Reactive Halogen Species: Role in Living Systems and Current Research Approaches
AbstractReactive halogen species (RHS) are highly reactive compounds that are normally required for regulation of immune response, inflammatory reactions, enzyme function, etc. At the same time, hyperproduction of highly reactive compounds leads to the development of various socially significant diseases – asthma, pulmonary hypertension, oncological and neurodegenerative diseases, retinopathy, and many others. The main sources of (pseudo)hypohalous acids are enzymes from the family of heme peroxidases – myeloperoxidase, lactoperoxidase, eosinophil peroxidase, and thyroid peroxidase. Main targ ets of these compounds ...
Source: Biochemistry (Moscow) - January 1, 2024 Category: Biochemistry Source Type: research
Immunology of SARS-CoV-2 Infection
AbstractAccording to the data from the World Health Organization, about 800 million of the world population had contracted coronavirus infection caused by SARS-CoV-2 by mid-2023. Properties of this virus have allowed it to circulate in the human population for a long time, evolving defense mechanisms against the host immune system. Severity of the disease depends largely on the degree of activation of the systemic immune response, including overstimulation of macrophages and monocytes, cytokine production, and triggering of adaptive T- and B-cell responses, while SARS-CoV-2 evades the immune system actions. In this review,...
Source: Biochemistry (Moscow) - January 1, 2024 Category: Biochemistry Source Type: research
Pathogenetic Significance of Long Non-Coding RNAs in the Development of Thoracic and Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms
AbstractAortic aneurysm (AA) is a life-threatening condition with a high prevalence and risk of severe complications. The aim of this review was to summarize the data on the role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in the development of AAs of various location. Within less than a decade of studies on the role of lncRNAs in AA, using experimental and bioinformatic approaches, scientists have obtained the data confirming the involvement of these molecules in metabolic pathways and pathogenetic mechanisms critical for the aneurysm development. Regardless of the location of pathological process (thoracic or abdominal aorta), AA ...
Source: Biochemistry (Moscow) - January 1, 2024 Category: Biochemistry Source Type: research
Synthesis and Biological Properties of Polyphenol-Containing Linear and Dendrimeric Cationic Peptides
AbstractNatural polyphenols are promising compounds for the pharmacological control of oxidative stress in various diseases. However, low bioavailability and rapid metabolism of polyphenols in a form of glycosides or aglycones have stimulated the search for the vehicles that would provide their efficient delivery to the systemic circulation. Conjugation of polyphenols with cationic amphiphilic peptides yields compounds with a strong antioxidant activity and ability to pass through biological barriers. Due to a broad range of biological activities characteristic of polyphenols and peptides, their conjugates can be used in...
Source: Biochemistry (Moscow) - January 1, 2024 Category: Biochemistry Source Type: research
Genomic Imprinting and Random Monoallelic Expression
AbstractThe review discusses the mechanisms of monoallelic expression, such as genomic imprinting, in which gene transcription depends on the parental origin of the allele, and random monoallelic transcription. Data on the regulation of gene activity in the imprinted regions are summarized with a particular focus on the areas controlling imprinting and factors influencing the variability of the imprintome. The prospects of studies of the monoallelic expression are discussed. (Source: Biochemistry (Moscow))
Source: Biochemistry (Moscow) - January 1, 2024 Category: Biochemistry Source Type: research
Influence of Nucleotide Context on Non-Specific Amplification of DNA with Bst exo – DNA Polymerase
In this study, the effect of nucleotide sequence on the Bst exo– binding with DNA and on the efficiency of multimerization initiation, are reported. Preference for binding of the “closed” form of Bst exo– to the purine-rich DNA sequences, especially those containing dG at the 3 ′-end of the growing chain was revealed using molecular docking of the single-stranded trinucleotides (sst) and trinucleotide duplexes (dst). The data obtainedin silico were confirmed in the experiments using oligonucleotide templates that differ in the structure of the 3 ′- and 5′-terminal motifs. It has been shown that templates w...
Source: Biochemistry (Moscow) - January 1, 2024 Category: Biochemistry Source Type: research
N-Terminal Fragment of Cardiac Myosin Binding Protein C Modulates Cooperative Mechanisms of Thin Filament Activation in Atria and Ventricles
We examined effect of the N-terminal C0-C1-m-C2 (C0-C2) fragment of cMyBP-C on actin–myosin interaction using ventricular and atrial myosin in a nin vitro motility assay. The C0-C2 fragment of cMyBP-C significantly reduced the maximum sliding velocity of thin filaments on both myosin isoforms and increased the calcium sensitivity of the actin –myosin interaction. The C0-C2 fragment had different effects on the kinetics of ATP and ADP exchange, increasing the affinity of ventricular myosin for ADP and decreasing the affinity of atrial myosin. The effect of the C0-C2 fragment on the activation of the thin filament dep...
Source: Biochemistry (Moscow) - January 1, 2024 Category: Biochemistry Source Type: research
The Functions of N6-Methyladenosine in Nuclear RNAs
AbstractN6-methyladenosine (m6A) is one of the most common modifications in both eukaryotic and prokaryotic mRNAs. It has been experimentally confirmed that m6A methylation is involved in the regulation of stability and translation of various mRNAs. Until recently, the majority of m6A-related studies have been focused on the cytoplasmic functions of this modification. Here, we review new data on the role of m6A in several key biological processes taking place in the cell nucleus, such as transcription, chromatin organization, splicing, nuclear-cytoplasmic transport, and R-loop metabolism. Based on analysis of these data, w...
Source: Biochemistry (Moscow) - January 1, 2024 Category: Biochemistry Source Type: research
Synthetic Activators of Autophagy
AbstractAutophagy is a central process for degradation of intracellular components that do not operate correctly. Molecular mechanisms underlying this process are extremely difficult to study, since they involve a large number of participants. The main task of autophagy is redistribution of cellular resources in response to environmental changes, such as starvation. Recent studies show that autophagy regulation could be the key to achieve healthy longevity, as well as to create therapeutic agents for treatment of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson ’s and Alzheimer’s diseases. Thus, development of autophagy ac...
Source: Biochemistry (Moscow) - January 1, 2024 Category: Biochemistry Source Type: research
Leaf Extract from European Olive (Olea europaea L.) Post-Transcriptionally Suppresses the Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition and Sensitizes Gastric Cancer Cells to Chemotherapy
AbstractThe overall survival of patients with the advanced and recurrent gastric cancer (GC) remains unfavorable. In particular, this is due to cancer spreading and resistance to chemotherapy associated with the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of tumor cells. EMT can be identified by the transcriptome profiling of GC for EMT markers. Indeed, analysis of the TCGA and GTEx databases (n = 408) and a cohort of GC patients (n = 43) revealed that expression of theCDH2 gene was significantly decreased in the tumors vs. non-tumor tissues and correlated with the overall survival of GC patients. Expression of the EMT-pro...
Source: Biochemistry (Moscow) - January 1, 2024 Category: Biochemistry Source Type: research
Natural Activators of Autophagy
AbstractAutophagy is the process by which cell contents, such as aggregated proteins, dysfunctional organelles, and cell structures are sequestered by autophagosome and delivered to lysosomes for degradation. As a process that allows the cell to get rid of non-functional components that tend to accumulate with age, autophagy has been associated with many human diseases. In this regard, the search for autophagy activators and the study of their mechanism of action is an important task for treatment of many diseases, as well as for increasing healthy life expectancy. Plants are rich sources of autophagy activators, containin...
Source: Biochemistry (Moscow) - January 1, 2024 Category: Biochemistry Source Type: research
Serum Glycome as a Diagnostic and Prognostic Factor in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus
AbstractGestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a risk factor for both mother and fetus/neonate during and after the pregnancy. Inconsistent protocols and cumbersome screening procedures warrant the search for new and easily accessible biomarkers. We investigated a potential of serum N-glycome to differentiate between healthy pregnant women (n = 49) and women with GDM (n = 53) using a lectin-based microarray and studied the correlation between the obtained data and parameters of glucose and lipid metabolism. Four out of 15 lectins used were able to detect the differences between the control and GDM groups in fucosylatio...
Source: Biochemistry (Moscow) - January 1, 2024 Category: Biochemistry Source Type: research
Impairment of Assembly of the Vimentin Intermediate Filaments Leads to Suppression of Formation and Maturation of Focal Contacts and Alteration of the Type of Cellular Protrusions
AbstractCell migration is largely determined by the type of protrusions formed by the cell. Mesenchymal migration is accomplished by formation of lamellipodia and/or filopodia, while amoeboid migration is based on bleb formation. Changing of migrational conditions can lead to alteration in the character of cell movement. For example, inhibition of the Arp2/3-dependent actin polymerization by the CK-666 inhibitor leads to transition from mesenchymal to amoeboid motility mode. Ability of the cells to switch from one type of motility to another is called migratory plasticity. Cellular mechanisms regulating migratory plas ti...
Source: Biochemistry (Moscow) - January 1, 2024 Category: Biochemistry Source Type: research
Immunology of SARS-CoV-2 Infection
AbstractAccording to the data from the World Health Organization, about 800 million of the world population had contracted coronavirus infection caused by SARS-CoV-2 by mid-2023. Properties of this virus have allowed it to circulate in the human population for a long time, evolving defense mechanisms against the host immune system. Severity of the disease depends largely on the degree of activation of the systemic immune response, including overstimulation of macrophages and monocytes, cytokine production, and triggering of adaptive T- and B-cell responses, while SARS-CoV-2 evades the immune system actions. In this review,...
Source: Biochemistry (Moscow) - January 1, 2024 Category: Biochemistry Source Type: research
Pathogenetic Significance of Long Non-Coding RNAs in the Development of Thoracic and Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms
AbstractAortic aneurysm (AA) is a life-threatening condition with a high prevalence and risk of severe complications. The aim of this review was to summarize the data on the role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in the development of AAs of various location. Within less than a decade of studies on the role of lncRNAs in AA, using experimental and bioinformatic approaches, scientists have obtained the data confirming the involvement of these molecules in metabolic pathways and pathogenetic mechanisms critical for the aneurysm development. Regardless of the location of pathological process (thoracic or abdominal aorta), AA ...
Source: Biochemistry (Moscow) - January 1, 2024 Category: Biochemistry Source Type: research
