Studies on the biological properties of coelomic fluid of sea urchin 1. Naturally occurring hemolysin in sea urchin

Antimicrobial Peptides (AMPs), within their realm incorporate a diverse group of structurally and functionally varied peptides, playing crucial roles in innate immunity. Over the last few decades, the field of AMP has seen a huge upsurge, mainly owing to the generation of the so-called drug resistant ‘superbugs’ as well as limitations associated with the existing antimicrobial agents. Due to their resilient biological properties, AMPs can very well form the sustainable alternative for nextgeneration therapeutic agents. Certain drawbacks associated with existing AMPs are, however, issues of major concern, circumventing which are imperative. These limitations mainly include proteolytic cleavage and hence poor stability inside the biological systems, reduced activity due to inadequate interaction with the microbial membrane, and ineffectiveness because of inappropriate delivery among others. In this context, the application of naturally occurring AMPs as an efficient prototype for generating various synthetic and designed counterparts has evolved as a new avenue in peptide-based therapy. Such designing approaches help to overcome the drawbacks of the parent AMPs while retaining the inherent activity. In this review, we summarize some of the basic NMR structure based approaches and techniques which aid in improving the activity of AMPs, using the example of a 16-residue dengue virus fusion protein derived peptide, VG16KRKP. Using first principle based designing technique and high resolution NMR-based structure characterization we validate different types of modifications of VG16KRKP, highlighting key motifs, which optimize its activity. The approaches and designing techniques presented can support our peers in their drug development work.

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Anthocyanins Recovered from Agri-Food By-Products Using Innovative Processes: Trends, Challenges, and Perspectives for Their Application in Food Systems

Molecules ◽

10.3390/molecules26092632 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 26 (9) ◽

pp. 2632

Author(s):

Henrique Silvano Arruda ◽

Eric Keven Silva ◽

Nayara Macêdo Peixoto Araujo ◽

Gustavo Araujo Pereira ◽

Glaucia Maria Pastore ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Food Systems ◽

Food Industry ◽

Biological Properties ◽

Extraction Techniques ◽

Naturally Occurring ◽

Current Review ◽

Natural Colorants ◽

Conventional Extraction ◽

The Stability ◽

By Products

Anthocyanins are naturally occurring phytochemicals that have attracted growing interest from consumers and the food industry due to their multiple biological properties and technological applications. Nevertheless, conventional extraction techniques based on thermal technologies can compromise both the recovery and stability of anthocyanins, reducing their global yield and/or limiting their application in food systems. The current review provides an overview of the main innovative processes (e.g., pulsed electric field, microwave, and ultrasound) used to recover anthocyanins from agri-food waste/by-products and the mechanisms involved in anthocyanin extraction and their impacts on the stability of these compounds. Moreover, trends and perspectives of anthocyanins’ applications in food systems, such as antioxidants, natural colorants, preservatives, and active and smart packaging components, are addressed. Challenges behind anthocyanin implementation in food systems are displayed and potential solutions to overcome these drawbacks are proposed.

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Biological Properties of the Naturally Occurring Plasma Inhibitor to Activated Factor X

Journal of Biological Chemistry ◽

10.1016/s0021-9258(18)62184-2 ◽

1971 ◽

Vol 246 (11) ◽

pp. 3703-3711 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

E.T. Yin ◽

S. Wessler ◽

Pamela J. Stoll

Keyword(s):

Biological Properties ◽

Factor X ◽

Naturally Occurring

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STUDIES ON THE NATURALLY OCCURRING HEMAGGLUTININ IN THE COELOMIC FLUID OF AN ASCIDIAN

Biological Bulletin ◽

10.2307/1540334 ◽

1972 ◽

Vol 143 (1) ◽

pp. 140-149 ◽

Cited By ~ 51

Author(s):

M. T. FUKE ◽

T. SUGAI

Keyword(s):

Coelomic Fluid ◽

Naturally Occurring

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Review on nanoparticles and nanostructured materials: history, sources, toxicity and regulations

Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnology ◽

10.3762/bjnano.9.98 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 9 ◽

pp. 1050-1074 ◽

Cited By ~ 517

Author(s):

Jaison Jeevanandam ◽

Ahmed Barhoum ◽

Yen S Chan ◽

Alain Dufresne ◽

Michael K Danquah

Keyword(s):

Risk Assessment ◽

Nanostructured Materials ◽

Mammalian Cells ◽

Size Composition ◽

Biological Properties ◽

Industrial Applications ◽

Specific Knowledge ◽

Naturally Occurring ◽

Physical Chemical ◽

Toxic Reactions

Nanomaterials (NMs) have gained prominence in technological advancements due to their tunable physical, chemical and biological properties with enhanced performance over their bulk counterparts. NMs are categorized depending on their size, composition, shape, and origin. The ability to predict the unique properties of NMs increases the value of each classification. Due to increased growth of production of NMs and their industrial applications, issues relating to toxicity are inevitable. The aim of this review is to compare synthetic (engineered) and naturally occurring nanoparticles (NPs) and nanostructured materials (NSMs) to identify their nanoscale properties and to define the specific knowledge gaps related to the risk assessment of NPs and NSMs in the environment. The review presents an overview of the history and classifications of NMs and gives an overview of the various sources of NPs and NSMs, from natural to synthetic, and their toxic effects towards mammalian cells and tissue. Additionally, the types of toxic reactions associated with NPs and NSMs and the regulations implemented by different countries to reduce the associated risks are also discussed.

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Cell-Free Coelomic Fluid Extracts of the Sea Urchin Arbacia lixula Impair Mitochondrial Potential and Cell Cycle Distribution and Stimulate Reactive Oxygen Species Production and Autophagic Activity in Triple-Negative MDA-MB231 Breast Cancer Cells

Journal of Marine Science and Engineering ◽

10.3390/jmse8040261 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (4) ◽

pp. 261 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Claudio Luparello ◽

Debora Ragona ◽

Dalia Maria Lucia Asaro ◽

Valentina Lazzara ◽

Federica Affranchi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Sea Urchin ◽

Triple Negative ◽

Water Soluble ◽

Coelomic Fluid ◽

Cell Cycle Distribution ◽

Mitochondrial Potential ◽

Autophagic Activity ◽

Arbacia Lixula

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a highly malignant tumor histotype which lacks effective targeted therapies, thereby being considered as the most aggressive form of breast carcinoma. To identify novel compounds which could counteract TNBC cell growth, we explored the in vitro effects of crude extracts and <10 kDa-filtered fractions of the coelomic fluid obtained from the sea urchin Arbacia lixula on TNBC MDA-MB231 cells. We examined cell viability, cycle distribution, apoptotic/autophagic activity, and mitochondrial polarization/cell redox status. Here, we report the first data demonstrating an anti-TNBC effect by A. lixula-derived coelomic fluid extracts. Thus, identification of the water-soluble bioactive component(s) contained in the extracts deserve(s) further investigation aimed to devise novel promising prevention and/or treatment agents effective against highly malignant breast tumors.

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The progesterone-like action of testosterone and certain related compounds

Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Series B Biological Sciences ◽

10.1098/rspb.1937.0004 ◽

1937 ◽

Vol 121 (825) ◽

pp. 574-579 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Keyword(s):

Corpus Luteum ◽

Small Dose ◽

Specific Activity ◽

Biological Properties ◽

Similar Activity ◽

Naturally Occurring ◽

Chemical Constitution ◽

General Investigation ◽

Male Hormones ◽

Related Compounds

The isolation of naturally occurring forms of oestrogenic and male hormones was soon followed by the demonstration that similar activity might be possessed, to a greater or lesser degree, by related compounds made artificially. When progesterone was isolated from the corpus luteum it was assumed that there would be an analogous lack of specificity, and investigation was immediately begun on the effect of slight changes in chemical constitution on the power to evoke progestational proliferation. In the course of this work, Butenandt and his co-workers ( see the review by Westphal, 1935) examined a large number of compounds closely related to progesterone (pregnene-3: 20-dione), but failed to find pro-gesterone-like activity in any. Among the more interesting of these inactive compounds were “dihydroprogesterone” (pregnen-20-ol-3-one), inactive in a 2•7 mg. dose; pregnenolone (3-ol-20-one), inactive in 25 mg.; pregnanedione, inactive in 50 mg.; pregnanediol, inactive in 50 mg.; pregnan-20-ol-3-one, inactive in 9 mg.; and androstenedione, inactive in 30 mg. With the possible exception of dihydroprogesterone, which was tested in only a small dose, this work seemed to establish the in activity of these very closely related compounds, and by implication indicated the absolute specificity of progesterone. A general investigation of the biological properties of compounds of the androsterone-testosterone series carried out in this laboratory during 1935-36 led to the examination of certain of the compounds, especially those methylated or ethylated in position 17, for progesterone-like activity ( see Ruzicka, 1936, for discussion of the chemical relationships). To our surprise, in view of Butenandt’s results, certain of these compounds proved to be active (Klein and Parkes, 1936), and fuller investigation has shown that seven of them exert the specific activity previously thought to be restricted to progesterone.

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