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Liu Y, Li Z, Meng Q, Ning A, Zhou S, Li S, Tao X, Wu Y, Chen Q, Tian T, Zhang L, Cui J, Mao L, Chu M. Identification of the consistently differential expressed hub mRNAs and proteins in lung adenocarcinoma and construction of the prognostic signature: a multidimensional analysis. Int J Surg 2024; 110:1052-1067. [PMID: 38016140 PMCID: PMC10871637 DOI: 10.1097/js9.0000000000000943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 11/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study aimed to elucidate the consistency of differentially expressed hub mRNAs and proteins in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) across populations and to construct a comprehensive LUAD prognostic signature. METHODS The transcriptomic and proteomics data from different populations were standardized and analyzed using the same criteria to identify the consistently differential expressed mRNAs and proteins across genders and races. We then integrated prognosis-related mRNAs with clinical, pathological, and EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) mutation data to construct a survival model, subsequently validating it across populations. Through plasma proteomics, plasma proteins that consistently differential expressed with LUAD tissues were screened and validated, with their associations discerned by measuring expressions in tumor tissues and tumor vascular normalization. RESULTS The consistency rate of differentially expressed mRNAs and proteins was ~20-40%, with ethnic factors leading to about 40-60% consistency of differentially expressed mRNA or protein across populations. The survival model based on the identified eight hub mRNAs as well as stage, smoking status, and EGFR mutations, demonstrated good prognostic prediction capabilities in both Western and East Asian populations, with a higher number of unfavorable variables indicating poorer LUAD prognosis. Notably, GPI expression in tumor tissues was inversely correlated with vascular normalization and positively correlated with plasma GPI expression. CONCLUSION Our study underscores the significance of integrating transcriptomics and proteomics data, emphasizing the need to account for genetic diversity among ethnic groups. The developed survival model may offer a holistic perspective on LUAD progression, enhancing prognosis and therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiran Liu
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Nantong University
| | - Zhenyu Li
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Nantong University
| | - Qianyao Meng
- Department of Global Health and Population, School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, USA
| | - Anhui Ning
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Nantong University
| | - Shenxuan Zhou
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Nantong University
| | - Siqi Li
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Nantong University
| | - Xiaobo Tao
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Nantong University
| | - Yutong Wu
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Nantong University
| | - Qiong Chen
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Nantong University
| | - Tian Tian
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Nantong University
| | - Lei Zhang
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Nantong University
| | - Jiahua Cui
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Nantong University
| | - Liping Mao
- Department of Oncology, Affiliated Nantong Hospital of Shanghai University (The Sixth People’s Hospital of Nantong), Nantong, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China
| | - Minjie Chu
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Nantong University
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Carter CW. Base Pairing Promoted the Self-Organization of Genetic Coding, Catalysis, and Free-Energy Transduction. Life (Basel) 2024; 14:199. [PMID: 38398709 PMCID: PMC10890426 DOI: 10.3390/life14020199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2024] [Revised: 01/21/2024] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
How Nature discovered genetic coding is a largely ignored question, yet the answer is key to explaining the transition from biochemical building blocks to life. Other, related puzzles also fall inside the aegis enclosing the codes themselves. The peptide bond is unstable with respect to hydrolysis. So, it requires some form of chemical free energy to drive it. Amino acid activation and acyl transfer are also slow and must be catalyzed. All living things must thus also convert free energy and synchronize cellular chemistry. Most importantly, functional proteins occupy only small, isolated regions of sequence space. Nature evolved heritable symbolic data processing to seek out and use those sequences. That system has three parts: a memory of how amino acids behave in solution and inside proteins, a set of code keys to access that memory, and a scoring function. The code keys themselves are the genes for cognate pairs of tRNA and aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, AARSs. The scoring function is the enzymatic specificity constant, kcat/kM, which measures both catalysis and specificity. The work described here deepens the evidence for and understanding of an unexpected consequence of ancestral bidirectional coding. Secondary structures occur in approximately the same places within antiparallel alignments of their gene products. However, the polar amino acids that define the molecular surface of one are reflected into core-defining non-polar side chains on the other. Proteins translated from base-paired coding strands fold up inside out. Bidirectional genes thus project an inverted structural duality into the proteome. I review how experimental data root the scoring functions responsible for the origins of coding and catalyzed activation of unfavorable chemical reactions in that duality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles W Carter
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7260, USA
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53
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Chauvier A, Walter NG. Regulation of bacterial gene expression by non-coding RNA: It is all about time! Cell Chem Biol 2024; 31:71-85. [PMID: 38211587 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2023.12.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
Commensal and pathogenic bacteria continuously evolve to survive in diverse ecological niches by efficiently coordinating gene expression levels in their ever-changing environments. Regulation through the RNA transcript itself offers a faster and more cost-effective way to adapt than protein-based mechanisms and can be leveraged for diagnostic or antimicrobial purposes. However, RNA can fold into numerous intricate, not always functional structures that both expand and obscure the plethora of roles that regulatory RNAs serve within the cell. Here, we review the current knowledge of bacterial non-coding RNAs in relation to their folding pathways and interactions. We posit that co-transcriptional folding of these transcripts ultimately dictates their downstream functions. Elucidating the spatiotemporal folding of non-coding RNAs during transcription therefore provides invaluable insights into bacterial pathogeneses and predictive disease diagnostics. Finally, we discuss the implications of co-transcriptional folding andapplications of RNAs for therapeutics and drug targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrien Chauvier
- Single Molecule Analysis Group and Center for RNA Biomedicine, Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Nils G Walter
- Single Molecule Analysis Group and Center for RNA Biomedicine, Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
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54
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Gao S, Guan H, Bloomer H, Wich D, Song D, Khirallah J, Ye Z, Zhao Y, Chen M, Xu C, Liu L, Xu Q. Harnessing non-Watson-Crick's base pairing to enhance CRISPR effectors cleavage activities and enable gene editing in mammalian cells. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2308415120. [PMID: 38150477 PMCID: PMC10786293 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2308415120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Genomic DNA of the cyanophage S-2L virus is composed of 2-aminoadenine (Z), thymine (T), guanine (G), and cytosine (C), forming the genetic alphabet ZTGC, which violates Watson-Crick base pairing rules. The Z-base has an extra amino group on the two position that allows the formation of a third hydrogen bond with thymine in DNA strands. Here, we explored and expanded applications of this non-Watson-Crick base pairing in protein expression and gene editing. Both ZTGC-DNA (Z-DNA) and ZUGC-RNA (Z-RNA) produced in vitro show detectable compatibility and can be decoded in mammalian cells, including Homo sapiens cells. Z-crRNA can guide CRISPR-effectors SpCas9 and LbCas12a to cleave specific DNA through non-Watson-Crick base pairing and boost cleavage activities compared to A-crRNA. Z-crRNA can also allow for efficient gene and base editing in human cells. Together, our results help pave the way for potential strategies for optimizing DNA or RNA payloads for gene editing therapeutics and give insights to understanding the natural Z-DNA genome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuliang Gao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA02155
| | - Huiwen Guan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA02155
| | - Hanan Bloomer
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA02155
| | - Douglas Wich
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA02155
| | - Donghui Song
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA02155
| | - Jennifer Khirallah
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA02155
| | - Zhongfeng Ye
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA02155
| | - Yu Zhao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA02155
| | - Mengting Chen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA02155
| | - Chutian Xu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA02155
| | - Lihan Liu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA02155
| | - Qiaobing Xu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA02155
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55
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O’Connell CJ, Brown RS, Peach TM, Traubert OD, Schwierling HC, Notorgiacomo GA, Robson MJ. Strain in the Midbrain: Impact of Traumatic Brain Injury on the Central Serotonin System. Brain Sci 2024; 14:51. [PMID: 38248266 PMCID: PMC10813794 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci14010051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a pervasive public health crisis that severely impacts the quality of life of affected individuals. Like peripheral forms of trauma, TBI results from extraordinarily heterogeneous environmental forces being imparted on the cranial space, resulting in heterogeneous disease pathologies. This has made therapies for TBI notoriously difficult to develop, and currently, there are no FDA-approved pharmacotherapies specifically for the acute or chronic treatment of TBI. TBI is associated with changes in cognition and can precipitate the onset of debilitating psychiatric disorders like major depressive disorder (MDD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Complicating these effects of TBI, FDA-approved pharmacotherapies utilized to treat these disorders often fail to reach the desired level of efficacy in the context of neurotrauma. Although a complicated association, decades of work have linked central serotonin (5-HT) neurotransmission as being involved in the etiology of a myriad of neuropsychiatric disorders, including MDD and GAD. 5-HT is a biogenic monoamine neurotransmitter that is highly conserved across scales of biology. Though the majority of 5-HT is isolated to peripheral sites such as the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, 5-HT neurotransmission within the CNS exerts exquisite control over diverse biological functions, including sleep, appetite and respiration, while simultaneously establishing normal mood, perception, and attention. Although several key studies have begun to elucidate how various forms of neurotrauma impact central 5-HT neurotransmission, a full determination of precisely how TBI disrupts the highly regulated dynamics of 5-HT neuron function and/or 5-HT neurotransmission has yet to be conceptually or experimentally resolved. The purpose of the current review is, therefore, to integrate the disparate bodies of 5-HT and TBI research and synthesize insight into how new combinatorial research regarding 5-HT neurotransmission and TBI may offer an informed perspective into the nature of TBI-induced neuropsychiatric complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher J. O’Connell
- Division of Pharmaceutical Sciences, James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy, University of Cincinnati, 231 Albert Sabin Way, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA; (C.J.O.); (R.S.B.); (T.M.P.)
| | - Ryan S. Brown
- Division of Pharmaceutical Sciences, James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy, University of Cincinnati, 231 Albert Sabin Way, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA; (C.J.O.); (R.S.B.); (T.M.P.)
| | - Taylor M. Peach
- Division of Pharmaceutical Sciences, James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy, University of Cincinnati, 231 Albert Sabin Way, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA; (C.J.O.); (R.S.B.); (T.M.P.)
| | - Owen D. Traubert
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA;
| | - Hana C. Schwierling
- Division of Pharmaceutical Sciences, James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy, University of Cincinnati, 231 Albert Sabin Way, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA; (C.J.O.); (R.S.B.); (T.M.P.)
| | | | - Matthew J. Robson
- Division of Pharmaceutical Sciences, James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy, University of Cincinnati, 231 Albert Sabin Way, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA; (C.J.O.); (R.S.B.); (T.M.P.)
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
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Li J, Li C, Xu W. Liver cancer-specific mutations in functional domains of ADAR2 lead to the elevation of coding and non-coding RNA editing in multiple tumor-related genes. Mol Genet Genomics 2024; 299:1. [PMID: 38170228 DOI: 10.1007/s00438-023-02091-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Mutation is the major cause of phenotypic innovations. Apart from DNA mutations, the alteration on RNA such as the ADAR-mediated A-to-I RNA editing could also shape the phenotype. These two layers of variations have not been systematically combined to study their collective roles in cancers. We collected the high-quality transcriptomes of ten hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the matched control samples. We systematically identified HCC-specific mutations in the exonic regions and profiled the A-to-I RNA editome in each sample. All ten HCC samples had mutations in the CDS of ADAR2 gene (dsRNA-binding domain or catalytic domain). The consequence of these mutations converged to the elevation of ADAR2 efficiency as reflected by the global increase of RNA editing levels in HCC. The up-regulated editing sites (UES) were enriched in the CDS and UTR of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes (TSG), indicating the possible roles of these target genes in HCC oncogenesis. We present the mutation-ADAR2-UES-oncogene/TSG-HCC axis that explains how mutations at different layers would finally lead to abnormal phenotype. In the light of central dogma, our work provides novel insights into how to fully take advantage of the transcriptome data to decipher the consequence of mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Li
- Department of Molecular Imaging and Nuclear Medicine, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, 300060, China
| | - Chaowei Li
- Department of PET/CT, The Second Clinical Medical College of Qingdao University (Qingdao Center Hospital), Qingdao, 266042, China
| | - Wengui Xu
- Department of Molecular Imaging and Nuclear Medicine, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, 300060, China.
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57
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Yousefi B, Sadoughi F, Asemi Z, Mansournia MA, Hallajzadeh J. Novel Perspectives for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Gynecological Cancers using Dysregulation of PIWI Protein and PiRNAs as Biomarkers. Curr Med Chem 2024; 31:453-463. [PMID: 36786140 DOI: 10.2174/0929867330666230214101837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/15/2023]
Abstract
The term "gynecological cancer" is used for a group of cancers occurring in the female reproductive system. Some of these cancers are ranked as the leading causes of death in developed and developing countries. The lack of proper diagnostic strategies is one of the most important reasons that make them lethal. PIWI-interacting RNAs or piRNAs are a class of small non-coding RNAs, which contain 24-32 nucleotides. These RNAs take part in some cellular mechanisms, and their role in diverse kinds of cancer is confirmed by accumulative evidence. In this review, we gather some information on the roles of these RNAs and members of the PIWI protein family to provide new insight into accurate diagnostic biomarkers and more effective anti-cancer drugs with fewer side effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bahman Yousefi
- Molecular Medicine Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Sadoughi
- Research Center for Biochemistry and Nutrition in Metabolic Diseases, Institute for Basic Sciences, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, I.R. Iran
| | - Zatollah Asemi
- Research Center for Biochemistry and Nutrition in Metabolic Diseases, Institute for Basic Sciences, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, I.R. Iran
| | - Mohammad Ali Mansournia
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Jamal Hallajzadeh
- Department of Biochemistry and Nutrition, Research Center for Evidence-Based Health Management, Maragheh University of Medical Sciences, Maragheh, Iran
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Baverstock K. The Gene: An appraisal. PROGRESS IN BIOPHYSICS AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2024; 186:e73-e88. [PMID: 38044248 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbiomolbio.2023.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
The gene can be described as the foundational concept of modern biology. As such, it has spilled over into daily discourse, yet it is acknowledged among biologists to be ill-defined. Here, following a short history of the gene, I analyse critically its role in inheritance, evolution, development, and morphogenesis. Wilhelm Johannsen's genotype-conception, formulated in 1910, has been adopted as the foundation stone of genetics, giving the gene a higher degree of prominence than is justified by the evidence. An analysis of the results of the Long-Term Evolution Experiment (LTEE) with E. coli bacteria, grown over 60,000 generations, does not support spontaneous gene mutation as the source of variance for natural selection. From this it follows that the gene is not Mendel's unit of inheritance: that must be Johannsen's transmission-conception at the gamete phenotype level, a form of inheritance that Johannsen did not consider. Alternatively, I contend that biology viewed on the bases of thermodynamics, complex system dynamics, and self-organisation, provides a new framework for the foundations of biology. In this framework, the gene plays a passive role as a vital information store: it is the phenotype that plays the active role in inheritance, evolution, development, and morphogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keith Baverstock
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio Campus, Kuopio, Finland.
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59
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Ura S, Zaman L. Biologicalization of Smart Manufacturing Using DNA-Based Computing. Biomimetics (Basel) 2023; 8:620. [PMID: 38132559 PMCID: PMC10742096 DOI: 10.3390/biomimetics8080620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Smart manufacturing needs cognitive computing methods to make the relevant systems more intelligent and autonomous. In this respect, bio-inspired cognitive computing methods (i.e., biologicalization) can play a vital role. This article is written from this perspective. In particular, this article provides a general overview of the bio-inspired computing method called DNA-Based Computing (DBC), including its theory and applications. The main theme of DBC is the central dogma of molecular biology (once information of DNA/RNA has got into a protein, it cannot get out again), i.e., DNA to RNA (sequences of four types of nucleotides) and DNA/RNA to protein (sequence of twenty types of amino acids) are allowed, but not the reverse ones. Thus, DBC transfers few-element information (DNA/RAN-like) to many-element information (protein-like). This characteristic of DBC can help to solve cognitive problems (e.g., pattern recognition). DBC can take many forms; this article elucidates two main forms, denoted as DBC-1 and DBC-2. Using arbitrary numerical examples, we demonstrate that DBC-1 can solve various cognitive problems, e.g., "similarity indexing between seemingly different but inherently identical objects" and "recognizing regions of an image separated by a complex boundary." In addition, using an arbitrary numerical example, we demonstrate that DBC-2 can solve the following cognitive problem: "pattern recognition when the relevant information is insufficient." The remarkable thing is that smart manufacturing-based systems (e.g., digital twins and big data analytics) must solve the abovementioned problems to make the manufacturing enablers (e.g., machine tools and monitoring systems) more self-reliant and autonomous. Consequently, DBC can improve the cognitive problem-solving ability of smart manufacturing-relevant systems and enrich their biologicalization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharifu Ura
- Division of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Kitami Institute of Technology, 165 Koen-cho, Kitami 090-0055, Japan
| | - Lubna Zaman
- Advanced Manufacturing Engineering Laboratory, Kitami Institute of Technology, 165 Koen-cho, Kitami 090-0055, Japan;
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60
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Odogwu NM, Hagen C, Nelson TJ. Transcriptome studies of congenital heart diseases: identifying current gaps and therapeutic frontiers. Front Genet 2023; 14:1278747. [PMID: 38152655 PMCID: PMC10751320 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1278747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Congenital heart disease (CHD) are genetically complex and comprise a wide range of structural defects that often predispose to - early heart failure, a common cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. Transcriptome studies of CHD in human pediatric patients indicated a broad spectrum of diverse molecular signatures across various types of CHD. In order to advance research on congenital heart diseases (CHDs), we conducted a detailed review of transcriptome studies on this topic. Our analysis identified gaps in the literature, with a particular focus on the cardiac transcriptome signatures found in various biological specimens across different types of CHDs. In addition to translational studies involving human subjects, we also examined transcriptomic analyses of CHDs in a range of model systems, including iPSCs and animal models. We concluded that RNA-seq technology has revolutionized medical research and many of the discoveries from CHD transcriptome studies draw attention to biological pathways that concurrently open the door to a better understanding of cardiac development and related therapeutic avenue. While some crucial impediments to perfectly studying CHDs in this context remain obtaining pediatric cardiac tissue samples, phenotypic variation, and the lack of anatomical/spatial context with model systems. Combining model systems, RNA-seq technology, and integrating algorithms for analyzing transcriptomic data at both single-cell and high throughput spatial resolution is expected to continue uncovering unique biological pathways that are perturbed in CHDs, thus facilitating the development of novel therapy for congenital heart disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nkechi Martina Odogwu
- Program for Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Clinton Hagen
- Program for Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Timothy J. Nelson
- Program for Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
- Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
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Hou Q, Shang L, Chen X, Luo Q, Wei L, Zhang C. Convergent evolution of allele-specific gene expression that leads to non-small cell lung cancer in different human populations. J Appl Genet 2023:10.1007/s13353-023-00813-4. [PMID: 38036772 DOI: 10.1007/s13353-023-00813-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
Phenotypical innovations during evolution are caused by novel mutations, which are usually heterozygous at the beginning. The gene expressions on two alleles of these mutation sites are not necessarily identical, leading to flexible allele-specific regulation in cell systems. We retrieve the transcriptome data of normal and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tissues from 47 African Americans (AA) and 50 European Americans (EA). We analyze the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in NSCLC as well as the tumor-specific mutations. Expression and mutation profiles show convergent evolution in AA and EA populations. The tumor-specific mutations are poorly overlapped, but many of them are located in the same genes, mainly oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes. The DEGs in tumors are majorly caused by the mutated alleles rather than normal alleles. The relative expressions of mutated alleles are highly correlated between AA and EA. The differential expression in NSCLC is predominantly mediated by the mutated alleles on heterozygous sites. This molecular mechanism underlying NSCLC oncogenesis is conserved across different human populations, exhibiting convergent evolution. We present this novel angle that differential expression analysis should be performed separately for different alleles. Our ideas should greatly benefit the cancer community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiuyu Hou
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Qingdao Eighth People's Hospital, Qingdao, 266100, Shandong, China
| | - Lifeng Shang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Qingdao Eighth People's Hospital, Qingdao, 266100, Shandong, China
| | - Xu Chen
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Qingdao Eighth People's Hospital, Qingdao, 266100, Shandong, China
| | - Qiang Luo
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Qingdao Eighth People's Hospital, Qingdao, 266100, Shandong, China
| | - Liang Wei
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Qingdao Eighth People's Hospital, Qingdao, 266100, Shandong, China
| | - Chence Zhang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Qingdao Eighth People's Hospital, Qingdao, 266100, Shandong, China.
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Michas A, Michas V, Anagnostou E, Galanopoulos M, Tolia M, Tsoukalas N. The Clinical Significance of MicroRNAs in Colorectal Cancer Signaling Pathways: A Review. Glob Med Genet 2023; 10:315-323. [PMID: 38025193 PMCID: PMC10665125 DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1777094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Colorectal carcinoma (colon and rectum) is currently considered among the most prevalent malignancies of Western societies. The pathogenesis and etiological mechanisms underlying colorectal cancer (CRC) development remain complex and heterogeneous. The homeostasis and function of normal human intestinal cells is highly regulated by microRNAs. Therefore, it is not surprising that mutations and inactivation of these molecules appear to be linked with progression of colorectal tumors. Recent studies have reported significant alterations of microRNA expression in adenomas and CRCs compared with adjacent normal tissues. This observed deviation has been proposed to correlate with the progression and survival of disease as well as with choice of optimal treatment and drug resistance. MicroRNAs can adopt either oncogenic or tumor-suppressive roles during regulation of pathways that drive carcinogenesis. Typically, oncogenic microRNAs termed oncomirs, target and silence endogenous tumor-suppressor genes. On the other hand, tumor-suppressive microRNAs are critical in downregulating genes associated with cell growth and malignant capabilities. By extensively evaluating robust studies, we have emphasized and distinguished a discrete set of microRNAs that can modulate tumor progression by silencing specific driver genes crucial in signaling pathways including Wnt/b-catenin, epidermal growth factor receptor, P53, mismatch repair DNA repair, and transforming-growth factor beta.
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Affiliation(s)
- Athanasios Michas
- Department of Oncology, 401 General Military Hospital of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Vasileios Michas
- Department of Radiology, Achepa General Hospital Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Evangelos Anagnostou
- Department of Neurosurgery, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | | | - Maria Tolia
- Department of Oncology, 401 General Military Hospital of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Nikolaos Tsoukalas
- Department of Oncology, 401 General Military Hospital of Athens, Athens, Greece
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Ille AM, Mathews MB. AI interprets the Central Dogma and Genetic Code. Trends Biochem Sci 2023; 48:1014-1018. [PMID: 37833131 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibs.2023.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Revised: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023]
Abstract
Generative artificial intelligence (AI) is a burgeoning field with widespread applications, including in science. Here, we explore two paradigms that provide insight into the capabilities and limitations of Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer (ChatGPT): its ability to (i) define a core biological concept (the Central Dogma of molecular biology); and (ii) interpret the genetic code.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander M Ille
- School of Graduate Studies, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ, USA.
| | - Michael B Mathews
- School of Graduate Studies, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ, USA; Department of Medicine, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA.
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64
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Xie Y, Chan LY, Cheung MY, Li MW, Lam HM. Current technical advancements in plant epitranscriptomic studies. THE PLANT GENOME 2023; 16:e20316. [PMID: 36890704 DOI: 10.1002/tpg2.20316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The growth and development of plants are the result of the interplay between the internal developmental programming and plant-environment interactions. Gene expression regulations in plants are made up of multi-level networks. In the past few years, many studies were carried out on co- and post-transcriptional RNA modifications, which, together with the RNA community, are collectively known as the "epitranscriptome." The epitranscriptomic machineries were identified and their functional impacts characterized in a broad range of physiological processes in diverse plant species. There is mounting evidence to suggest that the epitranscriptome provides an additional layer in the gene regulatory network for plant development and stress responses. In the present review, we summarized the epitranscriptomic modifications found so far in plants, including chemical modifications, RNA editing, and transcript isoforms. The various approaches to RNA modification detection were described, with special emphasis on the recent development and application potential of third-generation sequencing. The roles of epitranscriptomic changes in gene regulation during plant-environment interactions were discussed in case studies. This review aims to highlight the importance of epitranscriptomics in the study of gene regulatory networks in plants and to encourage multi-omics investigations using the recent technical advancements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yichun Xie
- School of Life Sciences and Centre for Soybean Research of the State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Long-Yiu Chan
- School of Life Sciences and Centre for Soybean Research of the State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Ming-Yan Cheung
- School of Life Sciences and Centre for Soybean Research of the State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Man-Wah Li
- School of Life Sciences and Centre for Soybean Research of the State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Hon-Ming Lam
- School of Life Sciences and Centre for Soybean Research of the State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China
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65
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Rezaee D, Saadatpour F, Akbari N, Zoghi A, Najafi S, Beyranvand P, Zamani-Rarani F, Rashidi MA, Bagheri-Mohammadi S, Bakhtiari M. The role of microRNAs in the pathophysiology of human central nervous system: A focus on neurodegenerative diseases. Ageing Res Rev 2023; 92:102090. [PMID: 37832609 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2023.102090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 10/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023]
Abstract
microRNAs (miRNAs) are suggested to play substantial roles in regulating the development and various physiologic functions of the central nervous system (CNS). These include neurogenesis, cell fate and differentiation, morphogenesis, formation of dendrites, and targeting non-neural mRNAs. Notably, deregulation of an increasing number of miRNAs is associated with several neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and CNS tumors. They are particularly known to affect the amyloid β (Aβ) cleavage and accumulation, tau protein homeostasis, and expression of alpha-synuclein (α-syn), Parkin, PINK1, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) that play pivotal roles in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. These include miR-16, miR-17-5p, miR-20a, miR-106a, miR-106b, miR-15a, miR-15b, miR-103, miR-107, miR-298, miR-328, miR-195, miR-485, and miR-29. In CNS tumors, several miRNAs, including miR-31, miR-16, and miR-21 have been identified to modulate tumorigenesis through impacting tumor invasion and apoptosis. In this review article, we have a look at the recent advances on our knowledge about the role of miRNAs in human brain development and functions, neurodegenerative diseases, and their clinical potentials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Delsuz Rezaee
- School of Allied Medical Sciences, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Saadatpour
- Molecular Virology Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, School of Biology, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Nayyereh Akbari
- Brain Mapping Research Center, Loghman Hakim Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Anahita Zoghi
- Brain Mapping Research Center, Loghman Hakim Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Sajad Najafi
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Cellular and Molecular Biology Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Parisa Beyranvand
- Department of Molecular Genetics, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (NIGEB), Tehran, Iran
| | - Fahimeh Zamani-Rarani
- Department of Anatomical Sciences, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Mohammad Amin Rashidi
- Student Research Committee, Department of Occupational Health and Safety, School of Public Health and Safety, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Saeid Bagheri-Mohammadi
- Department of Physiology and Neurophysiology Research Center, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Bakhtiari
- Department of Anatomical Sciences, Behbahan Faculty of Medical Sciences, Behbahan, Iran
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66
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Kuntschar S, Cardamone G, Klann K, Bauer R, Meyer SP, Raue R, Rappl P, Münch C, Brüne B, Schmid T. Mmp12 Is Translationally Regulated in Macrophages during the Course of Inflammation. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16981. [PMID: 38069304 PMCID: PMC10707645 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242316981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite the importance of rapid adaptive responses in the course of inflammation and the notion that post-transcriptional regulation plays an important role herein, relevant translational alterations, especially during the resolution phase, remain largely elusive. In the present study, we analyzed translational changes in inflammatory bone marrow-derived macrophages upon resolution-promoting efferocytosis. Total RNA-sequencing confirmed that apoptotic cell phagocytosis induced a pro-resolution signature in LPS/IFNγ-stimulated macrophages (Mϕ). While inflammation-dependent transcriptional changes were relatively small between efferocytic and non-efferocytic Mϕ; considerable differences were observed at the level of de novo synthesized proteins. Interestingly, translationally regulated targets in response to inflammatory stimuli were mostly downregulated, with only minimal impact of efferocytosis. Amongst these targets, pro-resolving matrix metallopeptidase 12 (Mmp12) was identified as a translationally repressed candidate during early inflammation that recovered during the resolution phase. Functionally, reduced MMP12 production enhanced matrix-dependent migration of Mϕ. Conclusively, translational control of MMP12 emerged as an efficient strategy to alter the migratory properties of Mϕ throughout the inflammatory response, enabling Mϕ migration within the early inflammatory phase while restricting migration during the resolution phase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Kuntschar
- Institute of Biochemistry I, Faculty of Medicine, Goethe University Frankfurt, 60590 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Giulia Cardamone
- Institute of Biochemistry I, Faculty of Medicine, Goethe University Frankfurt, 60590 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Kevin Klann
- Institute of Biochemistry II, Faculty of Medicine, Goethe University Frankfurt, 60590 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Rebekka Bauer
- Institute of Biochemistry I, Faculty of Medicine, Goethe University Frankfurt, 60590 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Sofie Patrizia Meyer
- Institute of Biochemistry I, Faculty of Medicine, Goethe University Frankfurt, 60590 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Rebecca Raue
- Institute of Biochemistry I, Faculty of Medicine, Goethe University Frankfurt, 60590 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Peter Rappl
- Institute of Biochemistry I, Faculty of Medicine, Goethe University Frankfurt, 60590 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Christian Münch
- Institute of Biochemistry II, Faculty of Medicine, Goethe University Frankfurt, 60590 Frankfurt, Germany
- Frankfurt Cancer Institute, Goethe University Frankfurt, 60596 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Bernhard Brüne
- Institute of Biochemistry I, Faculty of Medicine, Goethe University Frankfurt, 60590 Frankfurt, Germany
- Frankfurt Cancer Institute, Goethe University Frankfurt, 60596 Frankfurt, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Frankfurt, 60590 Frankfurt, Germany
- Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology, 60596 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Tobias Schmid
- Institute of Biochemistry I, Faculty of Medicine, Goethe University Frankfurt, 60590 Frankfurt, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Frankfurt, 60590 Frankfurt, Germany
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67
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Brown SM, Mayer-Bacon C, Freeland S. Xeno Amino Acids: A Look into Biochemistry as We Do Not Know It. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:2281. [PMID: 38137883 PMCID: PMC10744825 DOI: 10.3390/life13122281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 11/18/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Would another origin of life resemble Earth's biochemical use of amino acids? Here, we review current knowledge at three levels: (1) Could other classes of chemical structure serve as building blocks for biopolymer structure and catalysis? Amino acids now seem both readily available to, and a plausible chemical attractor for, life as we do not know it. Amino acids thus remain important and tractable targets for astrobiological research. (2) If amino acids are used, would we expect the same L-alpha-structural subclass used by life? Despite numerous ideas, it is not clear why life favors L-enantiomers. It seems clearer, however, why life on Earth uses the shortest possible (alpha-) amino acid backbone, and why each carries only one side chain. However, assertions that other backbones are physicochemically impossible have relaxed into arguments that they are disadvantageous. (3) Would we expect a similar set of side chains to those within the genetic code? Many plausible alternatives exist. Furthermore, evidence exists for both evolutionary advantage and physicochemical constraint as explanatory factors for those encoded by life. Overall, as focus shifts from amino acids as a chemical class to specific side chains used by post-LUCA biology, the probable role of physicochemical constraint diminishes relative to that of biological evolution. Exciting opportunities now present themselves for laboratory work and computing to explore how changing the amino acid alphabet alters the universe of protein folds. Near-term milestones include: (a) expanding evidence about amino acids as attractors within chemical evolution; (b) extending characterization of other backbones relative to biological proteins; and (c) merging computing and laboratory explorations of structures and functions unlocked by xeno peptides.
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68
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Man HSJ, Moosa VA, Singh A, Wu L, Granton JT, Juvet SC, Hoang CD, de Perrot M. Unlocking the potential of RNA-based therapeutics in the lung: current status and future directions. Front Genet 2023; 14:1281538. [PMID: 38075698 PMCID: PMC10703483 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1281538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Awareness of RNA-based therapies has increased after the widespread adoption of mRNA vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 during the COVID-19 pandemic. These mRNA vaccines had a significant impact on reducing lung disease and mortality. They highlighted the potential for rapid development of RNA-based therapies and advances in nanoparticle delivery systems. Along with the rapid advancement in RNA biology, including the description of noncoding RNAs as major products of the genome, this success presents an opportunity to highlight the potential of RNA as a therapeutic modality. Here, we review the expanding compendium of RNA-based therapies, their mechanisms of action and examples of application in the lung. The airways provide a convenient conduit for drug delivery to the lungs with decreased systemic exposure. This review will also describe other delivery methods, including local delivery to the pleura and delivery vehicles that can target the lung after systemic administration, each providing access options that are advantageous for a specific application. We present clinical trials of RNA-based therapy in lung disease and potential areas for future directions. This review aims to provide an overview that will bring together researchers and clinicians to advance this burgeoning field.
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Affiliation(s)
- H. S. Jeffrey Man
- Temerty Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Medical Science, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Latner Thoracic Research Laboratories, Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Division of Respirology and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Vaneeza A. Moosa
- Latner Thoracic Research Laboratories, Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Anand Singh
- Thoracic Surgery Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Licun Wu
- Latner Thoracic Research Laboratories, Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - John T. Granton
- Division of Respirology and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Stephen C. Juvet
- Temerty Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Medical Science, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Latner Thoracic Research Laboratories, Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Division of Respirology and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Chuong D. Hoang
- Thoracic Surgery Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Marc de Perrot
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Latner Thoracic Research Laboratories, Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
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69
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Tieng FYF, Abdullah-Zawawi MR, Md Shahri NAA, Mohamed-Hussein ZA, Lee LH, Mutalib NSA. A Hitchhiker's guide to RNA-RNA structure and interaction prediction tools. Brief Bioinform 2023; 25:bbad421. [PMID: 38040490 PMCID: PMC10753535 DOI: 10.1093/bib/bbad421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023] Open
Abstract
RNA biology has risen to prominence after a remarkable discovery of diverse functions of noncoding RNA (ncRNA). Most untranslated transcripts often exert their regulatory functions into RNA-RNA complexes via base pairing with complementary sequences in other RNAs. An interplay between RNAs is essential, as it possesses various functional roles in human cells, including genetic translation, RNA splicing, editing, ribosomal RNA maturation, RNA degradation and the regulation of metabolic pathways/riboswitches. Moreover, the pervasive transcription of the human genome allows for the discovery of novel genomic functions via RNA interactome investigation. The advancement of experimental procedures has resulted in an explosion of documented data, necessitating the development of efficient and precise computational tools and algorithms. This review provides an extensive update on RNA-RNA interaction (RRI) analysis via thermodynamic- and comparative-based RNA secondary structure prediction (RSP) and RNA-RNA interaction prediction (RIP) tools and their general functions. We also highlighted the current knowledge of RRIs and the limitations of RNA interactome mapping via experimental data. Then, the gap between RSP and RIP, the importance of RNA homologues, the relationship between pseudoknots, and RNA folding thermodynamics are discussed. It is hoped that these emerging prediction tools will deepen the understanding of RNA-associated interactions in human diseases and hasten treatment processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francis Yew Fu Tieng
- UKM Medical Molecular Biology Institute (UMBI), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia
| | | | - Nur Alyaa Afifah Md Shahri
- UKM Medical Molecular Biology Institute (UMBI), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia
| | - Zeti-Azura Mohamed-Hussein
- Institute of Systems Biology (INBIOSIS), UKM, Selangor 43600, Malaysia
- Department of Applied Physics, Faculty of Science and Technology, UKM, Selangor 43600, Malaysia
| | - Learn-Han Lee
- Sunway Microbiomics Centre, School of Medical and Life Sciences, Sunway University, Sunway City 47500, Malaysia
- Novel Bacteria and Drug Discovery Research Group, Microbiome and Bioresource Research Strength, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University of Malaysia, Selangor 47500, Malaysia
| | - Nurul-Syakima Ab Mutalib
- UKM Medical Molecular Biology Institute (UMBI), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia
- Novel Bacteria and Drug Discovery Research Group, Microbiome and Bioresource Research Strength, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University of Malaysia, Selangor 47500, Malaysia
- Faculty of Health Sciences, UKM, Kuala Lumpur 50300, Malaysia
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70
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Ammann G, Berg M, Dalwigk JF, Kaiser SM. Pitfalls in RNA Modification Quantification Using Nucleoside Mass Spectrometry. Acc Chem Res 2023; 56:3121-3131. [PMID: 37944919 PMCID: PMC10666278 DOI: 10.1021/acs.accounts.3c00402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, there has been a high interest in researching RNA modifications, as they are involved in many cellular processes and in human diseases. A substantial set of enzymes within the cell, called RNA writers, place RNA modifications selectively and site-specifically. Another set of enzymes, called readers, recognize these modifications which guide the fate of the modified RNA. Although RNA is a transient molecule and RNA modification could be removed by RNA degradation, a subclass of enzymes, called RNA erasers, remove RNA modifications selectively and site-specifically to alter the characteristics of the RNA. The detection of RNA modifications can be done by various methods including second and next generation sequencing but also mass spectrometry. An approach capable of both qualitative and quantitative RNA modification analysis is liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry of enzymatic hydrolysates of RNA into nucleosides. However, for successful detection and quantification, various factors must be considered to avoid biased identification and inaccurate quantification. In this Account, we identify three classes of errors that may distort the analysis. These classes comprise (I) errors related to chemical instabilities, (II) errors revolving around enzymatic hydrolysis to nucleosides, and (III) errors arising from issues with chromatographic separation and/or subsequent mass spectrometric analysis.A prominent example for class 1 is Dimroth rearrangement of m1A to m6A, but class 1 also comprises hydrolytic reactions and reactions with buffer components. Here, we also present the conversion of m3C to m3U under mild alkaline conditions and propose a practical solution to overcome these instabilities. Class 2 errors-such as contaminations in hydrolysis reagents or nuclease specificities-have led to erroneous discoveries of nucleosides in the past and possess the potential for misquantification of nucleosides. Impurities in the samples may also lead to class 3 errors: For instance, issues with chromatographic separation may arise from residual organic solvents, and salt adducts may hamper mass spectrometric quantification. This Account aims to highlight various errors connected to mass spectrometry analysis of nucleosides and presents solutions for how to overcome or circumnavigate those issues. Therefore, the authors anticipate that many scientists, but especially those who plan on doing nucleoside mass spectrometry, will benefit from the collection of data presented in this Account as a raised awareness, toward the variety of potential pitfalls, may further enhance the quality of data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregor Ammann
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Goethe University Frankfurt, 60438 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Maximilian Berg
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Goethe University Frankfurt, 60438 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Jan Felix Dalwigk
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Goethe University Frankfurt, 60438 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Stefanie M. Kaiser
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Goethe University Frankfurt, 60438 Frankfurt, Germany
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71
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Oikonomou P, Cirne HC, Nerurkar NL. A chemo-mechanical model of endoderm movements driving elongation of the amniote hindgut. Development 2023; 150:dev202010. [PMID: 37840469 PMCID: PMC10690059 DOI: 10.1242/dev.202010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
Although mechanical and biochemical descriptions of development are each essential, integration of upstream morphogenic cues with downstream tissue mechanics remains understudied during vertebrate morphogenesis. Here, we developed a two-dimensional chemo-mechanical model to investigate how mechanical properties of the endoderm and transport properties of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) regulate avian hindgut morphogenesis in a coordinated manner. Posterior endoderm cells convert a gradient of FGF ligands into a contractile force gradient, leading to a force imbalance that drives collective cell movements that elongate the forming hindgut tube. We formulated a 2D reaction-diffusion-advection model describing the formation of an FGF protein gradient as a result of posterior displacement of cells transcribing unstable Fgf8 mRNA during axis elongation, coupled with translation, diffusion and degradation of FGF protein. The endoderm was modeled as an active viscous fluid that generates contractile stresses in proportion to FGF concentration. With parameter values constrained by experimental data, the model replicates key aspects of hindgut morphogenesis, suggests that graded isotropic contraction is sufficient to generate large anisotropic cell movements, and provides new insight into how chemo-mechanical coupling across the mesoderm and endoderm coordinates hindgut elongation with axis elongation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panagiotis Oikonomou
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, 351 Engineering Terrace, 1210 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Helena C. Cirne
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, 351 Engineering Terrace, 1210 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Nandan L. Nerurkar
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, 351 Engineering Terrace, 1210 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10027, USA
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72
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Ponomarenko EA, Krasnov GS, Kiseleva OI, Kryukova PA, Arzumanian VA, Dolgalev GV, Ilgisonis EV, Lisitsa AV, Poverennaya EV. Workability of mRNA Sequencing for Predicting Protein Abundance. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:2065. [PMID: 38003008 PMCID: PMC10671741 DOI: 10.3390/genes14112065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2023] [Revised: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Transcriptomics methods (RNA-Seq, PCR) today are more routine and reproducible than proteomics methods, i.e., both mass spectrometry and immunochemical analysis. For this reason, most scientific studies are limited to assessing the level of mRNA content. At the same time, protein content (and its post-translational status) largely determines the cell's state and behavior. Such a forced extrapolation of conclusions from the transcriptome to the proteome often seems unjustified. The ratios of "transcript-protein" pairs can vary by several orders of magnitude for different genes. As a rule, the correlation coefficient between transcriptome-proteome levels for different tissues does not exceed 0.3-0.5. Several characteristics determine the ratio between the content of mRNA and protein: among them, the rate of movement of the ribosome along the mRNA and the number of free ribosomes in the cell, the availability of tRNA, the secondary structure, and the localization of the transcript. The technical features of the experimental methods also significantly influence the levels of the transcript and protein of the corresponding gene on the outcome of the comparison. Given the above biological features and the performance of experimental and bioinformatic approaches, one may develop various models to predict proteomic profiles based on transcriptomic data. This review is devoted to the ability of RNA sequencing methods for protein abundance prediction.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - George S. Krasnov
- Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 119991, Russia;
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73
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Gómez-Márquez J. Reflections upon a new definition of life. THE SCIENCE OF NATURE - NATURWISSENSCHAFTEN 2023; 110:53. [PMID: 37917201 DOI: 10.1007/s00114-023-01882-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
What is life? Multiple definitions have been proposed to answer this question, but unfortunately, none of them has reached the consensus of the scientific community. Here, the strategy used to define what life is was based on first establishing which characteristics are common to all living systems (organic nature, entropy-producing system, self-organizing, reworkable pre-program, capacity to interact and adapt, reproduction and evolution) and from them constructing the definition taking into account that reproduction and evolution are not essential for life. On this basis, life is defined as an interactive process occurring in entropy-producing, adaptive, and informative (organic) systems. An unforeseen consequence of the inseparable duality between the system (living being) and the process (life) is the interchangeability of the elements of the definition to obtain other equally valid alternatives. In addition, in the light of this definition, cases of temporarily lifeless living systems (viruses, dormant seeds, and ultracold cells) are analyzed, as well as the status of artificial life entities and the hypothetical nature of extraterrestrial life. All living systems are perishable because the passage of time leads to increasing entropy. Life must create order by continuously producing disorder and exporting it to the environment and so we move and stay in the phase transition between order and chaos, far from equilibrium, thanks to the input of energy from the outside. However, the passage of time eventually leads us to an end in which life disappears and entropy increases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaime Gómez-Márquez
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bldg. CIBUS-Faculty of Biology, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15782, Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain.
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Yu L, Zheng J, Yu J, Zhang Y, Hu H. Circ_0067934: a circular RNA with roles in human cancer. Hum Cell 2023; 36:1865-1876. [PMID: 37592109 PMCID: PMC10587307 DOI: 10.1007/s13577-023-00962-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023]
Abstract
A circular RNA (circRNA) is a non-coding RNA (ncRNA) derived from reverse splicing from pre-mRNA and is characterized by the absence of a cap structure at the 5' end and a poly-adenylated tail at the 3' end. Owing to the development of RNA sequencing and bioinformatics approaches in recent years, the important clinical value of circRNAs has been increasingly revealed. Circ_0067934 is an RNA molecule of 170 nucleotides located on chromosome 3q26.2. Circ_0067934 is formed via the reverse splicing of exons 15 and 16 in PRKCI (protein kinase C Iota). Recent studies revealed the upregulation or downregulation of circ_0067934 in various tumors. The expression of circ_0067934 was found to be correlated with tumor size, TNM stage, and poor prognosis. Based on experiments with cancer cells, circ_0067934 promotes cancer cell proliferation, migratory activity, and invasion when overexpressed or downregulated. The potential mechanism involves the binding of circ_0067934 to microRNAs (miRNAs; miR-545, miR-1304, miR-1301-3p, miR-1182, miR-7, and miR-1324) to regulate the post-transcriptional expression of genes. Other mechanisms include inhibition of the Wnt/β-catenin and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways. Here, we summarized the biological functions and possible mechanisms of circ_0067934 in different tumors to enable further exploration of its translational applications in clinical diagnosis, therapy, and prognostic assessments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liqing Yu
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006 Jiangxi Province China
- The Second Clinical Medical College of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006 Jiangxi Province China
| | - Jiacheng Zheng
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006 Jiangxi Province China
- The Second Clinical Medical College of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006 Jiangxi Province China
| | - Jiali Yu
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006 Jiangxi Province China
- The Second Clinical Medical College of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006 Jiangxi Province China
| | - Yujun Zhang
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006 Jiangxi Province China
- The First Clinical Medical College of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006 Jiangxi Province China
| | - Huoli Hu
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006 Jiangxi Province China
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75
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Bishop DJ, Hoffman NJ, Taylor DF, Saner NJ, Lee MJC, Hawley JA. Discordant skeletal muscle gene and protein responses to exercise. Trends Biochem Sci 2023; 48:927-936. [PMID: 37709636 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibs.2023.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2023] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
The ability of skeletal muscle to adapt to repeated contractile stimuli is one of the most intriguing aspects of physiology. The molecular bases underpinning these adaptations involve increased protein activity and/or expression, mediated by an array of pre- and post-transcriptional processes, as well as translational and post-translational control. A longstanding dogma assumes a direct relationship between exercise-induced increases in mRNA levels and subsequent changes in the abundance of the proteins they encode. Drawing on the results of recent studies, we dissect and question the common assumption of a direct relationship between changes in the skeletal muscle transcriptome and proteome induced by repeated muscle contractions (e.g., exercise).
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Affiliation(s)
- David J Bishop
- Institute for Health and Sport (iHeS), Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia.
| | - Nolan J Hoffman
- Exercise and Nutrition Research Program, Mary MacKillop Institute for Health Research, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Dale F Taylor
- Institute for Health and Sport (iHeS), Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Nicholas J Saner
- Institute for Health and Sport (iHeS), Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Matthew J-C Lee
- Institute for Health and Sport (iHeS), Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - John A Hawley
- Exercise and Nutrition Research Program, Mary MacKillop Institute for Health Research, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, Australia
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76
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Guo T, Zhao S, Zhu W, Zhou H, Cheng H. Research progress on the biological basis of Traditional Chinese Medicine syndromes of gastrointestinal cancers. Heliyon 2023; 9:e20653. [PMID: 38027682 PMCID: PMC10643116 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e20653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2023] [Revised: 09/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Gastrointestinal cancers account for 11.6 % of all cancers, and are the second most frequently diagnosed type of cancer worldwide. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), together with Western medicine or alone, has unique advantages for the prevention and treatment of cancers, including gastrointestinal cancers. Syndrome differentiation and treatment are basic characteristics of the theoretical system of TCM. TCM syndromes are the result of the differentiation of the syndrome and the basis of treatment. Genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, intestinal microbiota, and serology, generated around the central law, are used to study the biological basis of TCM syndromes in gastrointestinal cancers. This review summarizes current research on the biological basis of TCM syndrome in gastrointestinal cancers and provides useful references for future research on TCM syndrome in gastrointestinal cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianhao Guo
- Institute of Health and Regimen, Jiangsu Open University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210036, China
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine Prevention and Treatment of Tumor, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
- The First Clinical Medical College, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Shuoqi Zhao
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine Prevention and Treatment of Tumor, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
- The First Clinical Medical College, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Wenjian Zhu
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine Prevention and Treatment of Tumor, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
- The First Clinical Medical College, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Hongguang Zhou
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine Prevention and Treatment of Tumor, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
- The First Clinical Medical College, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
- Departments of Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, China
| | - Haibo Cheng
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine Prevention and Treatment of Tumor, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
- The First Clinical Medical College, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
- Departments of Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, China
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77
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Wagner A, Mutschler H. Design principles and applications of synthetic self-replicating RNAs. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS. RNA 2023; 14:e1803. [PMID: 37264531 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
With the advent of ever more sophisticated methods for the in vitro synthesis and the in vivo delivery of RNAs, synthetic mRNAs have gained substantial interest both for medical applications, as well as for biotechnology. However, in most biological systems exogeneous mRNAs possess only a limited half-life, especially in fast dividing cells. In contrast, viral RNAs can extend their lifetime by actively replicating inside their host. As such they may serve as scaffolds for the design of synthetic self-replicating RNAs (srRNA), which can be used to increase both the half-life and intracellular concentration of coding RNAs. Synthetic srRNAs may be used to enhance recombinant protein expression or induce the reprogramming of differentiated cells into pluripotent stem cells but also to create cell-free systems for research based on experimental evolution. In this article, we discuss the applications and design principles of srRNAs used for cellular reprogramming, mRNA-based vaccines and tools for synthetic biology. This article is categorized under: RNA in Disease and Development > RNA in Disease RNA in Disease and Development > RNA in Development RNA Evolution and Genomics > RNA and Ribonucleoprotein Evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Wagner
- Biomimetic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, TU Dortmund University, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Hannes Mutschler
- Biomimetic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, TU Dortmund University, Dortmund, Germany
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78
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Lin Y, Cheng Q, Wei T. Surface engineering of lipid nanoparticles: targeted nucleic acid delivery and beyond. BIOPHYSICS REPORTS 2023; 9:255-278. [PMID: 38516300 PMCID: PMC10951480 DOI: 10.52601/bpr.2023.230022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Harnessing surface engineering strategies to functionalize nucleic acid-lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) for improved performance has been a hot research topic since the approval of the first siRNA drug, patisiran, and two mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines, BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273. Currently, efforts have been mainly made to construct targeted LNPs for organ- or cell-type-specific delivery of nucleic acid drugs by conjugation with various types of ligands. In this review, we describe the surface engineering strategies for nucleic acid-LNPs, considering ligand types, conjugation chemistries, and incorporation methods. We then outline the general purification and characterization techniques that are frequently used following the engineering step and emphasize the specific techniques for certain types of ligands. Next, we comprehensively summarize the currently accessible organs and cell types, as well as the other applications of the engineered LNPs. Finally, we provide considerations for formulating targeted LNPs and discuss the challenges of successfully translating the "proof of concept" from the laboratory into the clinic. We believe that addressing these challenges could accelerate the development of surface-engineered LNPs for targeted nucleic acid delivery and beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Future Technology, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Qiang Cheng
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Future Technology, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Tuo Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
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79
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Daiß JL, Griesenbeck J, Tschochner H, Engel C. Synthesis of the ribosomal RNA precursor in human cells: mechanisms, factors and regulation. Biol Chem 2023; 404:1003-1023. [PMID: 37454246 DOI: 10.1515/hsz-2023-0214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
The ribosomal RNA precursor (pre-rRNA) comprises three of the four ribosomal RNAs and is synthesized by RNA polymerase (Pol) I. Here, we describe the mechanisms of Pol I transcription in human cells with a focus on recent insights gained from structure-function analyses. The comparison of Pol I-specific structural and functional features with those of other Pols and with the excessively studied yeast system distinguishes organism-specific from general traits. We explain the organization of the genomic rDNA loci in human cells, describe the Pol I transcription cycle regarding structural changes in the enzyme and the roles of human Pol I subunits, and depict human rDNA transcription factors and their function on a mechanistic level. We disentangle information gained by direct investigation from what had apparently been deduced from studies of the yeast enzymes. Finally, we provide information about how Pol I mutations may contribute to developmental diseases, and why Pol I is a target for new cancer treatment strategies, since increased rRNA synthesis was correlated with rapidly expanding cell populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia L Daiß
- Regensburg Center for Biochemistry, University of Regensburg, D-93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Joachim Griesenbeck
- Regensburg Center for Biochemistry, University of Regensburg, D-93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Herbert Tschochner
- Regensburg Center for Biochemistry, University of Regensburg, D-93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Christoph Engel
- Regensburg Center for Biochemistry, University of Regensburg, D-93053 Regensburg, Germany
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80
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Sciaccotta R, Murdaca G, Caserta S, Rizzo V, Gangemi S, Allegra A. Circular RNAs: A New Approach to Multiple Sclerosis. Biomedicines 2023; 11:2883. [PMID: 38001884 PMCID: PMC10669154 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11112883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Multiple sclerosis, a condition characterised by demyelination and axonal damage in the central nervous system, is due to autoreactive immune cells that recognise myelin antigens. Alteration of the immune balance can promote the onset of immune deficiencies, loss of immunosurveillance, and/or development of autoimmune disorders such as MS. Numerous enzymes, transcription factors, signal transducers, and membrane proteins contribute to the control of immune system activity. The "transcriptional machine" of eukaryotic cells is a complex system composed not only of mRNA but also of non-coding elements grouped together in the set of non-coding RNAs. Recent studies demonstrate that ncRNAs play a crucial role in numerous cellular functions, gene expression, and the pathogenesis of many immune disorders. The main purpose of this review is to investigate the role of circular RNAs, a previously unknown class of non-coding RNAs, in MS's pathogenesis. CircRNAs influence post-transcriptional control, expression, and functionality of a microRNA and epigenetic factors, promoting the development of typical MS abnormalities such as neuroinflammation, damage to neuronal cells, and microglial dysfunction. The increase in our knowledge of the role of circRNAs in multiple sclerosis could, in the future, modify the common diagnostic-therapeutic criteria, paving the way to a new vision of this neuroimmune pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raffaele Sciaccotta
- Hematology Unit, Department of Human Pathology in Adulthood and Childhood “Gaetano Barresi”, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria, 98125 Messina, Italy; (R.S.); (S.C.); (A.A.)
| | - Giuseppe Murdaca
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genova, Viale Benedetto XV, 16132 Genova, Italy
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico S. Martino, 16132 Genova, Italy
| | - Santino Caserta
- Hematology Unit, Department of Human Pathology in Adulthood and Childhood “Gaetano Barresi”, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria, 98125 Messina, Italy; (R.S.); (S.C.); (A.A.)
| | - Vincenzo Rizzo
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria, 98125 Messina, Italy;
| | - Sebastiano Gangemi
- Allergy and Clinical Immunology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria, 98125 Messina, Italy;
| | - Alessandro Allegra
- Hematology Unit, Department of Human Pathology in Adulthood and Childhood “Gaetano Barresi”, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria, 98125 Messina, Italy; (R.S.); (S.C.); (A.A.)
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81
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Kumari P, Sarovar Bhavesh N. Birth and death view of DNA, RNA, and proteins. Gene 2023; 883:147672. [PMID: 37506987 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2023.147672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Revised: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
The potential of cells to guide their genome and configure genes to express at a given time and in response to specific stimuli is pivotal to regulate cellular processes such as tissue differentiation, organogenesis, organismal development, homeostasis, and disease. In this review, we focus on the diverse mechanisms involved in DNA replication and its degradation, mRNA synthesis, and associated regulation such as RNA capping, splicing, tailing, and export. mRNA turnover including Decapping, deadenylation, RNA interference, and Nonsense mediated mRNA decay followed by protein translation, post-translational modification, and protein turnover. We highlight recent advances in understanding the complex series of molecular mechanisms responsible for the remarkable cellular regulatory mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pooja Kumari
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Jharkhand, Ranchi, Jharkhand 834001, India.
| | - Neel Sarovar Bhavesh
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India.
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82
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Gentili PL, Stano P. Tracing a new path in the field of AI and robotics: mimicking human intelligence through chemistry. Part II: systems chemistry. Front Robot AI 2023; 10:1266011. [PMID: 37915426 PMCID: PMC10616823 DOI: 10.3389/frobt.2023.1266011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Inspired by some traits of human intelligence, it is proposed that wetware approaches based on molecular, supramolecular, and systems chemistry can provide valuable models and tools for novel forms of robotics and AI, being constituted by soft matter and fluid states as the human nervous system and, more generally, life, is. Bottom-up mimicries of intelligence range from the molecular world to the multicellular level, i.e., from the Ångström (10 - 10 meters) to the micrometer scales (10 - 6 meters), and allows the development of unconventional chemical robotics. Whereas conventional robotics lets humans explore and colonise otherwise inaccessible environments, such as the deep oceanic abysses and other solar system planets, chemical robots will permit us to inspect and control the microscopic molecular and cellular worlds. This article suggests that systems made of properly chosen molecular compounds can implement all those modules that are the fundamental ingredients of every living being: sensory, processing, actuating, and metabolic networks. Autonomous chemical robotics will be within reach when such modules are compartmentalised and assembled. The design of a strongly intertwined web of chemical robots, with or without the involvement of living matter, will give rise to collective forms of intelligence that will probably reproduce, on a minimal scale, some sophisticated performances of the human intellect and will implement forms of "general AI." These remarkable achievements will require a productive interdisciplinary collaboration among chemists, biotechnologists, computer scientists, engineers, physicists, neuroscientists, cognitive scientists, and philosophers to be achieved. The principal purpose of this paper is to spark this revolutionary collaborative scientific endeavour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pier Luigi Gentili
- Department of Chemistry, Biology, and Biotechnology, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Pasquale Stano
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies (DISTeBA), University of Salento, Lecce, Italy
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83
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Greslehner GP. "Molecular Biology"-Pleonasm or Denotation for a Discipline of Its Own? Reflections on the Origins of Molecular Biology and Its Situation Today. Biomolecules 2023; 13:1511. [PMID: 37892193 PMCID: PMC10605324 DOI: 10.3390/biom13101511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2023] [Revised: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The disciplinary identity of molecular biology has frequently been called into question. Although the debates might sometimes have been more about creating or debunking myths, defending intellectual territory and the distribution of resources, there are interesting underlying questions about this area of biology and how it is conceptually organized. By looking at the history of molecular biology, its origins and development, I examine the possible criteria for its status as a scientific discipline. Doing so allows us to answer the title question in such a way that offers a reasonable middle ground, where molecular biology can be properly viewed as a viable interdisciplinary program that can very well be called a discipline in its own right, even if no strict boundaries can be established. In addition to this historical analysis, a couple of systematic issues from a philosophy of science perspective allow for some assessment of the current situation and the future of molecular biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregor P Greslehner
- Department of Philosophy, University of Vienna, Universitätsstraße 7, 1010 Vienna, Austria
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84
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Firdos, Mittal A. Secretory Conservation in Insulin Producing Cells: Is There a System-Level Law of Mass Action in Biology? ACS OMEGA 2023; 8:37573-37583. [PMID: 37954232 PMCID: PMC10635588 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c06058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
Altered secretion of insulin from pancreatic β-cells can manifest into disorders. For example, a lack of endogenously produced and/or secreted insulin results in Type 1 diabetes (and other associated subtypes). Pancreatic β-cells are the endocrine secretory cells that promote insulin secretion in response to glucose stimulation. Secretion in response to extracellular triggers is an interplay among various signaling pathways, transcription factors, and molecular mechanisms. The Mouse Insulinoma 6 (MIN6) cell line serves as a model system for gaining mechanistic insights into pancreatic β-cell functions. It is obvious that higher glucose consumption and increased insulin secretion are correlated. However, it has been reported that intracellular ATP levels remain ∼ constant beyond the extracellular glucose (EG) concentration of 10 mM. Therefore, any cause-effect relationship between glucose consumption (GC) and enhanced insulin secretion (eIS) remains unclear. We also found that total cellular protein, as well as total protein content in the culture "supernatant," remains constant regardless of varying EG concentrations. This indicated that eIS may be at the cost of (a) intracellular synthesis of other proteins and (b) secretion of other secretory proteins, or both (a) and (b), somehow coupled with GC by cells. To gain insights into the above, we carried out a transcriptome study of MIN6 cells exposed to hypoglycemic (HoG = 2.8 mM EG) and hyperglycemic (HyG = 25 mM EG) conditions. Expression of transcripts was analyzed in terms of Fragments Per Kilobase of transcript per Million mapped reads and Transcripts Per Million (FPKM and TPM) as well as values obtained by normalizing w.r.t. "∑(FPKM)" and "∑(TPM)." We report that HyG extracellular conditions lead to an ∼2-fold increase in insulin secretion compared to HoG measured by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and transcripts of secreted proteins as well as their isoforms decreased in HyG conditions compared to HoG. Our results show for the first time that eIS in HyG conditions is at the cost of reduced transcription of other secreted proteins and is coupled with higher GC. The higher GC at increased extracellular glucose also indicates a yet undiscovered role of glucose molecules enhancing insulin secretion, since ATP levels resulting from glucose metabolism have been reported to be constant above an EG concentration of 10 mM. While extrapolation of our results to clinical implications is ambitious at best, this work reports novel cellular level aspects that seem relevant in some clinical observations pertaining to Type 1 diabetes. In addition, the conservatory nature of cellular secretions in insulin-secreting cells, discovered here, may be a general feature in cell biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Firdos
- Kusuma
School of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute
of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi), Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110016, India
| | - Aditya Mittal
- Kusuma
School of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute
of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi), Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110016, India
- Supercomputing
Facility for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology (SCFBio), IIT Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110016, India
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85
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Zhao Y, Gan L, Ke D, Chen Q, Fu Y. Mechanisms and research advances in mRNA antibody drug-mediated passive immunotherapy. J Transl Med 2023; 21:693. [PMID: 37794448 PMCID: PMC10552228 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-023-04553-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Antibody technology is widely used in the fields of biomedical and clinical therapies. Nonetheless, the complex in vitro expression of recombinant proteins, long production cycles, and harsh storage conditions have limited their applications in medicine, especially in clinical therapies. Recently, this dilemma has been overcome to a certain extent by the development of mRNA delivery systems, in which antibody-encoding mRNAs are enclosed in nanomaterials and delivered to the body. On entering the cytoplasm, the mRNAs immediately bind to ribosomes and undergo translation and post-translational modifications. This process produces monoclonal or bispecific antibodies that act directly on the patient. Additionally, it eliminates the cumbersome process of in vitro protein expression and extends the half-life of short-lived proteins, which significantly reduces the cost and duration of antibody production. This review focuses on the benefits and drawbacks of mRNA antibodies compared with the traditional in vitro expressed antibodies. In addition, it elucidates the progress of mRNA antibodies in the prevention of infectious diseases and oncology therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxiang Zhao
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Innate Immune Biology, Biomedical Research Center of South China, College of Life Science, Fujian Normal University Qishan Campus, College Town, Fuzhou, Fujian, PR China
| | - Linchuan Gan
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Innate Immune Biology, Biomedical Research Center of South China, College of Life Science, Fujian Normal University Qishan Campus, College Town, Fuzhou, Fujian, PR China
| | - Dangjin Ke
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Innate Immune Biology, Biomedical Research Center of South China, College of Life Science, Fujian Normal University Qishan Campus, College Town, Fuzhou, Fujian, PR China
| | - Qi Chen
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Innate Immune Biology, Biomedical Research Center of South China, College of Life Science, Fujian Normal University Qishan Campus, College Town, Fuzhou, Fujian, PR China.
| | - Yajuan Fu
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Innate Immune Biology, Biomedical Research Center of South China, College of Life Science, Fujian Normal University Qishan Campus, College Town, Fuzhou, Fujian, PR China.
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86
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Zhao G, Liu Z, Quan J, Sun J, Li L, Lu J. Potential role of miR-8159-x in heat stress response in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol 2023; 268:110877. [PMID: 37356566 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpb.2023.110877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Revised: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/27/2023]
Abstract
Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) is a representative species of cold-water fish. Elevated temperatures during summer often result in significant high mortality rates. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are class of small non-coding RNAs that play a crucial role as post-transcriptional regulators in various biological processes. Emerging evidence suggests that miRNAs are important regulators role during heat stress. Analyzing previously obtained miRNA-sequencing data, we observed substantial down regulation of miR-8159-x in the liver tissue of heat stressed rainbow trout. In this study, we conducted a dual luciferase reporter assay to validate that miR-8159-x target, a key gene involved in heat stress in rainbow trout. By examining the expression patterns of miR-8159-x and hsp90a1 in the liver tissue at 18 °C (CG) and 24 °C (HS) groups, we propose that miR-8159-x may negatively regulate hsp90a1. Furthermore, in vitro hepatocyte assay, transfection with miR-8159-x mimics significantly reduced the expression level of hsp90a1, whereas transfection with a miR-8159-x inhibitor yielded the opposite effect. Additionally, overexpression of miR-8159-x inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis in normal rainbow trout hepatocytes. We further investigated the effects of miR-8159-x overexpression or inhibition on the mRNA and protein levels of the target gene hsp90a1 under heat stress conditions. In conclusion, our findings suggest that miR-8159-x participates in the biological response to heat stress by targeting hsp90a1. These results contribute to a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying heat stress in rainbow trout and provide valuable insights for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guiyan Zhao
- College of Animal Science & Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, PR China.
| | - Zhe Liu
- College of Animal Science & Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, PR China.
| | - Jinqiang Quan
- College of Animal Science & Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, PR China.
| | - Jun Sun
- College of Animal Science & Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, PR China.
| | - Lanlan Li
- College of Animal Science & Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, PR China.
| | - Junhao Lu
- College of Animal Science & Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, PR China.
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87
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Bhatnagar D, Ladhe S, Kumar D. Discerning the Prospects of miRNAs as a Multi-Target Therapeutic and Diagnostic for Alzheimer's Disease. Mol Neurobiol 2023; 60:5954-5974. [PMID: 37386272 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-023-03446-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
Abstract
Although over the last few decades, numerous attempts have been made to halt Alzheimer's disease (AD) progression and mitigate its symptoms, only a few have been proven beneficial. Most medications available, still only cater to the symptoms of the disease rather than fixing the cause at the root level. A novel approach involving the use of miRNAs, which work on the principle of gene silencing, is being explored by scientists. Naturally present miRNAs in the biological system help to regulate various genes than may be implicated in AD-like BACE-1 and APP. One miRNA thus, holds the power to keep a check on several genes, conferring it the ability to be used as a multi-target therapeutic. With aging and the onset of diseased pathology, dysregulation of these miRNAs is observed. This flawed miRNA expression is responsible for the unusual buildup of amyloid proteins, fibrillation of tau proteins in the brain, neuronal death and other hallmarks leading to AD. The use of miRNA mimics and miRNA inhibitors provides an attractive perspective for fixing the upregulation and downregulation of miRNAs that led to abnormal cellular activities. Furthermore, the detection of miRNAs in the CSF and serum of diseased patients might be considered an earlier biomarker for the disease. While most of the therapies designed around AD have not succeeded completely, the targeting of dysregulated miRNAs in AD patients might give a new direction to scholars to develop an effective treatment for Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Devyani Bhatnagar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Poona College of Pharmacy, Bharati Vidyapeeth (Deemed to Be University), Erandwane, Pune, 411038, Maharashtra, India
| | - Shreya Ladhe
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Poona College of Pharmacy, Bharati Vidyapeeth (Deemed to Be University), Erandwane, Pune, 411038, Maharashtra, India
| | - Dileep Kumar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Poona College of Pharmacy, Bharati Vidyapeeth (Deemed to Be University), Erandwane, Pune, 411038, Maharashtra, India.
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Davis, One Shields Ave, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
- UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Davis, One Shields Ave, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
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88
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Koseki H, Sharif J. Editorial overview: Epigenetic inheritance: A shortcut to environmental adaptation? Curr Opin Genet Dev 2023; 82:102094. [PMID: 37579622 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2023.102094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/16/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Haruhiko Koseki
- Laboratory for Developmental Genetics, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan; Department of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-8670, Japan.
| | - Jafar Sharif
- Laboratory for Developmental Genetics, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan
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89
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Shi Q, Chen X, Zhang Z. Decoding Human Biology and Disease Using Single-cell Omics Technologies. GENOMICS, PROTEOMICS & BIOINFORMATICS 2023; 21:926-949. [PMID: 37739168 PMCID: PMC10928380 DOI: 10.1016/j.gpb.2023.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Revised: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/24/2023]
Abstract
Over the past decade, advances in single-cell omics (SCO) technologies have enabled the investigation of cellular heterogeneity at an unprecedented resolution and scale, opening a new avenue for understanding human biology and disease. In this review, we summarize the developments of sequencing-based SCO technologies and computational methods, and focus on considerable insights acquired from SCO sequencing studies to understand normal and diseased properties, with a particular emphasis on cancer research. We also discuss the technological improvements of SCO and its possible contribution to fundamental research of the human, as well as its great potential in clinical diagnoses and personalized therapies of human disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Shi
- Biomedical Pioneering Innovation Center, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Xueyan Chen
- Biomedical Pioneering Innovation Center, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Zemin Zhang
- Biomedical Pioneering Innovation Center, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; Changping Laboratory, Beijing 102206, China.
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90
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Danchin A. Science, method and critical thinking. Microb Biotechnol 2023; 16:1888-1894. [PMID: 37462943 PMCID: PMC10527184 DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.14315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Science is founded on a method based on critical thinking. A prerequisite for this is not only a sufficient command of language but also the comprehension of the basic concepts underlying our understanding of reality. This constraint implies an awareness of the fact that the truth of the World is not directly accessible to us, but can only be glimpsed through the construction of models designed to anticipate its behaviour. Because the relationship between models and reality rests on the interpretation of founding postulates and instantiations of their predictions (and is therefore deeply rooted in language and culture), there can be no demarcation between science and non-science. However, critical thinking is essential to ensure that the link between models and reality is gradually made more adequate to reality, based on what has already been established, thus guaranteeing that science progresses on this basis and excluding any form of relativism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antoine Danchin
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li KaShing Faculty of MedicineHong Kong UniversityPokfulamHong KongChina
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91
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Ciesielski SJ, Young C, Ciesielska EJ, Ciesielski GL. The Hsp70 and JDP proteins: Structure-function perspective on molecular chaperone activity. Enzymes 2023; 54:221-245. [PMID: 37945173 DOI: 10.1016/bs.enz.2023.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
Proteins are the most structurally diverse cellular biomolecules that act as molecular machines driving essential activities of all living organisms. To be functional, most of the proteins need to fold into a specific three-dimensional structure, which on one hand should be stable enough to oppose disruptive conditions and on the other hand flexible enough to allow conformational dynamics necessary for their biological functions. This compromise between stability and dynamics makes proteins susceptible to stress-induced misfolding and aggregation. Moreover, the folding process itself is intrinsically prone to conformational errors. Molecular chaperones are proteins that mitigate folding defects and maintain the structural integrity of the cellular proteome. Promiscuous Hsp70 chaperones are central to these processes and their activity depends on the interaction with obligatory J-domain protein (JDP) partners. In this review, we discuss structural aspects of Hsp70s, JDPs, and their interaction in the context of biological activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Szymon J Ciesielski
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of North Florida, Jacksonville, FL, United States.
| | - Cameron Young
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of North Florida, Jacksonville, FL, United States
| | - Elena J Ciesielska
- Department of Chemistry, Auburn University at Montgomery, Montgomery, AL, United States; Department of Biology, University of North Florida, Jacksonville, FL, United States
| | - Grzegorz L Ciesielski
- Department of Chemistry, Auburn University at Montgomery, Montgomery, AL, United States; Department of Biology, University of North Florida, Jacksonville, FL, United States
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92
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Xue G, Cheng Y, Xu H, Xue C. Target-Induced Stepwise Disintegration of Starlike Branched and Multiplex Embedded Systems for Amplified Detection of Serum MicroRNA. Anal Chem 2023; 95:13140-13148. [PMID: 37602702 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.3c01863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/22/2023]
Abstract
DNA nanotechnology has shown great promise for biosensing and molecular recognition. However, the practical application of conventional DNA biosensors is constrained by inadequate target stimuli, intricate design schemes, multicomponent systems, and susceptibility to nuclease degradation. To overcome these limitations, we present a class of starlike branched and multiplex embedded system (SBES) with an integrated functional design and cascade exponential amplification for serum microRNA (miRNA) detection. The DNA arms can be integrated into an all-in-one system by surrounding a branch point, with each arm endowed with specific functionalities by embedding different DNA fragments. These fragments include a segment complementary to the target miRNA for the recognition element, palindromic tails for self-primed polymerization, and a region with the same sequences as the target serving as the target analogue. Upon exposure to a target miRNA, the DNA arms unwind in a stepwise manner through palindrome-mediated dimerization and polymerization. This enables target recycling for subsequent reactions while releasing the target analogue to generate a secondary response in a feedback manner. A comparative analysis illustrates that the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of a full SBES with a feedback strategy is approximately 250% higher than the system without a feedback design. We demonstrate that the four-arm 4pSBES has the benefits of multifunctional integration, enhanced sensitivity, and low false-positive signals, which makes this approach ideally suited for clinical diagnosis. Moreover, an upgraded SBES with additional DNA arms (e.g., 6pSBES) can be constructed to allow multifunctional extension, offering unprecedented opportunities to build versatile DNA nanostructures for biosensing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guohui Xue
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Jiujiang No.1 People's Hospital, Jiujiang, Jiangxi 332000, P. R. China
| | - Yinghao Cheng
- Wenzhou Key Laboratory of Cancer Pathogenesis and Translation, Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, P. R. China
- College of Materials and Chemical Engineering, Minjiang University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, China
| | - Huo Xu
- College of Materials and Chemical Engineering, Minjiang University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, China
| | - Chang Xue
- Wenzhou Key Laboratory of Cancer Pathogenesis and Translation, Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, P. R. China
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93
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Ge F, Cao X, Jiang Y. A-to-I RNA editing shows dramatic up-regulation in osteosarcoma and broadly regulates tumor-related genes by altering microRNA target regions. J Appl Genet 2023; 64:493-505. [PMID: 37542613 DOI: 10.1007/s13353-023-00777-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/07/2023]
Abstract
A-to-I RNA editing is a prevalent type of RNA modification in animals. The dysregulation of RNA editing has led to multiple human cancers. However, the role of RNA editing has never been studied in osteosarcoma, a complex bone cancer with unknown molecular basis. We retrieved the RNA-sequencing data from 24 primary osteosarcoma patients and 3 healthy controls. We systematically profiled the RNA editomes in these samples and quantitatively identified reliable differential editing sites (DES) between osteosarcoma and normal samples. RNA editing efficiency is dramatically increased in osteosarcoma, presumably due to the significant up-regulation of editing enzymes ADAR1 and ADAR2. Up-regulated DES in osteosarcoma are enriched in 3'UTRs. Strikingly, such 3'UTR sites are further enriched in microRNA binding regions of gene EMP2 and other oncogenes, abolishing the microRNA suppression on target genes. Accordingly, the expression of these tumor-promoting genes is elevated in osteosarcoma. There might be an RNA editing-dependent pathway leading to osteosarcoma. We expanded our knowledge on the potential roles of RNA editing in oncogenesis. Based on these molecular features, our work is valuable for future prognosis and diagnosis of osteosarcoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fuqun Ge
- Department of Joint Surgery, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250033, Shandong, China
| | - Xinyue Cao
- School of Clinical Medicine, Qilu Medical University, Zibo, 255300, Shandong, China
| | - Yankai Jiang
- Department of Joint Surgery, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250033, Shandong, China.
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94
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Ozturk SF, Sasselov DD, Sutherland JD. The central dogma of biological homochirality: How does chiral information propagate in a prebiotic network? J Chem Phys 2023; 159:061102. [PMID: 37551802 PMCID: PMC7615580 DOI: 10.1063/5.0156527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 08/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Biological systems are homochiral, raising the question of how a racemic mixture of prebiotically synthesized biomolecules could attain a homochiral state at the network level. Based on our recent results, we aim to address a related question of how chiral information might have flowed in a prebiotic network. Utilizing the crystallization properties of the central ribonucleic acid (RNA) precursor known as ribose-aminooxazoline (RAO), we showed that its homochiral crystals can be obtained from its fully racemic solution on a magnetic mineral surface due to the chiral-induced spin selectivity (CISS) effect [Ozturk et al., arXiv:2303.01394 (2023)]. Moreover, we uncovered a mechanism facilitated by the CISS effect through which chiral molecules, such as RAO, can uniformly magnetize such surfaces in a variety of planetary environments in a persistent manner [Ozturk et al., arXiv:2304.09095 (2023)]. All this is very tantalizing because recent experiments with tRNA analogs demonstrate high stereoselectivity in the attachment of L-amino acids to D-ribonucleotides, enabling the transfer of homochirality from RNA to peptides [Wu et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 143, 11836 (2021)]. Therefore, the biological homochirality problem may be reduced to ensuring that a single common RNA precursor (e.g., RAO) can be made homochiral. The emergence of homochirality at RAO then allows for the chiral information to propagate through RNA, then to peptides, and ultimately through enantioselective catalysis to metabolites. This directionality of the chiral information flow parallels that of the central dogma of molecular biology-the unidirectional transfer of genetic information from nucleic acids to proteins [F. H. Crick, in Symposia of the Society for Experimental Biology, Number XII: The Biological Replication of Macromolecules, edited by F. K. Sanders (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1958), pp. 138-163; and F. Crick, Nature 227, 561 (1970)].
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Affiliation(s)
- S. Furkan Ozturk
- Department of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA
| | - Dimitar D. Sasselov
- Department of Astronomy, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA
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95
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Gebicke-Haerter PJ. The computational power of the human brain. Front Cell Neurosci 2023; 17:1220030. [PMID: 37608987 PMCID: PMC10441807 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2023.1220030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 08/24/2023] Open
Abstract
At the end of the 20th century, analog systems in computer science have been widely replaced by digital systems due to their higher computing power. Nevertheless, the question keeps being intriguing until now: is the brain analog or digital? Initially, the latter has been favored, considering it as a Turing machine that works like a digital computer. However, more recently, digital and analog processes have been combined to implant human behavior in robots, endowing them with artificial intelligence (AI). Therefore, we think it is timely to compare mathematical models with the biology of computation in the brain. To this end, digital and analog processes clearly identified in cellular and molecular interactions in the Central Nervous System are highlighted. But above that, we try to pinpoint reasons distinguishing in silico computation from salient features of biological computation. First, genuinely analog information processing has been observed in electrical synapses and through gap junctions, the latter both in neurons and astrocytes. Apparently opposed to that, neuronal action potentials (APs) or spikes represent clearly digital events, like the yes/no or 1/0 of a Turing machine. However, spikes are rarely uniform, but can vary in amplitude and widths, which has significant, differential effects on transmitter release at the presynaptic terminal, where notwithstanding the quantal (vesicular) release itself is digital. Conversely, at the dendritic site of the postsynaptic neuron, there are numerous analog events of computation. Moreover, synaptic transmission of information is not only neuronal, but heavily influenced by astrocytes tightly ensheathing the majority of synapses in brain (tripartite synapse). At least at this point, LTP and LTD modifying synaptic plasticity and believed to induce short and long-term memory processes including consolidation (equivalent to RAM and ROM in electronic devices) have to be discussed. The present knowledge of how the brain stores and retrieves memories includes a variety of options (e.g., neuronal network oscillations, engram cells, astrocytic syncytium). Also epigenetic features play crucial roles in memory formation and its consolidation, which necessarily guides to molecular events like gene transcription and translation. In conclusion, brain computation is not only digital or analog, or a combination of both, but encompasses features in parallel, and of higher orders of complexity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter J. Gebicke-Haerter
- Institute of Psychopharmacology, Central Institute of Mental Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
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96
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Li R, Madhvacharyula AS, Du Y, Adepu HK, Choi JH. Mechanics of dynamic and deformable DNA nanostructures. Chem Sci 2023; 14:8018-8046. [PMID: 37538812 PMCID: PMC10395309 DOI: 10.1039/d3sc01793a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023] Open
Abstract
In DNA nanotechnology, DNA molecules are designed, engineered, and assembled into arbitrary-shaped architectures with predesigned functions. Static DNA assemblies often have delicate designs with structural rigidity to overcome thermal fluctuations. Dynamic structures reconfigure in response to external cues, which have been explored to create functional nanodevices for environmental sensing and other applications. However, the precise control of reconfiguration dynamics has been a challenge due partly to flexible single-stranded DNA connections between moving parts. Deformable structures are special dynamic constructs with deformation on double-stranded parts and single-stranded hinges during transformation. These structures often have better control in programmed deformation. However, related deformability and mechanics including transformation mechanisms are not well understood or documented. In this review, we summarize the development of dynamic and deformable DNA nanostructures from a mechanical perspective. We present deformation mechanisms such as single-stranded DNA hinges with lock-and-release pairs, jack edges, helicity modulation, and external loading. Theoretical and computational models are discussed for understanding their associated deformations and mechanics. We elucidate the pros and cons of each model and recommend design processes based on the models. The design guidelines should be useful for those who have limited knowledge in mechanics as well as expert DNA designers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruixin Li
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University 585 Purdue Mall West Lafayette Indiana 47907 USA
| | - Anirudh S Madhvacharyula
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University 585 Purdue Mall West Lafayette Indiana 47907 USA
| | - Yancheng Du
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University 585 Purdue Mall West Lafayette Indiana 47907 USA
| | - Harshith K Adepu
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University 585 Purdue Mall West Lafayette Indiana 47907 USA
| | - Jong Hyun Choi
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University 585 Purdue Mall West Lafayette Indiana 47907 USA
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97
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Chang L, Deng E, Wang J, Zhou W, Ao J, Liu R, Su D, Fan X. Single-cell third-generation sequencing-based multi-omics uncovers gene expression changes governed by ecDNA and structural variants in cancer cells. Clin Transl Med 2023; 13:e1351. [PMID: 37517066 PMCID: PMC10387328 DOI: 10.1002/ctm2.1351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Revised: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cancer cells often exhibit large-scale genomic variations, such as circular extrachromosomal DNA (ecDNA) and structural variants (SVs), which have been highly correlated with the initiation and progression of cancer. Currently, no adequate method exists to unveil how these variations regulate gene expression in heterogeneous cancer cell populations at a single-cell resolution. METHODS Here, we developed a single-cell multi-omics sequencing method, scGTP-seq, to analyse ecDNA and SVs using long-read sequencing technologies. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS We demonstrated that our method can efficiently detect ecDNA and SVs and illustrated how these variations affect transcriptomic changes in various cell lines. Finally, we applied and validated this method in a clinical sample of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), demonstrating a feasible way to monitor the evolution of ecDNA and SVs during cancer progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Chang
- GMU‐GIBH Joint School of Life SciencesGuangdong‐Hong Kong‐Macau Joint Laboratory for Cell Fate Regulation and DiseasesGuangzhou National LaboratoryGuangzhou Medical UniversityGuangzhouGuangdong ProvinceP. R. China
- Innovation centre for Advanced Interdisciplinary MedicineThe Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical UniversityGuangzhouGuangdong ProvinceP. R. China
- Department of Biomedical DevicesThe Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory)GuangzhouGuangdong ProvinceP. R. China
- Present address:
Department of Cellular and Molecular MedicineUniversity of California San DiegoLa JollaCaliforniaUSA
| | - Enze Deng
- GMU‐GIBH Joint School of Life SciencesGuangdong‐Hong Kong‐Macau Joint Laboratory for Cell Fate Regulation and DiseasesGuangzhou National LaboratoryGuangzhou Medical UniversityGuangzhouGuangdong ProvinceP. R. China
- Department of Biomedical DevicesThe Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory)GuangzhouGuangdong ProvinceP. R. China
| | - Jun Wang
- GMU‐GIBH Joint School of Life SciencesGuangdong‐Hong Kong‐Macau Joint Laboratory for Cell Fate Regulation and DiseasesGuangzhou National LaboratoryGuangzhou Medical UniversityGuangzhouGuangdong ProvinceP. R. China
- Department of Biomedical DevicesThe Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory)GuangzhouGuangdong ProvinceP. R. China
| | - Wei Zhou
- Department of Biomedical DevicesThe Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory)GuangzhouGuangdong ProvinceP. R. China
| | - Jian Ao
- Innovation centre for Advanced Interdisciplinary MedicineThe Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical UniversityGuangzhouGuangdong ProvinceP. R. China
| | - Rong Liu
- GMU‐GIBH Joint School of Life SciencesGuangdong‐Hong Kong‐Macau Joint Laboratory for Cell Fate Regulation and DiseasesGuangzhou National LaboratoryGuangzhou Medical UniversityGuangzhouGuangdong ProvinceP. R. China
- Department of Biomedical DevicesThe Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory)GuangzhouGuangdong ProvinceP. R. China
| | - Dan Su
- GMU‐GIBH Joint School of Life SciencesGuangdong‐Hong Kong‐Macau Joint Laboratory for Cell Fate Regulation and DiseasesGuangzhou National LaboratoryGuangzhou Medical UniversityGuangzhouGuangdong ProvinceP. R. China
- Department of Biomedical DevicesThe Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory)GuangzhouGuangdong ProvinceP. R. China
- The Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and HealthChinese Academy of SciencesGuangzhouGuangdong ProvinceP. R. China
| | - Xiaoying Fan
- GMU‐GIBH Joint School of Life SciencesGuangdong‐Hong Kong‐Macau Joint Laboratory for Cell Fate Regulation and DiseasesGuangzhou National LaboratoryGuangzhou Medical UniversityGuangzhouGuangdong ProvinceP. R. China
- Innovation centre for Advanced Interdisciplinary MedicineThe Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical UniversityGuangzhouGuangdong ProvinceP. R. China
- Department of Biomedical DevicesThe Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory)GuangzhouGuangdong ProvinceP. R. China
- The Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and HealthChinese Academy of SciencesGuangzhouGuangdong ProvinceP. R. China
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98
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Drapal M, Enfissi EMA, Almeida J, Rapacz E, Nogueira M, Fraser PD. The potential of metabolomics in assessing global compositional changes resulting from the application of CRISPR/Cas9 technologies. Transgenic Res 2023; 32:265-278. [PMID: 37166587 DOI: 10.1007/s11248-023-00347-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Exhaustive analysis of genetically modified crops over multiple decades has increased societal confidence in the technology. New Plant Breeding Techniques are now emerging with improved precision and the ability to generate products containing no foreign DNA and mimic/replicate conventionally bred varieties. In the present study, metabolomic analysis was used to compare (i) tobacco genotypes with and without the CRISPR associated protein 9 (Cas9), (ii) tobacco lines with the edited and non-edited DE-ETIOLATED-1 gene without phenotype and (iii) leaf and fruit tissue from stable non-edited tomato progeny with and without the Cas9. In all cases, multivariate analysis based on the difference test using LC-HRMS/MS and GC-MS data indicated no significant difference in their metabolomes. The variations in metabolome composition that were evident could be associated with the processes of tissue culture regeneration and/or transformation (e.g. interaction with Agrobacterium). Metabolites responsible for the variance included quantitative changes of abundant, well characterised metabolites such as phenolics (e.g. chlorogenic acid) and several common sugars such as fructose. This study provides fundamental data on the characterisation of gene edited crops, that are important for the evaluation of the technology and its assessment. The approach also suggests that metabolomics could contribute to routine product-based analysis of crops/foods generated from New Plant Breeding approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margit Drapal
- Department of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, UK
| | - Eugenia M A Enfissi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, UK
| | | | - Elzbieta Rapacz
- Department of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, UK
| | - Marilise Nogueira
- Department of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, UK
| | - Paul D Fraser
- Department of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, UK.
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99
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Kawamoto Y, Wu Y, Takahashi Y, Takakura Y. Development of nucleic acid medicines based on chemical technology. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2023; 199:114872. [PMID: 37244354 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2023.114872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Oligonucleotide-based therapeutics have attracted attention as an emerging modality that includes the modulation of genes and their binding proteins related to diseases, allowing us to take action on previously undruggable targets. Since the late 2010s, the number of oligonucleotide medicines approved for clinical uses has dramatically increased. Various chemistry-based technologies have been developed to improve the therapeutic properties of oligonucleotides, such as chemical modification, conjugation, and nanoparticle formation, which can increase nuclease resistance, enhance affinity and selectivity to target sites, suppress off-target effects, and improve pharmacokinetic properties. Similar strategies employing modified nucleobases and lipid nanoparticles have been used for developing coronavirus disease 2019 mRNA vaccines. In this review, we provide an overview of the development of chemistry-based technologies aimed at using nucleic acids for developing therapeutics over the past several decades, with a specific emphasis on the structural design and functionality of chemical modification strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yusuke Kawamoto
- Department of Biopharmaceutics and Drug Metabolism, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University, Sakyo, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan.
| | - You Wu
- Department of Biopharmaceutics and Drug Metabolism, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University, Sakyo, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Yuki Takahashi
- Department of Biopharmaceutics and Drug Metabolism, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University, Sakyo, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Yoshinobu Takakura
- Department of Biopharmaceutics and Drug Metabolism, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University, Sakyo, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan.
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Nguyen AV, Soto JM, Gonzalez SM, Murillo J, Trumble ER, Shan FY, Huang JH. H3G34-Mutant Gliomas-A Review of Molecular Pathogenesis and Therapeutic Options. Biomedicines 2023; 11:2002. [PMID: 37509641 PMCID: PMC10377039 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11072002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2023] [Revised: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The 2021 World Health Organization Classification of Tumors of the Central Nervous System reflected advances in understanding of the roles of oncohistones in gliomagenesis with the introduction of the H3.3-G34R/V mutant glioma to the already recognized H3-K27M altered glioma, which represent the diagnoses of pediatric-type diffuse hemispheric glioma and diffuse midline glioma, respectively. Despite advances in research regarding these disease entities, the prognosis remains poor. While many studies and clinical trials focus on H3-K27M-altered-glioma patients, those with H3.3-G34R/V mutant gliomas represent a particularly understudied population. Thus, we sought to review the current knowledge regarding the molecular mechanisms underpinning the gliomagenesis of H3.3-G34R/V mutant gliomas and the diagnosis, treatment, long-term outcomes, and possible future therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony V Nguyen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Baylor Scott and White Medical Center, Temple, TX 76508, USA
| | - Jose M Soto
- Department of Neurosurgery, Baylor Scott and White Medical Center, Temple, TX 76508, USA
| | - Sarah-Marie Gonzalez
- Department of Neurosurgery, Baylor Scott and White Medical Center, Temple, TX 76508, USA
| | - Jennifer Murillo
- Department of Neurosurgery, Baylor Scott and White Medical Center, Temple, TX 76508, USA
- Department of Neurology, Baylor Scott and White Medical Center, Temple, TX 76508, USA
| | - Eric R Trumble
- Department of Neurosurgery, Baylor Scott and White Medical Center, Temple, TX 76508, USA
| | - Frank Y Shan
- Department of Neurosurgery, Baylor Scott and White Medical Center, Temple, TX 76508, USA
- Department of Pathology, Baylor Scott and White Medical Center, Temple, TX 76508, USA
| | - Jason H Huang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Baylor Scott and White Medical Center, Temple, TX 76508, USA
- Department of Surgery, Texas A&M University College of Medicine, Temple, TX 76508, USA
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