FEBS Open Bio最新文献

Morphine is an opioid commonly used to treat pain in clinic, but it also has the potential to be highly addictive, which can lead to abuse. Despite these known risks, the cellular and molecular mechanism of morphine conditioned place preference (CPP) is still unclear. In this study, using a rat model of chronic morphine administration, we found that compared with the control group, the mRNA and protein expression of HCN2 channel in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) were upregulated. Further immunofluorescence analysis showed that the fluorescence intensity of HCN2 channel of VTA dopaminergic neurons in morphine group was significantly enhanced, while the patch clamp recording of brain slices showed that both the magnitude and the density of I_h (HCN channel current) of VTA neurons were significantly increased. Moreover, intra-VTA infusion of ZD7288, a selective inhibitor of HCN channel, into rats of the morphine group decreased morphine CPP. Taken together, our results show that chronic morphine administration induces an upregulation of HCN2 in VTA dopamine neurons, while HCN inhibition reduces morphine CPP, suggesting that HCN channel may be a potential target for the treatment of morphine addiction.

To improve the translation of preclinical cancer research data to successful clinical effect, there is an increasing focus on the use of primary patient-derived cancer cells with limited growth in culture to reduce genetic and phenotype drift. However, these primary lines are less amenable to standardly used methods of exogenous DNA introduction. Adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors display tropism for a wide range of human tissues, avidly infect primary cells and have a good safety profile. In the present study, we therefore used a next-generation sequencing (NGS) barcoded AAV screening method to assess transduction capability of a panel of 36 AAVs in primary cell lines representing high-grade glioma (HGG) brain tumours including glioblastoma (GBM) and diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG)/diffuse midline glioma (DMG). As proof of principle, we created a reporter construct to analyse activity of the transcriptional co-activators yes-associated protein (YAP) and transcriptional co-activator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ). Transcriptional activation was monitored by promoter-driven expression of the Timer fluorescent tag, a protein that fluoresces green immediately after transcription and transitions to red fluorescence over time. As expected, attempts to express the reporter in primary HGG cells from plasmid expression vectors were unsuccessful. Using the top candidate from the AAV screen, we demonstrate successful AAV-mediated transduction of HGG cells with the YAP/TAZ dynamic activity reporter. In summary, the NGS-screening approach facilitated screening of many potential AAVs, identifying vectors that can be used to study the biology of primary HGG cells.

This study examined the risk of intrauterine infection associated with radical trachelectomy (RT) in early-stage cervical cancer patients. This procedure preserves fertility but is linked to increased risk of intrauterine infection due to cervical defects during pregnancy. DNA was extracted from the formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) placental specimens of 23 pregnant post-RT patients and 16S rRNA gene sequencing was used for bacterial identification. The prevalence of Lactobacillus crispatus and Burkholderia stabilis was significantly higher in the non-chorioamnionitis group. In contrast, alpha diversity analysis using the PD index showed significantly higher diversity in the chorioamnionitis group (P = 0.04). The demonstrated relationship between chorioamnionitis and microbial diversity affirms the importance of controlling the genital bacterial flora in pregnancies following RT.

This special issue in FEBS Open Bio was conceived to highlight some of the current research and future directions regarding research in the field of environmental toxicology of some organic pollutants, in relation to human health and disease. It has long been established that man has been exposed to many new (un-natural) organic chemicals since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, many of which are found in a vast and diverse range of products, such as agrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, plastics and electronic components, which have been instrumental in driving man's exponential advances in technology over the last 150 years. However, an unforeseen consequence of these advances is that our ecosystem has been exposed to a vast number of these organic chemicals, many of which appear to be persistent within the environment, as well as bioaccumulating in living organisms, including man.

Effective circularization of mRNA molecules is a key step for the efficient initiation of translation. Research has shown that the intrinsic separation of the ends of mRNA molecules is rather small, suggesting that intramolecular arrangements could provide this effective circularization. Considering that the innate proximity of RNA ends might have important unknown biological implications, we aimed to determine whether the close proximity of the ends of mRNA molecules is a conserved feature across organisms and gain further insights into the functional effects of the proximity of RNA ends. To do so, we studied the secondary structure of 274 full native mRNA molecules from 17 different organisms to calculate the contour length (C_L) of the external loop as an index of their end-to-end separation. Our computational predictions show bigger variations (from 0.59 to 31.8 nm) than previously reported and also than those observed in random sequences. Our results suggest that separations larger than 18.5 nm are not favored, whereas short separations could be related to phenotypical stability. Overall, our work implies the existence of a biological mechanism responsible for the increase in the observed variability, suggesting that the C_L features of the exterior loop could be relevant for the initiation of translation and that a short C_L could contribute to the stability of phenotypes.

Establishing a highly efficient photoactivatable Cre recombinase PA-Cre3.0 can allow spatiotemporal control of Cre recombinase activity. This technique may help to elucidate cell lineages, as well as facilitate gene and cell function analysis during development. This study examined the blue light-mediated optical regulation of Cre-loxP recombination using PA-Cre3.0 transgenic early mouse pre-implantation embryos. We found that inducing PA-Cre3.0 expression in the heterozygous state did not show detectable recombination activation with blue light. Conversely, in homozygous embryos, DNA recombination by PA-Cre3.0 was successfully induced by blue light and resulted in the activation of the red fluorescent protein reporter gene, while almost no leaks of Cre recombination activity were detected in embryos without light illumination. Thus, we characterize the conditions under which the PA-Cre3.0 system functions efficiently in early mouse embryos. These results are expected to provide a new optogenetic tool for certain biological studies, such as developmental process analysis and lineage tracing in early mouse embryos.

Although the concept of endocrine disruptors first appeared almost 30 years ago, the relatively recent involvement of these substances in the etiology of metabolic pathologies (obesity, diabetes, hepatic steatosis, etc.) has given rise to the concept of Metabolic Disrupting Chemicals (MDCs). Organs such as the liver and adipose tissue have been well studied in the context of metabolic disruption by these substances. The intestine, however, has been relatively unexplored despite its close link with these organs. In vivo models are useful for the study of the effects of MDCs in the intestine and, in addition, allow investigations into interactions with the rest of the organism. In the latter respect, the zebrafish is an animal model which is used increasingly for the characterization of endocrine disruptors and its use as a model for assessing effects on the intestine will, no doubt, expand. This review aims to highlight the importance of the intestine in metabolism and present the zebrafish as a relevant alternative model for investigating the effect of pollutants in the intestine by focusing, in particular, on cytochrome P450 3A (CYP3A), one of the major molecular players in endogenous and MDCs metabolism in the gut.

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most prevalent subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) in domestic dogs, with many similarities to its human counterpart. The progression of the disease is rapid, and treatment must be initiated early to achieve cancer remission and extend life. This study examined the relationship between progression-free survival (PFS) and microRNA (miRNA) expression in dogs with DLBCL. miRNAs are small non-coding RNA molecules that typically regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally. They are involved in several pathophysiological processes, including the growth and progression of cancer. Based on the analysis of small RNA sequencing (sRNA-seq) data, we validated a group of miRNAs in lymph nodes from 44 DLBCL-affected dogs with known outcomes. We used quantitative PCR to quantify their expression and report a specific subset of miRNAs is associated with decreased PFS in dogs with DLBCL. The miR-192-5p and miR-16-5p expression were significantly downregulated in dogs with increased PFS. These results indicate that miRNA profiling may potentially identify dogs with DLBCL that will experience poor outcomes following treatment. Identifying specific miRNAs that correlate with the progression of canine DLBCL could aid the development of individualized treatment regimens for dogs.

Yeast surface display is a promising biotechnological tool that uses genetically modified yeast cell wall proteins as anchors for enzymes of interest, thereby transforming yeast cell wall into a living catalytic material. Here, we present a comprehensive protocol for quantifying surface-displayed β-lactamase on the cell wall of model yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We use β-lactamase as a reporter enzyme, which we tagged to be anchored to the cell wall closer to its N or C terminus, through the portion of the Pir2 or Ccw12 cell wall proteins, respectively. The catalytic activity of surface-displayed β-lactamase is assessed by its ability to hydrolyze nitrocefin, which produces a colorimetric change that is quantitatively measured by spectrophotometric analysis at 482 nm. This system enables precise quantification of the potential of S. cerevisiae strains for surface display, continuous real-time monitoring of enzyme activity, and facilitates the study of enzyme kinetics and interactions with inhibitors within the cell's native environment. In addition, the system provides a platform for high-throughput screening of potential β-lactamase inhibitors and can be adapted for the visualization of other enzymes, making it a versatile tool for drug discovery and bioprocess development.

Johannes Herrmann is a Professor of Cell Biology at the University of Kaiserslautern in Germany. His research focus is centred on the biogenesis of mitochondrial proteins. Johannes is a member of the German Academy of Sciences and member of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) Biochemistry Panel. He has been a member of the FEBS Publication Committee since 2021. In this interview, he explains the source of his scientific interest in mitochondrial biology and details how the work of the FEBS Publication Committee safeguards the future of the FEBS Press journals.