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Kumar J, Karim A, Sweety UH, Sarma H, Nurunnabi M, Narayan M. Bioinspired Approaches for Central Nervous System Targeted Gene Delivery. ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS 2023. [PMID: 38100377 DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.3c00842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
Disorders of the central nervous system (CNS) which include a wide range of neurodegenerative and neurological conditions have become a serious global issue. The presence of CNS barriers poses a significant challenge to the progress of designing effective therapeutic delivery systems, limiting the effectiveness of drugs, genes, and other therapeutic agents. Natural nanocarriers present in biological systems have inspired researchers to design unique delivery systems through biomimicry. As natural resource derived delivery systems are more biocompatible, current research has been focused on the development of delivery systems inspired by bacteria, viruses, fungi, and mammalian cells. Despite their structural potential and extensive physiological function, making them an excellent choice for biomaterial engineering, the delivery of nucleic acids remains challenging due to their instability in biological systems. Similarly, the efficient delivery of genetic material within the tissues of interest remains a hurdle due to a lack of selectivity and targeting ability. Considering that gene therapies are the holy grail for intervention in diseases, including neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's Disease, and Huntington's disease, this review centers around recent advances in bioinspired approaches to gene delivery for the prevention of CNS disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jyotish Kumar
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), El Paso, Texas 79968, United States
| | - Afroz Karim
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), El Paso, Texas 79968, United States
| | - Ummy Habiba Sweety
- Environmental Science and Engineering, The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), El Paso, Texas 79968, United States
| | - Hemen Sarma
- Bioremediation Technology Research Group, Department of Botany, Bodoland University, Rangalikhata, Deborgaon, 783370, Kokrajhar (BTR), Assam, India
| | - Md Nurunnabi
- The Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas 79968, United States
| | - Mahesh Narayan
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), El Paso, Texas 79968, United States
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Lucek K, Giménez MD, Joron M, Rafajlović M, Searle JB, Walden N, Westram AM, Faria R. The Impact of Chromosomal Rearrangements in Speciation: From Micro- to Macroevolution. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol 2023; 15:a041447. [PMID: 37604585 PMCID: PMC10626258 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a041447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/23/2023]
Abstract
Chromosomal rearrangements (CRs) have been known since almost the beginning of genetics. While an important role for CRs in speciation has been suggested, evidence primarily stems from theoretical and empirical studies focusing on the microevolutionary level (i.e., on taxon pairs where speciation is often incomplete). Although the role of CRs in eukaryotic speciation at a macroevolutionary level has been supported by associations between species diversity and rates of evolution of CRs across phylogenies, these findings are limited to a restricted range of CRs and taxa. Now that more broadly applicable and precise CR detection approaches have become available, we address the challenges in filling some of the conceptual and empirical gaps between micro- and macroevolutionary studies on the role of CRs in speciation. We synthesize what is known about the macroevolutionary impact of CRs and suggest new research avenues to overcome the pitfalls of previous studies to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the evolutionary significance of CRs in speciation across the tree of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kay Lucek
- Biodiversity Genomics Laboratory, Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, 2000 Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - Mabel D Giménez
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Instituto de Genética Humana de Misiones (IGeHM), Parque de la Salud de la Provincia de Misiones "Dr. Ramón Madariaga," N3300KAZ Posadas, Misiones, Argentina
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Químicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Misiones, N3300LQH Posadas, Misiones, Argentina
| | - Mathieu Joron
- Centre d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, 34293 Montpellier, France
| | - Marina Rafajlović
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of Gothenburg, 405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden
- Centre for Marine Evolutionary Biology, University of Gothenburg, 405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Jeremy B Searle
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA
| | - Nora Walden
- Centre for Organismal Studies, University of Heidelberg, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Anja Marie Westram
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA), 3400 Klosterneuburg, Austria
- Faculty of Biosciences and Aquaculture, Nord University, 8026 Bodø, Norway
| | - Rui Faria
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado;
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal
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Magazzù A, Marcuello C. Investigation of Soft Matter Nanomechanics by Atomic Force Microscopy and Optical Tweezers: A Comprehensive Review. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 13:nano13060963. [PMID: 36985857 PMCID: PMC10053849 DOI: 10.3390/nano13060963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Soft matter exhibits a multitude of intrinsic physico-chemical attributes. Their mechanical properties are crucial characteristics to define their performance. In this context, the rigidity of these systems under exerted load forces is covered by the field of biomechanics. Moreover, cellular transduction processes which are involved in health and disease conditions are significantly affected by exogenous biomechanical actions. In this framework, atomic force microscopy (AFM) and optical tweezers (OT) can play an important role to determine the biomechanical parameters of the investigated systems at the single-molecule level. This review aims to fully comprehend the interplay between mechanical forces and soft matter systems. In particular, we outline the capabilities of AFM and OT compared to other classical bulk techniques to determine nanomechanical parameters such as Young's modulus. We also provide some recent examples of nanomechanical measurements performed using AFM and OT in hydrogels, biopolymers and cellular systems, among others. We expect the present manuscript will aid potential readers and stakeholders to fully understand the potential applications of AFM and OT to soft matter systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Magazzù
- CNR-IPCF, Istituto per i Processi Chimico-Fisici, 98158 Mesina, Italy
- NLHT-Lab, Department of Physics, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy
| | - Carlos Marcuello
- Instituto de Nanociencia y Materiales de Aragón (INMA), CSIC-Universidad de Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
- Laboratorio de Microscopias Avanzadas (LMA), Universidad de Zaragoza, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +34-876555357
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Lucek K, Augustijnen H, Escudero M. A holocentric twist to chromosomal speciation? Trends Ecol Evol 2022; 37:655-662. [PMID: 35484024 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2022.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Revised: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/06/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Chromosomal rearrangements trigger speciation by acting as barriers to gene flow. However, the underlying theory was developed with monocentric chromosomes in mind. Holocentric chromosomes, lacking a centromeric region, have repeatedly evolved and account for a significant fraction of extant biodiversity. Because chromosomal rearrangements may be more likely retained in holocentric species, holocentricity could provide a twist to chromosomal speciation. Here, we discuss how the abundance of chromosome-scale genomes, combined with novel analytical tools, offer the opportunity to assess the impacts of chromosomal rearrangements on rates of speciation by outlining a phylogenetic framework that aligns with the two major lines of chromosomal speciation theory. We further highlight how holocentric species could help to test for causal roles of chromosomal rearrangements in speciation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kay Lucek
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Basel, Schönbeinstrasse 6, 4056 Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Hannah Augustijnen
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Basel, Schönbeinstrasse 6, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Marcial Escudero
- Department of Plant Biology and Ecology, University of Seville, Reina Mercedes, ES-41012 Seville, Spain
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Nanosurgical Manipulation of Titin and Its M-Complex. NANOMATERIALS 2022; 12:nano12020178. [PMID: 35055197 PMCID: PMC8779236 DOI: 10.3390/nano12020178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2021] [Revised: 01/01/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Titin is a multifunctional filamentous protein anchored in the M-band, a hexagonally organized supramolecular lattice in the middle of the muscle sarcomere. Functionally, the M-band is a framework that cross-links myosin thick filaments, organizes associated proteins, and maintains sarcomeric symmetry via its structural and putative mechanical properties. Part of the M-band appears at the C-terminal end of isolated titin molecules in the form of a globular head, named here the “M-complex”, which also serves as the point of head-to-head attachment of titin. We used high-resolution atomic force microscopy and nanosurgical manipulation to investigate the topographical and internal structure and local mechanical properties of the M-complex and its associated titin molecules. We find that the M-complex is a stable structure that corresponds to the transverse unit of the M-band organized around the myosin thick filament. M-complexes may be interlinked into an M-complex array that reflects the local structural and mechanical status of the transversal M-band lattice. Local segments of titin and the M-complex could be nanosurgically manipulated to achieve extension and domain unfolding. Long threads could be pulled out of the M-complex, suggesting that it is a compact supramolecular reservoir of extensible filaments. Nanosurgery evoked an unexpected volume increment in the M-complex, which may be related to its function as a mechanical spacer. The M-complex thus displays both elastic and plastic properties which support the idea that the M-band may be involved in mechanical functions within the muscle sarcomere.
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