Structure-function study of gemini derivatives with two different side chains at C-20, Gemini-0072 and Gemini-0097

Derivatives of vitamin D(3) containing a second side-chain emanating at C-20 are known as gemini and act as vitamin D receptor agonists. Recently, two of these, namely Gemini-0072 and the epimeric Gemini-0097, were selected for further studies in view of their high biological activities and lack of hypercalcemic effects. We now show that the two analogs recruit coactivator SRC-1 better than the parental gemini and act as VDR superagonists. The crystal structures of complexes of zVDR with Gemini-0072 and Gemini-0097 indicate that these ligands induce an extra cavity within the ligand-binding pocket similar to gemini and that their superagonistic activity is due to an increased stabilization of helix H12.     

Industrial attributes of β-glucanase produced by Bacillus sp. CSB55 and its potential application as bio-industrial catalyst

Bioprocess and Biosystems Engineering - The β-glucanase produced from Bacillus sp. CSB55 not only depicts the potent industrial characteristics but also relates as bio-industrial catalyst...     

Molecular Targets for the Testing of COVID‐19

The pandemic outbreaks of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2), spread all over the world in a short period of time. Efficient identification of the infection by SARS‐CoV‐2 has been one of the most important tasks to facilitate all the following counter measurements in dealing with the infectious disease. In Taiwan, a COVID‐19 Open Science Platform adheres to the spirit of open science: sharing sources, data, and methods to promote progress in academic research while corroborating findings from various disciplines has established in mid‐February 2020, for collaborative research in support of the development of detection methods, therapeutics, and a vaccine for COVID‐19. Research priorities include infection control, epidemiology, clinical characterization and management, detection methods (including viral RNA detection, viral antigen detection, and serum antibody detection), therapeutics (neutralizing antibody and small molecule drugs), vaccines, and SARS‐CoV‐2 pathogenesis. In addition, research on social ethics and the law are included to take full account of the impact of the COVID‐19 virus.     

Aphid population abundance and pestiferous effect on various bean plant species

The population abundance, infestation, and harmful effects of the aphid Aphis craccivora Koch (Hemiptera: Aphididae) were studied on four bean plant species, namely the country bean (Lablab purpureus var. BARI Seem 1), the yard‐long bean (Vigna sesquipedalis var. BARI Borboti 1), the hyacinth bean (Dolichos lablab var. BARI Seem 6), and the bush bean (Phaseolus vulgaris var. BARI Jar Seem 3). Aphid abundance and infestation on the leaves, inflorescences, flowers, and pods differed significantly among the bean plant species, with P. vulgaris and V. sesquipedalis having the lowest and highest results, respectively. Aphid severity grade and the number of trichomes of the bean plant species were negatively correlated. The duration of the growth stages among the bean plant species were significantly different, with V. sesquipedalis having the shortest durations. Aphid abundance and infestation significantly affected the physical and phytochemical characteristics of the bean plant species. The highest reduction of number of leaves, flower inflorescences, and pod inflorescences per plant, and moisture and chlorophyll content in the leaves was found in L. purpureus. The results for V. sesquipedalis revealed the highest reduction in plant height, seed weight, and pH, while those of D. lablab showed the highest reduction in leaf area.     

Linked‐read sequencing enables haplotype‐resolved resequencing at population scale

The feasibility to sequence entire genomes of virtually any organism provides unprecedented insights into the evolutionary history of populations and species. Nevertheless, many population genomic inferences – including the quantification and dating of admixture, introgression and demographic events, and inference of selective sweeps – are still limited by the lack of high‐quality haplotype information. The newest generation of sequencing technology now promises significant progress. To establish the feasibility of haplotype‐resolved genome resequencing at population scale, we investigated properties of linked‐read sequencing data of songbirds of the genus Oenanthe across a range of sequencing depths. Our results based on the comparison of downsampled (25×, 20×, 15×, 10×, 7×, and 5×) with high‐coverage data (46–68×) of seven bird genomes mapped to a reference suggest that phasing contiguities and accuracies adequate for most population genomic analyses can be reached already with moderate sequencing effort. At 15× coverage, phased haplotypes span about 90% of the genome assembly, with 50% and 90% of phased sequences located in phase blocks longer than 1.25–4.6 Mb (N50) and 0.27–0.72 Mb (N90). Phasing accuracy reaches beyond 99% starting from 15× coverage. Higher coverages yielded higher contiguities (up to about 7 Mb/1 Mb [N50/N90] at 25× coverage), but only marginally improved phasing accuracy. Phase block contiguity improved with input DNA molecule length; thus, higher‐quality DNA may help keeping sequencing costs at bay. In conclusion, even for organisms with gigabase‐sized genomes like birds, linked‐read sequencing at moderate depth opens an affordable avenue towards haplotype‐resolved genome resequencing at population scale.     

Nanomechanical In Situ Monitoring of Proteolysis of Peptide by Cathepsin B

Characterization and control of proteolysis of peptides by specific cellular protease is a priori requisite for effective drug discovery. Here, we report the nanomechanical, in situ monitoring of proteolysis of peptide chain attributed to protease (Cathepsin B) by using a resonant nanomechanical microcantilever immersed in a liquid. Specifically, the detection is based on measurement of resonant frequency shift arising from proteolysis of peptides (leading to decrease of cantilever''s overall mass, and consequently, increases in the resonance). It is shown that resonant microcantilever enables the quantification of proteolysis efficacy with respect to protease concentration. Remarkably, the nanomechanical, in situ monitoring of proteolysis allows us to gain insight into the kinetics of proteolysis of peptides, which is well depicted by Langmuir kinetic model. This implies that nanomechanical biosensor enables the characterization of specific cellular protease such as its kinetics.     

α-Synuclein induces migration of BV-2 microglial cells by up-regulation of CD44 and MT1-MMP

Although there is known to be a marked concentration of reactive microglia in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), a disorder in which α-synuclein plays a key pathogenic role, the specific roles of α-synuclein and microglia remains poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the effects of α-synuclein and the mechanisms of invasive microglial migration into the SNpc. We show that α-synuclein up-regulates the expressions of the cell adhesion molecule CD44 and the cell surface protease membrane-type 1 matrix metalloproteinase through the extracellular regulated kinases 1/2 pathway. These concurrent inductions increased the generation of soluble CD44 to liberate microglia from the surrounding extracellular matrix for migration. The effects of α-synuclein were identical in BV-2 murine microglial cells subjected to cDNA transfection and extracellular treatment. These inductions in primary microglial cultures of C57Bl/6 mice were identical to those in BV-2 cells. α-Synuclein-induced microglial migration into the SNpc was confirmed in vivo using a 6-hydroxydopamine mouse model of PD. Our data demonstrate a correlation between α-synuclein-induced phenotypic changes and microglial migration. With the recruitment of the microglial population into the SNpc during dopaminergic neurodegeneration, α-synuclein may play a role in accelerating the pathogenesis of PD.     

Proteolytic activity of Co(III) complex of 1-oxa-4,7,10-triazacyclododecane: a new catalytic center for peptide-cleavage agents

Catalytic drugs based on target-selective artificial proteases have been proposed as a new paradigm in drug design. Peptide-cleavage agents selective for pathogenic proteins of Alzheimer’s disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus or Parkinson’s disease have been prepared using the Co(III) aqua complex (Co(III)cyclen) of 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane as the catalytic center. In the present study, the Co(III) aqua complex (Co(III)oxacyclen) of 1-oxa-4,7,10-triazacyclododecane was examined in search of an improved catalytic center for peptide-cleavage agents. An X-ray crystallographic study of [Co(oxacyclen)(CO₃)](ClO₄), titration of Co(III)oxacyclen, and kinetic studies on the cleavage of albumin, γ-globulin, lysozyme, and myoglobin by Co(III)oxacyclen were carried out. Considerably higher proteolytic activity was observed for Co(III)oxacyclen in comparison with Co(III)cyclen, indicating that better target-selective artificial metalloproteases would be obtained using Co(III)oxacyclen as the catalytic center. The improved proteolytic activity was attributed to either steric effects or the increased Lewis acidity of the Co(III) center. The kinetic data also predicted that side effects due to the cleavage of nontarget proteins by a catalytic drug based on Co(III)oxacyclen would be insignificant.