Biomolecules

27 pages, 35768 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Fungal X-Intrinsic Protein Aquaporin from Trichoderma atroviride: Structural and Functional Considerations

by Maroua Ben Amira, Mohamed Faize, Magnus Karlsson, Mukesh Dubey, Magdalena Frąc, Jacek Panek, Boris Fumanal, Aurélie Gousset-Dupont, Jean-Louis Julien, Hatem Chaar, Daniel Auguin, Robin Mom, Philippe Label and Jean-Stéphane Venisse

Biomolecules 2021, 11(2), 338; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom11020338 - 23 Feb 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 4678

Abstract

The major intrinsic protein (MIP) superfamily is a key part of the fungal transmembrane transport network. It facilitates the transport of water and low molecular weight solutes across biomembranes. The fungal uncharacterized X-Intrinsic Protein (XIP) subfamily includes the full protein diversity of MIP. [...] Read more.

The major intrinsic protein (MIP) superfamily is a key part of the fungal transmembrane transport network. It facilitates the transport of water and low molecular weight solutes across biomembranes. The fungal uncharacterized X-Intrinsic Protein (XIP) subfamily includes the full protein diversity of MIP. Their biological functions still remain fully hypothetical. The aim of this study is still to deepen the diversity and the structure of the XIP subfamily in light of the MIP counterparts—the aquaporins (AQPs) and aquaglyceroporins (AQGPs)—and to describe for the first time their function in the development, biomass accumulation, and mycoparasitic aptitudes of the fungal bioagent Trichoderma atroviride. The fungus-XIP clade, with one member (TriatXIP), is one of the three clades of MIPs that make up the diversity of T. atroviride MIPs, along with the AQPs (three members) and the AQGPs (three members). TriatXIP resembles those of strict aquaporins, predicting water diffusion and possibly other small polar solutes due to particularly wider ar/R constriction with a Lysine substitution at the LE2 position. The XIP loss of function in ∆TriatXIP mutants slightly delays biomass accumulation but does not impact mycoparasitic activities. ∆TriatMIP forms colonies similar to wild type; however, the hyphae are slightly thinner and colonies produce rare chlamydospores in PDA and specific media, most of which are relatively small and exhibit abnormal morphologies. To better understand the molecular causes of these deviant phenotypes, a wide-metabolic survey of the ∆TriatXIPs demonstrates that the delayed growth kinetic, correlated to a decrease in respiration rate, is caused by perturbations in the pentose phosphate pathway. Furthermore, the null expression of the XIP gene strongly impacts the expression of four expressed MIP-encoding genes of T. atroviride, a plausible compensating effect which safeguards the physiological integrity and life cycle of the fungus. This paper offers an overview of the fungal XIP family in the biocontrol agent T. atroviride which will be useful for further functional analysis of this particular MIP subfamily in vegetative growth and the environmental stress response in fungi. Ultimately, these findings have implications for the ecophysiology of Trichoderma spp. in natural, agronomic, and industrial systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fungal Metabolism - Enzymes and Bioactive Compounds)

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14 pages, 3214 KiB

Open AccessArticle

FITC-Dextran Release from Cell-Embedded Fibrin Hydrogels

by Viki Raz Lepsky, Sari Natan, Oren Tchaicheeyan, Avraham Kolel, Merav Zussman, Meital Zilberman and Ayelet Lesman

Biomolecules 2021, 11(2), 337; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom11020337 - 23 Feb 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 4312

Abstract

Fibrin hydrogel is a central biological material in tissue engineering and drug delivery applications. As such, fibrin is typically combined with cells and biomolecules targeted to the regenerated tissue. Previous studies have analyzed the release of different molecules from fibrin hydrogels; however, the [...] Read more.

Fibrin hydrogel is a central biological material in tissue engineering and drug delivery applications. As such, fibrin is typically combined with cells and biomolecules targeted to the regenerated tissue. Previous studies have analyzed the release of different molecules from fibrin hydrogels; however, the effect of embedded cells on the release profile has yet to be quantitatively explored. This study focused on the release of Fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-dextran (FD) 250 kDa from fibrin hydrogels, populated with different concentrations of fibroblast or endothelial cells, during a 48-h observation period. The addition of cells to fibrin gels decreased the overall release by a small percentage (by 7–15% for fibroblasts and 6–8% for endothelial cells) relative to acellular gels. The release profile was shown to be modulated by various cellular activities, including gel degradation and physical obstruction to diffusion. Cell-generated forces and matrix deformation (i.e., densification and fiber alignment) were not found to significantly influence the release profiles. This knowledge is expected to improve fibrin integration in tissue engineering and drug delivery applications by enabling predictions and ways to modulate the release profiles of various biomolecules. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection Mesenchymal Stem Cell Fate and Potential Therapy)

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23 pages, 2007 KiB

Open AccessReview

Actin Cytoskeleton and Regulation of TGFβ Signaling: Exploring Their Links

by Roberta Melchionna, Paola Trono, Annalisa Tocci and Paola Nisticò

Biomolecules 2021, 11(2), 336; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom11020336 - 23 Feb 2021

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 5729

Abstract

Human tissues, to maintain their architecture and function, respond to injuries by activating intricate biochemical and physical mechanisms that regulates intercellular communication crucial in maintaining tissue homeostasis. Coordination of the communication occurs through the activity of different actin cytoskeletal regulators, physically connected to [...] Read more.

Human tissues, to maintain their architecture and function, respond to injuries by activating intricate biochemical and physical mechanisms that regulates intercellular communication crucial in maintaining tissue homeostasis. Coordination of the communication occurs through the activity of different actin cytoskeletal regulators, physically connected to extracellular matrix through integrins, generating a platform of biochemical and biomechanical signaling that is deregulated in cancer. Among the major pathways, a controller of cellular functions is the cytokine transforming growth factor β (TGFβ), which remains a complex and central signaling network still to be interpreted and explained in cancer progression. Here, we discuss the link between actin dynamics and TGFβ signaling with the aim of exploring their aberrant interaction in cancer. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection TGF-Beta Signaling in Tissue Fibrosis and Cancer)

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3 pages, 148 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Recent Advances in Cancer Immunotherapy

by Kenichi Suda

Biomolecules 2021, 11(2), 335; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom11020335 - 23 Feb 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2148

Abstract

The strategy to use the immune system to fight cancer is not a novel concept; in 1891, Coley reported the treatment of three cases of sarcoma by inoculation with erysipelas [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection Recent Advances in Cancer Immunotherapy)

14 pages, 3173 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Anti-TNF Alpha Antibody Humira with pH-dependent Binding Characteristics: A constant-pH Molecular Dynamics, Gaussian Accelerated Molecular Dynamics, and In Vitro Study

by Shih-Ting Hong, Yu-Cheng Su, Yu-Jen Wang, Tian-Lu Cheng and Yeng-Tseng Wang

Biomolecules 2021, 11(2), 334; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom11020334 - 23 Feb 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3444

Abstract

Humira is a monoclonal antibody that binds to TNF alpha, inactivates TNF alpha receptors, and inhibits inflammation. Neonatal Fc receptors can mediate the transcytosis of Humira–TNF alpha complex structures and process them toward degradation pathways, which reduces the therapeutic effect of Humira. Allowing [...] Read more.

Humira is a monoclonal antibody that binds to TNF alpha, inactivates TNF alpha receptors, and inhibits inflammation. Neonatal Fc receptors can mediate the transcytosis of Humira–TNF alpha complex structures and process them toward degradation pathways, which reduces the therapeutic effect of Humira. Allowing the Humira–TNF alpha complex structures to dissociate to Humira and soluble TNF alpha in the early endosome to enable Humira recycling is crucial. We used the cytoplasmic pH (7.4), the early endosomal pH (6.0), and pK_a of histidine side chains (6.0–6.4) to mutate the residues of complementarity-determining regions with histidine. Our engineered Humira (W1-Humira) can bind to TNF alpha in plasma at neutral pH and dissociate from the TNF alpha in the endosome at acidic pH. We used the constant-pH molecular dynamics, Gaussian accelerated molecular dynamics, two-dimensional potential mean force profiles, and in vitro methods to investigate the characteristics of W1-Humira. Our results revealed that the proposed Humira can bind TNF alpha with pH-dependent affinity in vitro. The W1-Humira was weaker than wild-type Humira at neutral pH in vitro, and our prediction results were close to the in vitro results. Furthermore, our approach displayed a high accuracy in antibody pH-dependent binding characteristics prediction, which may facilitate antibody drug design. Advancements in computational methods and computing power may further aid in addressing the challenges in antibody drug design. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection Biomolecules In Silico: Contemporary Advances in Computational Approaches to Investigating the Molecular Dynamics of Biological Systems)

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3 pages, 184 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

The Amazing World of IDPs in Human Diseases

by Simona Maria Monti, Giuseppina De Simone and Emma Langella

Biomolecules 2021, 11(2), 333; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom11020333 - 23 Feb 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1602

Abstract

It has been clearly established that some proteins or protein regions are devoid of any stable secondary and/or tertiary structure under physiological conditions, but still possess fundamental biological functions [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Amazing World of IDPs in Human Diseases)

9 pages, 586 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Systemic Photoprotection in Skin Cancer Prevention: Knowledge among Dermatologists

by Luca Fania, Francesca Sampogna, Francesco Ricci, Mariafrancesca Hyeraci, Andrea Paradisi, Enzo Palese, Giovanni Di Lella, Sabatino Pallotta, Annarita Panebianco, Eleonora Candi, Elena Dellambra and Damiano Abeni

Biomolecules 2021, 11(2), 332; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom11020332 - 23 Feb 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2668

Abstract

Background: Systemic photoprotection (i.e., administration of substances such as nicotinamide, carotenoids, and vitamin D) may be important to reduce photocarcinogenesis or to support long-term protection against UV irradiation. Clinical trials showed that oral nicotinamide is effective in reducing the onset of new nonmelanoma [...] Read more.

Background: Systemic photoprotection (i.e., administration of substances such as nicotinamide, carotenoids, and vitamin D) may be important to reduce photocarcinogenesis or to support long-term protection against UV irradiation. Clinical trials showed that oral nicotinamide is effective in reducing the onset of new nonmelanoma skin cancers (NMSCs), while other oral photoprotectors failed to achieve the reduction of new melanoma or NMSC formation in humans. The aim of this study was to summarize the current state of knowledge of systemic photoprotection and to evaluate the knowledge and attitude of dermatologists regarding these treatments. Methods: The survey was conducted on a sample of dermatologists recruited according to a snowball sampling procedure. The questionnaire consisted of a first part asking for characteristics of the participant and a second part with 12 specific questions on their knowledge about systemic photoprotection, particularly their knowledge of astaxanthin, β-carotene, nicotinamide, and vitamin D3. Results: One hundred eight dermatologists answered the survey. Most of them (85.2%) stated that oral photoprotectors have a role in the prevention of skin cancer, and responses mainly mentioned nicotinamide. More than half of them (54.6%) had prescribed all the considered oral photoprotectors, but the majority of them had prescribed nicotinamide, mainly for 2 to 3 months during summer, almost invariably (n = 106) associated with topical photoprotectors. Most dermatologists (>80%) were aware of scientific publications demonstrating an effect of systemic photoprotectors on NMSC. Conclusions: Most Italian dermatologists have positive views on oral photoprotection in skin cancer and are aware of the demonstrated potential of nicotinamide in the prevention of NMSCs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nicotinamide in Health and Diseases)

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18 pages, 2140 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Properties of the Extracellular Polymeric Substance Layer from Minimally Grown Planktonic Cells of Listeria monocytogenes

by Ogueri Nwaiwu, Lawrence Wong, Mita Lad, Timothy Foster, William MacNaughtan and Catherine Rees

Biomolecules 2021, 11(2), 331; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom11020331 - 22 Feb 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2186

Abstract

The bacterium Listeria monocytogenes is a serious concern to food processing facilities because of its persistence. When liquid cultures of L. monocytogenes were prepared in defined media, it was noted that planktonic cells rapidly dropped out of suspension. Zeta potential and hydrophobicity assays [...] Read more.

The bacterium Listeria monocytogenes is a serious concern to food processing facilities because of its persistence. When liquid cultures of L. monocytogenes were prepared in defined media, it was noted that planktonic cells rapidly dropped out of suspension. Zeta potential and hydrophobicity assays found that the cells were more negatively charged (−22, −18, −10 mV in defined media D10, MCDB 202 and brain heart infusion [BHI] media, respectively) and were also more hydrophobic. A SEM analysis detected a capsular-like structure on the surface of cells grown in D10 media. A crude extract of the extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) was found to contain cell-associated proteins. The proteins were removed with pronase treatment. The remaining non-proteinaceous component was not stained by Coomassie blue dye and a further chemical analysis of the EPS did not detect significant amounts of sugars, DNA, polyglutamic acid or any other specific amino acid. When the purified EPS was subjected to attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy, the spectra obtained did not match the profile of any of the 12 reference compounds used. An x-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis showed that the EPS was amorphous and a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis detected the presence of glycerol. An elemental energy dispersive x-ray (EDX) analysis showed traces of phosphorous as a major component. In conclusion, it is proposed that the non-proteinaceous component may be phospholipid in nature, possibly derived from the cell wall lipoteichoic acid. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advance of Listeria)

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18 pages, 2768 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Screening and Molecular Modeling Evaluation of Food Peptides to Inhibit Key Targets of COVID-19 Virus

by Ai-Min Shi, Rui Guo, Qiang Wang and Jin-Rong Zhou

Biomolecules 2021, 11(2), 330; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom11020330 - 22 Feb 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3740

Abstract

Peptide drugs, especially food-derived peptides, have a variety of functional activities including antiviral and may also have a therapeutic effect on COVID-19. In this study, comparing with the reported drugs, 79 peptides were found to bind to the key targets of COVID-19 virus [...] Read more.

Peptide drugs, especially food-derived peptides, have a variety of functional activities including antiviral and may also have a therapeutic effect on COVID-19. In this study, comparing with the reported drugs, 79 peptides were found to bind to the key targets of COVID-19 virus with higher non-covalent interaction, while among them, six peptides showed high non-covalent interactions with the three targets, which may inhibit the COVID-19 virus. In the simulation, peptides of nine to 10 amino acids with a hydrophilic amino acid and acidic amino acid in the middle and aromatic amino acids on the side showed higher binding to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). Peptides of five to six amino acids with a basic amnio acid in the head, acidic amnio acid in the neck, hydrophobicity group in the middle, and basic amino acids in the tail showed higher binding to COVID-19 virus main protease (M^pro), while those with basic amino acids and acidic amino acids in the two sides and aromatic amino acids in the middle might have stronger interaction with COVID-19 virus RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp). Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Molecular Medicine)

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18 pages, 8394 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Structure-Based Virtual Screening of Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Inhibitors by Cheminformatics Approaches and Bio-Molecular Simulation

by Sobia Ahsan Halim, Almas Gul Sikandari, Ajmal Khan, Abdul Wadood, Muhammad Qaiser Fatmi, René Csuk and Ahmed Al-Harrasi

Biomolecules 2021, 11(2), 329; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom11020329 - 22 Feb 2021

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3004

Abstract

Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) is a drug target in rheumatoid arthritis and several other auto-immune disorders. TNF-α binds with TNF receptors (TNFR), located on the surface of several immunological cells to exert its effect. Hence, the use of inhibitors that can hinder the [...] Read more.

Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) is a drug target in rheumatoid arthritis and several other auto-immune disorders. TNF-α binds with TNF receptors (TNFR), located on the surface of several immunological cells to exert its effect. Hence, the use of inhibitors that can hinder the complex formation of TNF-α/TNFR can be of medicinal significance. In this study, multiple chem-informatics approaches, including descriptor-based screening, 2D-similarity searching, and pharmacophore modelling were applied to screen new TNF-α inhibitors. Subsequently, multiple-docking protocols were used, and four-fold post-docking results were analyzed by consensus approach. After structure-based virtual screening, seventeen compounds were mutually ranked in top-ranked position by all the docking programs. Those identified hits target TNF-α dimer and effectively block TNF-α/TNFR interface. The predicted pharmacokinetics and physiological properties of the selected hits revealed that, out of seventeen, seven compounds (4, 5, 10, 11, 13–15) possessed excellent ADMET profile. These seven compounds plus three more molecules (7, 8 and 9) were chosen for molecular dynamics simulation studies to probe into ligand-induced structural and dynamic behavior of TNF-α, followed by ligand-TNF-α binding free energy calculation using MM-PBSA. The MM-PBSA calculations revealed that compounds 4, 5, 7 and 9 possess highest affinity for TNF-α; 8, 11, 13–15 exhibited moderate affinities, while compound 10 showed weaker binding affinity with TNF-α. This study provides valuable insights to design more potent and selective inhibitors of TNF-α, that will help to treat inflammatory disorders. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Bioinformatics and Systems Biology)

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13 pages, 3077 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Protective Effect of Osmundacetone against Neurological Cell Death Caused by Oxidative Glutamate Toxicity

by Tuy An Trinh, Young Hye Seo, Sungyoul Choi, Jun Lee and Ki Sung Kang

Biomolecules 2021, 11(2), 328; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom11020328 - 22 Feb 2021

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3021

Abstract

Oxidative stress is one of the main causes of brain cell death in neurological disorders. The use of natural antioxidants to maintain redox homeostasis contributes to alleviating neurodegeneration. Glutamate is an excitatory neurotransmitter that plays a critical role in many brain functions. However, [...] Read more.

Oxidative stress is one of the main causes of brain cell death in neurological disorders. The use of natural antioxidants to maintain redox homeostasis contributes to alleviating neurodegeneration. Glutamate is an excitatory neurotransmitter that plays a critical role in many brain functions. However, excessive glutamate release induces excitotoxicity and oxidative stress, leading to programmed cell death. Our study aimed to evaluate the effect of osmundacetone (OAC), isolated from Elsholtzia ciliata (Thunb.) Hylander, against glutamate-induced oxidative toxicity in HT22 hippocampal cells. The effect of OAC treatment on excess reactive oxygen species (ROS), intracellular calcium levels, chromatin condensation, apoptosis, and the expression level of oxidative stress-related proteins was evaluated. OAC showed a neuroprotective effect against glutamate toxicity at a concentration of 2 μM. By diminishing the accumulation of ROS, as well as stimulating the expression of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), OAC triggered the self-defense mechanism in neuronal cells. The anti-apoptotic effect of OAC was demonstrated through its inhibition of chromatin condensation, calcium accumulation, and reduction of apoptotic cells. OAC significantly suppressed the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), including c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK), extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), and p38 kinases. Thus, OAC could be a potential agent for supportive treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytochemical Constituents of Medicinal Plants for the Treatment of Chronic Inflammation)

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15 pages, 2989 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Dehydration-Induced WRKY Transcriptional Factor MfWRKY70 of Myrothamnus flabellifolia Enhanced Drought and Salinity Tolerance in Arabidopsis

by Xiang-Ying Xiang, Jia Chen, Wen-Xin Xu, Jia-Rui Qiu, Li Song, Jia-Tong Wang, Rong Tang, Duoer Chen, Cai-Zhong Jiang and Zhuo Huang

Biomolecules 2021, 11(2), 327; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom11020327 - 22 Feb 2021

Cited by 25 | Viewed by 3388

Abstract

The resurrection plants Myrothamnus flabellifolia can survive long term severe drought and desiccation conditions and soon recover after rewatering. However, few genes related to such excellent drought tolerance and underlying molecular mechanism have been excavated. WRKY transcription factors play critical roles in biotic [...] Read more.

The resurrection plants Myrothamnus flabellifolia can survive long term severe drought and desiccation conditions and soon recover after rewatering. However, few genes related to such excellent drought tolerance and underlying molecular mechanism have been excavated. WRKY transcription factors play critical roles in biotic and abiotic stress signaling, in which WRKY70 functions as a positive regulator in biotic stress response but a negative regulator in abiotic stress signaling in Arabidopsis and some other plant species. In the present study, the functions of a dehydration-induced MfWRKY70 of M. flabellifolia participating was investigated in the model plant Arabidopsis. Our results indicated that MfWRKY70 was localized in the nucleus and could significantly increase tolerance to drought, osmotic, and salinity stresses by promoting root growth and water retention, as well as enhancing the antioxidant enzyme system and maintaining reactive oxygen species (ROS) homeostasis and membrane-lipid stability under stressful conditions. Moreover, the expression of stress-associated genes (P5CS, NCED3 and RD29A) was positively regulated in the overexpression of MfWRKY70 Arabidopsis. We proposed that MfWRKY70 may function as a positive regulator for abiotic stress responses and can be considered as a potential gene for improvement of drought and salinity tolerance in plants. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Molecular Biology)

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20 pages, 2282 KiB

Open AccessArticle

by Péter Pikó, László Pál, Sándor Szűcs, Zsigmond Kósa, János Sándor and Róza Ádány

Biomolecules 2021, 11(2), 326; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom11020326 - 21 Feb 2021

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 3038

Abstract

Obesity is an increasing public health concern both in the developed and developing countries. Previous studies have demonstrated that considerable alterations in lipid metabolism and consequently marked changes in lipid profile are associated with the onset and progression of obesity-related complications. To characterize [...] Read more.

Obesity is an increasing public health concern both in the developed and developing countries. Previous studies have demonstrated that considerable alterations in lipid metabolism and consequently marked changes in lipid profile are associated with the onset and progression of obesity-related complications. To characterize the full spectrum of obesity-induced changes in lipid metabolism, direct infusion tandem mass spectrometry analysis is the most promising approach. To better understand which of the many lipid species are the most strongly associated with obesity, the aim of our work was to measure and profile plasma lipids in normal (n = 57), overweight (n = 31), and obese (n = 48) individuals randomly selected from samples of Hungarian general and Roma populations by using the targeted quantitative lipidomics platform, the Lipidyzer. Principal component and stepwise regression analyses were used to identify the most significant clusters and species of lipids by increasing body mass index (BMI). From the 18 clusters identified four key lipid species (PE P-16:0/20:3, TG 20:4_33:1, TG 22:6_36:4, TG 18:3_33:0) showed a strong significant positive and three others (Hex-Cer 18:1;O2/22:0, LPC 18:2, PC 18:1_18:1) significant negative association with BMI. Compared to individual lipid species alone, the lipid species ratio (LSR) we introduced showed an extremely strong, at least 9 orders of magnitude stronger, association with BMI. The LSR can be used as a sensitive and predictive indicator to monitor obesity-related alterations in human plasma and control the effectiveness of treatment of obesity associated non-communicable diseases. Full article

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13 pages, 1453 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Adipocytokines in Untreated Newly Diagnosed Rheumatoid Arthritis: Association with Circulating Chemokines and Markers of Inflammation

by Georgios K. Vasileiadis, Anna-Carin Lundell, Yuan Zhang, Kerstin Andersson, Inger Gjertsson, Anna Rudin and Cristina Maglio

Biomolecules 2021, 11(2), 325; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom11020325 - 21 Feb 2021

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2441

Abstract

Adiponectin, leptin, and resistin are adipocytokines whose levels are elevated in blood and synovial fluid from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, their role in RA pathogenesis is unclear. Here, we examined whether adipocytokines are associated with circulating chemokines, markers of inflammation and [...] Read more.

Adiponectin, leptin, and resistin are adipocytokines whose levels are elevated in blood and synovial fluid from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, their role in RA pathogenesis is unclear. Here, we examined whether adipocytokines are associated with circulating chemokines, markers of inflammation and RA disease activity in patients with untreated newly diagnosed RA. Plasma levels of 15 chemokines, adiponectin, leptin, and resistin were measured using flow cytometry bead-based immunoassay or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in a cohort of 70 patients with untreated newly diagnosed RA. Markers of inflammation and disease activity were also assessed in all patients. Positive association was found between total adiponectin and CXCL10 (β = 0.344, p = 0.021), CCL2 (β = 0.342, p = 0.012), and CXCL9 (β = 0.308, p = 0.044), whereas high-molecular weight (HMW) adiponectin associated only with CXCL9 (β = 0.308, p = 0.033). Furthermore, both total and HMW adiponectin were associated with C-reactive protein (β = 0.485, p = 0.001; β = 0.463, p = 0.001) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (β = 0.442, p = 0.001; β = 0.507, p < 0.001). Leptin and resistin were not associated with plasma chemokines, markers of inflammation, or disease activity scores. Our study shows an association between circulating adiponectin and pro-inflammatory chemokines involved in RA pathogenesis as well as markers of inflammation in a well-characterized cohort of patients with untreated newly diagnosed RA. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Molecular Medicine)

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18 pages, 2234 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperReview

Zebrafish Tools for Deciphering Habenular Network-Linked Mental Disorders

by Anja Bühler and Matthias Carl

Biomolecules 2021, 11(2), 324; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom11020324 - 20 Feb 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 4233

Abstract

The prevalence of patients suffering from mental disorders is substantially increasing in recent years and represents a major burden to society. The underlying causes and neuronal circuits affected are complex and difficult to unravel. Frequent disorders such as depression, schizophrenia, autism, and bipolar [...] Read more.

The prevalence of patients suffering from mental disorders is substantially increasing in recent years and represents a major burden to society. The underlying causes and neuronal circuits affected are complex and difficult to unravel. Frequent disorders such as depression, schizophrenia, autism, and bipolar disorder share links to the habenular neural circuit. This conserved neurotransmitter system relays cognitive information between different brain areas steering behaviors ranging from fear and anxiety to reward, sleep, and social behaviors. Advances in the field using the zebrafish model organism have uncovered major genetic mechanisms underlying the formation of the habenular neural circuit. Some of the identified genes involved in regulating Wnt/beta-catenin signaling have previously been suggested as risk genes of human mental disorders. Hence, these studies on habenular genetics contribute to a better understanding of brain diseases. We are here summarizing how the gained knowledge on the mechanisms underlying habenular neural circuit development can be used to introduce defined manipulations into the system to study the functional behavioral consequences. We further give an overview of existing behavior assays to address phenotypes related to mental disorders and critically discuss the power but also the limits of the zebrafish model for identifying suitable targets to develop therapies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Zebrafish: A Model for the Study of Human Diseases)

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27 pages, 4118 KiB

Open AccessReview

Molecular and Biochemical Pathways of Catalpol in Alleviating Diabetes Mellitus and Its Complications

by Subrat Kumar Bhattamisra, Hui Min Koh, Shin Yean Lim, Hira Choudhury and Manisha Pandey

Biomolecules 2021, 11(2), 323; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom11020323 - 20 Feb 2021

Cited by 37 | Viewed by 6692

Abstract

Catalpol isolated from Rehmannia glutinosa is a potent antioxidant and investigated against many disorders. This review appraises the key molecular pathways of catalpol against diabetes mellitus and its complications. Multiple search engines including Google Scholar, PubMed, and Science Direct were used to retrieve [...] Read more.

Catalpol isolated from Rehmannia glutinosa is a potent antioxidant and investigated against many disorders. This review appraises the key molecular pathways of catalpol against diabetes mellitus and its complications. Multiple search engines including Google Scholar, PubMed, and Science Direct were used to retrieve publications containing the keywords “Catalpol”, “Type 1 diabetes mellitus”, “Type 2 diabetes mellitus”, and “diabetic complications”. Catalpol promotes IRS-1/PI3K/AKT/GLUT2 activity and suppresses Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) and Glucose 6-phosphatase (G6Pase) expression in the liver. Catalpol induces myogenesis by increasing MyoD/MyoG/MHC expression and improves mitochondria function through the AMPK/PGC-1α/PPAR-γ and TFAM signaling in skeletal muscles. Catalpol downregulates the pro-inflammatory markers and upregulates the anti-inflammatory markers in adipose tissues. Catalpol exerts antioxidant properties through increasing superoxide dismutase (sod), catalase (cat), and glutathione peroxidase (gsh-px) activity in the pancreas and liver. Catalpol has been shown to have anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptosis, and anti-fibrosis properties that in turn bring beneficial effects in diabetic complications. Its nephroprotective effect is related to the modulation of the AGE/RAGE/NF-κB and TGF-β/smad2/3 pathways. Catalpol produces a neuroprotective effect by increasing the expression of protein Kinase-C (PKC) and Cav-1. Furthermore, catalpol exhibits a cardioprotective effect through the apelin/APJ and ROS/NF-κB/Neat1 pathway. Catalpol stimulates proliferation and differentiation of osteoblast cells in high glucose condition. Lastly, catalpol shows its potential in preventing neurodegeneration in the retina with NF-κB downregulation. Overall, catalpol exhibits numerous beneficial effects on diabetes mellitus and diabetic complications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Natural and Bio-inspired Molecules)

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13 pages, 624 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Associations of Circulating Irisin with FNDC5 Expression in Fat and Muscle in Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetic Mice

by Songling Jiang, Lingjuan Piao, Eun Bi Ma, Hunjoo Ha and Joo Young Huh

Biomolecules 2021, 11(2), 322; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom11020322 - 20 Feb 2021

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2654

Abstract

Irisin is an exercise-induced myokine, suggested to exert beneficial effects on metabolism. However, the studies on the regulation of irisin secretion and the expression of its precursor FNDC5 have shown conflicting data. The discrepancies among previous correlation studies in humans are related to [...] Read more.

Irisin is an exercise-induced myokine, suggested to exert beneficial effects on metabolism. However, the studies on the regulation of irisin secretion and the expression of its precursor FNDC5 have shown conflicting data. The discrepancies among previous correlation studies in humans are related to the heterogeneity of the study population. The fact that irisin is not only a myokine but also an adipokine leads to the further complexity of the role of irisin in metabolic regulation. In this study, we examined the regulation of FNDC5 expression and irisin in circulation in both type 1 and type 2 diabetic mice, and their potential relationships with metabolic parameters. In streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type 1 diabetic mice, high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice and db/db mice, the circulating irisin as well as FNDC5 gene expression in subcutaneous fat was downregulated. Muscle FNDC5 expression was only significantly lower in STZ mice, and epididymal fat FNDC5 expression was unaltered. It is interesting to note that plasma irisin levels correlated positively with subcutaneous fat FNDC5 expression, but not epididymal fat or muscle. Moreover, both irisin levels and subcutaneous fat FNDC5 correlated negatively with markers of insulin resistance. These results suggest a regulatory role for subcutaneous fat-derived FNDC5/irisin in metabolic disease. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Biological Factors)

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14 pages, 914 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Thermosonication for the Production of Sulforaphane Rich Broccoli Ingredients

by Sajad Shokri, Hema Jegasothy, Mary Ann Augustin and Netsanet Shiferaw Terefe

Biomolecules 2021, 11(2), 321; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom11020321 - 20 Feb 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2594

Abstract

A large proportion of broccoli biomass is lost during primary production, distribution, processing, and consumption. This biomass is rich in polyphenols and glucosinolates and can be used for the production of bioactive rich ingredients for food and nutraceutical applications. This study evaluated thermosonication [...] Read more.

A large proportion of broccoli biomass is lost during primary production, distribution, processing, and consumption. This biomass is rich in polyphenols and glucosinolates and can be used for the production of bioactive rich ingredients for food and nutraceutical applications. This study evaluated thermosonication (TS) (18 kHz, 0.6 W/g, 40–60 °C, 3–7 min) for the pre-treatment of broccoli florets to enhance enzymatic conversion of glucoraphanin into the bioactive sulforaphane. TS significantly increased sulforaphane yield, despite a decrease in myrosinase activity with increasing treatment intensity. The highest sulforaphane yield of ~2.9 times that of untreated broccoli was observed for broccoli thermosonicated for 7 min at 60 °C, which was 15.8% higher than the corresponding yield for thermal processing without sonication (TP) at the same condition. This was accompanied by increase in the residual level of glucoraphanin (~1.8 and 2.3 time respectively after TP and TS at 60 °C for 7 min compared to control samples) indicating that treatment-induced release of bound glucoraphanin from the cell wall matrix and improved accessibility could be at least partially responsible for the enhanced sulforaphane yield. The result indicates the potential of TS for the conversion of broccoli biomass into high sulforaphane broccoli-based ingredients. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Biotechnological Methods Aimed to Obtain Bioactive Compounds from Food Industry By-Products, 2nd Version)

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10 pages, 1610 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines Induce Insulin and Glucagon Double Positive Human Islet Cells That Are Resistant to Apoptosis

by Marta Tesi, Marco Bugliani, Gianmarco Ferri, Mara Suleiman, Carmela De Luca, Emanuele Bosi, Matilde Masini, Vincenzo De Tata, Conny Gysemans, Francesco Cardarelli, Miriam Cnop, Decio L. Eizirik, Piero Marchetti and Lorella Marselli

Biomolecules 2021, 11(2), 320; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom11020320 - 19 Feb 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3355

Abstract

The presence of islet cells double positive for insulin and glucagon (Ins⁺/Glu⁺) has been described in the pancreas from both type 2 (T2D) and type 1 (T1D) diabetic subjects. We studied the role of pro-inflammatory cytokines on the occurrence, [...] Read more.

The presence of islet cells double positive for insulin and glucagon (Ins⁺/Glu⁺) has been described in the pancreas from both type 2 (T2D) and type 1 (T1D) diabetic subjects. We studied the role of pro-inflammatory cytokines on the occurrence, trajectory, and characteristics of Ins⁺/Glu⁺ cells in human pancreatic islets. Pancreas samples, isolated islets, and dispersed islet cells from 3 T1D and 11 non-diabetic (ND) multi-organ donors were studied by immunofluorescence, confocal microscopy, and/or electron microscopy. ND islet cells were exposed to interleukin-1β and interferon-γ for up to 120 h. In T1D islets, we confirmed an increased prevalence of Ins⁺/Glu⁺ cells. Cytokine-exposed islets showed a progressive increase of Ins⁺/Glu⁺ cells that represented around 50% of endocrine cells after 120h. Concomitantly, cells expressing insulin granules only decreased significantly over time, whereas those containing only glucagon granules remained stable. Interestingly, Ins⁺/Glu⁺ cells were less prone to cytokine-induced apoptosis than cells containing only insulin. Cytokine-exposed islets showed down-regulation of β-cell identity genes. In conclusion, pro-inflammatory cytokines induce Ins⁺/Glu⁺ cells in human islets, possibly due to a switch from a β- to a β-/α-cell phenotype. These Ins⁺/Glu⁺ cells appear to be resistant to cytokine-induced apoptosis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pancreatic Islets of Langerhans: Not Only Beta-Cells)

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21 pages, 3828 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Behavioral Effects of Developmental Exposure to JWH-018 in Wild-Type and Disrupted in Schizophrenia 1 (disc1) Mutant Zebrafish

by Judit García-González, Bruno de Quadros, William Havelange, Alistair J. Brock and Caroline H. Brennan

Biomolecules 2021, 11(2), 319; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom11020319 - 19 Feb 2021

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 4015

Abstract

Synthetic cannabinoids can cause acute adverse psychological effects, but the potential impact when exposure happens before birth is unknown. Use of synthetic cannabinoids during pregnancy may affect fetal brain development, and such effects could be moderated by the genetic makeup of an individual. [...] Read more.

Synthetic cannabinoids can cause acute adverse psychological effects, but the potential impact when exposure happens before birth is unknown. Use of synthetic cannabinoids during pregnancy may affect fetal brain development, and such effects could be moderated by the genetic makeup of an individual. Disrupted in schizophrenia 1 (DISC1) is a gene with important roles in neurodevelopment that has been associated with psychiatric disorders in pedigree analyses. Using zebrafish as a model, we investigated (1) the behavioral impact of developmental exposure to 3 μM 1-pentyl-3-(1-naphthoyl)-indole (JWH-018; a common psychoactive synthetic cannabinoid) and (2) whether disc1 moderates the effects of JWH-018. As altered anxiety responses are seen in several psychiatric disorders, we focused on zebrafish anxiety-like behavior. Zebrafish embryos were exposed to JWH-018 from one to six days post-fertilization. Anxiety-like behavior was assessed using forced light/dark and acoustic startle assays in larvae and novel tank diving in adults. Compared to controls, both acutely and developmentally exposed zebrafish larvae had impaired locomotion during the forced light/dark test, but anxiety levels and response to startle stimuli were unaltered. Adult zebrafish developmentally exposed to JWH-018 spent less time on the bottom of the tank, suggesting decreased anxiety. Loss-of-function in disc1 increased anxiety-like behavior in the tank diving assay but did not alter sensitivity to JWH-018. Results suggest developmental exposure to JWH-018 has a long-term behavioral impact in zebrafish, which is not moderated by disc1. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Zebrafish: A Model for the Study of Human Diseases)

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19 pages, 4991 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Looking for Hidden Enemies of Metabarcoding: Species Composition, Habitat and Management Can Strongly Influence DNA Extraction while Examining Grassland Communities

by Anna Rucińska, Marcin Olszak, Sebastian Świerszcz, Marcin Nobis, Szymon Zubek, Grzegorz Kusza, Maja Boczkowska and Arkadiusz Nowak

Biomolecules 2021, 11(2), 318; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom11020318 - 19 Feb 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2394

Abstract

Despite the raising preoccupation, the critical question of how the plant community is composed belowground still remains unresolved, particularly for the conservation priority types of vegetation. The usefulness of metabarcoding analysis of the belowground parts of the plant community is subjected to a [...] Read more.

Despite the raising preoccupation, the critical question of how the plant community is composed belowground still remains unresolved, particularly for the conservation priority types of vegetation. The usefulness of metabarcoding analysis of the belowground parts of the plant community is subjected to a considerable bias, that often impedes detection of all species in a sample due to insufficient DNA quality or quantity. In the presented study we have attempted to find environmental factors that determine the amount and quality of DNA extracted from total plant tissue from above- and belowground samples (1000 and 10,000 cm²). We analyzed the influence of land use intensity, soil properties, species composition, and season on DNA extraction. The most important factors for DNA quality were vegetation type, soil conductometry (EC), and soil pH for the belowground samples. The species that significantly decreased the DNA quality were Calamagrostis epigejos, Coronilla varia, and Holcus lanatus. For the aboveground part of the vegetation, the season, management intensity, and certain species—with the most prominent being Centaurea rhenana and Cirsium canum—have the highest influence. Additionally, we found that sample size, soil granulation, MgO, organic C, K₂O, and total soil N content are important for DNA extraction effectiveness. Both low EC and pH reduce significantly the yield and quality of DNA. Identifying the potential inhibitors of DNA isolation and predicting difficulties of sampling the vegetation plots for metabarcoding analysis will help to optimize the universal, low-cost multi-stage DNA extraction procedure in molecular ecology studies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Molecular Genetics)

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15 pages, 4279 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Silver Nanoparticles Induce Neutrophil Extracellular Traps Via Activation of PAD and Neutrophil Elastase

by HanGoo Kang, Jinwon Seo, Eun-Jeong Yang and In-Hong Choi

Biomolecules 2021, 11(2), 317; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom11020317 - 19 Feb 2021

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2534

Abstract

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are widely used in various fields because of their antimicrobial properties. However, many studies have reported that AgNPs can be harmful to both microorganisms and humans. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are a key factor of cytotoxicity of AgNPs in mammalian [...] Read more.

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are widely used in various fields because of their antimicrobial properties. However, many studies have reported that AgNPs can be harmful to both microorganisms and humans. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are a key factor of cytotoxicity of AgNPs in mammalian cells and an important factor in the immune reaction of neutrophils. The immune reactions of neutrophils include the expulsion of webs of DNA surrounded by histones and granular proteins. These webs of DNA are termed neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). NETs allow neutrophils to catch and destroy pathogens in extracellular spaces. In this study, we investigated how AgNPs stimulate neutrophils, specifically focusing on NETs. Freshly isolated human neutrophils were treated with 5 or 100 nm AgNPs. The 5 nm AgNPs induced NET formation, but the 100 nm AgNPs did not. Subsequently, we investigated the mechanism of AgNP-induced NETs using known inhibitors related to NET formation. AgNP-induced NETs were dependent on ROS, peptidyl arginine deiminase, and neutrophil elastase. The result in this study indicates that treatment of 5 nm AgNPs induce NET formation through histone citrullination by peptidyl arginine deiminase and histone cleavage by neutrophil elastase. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health and Environmental Effect of Advanced Materials and Fine Particles)

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35 pages, 9016 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Molecular Targets and Strategies for Inhibition of the Bacterial Type III Secretion System (T3SS); Inhibitors Directly Binding to T3SS Components

by Julia A. Hotinger, Heather A. Pendergrass and Aaron E. May

Biomolecules 2021, 11(2), 316; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom11020316 - 19 Feb 2021

Cited by 24 | Viewed by 8577

Abstract

The type III secretion system (T3SS) is a virulence apparatus used by many Gram-negative pathogenic bacteria to cause infections. Pathogens utilizing a T3SS are responsible for millions of infections yearly. Since many T3SS knockout strains are incapable of causing systemic infection, the T3SS [...] Read more.

The type III secretion system (T3SS) is a virulence apparatus used by many Gram-negative pathogenic bacteria to cause infections. Pathogens utilizing a T3SS are responsible for millions of infections yearly. Since many T3SS knockout strains are incapable of causing systemic infection, the T3SS has emerged as an attractive anti-virulence target for therapeutic design. The T3SS is a multiprotein molecular syringe that enables pathogens to inject effector proteins into host cells. These effectors modify host cell mechanisms in a variety of ways beneficial to the pathogen. Due to the T3SS’s complex nature, there are numerous ways in which it can be targeted. This review will be focused on the direct targeting of components of the T3SS, including the needle, translocon, basal body, sorting platform, and effector proteins. Inhibitors will be considered a direct inhibitor if they have a binding partner that is a T3SS component, regardless of the inhibitory effect being structural or functional. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Virulence Systems of Human Pathogens as Targets for Novel Therapeutics and Prophylactics)

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19 pages, 10651 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Skeletal Muscle Transcriptome Analysis of Hanzhong Ma Duck at Different Growth Stages Using RNA-Seq

by Zhigang Hu, Junting Cao, Jianqin Zhang, Liyan Ge, Huilin Zhang and Xiaolin Liu

Biomolecules 2021, 11(2), 315; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom11020315 - 19 Feb 2021

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 3353

Abstract

As one of the most important poultry worldwide, ducks (Anas platyrhynchos) are raised mainly for meat and egg products, and muscle development in ducks is important for meat production. Therefore, an investigation of gene expression in duck skeletal muscle would significantly [...] Read more.

As one of the most important poultry worldwide, ducks (Anas platyrhynchos) are raised mainly for meat and egg products, and muscle development in ducks is important for meat production. Therefore, an investigation of gene expression in duck skeletal muscle would significantly contribute to our understanding of muscle development. In this study, twenty-four cDNA libraries were constructed from breast and leg muscles of Hanzhong Ma ducks at day 17, 21, 27 of the embryo and postnatal at 6-month-old. High-throughput sequencing and bioinformatics were used to determine the abundances and characteristics of transcripts. A total of 632,172,628 (average 52,681,052) and 637,213,938 (average 53,101,162) reads were obtained from the sequencing data of breast and leg muscles, respectively. Over 71.63% and 77.36% of the reads could be mapped to the Anas platyrhynchos genome. In the skeletal muscle of Hanzhong duck, intron variant (INTRON), synonymous variant (SYNONYMOUS_CODING), and prime 3′ UTR variant (UTR_3_PRIME) were the main single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) annotation information, and “INTRON”, “UTR_3_PRIME”, and downstream-gene variant (DOWNSTREAM) were the main insertion-deletion (InDel) annotation information. The predicted number of alternative splicing (AS) in all samples were mainly alternative 5′ first exon (transcription start site)-the first exon splicing (TSS) and alternative 3′ last exon (transcription terminal site)-the last exon splicing (TTS). Besides, there were 292 to 2801 annotated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in breast muscle and 304 to 1950 annotated DEGs in leg muscle from different databases. It is worth noting that 75 DEGs in breast muscle and 49 DEGs in leg muscle were co-expressed at all developmental points of comparison, respectively. The RNA-Seq data were confirmed to be reliable by qPCR. The identified DEGs, such as CREBL2, RHEB, GDF6, SHISA2, MYLK2, ACTN3, RYR3, and STMN1, were specially highlighted, indicating their strong associations with muscle development in the Hanzhong Ma duck. KEGG pathway analysis suggested that regulation of actin cytoskeleton, oxidative phosphorylation, and focal adhesion were involved in the development of skeletal muscle. The findings from this study can contribute to future investigations of the growth and development mechanism in duck skeletal muscle. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Molecular Genetics)

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11 pages, 699 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Enzymatic Synthesis of Lipophilic Esters of Phenolic Compounds, Evaluation of Their Antioxidant Activity and Effect on the Oxidative Stability of Selected Oils

by Bartłomiej Zieniuk, Katarzyna Groborz, Małgorzata Wołoszynowska, Katarzyna Ratusz, Ewa Białecka-Florjańczyk and Agata Fabiszewska

Biomolecules 2021, 11(2), 314; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom11020314 - 19 Feb 2021

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 3748

Abstract

The aim of the study was to compare the effect of the substituent and its position in the aromatic ring on the antioxidant activity of hexanoic acid esters obtained in reactions catalyzed by immobilized lipase B from Candida antarctica. 4-Hydroxybenzyl hexanoate, 2-hydroxybenzyl [...] Read more.

The aim of the study was to compare the effect of the substituent and its position in the aromatic ring on the antioxidant activity of hexanoic acid esters obtained in reactions catalyzed by immobilized lipase B from Candida antarctica. 4-Hydroxybenzyl hexanoate, 2-hydroxybenzyl hexanoate, 4-methoxybenzyl hexanoate, and vanillyl hexanoate were obtained with conversion yields of 50 to 80%. The antioxidant activity of synthesized esters, their alcohol precursors and BHT (Butylated HydroxyToluene) was compared with DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl), CUPRAC (cupric ion reducing antioxidant capacity), and CBA (crocin bleaching assay) methods. Furthermore, it was investigated whether the presence of vanillyl hexanoate in a concentration of 0.01 and 0.1% affected the oxidative stability of sunflower and rapeseed oils in the Rancimat test. It was observed that the antioxidant activity of hexanoic acid esters depends on the presence and position of the hydroxyl group in the aromatic ring. The highest activities were found for vanillyl alcohol, vanillyl hexanoate, and BHT. The addition of the ester and BHT significantly extended the induction times of the tested oils, and these compounds exhibited similar activity. Vanillyl hexanoate increased the induction time from 4.49 to 5.28 h and from 2.73 to 3.12 h in the case of rapeseed and sunflower oils, respectively. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fungal Metabolism - Enzymes and Bioactive Compounds)

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16 pages, 3626 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Severe Genotype, Pancreatic Insufficiency and Low Dose of Pancreatic Enzymes Associate with Abnormal Serum Sterol Profile in Cystic Fibrosis

by Sławomira Drzymała-Czyż, Patrycja Krzyżanowska-Jankowska, Krzysztof Dziedzic, Aleksandra Lisowska, Szymon Kurek, Joanna Goździk-Spychalska, Victoria Kononets, Dagmara Woźniak, Edyta Mądry and Jarosław Walkowiak

Biomolecules 2021, 11(2), 313; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom11020313 - 19 Feb 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2259

Abstract

Background: Several factors could lead to lipid disturbances observed in cystic fibrosis (CF). This study aimed to assess sterol homeostasis in CF and define potential exogenous and endogenous determinants of lipid dysregulation. Methods: The study involved 55 CF patients and 45 healthy subjects [...] Read more.

Background: Several factors could lead to lipid disturbances observed in cystic fibrosis (CF). This study aimed to assess sterol homeostasis in CF and define potential exogenous and endogenous determinants of lipid dysregulation. Methods: The study involved 55 CF patients and 45 healthy subjects (HS). Sterol concentrations (μg/dL) were measured by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. CF was characterised by lung function, pancreatic status, liver disease and diabetes coexistence, Pseudomonas aeruginosa colonisation and BMI. CFTR genotypes were classified as severe or other. Results: Campesterol and β-sitosterol concentrations were lower (p = 0.0028 and p < 0.0001, respectively) and lathosterol levels (reflecting endogenous cholesterol biosynthesis) were higher (p = 0.0016) in CF patients than in HS. Campesterol and β-sitosterol concentrations were lower in patients with a severe CFTR genotype, pancreatic insufficiency and lower pancreatic enzyme dose (lipase units/gram of fat). In multiple regression analyses, β-sitosterol and campesterol concentrations were predicted by genotype and pancreatic insufficiency, whereas cholesterol and its fractions were predicted by phytosterol concentrations, age, dose of pancreatic enzymes, nutritional status and genotype. Conclusions: Independent determinants of lipid status suggest that malabsorption and pancreatic enzyme supplementation play a significant role in sterol abnormalities. The measurement of campesterol and β-sitosterol concentrations in CF patients may serve for the assessment of the effectiveness of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy and/or compliance, but further research is required. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Molecular Genetics)

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14 pages, 15453 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Substrate-Dependent Sensitivity of SIRT1 to Nicotinamide Inhibition

by Stacia Rymarchyk, Wenjia Kang and Yana Cen

Biomolecules 2021, 11(2), 312; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom11020312 - 18 Feb 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3264

Abstract

SIRT1 is the most extensively studied human sirtuin with a broad spectrum of endogenous targets. It has been implicated in the regulation of a myriad of cellular events, such as gene transcription, mitochondria biogenesis, insulin secretion as well as glucose and lipid metabolism. [...] Read more.

SIRT1 is the most extensively studied human sirtuin with a broad spectrum of endogenous targets. It has been implicated in the regulation of a myriad of cellular events, such as gene transcription, mitochondria biogenesis, insulin secretion as well as glucose and lipid metabolism. From a mechanistic perspective, nicotinamide (NAM), a byproduct of a sirtuin-catalyzed reaction, reverses a reaction intermediate to regenerate NAD⁺ through “base exchange”, leading to the inhibition of the forward deacetylation. NAM has been suggested as a universal sirtuin negative regulator. Sirtuins have evolved different strategies in response to NAM regulation. Here, we report the detailed kinetic analysis of SIRT1-catalyzed reactions using endogenous substrate-based synthetic peptides. A novel substrate-dependent sensitivity of SIRT1 to NAM inhibition was observed. Additionally, SIRT1 demonstrated pH-dependent deacetylation with normal solvent isotope effects (SIEs), consistent with proton transfer in the rate-limiting step. Base exchange, in contrast, was insensitive to pH changes with no apparent SIEs, indicative of lack of proton transfer in the rate-limiting step. Consequently, NAM inhibition was attenuated at a high pH in proteated buffers. Our study provides new evidence for “activation by de-repression” as an effective sirtuin activation strategy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection Feature Papers in Enzymology)

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15 pages, 740 KiB

Open AccessReview

Unique Benefits of Tumor-Specific Nanobodies for Fluorescence Guided Surgery

by Thinzar M. Lwin, Robert M. Hoffman and Michael Bouvet

Biomolecules 2021, 11(2), 311; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom11020311 - 18 Feb 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3071

Abstract

Tumor-specific fluorescence labeling is promising for real-time visualization of solid malignancies during surgery. There are a number of technologies to confer tumor-specific fluorescence. Antibodies have traditionally been used due to their versatility in modifications; however, their large size hampers efficient fluorophore delivery. Nanobodies [...] Read more.

Tumor-specific fluorescence labeling is promising for real-time visualization of solid malignancies during surgery. There are a number of technologies to confer tumor-specific fluorescence. Antibodies have traditionally been used due to their versatility in modifications; however, their large size hampers efficient fluorophore delivery. Nanobodies are a novel class of molecules, derived from camelid heavy-chain only antibodies, that have shown promise for tumor-specific fluorescence labeling. Nanobodies are ten times smaller than standard antibodies, while maintaining antigen-binding capacity and have advantageous features, including rapidity of tumor labeling, that are reviewed in the present report. The present report reviews special considerations needed in developing nanobody probes, the status of current literature on the use of nanobody probes in fluorescence guided surgery, and potential challenges to be addressed for clinical translation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Therapeutic and Diagnostic Potential of Nanobodies)

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26 pages, 2158 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Organ Fibrosis and Autoimmunity: The Role of Inflammation in TGFβ-Dependent EMT

by Margherita Sisto, Domenico Ribatti and Sabrina Lisi

Biomolecules 2021, 11(2), 310; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom11020310 - 18 Feb 2021

Cited by 58 | Viewed by 4199

Abstract

Recent advances in our understanding of the molecular pathways that control the link of inflammation with organ fibrosis and autoimmune diseases point to the epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) as the common association in the progression of these diseases characterized by an intense [...] Read more.

Recent advances in our understanding of the molecular pathways that control the link of inflammation with organ fibrosis and autoimmune diseases point to the epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) as the common association in the progression of these diseases characterized by an intense inflammatory response. EMT, a process in which epithelial cells are gradually transformed to mesenchymal cells, is a major contributor to the pathogenesis of fibrosis. Importantly, the chronic inflammatory microenvironment has emerged as a decisive factor in the induction of pathological EMT. Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), a multifunctional cytokine, plays a crucial role in the induction of fibrosis, often associated with chronic phases of inflammatory diseases, contributing to marked fibrotic changes that severely impair normal tissue architecture and function. The understanding of molecular mechanisms underlying EMT-dependent fibrosis has both a basic and a translational relevance, since it may be useful to design therapies aimed at counteracting organ deterioration and failure. To this end, we reviewed the recent literature to better elucidate the molecular response to inflammatory/fibrogenic signals in autoimmune diseases in order to further the specific regulation of EMT-dependent fibrosis in more targeted therapies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection TGF-Beta Signaling in Tissue Fibrosis and Cancer)

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20 pages, 3185 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperReview

Current Views on the Roles of O-Glycosylation in Controlling Notch-Ligand Interactions

by Wataru Saiki, Chenyu Ma, Tetsuya Okajima and Hideyuki Takeuchi

Biomolecules 2021, 11(2), 309; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom11020309 - 18 Feb 2021

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 3655

Abstract

The 100th anniversary of Notch discovery in Drosophila has recently passed. The Notch is evolutionarily conserved from Drosophila to humans. The discovery of human-specific Notch genes has led to a better understanding of Notch signaling in development and diseases and will continue to [...] Read more.

The 100th anniversary of Notch discovery in Drosophila has recently passed. The Notch is evolutionarily conserved from Drosophila to humans. The discovery of human-specific Notch genes has led to a better understanding of Notch signaling in development and diseases and will continue to stimulate further research in the future. Notch receptors are responsible for cell-to-cell signaling. They are activated by cell-surface ligands located on adjacent cells. Notch activation plays an important role in determining the fate of cells, and dysregulation of Notch signaling results in numerous human diseases. Notch receptors are primarily activated by ligand binding. Many studies in various fields including genetics, developmental biology, biochemistry, and structural biology conducted over the past two decades have revealed that the activation of the Notch receptor is regulated by unique glycan modifications. Such modifications include O-fucose, O-glucose, and O-N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) on epidermal growth factor-like (EGF) repeats located consecutively in the extracellular domain of Notch receptors. Being fine-tuned by glycans is an important property of Notch receptors. In this review article, we summarize the latest findings on the regulation of Notch activation by glycosylation and discuss future challenges. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Structural and Functional Approach to the Glycan Diversity)

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