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BACKGROUND Although the importance of phosphorylation in the function of proteins is known, investigation of the protein phosphorylation of duck egg yolk (DEY) is still very limited. This study aimed to conduct a detailed phosphoproteomic study of DEY using immobilized metal affinity chromatography and ultra‐high liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. RESULTS: A total of 253 phosphorylation sites assigned to 66 phosphoproteins were identified in DEY, of which VTG‐1, VTG‐2, and fibrinogen alpha chain were found to be the highly phosphorylated proteins in DEY. The biological functions of the identified phosphoproteins were illuminated through gene ontology analysis, which showed that they were mainly involved in binding, catalytic, immune response, and metabolic activity. S‐X‐E and S‐X‐S were found to be the most conserved serine motifs of phosphorylation in DEY. The comparison of DEY phosphoproteins with those of chicken egg yolk (CEY) revealed that differences mostly involved molecular functions and biological processes. The comparison also revealed a higher phosphorylation level in DEY proteins. CONCLUSION: The higher phosphorylation level in DEY proteins than that in CEY proteins are supposed to help enhance duck growth performance and biological activities (e.g. antibacterial and antioxidant ability) for better adapting the humid environment the duck lived. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Host defense peptides (HDP) are multifunctional effectors of the innate immune system, which has antimicrobial and pleiotropic immunomodulatory functions. Although there is a very sophisticated superposition of adaptive immune systems in vertebrates, this system is still essential. As an important family of HDP, cathelicidins are also known for their broad-spectrum antibacterial activity against bacteria, fungi, and enveloped viruses. It has been found in humans and other species, including cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, chickens, rabbits, and some kind of fish. Among them, cathelicidins in birds were described for the first time in 2005. This review focuses on the structure, biological activities, expression, and regulation of avian cathelicidin, especially main effects of host defense cathelicidin on potential therapeutic applications. According to the results obtained both in vitro and in vivo, good perspectives have been opened for cathelicidin. Nevertheless, further studies are needed to better characterize the mechanisms of action underlying the beneficial effects of cathelicidin as novel therapeutic alternatives to antibiotics.

Amino acids (AAs) are important biomolecules responsible for plethora of functions in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic systems. There are 22 naturally occurring amino acids, among which 20 common amino acids appear in the genetic code and known as proteinogenic amino acids, which are the building blocks of proteins. Proteinogenic amino acids exist in two isomeric forms (except glycine) and the biological activity is often attributed to a specific stereoisomer. Most of the amino acids found in protein is predominantly L-AAs. A few D-amino acids can be found in bacterial cell wall, some marine invertebrates and higher organisms including frog, snail, spider, rat, chicken and human. Besides their role in protein synthesis, different proteinogenic amino acid stereoisomers have found to perform important biological roles either by functioning as precursors of a myriad of other bioactive molecules or by indicating several biological phenomena i.e. acting as markers for different physiological conditions. Given the biological importance of L- and D-amino acids (AAs), improved analytical methods for their resolution and accurate quantification remain of keen interest. Chiral analysis of amino acids in complex biological matrices poses numerous analytical challenges that are exacerbated by broad differences in polarity and ionization efficiencies of the proteinogenic amino acid stereoisomers. To date, various analytical methods are reported for chiral amino acid analysis including chromatographic, spectrometric, enzymatic, fluidic, electrophoretic and microbiological techniques. Advances in stationary phase, derivatization chemistry and instrumentation contributed to achieving baseline separation and accurate detection of trace levels of proteinogenic amino acids stereoisomers in different matrices. However, liquid and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry based analytical methods remain the most popular platform in chiral amino acid analysis in terms of feasibility and performance. This review discusses different physicochemical and biological features and functions of proteinogenic amino acid stereoisomers and lists a variety of established chromatography and mass spectrometry based analytical methods for their analysis reported to date.

Long non-coding RNA(lncRNA)is defined as untranslatable(non-coding)RNA that is over 200 nucleotides and is transcribed from the human genome. With the successful completion of the human genome sequencing and mapping, in subsequent ENCODE study, we found that about 75% of the genome sequence can be transcribed into RNA, and most of the transcripts are non-coding RNA. New research in recent years has found that lncRNA is involved in many important physiological and pathological processes in the body, such as cell development, cell proliferation, cell differentiation, such as cell cycle regulation, cell metabolism, apoptosis, and reprogramming of induced peripheral stem cells. And epigenetic regulation and other biological functions, and differential expression play an important role in the occurrence of various human diseases, such as malignant tumors, inflammatory and immune diseases. Recent studies have shown that lncRNA is related to the pathogenesis of ophthalmic diseases. This article aims to review the latest progress between the abnormal expression of lncRNAs and eye diseases in recent years.

Abstract As an important posttranscriptional modification of RNA, 5-methylcytosine (m5C) has attracted increasing interest recently, with accumulating evidence suggesting the involvement of RNA m5C modification in multiple cellular processes as well as tumorigenesis. Cooperatively, advances in m5C detection techniques have enabled transcriptome mapping of RNA methylation at single-nucleotide resolution, thus stimulating m5C-based investigations. In this review, we summarize currently available approaches for detecting m5C distribution in RNA as well as the advantages and disadvantages of these techniques. Moreover, we elucidate the regulatory mechanisms of RNA m5C modification by introducing the molecular structure, catalytic substrates, cellular distributions and biological functions of RNA m5C regulators. The functional consequences of m5C modification on mRNAs, tRNAs, rRNAs and other RNA species, including viral RNAs and vault RNAs, are also discussed. Finally, we review the role of RNA m5C modification in cancer pathogenesis and progression, in hopes of providing new insights into cancer treatment.

Osteosarcoma is a malignant bone tumor, and clinically detectable metastases can be detected in ~ 15–20% of patients when they seek medical advice; patients with metastatic disease have extremely poor prognosis. Here, we examined the involvement of the microRNA miR‐505 in osteosarcoma. Eighty‐four patients seeking treatment for osteosarcoma were included in the study group (SG), and 63 healthy subjects were allocated to the control group (CG). Normal human bone cells MG‐63 and U20S cells were transfected with miR‐505 mimics, miR‐NC, HMGB1 RNA for targeted inhibition (si‐HMGB1), and si‐NC to examine the effects on HMGB1 expression. Cell proliferation, invasion, and apoptosis were measured using CCK‐8, scratch assays, and flow cytometry (FCM), respectively, and the relationship between miR‐505 and HMGB1 was determined using the dual‐luciferase reporter assay. In patient tissues and serum, miR‐505 was expressed at a low level, and HMGB1 was expressed at a high level, with an area under curve of > 0.9. Furthermore, the expression of miR‐505 and HMGB1 in tissues had a positive association with that in the serum, whereas the expression of miR‐505 had a negative association with that of HMGB1 in tissues only. Overexpression of miR‐505 and silencing of HMGB1 suppressed the proliferation, migration, and invasion of osteosarcoma cells and increased the rate of apoptosis, whereas the co‐transfected miR‐505 mimics + si‐HMGB1 demonstrated a more significant inhibitory effect on the proliferation and invasion of osteosarcoma cells and a higher apoptosis rate. miR‐505 may inhibit the proliferation and invasion and promote apoptosis of osteosarcoma cells by targeting and suppressing HMGB1.

Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (Stat3) is activated by phosphorylation and translocated to the nucleus to participate in the transcriptional regulation of DNA. Increasing evidences point that aberrant activation or deletion of the Stat3 plays a critical role in a broad range of pathological processes including immune escape, tumorigenesis, and inflammation. In the bone microenvironment, Stat3 acts as a common downstream response protein for multiple cytokines and is engaged in the modulation of cellular proliferation and intercellular interactions. Stat3 has direct impacts on disease progression by regulating mesenchymal stem cells differentiation, osteoclast activation, macrophage polarization, angiogenesis, and cartilage degradation. Here, we describe the theoretical basis and key roles of Stat3 in different bone-related diseases in combination with in vitro experiments and animal models. Then, we summarize and categorize the drugs that target Stat3, providing potential therapeutic strategies for their use in bone-related diseases. In conclusion, Stat3 could be a future target for bone-related diseases.

Short-term hypoxia pretreatment significantly enhances periodontal ligament stem cell (PDLSC)-based periodontal tissue regeneration by improving various cellular biological functions, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, based on RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), we comprehensively analyzed the possible regulatory mechanisms of the short-term hypoxic effects on the biological functions of healthy and inflammatory PDLSCs. A total of 134 and 164 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified under healthy and inflammatory conditions, respectively. Functional enrichment analyses indicated that DEGs under both conditions share certain biological processes and pathways, including metabolic processes, developmental processes, reproductive processes, localization, immune system processes and the HIF-1 signaling pathway. The DEGs identified under inflammatory conditions were more significantly enriched in cell cycle-related processes and immune-related pathways, while DEGs identified under healthy condition were more significantly enriched in the TGF-β signaling pathway. A protein-protein interaction network analysis of the 59 DEGs in both conditions was performed, and 15 hub genes were identified. These hub genes were mainly involved in glycolysis, the cellular response to hypoxia, cell differentiation, and immune system processes. In addition, we found that hypoxia induced significant differential expression of genes associated with proliferation, differentiation, migration, apoptosis and immunoregulation under both healthy and inflammatory conditions. This study provides comprehensive insights into the effects of short-term hypoxia on the biological functions of PDLSCs and suggests a potentially feasible strategy for improving the clinical effectiveness of cell-based periodontal tissue engineering.

Rice bran is a “treasure house of natural nutrition”. Even so, utilization of rice bran is often ignored, and this has resulted in the wastage of nutrients. Polysaccharides are one of the active substances in rice bran that have gained widespread attention for their antioxidant, antitumor, immune-enhancing, antibacterial, and hypoglycemic properties. This review summarizes the extraction methods, structural characterization, bioactivity, and application of rice bran polysaccharides that have been developed and studied in recent years, laying a foundation for its development into foods and medicines. In addition, we also discuss the prospects for future research on rice bran polysaccharides.

In recent years, cancer, especially primary liver cancer (including hepatocellular carcinoma and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma), has posed a serious threat to human health. In the field of liver cancer, exosomes play an important role in liver cancer initiation, metastasis and interaction with the tumor microenvironment. Exosomes are a class of nanoscale extracellular vesicles (EVs)secreted by most cells and rich in bioactive molecules, including RNA, proteins and lipids, that mediate intercellular communication during physiological and pathological processes. This review reviews the multiple roles of exosomes in liver cancer, including the initiation, progression, and metastasis of liver cancer, as well as their effects on angiogenesis, epithelial-mesenchymal transformation (EMT), immune evasion, and drug resistance. Exosomes have great potential as biomarkers for liver cancer diagnosis and prognosis because they carry specific molecular markers that facilitate early detection and evaluation of treatment outcomes. In addition, exosomes, as a new type of drug delivery vector, have unique advantages in the targeted therapy of liver cancer and provide a new strategy for the treatment of liver cancer. The challenges and prospects of exosome-based immunotherapy in the treatment of liver cancer were also discussed. However, challenges such as the standardization of isolation techniques and the scalability of therapeutic applications remain significant hurdles., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Zhang, Zhang, Wu, Feng, Wang, Ma and Chen.)

Urtica species is an angiosperm plant in the Urticaceae family. It serves as a traditional food and medicinal herb, possessing high nutritional value and various bioactive compounds, including polysaccharides, flavonoids, and polyphenolic compounds. In the realm of animal feeds, Urtica spp. can replace traditional protein feed sources and high-quality forage, thereby reducing feed costs. Moreover, Urtica spp. extract exhibits antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and boosts immune regulation. Hence, Urtica spp. plays a beneficial role in enhancing animal performance and improving their immune function. Recently, with the development of sustainable farming techniques, the demand for feed additives that prioritize safety, the absence of drug residues, and environmental friendliness have grown. Consequently, Urtica spp. and its extracts have received widespread attention in animal production. This article summarizes the biological functions of Urtica spp. and its application in animal husbandry while also outlining future prospects for its application. It will provide a scientific basis and reference point for the application of Urtica spp. in animal health and breeding., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Gao, Yang, Chen, Leng and Zhang.)

Breast cancer (BC) is associated with malignant tumors in women worldwide with persistently high incidence and mortality rates. The traditional therapies including surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and targeted therapy have certain therapeutic effects on BC patients, but acquired drug resistance can lead to tumor recurrence and metastasis. This remains a clinical challenge that is difficult to solve during treatment. Therefore, continued research is needed to identify effective targets and treatment methods, to ultimately implement personalized treatment strategies. Several studies have implicated that the long non-coding RNA LINC00511 is closely linked to the occurrence, development and drug resistance of BC. Here we will review the structure and the mechanisms of action of lnc RNA LINC00511 in various cancers, and then explore its expression and its related regulatory mechanisms during BC. In addition, we will discuss the biological functions and the potential clinical applications of LINC00511 in BC., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Zhao, Biswas, Li and Sooranna.)

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are non-coding RNAs with covalent closed-loop structures and are widely distributed in eukaryotes, conserved and stable as well as tissue-specific. Malignant solid tumors pose a serious health risk to children and are one of the leading causes of pediatric mortality. Studies have shown that circRNAs play an important regulatory role in the development of childhood malignant solid tumors, hence are potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for tumors. This paper reviews the biological characteristics and functions of circRNAs as well as the research progress related to childhood malignant solid tumors.

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are non-coding RNAs with covalent closed-loop structures and are widely distributed in eukaryotes, conserved and stable as well as tissue-specific. Malignant solid tumors pose a serious health risk to children and are one of the leading causes of pediatric mortality. Studies have shown that circRNAs play an important regulatory role in the development of childhood malignant solid tumors, hence are potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for tumors. This paper reviews the biological characteristics and functions of circRNAs as well as the research progress related to childhood malignant solid tumors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sestrins (Sesns), highly conserved stress-inducible metabolic proteins, are known to protect organisms against various noxious stimuli including DNA damage, oxidative stress, starvation, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, and hypoxia. Sesns regulate metabolism mainly through activation of the key energy sensor AMP-dependent protein kinase (AMPK) and inhibition of mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1). Sesns also play pivotal roles in autophagy activation and apoptosis inhibition in normal cells, while conversely promoting apoptosis in cancer cells. The functions of Sesns in diseases such as metabolic disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer have been broadly investigated in the past decades. However, there is a limited number of reviews that have summarized the functions of Sesns in the pathophysiological processes of human diseases, especially musculoskeletal system diseases. One aim of this review is to discuss the biological functions of Sesns in the pathophysiological process and phenotype of diseases. More significantly, we include some new evidence about the musculoskeletal system. Another purpose is to explore whether Sesns could be potential biomarkers or targets in the future diagnostic and therapeutic process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The characterization and functionality of protein glycosylation among different related species are of common interest. Herein, non‐standard quantification and N‐glycosylation enrichment technology combined with ultra‐high liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry were used to establish detailed N‐glycoproteomics of fertilized eggs, and quantitatively compared between Tibetan and lowland chicken. A total of 396N‐glycosites from 143 glycoproteins were found. Specifically, compared with lowland chicken egg white, 32N‐glycosites of 22 glycoproteins were up‐regulated and 57N‐glycosites of 25 glycoproteins were down‐regulated in Tibetan chicken egg white. Also, 137N‐glycosites in 72 glycoproteins showed much higher‐degree glycosylation and 36N‐glycosites in 15 glycoproteins displayed lower‐degree glycosylation in Tibetan chicken egg yolk than those in lowland chicken egg yolk. Through bioinformatic analysis, these varied glycoproteins were highly associated with antifreeze activity, hypoxia adaptation, coagulation cascade, and binding/immunity activities, which may be related to plateau hypoxia and cold stress. Practical applications: These findings provide a new insight on the role of biological egg N‐glycoproteins related to environmental adaptation and evolution, which may be further applied in improving egg processing and human health, by developing biomolecules for food and medical industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Koomesh: Journal of Semnan University of Medical Sciences is the property of Koomesh: Journal of Semnan University of Medical Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play important roles in human diseases. They control gene expression levels and influence various biological processes through multiple mechanisms. Functional abnormalities in lncRNAs are strongly associated with occurrence and development of various diseases. LINC00472, which is located on chromosome 6q13, is involved in several human diseases, particularly cancers of the breast, lung, liver, osteosarcoma, bladder, colorectal, ovarian, pancreatic and stomach. Importantly, LINC00472 can be used as a biomarker for breast cancer cell sensitivity to chemotherapeutic regimens, including doxorubicin. LINC00472 is regulated by microRNAs and several signaling pathways. However, the significance of LINC00472 in human diseases has not been clearly established. In this review, we elucidate on the significance of LINC00472 in various human diseases, indicating that LINC00472 may be a diagnostic, prognostic as well as therapeutic target for these diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Food Research & Development is the property of Food Research & Development Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Proteins are directly involved in plant phenotypic response to ever changing environmental conditions. The ability to produce multiple mature functional proteins, i.e., proteoforms, from a single gene sequence represents an efficient tool ensuring the diversification of protein biological functions underlying the diversity of plant phenotypic responses to environmental stresses. Basically, two major kinds of proteoforms can be distinguished: protein isoforms, i.e., alterations at protein sequence level arising from posttranscriptional modifications of a single pre-mRNA by alternative splicing or editing, and protein posttranslational modifications (PTMs), i.e., enzymatically catalyzed or spontaneous modifications of certain amino acid residues resulting in altered biological functions (or loss of biological functions, such as in non-functional proteins that raised as a product of spontaneous protein modification by reactive molecular species, RMS). Modulation of protein final sequences resulting in different protein isoforms as well as modulation of chemical properties of key amino acid residues by different PTMs (such as phosphorylation, N - and O -glycosylation, methylation, acylation, S -glutathionylation, ubiquitinylation, sumoylation, and modifications by RMS), thus, represents an efficient means to ensure the flexible modulation of protein biological functions in response to ever changing environmental conditions. The aim of this review is to provide a basic overview of the structural and functional diversity of proteoforms derived from a single gene in the context of plant evolutional adaptations underlying plant responses to the variability of environmental stresses, i.e., adverse cues mobilizing plant adaptive mechanisms to diminish their harmful effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protective zinc oxide is a kind of zinc oxide with high efficiency, high utilization rate and low dosage, which can effectively replace the conventional zinc oxide with high dosage. Protective zinc oxide can improve animal growth performance, reduce diarrhea rate, and improve coat condition. The paper reviews the types, characteristics, biological functions and application effect, of protective zinc oxide on weaned piglets, to provide reference for further research and comprehensive development and utilization of zinc oxide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Septins, a conserved family of GTP-binding proteins, are widely recognized as an essential cytoskeletal component, playing important roles in a variety of biological processes, including division, polarity, and membrane remodeling, in different eukaryotes. Although the roles played by septins were identified in the model organism Saccharomyces cerevisiae, their importance in other fungi, especially pathogenic fungi, have recently been determined. In this review, we summarize the functions of septins in pathogenic fungi in the cell cycle, autophagy, endocytosis and invasion host-microbe interactions that were reported in the last two years in the field of septin cell biology. These new discoveries may be expanded to investigate the functions of septin proteins in fungal pathogenesis and may be of wide interest to the readers of Microbiology and Molecular Pathology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a malignant tumor with no typical symptoms obvious symptoms in early-stage patients, highlighting the importance of early diagnosis. • In NPC, exosomes can manipulate tumor microenvironment, participate in chemotherapy and radiation resistance, induce immune suppression, promote pathological angiogenesis and support metastasis. • Exosomes can be promising biomarkers. We briefly describe recent methodological advancements towards an exosome-based liquid biopsy method of diagnosing NPC. • In this review, we briefly elucidate these biological functions of exosomes in NPC and their diagnostic potential in diagnostic monitoring and prognostic evaluation. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a malignant epithelial tumor with a unique geographical distribution, primarily prevalent in East Africa and Asia. Although there is an increased understanding of the pathogenesis and risk factors of NPC, prevention and treatment efforts remain limited. Various studies have indicated that exosomes are actively involved in NPC by delivering biomolecules such as non-coding RNAs and proteins to target cells. In this review, we summarize the biological functions of exosomes in NPC and highlight their prospects as diagnostic biomarkers. In NPC, exosomes can manipulate the tumor microenvironment, participate in chemotherapy and radiation resistance, induce immune suppression, promote pathological angiogenesis, and support metastasis, and thus they could also be promising biomarkers. Because exosomes have essential effects and unusual biological properties, they have a promising future in diagnostic monitoring and prognostic evaluation. Although there are technical issues associated with using exosomes in large-scale applications, they have unparalleled advantages in assisting the clinical management of NPC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lectins are widely distributed proteins having ability of binding selectively and reversibly with carbohydrates moieties and glycoconjugates. Although lectins have been reported from different biological sources, the legume lectins are the best-characterized family of plant lectins. Legume lectins are a large family of homologous proteins with considerable similarity in amino acid sequence and their tertiary structures. Despite having strong sequence conservation, these lectins show remarkable variability in carbohydrate specificity and quaternary structures. The ability of legume lectins in recognizing glycans and glycoconjugates on cells and other intracellular structures make them a valuable research tool in glycomic research. Due to variability in binding with glycans, glycoconjugates and multiple biological functions, legume lectins are the subject of intense research for their diverse application in different fields such as glycobiology, biomedical research and crop improvement. The present review specially focuses on structural and functional characteristics of legume lectins along with their potential areas of application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous clinical observations and exploitation of cellular and animal models indicate that glucosylceramide (GlcCer) and galactosylceramide (GalCer) are involved in many physiological and pathological phenomena. In many cases, the biological importance of these monohexosylcermides has been shown indirectly as the result of studies on enzymes involved in their synthesis and degradation. Under physiological conditions, GalCer plays a key role in the maintenance of proper structure and stability of myelin and differentiation of oligodendrocytes. On the other hand, GlcCer is necessary for the proper functions of epidermis. Such an important lysosomal storage disease as Gaucher disease (GD) and a neurodegenerative disorder as Parkinson's disease are characterized by mutations in the GBA1 gene, decreased activity of lysosomal GBA1 glucosylceramidase and accumulation of GlcCer. In contrast, another lysosomal disease, Krabbe disease, is associated with mutations in the GALC gene, resulting in deficiency or decreased activity of lysosomal galactosylceramidase and accumulation of GalCer and galactosylsphingosine. Little is known about the role of both monohexosylceramides in tumor progression; however, numerous studies indicate that GlcCer and GalCer play important roles in the development of multidrug-resistance by cancer cells. It was shown that GlcCer is able to provoke immune reaction and acts as a self-antigen in GD. On the other hand, GalCer was recognized as an important cellular receptor for HIV-1. Altogether, these two molecules are excellent examples of how slight differences in chemical composition and molecular conformation contribute to profound differences in their physicochemical properties and biological functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proteins are directly involved in plant phenotypic response to ever changing environmental conditions. The ability to produce multiple mature functional proteins, i.e., proteoforms, from a single gene sequence represents an efficient tool ensuring the diversification of protein biological functions underlying the diversity of plant phenotypic responses to environmental stresses. Basically, two major kinds of proteoforms can be distinguished: protein isoforms, i.e., alterations at protein sequence level arising from posttranscriptional modifications of a single pre-mRNA by alternative splicing or editing, and protein posttranslational modifications (PTMs), i.e., enzymatically catalyzed or spontaneous modifications of certain amino acid residues resulting in altered biological functions (or loss of biological functions, such as in non-functional proteins that raised as a product of spontaneous protein modification by reactive molecular species, RMS). Modulation of protein final sequences resulting in different protein isoforms as well as modulation of chemical properties of key amino acid residues by different PTMs (such as phosphorylation, N- and O-glycosylation, methylation, acylation, S-glutathionylation, ubiquitinylation, sumoylation, and modifications by RMS), thus, represents an efficient means to ensure the flexible modulation of protein biological functions in response to ever changing environmental conditions. The aim of this review is to provide a basic overview of the structural and functional diversity of proteoforms derived from a single gene in the context of plant evolutional adaptations underlying plant responses to the variability of environmental stresses, i.e., adverse cues mobilizing plant adaptive mechanisms to diminish their harmful effects.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play important roles in human diseases. They control gene expression levels and influence various biological processes through multiple mechanisms. Functional abnormalities in lncRNAs are strongly associated with occurrence and development of various diseases. LINC00472, which is located on chromosome 6q13, is involved in several human diseases, particularly cancers of the breast, lung, liver, osteosarcoma, bladder, colorectal, ovarian, pancreatic and stomach. Importantly, LINC00472 can be used as a biomarker for breast cancer cell sensitivity to chemotherapeutic regimens, including doxorubicin. LINC00472 is regulated by microRNAs and several signaling pathways. However, the significance of LINC00472 in human diseases has not been clearly established. In this review, we elucidate on the significance of LINC00472 in various human diseases, indicating that LINC00472 may be a diagnostic, prognostic as well as therapeutic target for these diseases.

Autophagy is an evolutionarily conserved lysosomal degradation pathway that maintains metabolism and homeostasis by eliminating protein aggregates and damaged organelles. Many studies have reported that autophagy plays an important role in spinal cord injury (SCI). However, the spatiotemporal patterns of autophagy activation after traumatic SCI are contradictory. Most studies show that the activation of autophagy and inhibition of apoptosis have neuroprotective effects on traumatic SCI. However, reports demonstrate that autophagy is strongly associated with distal neuronal death and the impaired functional recovery following traumatic SCI. This article introduces SCI pathophysiology, the physiology and mechanism of autophagy, and our current review on its role in traumatic SCI. We also discuss the interaction between autophagy and apoptosis and the therapeutic effect of activating or inhibiting autophagy in promoting functional recovery. Thus, we aim to provide a theoretical basis for the biological therapy of SCI.

Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most lethal malignancies worldwide. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying gastric carcinogenesis remain largely unknown. Over the past decades, advances in RNA-sequencing techniques have greatly facilitated the identification of various non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) in cancer cells, including microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs). Accumulating evidence has revealed that ncRNAs are essential regulators in GC occurrence and development. However, ncRNAs represent an emerging field of cancer research, and their complex functionality remains to be clarified. Considering the lack of viable biomarkers and therapeutic targets in GC, further studies should focus on elucidating the intricate relationships between ncRNAs and GC, which can be translated into clinical practice. In this review, we summarize recent research progress on how ncRNAs modulate the malignant hallmarks of GC, especially in tumor immune escape, drug resistance, and stemness. We also discuss the promising applications of ncRNAs as diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets in GC, aiming to validate their practical value for clinical treatment.

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a novel type of non-coding RNAs that have aroused growing attention in this decade. They are widely expressed in eukaryotes and generally have high stability owing to their special closed-loop structure. Many circRNAs are abundant, evolutionarily conserved, and exhibit cell-type-specific and tissue-specific expression patterns. Mounting evidence suggests that circRNAs have regulatory potency for gene expression by acting as microRNA sponges, interacting with proteins, regulating transcription, or directly undergoing translation. Dysregulated expression of circRNAs were found in many pathological conditions and contribute to the pathogenesis and progression of various disorders, including renal diseases. Recent studies have revealed that circRNAs may serve as novel reliable biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis prediction of multiple kidney diseases, such as renal cell carcinoma (RCC), acute kidney injury (AKI), diabetic kidney disease (DKD), and other glomerular diseases. Furthermore, circRNAs expressed by intrinsic kidney cells are shown to play a substantial role in kidney injury, mostly reported in DKD and RCC. Herein, we review the biogenesis and biological functions of circRNAs, and summarize their roles as promising biomarkers and therapeutic targets in common kidney diseases.

Background: Abnormal expression of miR-20a is reported in various types of malignancy neoplasms. However, its function is not consistent in different tumors. This study aims to explore the potential functions of miR-20a and its underlying mechanisms in bladder cancer. Methods: Ninety-six patients diagnosed with bladder cancer were recruited into the study. The expression levels of miR-20a in bladder cancer samples and adjacent non-tumor samples were investigated by qRT-PCR. Wound healing, CCK8, and transwell migration assays were carried out for determining the functions of miR20a. Bioinformatics analysis was used for predicting the downstream gene of miR-20a. Western blot, qRT-PCR, and fluorescent reporter assays were used to verify the target gene. Results: MiR-20a was significantly increased in bladder cancer tissues, and its rising level was closely correlated with histological grade, clinical stage, recurrence and metastasis in bladder cancer. Exogenous up-regulation of miR-20a expression obviously enhanced the aggressive biological functions of bladder cancer in vitro. LASS2 was verified to be a target gene of miR-20a. Moreover, miR-20a can negatively regulate LASS2 at protein and mRNA levels. Conclusions: Increasing miR-20a is closely related to aggressive clinicopathological features. MiR-20a plays an oncogenic role in bladder cancer, which contributes to target LASS2 directly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is one of the most common head and neck malignancies. It has obvious ethnic and regional specificity. Long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs) are a class of non-protein coding RNA molecules. Emerging research shows that lncRNAs play a key role in tumor development, prognosis, and treatment. With the deepening of sequence analysis, a large number of functional LncRNAs have been found in NPC, which interact with coding genes, miRNAs, and proteins to form a complex regulatory network. However, the specific role and mechanism of abnormally expressed lncRNAs in the pathogenesis of NPC is not fully understood. This article briefly introduced the concept, classification, and functional mechanism of lncRNAs and reviewed their biological functions and their clinical applications in NPC. Specifically, we described lncRNAs related to the occurrence, growth, invasion, metastasis, angiogenesis, and cancer stem cells of NPC; discussed lncRNAs related to Epstein-Barr virus infection; and summarized the role of lncRNAs in NPC treatment resistance. We have also sorted out lncRNAs related to Chinese medicine treatment. We believe that with the deepening of lncRNAs research, tumor-specific lncRNAs may become a new target for the treatment and a biomarker for predicting prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The incidence and mortality of liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC) were increasing year by year. The aim of this study was to investigate the comprehensive roles of lncRNA FAM99A and FAM99B in LIHC. According to the data of TCGA and GTEx, the expression levels of FAM99A and FAM99B in LIHC were evaluated, and the overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), immune cell infiltration and tumor stage were analyzed. The subcellular localization of FAM99A and FAM99B in various cancer cell lines was predicted by lncATLAS database. In addition, we also used ENCORI, KEGG, LinkedOmics, Metascape and other databases. It was verified by in vivo and in vitro experiments. Compared with adjacent normal tissues, FAM99A and FAM99B were down-regulated in LIHC tissues, and significantly correlated with immune cell infiltration. With the progression of tumor stage and grade, the expression of FAM99A and FAM99B showed a decreasing trend, and the prognosis of patients were also poor. In addition, the biological functions, signaling pathways and protein interactions of FAM99A and FAM99B in LIHC were enriched to study the potential molecular mechanisms. The overlapping RNA binding proteins (RBP) of FAM99A and FAM99B mainly included CSTF2T, BCCIP, RBFOX2 and SF3B4. Finally, experiments showed that overexpression of FAM99A attenuated the proliferation, invasion, colony formation and tumor growth of LIHC cells. Taken together, the above studies demonstrated that FAM99A and FAM99B had an inhibitory effect on the progression of LIHC, which might be promising diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for LIHC patients. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Donkey milk has recently garnered significant attention as a source of nutrition and potential health benefits for humans. However, a thorough understanding of the metabolite profile of colostrum and milk of jennies during the first two weeks post-foaling is still lacking. Herein we employed widely targeted metabolomics to comprehensively characterize the metabolite profiles of colostrum, transitional, and mature milk of jennies (n = 18) at four different timepoints after foaling: day 1 (colostrum; L1), day 3 (early transitional milk; L3), day 7 (late transitional milk; L7), and day 14 (mature milk; L14). Overall, 606 metabolites across 17 classes and 304 significantly different metabolites were identified. In comparison with mature milk, colostrum exhibited a higher abundance of lipids, including fatty acids, glycerophospholipids, and sphingolipids. Transitional milk, on the other hand, was characterized by a significant increase in the levels of amino acids and their metabolites and organic acids and their derivatives, which participate in various protein biosynthesis and absorption-related metabolic pathways essential for neonatal development. Altogether, our data provide comprehensive insights into how the stage of lactation affects the metabolism of bioactive components in donkey milk. This information enhances our understanding of how to optimize milk production in jennies. • Metabolomics was used to study dynamic changes in metabolites in jenny milk. • Overall, 606 metabolites and 304 different metabolites were identified. • Colostrum had higher level of fatty acids, glycerophospholipids, and sphingolipids. • Transitional milk had higher level of amino acids, organic acids, and derivatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies have shown that microRNAs (miRNAs) play a key role in various malignant tumors. MiR-663b has been found to have important roles in several cancers, however, the role of miR-663b in T cell acute lymphocytic leukemia (T-ALL) remains unclear. Therefore, we speculated that miR-663b might also play a crucial role in the development and process of T-ALL. In the present study, we found that miR-663b was up-regulated in the blood of children with T-ALL and T-ALL cell lines. TargetScan and dual luciferase reporter assay results showed that CD99 was a direct target of miR-663b. In order to further study the biological function of miR-663b in the development of T-ALL and to clarify its potential molecular mechanism, we detected the changes in proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion of T-ALL cell line Jurkat before and after miR-663b inhibitor transfection. We found that miR-663b inhibitor inhibited Jurkat cell proliferation and induced apoptosis. In addition, miR-663b inhibitor repressed Jurkat cell migration and invasion. All these effects of miR-663b inhibitor on Jurkat cells were eliminated by CD99-silencing. These results have provided a new theoretical basis and strategy for the diagnosis and treatment of T-ALL.

In recent decades, aquaculture techniques for soft corals have made remarkable progress in terms of conditions and productivity. Researchers have been able to obtain larger quantities of soft corals, thus larger quantities of biologically active metabolites, allowing them to study their biological activity in many pharmacological assays and even produce sufficient quantities for clinical trials. In this review, we summarize 201 secondary metabolites that have been identified from cultured soft corals in the era from 2002 to September 2022. Various types of diterpenes (eunicellins, cembranes, spatanes, norcembranes, briaranes, and aquarianes), as well as biscembranes, sterols, and quinones were discovered and subjected to bioactivity investigations in 53 different studies. We also introduce a more in-depth discussion of the potential biological effects (anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and anti-microbial) and the mechanisms of action of the identified secondary metabolites. We hope this review will shed light on the untapped potential applications of aquaculture to produce valuable secondary metabolites to tackle current and emerging health conditions.

Nowadays, sweet potato (Ipomoea batata L.; Lam.) is considered a very interesting nutritive food because it is rich in complex carbohydrates, but as a tubercle, contains high amounts of health-promoting secondary metabolites. The aim of this review is to summarize the most recently published information on this root vegetable, focusing on its bioactive phytochemical constituents, potential effects on health, and the impact of processing technologies. Sweet potato is considered an excellent source of dietary carotenoids, and polysaccharides, whose health benefits include antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective activity, cardiovascular protection, anticancer properties and improvement in neurological and memory capacity, metabolic disorders, and intestinal barrier function. Moreover, the purple sweet potato, due to its high anthocyanin content, represents a unique food option for consumers, as well as a potential source of functional ingredients for healthy food products. In this context, the effects of commercial processing and domestic cooking techniques on sweet potato bioactive compounds require further study to understand how to minimize their loss.

Macrophage-derived exosomes have been implicated on the modulation of inflammatory processes. Recent studies have shown that macrophage-derived exosomes contribute to the progression of many diseases such as cancer, atherosclerosis, diabetes and heart failure. This review describes the biogenesis of macrophage-derived exosomes and their biological functions in different diseases. In addition, the challenges facing the use of macrophage-derived exosomes as delivery tools for drugs, genes, and proteins in clinical applications are described. The application of macrophage-derived exosomes in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases is also discussed.

Royal jelly (RJ) is a kind of bee product widely used in cosmetics, medicine and other fields. Not only can RJ regulate the physiological function of bee population, but also play a specific biological role in many diseases. This paper overviews the main active ingredients in the functional food RJ, including major royal jelly protein, fatty acids, phenols, flavonoids, etc, and summarizes the active role of RJ in the maintenance of human health, such as the regulation of immunity, lifespan, memory, digestive system, blood glucose, obesity, antibacterial and anti-cancer effect, among which the regulation of memory can be used in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. These findings will benefit for comprehensive understanding and use of RJ, hence making it more effective in maintaining health.

Various prominent theories of pain assume that it is pain's biological function to inform organisms about damage to their bodies. I argue that this is a mistake. First, there is no biological evidence to support the notion that pain was originally selected for its informative capacities, nor that it currently contributes to the fitness of organisms in this specific capacity. Second, neurological evidence indicates that modulating mechanisms in the nociceptive system systematically prevent pain from serving a primarily informative role. These considerations threaten to undermine standard perceptual and representational accounts of pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]