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Bioinspir Biomim 2021 Apr 13. Epub 2021 Apr 13.

College of Engineering, University of Georgia, Driftmier Engineering Center, 597 DW Brooks Drive, Athens, Georgia, 30602, UNITED STATES.

Lessons about artificial sensor design may be taken from evolutionarily perfected physiological systems. Mechanosensory cells in human skin are exquisitely sensitive to gentle touch and enable us to distinguish objects of different stiffnesses and textures. These cells are embedded in soft epidermal layers of gel-like consistency. Read More

Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2021 Apr 10;556:199-206. Epub 2021 Apr 10.

Division of Allergy, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA. Electronic address:

Circulating cell-free hemoglobin (CFH) contributes to endothelial injury in several inflammatory and hemolytic conditions. We and others have shown that CFH causes increased endothelial permeability, but the precise mechanisms of CFH-mediated endothelial barrier dysfunction are not fully understood. Based on our previous study in a mouse model of sepsis demonstrating that CFH increased apoptosis in the lung, we hypothesized that CFH causes endothelial barrier dysfunction through this cell death mechanism. Read More

Acta Histochem 2021 Apr 10;123(4):151712. Epub 2021 Apr 10.

Department of Biology and Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address:

Scrotal hyperthermia leads to altered spermatogenesis due to heat-related oxidative stress. One of the main causes of infertility in men is oxidative stress, which refers to an imbalance in the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidants. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of chronic scrotal hyperthermia on testicular tissue structure, sperm parameters, and oxidative stress in adult mice. Read More

Environ Pollut 2021 Apr 3;283:117084. Epub 2021 Apr 3.

The Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, PR China.

Benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P), a representative polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) compound in marine ecosystem, has great potential for chronic toxicity to marine animals. It is becoming increasingly apparent that reproductive system is the major target of B[a]P, but the adverse effects of B[a]P on subcellular fractions in bivalve gonads have not been elucidated. Scallops Chlamys farreri are used as the experimental species since they are sensitive to environmental pollutants. Read More

J Infect Public Health 2021 Feb 20;14(5):577-587. Epub 2021 Feb 20.

Department of Biotechnology, Prathyusha Engineering College, Chennai 602025, India. Electronic address:

Background: In this study, a biologically active molecule, di-methyl flubendazole isolated from the extract of Carica papaya leaves confirmed by using GC-MS, H NMR, and C NMR analysis was applied to synthesize silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). The AgNPs with plant sources an alternative therapeutic agent for synthetic compound used in cancer chemotherapy.

Methods: The AgNPs were characterized using UV, FT-IR, XRD, FESEM with EDX and TEM. Read More

Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol 2021 Apr 10:110600. Epub 2021 Apr 10.

Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Medicine, School of Health Sciences, Central University of Punjab, Ghudda, Bathinda 151401, India.

Development of insect resistance to biopesticides is a current and pertinent global issue. Earlier, it was established that lepidopteran larvae can recover from Bt intoxication via a midgut regenerative response and subsequently generate resistance. Molecular aspects of restoration of the midgut integrity following toxin exposure are emerging recently. Read More

Neurotoxicology 2021 Apr 10. Epub 2021 Apr 10.

Institute of Chemistry, NAWI Graz, University of Graz, 8010, Graz, Austria. Electronic address:

Arsenic-containing hydrocarbons (AsHCs) are common constituents of marine organisms and have potential toxicity to human health. This work is to study the effect of AsHCs on long-term potentiation (LTP) for the first time. A multi-electrode array (MEA) system was used to record the field excitatory postsynaptic potential (fEPSP) of CA1 before and after treatment with AsHC 360 in hippocampal slices from infantile male rats. Read More

Dev Comp Immunol 2021 Apr 10:104099. Epub 2021 Apr 10.

Department of Marine Biology, Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China; Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology (Qingdao), Qingdao 266003, China. Electronic address:

AP-2 complex subunit mu-A (AP2M1A) is a component of the adaptor complexes that link clathrin to receptors in coated vesicles. It has recently been shown to be involved in the resistance to oxidative damage, challenging the conventional role of AP2M1A. Here we demonstrated that AP2M1A was a heparin-binding protein abundantly stored in eggs and embryos of zebrafish, and its gene expression was markedly up-regulated by LPS and LTA treatment. Read More

Neuropharmacology 2021 Apr 10:108557. Epub 2021 Apr 10.

Servicio de Neurobiología-Investigación, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, IRYCIS, 28034, Madrid, Spain. Electronic address:

The intracellular accumulation of some amino acids (AAs), mainly glutamine, can contribute to brain edema observed during liver failure. We recently demonstrated that individual applications of high concentrations (10 mM) of some non-excitatory AAs increase the electrical resistance of hippocampal slices, indicating cell swelling. Therefore, we pondered whether an AA mixture's application might cause cell swelling at a physiological concentration range. Read More

Cell Chem Biol 2021 Apr 7. Epub 2021 Apr 7.

Department of Chemistry, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA. Electronic address:

Necroptosis is a form of cell death characterized by receptor-interacting protein kinase activity and plasma membrane permeabilization via mixed-lineage kinase-like protein (MLKL). This permeabilization is responsible for the inflammatory properties of necroptosis. We previously showed that very long chain fatty acids (VLCFAs) are functionally involved in necroptosis, potentially through protein fatty acylation. Read More

Cell 2021 Apr 8. Epub 2021 Apr 8.

Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, UCSF, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA. Electronic address:

Receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK)-mediated activation of downstream effector pathways such as the RAS GTPase/MAP kinase (MAPK) signaling cascade is thought to occur exclusively from lipid membrane compartments in mammalian cells. Here, we uncover a membraneless, protein granule-based subcellular structure that can organize RTK/RAS/MAPK signaling in cancer. Chimeric (fusion) oncoproteins involving certain RTKs including ALK and RET undergo de novo higher-order assembly into membraneless cytoplasmic protein granules that actively signal. Read More

J Sep Sci 2021 Apr 13. Epub 2021 Apr 13.

Department of Chemistry, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Moscow, 119991, Russian Federation.

Chromatomembrane process represents a universal approach to the separation of compounds in liquid-gas and liquid-liquid phases systems. However, the broad application of chromatomembrane separation methods in chemical analysis is restricted by the absence of serially produced chromatomembrane flow cells and the difficulties of their laboratory production. The present work addresses the preparation of chromatomembrane flow cell by using 3D printing. Read More

Plant Physiol 2021 Apr 12. Epub 2021 Apr 12.

Key Laboratory of Molecular Design for Plant Cell Factory of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Department of Biology, School of Life Science, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China.

Plant hormone abscisic acid (ABA) is essential for regulating plant growth and various stress responses. ABA-mediated signaling depends on local ABA levels rather than overall cellular ABA concentration. Whereas cellular concentration of ABA can be detected using Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based ABA probes, direct imaging of subcellular ABA levels remains unsolved. Read More

PLoS One 2021 13;16(4):e0249909. Epub 2021 Apr 13.

Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan.

Congenital hearing loss affects 1 in every 1000 births, with genetic mutations contributing to more than 50% of all cases. X-linked nonsyndromic hereditary hearing loss is associated with six loci (DFNX1-6) and five genes. Recently, the missense mutation (c. Read More

Microb Genom 2021 Apr;7(4)

Laboratory for Applied Science and Technology in Health, Carlos Chagas Institute, Fiocruz-PR, Algacyr Munhoz Mader street, 3775, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.

Nonulosonic acids (NulOs) are a group of nine-carbon monosaccharides with different functions in nature. -acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac) is the most common NulO. It covers the membrane surface of all human cells and is a central molecule in the process of self-recognition via SIGLECS receptors. Read More

Adv Exp Med Biol 2021 ;1256:201-219

Neurobiology-Neurodegeneration & Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a major cause of blindness in older individuals worldwide. The disease is characterized by deposition of drusen between the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and Bruch's membrane, RPE atrophy and death of photoreceptors. AMD is a complex disease with multiple genetic and non-genetic risk factors. Read More

Methods Mol Biol 2021 ;2307:233-247

Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA.

With the discovery of Western blotting as first described by Towbin et al. in 1979, the transfer and visualization of electrophoretically separated proteins on membranes has become the de facto method for the qualitative and quantitative detection of proteins of interest. In this method, proteins are resolved by electrophoresis on a polyacrylamide gel, followed by a transfer of the separated proteins onto a nitrocellulose or polyvinyl difluoride (PVDF) membrane. Read More

Reprod Sci 2021 Apr 13. Epub 2021 Apr 13.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03080, Korea.

Preterm prelabor rupture of membranes (PPROM) is the main cause of preterm delivery, resulting in increased perinatal morbidity and mortality. Several techniques have been studied for the healing of ruptured membranes, with some success. Before new techniques using tissue/organ engineering are applied in clinical practice, these techniques must be validated in clinical trials. Read More

Methods Mol Biol 2021 ;2227:227-236

Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, INSERM, Sorbonne Université, USPC, Université Paris Descartes, Université Paris Diderot, Paris, France.

Heme (Fe protoporphyrin IX) serves as a prosthetic group of numerous proteins implicated in oxidative metabolism. This molecule is abundantly present in the red blood cells where it serves as a cofactor of hemoglobin. As consequence of various pathological conditions, the membrane of red blood cells can be damaged and therefore large quantities of hemoglobin and subsequently heme released in the extracellular space. Read More

Sci China Life Sci 2021 Apr 9. Epub 2021 Apr 9.

Cancer Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China.

Liver cancer is one of the most common causes of cancer-related death worldwide and mainly includes hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membrane-derived nanometer-sized vesicles that can be released by different cell types under normal and pathological conditions and thus play important roles in the transmission of biological information between cells. Increasing evidence suggests that liver cancer cell-derived EVs may help establish a favorable microenvironment to support the proliferation, invasion and metastasis of cancer cells. Read More

Arch Toxicol 2021 Apr 13. Epub 2021 Apr 13.

Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, 270 S. Russell St., West Lafayette, IN, 47907-2041, USA.

Mycotoxin contamination in foods is a major risk factor for human and animal health due to its prevalence in cereals and their by-products. Deoxynivalenol (DON), mainly produced by Fusarium genera, is the most common mycotoxin detected in cereal products. Deoxynivalenol disrupts intestinal barrier function and decreases protein levels of tight junction proteins (TJP). Read More

Elife 2021 Apr 13;10. Epub 2021 Apr 13.

Laboratory of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, CNRS, Toulouse, France.

Integral outer membrane proteins (OMPs) are crucial for the maintenance of the proteobacterial envelope permeability barrier to some antibiotics and detergents. In Enterobacteria, envelope stress caused by unfolded OM proteins (OMPs) activates the sigmaE (σ) transcriptional response. σ upregulates OMP-biogenesis factors, including the b-barrel assembly machinery (BAM) that catalyzes OMP folding. Read More

Elife 2021 Apr 13;10. Epub 2021 Apr 13.

Bionanoscience Department, Delft University of Technology, Delft, Netherlands.

Septins are conserved cytoskeletal proteins that regulate cell cortex mechanics. The mechanisms of their interactions with the plasma membrane remain poorly understood. Here we show by cell-free reconstitution that binding to flat lipid membranes requires electrostatic interactions of septins with anionic lipids and promotes the ordered self-assembly of fly septins into filamentous meshworks. Read More

Am J Med Genet A 2021 Apr 13. Epub 2021 Apr 13.

Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.

Spectrins are common components of cytoskeletons, binding to cytoskeletal elements and the plasma membrane, allowing proper localization of essential membrane proteins, signal transduction, and cellular scaffolding. Spectrins are assembled from α and β subunits, encoded by SPTA1 and SPTAN1 (α) and SPTB, SPTBN1, SPTBN2, SPTBN4, and SPTBN5 (β). Pathogenic variants in various spectrin genes are associated with erythroid cell disorders (SPTA1, SPTB) and neurologic disorders (SPTAN1, SPTBN2, and SPTBN4), but no phenotypes have been definitively associated with variants in SPTBN1 or SPTBN5. Read More

Emerg Microbes Infect 2021 Apr 13:1-31. Epub 2021 Apr 13.

NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology and Center for AIDS Research, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.

EK1 peptide is a membrane fusion inhibitor with broad-spectrum activity against human coronaviruses (CoVs). In the outbreak of COVID-19, we generated a lipopeptide EK1V1 by modifying EK1 with cholesterol, which exhibited significantly improved antiviral activity. In this study, we surprisingly found that EK1V1 also displayed potent cross-inhibitory activities against divergent HIV-1, HIV-2, and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) isolates. Read More

J Liposome Res 2021 Apr 13:1-13. Epub 2021 Apr 13.

Department of Pharmaceutics, Srinath College of Pharmacy, Aurangabad, Maharashtra, India.

The current research was undertaken to design stealth liposomes of 5-Fluorouracil for reducing its cardiotoxicity and prolong the half-life by developing long-circulating liposomes. The liposomes were prepared by the NHEDTA gradient method, where EDTA is used as a cardioprotectant. Ascorbyl-6-palmitate was also used which helped for the synergistic effect of 5-Fluorouracil to counteract the cancer cells and provide promising application in the treatment of breast cancer cells. Read More

Neoplasma 2021 Apr 13. Epub 2021 Apr 13.

Department of Neurosurgery, The First People's Hospital of Changzhou, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China.

Protein- or peptide-based therapeutics have emerged as an innovative strategy for the treatment of cancer. Our previous research demonstrated that tripartite motif 9 short isoform (TRIM9s) is a tumor suppressor in glioma. In this report, we investigated whether a new peptide derived from TRIM9s, named T9sP, inhibits glioma progression and determined the possible molecular mechanism. Read More

Nano Lett 2021 Apr 13. Epub 2021 Apr 13.

Department of Physics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China.

Correlated translation-orientation tracking of single particles can provide important information for understanding the dynamics of live systems and their interaction with the probes. However, full six-dimensional (6D) motion tracking has yet to be achieved. Here, we developed synchronized 3D translation and 3D rotation tracking of single diamond particles based on nitrogen-vacancy center sensing. Read More

ChemMedChem 2021 Apr 12. Epub 2021 Apr 12.

University of Bergen, Department of Chemistry, Allegaten 41, N-5007, Bergen, NORWAY.

The xCT antiporter is a cell membrane protein involved in active counter-transportation of glutamate (outflux) with cystine (influx) over the human cell membrane. This feature makes the xCT antiporter a crucial element of the biosynthesis of the vital free radical scavenger glutathione. The prodrug sulfasalazine, a medication for the treatment of ulcerative colitis, was previously proven to inhibit the xCT antiporter. Read More

J Neurosci Res 2021 Apr 12. Epub 2021 Apr 12.

Beijing Key Laboratory of Bioelectromagnetism, Institute of Electrical Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.

The application of electric field stimulation (EFS) can reduce the cation influx after spinal cord injury. However, regenerated cation influx and reestablished injury potential are observed after EFS. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is popular as an effective cell membrane fusion agent. Read More