scholarly journals Special Issue: Hypoxia-Inducible Factors: Regulation and Therapeutic Potential

Biomedicines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 1768
Author(s):  
Kiichi Hirota
Keyword(s):  
Adenosine Triphosphate ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Human Life ◽  
Biological Functions ◽  
Hypoxia Inducible Factors ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
In Cells

Oxygen (O2) is an essential molecule [1] in the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in cells, and a lack of energy due to O2 deficiency makes the maintenance of biological functions and human life improbable. [...]

From Ocean to Bedside: the Therapeutic Potential of Molluscan Hemocyanins

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (20) ◽  
pp. 2292-2303 ◽  
Author(s):  
Negar Talaei Zanjani ◽  
Monica Miranda Saksena ◽  
Fariba Dehghani ◽  
Anthony L. Cunningham
Keyword(s):  
Antiviral Activity ◽  
Clinical Efficacy ◽  
Mechanism Of Action ◽  
Therapeutic Agent ◽  
Marine Invertebrates ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Biological Functions ◽  
Anticancer Properties ◽  
Mechanistic Understanding

Hemocyanins are large and versatile glycoproteins performing various immunological and biological functions in many marine invertebrates including arthropods and molluscs. This review discusses the various pharmacological applications of mollusc hemocyanin such as antiviral activity, immunostimulatory and anticancer properties that have been reported in the literature between the years 2000 and 2016. Emphasis is placed on a better mechanistic understanding of hemocyanin as a therapeutic agent. Elucidation of the mechanism of action is essential to improve the clinical efficacy and for a better understanding of some endogenous immunological functions of this complex glycoprotein.

Mitochondria-targeting fluorescent sensor for on-off-on response to Cu2+ and ATP in cells and zebrafish

The Analyst ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wan Sun ◽  
Guofeng Liu ◽  
Mingqiong Tong ◽  
Haozhan Wang ◽  
Shuhan Liu
Keyword(s):  
Adenosine Triphosphate ◽  
Fluorescent Sensor ◽  
Biological Processes ◽  
Fluorescent Molecule ◽  
Cupric Ion ◽  
Mitochondria Targeting ◽  
In Cells

Cupric ion (Cu2+) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) are functionally important in mitochondria and play essential roles in many important biological processes. In this work, a mitochondria-targeting fluorescent molecule Mito-A was...

scholarly journals Development of A Continuous Fluorescence-Based Assay for N-Terminal Acetyltransferase D

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 594
Author(s):  
Yi-Hsun Ho ◽  
Lan Chen ◽  
Rong Huang
Keyword(s):  
Lung Cancer ◽  
Cancer Progression ◽  
High Throughput Screening ◽  
Coenzyme A ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Biological Functions ◽  
Histone H4 ◽  
Fluorescent Signal ◽  
Pharmacologically Active ◽  
Pharmacologically Active Compounds

N-terminal acetylation catalyzed by N-terminal acetyltransferases (NATs) has various biological functions in protein regulation. N-terminal acetyltransferase D (NatD) is one of the most specific NAT with only histone H4 and H2A proteins as the known substrates. Dysregulation of NatD has been implicated in colorectal and lung cancer progression, implying its therapeutic potential in cancers. However, there is no reported inhibitor for NatD yet. To facilitate the discovery of small-molecule NatD inhibitors, we report the development of a fluorescence-based acetyltransferase assay in 384-well high-throughput screening (HTS) format through monitoring the formation of coenzyme A. The fluorescent signal is generated from the adduct in the reaction between coenzyme A and fluorescent probe ThioGlo4. The assay exhibited a Z′-factor of 0.77 and a coefficient of variation of 6%, indicating it is a robust assay for HTS. A pilot screen of 1280 pharmacologically active compounds and subsequent validation identified two hits, confirming the application of this fluorescence assay in HTS.

Probing nucleus-enriched proteins in single living cells via subcellular-resolved plasmonic immunosandwich assay

The Analyst ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jia Liu ◽  
Dan Xie ◽  
Zhen Liu
Keyword(s):  
Living Cells ◽  
Nuclear Proteins ◽  
Biological Functions ◽  
Abnormal Expression ◽  
Single Living Cells ◽  
Single Living ◽  
In Cells

Nuclear proteins are crucial in cells and are greatly linked to various biological functions. Abnormal expression of nuclear proteins is associated with many diseases ranging from inflammation to cancer. However,...

scholarly journals Nucleic Acids Chemistry and Engineering: Special Issue on Nucleic Acid Conjugates for Biotechnological Applications

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 3594
Author(s):  
Tamaki Endoh ◽  
Eriks Rozners ◽  
Takashi Ohtsuki
Keyword(s):  
Nucleic Acid ◽  
Nucleic Acids ◽  
Genetic Information ◽  
Biotechnological Applications ◽  
Biological Functions ◽  
Primary Sequence ◽  
Special Issue

Nucleic acids not only store genetic information in their primary sequence but also exhibit biological functions through the formation of their unique structures [...]

scholarly journals Indigenous Art and Sovereignty Inspiring Change against Environmental Degradation

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Estelle Castro-Koshy ◽  
Géraldine Le Roux
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Degradation ◽  
French Guiana ◽  
Pacific Islands ◽  
Human Life ◽  
Environmental Issues ◽  
Waste Recycling ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
The Caribbean

This special issue on “Environmental Artistic Practices and Indigeneity: In(ter)ventions, Recycling, Sovereignty" constitutes a body of creative contributions and academic articles addressing numerous forms of artistic practices of the Pacific Islands, Australia, French Guiana, the Caribbean, and Southeast Asia. Inspired by Indigenous artists and writers whose practices and creativity help reimagine sustainable ways to inhabit the world, this introduction and our special issue interrogate contemporary environmental issues and the legacy of colonisation. They examine how Indigenous artists and writers, and artists working with Indigenous artists and communities, have for decades raised awareness about environmental issues, and encouraged people to regain their agency to struggle against environmental degradation and further destruction of Indigenous people’s societies and health. This introduction contextualises the concepts and Indigenous terms used by artists to express their vision of what a respectful relationship with the environment would be. It also offers readings of the beautiful literary and artistic creative contributions included in this issue. Environmental themes such as waste recycling, health issues, pollutants (mercury, POPs), and agricultural technics are discussed here in light of human and non-human life and agency. This issue also features a significant range of calls for action to better protect and restore ecosystems.

RNA modifications in hematopoietic malignancies: A new research frontier

Blood ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ying Qing ◽  
Rui Su ◽  
Jianjun Chen
Keyword(s):  
Myeloid Leukemia ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Rna Modification ◽  
Biological Functions ◽  
Rna Modifications ◽  
Aberrant Expression ◽  
Protein Coding ◽  
Hematopoietic Malignancies ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms ◽  
New Research

Both protein-coding and noncoding RNAs can be decorated with a wealth of chemical modifications and such modifications coordinately orchestrate gene expression during normal hematopoietic differentiation and development. However, aberrant expression and/or dysfunction of the relevant RNA modification modulators/regulators ("writers", "erasers", and "readers") drive the initiation and progression of hematopoietic malignancies, and targeting these dysregulated modulators holds potent therapeutic potential for the treatment of hematopoietic malignancies. In this review, we summarize current progress in the understanding of the biological functions and underlying mechanisms of RNA modifications in normal and malignant hematopoiesis, with a focus on the N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification, and discuss the therapeutic potential of targeting RNA modifications for the treatment of hematopoietic malignancies, especially acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

scholarly journals A phenolic small molecule inhibitor of RNase L prevents cell death from ADAR1 deficiency

2020 ◽  
Vol 117 (40) ◽  
pp. 24802-24812 ◽  
Author(s):  
Salima Daou ◽  
Manisha Talukdar ◽  
Jinle Tang ◽  
Beihua Dong ◽  
Shuvojit Banerjee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Death ◽  
Protein Kinase ◽  
Small Molecule ◽  
Small Molecule Inhibitors ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Protein Kinase Inhibitors ◽  
Response To Treatment ◽  
Rnase L ◽  
Oligoadenylate Synthetase ◽  
In Cells

The oligoadenylate synthetase (OAS)–RNase L system is an IFN-inducible antiviral pathway activated by viral infection. Viral double-stranded (ds) RNA activates OAS isoforms that synthesize the second messenger 2-5A, which binds and activates the pseudokinase-endoribonuclease RNase L. In cells, OAS activation is tamped down by ADAR1, an adenosine deaminase that destabilizes dsRNA. Mutation of ADAR1 is one cause of Aicardi-Goutières syndrome (AGS), an interferonopathy in children. ADAR1 deficiency in human cells can lead to RNase L activation and subsequent cell death. To evaluate RNase L as a possible therapeutic target for AGS, we sought to identify small-molecule inhibitors of RNase L. A 500-compound library of protein kinase inhibitors was screened for modulators of RNase L activity in vitro. We identified ellagic acid (EA) as a hit with 10-fold higher selectivity against RNase L compared with its nearest paralog, IRE1. SAR analysis identified valoneic acid dilactone (VAL) as a superior inhibitor of RNase L, with 100-fold selectivity over IRE1. Mechanism-of-action analysis indicated that EA and VAL do not bind to the pseudokinase domain of RNase L despite acting as ATP competitive inhibitors of the protein kinase CK2. VAL is nontoxic and functional in cells, although with a 1,000-fold decrease in potency, as measured by RNA cleavage activity in response to treatment with dsRNA activator or by rescue of cell lethality resulting from self dsRNA induced by ADAR1 deficiency. These studies lay the foundation for understanding novel modes of regulating RNase L function using small-molecule inhibitors and avenues of therapeutic potential.

Afterword

2018 ◽  
Vol 62 (4) ◽  
pp. 146-149 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eduardo Kohn
Keyword(s):  
Research Group ◽  
Human Life ◽  
Life Forms ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
Group Project ◽  
The Way

This afterword reflects on how the Matsutake Worlds Research Group project can be considered as ontological. The multispecies ethnographic engagements presented in this special issue manifest not only the concepts inherent in the worlds of others that defy the categories of Western metaphysical thought (e.g., life forms seen as ‘events’ rather than mere things), but also the way in which non-human life forms themselves can demand that we practice another kind of thought and embrace another vision of our own selves. By succumbing to the allure of the matsutake fungus, the Matsutake Worlds Research Group has begun one of the most suggestive and original conceptual enterprises today, a practice that perhaps could be named ‘heeding headless thoughts’.

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