Fabrication of an affordable and sensitive corticosteroid-binding globulin immunosensor based on electrodeposited gold nanoparticles modified glassy carbon electrode

Herein, we fabricated an ultrasensitive electrochemical immunosensor for the quantitative detection of corticosteroid-binding globulin (CBG). CBG is a protein that regulates glucocorticoid levels and is an important biomarker for inflammation. A decrease in CBG levels is a key biomarker for inflammatory diseases, such as septic shock. To enhance the electrochemical performance and provide a large surface area for anti-CBG immobilization, we functionalized the glassy carbon electrode surface with AuNPs. Electrochemical characterization methods including cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were used to examine the construction of the fabricated immunosensor. The electrochemical signal demonstrated a remarkable sensitivity to the CBG antigen, with a detection range from 0.01 to 100 μg/mL and a limit of detection of 0.012 μg/mL, making it suitable for both clinical and research applications. This label-free immunosensor offers significant advantages, including high sensitivity, low detection limits and excellent selectivity, making it a promising tool for detecting CBG in complex biological samples. Its potential applications include early disease diagnosis, treatment monitoring and studying CBG-related physiological processes.

Synthesis of carbon nanotubes-chitosan nanocomposite and immunosensor fabrication for myoglobin detection: An acute myocardial infarction biomarker

The use of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) in biomedical applications is limited due to their inability to disperse in aqueous solutions. In this study, dispersed -COOH functionalized CNTs with N-succinylated chitosan (CS), greatly increasing the water solubility of CNTs and forming a uniformly dispersed nanocomposite solution of CNTs@CS. Coupling reagent EDC/NHS was used as a linker with the -COOH groups present on the N-succinylated chitosan which significantly improved the affinity of the CNTs for biomolecules. Myoglobin (Mb) is a promising biomarker for the precise assessment of cardiovascular risk, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, hypertension and several types of cancer. A high level of Mb can be used to diagnose the mentioned pathogenic diseases. The CNTs@CS-FET demonstrates superior sensing performance for Mb antigen fortified in buffer, with a wide linear range of 1 to 4000 ng/mL. The detection limit of the developed Mb immunosensor was estimated to be 4.2 ng/mL. The novel CNTs@CS-FET immunosensor demonstrates remarkable capability in detecting Mb without being affected by interferences from nonspecific antigens. Mb spiked serum showed a recovery rate of 100.262 to 118.55 % indicating great promise for Mb detection in clinical samples. The experimental results confirmed that the CNTs@CS-FET immunosensor had excellent selectivity, reproducibility and storage stability.

Label-free and ultrasensitive electrochemical transferrin detection biosensor based on a glassy carbon electrode and gold nanoparticles

In this study, we developed a label-free and ultrasensitive electrochemical biosensor for the detection of transferrin (Tf), an important serum biomarker of atransferrinemia. The biosensor was fabricated by using glassy carbon electrode (GCE) and modified with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) via electroless deposition. The electrochemical characteristics of the GCE-AuNPs biosensors were characterized using cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy analysis. Differential pulse voltammetry was used for quantitative evaluation of the Tf-antigen by recording the increase in the anodic peak current of GCE-AuNPs biosensor. The GCE-AuNPs biosensor demonstrates superior sensing performance for Tf-antigen fortified in buffer, with a wide linear range of 0.1 to 5000 μg/mL and a limit of detection of 0.18 μg/mL. The studied GCE-AuNPs biosensor showed excellent sensitivity, selectivity, long-term storage stability and simple sensing steps without pretreatment of clinical samples. This GCE-AuNPs biosensor indicates great potential for developing a Tf detection platform, which would be helpful in the early diagnosis of atransferrinemia. The developed GCE-AuNPs biosensor holds great potential in biomedical research related to point of care for the early diagnosis and monitoring of diseases associated with aberrant serum transferrin levels. These findings suggest that the GCE-AuNPs biosensor has great potential for detecting other serum biomarkers.

Biological and clinical significance of the glypican-3 gene in human lung adenocarcinoma: An in silico analysis

Glypican-3 (GPC3), a membrane-bound heparan sulfate proteoglycan, has long been found to be dysregulated in human lung adenocarcinomas (LUADs). Nevertheless, the function, mutational profile, epigenetic regulation, co-expression profile, and clinicopathological significance of the GPC3 gene in LUAD progression are not well understood. In this study, we analyzed cancer microarray datasets from publicly available databases using bioinformatics tools to elucidate the above parameters. We observed significant downregulation of GPC3 in LUAD tissues compared to their normal counterparts, and this downregulation was associated with shorter overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS). Nevertheless, no significant differences in the methylation pattern of GPC3 were observed between LUAD and normal tissues, although lower promoter methylation was observed in male patients. GPC3 expression was also found to correlate significantly with infiltration of B cells, CD8+, CD4+, macrophages, neutrophils, and dendritic cells in LUAD. In addition, a total of 11 missense mutations were identified in LUAD patients, and ~1.4% to 2.2% of LUAD patients had copy number amplifications in GPC3. Seventeen genes, mainly involved in dopamine receptor-mediated signaling pathways, were frequently co-expressed with GPC3. We also found 11 TFs and 7 miRNAs interacting with GPC3 and contributing to disease progression. Finally, we identified 3 potential inhibitors of GPC3 in human LUAD, namely heparitin, gemcitabine and arbutin. In conclusion, GPC3 may play an important role in the development of LUAD and could serve as a promising biomarker in LUAD.

Serum CRP biomarker detection by using carbon nanotube field-effect transistor (CNT-FET) immunosensor

C-reactive protein (CRP) is produced by the liver in response to systemic inflammation caused by bacterial infection, trauma and internal organ failures. CRP serves as a potential biomarker in the precise diagnosis of cardiovascular risk, type-2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, hypertension and various types of cancers. The pathogenic conditions indicated above are diagnosed by an elevated CRP level in the serum. In this study, we successfully fabricated a highly sensitive and selective carbon nanotube field-effect transistor (CNT-FET) immunosensor for the detection of CRP. The CNTs were deposited on the Si/SiO2 surface, between source-drain electrodes, afterwards modified with well-known linker PBASE and then anti-CRP was immobilized. This anti-CRP functionalized CNT-FET immunosensor exhibits a wide dynamic detection range (0.01-1000 μg/mL) CRP detection, rapid response time (2-3 min) and low variation (<3 %) which can be delivered as a low-cost and rapid clinical detection technology for the early diagnosis of coronary heart disease (CHD). For the clinical applications, our sensor was tested using CRP fortified serum samples and sensing performance was validated using enzyme-linked immune-sorbent assay (ELISA). This CNT-FET immunosensor will be helpful in taking over the complex laboratory-based expensive traditional CRP diagnostic procedures practiced in the hospitals.

Identification and molecular docking of novel chikungunya virus NSP4 inhibitory peptides from camel milk proteins

The chikungunya (CHIK) virus is an arbovirus belonging to the alphavirus (Togaviridae family). Around 85% of infected individuals suffer from symptoms such as high fever and severe joint pain; about 30 to 40% will develop a chronic joint illness. The Nsp4 protease is the most conserved protein in the alphavirus family and serves as an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp). Targeting this enzyme might inhibit the CHIKV replication cycle. This work aims to in silico study the CHIKV RdRp inhibitory effect of peptides derived from camel milk protein as antiviral peptides. Various bioinformatics tools were recruited to identify, screen, predict and assess peptides obtained from camel milk as antiviral peptides (AVPs). During this study, CHIKV Nsp4 (polymerase) was used as a target to be inhibited by interaction with peptides derived from camel milk protein. Among 91 putative bioactive peptides, the best predicted 5 were further evaluated. Molecular docking showed that the top 5 AVPs generated better docking scores and interacted well with active sites of Nsp4 by the formation of different hydrogen bonds as well as other bonds. AVP63 and AVP20 showed the best Molecular docking and MD simulation results. The residue 315ASP of the GDD motif (catalytic core) exhibited a favorable interaction with the AVPs. The findings of this study suggest that the AVP20 derived from camel milk protein can be a potential novel CHIKV polymerase inhibitor.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Recombinant expression and preliminary characterization of Peptidyl-prolyl cis/trans-isomerase Rrd1 from Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Sacchromycescerevisiae Peptidyl-prolylcis/trans-isomerase Rrd1 has been linked to DNA repair, bud morphogenesis, advancement of the G1 phase, DNA replication stress, microtubule dynamics and is also necessary for the quick decrease in Sgs1p levels in response to rapamycin. In present study, Rrd1 gene was amplified by standard PCR and subsequently cloned downstream to bacteriophage T7 inducible promoter and lac operator of expression vector pET21d(+). Additionally, immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC) was used to purify the protein upto its homogeneity, and its homogeneous purity was further confirmed through western blotting. Size exclusion chromatography implies that Rrd1 is existing as monomer in its natural state. Foldwise Rrd1 protein belongs to PTPA-like protein superfamily. Rrd1 showed characteristic negative minima at 222 and 208 nm represent protein typically acquired α helix in the far-UV CD spectra. Fluorescence spectra showed properly folded tertiary structures of Rrd1 at physiological conditions. Rrd1protein can be identified from different species using a fingerprint created by PIPSA analysis. The protein's abundance could aid in its crystallization, biophysical characterization and identification of other-interacting partners of Rrd1 protein.

Association of mutation and expression of the brother of the regulator of imprinted sites (BORIS) gene with breast cancer progression

INTRODUCTION

The BORIS, 11 zinc-finger transcription factors, is a member of the cancer-testis antigen (CTA) family. It is mapped to chromosome number 20q13.2 and this region is genetically linked to the early onset of breast cancer. The current study analyzed the correlation between BORIS mutations and the expression of the protein in breast cancer cases.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A population-based study including a total of 155 breast cancer tissue samples and an equal number of normal adjacent tissues from Indian female breast cancer patients was carried out. Mutations of the BORIS gene were detected by polymerase chain reaction-single standard confirmation polymorphisms (PCR-SSCP) and automated DNA sequencing and by immunohistochemistry for BORIS protein expression were performed. The observed findings were correlated with several clinicopathological parameters to find out the clinical relevance of associations.

RESULTS

Of all the cases 16.12% (25/155) showed mutations in the BORIS gene. The observed mutations present on codon 329 are missense, leading to Val> Ile (G>A) change on exon 5 of the BORIS gene. A significant association was observed between mutations of the BORIS gene and some clinicopathological features like nodal status (p = 0.013), estrogen receptor (ER) expression (p = 0.008), progesterone receptor (PR) expression (p = 0.039), clinical stage (p = 0.010) and menopausal status (p = 0.023). The protein expression analysis showed 20.64% (32/155) samples showing low or no expression (+), 34.19% (53/155) with moderate expression (++), and 45.17% (70/155) showing high expression (+++) of BORIS protein. A significant association was observed between the expression of BORIS protein and clinicopathological features like clinical stage (p = 0.013), nodal status (p = 0.049), ER expression (p = 0.039), and PR expression (p = 0.027). When mutation and protein expression were correlated in combination with clinicopathological parameters a significant association was observed in the category of high (+++) level of BORIS protein expression (p = 0.017).

CONCLUSION

The BORIS mutations and high protein expression occur frequently in carcinoma of the breast suggesting their association with the onset and progression of breast carcinoma. Further, the BORIS has the potential to be used as a biomarker.

Association of peptidyl prolyl cis/trans isomerase Rrd1 with C terminal domain of RNA polymerase II

The largest subunit of RNAPII extends as the conserved unstructured heptapeptide consensus repeats Y₁S₂P₃T₄S₅P₆S₇ and their posttranslational modification, especially the phosphorylation state at Ser2, Ser5 and Ser7 of CTD recruits different transcription factors involved in transcription. In the current study, fluorescence anisotropy, pull down assay and molecular dynamics simulation studies employed to conclude that peptidyl-prolyl cis/trans-isomerase Rrd1 has strong affinity for unphosphorylated CTD rather than phosphorylated CTD for mRNA transcription. Rrd1 preferentially interacts with unphosphorylated GST-CTD in comparison to hyperphosphorylated GST-CTD in vitro. Fluorescence anisotropy revealed that recombinant Rrd1 prefers to bind unphosphorylated CTD peptide in comparison to phosphorylated CTD peptide. In computational studies, the RMSD of Rrd1-unphosphorylated CTD complex was greater than the RMSD of Rrd1-pCTD complex. During 50 ns MD simulation run Rrd1-pCTD complex get dissociated twice viz. 20 ns to 30 ns and 40 ns to 50 ns, while Rrd1-unpCTD complex remain stable throughout the process. Additionally, the Rrd1-unphosphorylated CTD complexes acquire comparatively higher number of H-bonds, water bridges and hydrophobic interactions occupancy than Rrd1-pCTD complex, concludes that the Rrd1 interacts more strongly with the unphosphorylated CTD than the pCTD.

Molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulation and MM-GBSA studies of the activity of glycyrrhizin relevant substructures on SARS-CoV-2 RNA-dependent-RNA polymerase

SARS-CoV-2 is the causative agent of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), which is a life-threatening disease. The World Health Organization has classified COVID-19 as a severe worldwide public health pandemic due to its high death rate, quick transmission, and lack of medicines. To counteract the recurrence of the severe acute respiratory syndrome, active antiviral medications are urgently required. Glycyrrhizin was documented with activity on different viral proteins, including SARS-CoV-2; in this study, the activity of glycyrrhizin and its substructures (604 molecules) were screened on SARS-CoV-2 RNA-dependent-RNA polymerase using molecular docking, molecular dynamic (MD) simulation, and MM/GBSA. Sixteen molecules exhibited docking energy higher than -7 kcal/mol; four compounds (10772603, 101088272, 154730753 and glycyrrhizin) showed the highest binding energy, and good stability during MD simulation. The glycyrrhizin compound exhibited favorable docking energy (-7.9 kcal/mol), and it was the most stable complex during MD simulation. The predicted binding free energy of the glycyrrhizin complex was -57 ± 8 kcal/mol. These findings suggest that this molecule, after more validation, could become a good candidate for developing and manufacturing an anti-SARS-CoV-2 medication.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

β Pore-forming Protein-based Evolutionary Divergence of Gnathostomata from Agnatha

INTRODUCTION

The first vertebrates were jawless fish, or Agnatha, whose evolution diverged into jawed fish, or Gnathostomes, around 550 million years ago.

METHODS

In this study, we investigated β PFT proteins' evolutionary divergence of lamprey immune protein from Agnatha, reportedly possessing anti-cancer activity, into Dln1 protein from Gnathostomes. Both proteins showed structural and functional divergence, and shared evolutionary origin. Primary, secondary and tertiary sequences were compared to discover functional domains and conserved motifs in order to study the evolution of these two proteins. The structural and functional information relevant to evolutionary divergence was revealed using hydrophobic cluster analysis.

RESULTS

The findings demonstrate that two membrane proteins with only a small degree of sequence identity can have remarkably similar hydropathy profiles, pointing towards conserved and similar global structures. When facing the lipid bilayer or lining the pore lumen, the two proteins' aerolysin domains' corresponding residues displayed a similar and largely conserved pattern. Aerolysin-like proteins from different species can be identified using a fingerprint created by PIPSA analysis of the pore-forming protein.

CONCLUSION

We were able to fully understand the mechanism of action during pore formation through structural studies of these proteins.

Inosine Triphosphate Pyrophosphatase (ITPase): Functions, Mutations, Polymorphisms and Its Impact on Cancer Therapies

Inosine triphosphate pyrophosphatase (ITPase) is an enzyme encoded by the ITPA gene and functions to prevent the incorporation of noncanonical purine nucleotides into DNA and RNA. Specifically, the ITPase catalyzed the hydrolysis of (deoxy) nucleoside triphosphates ((d) NTPs) into the corresponding nucleoside monophosphate with the concomitant release of pyrophosphate. Recently, thiopurine drug metabolites such as azathioprine have been included in the lists of ITPase substrates. Interestingly, inosine or xanthosine triphosphate (ITP/XTP) and their deoxy analogs, deoxy inosine or xanthosine triphosphate (dITP/dXTP), are products of important biological reactions such as deamination that take place within the cellular compartments. However, the incorporation of ITP/XTP, dITP/dXTP, or the genetic deficiency or polymorphism of the ITPA gene have been implicated in many human diseases, including infantile epileptic encephalopathy, early onset of tuberculosis, and the responsiveness of patients to cancer therapy. This review provides an up-to-date report on the ITPase enzyme, including information regarding its discovery, analysis, and cellular localization, its implication in human diseases including cancer, and its therapeutic potential, amongst others.

Phytochemical thymoquinone prevents hemoglobin glycoxidation and protofibrils formation: A biophysical aspect

d-ribose, a reducing sugar, in diabetic hyperglycemia provokes non-enzymatic glycoxidation of hemoglobin (Hb), an abundant protein of red blood cells (RBCs). Different types of intermediates adduct formation occur during glycoxidation, such as advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) which lead to amyloid formation due to structural and conformational alterations in protein. Therefore, the study of these intermediate adducts plays a pivotal role to discern their relationship with diabetes mellitus and related disorders. Here, we investigated the interaction mechanism of d-ribose with Hb, and Hb prebound phytochemical thymoquinone (TQ). Our investigation reveals that the interaction of TQ with histidine residues of Hb interferes with the interaction of d-ribose with glycine residues at the glycation-site. Based on that, we had performed a time-based (21-days) in-vitro glycoxidation study at 37 °C to investigate the structural perturbation mechanism of Hb at different time-intervals in absence/presence of TQ. We found that prolonged glycoxidation induces amyloid formation in absence of TQ but in its presence, the process was prohibited. In summary, this study examined and characterized biophysically different intermediate-states of protein carrying glycoxidation-modification. Our findings suggested that TQ potentially affects interaction of d-ribose with Hb that prevents glycoxidation and protofibril formation, which establishes TQ as a potential therapeutic agent.

Carbon nanotube field-effect transistor (CNT-FET)-based biosensor for rapid detection of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) surface spike protein S1

The large-scale diagnosis of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is important for traceability and treatment during pandemic outbreaks. We developed a fast (2–3 min), easy-to-use, low-cost, and quantitative electrochemical biosensor based on carbon nanotube field-effect transistor (CNT-FET) that allows digital detection of the SARS-CoV-2 S1 in fortifited saliva samples for quick and accurate detection of SARS-CoV-2 S1 antigens. The biosensor was developed on a Si/SiO₂ surface by CNT printing with the immobilization of a anti-SARS-CoV-2 S1. SARS-CoV-2 S1 antibody was immobilized on the CNT surface between the S-D channel area using a linker 1-pyrenebutanoic acid succinimidyl ester (PBASE) through non-covalent interaction. A commercial SARS-CoV-2 S1 antigen was used to characterize the electrical output of the CNT-FET biosensor. The SARS-CoV-2 S1 antigen in the 10 mM AA buffer pH 6.0 was effectively detected by the CNT-FET biosensor at concentrations from 0.1 fg/mL to 5.0 pg/mL. The limit of detection (LOD) of the developed CNT-FET biosensor was 4.12 fg/mL. The selectivity test was performed by using target SARS-CoV-2 S1 and non-target SARS-CoV-1 S1 and MERS-CoV S1 antigens in the 10 mM AA buffer pH 6.0. The biosensor showed high selectivity (no response to SARS-CoV-1 S1 or MERS-CoV S1 antigen) with SARS-CoV-2 S1 antigen detection in the 10 mM AA buffer pH 6.0. The biosensor is highly sensitive, saves time, and could be a helpful platform for rapid detection of SARS-CoV-2 S1 antigen from the patients saliva.

In vitro cytotoxicity of curcuminoids against head and neck cancer HNO97 cell line

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a malignant tumour of Head and Neck Cancer (HNC). The recent therapeutic approaches used to treat cancer have adverse side effects. The natural agents exhibiting anticancer activities are generally considered to have a robust therapeutic potential. Curcuminoids, one of the major active compounds of the turmeric herb, are used as a therapeutic agent for several diseases including cancer. In this study, the cytotoxicity of curcuminoids was investigated against OSCC cell line HNO97. Our data showed that curcuminoids significantly inhibits the proliferation of HNO97 in a time and dose-dependent manner (IC50=35 μM). Cell cycle analysis demonstrated that curcuminoids increased the percentage of G2/M phase cell populations in the treated groups. Treating HNO97 cells with curcuminoids led to cell shrinking and increased detached cells, which are the typical appearance of apoptotic cells. Moreover, flow cytometry analysis revealed that curcuminoids significantly induced apoptosis in a time-dependent manner. Furthermore, as a response to curcuminoids treatment, comet tails were formed in cell nuclei due to the induction of DNA damage. Curcuminoids treatment reduced the colony formation capacity of HNO97 cells and induced morphological changes. Overall, these findings demonstrate that curcuminoids can in vitro inhibit HNC proliferation and metastasis and induce apoptosis.

Autism - A Comprehensive Array of Prominent Signs and Symptoms

BACKGROUND

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a multifaceted neurodevelopmental condition characterized by multiple psychological and physiological impairments in young children. According to the recent reports, 1 out of every 58 newly-born children is suffering from autism. The aetiology of the disorder is complex and poorly understood, hindering the adaptation of targeted and effective therapies. There are no well- established diagnostic biomarkers for autism. Hence the analysis of symptoms by the pediatricians plays a critical role in the early intervention.

METHODS

In the present report, we have emphasized 24 behavioral, psychological and clinical symptoms of autism.

RESULTS

Impaired social interaction, restrictive and narrow interests, anxiety, depression; aggressive, repetitive, rigid and self-injurious behavior, lack of consistency, short attention span, fear, shyness and phobias, hypersensitivity and rapid mood alterations, high level of food and toy selectivity; inability to establish friendships or follow the instructions; fascination by round spinning objects and eating non-food materials are common psychological characteristics of autism. Speech or hearing impairments, poor cognitive function, gastrointestinal problems, weak immunity, disturbed sleep and circadian rhythms, weak motor neuromuscular interaction, lower level of serotonin and neurotransmitters, headache and body pain are common physiological symptoms.

CONCLUSION

A variable qualitative and quantitative impact of this wide range of symptoms is perceived in each autistic individual, making him/her distinct, incomparable and exceptional. Selection and application of highly personalized medical and psychological therapies are therefore recommended for the management and treatment of autism.

Urolithins: The Gut Based Polyphenol Metabolites of Ellagitannins in Cancer Prevention, a Review

Cancer as a disease continues to ravage the world population without regard to sex, age, and race. Due to the growing number of cases worldwide, cancer exerts a significant negative impact on global health and the economy. Interestingly, chemotherapy has been used over the years as a therapeutic intervention against cancer. However, high cost, resistance, and toxic by-effects to treatment have overshadowed some of its benefits. In recent times, efforts have been ongoing in searching for anticancer therapeutics of plant origin, focusing on polyphenols. Urolithins are secondary polyphenol metabolites derived from the gut microbial action on ellagitannins and ellagic acid-rich foods such as pomegranate, berries, and nuts. Urolithins are emerging as a new class of anticancer compounds that can mediate their cancer-preventive activities through cell cycle arrest, aromatase inhibition, induction of apoptosis, tumor suppression, promotion of autophagy, and senescence, transcriptional regulation of oncogenes, and growth factor receptors. In this review, we discussed the growing shreds of evidence supporting these secondary phenolic metabolites' anticancer properties. Furthermore, we have pointed out some of the future directions needed to establish urolithins as anticancer agents.

Urolithin A and B Alter Cellular Metabolism and Induce Metabolites Associated with Apoptosis in Leukemic Cells

Leukemia is persistently a significant cause of illness and mortality worldwide. Urolithins, metabolites of ellagic acid and ellagitannins produced by gut microbiota, showed better bioactive compounds liable for the health benefits exerted by ellagic acid and ellagitannins containing pomegranate and walnuts. Here, we assessed the potential antileukemic activities of both urolithin A and urolithin B. Results showed that both urolithin A and B significantly inhibited the proliferation of leukemic cell lines Jurkat and K562, among which urolithin A showed the more prominent antiproliferative capability. Further, urolithin treatment alters leukemic cell metabolism, as evidenced by increased metabolic rate and notable changes in glutamine metabolism, one-carbon metabolism, and lipid metabolism. Next, we evidenced that both urolithins equally promoted apoptosis in leukemic cell lines. Based on these observations, we concluded that both urolithin A and B alter leukemic cell metabolome, resulting in a halt of proliferation, followed by apoptosis. The data can be used for designing new combinational therapies to eradicate leukemic cells.

Compound C, a Broad Kinase Inhibitor Alters Metabolic Fingerprinting of Extra Cellular Matrix Detached Cancer Cells

Most of the cancer related deaths are caused mainly by metastasis. Therefore, it is highly important to unfold the major mechanisms governing metastasis process in cancer. Throughout the metastatic cascade, cells need the ability to survive without attachment to neighboring cells and the original Extra Cellular Matrix (ECM). Recent reports showed that loss of ECM attachment shifts cancer cell metabolism towards glycolysis mostly through hypoxia. However, AMPK, a master metabolic regulator was also found to be upregulated under ECM detached conditions. Therefore, in this work we aimed to understand the consequences of targeting AMPK and other metabolic kinases by a broad kinase inhibitor namely Compound C in ECM detached cancer cells. Results showed that Compound C impacts glycolysis as evident by increased levels of pyruvate, but reduces its conversion to lactate thereby negatively regulating the Warburg effect. Simultaneously, Compound C induces block at multiple levels in TCA cycle as evident from accumulation of various TCA metabolites. Interestingly Compound C significantly reduces glutamine and reduced glutathione levels, suggesting loss of antioxidant potential of ECM detached cancer cells. Further, we found increased in metabolites associated with nucleotide synthesis, one carbon metabolism and PPP pathway during Compound C treatment of ECM detached cells. Finally, we also found induction in metabolites associated with DNA damage in ECM detached cancer cells during Compound C treatment, suggesting DNA damage regulatory role of metabolic kinases. Overall, our results showed that Compound C represses pyruvate to lactate conversion, reduces antioxidant potential and invokes DNA damage in ECM detached cancer cells. Our data provides a comprehensive metabolic map of ECM detached cancer cells that can be targeted with a broad kinase inhibitor, is Compound C. The data can be used for designing new combinational therapies to eradicate ECM detached cancer cells.

Molecular profiling of epigenetic landscape of cancer cells during extracellular matrix detachment

During cancer, a major challenge faced by oncologists is the treatment of metastasis; a leading cause of cancer-related deaths around the world. Metastasis involves a highly ordered sequence of events starting with the detachment of tumor cells from the extracellular matrix (E.C.M.). In normal cells, detachment from E.C.M. triggers programmed cell death, termed anoikis. However, tumor cells dodge their way to anoikis and spread to distant sites for initiating the metastatic program. In this work, we explored the impact of E.C.M. detachment on the expression of some major oncogenic histone methyltransferases. Results showed both EZH2 expression and its enzymatic activity were significantly increased in E.C.M. detached cancer cells when compared to the attached cells. Inhibition of EZH2 results in a significant reduction in cell proliferation, spheroids size, and induction in apoptosis in E.C.M. detached cells. Furthermore, we observed a reduction in EZH2 expression levels in single cells when compared to clusters of E.C.M. detached cells. Finally, we combined the EZH2 inhibition with AMPK, known to be highly expressed in E.C.M. detached cancer cells and observed antagonistic effects between the two pathways. The observed results clearly showed that E.C.M. detached cancer cells require oncogenic EZH2 and can be targeted by EZH2 inhibitors.

A Study on the Effect of Vitamins A and C to Modulate the Expression of NKG2D Ligands in Hepatic and Colon Cancer Cells

Recently, vitamins have been shown to act as epigenetic modifier. Cancer cells exhibit transcriptional downregulation of NK group 2D ligands (NKG2DLs) through repressive methylation and are largely resistant to NK cell-mediated eradication. We herein investigated the potential of recently reported epigenome modifying vitamins A, C, and E in inducing the expression of epigenetically silenced NKG2DLs in cancer cells. Based on the cell viability assay three concentrations, i.e., 25, 50, and 100 µg/ml of all vitamins were selected for treatment. Results showed that treatment of both vitamin A and C significantly upregulates expression of two major NKG2DLs namely MICA and MICB. Simultaneously, both, vitamin A and C significantly reduces the methylation process by downregulating DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) expression level. Vitamin C, but not vitamin A, significantly upregulates TETs (DNA demethylases) expression. Further, we assessed the impact of both vitamins A and C on S-adenosylmethionine/S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAM/SAH) ratio levels and found no significant changes in SAM/SAH ratio. Overall, we clearly found that both vitamin A and C induces NKG2DLs mostly through repressing the expression of DNMTs, suggesting their potential role in improving the targeting of tumor cells by promoting the engagement and clearance of tumor cells with NK cells.

Multiple Risk Factors: A Challenge in the Management of Autism

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is an emerging health problem involving 1 out of every 68 children. The incidence rate of autism has increased 3 folds during the last 3 decades. Due to the illusive picture of aetiology, a considerable number of autistic children fail to receive proper behavioural and medicational treatment. The present study provides a cumulative account of autism risk factors. Several factors including the gene expression and gene mutations, environmental pollution, metal ion accumulation, exposure to pesticides, immune deficiencies, viral infections, mother's age, health, mental status, mother's interactions with the foetus, vaccination of mother and children, and modulations in gut microbiota have been debated. These risk factors may contribute to the development of autism either independently or synergistically leading to a broad spectrum of characteristics observed in autistic patients. The variable quantitative influence of a wide spectrum of risk factors may result in a unique set of features in each autistic individual. However, the exact mechanism behind the combined impact of various aetiological factors is poorly understood hindering the adaptation of specified and effective therapies.

pH and alcohol induced structural transition in Ntf2 a nuclear transport factor of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Ntf2 is a nuclear envelope protein, which play a pivotal role in nucleocytoplasmic transport and mediates the nuclear import of RanGDP. It interacts with various nucleoporins along with Ran-GDP and part of a multicomponent system that assembles at the nuclear pore complex (NCP) during nuclear import. Here, we have described the biophysical characterization of Ntf2 from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Recombinant Ntf2 showed increment in the β-sheet content as well as decrement in the α-helix content from pH-7.0 to pH-4.0. A subsequent decrease in the pH led to increment in the α-helical content along with decrement in β-sheet content. Intrinsic fluorescence studies demonstrated the unfolding of the protein below physiological pH. Ntf2 showed stabilization as well as phenomenal phase transition (β sheet to α helix) by increase in alcohol concentration from 10% to 70%. Further increase in alcohol concentration (90%) resulted in residual secondary structure in Ntf2 protein. Presence of ammonium sulfate also stabilizes the secondary structure of Ntf2 protein. The structural characterization reveals the flexibility and the stability of Ntf2 at various conditions. These structural alterations in Ntf2 protein probably occurs in the course of nucleocytoplasmic transport when it interacts with other proteins moving towards its final destination.

Thymoquinone and Difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) Synergistically Induce Apoptosis of Human Acute T Lymphoblastic Leukemia Jurkat Cells Through the Modulation of Epigenetic Pathways

Thymoquinone (TQ), a natural anticancer agent exerts cytotoxic effects on several tumors by targeting multiple pathways, including apoptosis. Difluoromethylornithine (DFMO), an irreversible inhibitor of the ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) enzyme, has shown promising inhibitory activities in many cancers including leukemia by decreasing the biosynthesis of the intracellular polyamines. The present study aimed to investigate the combinatorial cytotoxic effects of TQ and DFMO on human acute T lymphoblastic leukemia Jurkat cells and to determine the underlying mechanisms. Here, we show that the combination of DFMO and TQ significantly reduced cell viability and resulted in significant synergistic effects on apoptosis when compared to either DFMO or TQ alone. RNA-sequencing showed that many key epigenetic players including Ubiquitin-like containing PHD and Ring finger 1 (UHRF1) and its 2 partners DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) and histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1) were down-regulated in DFMO-treated Jurkat cells. The combination of DFMO and TQ dramatically decreased the expression of UHRF1, DNMT1 and HDAC1 genes compared to either DFMO or TQ alone. UHRF1 knockdown led to a decrease in Jurkat cell viability. In conclusion, these results suggest that the combination of DFMO and TQ could be a promising new strategy for the treatment of human acute T lymphoblastic leukemia by targeting the epigenetic code.

COVID-19: Prospective Challenges and Potential Vaccines

CONTEXT

RNA viruses exhibit an extraordinary ability to evolve in a changing environment and to switch from animal hosts to humans. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, recognized as a respiratory disease, is an example of zoonotic transmission of the RNA virus known as SARS-CoV-2. The development and regulatory approval of a vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 pose multiple preventive and therapeutic challenges, especially during an ongoing pandemic.

OBJECTIVE

The review intended to examine the challenges and recent achievements in the development of vaccine candidates against COVID-19.

DESIGN

The research team performed a literature review, searching relevant and up to date information from the literature. The sources of data included Google Scholar, PubMed, NCBI, and Yahoo. The search terms used were COVID-19 challenges, SARS-CoV-2 prospective challenges, RNA viruses adoptability, host switching by RNA viruses, COVID-19 vaccines.

SETTING

The study took place at the digital libraries of contributing institutions. The data was combined, selected for further analysis and manuscript preparation at King Abdulaziz University.

RESULTS

RNA viruses with high rate of genome alterations and evolution have better chances to survive in the adverse environmental conditions by adopting the alternate host species. The recent epidemics such as SARS, MERS, and COVID-19 are examples of zoonotic transmission of RNA viruses from animal species to the humans. However, the mechanisms involved in the switching-on to new host species need further investigations to control the zoonotic transmissions in near future. As of April 2020, 115 candidate vaccines were being evaluated; 78 of them had been found to be active, and a few of them are in Phase I trials. In the development of different types of vaccine candidates against COVID-19, multiple international pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies are involved.

CONCLUSIONS

Emerging and re-emerging pathogenic RNA viruses pose a serious threat to human health. Little is known about the human-host adoptive mechanism for zoonotic transmission. Deep insights into the molecular mechanism responsible for the switching of animal or bird viruses to humans could provide target molecules or events to prevent such transmissions in the near future. Fast development and approval of efficacious and safe vaccines is key to the effort to provide preventive measures against COVID-19 and future viruses. However, the development and availability of a vaccine candidate is a time-consuming process and often can't be completed during an epidemic. Currently, several types of vaccines are under development, and most of them won't realistically be available in time for the present COVID-19 pandemic.

Origin, Potential Therapeutic Targets and Treatment for Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)

The ongoing episode of coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) has imposed a serious threat to global health and the world economy. The disease has rapidly acquired a pandemic status affecting almost all populated areas of the planet. The causative agent of COVID-19 is a novel coronavirus known as SARS-CoV-2. The virus has an approximate 30 kb single-stranded positive-sense RNA genome, which is 74.5% to 99% identical to that of SARS-CoV, CoV-pangolin, and the coronavirus the from horseshoe bat. According to available information, SARS-CoV-2 is inferred to be a recombinant virus that originated from bats and was transmitted to humans, possibly using the pangolin as the intermediate host. The interaction of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein with the human ACE2 (angiotensin-converting enzyme 2) receptor, and its subsequent cleavage by serine protease and fusion, are the main events in the pathophysiology. The serine protease inhibitors, spike protein-based vaccines, or ACE2 blockers may have therapeutic potential in the near future. At present, no vaccine is available against COVID-19. The disease is being treated with antiviral, antimalarial, anti-inflammatory, herbal medicines, and active plasma antibodies. In this context, the present review article provides a cumulative account of the recent information regarding the viral characteristics, potential therapeutic targets, treatment options, and prospective research questions.

Highly Expressed DLL4 and JAG1: Their Role in Incidence of Breast Cancer Metastasis

BACKGROUND

The role of Notch signaling dysregulation in causing metastatic breast cancer is not yet elucidated, therefore, this study aimed to investigate the expression of DLL4 and JAG1 in metastatic breast cancer. Moreover, we examined the possible association between clinicopathological features and studied parameters.

DESIGN AND METHODS

A total of 90 patients with invasive ductal breast carcinomas (52 non-metastatic and 38 metastatic) were enrolled in the current study. Furthermore, there were 42 patients with benign breast diseases. The mRNA and protein expression of DLL4 and JAG1 were analyzed by RT-PCR and ELISA, respectively in breast cell lysates.

RESULTS

The mRNA and protein expression of DLL4 and JAG1 were obviously higher in patients with breast cancer compared to patients with benign breast diseases and in metastatic versus non-metastatic breast cancer. A significant positive correlation was declared between DLL4 and JAG1 at both mRNA and protein levels in metastatic and localized breast cancer patients. Highly expressed mRNA and protein of DLL4 and JAG1 were associated with late tumor stages; moreover, upregulation of mRNA and protein of JAG1 was correlated with poorly differentiated tumors.

CONCLUSION

Our data emphasize that overexpression of DLL4 and JAG1 could predict the development of distant metastasis in breast cancer patients.

Repurposing Disulfiram as an Anti-Obesity Drug: Treating and Preventing Obesity in High-Fat-Fed Rats

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

A drug repurposing strategy is an approach for identifying new therapeutic uses for approved or investigational drugs. Thanks to the moderate cost of repurposing a drug compared to bringing new chemical entity to the market, drug repurposing is rapidly gaining ground. The aim of this work is to study the anti-obesity effect of disulfiram (DSF), an irreversible aldehyde dehydrogenase inhibitor approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat chronic alcoholism since 1951.

METHODS

Thirty male Albino rats were randomly assigned to six groups. G1, the control group, was given a standard diet. G2, the positive control group, was given a high-fat diet (HFD). G3 was given an HFD, and DSF 50 mg/kg/day was administered orally from day one for six weeks. G4 was given an HFD, and DSF 200 mg/kg/day was administered orally from day one for six weeks. G5 was given an HFD for six weeks; then treatment started with 50 mg/kg/day DSF orally. G6 was given an HFD for six weeks; then treatment started with 200 mg/kg/day DSF orally for three weeks. The body weight, food consumption and blood glucose levels were monitored over the given time interval.

RESULTS

Both doses of DSF significantly limited the body weight gain caused by an HFD for the treated animals. HF-fed rats received 50 and 200 mg/kg/day of DSF had their body weight increased by 51.93 ± 7.89% and 20.88 ± 15.05% respectively, whereas the body weight of control animals increased by 93.1 ± 20.04%. DSF also significantly decreased the body weight of obese animals. At 50 and 200 mg/kg/day of DSF, HF-fed rats lost 16.74 ± 8.61% and 23.9 ± 3.93% respectively, as their untreated counterparts had their body weight increased by 11.85 ± 3.79% after three weeks of treatment, thus restoring a body weight matching those who received a standard diet.

CONCLUSION

FDA-approved disulfiram has a strong anti-obesity effect on HFD-fed rats.

Prospective of nanoscale metal organic frameworks [NMOFs] for cancer therapy

Nano metal organic frameworks (NMOFs) belong to the group of nanoporous materials. Over the decades, the conducted researches explored the area for the potential applications of NMOFs in areas like biomedical, chemical engineering and materials science. Recently, NMOFs have been explored for their potential use in cancer diagnosis and therapeutics. The excellent physico-chemical features of NMOFs also make them a potential candiadate to facilitate drug design, delivery and storage against cancer cells. In this review, we have explored the characterstic features, synthesis methods, NMOFs based drug delivery, diagnosis and imaging in various cancer types. In addition to this, we have also pondered on the stability and toxicological concerns of NMOFs. Despite, a significant research has been done for the potential use of NMOFs in cancer diagonostic and therapeutics, more information regarding the stability, in-vivo clearance, toxicology, and pharmacokinetics is still needed to ehnace the use of NMOFs in cancer diagonostic and therapeutics.

LC-MS/MS-based metabolic profiling of Escherichia coli under heterologous gene expression stress

Escherichia coli is frequently exploited for genetic manipulations and heterologous gene expression studies. We have evaluated the metabolic profile of E. coli strain BL21 (DE3) RIL CodonPlus after genetic modifications and subjecting to the production of recombinant protein. Three genetically variable E. coli cell types were studied, normal cells (susceptible to antibiotics) cultured in simple LB medium, cells harboring ampicillin-resistant plasmid pET21a (+), grown under antibiotic stress, and cells having recombinant plasmid pET21a (+) ligated with bacterial lactate dehydrogenase gene grown under ampicillin and standard isopropyl thiogalactoside (IPTG)-induced gene expression conditions. A total of 592 metabolites were identified through liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry analysis, feature and peak detection using XCMS and CAMERA followed by precursor identification by METLIN-based procedures. Overall, 107 metabolites were found differentially regulated among genetically modified cells. Quantitative analysis has shown a significant modulation in DHNA-CoA, p-aminobenzoic acid, and citrulline levels, indicating an alteration in vitamin K, folic acid biosynthesis, and urea cycle of E. coli cells during heterologous gene expression. Modulations in energy metabolites including NADH, AMP, ADP, ATP, carbohydrate, terpenoids, fatty acid metabolites, diadenosine tetraphosphate (Ap4A), and l-carnitine advocate major metabolic rearrangements. Our study provides a broader insight into the metabolic adaptations of bacterial cells during gene manipulation experiments that can be prolonged to improve the yield of heterologous gene products and concomitant production of valuable biomolecules.

Factors Contributing in Incidence and Diagnosis of Metabolic Syndrome: Updated Mini Review

It has been well-established that obesity is the major contributing factor forthe development of metabolic syndrome (MetS), diabetes, cardiovascular disease and certain types of cancer. According to WHO, 44% increase of diabetes, 23% increase of ischaemic heart disease, and between 7% and 41% increase of certain cancer are due to obesity. The Middle East region is reported to have the highest prevalence of diabetes in adults in the world. In Saudi Arabia, over 35% of the population are obese, and it is estimated that 24% of adult has diabetes including undiagnosed diabetes cases. Obesity and chronic metabolic disease associated obesity impose the heavy financial burden on national healthcare in the Gulf countries as they do in most countries worldwide. Biochemical markers for MetS included changes in trace elements, vitamin D,hormonal (adipokines, leptin, adiponectin, ghrelin), inflammatory mediators (IL-6, TNF-α, IL-10), biochemical markers (Ox-LDL,  uric acid) and prothrombic factors (PAI-1). Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) is the primary of four serine peptidase inhibitors that functions to modulate extracellular matrix remodeling and fibrinolysis. The link between PAI-1 and MetS has been established.  This review screening major factors and the association between PAI-1, trace elemnts, vitamin D, obesity hormone and expression of obesity genes for early prediction of MetS for control and management to prevent late complications.

A quercetin-based flavanoid (rutin) reverses amyloid fibrillation in β-lactoglobulin at pH 2.0 and 358 K

β-lactoglobulin (BLG) is a well characterized milk protein and a model for folding and aggregation studies. Rutin is a quercetin based-flavanoid and a famous dietary supplement. It is a potential protector from coronary heart disease, cancers, and inflammatory bowel disease. In this study, amyloid fibrillation is reported in BLG at pH 2.0 and temperature 358 K. It is inhibited to some extent by rutin with a rate of 99.3 h^-1 M^-1. Amyloid fibrillation started taking place after 10 h of incubation and completed near 40 h at a rate of 16.6 × 10^-3 h^-1, with a plateau during 40-108 h. Disruption of tertiary structure of BLG and increased solvent accessibility of hydrophobic core seem to trigger intermolecular assembly. Increase in 7% β-sheet structure at the cost of 10% α-helical structures and the electron micrograph of BLG fibrils at 108 h further support the formation of amyloid. Although it could not block amyloidosis completely, and even the time required to reach plateau remains the same, a decrease of growth rate from 16.6 × 10^-3 to 13.5 × 10^-3 h^-1 was observed in the presence of 30.0 μM rutin. Rutin seems to block solvent accessibility of the hydrophobic core of BLG. A decrease in the fibril population was observed in electron micrographs, with the increase in rutin concentration. All evidences indicate reversal of fibrillation in BLG in the presence of rutin.

Middle East respiratory syndrome: pathogenesis and therapeutic developments

The first case of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) was identified in the year 2012, which spread rapidly and increased to more than 2200 in 2018. This highly pathogenic virus with high mortality rate is among one of the major public health concerns. Saudi Arabia remains to be the most affected region with the majority of MERS-CoV cases, and currently, no effective drugs and vaccines are available for prevention and treatment. A large amount of information is now available regarding the virus, its structure, route of transmission and its pathophysiology. Therefore, this review summarizes the current understanding of MERS-CoV's pathogenesis, treatment options and recent scientific advancements in vaccine and other therapeutic developments, and the major steps taken for MERS prevention control.

Synthesis and in vitro antitumor activity of novel acylspermidine derivative N-(4-aminobutyl)-N-(3-aminopropyl)-8-hydroxy-dodecanamide (AAHD) against HepG2 cells

Naturally occurring polyamines like Putrescine, Spermidine, and Spermine are polycations which bind to the DNA, hence stabilizing it and promoting the essential cellular processes. Many synthetic polyamine analogues have been synthesized in the past few years, which have shown cytotoxic effects on different tumours. In the present study, we evaluated the antiproliferative effect of a novel, acylspermidine derivative, (N-(4-aminobutyl)-N-(3-aminopropyl)-8-hydroxy-dodecanamide) (AAHD) on HepG2 cells. Fluorescence staining was performed with nuclear stain (Hoechst 33342) and acridine orange/ethidium bromide double staining. Dose and the time-dependent antiproliferative effect were observed by WST-1 assays, and radical scavenging activity was measured by ROS. Morphological changes such as cell shrinkage & blebbing were analyzed by fluorescent microscopy. It was found that AAHD markedly suppressed the growth of HepG2 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. It was also noted that the modulation of ROS levels confirmed the radical scavenging activity. In the near future, AAHD can be a promising drug candidate in chalking out a neoplastic strategy to control the proliferation of tumour cells. This study indicated that AAHD induced anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic activities on HCC. Since AAHD was active at micromolar concentrations without any adverse effects on the healthy cells (Fibroblasts), it is worthy of further clinical investigations.

Thymoquinone-Induced Reactivation of Tumor Suppressor Genes in Cancer Cells Involves Epigenetic Mechanisms

The epigenetic silencing of tumor suppressor genes (TSGs) is a common finding in several solid and hematological tumors involving various epigenetic readers and writers leading to enhanced cell proliferation and defective apoptosis. Thymoquinone (TQ), the major biologically active compound of black seed oil, has demonstrated anticancer activities in various tumors by targeting several pathways. However, its effects on the epigenetic code of cancer cells are largely unknown. In the present study, we performed RNA sequencing to investigate the anticancer mechanisms of TQ-treated T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell line (Jurkat cells) and examined gene expression using different tools. We found that many key epigenetic players, including ubiquitin-like containing plant homeodomain (PHD) and really interesting new gene (RING) finger domains 1 (UHRF1), DNMT1,3A,3B, G9A, HDAC1,4,9, KDM1B, and KMT2A,B,C,D,E, were downregulated in TQ-treated Jurkat cells. Interestingly, several TSGs, such as DLC1, PPARG, ST7, FOXO6, TET2, CYP1B1, SALL4, and DDIT3, known to be epigenetically silenced in various tumors, including acute leukemia, were upregulated, along with the upregulation of several downstream pro-apoptotic genes, such as RASL11B, RASD1, GNG3, BAD, and BIK. Data obtained from RNA sequencing were confirmed using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) in Jurkat cells, as well as in a human breast cancer cell line (MDA-MB-468 cells). We found that the decrease in cell proliferation and in the expression of UHRF1, DNMT1, G9a, and HDAC1 genes in both cancer cell (Jurkat cells and MDA-MB-468 cells) lines depends on the TQ dose. Our results indicate that the use of TQ as an epigenetic drug represents a promising strategy for epigenetic therapy for both solid and blood tumors by targeting both DNA methylation and histone post-translational modifications.

Proproliferative function of adaptor protein GRB10 in prostate carcinoma

Growth factor receptor-binding protein 10 (GRB10) is a well-known adaptor protein and a recently identified substrate of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). Depletion of GRB10 increases insulin sensitivity and overexpression suppresses PI3K/Akt signaling. Because the major reason for the limited efficacy of PI3K/Akt-targeted therapies in prostate cancer (PCa) is loss of mTOR-regulated feedback suppression, it is therefore important to assess the functional importance and regulation of GRB10 under these conditions. On the basis of these background observations, we explored the status and functional impact of GRB10 in PCa and found maximum expression in phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN)-deficient PCa. In human PCa samples, GRB10 inversely correlated with PTEN and positively correlated with pAKT levels. Knockdown of GRB10 in nontumorigenic PTEN null mouse embryonic fibroblasts and tumorigenic PCa cell lines reduced Akt phosphorylation and selectively activated a panel of receptor tyrosine kinases. Similarly, overexpression of GRB10 in PTEN wild-type PCa cell lines accelerated tumorigenesis and induced Akt phosphorylation. In PTEN wild-type PCa, GRB10 overexpression promoted mediated PTEN interaction and degradation. PI3K (but not mTOR) inhibitors reduced GRB10 expression, suggesting primarily PI3K-driven regulation of GRB10. In summary, our results suggest that GRB10 acts as a major downstream effector of PI3K and has tumor-promoting effects in prostate cancer.-Khan, M. I., Al Johani, A., Hamid, A., Ateeq, B., Manzar, N., Adhami, V. M., Lall, R. K., Rath, S., Sechi, M., Siddiqui, I. A., Choudhry, H., Zamzami, M. A., Havighurst, T. C., Huang, W., Ntambi, J. M., Mukhtar, H. Proproliferatve function of adaptor protein GRB10 in prostate carcinoma.

Atorvastatin Treatment Modulates the Gut Microbiota of the Hypercholesterolemic Patients

Hypercholesterolemia is one of the most important risk factors for development of cardiovascular diseases. The composition of gut microbiota (total microbes residing in the gut) impacts on cholesterol and lipid metabolism. On the contrary, alterations in gut microbiota in response to hypercholesterolemia or drug treatment with atorvastatin (a cholesterol-lowering agent) are rarely investigated. We performed 16S rDNA amplicon sequencing to evaluate the gut bacterial community of 15 untreated hypercholesterolemic patients (HP) and 27 atorvastatin-treated hypercholesterolemic patients (At-HP) and compared with 19 healthy subjects (HS). In total, 18 different phyla were identified in the study groups. An increase in relative abundance of Proteobacteria was observed in the HP group compared with At-HP and HS groups. The atherosclerosis-associated genus Collinsella was found at relatively higher abundance in the HP group. The anti-inflammation-associated bacteria (Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, Akkermansia muciniphila, and genus Oscillospira) were found in greater abundance, and proinflammatory species Desulfovibrio sp. was observed at decreased abundance in the drug-treated HP group compared with the untreated HP group. Relative abundances of the Bilophila wadsworthia and Bifidobacterium bifidum (bile acid-associated species) were decreased in the At-HP group. The At-HP and HS clustered separately from HP in the principal coordinate analysis. Decreased bacterial diversity was observed in the atorvastatin-treated group. In conclusion, these data suggest that atorvastatin treatment of patients with hypercholesterolemia may selectively restore the relative abundance of several dominant and functionally important taxa that were disrupted in the HP. Further studies are required to investigate the putative modifying effects of hypocholesterolemic drugs on functionality of gut microbiota, and the potential downstream effects on human health.

Recombinant l-glutaminase obtained from Geobacillus thermodenitrificans DSM-465: characterization and in silico elucidation of conserved structural domains

Glutaminase (GLS) is an enzyme essential for amino acid metabolism; in particular, it acts as a catalyst in glutaminolysis, a reaction exploited by the malignant cells to meet the nutrient requirements for their accelerated growth and proliferation. Via regulating the initial reaction of the glutaminolysis pathway, glutaminase offers an intriguing target for the development of anticancer drugs. In the present study, we produced a recombinant glutaminase from Geobacillus thermodenitrificans DSM-465 in E. coli. The enzyme was purified to electrophoretic homogeneity, with 40% recovery and 22.36 fold purity. It exhibited a molecular weight of 33 kDa, with an optimum pH and temperature of 9 and 70 °C, respectively. The K M value of the purified enzyme was 104 μM for l-glutamine. A 3D model was built for the enzyme using Swiss-Model and subjected to molecular docking with the substrate and potential inhibitors. Moreover, the subject enzyme was compared with the human kidney type GLS-K by ConSurf and TM-align servers for evolutionary conserved residues and structural domains. Despite having less than 40% amino acid identity, the superimposed monomers of both enzymes exhibited ∼94% structural identity. With a positional difference, the active site residues Ser65, Asn117, Glu162, Asn169, Tyr193, Tyr245, and Val263 found in the bacterial enzyme were also conserved in the human GLS-K. Molecular docking results have shown that CB-839 is the best inhibitor for GLS-GT and UPGL00004 is the best inhibitor for GLS-K, as designated by the binding free energy changes, i.e. ΔG -388.7 kJ mol-1 and ΔG -375 kJ mol-1, respectively. Moreover, six potential inhibitory molecules were ranked according to their binding free energy change values for both enzymes. The information can be used for the in vivo anticancer studies.

Honey attenuates the toxic effects of the low dose of tartrazine in male rats

Honey is traditionally used in burns, wound healing, ulcers, boils, and fistulas. Honey was tested to prevent tartrazine toxicity in male rats for 8 weeks. The 18 rats of the experiment were randomly divided into three 6-rat groups. The negative control group (G1) fed diet with sulfanilic acid, the tartrazine positive group (G2) fed diet containing tartrazine and sulfanilic acid and the honey-treated group (G3) fed diet as in G2 and cotreated with honey. Tartrazine decreased antioxidants, high-density lipoproteins and proteins, and increased liver enzymes, kidney indices, lipid peroxidation, triglycerides, total cholesterol, and low- and very-low-density lipoproteins. In addition, tartrazine-treated group showed drastic damage of the tissues of stomach, liver, kidney, and testis. Honey treatment increased antioxidants and high-density lipoproteins, and decreased lipid peroxidation, liver enzyme and kidney parameters. Honey treatment also improved stomach, liver, kidney, and testis tissues. In conclusion, honey protects male rats against tartrazine toxicity. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Honey was tested to prevent tartrazine toxicity in male rats in an experiment conducted for 8 weeks. Catalase, glutathione reductase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione reduced, the low- and high-density lipoproteins, lipid peroxidation, liver enzyme, and kidney parameters were measured to evaluate both the toxic effect of tartrazine in G2 and the protective potential of honey in G3.

Nanocolloidal lipidic carriers of olmesartan medoxomil surface-tailored with Concavalin-A for lectin receptor targeting

Aim: The present work involves the development of Concavalin A-conjugated nanostructured lipidic carriers (NLCs) of olmesartan medoxomil for lectin receptor targeting. Materials & methods: Excipient selection was performed by drug solubility in solid and liquid lipids. Factor screening was carried out by evaluating the impact of formulation and process variables on the critical quality attributes. Surface modification of NLCs was carried out using Concavalin A and extensively characterized. Results & conclusion: NLCs exhibited the particle size of 273.6 nm, ζ-potential of -30.2 nm, encapsulation efficiency of 73.3% and sustained drug release profile. Nearly 4.2-fold improvement in cell uptake, four- to eightfold increase in Cmax and AUC, and 37% reduction in blood pressure was observed from NLCs over the pure drug.

Identification of Deregulated Signaling Pathways in Jurkat Cells in Response to a Novel Acylspermidine Analogue-N4-Erucoyl Spermidine

Natural polyamines such as putrescine, spermidine, and spermine are crucial in the cell proliferation and maintenance in all the eukaryotes. However, the requirement of polyamines in tumor cells is stepped up to maintain tumorigenicity. Many synthetic polyamine analogues have been designed recently to target the polyamine metabolism in tumors to induce apoptosis. N⁴-Erucoyl spermidine (designed as N⁴-Eru), a novel acylspermidine derivative, has been shown to exert selective inhibitory effects on both hematological and solid tumors, but its mechanisms of action are unknown. In this study, RNA sequencing was performed to investigate the anticancer mechanisms of N⁴-Eru-treated T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cell line (Jurkat cells), and gene expression was examined through different tools. We could show that many key oncogenes including NDRG1, CACNA1G, TGFBR2, NOTCH1,2,3, UHRF1, DNMT1,3, HDAC1,3, KDM3A, KDM4B, KDM4C, FOS, and SATB1 were downregulated, whereas several tumor suppressor genes such as CDKN2AIPNL, KISS1, DDIT3, TP53I13, PPARG, FOXP1 were upregulated. Data obtained through RNA-Seq further showed that N⁴-Eru inhibited the NOTCH/Wnt/JAK-STAT axis. This study also indicated that N⁴-Eru-induced apoptosis could involve several key signaling pathways in cancer. Altogether, our results suggest that N⁴-Eru is a promising drug to treat ALL.

AKT Inhibition Modulates H3K4 Demethylase Levels in PTEN-Null Prostate Cancer

Hyperactivated AKT kinase due to loss of its negative regulator PTEN influences many aspects of cancer biology, including chromatin. AKT primarily regulates acetyl-CoA production and phosphorylates many histone-modulating enzymes, resulting in their activation or inhibition. Therefore, understanding the therapeutic impact of AKT inhibition on chromatin-related events is essential. Here, we report that AKT inhibition in prostate-specific PTEN knockout mice significantly induces di- and trimethylation of H3K4 with concomitant reduction in H3K9 acetylation. Mechanistically, we observed that AKT inhibition reduces expression of the H3K4 methylation-specific histone demethylases KDM5 family, especially KDM5B expression at transcriptional levels. Furthermore, we observed that AKT negatively regulates miR-137 levels, which transcriptionally represses KDM5B expression. Overexpression of miR-137 significantly reduced KDM5B and increased H3K4 methylation levels but failed to change AKT phosphorylation. Overall, we observed that AKT transcriptionally regulates KDM5B mainly via repression of miR-137. Our data identify a mechanism by which AKT kinase modulates the prostate cancer epigenome through regulating H3K4 methylation. Additional studies on AKT inhibition-mediated induction of H3K4 methylation will help in designing strategies to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of PI3K/AKT inhibitors.

p21Waf1/Cip1: its paradoxical effect in the regulation of breast cancer

p21^Waf1/Cip1, the cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitor belonging to the KIP/CIP family, was initially regarded as a tumor suppressor protein because it was recognized as the chief mediator of p53-dependent cell cycle arrest elicited by DNA damage. Conversely, it has been proposed that p21^Waf1/Cip1 may also function as an oncogene because it can inhibit apoptosis. Thus, p21^Waf1/Cip1 is regarded as a protein with a dual behavior, as its expression might cause potential benefits or dangerous effects in breast cancer. Consequently, careful planning is required in targeting p21^Waf1/Cip1 expression for therapy of breast cancer patients. This review illustrates the discovery and mechanisms of induction of p21^Waf1/Cip1. Then, we focus on elucidating the paradoxical effect of p21^Waf1/Cip1 expression on human breast carcinogenesis and explaining how the subcellular localization (nuclear or cytoplasmic) of p21^Waf1/Cip1 has an impact on both determining its fate as either cell-growth inhibitor or antiapoptotic molecule and, its effect on clinicopathological factors and prognosis of breast cancer patients. Moreover, we explore how the pattern of the p21^Waf1/Cip1 could affect the responsiveness of human breast cancer to chemotherapy. Furthermore, the pharmacological approaches to target p21^Waf1/Cip1 expression for therapy of breast cancer are clarified.

Thymoquinone challenges UHRF1 to commit auto-ubiquitination: a key event for apoptosis induction in cancer cells

Down-regulation of UHRF1 (Ubiquitin-like containing PHD and Ring Finger 1) in Jurkat cells, induced by natural anticancer compounds such as thymoquinone, allows re-expression of tumor suppressor genes such as p73 and p16^INK4A . In order to decipher the mechanisms of UHRF1 down-regulation, we investigated the kinetic of expression of HAUSP (herpes virus-associated ubiquitin-specific protease), UHRF1, cleaved caspase-3 and p73 in Jurkat cells treated with thymoquinone. We found that thymoquinone induced degradation of UHRF1, correlated with a sharp decrease in HAUSP and an increase in cleaved caspase-3 and p73. UHRF1 concomitantly underwent a rapid ubiquitination in response to thymoquinone and this effect was not observed in the cells expressing mutant UHRF1 RING domain, suggesting that UHRF1 commits an auto-ubiquitination through its RING domain in response to thymoquinone treatment. Exposure of cells to Z-DEVD, an inhibitor of caspase-3 markedly reduced the thymoquinone-induced down-regulation of UHRF1, while proteosomal inhibitor MG132 had no such effect. The present findings indicate that thymoquinone induces in cancer cells a fast UHRF1 auto-ubiquitination through its RING domain associated with HAUSP down-regulation. They further suggest that thymoquinone-induced UHRF1 auto-ubiquitination followed by its degradation is a key event in inducing apoptosis through a proteasome-independent mechanism.

Implications of Isoprostanes and Matrix Metalloproteinase-7 Having Potential Role in the Development of Colorectal Cancer in Males

BACKGROUND

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common type of cancer and leading cause of death worldwide. Major risk factors involved in the development of CRC are increased dietary sources, genetics, and increasing age. Purpose of the study was to find the role of different variables in the progression of CRC.

METHODOLOGY

50 blood samples from CRC patients and 20 samples from control were collected. Serum was separated from the blood by centrifugation. This serum was assessed for several antioxidants like superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, catalase, vitamin A, C, and E, and pro-oxidants such as malondialdehyde, advanced oxidation protein products (AOPPs), and AGEs according to their respective protocols. Matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7) and isoprostanes were assessed by ELISA kits.

RESULTS

Lower levels of GSH (4.86 ± 0.78 vs 9.65 ± 1.13 μg/dl), SOD (0.08 ± 0.012 vs 0.46 ± 0.017 μg/dl), CAT (2.45 ± 0.03 vs 4.22 ± 0.19 μmol/mol of protein), and GRx (5.16 ± 0.06 vs 7.23 ± 0.36 μmol/ml) in the diseased group were recorded as compared with control. Higher levels of GPx (6.64 ± 0.19 mmol/dl) were observed in the subjects in comparison with control group (1.58 ± 0.30 mmol/dl). Highly significant decreased levels of vitamin A (0.81 ± 0.07 vs 2.37 ± 0.15 mg/ml), vitamin E (15.42 ± 1.26 vs 25.96 ± 2.19 mg/ml), and vitamin C (47.67 ± 7.69 vs 80.37 ± 10.21 mg/ml) were observed in the patients in contrast to control group. The reversal of antioxidants in later stages of CRC may be due to compensatory mechanisms in cancerous cells. The levels of MDA (nmol/ml) were also assessed, which shows significantly increased level in CRC patients as compared with control groups (3.67 ± 0.19 vs 1.31 ± 0.27). The levels of protein oxidation products [AGEs (2.74 ± 0.16 vs 0.84 ± 0.05 IU) and AOPPs (1.32 ± 0.02 vs 0.82 ± 0.07 ng/ml)] were significantly increased in subjects as compared with control. The levels of MMP-7 (64.75 ± 3.03 vs 50.61 ± 4.09 ng/ml) and isoprostanes (0.71 ± 0.03 vs 0.16 ± 0.02 ng/ml) were also analyzed. This shows that the levels of isoprostanes increased due to high lipid peroxidation mediate higher levels of MMP-7, which promotes development of CRC.

CONCLUSION

Following study suggested that elevated oxidative and inflammatory status along with lipid peroxidation and matrix metalloproteinases are the chief contributors in the progression of CRC.

Prospects of IL-2 in Cancer Immunotherapy

IL-2 is a powerful immune growth factor and it plays important role in sustaining T cell response. The potential of IL-2 in expanding T cells without loss of functionality has led to its early use in cancer immunotherapy. IL-2 has been reported to induce complete and durable regressions in cancer patients but immune related adverse effects have been reported (irAE). The present review discusses the prospects of IL-2 in immunotherapy for cancer.

Identification of variants in the mitochondrial lysine-tRNA (MT-TK) gene in myoclonic epilepsy-pathogenicity evaluation and structural characterization by in silico approach

Variations in mitochondrial genes have an established link with myoclonic epilepsy. In the present study we evaluated the nucleotide sequence of MT-TK gene of 52 individuals from 12 unrelated families and reported three variations in 2 of the 13 epileptic patients. The DNA sequences coding for MT-TK gene were sequenced and mutations were detected in all participants. The mutations were further analyzed by the in silico analysis and their structural and pathogenic effects were determined. All the investigated patients had symptoms of myoclonus, 61.5% were positive for ataxia, 23.07% were suffering from hearing loss, 15.38% were having mild to severe dementia, 69.23% were males, and 61.53% had cousin marriage in their family history. DNA extracted from saliva was used for the PCR amplification of a 440 bp DNA fragment encompassing complete MT-TK gene. The nucleotide sequence analysis revealed three mutations, m.8306T>C, m.8313G>C, and m.8362T>G that are divergent from available reports. The identified mutations designate the heteroplasmic condition. Furthermore, pathogenicity of the identified variants was predicted by in silico tools viz., PON-mt-tRNA and MitoTIP. Secondary structure of altered MT-TK was predicted by RNAStructure web server. Studies by MitoTIP and PON-mt-tRNA tools have provided strong evidences of pathogenic effects of these mutations. Single nucleotide variations resulted in disruptive secondary structure of mutant MT-TK models, as predicted by RNAStructure. In vivo confirmation of structural and pathogenic effects of identified mutations in the animal models can be prolonged on the basis of these findings.

Targeting microRNA/UHRF1 pathways as a novel strategy for cancer therapy

Ubiquitin-like containing plant homeodomain and RING finger domains 1 (UHRF1) is an anti-apoptotic protein involved in the silencing of several tumor suppressor genes (TSGs) through epigenetic modifications including DNA methylation and histone post-translational alterations, and also epigenetic-independent mechanisms. UHRF1 overexpression is observed in a number of solid tumors and hematological malignancies, and is considered a primary mechanism in inhibiting apoptosis. UHRF1 exerts its inhibitory activity on TSGs by binding to functional domains and therefore influences several epigenetic actors including DNA methyltransferase, histone deacetylase 1, histone acetyltransferase Tat-interacting protein 60 and histone methyltransferases G9a and Suv39H1. UHRF1 is considered to control a large macromolecular protein complex termed epigenetic code replication machinery, in order to maintain epigenetic silencing of TSGs during cell division, thus enabling cancer cells to escape apoptosis. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are able to regulate the expression of its target gene by functioning as either an oncogene or a tumor suppressor. In the present review, the role of tumor suppressive miRNAs in the regulation of UHRF1, and the importance of targeting the microRNA/UHRF1 pathways in order to induce the reactivation of silenced TSGs and subsequent apoptosis are discussed.

Computing disease-linked SOD1 mutations: deciphering protein stability and patient-phenotype relations

Protein stability is a requisite in the field of biotechnology, cell biology and drug design. To understand effects of amino acid substitutions, computational models are preferred to save time and expenses. As a systemically important, highly abundant, stable protein, the knowledge of Cu/Zn Superoxide dismutase1 (SOD1) is important, making it a suitable test case for genotype-phenotype correlation in understanding ALS. Here, we report performance of eight protein stability calculators (PoPMuSiC 3.1, I-Mutant 2.0, I-Mutant 3.0, CUPSAT, FoldX, mCSM, BeatMusic and ENCoM) against 54 experimental stability changes due to mutations of SOD1. Four different high-resolution structures were used to test structure sensitivity that may affect protein calculations. Bland-Altman plot was also used to assess agreement between stability analyses. Overall, PoPMuSiC and FoldX emerge as the best methods in this benchmark. The relative performance of all the eight methods was very much structure independent, and also displayed less structural sensitivity. We also analyzed patient's data in relation to experimental and computed protein stabilities for mutations of human SOD1. Correlation between disease phenotypes and stability changes suggest that the changes in SOD1 stability correlate with ALS patient survival times. Thus, the results clearly demonstrate the importance of protein stability in SOD1 pathogenicity.