Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase in yeasts: characterization and involvement in telomere maintenance.

Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerases (PARPs) are enzymes catalyzing the post-translational addition of chains of ADP-ribose moieties to proteins. In most eukaryotic cells, their primary protein targets are involved in DNA recombination, repair, and chromosome maintenance. Even though this group of enzymes is quite common in both eukaryotes and prokaryotes, no PARP homologs have been described so far in ascomycetous yeasts, leaving their potential roles in this group of organisms unexplored.

Electrical pulse stimulation reflecting the episodic nature of real-life exercise modulates metabolic and secretory profile of primary human myotubes.

Electrical pulse stimulation (EPS) represents a useful tool to study exercise-related adaptations of muscle cells in vitro. Here, we examine the metabolic and secretory response of primary human muscle cells from metabolically healthy individuals to the EPS protocol reflecting the episodic nature of real-life exercise training. This intermittent EPS protocol alternates high-frequency stimulation periods with low-frequency resting periods.

Microgliosis and aberrant interferon response in Adar Mavs brain are rescued by PKR removal.

Mutations in the human ADAR gene encoding adenosine deaminase acting on RNA 1 (ADAR1) cause Aicardi-Goutières syndrome 6 (AGS6); a severe auto-inflammatory encephalopathy with aberrant interferon (IFN) induction. AdarΔ2-13 null mutant mouse embryos lacking ADAR1 protein die with high levels of IFN-stimulated gene (ISG) transcripts. In Adar Mavs double mutants also lacking the Mitochondrial antiviral signaling (MAVS) adaptor, the aberrant IFN induction is prevented.

In-cell NMR spectroscopy of nucleic acids: Basic concepts, practical aspects, and applications.

In-cell NMR spectroscopy has recently emerged as a unique source of atomically resolved information on the structure, dynamics, and interactions of nucleic acids (NAs) within the intracellular space of living cells. Its recent applications have helped reveal fundamental differences in the behaviour of NAs in cells compared to the in vitro conditions commonly used for their study, as well as in physiologically distinct cellular states. This review covers the fundamental principles and practical aspects of acquiring in-cell NMR data in currently established eukaryotic cellular models, Xenopus laevis oocytes, and human cells.

Hypomethylating agents increase L1 retroelement expression without inducing novel insertions in myeloid malignancies.

Retroelements in the human genome are silenced via multiple mechanisms, including DNA methylation, to prevent their potential mutagenic effect. Retroelement activity, demonstrated by their expression and somatic retrotransposition events, was shown to be deregulated in multiple tumors but not yet in leukemia. We hypothesized that treatment with hypomethylating agents, commonly used in myelodysplastic syndromes and acute myeloid leukemia, could lead to increased retroelement activity and somatic retrotranspositions, thus contributing to disease progression.

MOLEonline: a web-based tool for analysing channels, tunnels and pores (2025 update).

Summary: MOLEonline is an interactive, web-based tool designed to detect and analyse channels (pores and tunnels) within protein structures. The latest version of MOLEonline addresses the limitations of its predecessor by integrating the Mol* viewer for visualisation and offering a streamlined, fully interactive user experience. The new features include colouring tunnels in the 3D viewer based on their physicochemical properties.

Dynamics of bacterial biofilm development imaged using light sheet fluorescence microscopy.

Biofilm formation exacerbates bacterial infections and interferes with industrial processes. However, the dynamics of biofilm development, especially if formed by a combination of more than one species, is not entirely understood. Here, we present a microfluidic cultivation system that enables continuous imaging of biofilm growth using light sheet fluorescence microscopy (LSFM).

Porphyrins as a Platform for Lithium-Selective Two-Dimensional Membranes.

Two-dimensional ion-selective membranes provide an appealing avenue for extracting lithium from naturally occurring aqueous brine solutions. Most current work is focused on graphene-based membranes, where the dynamics of ion permeation is determined by noncovalent pore-ion interactions, and the main challenge is achieving precise control over the pore size. Here, we propose that porphyrins, macrocycles with atomically precise pores ∼2.

Bismuth Plasmonic Antennas.

Bismuth is a particularly promising alternative plasmonic metal because of its theoretically predicted wide spectral bandwidth. In this study, we experimentally demonstrate the correlation between the shape and size of individual bismuth plasmonic antennas and their optical properties. To this end, we employ a combination of scanning transmission electron microscopy and electron energy loss spectroscopy.

Mn(III)-porphyrins in battle against neurodegenerative and cancer diseases.

Manganese(III)-porphyrins - Mn(III)P-exhibit remarkable redox activity, influencing oxidative and antioxidative processes in biological systems. In this study, we explore the dual roles of Mn(III)-2-TE-PyP and Mn(III)-4-TE-PyP in modulating hyaluronan degradation, a key factor in both neuroprotection and cancer therapy. While Mn(III)-2-TE-PyP enhances oxidative degradation of high-molecular weight hyaluronan, facilitating immune recognition of cancer cells, its structural isomer Mn(III)-4-TE-PyP acts as a potent antioxidant, safeguarding neuronal integrity against oxidative stress.

Reconfigurable Self-Assembling Photocatalytic Magnetic Liquid Metal Microrobot Swarm for Microplastic Capture and Degradation.

Microplastic pollution has emerged as a global environmental concern, requiring effective methods for its capture and removal from ecosystems. Inspired by natural swarming behaviors, micro/nanorobot swarms are developed to address challenges in fields such as environmental remediation. An innovative solution is presented designing reconfigurable and regenerable liquid metal microrobots (LiquidBots) made from bio-friendly gallium-based liquid metal.

Tissue MicroRNA Expression Signatures as Diagnostic Biomarkers and Predictors of Residual Disease Activity and Relapse in Treatment-Naïve Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Background: Identifying novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for pediatric inflammatory bowel diseases (PIBD), including Crohn's disease (pCD) and ulcerative colitis (pUC), is essential for enhancing treatment outcomes. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been recognized for their broader relevance in PIBD pathogenesis. This study investigates their diagnostic potential and clinical utility in PIBD.

Early functional changes in lewy body dementia: roles of dynamics, locus coeruleus, and compensation.

Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is marked by multidomain cognitive impairments, with fluctuations in cognition and alertness being among the most common clinical features. Disruptions in functional connectivity are thought to underlie these fluctuations, but it remains unclear whether such patterns are already present at prodromal stages. We investigated the presence of static and dynamic functional connectivity alterations and their contribution to the clinical phenotype of prodromal DLB, and explored their association with declining locus coeruleus integrity, while considering premorbid intelligence (a proxy for cognitive reserve) as a moderating factor.

Assessing an eHealth Intervention on Quality of Life in Patients With Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia and Myelodysplastic Syndromes: The MyPal Randomized Controlled Trial.

Purpose: The MyPal study (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04370457) is a randomized controlled clinical trial assessing an eHealth intervention on the quality of life (QoL) of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS).

Methods: Patients who were receiving or had previously received treatment for CLL or MDS were randomly assigned (1:1) to access the MyPal digital health platform versus standard of care.

Membrane Transport of Root-Borne trans-Zeatin Riboside Maintains the Cytokinin Homeostasis in Shoots.

Ribosylated forms of plant hormones cytokinins (CKs) are the dominant CK species translocated at long distances. The irreplaceable role of root-to-shoot translocated trans-zeatin riboside (tZR) in the mediation of shoot development implies the existence of a yet uncharacterized CK riboside-specific membrane transport system. In this work, we report significant differences in the kinetics of the membrane transport of CK nucleobases and ribosides and the overall affinity of membrane-bound carriers towards the two CK forms.

Dynamic and Static Resting-State Functional Connectivity of Canonical Networks in Military and Civilian Populations with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and/or Mild Traumatic Brain Injury.

Background: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) are associated with alterations in the functional connectome, specifically in canonical resting state networks including the default mode (DMN), central executive (CEN), and salience networks (SN). Comorbid PTSD+mTBI is linked to worse functional outcomes, but little is known about effects on the functional connectome.

Methods: We investigated brain phenotypes from resting-state fMRI associated with PTSD (n=326), mTBI (n=448), and comorbid PTSD+mTBI (n=289) in military veterans and civilians (n=1526) from ENIGMA-TBI and -PTSD.

Plasmonic Response to Liquid-Solid Phase Transition in Individual Gallium Nanoparticles.

Gallium is a phase-changing plasmonic material offering ultraviolet-to-near-infrared tunability, facile and scalable preparation, and good stability of nanoparticles. In this work, we explore the impact of the liquid-to-solid phase transition on their plasmonic properties at the single-particle level by analytical transmission electron microscopy. We observed a phase transition from liquid to β-gallium with a freezing temperature around -135 °C and a melting temperature around -20 °C.

In-frame germline TP53 variant impairs p53 oligomerization and predisposes to cancer.

Germline loss-of-function variants in TP53 cause Li-Fraumeni syndrome (LFS) characterized by an early onset of various cancer types including sarcomas, adrenocortical carcinoma, and breast cancer. The most common are mutations in the DNA binding domain of p53, but alterations in the oligomerization domain also cause LFS with variable level of penetrance. Here we report identification of a novel germline in-frame deletion TP53 variant c.

Flexible and Robust Pressure Sensor Based on MXene-Incorporated Polyamide 6 Membrane for E-Skin Applications.

Flexible piezoresistive pressure sensors are crucial for next-generation wearable electronics, yet achieving simultaneous high sensitivity, durability, and mechanical robustness remains a challenge. Herein, we report a high-performance piezoresistive sensor fabricated through the integration of two-dimensional MXene nanosheets with a hierarchically structured modified polyamide 6 nanofiber net (D-PA6 NFN) using scalable vacuum filtration. Benefiting from the synergistic combination of MXene's excellent electrical properties, web-like architecture, the composite nanofiber tensile strength (52 MPa), and flexibility (40%), the resulting sensor exhibited good sensitivity (0.

Body size and intracranial volume interact with the structure of the central nervous system: A multi-center in vivo neuroimaging study.

Clinical research emphasizes the implementation of rigorous and reproducible study designs that rely on between-group matching or controlling for sources of biological variation such as subject's sex and age. However, corrections for body size (i.e.

Reticulate allopolyploidy and subsequent dysploidy drive evolution and diversification in the cotton family.

Polyploidy and subsequent post-polyploid diploidization (PPD) are key drivers of plant genome evolution, yet their contributions to evolutionary success remain debated. Here, we analyze the Malvaceae family as an exemplary system for elucidating the evolutionary role of polyploidy and PPD in angiosperms, leveraging 11 high-quality chromosome-scale genomes from all nine subfamilies, including newly sequenced, near telomere-to-telomere assemblies from four of these subfamilies. Our findings reveal a complex reticulate paleoallopolyploidy history early in the diversification of the Malvadendrina clade, characterized by multiple rounds of species radiation punctuated by ancient allotetraploidization (Mal-β) and allodecaploidization (Mal-α) events around the Cretaceous-Paleogene (K-Pg) boundary.

Flexibility-Aided Orientational Self-Sorting and Transformations of Bioactive Homochiral Cuboctahedron PdL.

The rational design and selective self-assembly of flexible and unsymmetric ligands into large coordination complexes is an eminent challenge in supramolecular coordination chemistry. Here, we present the coordination-driven self-assembly of natural ursodeoxycholic-bile-acid-derived unsymmetric tris-pyridyl ligand (L) resulting in the selective and switchable formation of chiral stellated PdL and PdL cages. The selectivity of the cage originates in the adaptivity and flexibility of the arms of the ligand bearing pyridyl moieties.

Functional characterization of 16 variants found in the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) gene.

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a disorder of cholesterol metabolism characterized by elevated low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels. The most common cause of FH are pathogenic variants in the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) gene. To shed light on the functional impact of selected LDLR variants, we functionally characterized 16 LDLR genetic variants alongside 10 control variants.

Placental mesenchymal stem cells: A promising platform for advancing gene therapy in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

The extreme lethality and limited treatment options for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) underscore the urgent need for innovative therapeutic strategies. This study presents the first preclinical investigation of a cell-free gene-directed enzyme prodrug therapy (GDEPT) based on conditioned medium (CM) from placenta-derived mesenchymal stem cells (PlacMSCs) engineered to express the yeast cytosine deaminase::uracil phosphoribosyltransferase (yCD::UPRT) fusion enzyme. The CM was concentrated tenfold (cCM) and characterized by proteomics, transmission electron microscopy, and Western blotting, confirming extracellular vesicle (EV) enrichment and UPRT expression.

Establishment of Coala: a novel 3D and 2D cancer cell line derived from colorectal cancer liver metastasis.

Metastatic colorectal cancer is one of the most critical causes of cancer-related dead in patients suffering this type of malignancy. As the liver metastases are found in almost 25-50% of all colorectal cancer patients, there is an urgent need for suitable in vitro and in vivo models. To the best of our knowledge, only a limited number of well-described 2D or 3D organoid/spheroid cell lines originated from human liver metastases was reported for this type of malignancy and submitted to ATCC and other repository centers for general use.