Saccharomyces cerevisiae Cells Lacking the Zinc Vacuolar Transporter Zrt3 Display Improved Ethanol Productivity in Lignocellulosic Hydrolysates

Yeast-based bioethanol production from lignocellulosic hydrolysates (LH) is an attractive and sustainable alternative for biofuel production. However, the presence of acetic acid (AA) in LH is still a major problem. Indeed, above certain concentrations, AA inhibits yeast fermentation and triggers a regulated cell death (RCD) process mediated by the mitochondria and vacuole. Understanding the mechanisms involved in AA-induced RCD (AA-RCD) may thus help select robust fermentative yeast strains, providing novel insights to improve lignocellulosic ethanol (LE) production. Herein, we hypothesized that zinc vacuolar transporters are involved in vacuole-mediated AA-RCD, since zinc enhances ethanol production and zinc-dependent catalase and superoxide dismutase protect from AA-RCD. In this work, zinc limitation sensitized wild-type cells to AA-RCD, while zinc supplementation resulted in a small protective effect. Cells lacking the vacuolar zinc transporter Zrt3 were highly resistant to AA-RCD, exhibiting reduced vacuolar dysfunction. Moreover, zrt3Δ cells displayed higher ethanol productivity than their wild-type counterparts, both when cultivated in rich medium with AA (0.29 g L−1 h−1 versus 0.11 g L−1 h−1) and in an LH (0.73 g L−1 h−1 versus 0.55 g L−1 h−1). Overall, the deletion of ZRT3 emerges as a promising strategy to increase strain robustness in LE industrial production.

Photo-modulated optical and electrical properties of graphene

Photo-modulation is a promising strategy for contactless and ultrafast control of optical and electrical properties of photoactive materials. Graphene is an attractive candidate material for photo-modulation due to its extraordinary physical properties and its relevance to a wide range of devices, from photodetectors to energy converters. In this review, we survey different strategies for photo-modulation of electrical and optical properties of graphene, including photogating, generation of hot carriers, and thermo-optical effects. We briefly discuss the role of nanophotonic strategies to maximize these effects and highlight promising fields for application of these techniques.

Therapeutic Potential of Naturally Occurring Small Molecules to Target the Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway in Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) ranks second in the number of cancer deaths worldwide, mainly due to late diagnoses, which restrict treatment in the potentially curable stages and decrease patient survival. The treatment of CRC involves surgery to remove the tumor tissue, in addition to radiotherapy and systemic chemotherapy sessions. However, almost half of patients are resistant to these treatments, especially in metastatic cases, where the 5-year survival rate is only 12%. This factor may be related to the intratumoral heterogeneity, tumor microenvironment (TME), and the presence of cancer stem cells (CSCs), which is impossible to resolve with the standard approaches currently available in clinical practice. CSCs are APC-deficient, and the search for alternative therapeutic agents such as small molecules from natural sources is a promising strategy, as these substances have several antitumor properties. Many of those interfere with the regulation of signaling pathways at the central core of CRC development, such as the Wnt/β-catenin, which plays a crucial role in the cell proliferation and stemness in the tumor. This review will discuss the use of naturally occurring small molecules inhibiting the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in experimental CRC models over the past decade, highlighting the molecular targets in the Wnt/β-catenin pathway and the mechanisms through which these molecules perform their antitumor activities.

Pharmacogenetics of HIV therapy: challenges for tailoring treatment in genetically complex populations

Tweetable abstract Pharmacogenetic tests are a promising strategy to improve safety and effectiveness of HIV therapy. However, implementation can be challenging in populations with complex genetic structure.

Zinc Supplementation Enhances the Pro-Death Function of UPR in Lymphoma Cells Exposed to Radiation

We have previously shown that Zinc supplementation triggered ER stress/UPR in cancer cells undergoing treatment by genotoxic agents, reactivated wtp53 in cancer cells harboring mutant p53 (mutp53) and potentiated the activity of wtp53 in those carrying wtp53. In this study, we used Zinc chloride alone or in combination with 2 Gy radiation to treat Primary Effusion Lymphoma (PEL) cells, an aggressive B-cell lymphoma associated with KSHV that harbors wt or partially functioning p53. We found that Zinc triggered a mild ER stress/UPR in these lymphoma cells and activated ERK1/2, molecule known to sustain cell survival in the course of UPR activation. In combination with radiations, Zinc triggered a stronger p53 activation that counteracted its mediated ERK1/2 phosphorylation, further upregulating the UPR molecule CHOP and promoting cell death. These data suggest that Zinc supplementation could be a promising strategy to reduce the doses of radiation and possibly of other DNA-damaging agents to obtain an efficient capacity to induce lymphoma cell death.

A synthetic bispecific antibody capable of neutralizing SARS-CoV-2 Delta and Omicron

Bispecific antibodies have emerged as a promising strategy for curtailing severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) immune escape. This brief report highlights RBT-0813 (also known as TB493-04), a synthetic, humanized, receptor-binding domain (RBD)-targeted bispecific antibody that retains picomolar affinity to the Spike (S) trimers of all major variants of concern and neutralizes both SARS-CoV-2 Delta and Omicron in vitro.

A new generation of probiotics — psychobiotics, their purpose and functions

A review of the literature on the etiological role of the microbiome in the treatment of depressive disorders is presented based on an analysis of 98 literature sources for 2000–2020, of which 35 are domestic and 63 are foreign. Evidence is substantiated that the gut microbiome may represent a new potential target of antidepressant therapy. The emergence of a new class of probiotics (psychobiotics), as well as possible psychobiotic treatments, could be a promising strategy for improving the quality of life of people suffering from neurodegenerative diseases and developmental disorders of the nervous system.