Search

Background: Lower survival rates for many cancer types correlate with changes in nuclear size/scaling in a tumor-type/tissue-specific manner. Hypothesizing that such changes might confer an advantage to tumor cells, we aimed at the identification of commercially available compounds to guide further mechanistic studies. We therefore screened for Food and Drug Administration (FDA)/European Medicines Agency (EMA)-approved compounds that reverse the direction of characteristic tumor nuclear size changes in PC3, HCT116, and H1299 cell lines reflecting, respectively, prostate adenocarcinoma, colonic adenocarcinoma, and small-cell squamous lung cancer. Results: We found distinct, largely nonoverlapping sets of compounds that rectify nuclear size changes for each tumor cell line. Several classes of compounds including, e.g., serotonin uptake inhibitors, cyclo-oxygenase inhibitors, β-adrenergic receptor agonists, and Na +/K + ATPase inhibitors, displayed coherent nuclear size phenotypes focused on a particular cell line or across cell lines and treatment conditions. Several compounds from classes far afield from current chemotherapy regimens were also identified. Seven nuclear size-rectifying compounds selected for further investigation all inhibited cell migration and/or invasion. Conclusions: Our study provides (a) proof of concept that nuclear size might be a valuable target to reduce cell migration/invasion in cancer treatment and (b) the most thorough collection of tool compounds to date reversing nuclear size changes specific to individual cancer-type cell lines. Although these compounds still need to be tested in primary cancer cells, the cell line-specific nuclear size and migration/invasion responses to particular drug classes suggest that cancer type-specific nuclear size rectifiers may help reduce metastatic spread.

Pristine TiO2 and x% Ru/TiO2 catalysts with different wt.% of Ru (x%= 1.5%, 2%, 2.5% and 3%) were synthesized using sol–gel and simple impregnation methods. Different characterization techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), High-resolution transmission electron microscope (HR-TEM), Inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) and Thermogravimetry/Differential thermal analysis (TG/DTA) were used to study the physicochemical and morphological properties. The XRD patterns of the as-prepared pristine TiO2 catalyst showed high crystalline nature. The HR-TEM images revealed that the Ru nanoparticles (NPs) were evenly dispersed on the TiO2 surface. The prepared catalysts were evaluated for their catalytic activity towards the liquid phase hydrogenation of ethyl levulinate under mild reaction conditions (ambient H2 pressure). Among the various catalysts, 2.5% Ru/TiO2 catalyst showed the maximum catalytic activity of 79% ethyl levulinate (EL) conversion with 82% selectivity of γ-valerolactone (GVL). The recyclability test revealed that the most active 2.5% Ru/TiO2 also showed the highest stability of the catalyst under optimized experimental conditions.

Nitrogen doped titania over reduced form of graphene oxide (N-TiO2/rGO) catalysts were synthesized by adopting single step hydrothermal route. All the prepared photocatalysts were thoroughly characterized by using different analytical tools such as XRD, Raman, UV-DRS, FE-SEM and HRTEM. The photocatalytic activities of bare and composite catalysts were evaluated towards the photocatalytic decolourisation/degradation of Methylene blue dye (MB) and Metronidazole antibiotic (MTZ) under visible electromagnetic radiation. Among all the synthesized catalysts, N-TiO2/rGO composite catalyst showed the highest decolourisation/degradation activity towards both the dye and the antibiotic. The most active catalyst was also tested under UV and solar light irradiations which showed promising results. The stability of the most active catalyst (N-TiO2/rGO) was examined by recyclability test. The possible photocatalytic mechanism was proposed for the composite catalyst.

Recently, construction of composite photocatalyst using different dimensional materials has made researchers to focus on the area of photocatalysis. In this work, 3D/2D Bi2MoO6/g-C3N4 composite was successfully synthesized via solvothermal method. The photocatalytic capabilities of all the synthesized catalyst were tested in the degradation of dyes. The percentage mineralization was determined using total organic carbon (TOC) studies. The synthesized 3D/2D Bi2MoO6/g-C3N4 showed superior photocatalytic performance compared to individual catalyst. The photostability and reusability of Bi2MoO6/g-C3N4 composite was analyzed by recyclability test, and the catalyst was found to be stable even after four consecutive runs. The superior photocatalytic activity of Bi2MoO6/g-C3N4 heterostructure could be attributed to enhanced physicochemical properties such as band gap, surface area, reduced recombination rates, etc. Trapping experiment carried out to identify the influence of radicals, which showed that both super oxide and hydroxyl radicals were found to be predominant in photocatalytic reaction. A possible pathway of exciton transmission was illustrated.

Pristine TiO₂ and

Tissue-specific patterns of radial genome organization contribute to genome regulation and can be established by nuclear envelope proteins. Studies in this area often use cancer cell lines, and it is unclear how well such systems recapitulate genome organization of primary cells or animal tissues; so, we sought to investigate radial genome organization in primary liver tissue hepatocytes. Here, we have used a NET47/Tm7sf2–/– liver model to show that manipulating one of these nuclear membrane proteins is sufficient to alter tissue-specific gene positioning and expression. Dam-LaminB1 global profiling in primary liver cells shows that nearly all the genes under such positional regulation are related to/important for liver function. Interestingly, Tm7sf2 is a paralog of the HP1-binding nuclear membrane protein LBR that, like Tm7sf2, also has an enzymatic function in sterol reduction. Fmo3 gene/locus radial mislocalization could be rescued with human wild-type, but not TM7SF2 mutants lacking the sterol reductase function. One central pathway affected is the cholesterol synthesis pathway. Within this pathway, both Cyp51 and Msmo1 are under Tm7sf2 positional and expression regulation. Other consequences of the loss of Tm7sf2 included weight gain, insulin sensitivity, and reduced levels of active Akt kinase indicating additional pathways under its regulation, several of which are highlighted by mispositioning genes. This study emphasizes the importance for tissue-specific radial genome organization in tissue function and the value of studying genome organization in animal tissues and primary cells over cell lines.

In the present work, a novel sphere-like Bi2MoO6/ZnO composite catalyst was synthesized via solvothermal method. The physicochemical properties of synthesized catalysts were characterized by various instrumental techniques. The photocatalytic efficiency of synthesized catalysts was determined towards the degradation of dyes such as methyl orange (MO), rhodamine B (RhB) and methylene blue (MB) under visible light irradiation, which revealed that the synthesized Bi2MoO6/ZnO catalyst exhibited better efficiency (93% of MO, 96% of RhB and 91% of MB degradation) compared to bare catalysts (Bi2MoO6 & ZnO). The photocatalytic degradation reaction followed pseudo-first order kinetics with rate constant values of 0.0106, 0.0152 and 0.0114 min−1 in the degradation of MO, RhB and MB respectively which is 1.7, 2.2 and 1.9 times more than Bi2MoO6 and 4.6, 4.9 and 4.3 times more than ZnO. Bi2MoO6/ZnO composite catalyst retained stable performance even after four consecutive runs. Based on the results a possible photocatalytic mechanism for its superior photocatalytic efficiency was proposed.

In this study, bare g-C3N4, g-C3N4/rGO and Br-modified g-C3N4/rGO catalysts were synthesized by a simple hydrothermal method. The synthesized catalysts were analyzed by XRD, FTIR, Raman, HR-SEM, TEM, BET, UV-DRS, PL and EIS techniques. The photocatalytic performance of synthesized catalysts was evaluated towards the decolourisation of Reactive Blue-19, Methyl Orange and Rhodamine-B dyes under visible light irradiation. In comparison with bare g-C3N4 and g-C3N4/rGO catalysts, the Br modified g-C3N4/rGO catalyst showed superior photocatalytic performance. The PL spectra of synthesized catalysts reveal that Br modified g-C3N4/rGO catalyst has a lower rate of electron hole-pair recombination when compared to bare g-C3N4 and g-C3N4/rGO catalysts, which leads to enhanced photocatalytic activity. The stability of the most active catalyst was analyzed by recyclability test. The major influences of photogenerated holes (h+) followed by O2− radicals and OH radicals were observed on the photocatalytic degradation of dyes by radical trapping experiment over Br modified g-C3N4/rGO.

In recent years, g-C3N4 based 2D/2D hybrid architecture has elicited researcher’s attention for the environmental applications. In the present study, g-C3N4/x-rGO composites with different weight % of rGO (x = 0.5 %, 1%, 2%, 4%) were synthesized via simple one-pot hydrothermal method. The synthesized catalysts were analyzed by various instrumental techniques. The photocatalytic performance of the synthesized catalysts was evaluated towards the degradation of reactive blue-19 dye and tetracycline antibiotic under visible light irradiation. Among the synthesized catalysts, the g-C3N4/2%-rGO catalyst showed superior photocatalytic activity. The PL spectra of the synthesized catalysts reveal that the g-C3N4/2%-rGO catalyst exhibited lower rate of electron hole-pair recombination compared to bare g-C3N4 and hence shows higher photocatalytic activity. The major influence of photogenerated holes (h+) and O2− radicals rather than OH radicals on photocatalytic degradation of dye and antibiotic solution over g-C3N4/2%-rGO was confirmed by radical trapping experiments.

Composite photocatalysts composed of semiconductor and carbon-based materials with non-metal doping have drawn the attention of researchers recently due to their remarkable catalytic and recyclable activities under visible light irradiation. In this study, a novel Bi2MoO6/N-rGO composite was successfully fabricated by a solvothermal method and well-characterized by various instrumental techniques. The Bi2MoO6/N-rGO catalyst exhibited superior photocatalytic performance towards the degradation of dyes compared to bare Bi2MoO6 and Bi2MoO6/rGO catalysts in the presence of visible, UV and solar light irradiations. Such a high photocatalytic performance could be attributed to the enhanced optical absorption property and charge separation efficiency of the composite. The synthesized Bi2MoO6/N-rGO catalyst retained stable photocatalytic performance even after four successive runs. The O2− and h+ influence the photocatalytic degradation of organic compounds catalyzed by Bi2MoO6/N-rGO composite. A possible photocatalytic mechanism was proposed for the improved photocatalytic activity.

Every living organism, from bacteria to humans, contains DNA encoding anything from a few hundred genes in intracellular parasites such as Mycoplasma, up to several tens of thousands in many higher organisms. The first observations indicating that the nucleus had some kind of organization were made over a hundred years ago. Understanding of its significance is both limited and aided by the development of techniques, in particular electron microscopy, fluorescence in situ hybridization, DamID and most recently HiC. As our knowledge about genome organization grows, it becomes apparent that the mechanisms are conserved in evolution, even if the individual players may vary. These mechanisms involve DNA binding proteins such as histones, and a number of architectural proteins, some of which are very much conserved, with some others having diversified and multiplied, acquiring specific regulatory functions. In this review we will look at the principles of genome organization in a hierarchical manner, from DNA packaging to higher order genome associations such as TADs, and the significance of radial positioning of genomic loci. We will then elaborate on the dynamics of genome organization during development, and how genome architecture plays an important role in cell fate determination. Finally, we will discuss how misregulation can be a factor in human disease.