Characterization of an Endophytic Strain Talaromyces assiutensis, CPEF04 With Evaluation of Production Medium for Extracellular Red Pigments Having Antimicrobial and Anticancer Properties

Considering the worldwide demand for colorants of natural origin, the utilization of ascomycete fungi as a prolific pigment producer unfolds a novel way to obtain these pigments for various applications, including food, cosmetic, and medical use. The presence of very few natural red pigment alternatives in the market also attracts research and industry priorities to unearth novel and sustainable red pigment producers. The present work is an attempt to identify a novel source of red color obtained from endophytic fungi isolated from terrestrial and marine habitats. Based upon the fungal capacity for pigment production, seven isolates of endophytic fungi were recognized as prospective pigment producers. Out of all, fungal isolate CPE04 was selected based upon its capacity to produce profuse extracellular red pigment. The isolate was identified as Talaromyces assiutensis, employing morphological features and phylogenetic characterization by internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences. To understand the chemical behavior of pigment molecules, an investigation of the chemical profile of fungal culture filtrate dried powder (CFDP) was performed using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detector-mass spectrometry (UPLC–DAD–MS). In total, eight compounds having pigment and pharmaceutical application were tentatively identified using UPLC–DAD–MS. Considering the commercial aspect of the stated work, an effort was also made for standardizing the upscaling of the pigment molecule. Investigations were performed for optimum medium and culturing conditions for maximum pigment production. CFDP was found to have a significant antibacterial activity against the bacterial pathogens Staphylococcus aureus (MTCC737), Vibrio cholerae (N16961), and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) (ATCC BAA811). The CFDP showed a minimum inhibitory concentration at 64, 128, and 256 μg/ml against S. aureus, MRSA, and V. cholerae. A concentration-dependent (50–400 μg/ml) anticancer effect on HeLa cancer line was also observed, having a half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) at 300 μg/ml. The antioxidant potential of CFDP has also been proven with the help of an antioxidant assay against 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical (IC50, 32.01 μg/ml); DNA nicking assay and reactive oxygen species were generated in HeLa cancer line cells. The CFDP was also found to have no cytotoxicity toward HEK 293 T cell line using alamar blue (resazurin), a cell metabolic activity reagent.

Abstract P-35: Cryo-Electron Tomography of Protein Conjugated Upconverting Nanophosphors

Background: Over the past decades, significant advances have been made in the field of creating nanobioreagents for solving modern medicine problems (Grebenik et al., JBO, 2013). However, the problem of their low accumulation rate in pathological tissue in vivo experiments still remains. First of all, it is associated with the adsorption of blood proteins on the surface of nanobioreagents and the protein layer formation, which significantly changes the surface properties, which leads to their rapid excretion by the reticuloendothelial system. In particular, it is possible to reduce the blood plasma proteins adsorption and increase the time spent in the circulatory system by forming a coating of proteins. Methods: In situ cryоelectron tomography (Cryo-ET) is the only method that allows the experimental observation of protein structures on the nanoparticle’s surface in their natural functional state. The basic principle of the method is to obtain a series of projections of a vitrified sample thin lamella at different tilt angles related to an incident electron beam. Their further processing leads to obtaining the volumetric information about the structure of the sample. The use of a cryo-focused ion beam (Cryo-FIB) in specimen thinning makes it possible to carry out experiments with thin sections of cellular structures and observe the penetration of nanoparticles into the intracellular environment. Results: Upconverting nanophosphors (AN) were used as a nanoplatform for creating a protein coating. To create a protein coating on the AN surface, they were functionalized using an amphiphilic polymer containing carboxyl groups. Then, conjugation with protein molecules from the class of immunoglobulins was carried out by the method of carbodiimide activation. At each stage of synthesis and modification, AN solutions with different size distribution were vitrified for subsequent tomography. After a series of experiments to study the morphology of nanoparticles, an experiment on their successful absorption by cells of the cancer line A549 was carried out. Conclusion: Within this work, a series of in situ Cryo-ET methods were proposed and applied for structural characterization and visualization of the processes of synthesis, modification, and engulfment of nanoparticles into cellular systems. For the first time in its native form, the engulfment of ANF into the internal environment of the A549 cancer line cells was demonstrated.

A Small Molecule Targeting Human MEK1/2 Enhances ERK and p38 Phosphorylation under Oxidative Stress or with Phenothiazines

Small molecules are routinely used to inhibit protein kinases, but modulators capable of enhancing kinase activity are rare. We have previously shown that the small molecule INR119, designed as an inhibitor of MEK1/2, will enhance the activity of its fission yeast homologue, Wis1, under oxidative stress. To investigate the generality of these findings, we now study the effect of INR119 in human cells under similar conditions. Cells of the established breast cancer line MCF-7 were exposed to H2O2 or phenothiazines, alone or combined with INR119. In line with the previous results in fission yeast, the phosphorylation of the MAPKs ERK and p38 increased substantially more with the combination treatment than by H2O2 or phenothiazines, whereas INR119 alone did not affect phosphorylation. We also measured the mRNA levels of TP53 and BAX, known to be affected by ERK and p38 activity. Similarly, the combination of INR119 and phenothiazines increased both mRNAs to higher levels than for phenothiazines alone. In conclusion, the mechanism of action of INR119 on its target protein kinase may be conserved between yeast and humans.

Effect of Oxaliplatin, Olaparib and LY294002 in Combination on Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) has a poor prognosis as the therapy has several limitations, most importantly, treatment resistance. In this study we examined the different responses of triple-negative breast cancer line MDA-MB-231 and hormone receptor-positive breast cancer line MCF7 to a combined treatment including olaparib, a poly-(ADP ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor, oxaliplatin, a third-generation platinum compound and LY294002, an Akt pathway inhibitor. We applied the drugs in a single, therapeutically relevant concentration individually and in all possible combinations, and we assessed the viability, type of cell death, reactive oxygen species production, cell-cycle phases, colony formation and invasive growth. In agreement with the literature, the MDA-MB-231 cells were more treatment resistant than the MCF7 cells. However, and in contrast with the findings of others, we detected no synergistic effect between olaparib and oxaliplatin, and we found that the Akt pathway inhibitor augmented the cytostatic properties of the platinum compound and/or prevented the cytoprotective effects of PARP inhibition. Our results suggest that, at therapeutically relevant concentrations, the cytotoxicity of the platinum compound dominated over that of the PARP inhibitor and the PI3K inhibitor, even though a regression-based model could have indicated an overall synergy at lower and/or higher concentrations.

Effect of Interaction between 17β-Estradiol, 2-Methoxyestradiol and 16α-Hydroxyestrone with Chromium (VI) on Ovary Cancer Line SKOV-3: Preliminary Study

Ovarian cancer is the leading cause of death from gynecologic malignancies. Some estrogens, as well as xenoestrogens, such as chromium (VI) (Cr(VI)), are indicated as important pathogenic agents. The objective of this study was to evaluate the role of estradiol and some its metabolites upon exposure to the metalloestrogen Cr(VI) in an in vitro model. The changes in cell viability of malignant ovarian cancer cells (SKOV-3 resistant to cisplatin) exposed to 17β-estradiol (E2) and its two metabolites, 2-methoxyestradiol (2-MeOE2) and 16α-hydroxyestrone (16α-OHE1), upon exposure to potassium chromate (VI) and its interactions were examined. The single and mixed models of action, during short and long times of incubation with estrogens, were applied. The different effects (synergism and antagonism) of estrogens on cell viability in the presence of Cr(VI) was observed. E2 and 16α-OHE1 caused a synergistic effect after exposure to Cr(VI). 2-MeOE2 showed an antagonistic effect on Cr(VI). The examined estrogens could be ranked according to the most protective effect or least toxicity in the order: 2-MeOE2 > E2 > 16α-OHE1. Early pre-incubation (24 h or 7 days) of cells with estrogens caused mostly an antagonistic effect—protective against the toxic action of Cr(VI). The beneficial action of estrogens on the toxic effect of Cr(VI), in the context of the risk of ovarian cancer, seems to be important and further studies are needed.

Enhanced Radiosensitization for Cancer Treatment with Gold Nanoparticles through Sonoporation

We demonstrate the megavoltage (MV) radiosensitization of a human liver cancer line by combining gold-nanoparticle-encapsulated microbubbles (AuMBs) with ultrasound. Microbubbles-mediated sonoporation was administered for 5 min, at 2 h prior to applying radiotherapy. The intracellular concentration of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) increased with the inertial cavitation of AuMBs in a dose-dependent manner. A higher inertial cavitation dose was also associated with more DNA damage, higher levels of apoptosis markers, and inferior cell surviving fractions after MV X-ray irradiation. The dose-modifying ratio in a clonogenic assay was 1.56 ± 0.45 for a 10% surviving fraction. In a xenograft mouse model, combining vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2)-targeted AuMBs with sonoporation significantly delayed tumor regrowth. A strategy involving the spatially and temporally controlled release of AuNPs followed by clinically utilized MV irradiation shows promising results that make it worthy of further translational investigations.

Ethanolic Extract of Citrus reticulata Peel Inhibits the Migration of WiDr Colon Cancer Cells

Colorectal cancer is third rank on the cancer cases in Indonesia. To cure the cancer needs big cost and lot of effort. On the other side, the side effect of medicine or chemotherapy on patient need to reduce. Cancer cell spread to other tissue based on its migration and invasion ability. Citrus reticulata peel contains flavonoid such as Tangeretin and Nobiletin, both of this compounds have anticancer activity. The aims of this study is to reveals the potency of ethanol extract of Citrus reticulata peel on the inhibition of migration on WiDr colon cancer cells. The toxicity of ethanol extract of Citurs reticulata peel on WiDr colon cancer line was measured using 3-(4,5-dimethyltiazol-2-il)-2,5-diphenyltrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and investigate the cell migration was using scratch wound healing assay. The ethanol extract of Citrus reticulata peel showed the value of inhibitory concentration 50 (IC50) was 184.5 μg/mL, this result categorize as moderate cytotoxic. Meanwhile the migration assay showed that the deceleration of migration occurred on 0.5 IC50, 0.33 IC50 and 0.25 IC50 during 24 h and 36 h incubation, event thought there were not significant different (p>0.05). The ethanol extract of Citrus reticulata peel has a potential migration inhibition on WiDr cell line.Keywords: Citrus reticulata, WiDr cell line, migration

The relationship between Hirshfeld potential and cytotoxic activity: a study along a series of flavonoid and chromanone derivatives

The present study examines a series of six biologically-active flavonoid and chromanone derivatives by X-ray crystal structure analysis: (E)-3-benzylidene-2-phenylchroman-4-one, C22H16O2, I, (E)-3-(4-methylbenzylidene)-2-phenylchroman-4-one, C23H18O2, II, (E)-3-(3-methylbenzylidene)-2-phenylchroman-4-one, C23H18O2, III, (E)-3-(4-methoxybenzylidene)-2-phenylchroman-4-one, C23H18O3, IV, (E)-3-benzylidenechroman-4-one, C16H12O2, V, and (E)-3-(4-methoxybenzylidene)chroman-4-one, C17H14O3, VI. The cytotoxic activities of the presented crystal structures have been determined, together with their intermolecular interaction preferences and Hirshfeld surface characteristics. An inverse relationship was found between the contribution of C...C close contacts to the Hirshfeld surface and cytotoxic activity against the WM-115 cancer line. Dependence was also observed between the logP value and the percentage contribution of C...H contacts to the Hirshfeld surface.

The role of GC-rich sequences in cell-free DNA in the activation of DNA sensors using the cancer line MCF7 as an example

Основные вопросы исследования: (1) Взаимодействие рецепторов TLR9 и AIM2 в клеточной линии MCF7 в ответ на действие ГЦ-богатых фрагментов в составе внеклеточной ДНК (ГЦ-вкДНК); (2) Изучение роли рецепторов TLR9 и AIM2 в опосредовании биологического действия ГЦ-вкДНК на клетки MCF7. The major research questions: (1) Interaction of TLR9 and AIM2 receptors in MCF7 in response to the action of GC-rich fragments in cell-free DNA (GC-cfDNA); (2) Studying the role of TLR9 and AIM2 receptors in mediating the biological effect of GC-cfDNA on MCF7 cells.