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Rs N, Sinha SK, Batra S, Regatti PR, Syal K. Promoter characterization of relZ-bifunctional (pp)pGpp synthetase in mycobacteria. Genes Cells 2024. [PMID: 38923083 DOI: 10.1111/gtc.13135] [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: 03/19/2024] [Revised: 05/30/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
The second messenger guanosine 3',5'-bis(diphosphate)/guanosine tetraphosphate (ppGpp) and guanosine 3'-diphosphate 5'-triphosphate/guanosine pentaphosphate (pppGpp) ((p)ppGpp) has been shown to be crucial for the survival of mycobacteria under hostile conditions. Unexpectedly, deletion of primary (p)ppGpp synthetase-Rel did not completely diminish (p)ppGpp levels leading to the discovery of novel bifunctional enzyme-RelZ, which displayed guanosine 5'-monophosphate,3'-diphosphate (pGpp), ppGpp, and pppGpp ((pp)pGpp) synthesis and RNAseHII activity. What conditions does it express itself under, and does it work in concert with Rel? The regulation of its transcription and whether the Rel enzyme plays a role in such regulation remain unclear. In this article, we have studied relZ promoter and compared its activity with rel promoter in different growth conditions. We observed that the promoter activity of relZ was constitutive; it is weaker than rel promoter, lies within 200 bp upstream of translation-start site, and it increased under carbon starvation. Furthermore, the promoter activity of relZ was compromised in the rel-knockout strain in the stationary phase. Our study unveils the dynamic regulation of relZ promoter activity by SigA and SigB sigma factors in different growth phases in mycobacteria. Importantly, elucidating the regulatory network of RelZ would enable the development of the targeted interventions for treating mycobacterial infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neethu Rs
- Genetics and Molecular Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, Institute of Eminence, Birla Institute of Technology and Sciences-Pilani, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
| | - Shubham Kumar Sinha
- Genetics and Molecular Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, Institute of Eminence, Birla Institute of Technology and Sciences-Pilani, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
| | - Sakshi Batra
- Genetics and Molecular Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, Institute of Eminence, Birla Institute of Technology and Sciences-Pilani, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Malla Reddy Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
| | - Pavan Reddy Regatti
- Genetics and Molecular Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, Institute of Eminence, Birla Institute of Technology and Sciences-Pilani, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
| | - Kirtimaan Syal
- Genetics and Molecular Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, Institute of Eminence, Birla Institute of Technology and Sciences-Pilani, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
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Kędzierska M, Sala K, Bańkosz M, Grzela K, Potemski P, Miernik K, Tyliszczak B. Enhanced Hydrogel Materials: Incorporating Vitamin C and Plant Extracts for Biomedical Applications. Molecules 2024; 29:2633. [PMID: 38893508 PMCID: PMC11173387 DOI: 10.3390/molecules29112633] [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: 04/19/2024] [Revised: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
In recent years, the utilization of natural components has become crucial across various industries, including medicine. Particularly in biomedical contexts, hydrogel materials are of significant importance. Therefore, the objective of this research was to develop and analyze hydrogel materials infused with vitamin C. A key focus of this study was to conduct multiple syntheses with varying levels of vitamin C to explore the feasibility of creating materials with adjustable properties. The produced hydrogels underwent comprehensive physicochemical evaluation. The findings of this examination verified the correlation between the vitamin C content and the specific characteristics of the hydrogels. It was determined from these results that the samples displayed both sorptive and antioxidative capabilities, enabling their potential application in wound dressings or other biomedical uses. A notable benefit of these hydrogels is their adaptability, allowing for modifications to achieve desired attributes tailored to particular applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Kędzierska
- Department of Chemotherapy, Copernicus Memorial Hospital of Lodz, Medical University of Lodz, 90-549 Lodz, Poland; (M.K.); (P.P.)
| | - Katarzyna Sala
- Department of Materials Engineering, Faculty of Materials Engineering and Physics, Cracow University of Technology, 37 Jana Pawła II Av., 31-864 Krakow, Poland; (K.G.); (K.M.); (B.T.)
| | - Magdalena Bańkosz
- Department of Materials Engineering, Faculty of Materials Engineering and Physics, Cracow University of Technology, 37 Jana Pawła II Av., 31-864 Krakow, Poland; (K.G.); (K.M.); (B.T.)
| | - Klaudyna Grzela
- Department of Materials Engineering, Faculty of Materials Engineering and Physics, Cracow University of Technology, 37 Jana Pawła II Av., 31-864 Krakow, Poland; (K.G.); (K.M.); (B.T.)
- Lukasiewicz Research Network—Cracow Institute of Technology, Zakopiańska 73 St., 30-418 Krakow, Poland
| | - Piotr Potemski
- Department of Chemotherapy, Copernicus Memorial Hospital of Lodz, Medical University of Lodz, 90-549 Lodz, Poland; (M.K.); (P.P.)
| | - Krzysztof Miernik
- Department of Materials Engineering, Faculty of Materials Engineering and Physics, Cracow University of Technology, 37 Jana Pawła II Av., 31-864 Krakow, Poland; (K.G.); (K.M.); (B.T.)
| | - Bożena Tyliszczak
- Department of Materials Engineering, Faculty of Materials Engineering and Physics, Cracow University of Technology, 37 Jana Pawła II Av., 31-864 Krakow, Poland; (K.G.); (K.M.); (B.T.)
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Maity J, Majumder S, Pal R, Saha B, Mukhopadhyay PK. Ascorbic acid modulates immune responses through Jumonji-C domain containing histone demethylases and Ten eleven translocation (TET) methylcytosine dioxygenase. Bioessays 2023; 45:e2300035. [PMID: 37694689 DOI: 10.1002/bies.202300035] [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: 02/19/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
Ascorbic acid is a redox regulator in many physiological processes. Besides its antioxidant activity, many intriguing functions of ascorbic acid in the expression of immunoregulatory genes have been suggested. Ascorbic acid acts as a co-factor for the Fe+2 -containing α-ketoglutarate-dependent Jumonji-C domain-containing histone demethylases (JHDM) and Ten eleven translocation (TET) methylcytosine dioxygenasemediated epigenetic modulation. By influencing JHDM and TET, ascorbic acid facilitates the differentiation of double negative (CD4- CD8- ) T cells to double positive (CD4+ CD8+ ) T cells and of T-helper cells to different effector subsets. Ascorbic acid modulates plasma cell differentiation and promotes early differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) to NK cells. These findings indicate that ascorbic acid plays a significant role in regulating both innate and adaptive immune cells, opening up new research areas in Immunonutrition. Being a water-soluble vitamin and a safe micro-nutrient, ascorbic acid can be used as an adjunct therapy for many disorders of the immune system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeet Maity
- Department of Life Sciences, Presidency University, Kolkata, India
| | | | - Ranjana Pal
- Department of Life Sciences, Presidency University, Kolkata, India
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Sinha S, RS N, Devarakonda Y, Rathi A, Reddy Regatti P, Batra S, Syal K. Tale of Twin Bifunctional Second Messenger (p)ppGpp Synthetases and Their Function in Mycobacteria. ACS OMEGA 2023; 8:32258-32270. [PMID: 37720788 PMCID: PMC10500699 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c03557] [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: 05/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
M. tuberculosis, an etiological agent of tuberculosis, requires a long treatment regimen due to its ability to respond to stress and persist inside the host. The second messenger (p)ppGpp-mediated stress response plays a critical role in such long-term survival, persistence, and antibiotic tolerance which may also lead to the emergence of multiple drug resistance. In mycobacteria, (pp)pGpp molecules are synthesized predominantly by two bifunctional enzymes-long RSH-Rel and short SAS-RelZ. The long RSH-Rel is a major (p)ppGpp synthetase and hydrolase. How it switches its activity from synthesis to hydrolysis remains unclear. RelMtb mutant has been reported to be defective in biofilm formation, cell wall function, and persister cell formation. The survival of such mutants has also been observed to be compromised in infection models. In M. smegmatis, short SAS-RelZ has RNase HII activity in addition to (pp)Gpp synthesis activity. The RNase HII function of RelZ has been implicated in resolving replication-transcription conflicts by degrading R-loops. However, the mechanism and regulatory aspects of such a regulation remain elusive. In this article, we have discussed (p)ppGpp metabolism and its role in managing the stress response network of mycobacteria, which is responsible for long-term survival inside the host, making it an important therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shubham
Kumar Sinha
- Genetics and Molecular Microbiology
Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, Institute of Eminence, Birla Institute of Technology and Sciences-Pilani, Hyderabad campus, Hyderabad, Telangana, India, 500078
| | - Neethu RS
- Genetics and Molecular Microbiology
Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, Institute of Eminence, Birla Institute of Technology and Sciences-Pilani, Hyderabad campus, Hyderabad, Telangana, India, 500078
| | - Yogeshwar Devarakonda
- Genetics and Molecular Microbiology
Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, Institute of Eminence, Birla Institute of Technology and Sciences-Pilani, Hyderabad campus, Hyderabad, Telangana, India, 500078
| | - Ajita Rathi
- Genetics and Molecular Microbiology
Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, Institute of Eminence, Birla Institute of Technology and Sciences-Pilani, Hyderabad campus, Hyderabad, Telangana, India, 500078
| | - Pavan Reddy Regatti
- Genetics and Molecular Microbiology
Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, Institute of Eminence, Birla Institute of Technology and Sciences-Pilani, Hyderabad campus, Hyderabad, Telangana, India, 500078
| | - Sakshi Batra
- Genetics and Molecular Microbiology
Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, Institute of Eminence, Birla Institute of Technology and Sciences-Pilani, Hyderabad campus, Hyderabad, Telangana, India, 500078
| | - Kirtimaan Syal
- Genetics and Molecular Microbiology
Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, Institute of Eminence, Birla Institute of Technology and Sciences-Pilani, Hyderabad campus, Hyderabad, Telangana, India, 500078
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Olczak-Pruc M, Swieczkowski D, Ladny JR, Pruc M, Juarez-Vela R, Rafique Z, Peacock FW, Szarpak L. Vitamin C Supplementation for the Treatment of COVID-19: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14194217. [PMID: 36235869 PMCID: PMC9570769 DOI: 10.3390/nu14194217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Revised: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Since the outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by the severe respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), millions of people have died, and the medical system has faced significant difficulties. Our purpose was to perform a meta-analysis to estimate the effect of vitamin C on in-hospital mortality and the ICU or hospital length of stay for patients diagnosed with COVID-19. We conducted a systematic review with meta-analysis in the following databases: PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. We included studies that evaluated the effect of vitamin C supplementation, compared with standard treatment in COVID-19 patients who are ≥18 y of age. Nineteen trials were included in the meta-analysis. In-hospital mortality with and without vitamin C supplementation was 24.1% vs. 33.9% (OR = 0.59; 95%CI: 0.37 to 0.95; p = 0.03), respectively. Sub-analysis showed that, in randomized clinical trials, in-hospital mortality varied and amounted to 23.9% vs. 35.8% (OR = 0.44; 95%CI: 0.25 to 0.76; p = 0.003), respectively. In the non-randomized trials, in-hospital mortality was 24.2% vs. 33.5% (OR = 0.72; 95%CI: 0.38 to 1.39; p = 0.33), respectively. The ICU length of stay was longer in patients treated with vitamin C vs. standard therapy, 11.1 (7.3) vs. 8.3 (4.7) days (MD = 1.91; 95%CI: 0.89 to 2.93; p < 0.001), respectively. Acute kidney injury in patients treated with and without vitamin C varied and amounted to 27.8% vs. 45.0% (OR = 0.56; 95%CI: 0.40 to 0.78; p < 0.001), respectively. There were no differences in the frequency of other adverse events among patients’ treatment with and without vitamin C (all p > 0.05). The use of vitamin C reduces hospital mortality. The length of stay in the ICU is longer among patients treated with vitamin C. In terms of patient safety, vitamin C has an acceptable profile. Low doses of vitamin C are effective and safe. Despite some evidence of the usefulness of vitamin C in modifying the course of COVID-19, it is too early to modify guidelines and recommendations. Further studies, in particular randomized clinical trials, are necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Damian Swieczkowski
- Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Gdansk, 80-210 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Jerzy R. Ladny
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-089 Bialystok, Poland
- Research Unit, Polish Society of Disaster Medicine, 05-806 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Michal Pruc
- Research Unit, Polish Society of Disaster Medicine, 05-806 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Raul Juarez-Vela
- Faculty of Health Science, University of La Rioja, Logroño, 26006 La Rioja, Spain
| | - Zubaid Rafique
- Henry JN Taub Department of Emergency Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Frank W. Peacock
- Henry JN Taub Department of Emergency Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Lukasz Szarpak
- Henry JN Taub Department of Emergency Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Institute of Outcomes Research, Maria Sklodowska-Curie Medical Academy, 00-136 Warsaw, Poland
- Correspondence: or ; Tel.: +48-50-0186-225
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