with poor biochemical relapse-free survival (BRFS) (p ≤ 0.006). In multivariate analysis, TIL density, but not LDH5, was an independent predictor of BRFS (p = 0.03). Conclusions: LDH5 overexpression is associated with low tumor lymphocytic infiltration. Stratifying prostate carcinomas according to LDH5/TIL density identifies a group of patients with low TIL density and high LDH5 expression, who have a higher risk of tumor relapse. Targeting glycolysis to disrupt cancer cell metabolism offers an interesting research area for prostate cancer therapy. Full article

A novel composite catalyst for photothermal CO₂ cycloaddition was developed by integrating the ionic liquid 1-ethylpyridinium bromide (EPB) with a copper-based metal–organic framework (HKUST-1). HKUST-1 was synthesized via a hydrothermal method and functionalized with EPB through a wet impregnation strategy to enhance its catalytic performance. Under xenon lamp irradiation and optimized conditions (80 °C, 1 MPa CO₂ pressure, 12 h, and 0.07% mol of TBAB bromide as a co-catalyst), the HK@EPB composite exhibited outstanding performance in catalyzing the conversion of CO₂ and various epoxides into cyclic carbonates. The exceptional catalytic activity arises from a synergistic multicomponent mechanism: the incorporation of EPB not only enhances CO₂ adsorption capacity but also provides photothermal energy for the reaction; simultaneously, EPB dissociates bromide ions to effectively initiate epoxide ring-opening. In particular, propylene oxide achieved a selectivity of 95% for the desired cyclic carbonate, surpassing most previously reported MOF-based catalysts. This system enables efficient catalysis under mild conditions through the synergistic contributions of the high CO₂ adsorption capacity and Cu²⁺/Cu⁺ redox-mediated electron transfer of HKUST-1, the provision of nucleophilic Br-species from EPB to promote epoxide ring-opening, and the cooperative effect of TBAB. This study demonstrates that ionic-liquid-functionalized MOF composites can serve as sustainable and versatile catalytic platforms, offering an environmentally friendly pathway for large-scale CO₂ utilization. Full article

Phenolic resin is widely used as a binder in high-temperature industries; however, its pyrolysis generally yields isotropic glassy carbon, which strongly influences its high-temperature oxidation behavior. In this work, cupric tartrate was introduced as a catalyst precursor to investigate its effects on the thermal decomposition behavior, microstructural evolution, and oxidation behavior of the phenolic resin pyrolytic carbon. Upon heating, cupric tartrate decomposed at 250–320 °C into nanoscale Cu/Cu₂O composites, which were then converted into metallic Cu nanoparticles through reduction by gaseous products generated during the pyrolysis of phenolic resin. The in situ formed Cu nanoparticles were associated with the growth of tapered carbon nanofibers (CNFs), reaching maximum lengths of 30–50 μm at 700 °C. Based on the observed microstructural features and established literature reports, a dissolution–precipitation pathway is proposed to rationalize the formation of these CNFs. The presence of Cu-catalyzed CNFs correlates with enhanced structural ordering of the pyrolytic carbon, as reflected by reduced I_D/I_G ratios, and with an increased apparent oxidation activation energy in the selected fitting region (from 103.73 to 137.45 kJ/mol). Overall, this work demonstrates a facile strategy in which cupric tartrate serves as an effective catalyst precursor that generates Cu nanoparticles in situ; these nanoparticles then catalyze CNF growth from phenolic resin, enabling the construction of low-dimensional carbon nanostructures. Full article

Moringa oleifera is rich in γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a functional non-protein amino acid with significant antihypertensive and neuroprotective activities. However, the key enzymes responsible for catalyzing the conversion of L-glutamate (L-Glu) to GABA—glutamate decarboxylases (GADs)—have not been functionally characterized in M. oleifera, which limits its metabolic engineering applications. In this study, the previously obtained MoGAD1 (PZ458702) and MoGAD2 (PZ458703) genes were heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli Rosetta (DE3) to produce recombinant proteins. SDS-PAGE and Western blot analyses showed that both MoGAD1 and MoGAD2 were solubly expressed at 20 °C and 37 °C. Their catalytic functions were verified via whole-cell biocatalysis, and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis confirmed that both MoGAD1 and MoGAD2 could convert L-Glu to GABA. The GABA yields of the engineered strains harboring MoGAD1 and MoGAD2 reached 3.67 ± 0.1833 g/L and 0.648 ± 0.002 g/L, with conversion rates of 61.2% and 10.8%, respectively. Both MoGAD1 and MoGAD2 exhibited favorable docking with PLP, with binding energies of −5.489 kcal/mol and −5.297 kcal/mol, respectively; they also showed good docking with L-Glu, with binding energies of −4.207 kcal/mol and −4.49 kcal/mol, respectively. This study provides the first experimental evidence for the activity of the MoGAD protein encoded by the GAD gene from M. oleifera, elucidates the molecular mechanism underlying GABA accumulation, and offers candidate genes for biotechnological production of GABA. Full article

Furanocoumarins and their derivatives are found in various plant species and have attracted considerable attention due to their diverse biological activities. By analyzing the genomes of Apium Graveolens L. and Peucedanum praeruptorum Dunn, we characterized a set of candidate genes encoding key enzymes involved in furanocoumarin biosynthesis, including one prenyltransferase (AgPT1), cyclases (AgCOC1, PpCOC1 and PpCOC2), and methyltransferases (AgOMT1 and AgOMT2). Functional validation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae demonstrated that AgCOC1 and PpCOC2 accept both linear and angular substrates, whereas PpCOC1 accepts only linear substrates. Depending on the reaction conditions, these cyclases can produce compounds with either furan or pyran scaffolds. These findings reveal a previously unappreciated catalytic versatility of cyclases involved in furanocoumarin biosynthesis. Notably, the genes encoding the prenyltransferase and cyclases were found to be co-localized in the genome, which may significantly enhance the efficiency of furanocoumarin biosynthesis. This mechanism may account for the pronounced accumulation of furanocoumarins in Apiaceae plants. Finally, we provide the first evidence that AgOMT1 functions as a multifunctional methyltransferase capable of catalyzing the O-methylation modifications observed in furanocoumarins in A. graveolens. In conclusion, this study fills a research gap in our understanding of furanocoumarin biosynthesis and reveals that genes encoding cyclases and prenyltransferases are clustered in the genome, a pattern that arose during evolution. Full article

Microalgal lipids are promising sustainable feedstocks for high-value functional ingredients. However, the influence of cultivation-driven lipid composition on enzymatic conversion remains poorly understood. This study integrated cultivation strategy and enzymatic upgrading to tailor Neochloris oleoabundans lipids for mono- and diacylglycerol (MAG and DAG) production. Heterotrophic cultivation achieved a maximum dry biomass concentration of 2.78 ± 0.14 g L⁻¹, whereas autotrophic cultivation reached 0.39 ± 0.01 g L⁻¹, confirming the superior biomass productivity of heterotrophic metabolism. Lipid fractions obtained under both trophic conditions were characterized and subjected to glycerolysis catalyzed by Novozym 435 under a 5:1 glycerol-to-oil ratio for 16 h. Heterotrophic oils, characterized by triacylglycerol-rich and low-free fatty acid (FFA) profiles, achieved higher MAG + DAG conversion (45%), while autotrophic oils reached 43% conversion despite elevated FFAs and polar lipids. The presence of FFAs, pigments, and phospholipids in non-refined microalgal oils influenced catalytic behavior, reducing conversion efficiency and favoring competing esterification and hydrolysis pathways. These findings demonstrate that substrate purity, acylglycerol distribution, and cultivation-specific lipid architecture strongly affect lipase performance, highlighting oil refining and cultivation optimization as key strategies for improving sustainable MAG and DAG production. Full article

Porous coordination polymers, alternatively known as metal–organic framework (MOF) nanoparticles, have acquired increasing significance in nanomaterials science, especially with the increased importance and versatility in catalysis. The complex structures of MOFs allow the incorporation of metal nodes, enclosing substrates, and functional linkers, thus enabling synergistic structural and functional engineering to produce capable catalytic active sites that provide solutions to decrease human activities in designing new organic reactions. Recently, Cu-MOF-mediated organic reactions hold a significant promise to substitute homogenous and heterogeneous catalysts due to their promising structural features such as tailorable porous structures, high-density catalytic active sites and surface area, sufficient framework stability, minimal leaching, and facile recovery and recyclability. This review emphasizes the significance of Cu-MOFs in synthetic chemistry, in particular, in the synthesis of organic compounds. It examines their applicability in hydrogenation, oxidation, cross-coupling/condensation reactions, functionalization at terminal alkenes and alkynes, intramolecular C-H amination, and other multicomponent reactions. In addition to these organic transformations, recent progress in Cu-MOF-catalyzed CO₂ electroreduction and nitrate reduction is also briefly described. Subsequently, the state-of-the-art synthetic methods of certain decorated Cu-MOFs are thoroughly elaborated as well as the essential structural parameters that govern the stability and recyclability of MOFs in organic transformations. This focused examination of Cu-MOFs is expected to provide useful information for future research endeavors in the field of MOF catalytic applications. Full article