scholarly journals New IR imaging modalities for cancer detection and for intra-cell chemical mapping with a sub-diffraction mid-IR s-SNOM

2016 ◽  
Vol 187 ◽  
pp. 539-553 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Amrania ◽  
L. Drummond ◽  
R. C. Coombes ◽  
S. Shousha ◽  
L. Woodley-Barker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Cancer ◽  
Single Cells ◽  
Design Feature ◽  
Chemical Mapping ◽  
Technological Readiness ◽  
New Family ◽  
Routine Basis ◽  
Cancer Biopsy ◽  
First Time ◽  
Detailed Chemical

We present two new modalities for generating chemical maps. Both are mid-IR based and aimed at the biomedical community, but they differ substantially in their technological readiness. The first, so-called “Digistain”, is a technologically mature “locked down” way of acquiring diffraction-limited chemical images of human cancer biopsy tissue. Although it is less flexible than conventional methods of acquiring IR images, this is an intentional, and key, design feature. It allows it to be used, on a routine basis, by clinical personnel themselves. It is in the process of a full clinical evaluation and the philosophy behind the approach is discussed. The second modality is a very new, probe-based “s-SNOM”, which we are developing in conjunction with a new family of tunable “Quantum Cascade Laser” (QCL) diode lasers. Although in its infancy, this instrument can already deliver ultra-detailed chemical images whose spatial resolutions beat the normal diffraction limit by a factor of ∼1000. This is easily enough to generate chemical maps of the insides of single cells for the first time, and a range of new possible scientific applications are explored.

Structure-Reactivity Relationships on Substrates and Inhibitors of the Lysine Deacylase Sirtuin 2 from Schistosoma Mansoni (SmSirt2)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daria Monaldi ◽  
Dante Rotili ◽  
Julien Lancelot ◽  
Martin Marek ◽  
Nathalie Wössner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Schistosoma Mansoni ◽  
Human Cancer ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Human Cancer Cells ◽  
Parasite Survival ◽  
Survival And Reproduction ◽  
Emergence Of Resistance ◽  
First Time ◽  
Parasitic Life Cycle

The only drug for treatment of Schistosomiasis is Praziquantel, and the possible emergence of resistance makes research on novel therapeutic agents necessary. Targeting of Schistosoma mansoni epigenetic enzymes, which regulate the parasitic life cycle, emerged as promising approach. Due to the strong effects of human Sirtuin inhibitors on parasite survival and reproduction, Schistosoma sirtuins were postulated as therapeutic targets. In vitro testing of synthetic substrates of S. mansoni Sirtuin 2 (SmSirt2) and kinetic experiments on a myristoylated peptide demonstrated lysine long chain deacylation as an intrinsic SmSirt2 activity for the first time. Focused in vitro screening of the GSK Kinetobox library and structure-activity relationships (SAR) of identified hits, led to the first SmSirt2 inhibitors with activity in the low micromolar range. Several SmSirt2 inhibitors showed potency against both larval schistosomes (viability) and adult worms (pairing, egg laying) in culture without general toxicity to human cancer cells.<br>

scholarly journals Autophagy augments the self-renewal of lung cancer stem cells by the degradation of ubiquitinated p53

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianyu Wang ◽  
Doudou Liu ◽  
Zhiwei Sun ◽  
Ting Ye ◽  
Jingyuan Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lung Cancer ◽  
Stem Cells ◽  
Cancer Stem Cells ◽  
Cell Lines ◽  
Human Cancer ◽  
Suppressor Activity ◽  
Self Renewal ◽  
Tumor Suppressor Activity ◽  
Lung Cancer Stem Cells ◽  
First Time

AbstractIt has been postulated that cancer stem cells (CSCs) are involved in all aspects of human cancer, although the mechanisms governing the regulation of CSC self-renewal in the cancer state remain poorly defined. In the literature, both the pro- and anti-oncogenic activities of autophagy have been demonstrated and are context-dependent. Mounting evidence has shown augmentation of CSC stemness by autophagy, yet mechanistic characterization and understanding are lacking. In the present study, by generating stable human lung CSC cell lines with the wild-type TP53 (A549), as well as cell lines in which TP53 was deleted (H1229), we show, for the first time, that autophagy augments the stemness of lung CSCs by degrading ubiquitinated p53. Furthermore, Zeb1 is required for TP53 regulation of CSC self-renewal. Moreover, TCGA data mining and analysis show that Atg5 and Zeb1 are poor prognostic markers of lung cancer. In summary, this study has elucidated a new CSC-based mechanism underlying the oncogenic activity of autophagy and the tumor suppressor activity of p53 in cancer, i.e., CSCs can exploit the autophagy-p53-Zeb1 axis for self-renewal, oncogenesis, and progression.

scholarly journals Revealing the constituents of Egypt’s oldest beer using infrared and mass spectrometry

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed A. Farag ◽  
Moamen M. Elmassry ◽  
Masahiro Baba ◽  
Renée Friedman
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Beer Brewing ◽  
Chemical Signatures ◽  
Chemical Determination ◽  
Materials Used ◽  
High Level ◽  
Beer Production ◽  
First Time ◽  
Detailed Chemical

Abstract Previous studies have shown that the Ancient Egyptians used malted wheat and barley as the main ingredients in beer brewing, but the chemical determination of the exact recipe is still lacking. To investigate the constituents of ancient beer, we conducted a detailed IR and GC-MS based metabolite analyses targeting volatile and non-volatile metabolites on the residues recovered from the interior of vats in what is currently the world’s oldest (c. 3600 BCE) installation for large-scale beer production located at the major pre-pharaonic political center at Hierakonpolis, Egypt. In addition to distinguishing the chemical signatures of various flavoring agents, such as dates, a significant result of our analysis is the finding, for the first time, of phosphoric acid in high level probably used as a preservative much like in modern beverages. This suggests that the early brewers had acquired the knowledge needed to efficiently produce and preserve large quantities of beer. This study provides the most detailed chemical profile of an ancient beer using modern spectrometric techniques and providing evidence for the likely starting materials used in beer brewing.

scholarly journals Phylogeny and character evolution in the Dacrymycetes, and systematics of Unilacrymaceae and Dacryonaemataceae fam. nov.

2020 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 161-205
Author(s):  
J.C. Zamora ◽  
S. Ekman
Keyword(s):  
Species Level ◽  
Single Locus ◽  
Phenotypic Characters ◽  
New Family ◽  
Multispecies Coalescent ◽  
Morphometric Analyses ◽  
Methodological Approaches ◽  
First Time ◽  
A New Species ◽  
Multilocus Phylogeny

We present a multilocus phylogeny of the class Dacrymycetes, based on data from the 18S, ITS, 28S, RPB1, RPB2, TEF-1α, 12S, and ATP6 DNA regions, with c. 90 species including the types of most currently accepted genera. A variety of methodological approaches was used to infer phylogenetic relationships among the Dacrymycetes, from a supermatrix strategy using maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference on a concatenated dataset, to coalescence-based calculations, such as quartet-based summary methods of independent single-locus trees, and Bayesian integration of single-locus trees into a species tree under the multispecies coalescent. We evaluate for the first time the taxonomic usefulness of some cytological phenotypic characters, i.e., vacuolar contents (vacuolar bodies and lipid bodies), number of nuclei of recently discharged basidiospores, and pigments, with especial emphasis on carotenoids. These characters, along with several others traditionally used for the taxonomy of this group (basidium shape, presence and morphology of clamp connections, morphology of the terminal cells of cortical/marginal hyphae, presence and degree of ramification of the hyphidia), are mapped on the resulting phylogenies and their evolution through the class Dacrymycetes discussed. Our analyses reveal five lineages that putatively represent five different families, four of which are accepted and named. Three out of these four lineages correspond to previously circumscribed and published families (Cerinomycetaceae, Dacrymycetaceae, and Unilacrymaceae), and one is proposed as the new family Dacryonaemataceae. Provisionally, only a single order, Dacrymycetales, is accepted with in the class. Furthermore, the systematics of the two smallest families, Dacryonaemataceae and Unilacrymaceae, are investigated to the species level, using coalescence-based species delimitation on multilocus DNA data, and a detailed morphological study including morphometric analyses of the basidiospores. Three species are accepted in Dacryonaema, the type, Da. rufum, the newly combined Da. macnabbii (basionym Dacrymyces macnabbii), and a new species named Da. macrosporum. Two species are accepted in Unilacryma, the new U. bispora, and the type, U. unispora, the latter treated in a broad sense pending improved sampling across the Holarctic.

scholarly journals Chemical Constituents of Eupatorium japonicum and Anti-Inflammatory, Cytotoxic, and Apoptotic Activities of Eupatoriopicrin on Cancer Stem Cells

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Minh Giang Phan ◽  
Thi Thao Do ◽  
Thi Nga Nguyen ◽  
Thi Viet Huong Do ◽  
Ngoc Phuc Dong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Anticancer Agents ◽  
Human Cancer ◽  
Biological Activities ◽  
Chemical Constituents ◽  
Sesquiterpene Lactones ◽  
No Production ◽  
Bioactive Constituents ◽  
Anti Inflammatory ◽  
First Time ◽  
Eupatorium Japonicum

Eupatorium japonicum Thunb. of the plant family Asteraceae is a popular traditional herb in Vietnam. However, its chemical constituents as well as bioactive principles have not been investigated yet. We investigated the phytochemistry of E. japonicum in Vietnam and isolated seventeen compounds (1–17) including phytosterols, terpenoids, phenolic acids, flavonoids, fatty alcohols, and fatty acids. They were structurally determined by MS and NMR analysis. Except for compounds 6 and 12, all the other compounds were identified for the first time from E. japonicum. Since many sesquiterpene lactones with α-methylene γ-lactone ring are reported as anti-inflammatory and anticancer agents, eupatoriopicrin (10), 1-hydroxy-8-(4,5-dihydroxytigloyloxy)eudesma-4(15),11(13)-dien-6,12-olide (11) were selected among the isolates for biological assays. Compound 10 was identified as the main bioactive sesquiterpene lactone of E. japonicum showing its potent anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic activity through inhibiting NO production and the growth of HepG2 and MCF-7 human cancer cell lines. For the first time, eupatoriopicrin (10) was demonstrated to strongly inhibit NTERA-2 human cancer stem cell (CSC) line in vitro. It is noticeable that the cytotoxicity of eupatoriopicrin against NTERA-2 cells is mediated by its apoptosis-inducing capability of 10 as demonstrated by the results of Hoechst 33342 staining, flow cytometry apoptosis analysis, and caspase-3 activity assays. The biological activities of the main bioactive constituents 1–7, 10, 12, and 15 supported the reported anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties of extracts from E. japonicum.

scholarly journals Conjugated Polyene Ketones From the Marine Sponge Clathria (Thalysias) Reinwardti (Vosmaer, 1880) and Their Cytotoxic Activity

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (9) ◽  
pp. 1934578X2110437
Author(s):  
Bui H. Tai ◽  
Dan T. Hang ◽  
Do T. Trang ◽  
Pham H. Yen ◽  
Phan T. T. Huong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cytotoxic Activity ◽  
Marine Sponge ◽  
Human Cancer ◽  
2D Nmr ◽  
Ionization Mass ◽  
Hep G2 ◽  
Human Cancer Cells ◽  
Resolution Electron ◽  
New Compounds ◽  
First Time

Five conjugated polyene ketones (1-5) were isolated from the methanol extract of the marine sponge Clathria ( Thalysias) reinwardti (Vosmaer, 1880) living in the coastal waters of Vietnam. Their structures were determined to be 8-(2′,3′,4′-trimethylphenyl)-6-methyl-oct-3( E),5( E),7( E)-trien-2-one (1), 13-apoastaxanthinone (2), 9-apoastaxanthinone (3), 2,3-dehydro-4-oxo- β-ionone (4), and 4-(2′,3′,4′-trimethylphenyl)-but-3( E)-en-2-one (5), by extensive analysis of high-resolution electron spray ionization mass spectrum (HR-ESI-MS), one-dimensional, and two-dimensional (2D) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra, as well as by comparison of the spectral data with those reported in the literature. Compound 1 was new, compounds 2 to 4 were isolated from nature for the first time, and the chemical structure as well as the NMR assignments, of 5 were indicated by 2D NMR for the first time. Additionally, compound 5 exhibited cytotoxic activity against the human cancer cells SK-LU-1, SK-Mel-2, MCF-7, and Hep-G2 with half-minimal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of 15.12 ± 3.43, 17.41 ± 2.83, 33.12 ± 3.39, and 34.38 ± 3.52 µM, respectively, but displayed only a weak cytotoxic effect on the normal HEK-239A cells (IC50 64.67 ± 3.67 µM). Compound 5 also significantly increased Caspase-3 activity in SK-LU-1 cells at concentrations of 10, 15, and 20 µM.

scholarly journals Accessing the metabolism of viable but non-culturable (VBNC) microbes

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenfa Ng
Keyword(s):  
Single Cell ◽  
Cell Biology ◽  
Gene Annotation ◽  
Single Cells ◽  
Sensory System ◽  
Vbnc State ◽  
Gene Detection ◽  
Sensory Awareness ◽  
Routine Basis ◽  
The Right

While many microbes could be cultivated on common nutrient medium from environmental samples, there is perhaps a larger consortium of microbes that could not be brought under cultivation. Known as viable but non-culturable (VBNC) microbes, many facets of cell biology, biochemistry and physiology remain hidden from view given the inability to culture them in the laboratory. Without the ability to culture VBNC, many modern genetic tools could not be used to interrogate intrinsic metabolic capabilities and regulatory mechanisms of the cells. A more important question is perhaps what defines the VBNC state. Specifically, what is the level of metabolic activity in such cells and which branch of metabolism remains active in helping cells maintain cellular sensory system essential to understanding extracellular nutrition and environmental conditions crucial for activating vegetative growth under the right conditions? To answer the questions, we first need to develop methods for identifying cells in the VBNC state. One possibility involves screening environmental microbes for their ability to grow in rich medium under standard laboratory incubation conditions using 96 well plate assay where single cells are inoculated into each well. Cells that fail to grow would subsequently be selected for single cell RNA sequencing to understand the transcriptome that could be correlated to the VBNC state. In parallel, single cell whole genome sequencing could also be conducted to obtain the reference genome on which expression of different genes in the transcriptome could be assessed. Specifically, automated gene annotation pipelines could be used for gene detection; thereby, yielding an ensemble of genes useful for understanding the transcriptome. But, detection of mRNA transcripts does not mean the successful translation of mRNA into proteins. More importantly, while single cell proteomics might be achievable on a routine basis in future, conventional methods lack the sensitivity for profiling cellular proteome at the global level in single cell given the inability to massively amplify proteins unlike the case for DNA or RNA. Similarly, single cell metabolomics, which is essential to obtaining a complete picture of cellular metabolism in VBNC state faces challenges associated with sensitivity and detection of a broad range of intermediates and compounds. Thus, at present, efforts to access the metabolic state associated with VBNC would most likely stop at probing the global transcriptome at the single cell level. But, future developments in single cell proteomics and metabolomics would hopefully provide new tools for biologists to revisit the important question on what is the metabolic status of cells in VBNC, and more importantly, which metabolic branch remain active in maintaining sensory awareness of the cell’s immediate environment.

Cytotoxic constituents of Alocasia macrorrhiza

2017 ◽  
Vol 72 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 21-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marwa Elsbaey ◽  
Kadria F.M. Ahmed ◽  
Mahmoud F. Elsebai ◽  
Ahmed Zaghloul ◽  
Mohamed M.A. Amer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acetic Acid ◽  
Spectroscopic Data ◽  
Human Cancer ◽  
Indole Alkaloid ◽  
Acid Methyl Ester ◽  
2D Nmr ◽  
Human Cancer Cell ◽  
Human Cancer Cell Lines ◽  
Acid Methyl ◽  
First Time

AbstractAn indole alkaloid, 2-(5-hydroxy-1H-indol-3-yl)-2-oxo-acetic acid (1) isolated for the first time from nature, in addition to the nine known compounds 5-hydroxy-1H-indole-3-carboxylic acid methyl ester (2), alocasin B (3), hyrtiosin B (4), α-monopalmitin (5), 1-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(2S, 3R, 4E, 8Z)-2-[(2(R)-hydroctadecanoyl) amido]-4,8-octadecadiene-1,3-diol (6), 3-epi-betulinic acid (7), 3-epi-ursolic acid (8),β-sitosterol (9) andβ-sitosterol 3-O-β-D-glucoside (10) were isolated from the rhizomes ofAlocasia macrorrhiza(Araceae). Their structures were elucidated by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic data. Of these compounds,6exhibited the strongest cytotoxicity against the four tested human cancer cell lines (IC50of about 10 µM against Hep-2 larynx cancer cells).

scholarly journals Synchrotron macro ATR-FTIR microspectroscopy for high-resolution chemical mapping of single cells

The Analyst ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 144 (10) ◽  
pp. 3226-3238 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jitraporn Vongsvivut ◽  
David Pérez-Guaita ◽  
Bayden R. Wood ◽  
Philip Heraud ◽  
Karina Khambatta ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
Single Cell ◽  
Spatial Resolution ◽  
Environmental Science ◽  
Single Cell Analysis ◽  
Single Cells ◽  
Cell Analysis ◽  
Chemical Mapping ◽  
Ftir Microspectroscopy ◽  
Resolution Single

Coupling synchrotron IR beam to an ATR element enhances spatial resolution suited for high-resolution single cell analysis in biology, medicine and environmental science.

Past, Present and Future of Analytical Stems

2001 ◽  
Vol 7 (S2) ◽  
pp. 182-183
Author(s):  
C. Colliex
Keyword(s):  
Analytical Electron Microscopy ◽  
Quantitative Information ◽  
General Level ◽  
Chemical Mapping ◽  
Theoretical Understanding ◽  
Fundamental Limits ◽  
Cornell University ◽  
Resolution Imaging ◽  
First Time ◽  
Major Emphasis

Twenty five years ago, in august 1976, a specialist workshop gathered in Cornell University, at John Silcox's invitation, scientists covering a broad spectrum of interests to assess the potential of analytical electron microscopy, as to instrumentation, fundamental limits, general level of data processing and current theoretical understanding. If the STEM instrument had already been existing for a few years in Crewe's laboratory, its major emphasis, in spite of the existence of an EELS spectrometer, had focused on new modes of high resolution imaging. At the first Cornell workshop, the STEM instrument was for the first time recognized as a potentially formidable analytical instrument because of the possibility of extracting all available signals simultaneously. Furthermore it was directly suitable for digital computer processing and therefore for providing quantitative information. It was also pointed out that a major advantage of the STEM would be its potential to record EELS spectra from every point in the field of view as one scans an area to form an image, thus offering the capability of "chemical" mapping beyond "elemental" mapping.

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