Introduction: Endogenous microRNAs (miRNAs) are critical regulators of tumor progression, making their role in breast cancer an important area of investigation.
Methods: This study examined the regulation of MSMO1 by miR-584-5p in breast cancer cells. Using bioinformatics and Western blotting, we confirmed MSMO1 expression in breast cancer cells and evaluated its effects on cell migration, invasion, and the AKT signaling pathway. In vivo experiments further supported these findings. The interaction between miR-584-5p and MSMO1 was validated through luciferase reporter assays, while functional studies highlighted the impact of miR-584-5p on cancer progression.
Results: Our findings revealed that MSMO1 is upregulated in breast cancer, enhancing cell migration and invasion. Silencing MSMO1 diminished AKT pathway activity, and luciferase assays confirmed MSMO1 as a direct target of miR-584-5p.
Conclusion: Overexpression of miR-584-5p suppressed migration and invasion of breast cancer cells. In summary, miR-584-5p is likely to modulate MSMO1 and subsequently regulate the AKT/ PI3K pathway, presenting a promising therapeutic target for breast cancer treatment.
Background: Tissue Factor (TF) is a crucial transmembrane glycoprotein that triggers blood coagulation upon vascular or tissue injury by binding to plasma factors VII and VIIa. In recent years, the demand for TF has rapidly increased due to its pivotal role in preoperative coagulation tests. However, large-scale production of TF remains challenging despite successful recombinant expression, as incorrect post-translational modifications adversely affect TF activity.
Objective: This study aims to investigate the role of post-translational modifications, specifically N-glycosylation, in TF activity and stability. Additionally, it explores strategies to enhance TF production by reducing its degradation through genetic modulation.
Methods: We compared TF activity derived from human cells and E. coli to assess the impact of post-translational modifications. Furthermore, we examined the effect of N-glycosylation on TF function. To address TF degradation, we knocked out the HRD1 gene, a key component of the endoplasmic- reticulum-associated degradation (ERAD) pathway, and evaluated its impact on TF stability and activity.
Results: TF produced in human cells exhibited higher activity than TF expressed in E. coli, emphasizing the importance of post-translational modifications. Specifically, N-glycosylation was found to influence TF activity and stability. Additionally, we observed that knocking out the HRD1 gene effectively reduced TF degradation without compromising its activity.
Conclusion: Our findings underscore the crucial role of N-glycosylation in TF function and stability. Moreover, the modulation of the ERAD pathway through knocking out HRD1 presents a promising approach for enhancing TF production. These insights could contribute to the large-scale manufacturing of functionally active TF for clinical and research applications.
Introduction: Angora goats are a distinct breed that differs significantly from common goats and shares a similar appearance to sheep. In Angora goats, only the level of glutathione (GSH) is elevated during under-stimulated conditions, as well as after the period of hypoxic stress; however, no changes are found in 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG) levels, which are commonly present in the red blood cells (RBCs) of most mammals. We chose the Angora goat for our investigation because no previous studies have been conducted on the structural and functional aspects of hemoglobin (Hb). In addition, no sequence or structural information is currently available in any database.
Methods: Angora goat Hb was isolated and purified by anion-exchange chromatography, followed by crystallization using various methods. X-ray data collection for Angora goat Hb was performed under a liquid nitrogen cryo-stream using a Bruker D8 Venture Bio Photon III 28-pixel array area detector system.
Results: Good diffracting crystals were obtained using the hanging-drop vapor-diffusion method with polyethylene glycol (PEG) 3350 as the precipitant in water, without the addition of any salt or buffer. The Angora goat Hb diffracted to a resolution of 1.85 Å, and the structure solution was obtained by the molecular replacement method, using the structure of domestic goat Hb as the starting model.
Discussion: The solved structure of Angora goat crystallized in the monoclinic space group P21, consisting of one whole biological molecule in the asymmetric unit, with unit cell dimensions of a = 52.08 Å, b = 76.70 Å, c = 74.08 Å, and β = 91.77 °. The solvent content and Matthews coefficient (Vm) for the Angora goat Hb are 49.05% and 2.41 Å3/Da, respectively, and are within the normal range for protein crystals.
Conclusion: Purification, crystallization, and preliminary X-ray diffraction studies of Angora goat Hb were performed successfully. Structural refinement and biophysical characterization of Angora goat Hb are in progress in the absence and presence of GSH and 2,3-DPG.
Introduction: Peak-shouldering elution behavior was a common and unexpected result in bind-and-elute mode Cation Exchange Chromatography (CEX), which may be due to the pH transition during the elution step and the aggregation tendency of target proteins.
Methods: Improving the concentration of acid-base pairs in the wash buffers or elution buffers without changing pH or conductivity effectively resolved the peak-shouldering issue in CEX.
Results: In the case of molecule A, the shoulder peak was eliminated in the CEX run by increasing the NaAc-HAc concentration from 50 mM to 100 mM in the elution buffer or from 50 mM to 75 mM in the wash buffer. Higher NaAc-HAc concentrations affect the pH transition in the early stages of the elution step, which may explain the elimination of the shoulder peak. A similar result was observed for molecule B, where increasing the Tris-HCl concentration in the elution buffer from 50 mM to 80 mM also removed the shoulder peak during elution.
Discussion: The successful elimination of peak-shouldering behavior by increasing acid-base pair concentrations highlights the critical role of buffer capacity in modulating pH transitions during CEX. While this strategy offers a simple and effective solution, further investigation is needed to assess its applicability across diverse protein types and buffer systems.
Conclusion: These results demonstrate that increasing the concentration of acid-base pairs in the elution buffer or wash buffer of CEX using NaAc-HAc or Tris-HCl buffers is an effective strategy for eliminating the shoulder-peak.
Background: Aloperine (ALO) is a vital alkaloid present in the traditional Chinese herb Sophora alopecuroides, which has demonstrated effective anti-inflammatory activity. However, the effects and the mechanism of action of ALO on cisplatin (CDDP)-induced nephrotoxicity remain unclear.
Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effects of ALO on CDDP-induced nephrotoxicity and its potential mechanism of action in vitro.
Methods: Cell viability, lactate dehydrogenase cytotoxicity, apoptosis, activity of Caspase-Glo 3/7 and 1, in-cell western blotting, immunohistochemical staining, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were performed to assess the influence of ALO on CDDP-treated kidney cells. Inhibitors of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K, LY294002), protein kinase B (Akt, AKT inhibitor VIII), and nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB, BAY 11-7082) were used to determine their potential mechanisms of action.
Results: The results indicated that ALO significantly reversed the inhibition of cell viability, cytotoxicity, apoptosis, and the release of inflammatory factors induced by CDDP in kidney cells. ALO attenuated the PI3K/AKT/NFκB-mediated pathway activated by CDDP treatment and downregulated the CDDP-induced nucleotide-binding domain, leucine-rich-containing family, pyrin domain-containing-3 (NLRP3) inflammasome. Furthermore, the PI3K and AKT inhibitors diminished the effects of ALO on CDDP-treated kidney cells. Additionally, NFκB inhibitors reversed the effects of the PI3K and AKT inhibitors on ALO in CDDP-treated kidney cells.
Conclusion: These results suggest that ALO protects against CDDP-induced injury in kidney cells by modulating the PI3K/AKT/NFκB-mediated NLRP3 inflammasome.
Introduction: Endometrial carcinoma (EC) incidence and mortality continue to rise, and reliable therapeutic targets remain scarce. We aimed to define the oncogenic role and mechanism of tumor protein D52 (TPD52) in EC, focusing on epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and the PI3K/AKT and ERK/MAPK signaling pathways.
Methods: In this study, we assessed the expression levels of TPD52 in EC tissues and benign endometrial tissues using immunohistochemistry. To further investigate the role of TPD52, we performed experiments both in vitro and in vivo. We transfected siRNA and overexpression (OE) plasmids into Ishikawa and HEC-1-A cell lines to knock down (KD) or overexpress TPD52, respectively. We observed the effects of TPD52 knockdown on tumor growth and EMT through in vitro experiments.
Results: TPD52 was significantly upregulated in EC tissues compared with those of benign endometrial tissues. Silencing TPD52 significantly inhibited cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, whereas TPD52 overexpression produced the opposite effects. TPD52 facilitates epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Moreover, TPD52 stimulates the PI3K/AKT and ERK/MAPK signaling pathways.
Discussion: These data position TPD52 as a bona fide EC oncoprotein that drives EMT via dual PI3K/AKT-ERK/MAPK signaling. Limitations include the modest patient cohort and the lack of clinical-pathological correlation analyses.
Conclusion: TPD52 promotes EC progression through EMT and PI3K/AKT and ERK/MAPK activation, offering a promising therapeutic target whose clinical utility warrants further investigation.
Scorpion venom compounds are known to contain nucleotides, polypeptides, mucoproteins, lipids, biogenic amines, and other unidentified macromolecules. Several peptides in scorpion fluids have demonstrated a wide range of biological activities with strong specificity for their targeted sites. Margatoxin, isolated from the venom of the scorpion, exhibits desirable properties, including high selectivity, good permeability, and stability in cancer cells, which can be achieved at picomolar doses, thereby blocking voltage-gated K+ channels. This narrative review consolidates results from an extensive literature search conducted in major electronic databases up to September 2024. Important studies were identified using keywords associated with scorpion venom peptides, Kv1.3 channels, cancer treatment, and neurodegenerative disorders. The amino acids that make up Margatoxin have an effective molecular function in blocking voltage-gated K+ channels 1.3. Due to the abnormally high expression of voltage-gated K+ channel 1.3 in various types of cancers, blockers of this channel can inhibit apoptosis, metabolic changes, tumor angiogenesis, invasion, and migration. On the other hand, these channel blockers have emerged as a promising therapeutic approach for neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. The strong efficacy and targeted action of margatoxin further position it as a promising drug candidate. As the number of individuals affected by cancer and neurological conditions continues to rise, research into scorpion venom peptides like margatoxin may lead to innovative therapeutic options for future treatments.
Immune responses depend on the identification and prediction of peptides that bind to MHC (major histocompatibility complex) class I molecules, especially when it comes to the creation of vaccines, cancer immunotherapy, and autoimmune disorders. The ability to predict and evaluate MHC class immunoproteomics have completely transformed I epitopes in conjunction with immunoinformatics technologies. However, precisely identifying epitopes across various populations and situations is extremely difficult due to the complexity and diversity of MHC class I binding peptides. The most recent developments in immunoinformatics technology that have improved MHC class I epitope prediction are examined in this article. The sensitivity and specificity of epitope prediction have been greatly enhanced by recent developments that have concentrated on bioinformatics algorithms, artificial intelligence, and machine learning models. Potential epitopes are predicted using large-scale peptide-MHC binding data, structural characteristics, and interaction dynamics using tools like NetMHC, IEDB, and MHCflurry. Additionally, the integration of proteomic, transcriptomic, and genomic data has improved prediction accuracy in real-world scenarios by enabling more accurate identification of naturally occurring peptides. Furthermore, newer techniques like deep learning and multi-omics data integration have the potential to overcome peptide binding prediction constraints. Utilizing these technologies is expected to speed up the identification of new epitopes, improve the accuracy of immunotherapy techniques, and enable customized vaccine development. These innovative techniques, their uses, and potential future developments for improving MHC class I epitope prediction in immunoproteomics are highlighted in this study.
Background: Gene fusion techniques have yielded promising results in the fusion of thermostable polymerases (Taq and Pfu) with single-stranded and double-stranded DNA-binding proteins. Constructing a terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) fusion enzyme with DNAbinding protein domains can enhance thermostability and broaden the enzyme's application field. This makes it a promising candidate for cost-effective de novo DNA synthesis and a more effective tool for demonstrating apoptosis and detecting viral DNA/RNA.
Methods: The design of fusion proteins was based on molecular dynamics and homology modeling. Native and fusion proteins were isolated using affinity chromatography on HisTrap HP. Thermostability was assessed through differential scanning fluorimetry and dynamic light scattering. HPLC analysis was conducted to evaluate enzyme activity.
Results: According to the in silico predictions of the fusion protein structure, a homotetramer was formed. The expressed fusion proteins were successfully purified under native conditions, similar to TdT. The total yields of the studied proteins were 130 mg/L for single-stranded binding protein from E. coli (EcSSB), 5 mg/L for TdT, 9 mg/L for TdT_L1_EcSSB, and 7 mg/L for TdT_L2_EcSSB. The measured radius of TdT (3.5 nm) was found to be consistent with a monomeric structure; however, the fusion proteins were expected to form a homotetramer. Additionally, fusion with EcSSB was found to prevent aggregation, which positively affected the thermal stability of the fusion protein. Instead of elongating the substrate by adding nucleotides, the fusion enzyme removed a nucleotide, specifically TTP, from the 3'-end of the DNA strand.
Conclusion: The fusion of TdT with EcSSB resulted in increased thermal stability and a reduced ability to add nucleotides to the substrate.
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