BioChem

Flavan-3-ol derivatives are polyphenolic compounds with multifunctional properties. One of the flavan-3-ol derivatives, green tea catechin epigallocatechin gallate, is known to have anticancer activity as one of its multifunctional properties. We have studied the synthesis of flavan-3-ol derivatives and conducted structure-activity relationship studies; we found that the fluorinated derivatives exhibited high toxicity against HeLa and A549 cells. It was confirmed that the cytotoxicity was affected by the conformation of the flavan-3-ol skeleton and that the 2,3-cis form was dominant. The addition of fluorinated compounds increased the amount of intracellular mitochondrial superoxide, abolished the membrane potential of mitochondria, and, interestingly, formed granular aggregates containing mitochondria. When the level of LC3-II, a marker of autophagy induction, was confirmed, it suggested that the addition of the fluorinated compounds promoted autophagy. These results suggest that the novel highly cytotoxic fluorinated flavan-3-ol compound synthesized in this study promotes autophagy and induces cell death by triggering mitochondrial dysfunction. We believe that these results suggest the possibility of conferring more functionality through structural transformations of flavan-3-ol derivatives. Full article

Modern “omics” sciences, including metabolomics and microbiomics, are currently being applied to inflammatory autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), to investigate the interplay between microbiota, metabolic function, and the immune system. In recent decades, robust evidence has suggested that disruption of the normal composition of the microbiome, known as dysbiosis, in the gut and mouth of RA patients contributes to immune dysregulation and alterations in the metabolic pathways, shaping the pathogenesis of the disease and playing a central role in the risk and progression of RA. Metabolic pathways can be influenced by various agents such as the surrounding environment, lifestyle, and exposure to microbiota imbalance. In turn, the body’s metabolic homeostasis influences the immune response, making metabolomics helpful not only to understand pathogenesis pathways, but also to improve early disease detection and therapeutic chances. Combined gut microbiome and metabolome studies set out to unravel the interactions between these two entities, providing insights to discover new treatment targets and potential biomarkers to prevent joint damage. The purpose of this review is to summarize the main recent findings that suggest promising new research directions for the pathogenesis of RA. Full article

Eukaryotic cells are intracellularly divided into several compartments that provide spatiotemporal control over biochemical reactions. Phase separation of proteins and RNA is emerging as an important mechanism underlying the formation of intracellular compartments that are not delimited by membranes. These structures are also known as biomolecular condensates and have been shown to serve a myriad of cellular functions, such as organization of cytoplasm and nucleoplasm, stress response, signal transduction, gene regulation, and immune response. Here, the author will summarize our current understanding of intracellular phase separation, its biological functions, and how this phenomenon is regulated in eukaryotic cells. Additionally, the author will review recent evidence of the role of biomolecular condensates in the development of pathophysiological conditions, with special emphasis on cancer and immune signaling. Full article

An acidic extracellular pH value (pH_e) is characteristic of many cancers, in contrast to the physiologic pH_e found in most benign cells. This difference in pH offers a unique opportunity to design and engineer chemicals that can be employed for pH-selective reactions in the extracellular fluid of cancer cells. The viability of human skin melanoma and corresponding fibroblasts exposed to CaS dispersions is reported. The viability of melanoma cells decreases with CaS dispersion concentration and reaches 57% at 3%, a value easily distinguishable from melanoma control experiments. In contrast, the viability of benign fibroblasts remains nearly constant within experimental error over the range of dispersion concentrations studied. The CaS dispersions facilitate vinculin delocalization in the cytoplasmic fluid, a result consistent with improved focal adhesion kinase (FAK) regulation in melanoma cells. Thermodynamic considerations are consistent with the formation of H₂S from CaS in the presence of protons. The thermodynamic prediction is verified in independent experiments with solid CaS and acidic aqueous solutions. The amount of H₂S formed decreases with pH. An activation energy for the process of (30 ± 10) kJ/mol in the temperature range of 280 to 330 K is estimated from initial rate measurements as a function of temperature. The total Gibbs energy minimization approach was employed to establish the distribution of sulfides—including H₂S in the gas and aqueous phases—from the dissociation of CaS as a function of pH to mimic physiologically relevant pH values. Theoretical calculations suggest that partially protonated CaS in solution can be stable until the sulfur atom bonds to two hydrogen atoms, resulting in the formation of Ca²⁺ and H₂S, which can be solvated and/or released to the gas phase. Our results are consistent with a model in which CaS is dissociated in the extracellular fluid of melanoma cells selectively. The results are discussed in the context of the potential biomedical applications of CaS dispersions in cancer therapies. Full article

It is commonly understood that RNA-binding proteins crucially determine the fate of their target RNAs. Vice versa, RNAs are becoming increasingly recognized for their functions in protein regulation and the dynamics of RNA-protein complexes. Long non-coding RNAs are emerging as potent regulators of proteins that exert unknown RNA-binding properties and moonlighting functions. A vast array of RNA- and protein-centric techniques have been developed for the identification of protein and RNA targets, respectively, including unbiased protein mass spectrometry and next-generation RNA sequencing as readout. Determining true physiological RNA and protein targets is challenging as RNA–protein interaction is highly dynamic, tissue- and cell-type-specific, and changes with the environment. Here I review current techniques for the analysis of RNA–protein interactions in living cells and in vitro. RNA-centric techniques are presented on the basis of cross-linking or the use of alternative approaches. Protein-centric approaches are discussed in combination with high-throughput sequencing. Finally, the impact of mutations in RNA–protein complexes on human disease is highlighted. Full article

The development of composites with antibacterial activity represents an important strategy to avoid side effects such as increasing bacterial resistance to antibiotics. In particular, the green synthesis of metal nanoparticles avoids the use of hazardous chemical compounds and introduces the intrinsic beneficial properties of plant-derived compounds. Herein, the reduction of gold salt into metal nanoparticles was provided by the action of a cationic polymer derived from tannin (Tanfloc^®). Comparative activity of antibacterial agents (pure Tanfloc and Au NPs—Tanfloc) at different concentrations were evaluated in terms of the antibiofilm activity, kill-time assays and inhibition haloes confirming the antibacterial activity of the Tanfloc that is reinforced by the incorporation of reduced gold nanoparticles, resulting in the complete elimination of S. aureus from an initial concentration of 10⁸ CFU/mL after 120 min of reaction of Au NPs + Tanfloc solution in association with strong inhibition of the biofilm formation attributed to the Tanfloc. Full article

The 2019 oil spill was considered the largest environmental disaster in the Brazilian Northeastern coast. It was associated with mostly ineffective government actions, thus intensifying historical vulnerabilities faced by local populations. We aimed to analyze the environmental conflicts and injustices and the socio-environmental, economic, and health vulnerabilities arising from the oil spill, considering the COVID-19 pandemic, impacting artisanal fishing communities of the Northeastern coast. A document-based, qualitative, cross-sectional research was carried out between September 2019 and October 2022, in open access secondary databases, and using field diaries from research of the Environmental Health and Work Laboratory (LASAT) of the Aggeu Magalhães Institute of the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation. The disaster caused situations of injustice and environmental conflicts that had negative repercussions in the territories with socioeconomic impacts, on the environment, and on the health of the population. The entire marine environment was affected, resulting in physical and chemical alterations. The health vulnerabilities faced by local people were intensified, influencing the social determination of the health–disease process. The local economy was extremely affected, generating job insecurity and several socio-cultural problems. It is essential to build environmental and health diagnoses for remedial measures in disasters such as the oil spill. Full article

Epitranscriptome refers to post-transcriptional modifications to RNA and their associated regulatory factors that can govern changes in an organism’s cells in response to various environmental stimuli. Recent studies have recognized over 170 distinct chemical signatures in RNA, and the list keeps expanding. These modifications are hypothesized to have roles beyond simply fine-tuning the structure and function of RNA, as studies have linked them to various infectious and noninfectious diseases in humans. Dedicated cellular machinery comprising of RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) that can write, erase, and read these modifications drives the regulation of the epitranscriptomic code, and as such influences RNA metabolism and homeostasis. Equally, perturbations in the function of RBPs may disrupt RNA processing, further implicating them in pathogenesis. As such, the mechanisms underlying RNA modifications and their association with RBPs are emerging areas of interest within the field of biomedicine. This review focuses on understanding epitranscriptomic modifications, their effects on RNA–RBPs interactions, and their influence on cellular processes. Full article

The bilayer’s formations of amphiphilic molecules or polyions of different ionogenity comprise the basic building units of most organic biological and non-biological systems. A theory has evolved to explain their behaviour during the creation of those organized structures, such as anisotropic liquid crystal (LC) in lyotropic (especially hydrotropic) systems and polyelectrolyte multilayer (PEM) assemblies. Particular attention has been paid to the temperature and the important role of water in the formation and behaviour of the bilayers. A novel insight into the formation of hydrotropic liquid LC systems and their thermotropic behaviour is presented. In this context, the systems PEM assemblies are also discussed. Essentially, a structuralised form of water fills out continuous and discontinuous, i.e., confined, nano-spaces among hydrophilic interfaces of bilayers, controlling their supramolecular structure through a system of attractive and repulsive hydration forces. The character of those sophisticated bonding hydration systems is predestined by the composition and type of these hydrophilic interface groups. The miscellaneous complexity of the bilayer’s aqueous systems suggests the need to study these examples in greater detail. Therefore, the bilayer’s processes connected with disruption as far as destruction of bilayers are mentioned, i.e., the processes with the highest potential to combat bacteria, fungi, and viruses, such as in a situation where a person exhales a breath of micro-droplets containing virus nanoparticles (e.g., the COVID-19 virus). Full article

Skin is one of the organs most tested for toxicity and safety evaluation during the process of drug research and development and in the past has usually been performed in vivo using animals. Over the last few years, non-animal alternatives have been developed and validated epidermis models for human and rat skin are already available. Our goal was to develop a histotypical canine skin analog, suitable for non-animal biocompatibility and biosafety assessment. Canine keratinocytes were seeded in an air-lift culture using an adapted version of the CELLnTEC protocol. Corrosion and irritation protocols were adapted from human EpiSkin^TM. For histological analysis, sample biopsies were fixed in neutral-buffered formalin, and paraffin slices were routinely processed and stained with hematoxylin and eosin. A canine multilayer and stratified epidermal-like tissue (cEpiderm), confirmed by histological analysis, was obtained. The cEpiderm tissue exhibited normal morphological and functional characteristics of epidermis, namely impermeability and an adequate response to stressors. The cEpiderm is a promising canine skin model for non-animal safety testing of veterinary pharmaceuticals and/or cosmetics, significantly contributing to reducing undesirable in vivo approaches. cEpiderm is therefore a valid canine skin model and may be made commercially available either as a service or as a product. Full article

The incidence of male infertility has been increasing over the years and is now becoming a serious health problem. This trend has been followed by an increase in metabolic diseases, which are known to induce clear alterations in testicular metabolism, although the underlying mechanismremain unclear. Testicular metabolism displays several unique features, with testicular somatic cells being central in providing the conditions needed for spermatogenesis, including its nutritional and hormonal support. In addition to glucose and lactate, the two main energy sources used by the testis, glycogen is also present in testicular cells. Glycogen metabolism is a potential source of glucose to both testicular somatic (namely Sertoli and Leydig cells) and germ cells. Many of the enzymes involved in the pathways of the synthesis and degradation of glycogen were identified in these cells, emphasising the relevance of this complex carbohydrate. Glycogen, however, has other non-canonical functions in testicular cells; besides its role as a source of energy, it is also associated with events such as cellular differentiation and apoptosis. In this review, we address the relevance of testicular glycogen metabolism, focusing on its role in Sertoli and Leydig cells and spermatogenesis. In addition, all the available information on the role of glycogen and related pathways in male infertility cases is discussed. Our discussion highlights that glycogen metabolism has been somewhat overlooked in testis and its contribution to spermatogenesis may be underestimated. Full article

Metalloenzymes are the most proficient nature catalysts that are responsible for diverse biochemical transformations introducing excellent selectivity and performing at high rates, using intricate mutual relationships between metal ions and proteins. Inspired by nature, chemists started using naturally occurring proteins as templates to harbor non-native metal catalysts for the sustainable synthesis of molecules for pharmaceutical, biotechnological and industrial purposes. Therefore, metalloenzymes are the relevant targets for the design of artificial biocatalysts. The search and development of new scaffolds capable of hosting metals with high levels of selectivity could significantly expand the scope of bio-catalysis. To meet this challenge, herein, three native scaffolds: [1Fe-4Cys] (rubredoxin), [3Fe-4S] (ferredoxin), and [S₂MoS₂CuS₂MoS₂]-ORP (orange protein) protein scaffolds are case studies describing templates for the synthesis of non-native monomeric to mixed metal–sulfur clusters, which mimic native Ni containing metalloenzymes including [Ni-Fe] Hydrogenase and [Ni-Fe] CO Dehydrogenase. The non-native metal-substituted metalloproteins are not only useful for catalysis but also as spectroscopic probes. Full article

Three forms of methylated cytosines are present in the eukaryotic genome: 3-methylcytosine, 4-methylcytosine and 5-methylcytosine. 3-methylcytosines create methyl lesions, which impair local DNA function and flexibility, resulting in replication and transcription error. On the other hand, 5-methylcytosine is usually present at the gene promoter which blocks transcription and translation. Fe(II)/2OG-dependent nucleic acid-modifying enzymes are the class of enzymes responsible for the demethylation of these modified cytosines. ALKBH2 and 3 remove 3-methylcytosine via a one-step direct demethylation process. On the other hand, active demethylation of 5mC is initiated by Ten-Eleven Translocation (TET)-family dioxygenases. Via oxidative demethylation, TET1-3 converts 5mC into 5-hydroxymethylcytosine, 5-formylcytosine and 5-carboxylcytosine. Remarkably, recent findings demonstrate that ALKBH2,3 possess oxidative demethylation properties, along with direct demethylation. On the other hand, the TET family of enzymes possess direct demethylation properties along with oxidative demethylation. Here we review the importance of methylated cytosines in human DNA, their origin, function and removal. In addition, we discuss the recent findings of extraordinary flexibility of Fe(II)/2OG-dependent nucleic acid-modifying enzymes ALKBH2,3 and TET family of enzymes in cytosine demethylation, as well as their impact on epigenetics. Full article

The Molecular Genetics Mobile Lab or “Laboratório itinerante de Genética Molecular” (Lab-it) was funded in 2008 by Leonor Cancela to promote the learning of molecular genetics which had been introduced at that time into high school biology programms. The project aimed to introduce hands-on laboratory activities in molecular genetics to complement the theoretical concepts taught in school. These included the development of experimental protocols based on theoretical scenarios focusing on themes of forensics sciences, biomedical applications, diagnostic methods, and ecological research using basic molecular biology techniques, such as DNA extraction, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), electrophoresis, and restriction enzyme application. In these scenarios, the students execute all the procedures with the help of the Lab-it instructor and using the Lab-it equipment, followed by a discussion of the results with all the participants and the school teacher. These approaches help the students to consolidate the concepts of molecular biology and simultaneously promote discussions on new advances in the area and choices for university careers. In addition to practical sessions, Lab-it also promotes seminars on topics of interest to the students and teachers. Since 2008, 18 high schools have participated in the region of Algarve, averaging each year about 400 students participating in practical activities. In 2021, despite the COVID pandemic, 9 schools and 379 students were involved in Lab-it practical sessions and 99% of them considered the activity to contribute to better understanding the molecular biology methods approached in theoretical classes and expressed high interest in those sessions. Full article

In this contribution, we provide an overview of gold compound applications against viruses or parasites during recent years. The special properties of gold have been the subject of intense investigation in recent years, which has led to the development of its chemistry with the synthesis of new compounds and the study of its applicability in various areas such as catalysis, materials, nanotechnology and medicine. Herein, thirteen gold articles with applications in several viruses, such as hepatitis C virus (HCV), influenza A virus (H1N1), vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), coronavirus (SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2), Dengue virus, and several parasites such as Plasmodium sp., Leishmania sp., Tripanossoma sp., Brugia sp., Schistosoma sp., Onchocerca sp., Acanthamoeba sp., and Trichomonas sp. are described. Gold compounds with anti-viral activity include gold nanoparticles with the ligands mercaptoundecanosulfonate, 1-octanethiol and aldoses and gold complexes with phosphine and carbene ligands. All of the gold compounds with anti-parasitic activity reported are gold complexes of the carbene type. Auranofin is a gold drug already used against rheumatoid arthritis, and it has also been tested against virus and parasites. Full article

Objectives: The emergence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the novel coronavirus severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has led to a global health calamity unprecedented in the modern world. The disease spread worldwide, and to date, there have been over 230 million confirmed cases of COVID-19, including approximately 4.7 million deaths. Mutant variants of the virus have raised concerns about additional pandemic waves and threaten to reverse our progress thus far to limit the spread of the virus. These variants include Alpha, Beta, and Delta (first reported in December 2020 in the United Kingdom, South Africa, and India, respectively) and Gamma (reported in January 2021 in Brazil). In some cases, countries have even reported a rise in daily cases higher than the first wave in March 2020. Given the rapidly evolving nature of COVID-19 and subsequent new findings and updates each day, this review article aims to comprehensively summarize the etiology, pathophysiology, and clinical features of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods: A systematic review of the literature was performed in accordance with PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines to gain insight into the transmissibility, pathogenesis, entry factors, and immune response of COVID-19. Specifically, Pubmed and Google Scholar databases were searched to identify any relevant articles. References within the included articles were reviewed. Published articles related to search criteria from the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic to March 2022 were included. Results: Viral transmissibility is predominantly affected by the modes of transmission, various mutations on the nucleocapsid protein and endoRNAse, gender, age, and other factors. The pathophysiological mechanism is generally unknown, although the clinical manifestations such as headache, loss of smell and taste, vomiting, diarrhea, multiorgan failure, and dermatological and cardiovascular complications are well documented. The progression of infection depends on the immunopathological response and the innate/adaptive immunity. Conclusion: Our review has summarized the latest knowledge about SARS-CoV2. However, as the pandemic continues to spread across the continents, there is an urgent need for more research on potentially emerging coronaviruses and the development of a universal coronaviruses vaccine to put the pandemic behind us. Full article

Simple biochemical concepts can be hard to grasp by non-specialists, even when they are related to practical contexts in industry, day-to-day activities, or well-acknowledged pathological conditions. This is especially important in instances where accurate communication of biochemical aspects for different types of stakeholders may be crucial. Examples include interacting with policymakers to establish guidelines, with patients (and/or caregivers) to identify key concepts in promoting awareness and adherence to therapeutic regimens, or with teachers and students for novel approaches in critical thinking. Focusing on our own work in developing communication tools for different purposes, in this review we will focus on some examples of how biochemical concepts can be effectively translated into illustrations and graphical narratives. For this purpose, engagement with target audiences in developing the materials themselves is key. We also discuss how specific projects can be tailored for different purposes, as well as evidence that comic-book strategies are effective in conveying biochemical and biomedical knowledge. Full article

Researchers at Universities generate and convey the knowledge acquired through communications in specialized (inter)national journals and congresses. An effort to share the scientific achievements with the general public is extremely important. For this purpose, we have launched the UALGORITMO, a journal freely accessible online, written in lay Portuguese language by Researchers of the University of the Algarve, to summarize recent communications published in peer reviewed journals. After submission, the manuscripts are revised by High Schools Students of the Algarve, under the guidance of a schoolteacher, for further simplification of the language and general improvement of the manuscript and figures. The revised manuscripts by the authors are edited and published, with an acknowledgment and a presentation of the reviewers at the end of each article. To maximize the outreach, the articles include a summarized biography of the authors, and links to their research centers and teaching courses. We believe that the UALGORITMO is a valuable instrument to promote scientific literacy and culture amongst all communities. Full article

PDZ domains are involved in many cellular processes and are key regulators of the cell physiology. A huge number of studies have investigated the binding specificity of PDZ domains to the carboxyl-terminal sequence of target proteins, while the molecular mechanisms that mediate the recognition of internal binding regions are largely unexplored. In the present study, we describe a ligand motif located in the catalytic domain of the phosphatase Dusp26 which mediates its binding to the PDZ-4 of Scribble. Site-directed mutagenesis identified a conserved tyrosine residue as relevant for the binding. The interaction with the PDZ domain could help the phosphatase to recruit its specific targets. Full article