Search results for: protein dynamics
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The biological role of prolyl oligopeptidase and the procognitive potential of its peptidic inhibitors from food proteins
PublicationProlyl oligopeptidase (POP) is a conserved serine protease belonging to proline-specific peptidases. It has both enzymatic and non-enzymatic activity and is involved in numerous biological processes in the human body, playing a role in e.g., cellular growth and differentiation, inflammation, as well as the development of some neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders. This article describes the physiological and pathological...
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Influence of the ionic strength on the amyloid fibrillogenesis of hen egg white lysozyme
PublicationThe study investigates the role of the electrostatic interactions in the fibrillation of the hen egg white lysozyme (HEWL). In order to achieve this aim the influence of the cations Na+, Mg2+ and Al3+ on the amyloid fibril formation and amorphous aggregation was tested. The amyloids are formed in the solution without added salt but the Thioflavin T fluorescence gives the false-negative result. In these conditions, the HEWL fibrils...
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Ligand-Modified Boron-Doped Diamond Surface: DFT Insights into the Electronic Properties of Biofunctionalization
PublicationWith the increasing power of computation systems, theoretical calculations provide a means for quick determination of material properties, laying out a research plan, and lowering material development costs. One of the most common is Density Functional Theory (DFT), which allows us to simulate the structure of chemical molecules or crystals and their interaction. In developing a new generation of biosensors, understanding the nature...
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Chiral Pyrazolo[4,3-e][1,2,4]triazine Sulfonamides—Their Biological Activity, Lipophilicity, Protein Affinity, and Metabolic Transformations
PublicationReferring to our previous laboratory results related to the tyrosinase and urease inhibition by pyrazolo[4,3-e][1,2,4]triazine sulfonamides, we examined here in silico the mechanism of action at the molecular level of the investigated pyrazolotriazine sulfonamides by the molecular docking method. The studied compounds being evaluated for their cytotoxic effect against cancer cell lines (MCF-7, K-562) and for recombinant Abl and...
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X-ray and UV Radiation Damage of dsDNA/Protein Complexes
PublicationRadiation and photodynamic therapies are used for cancer treatment by targeting DNA. However, efficiency is limited due to physico-chemical processes and the insensitivity of native nucleobases to damage. Thus, incorporation of radio- and photosensitizers into these therapies should increase both efficacy and the yield of DNA damage. To date, studies of sensitization processes have been performed on simple model systems, e.g.,...
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Structural features responsible for control of the eukaryotic GlcN-6-P synthase activity
PublicationGlucosamine-6-phosphate (GlcN-6-P) synthase is responsible for catalysis of the first and practically irreversible step in hexosamine metabolism. As UDP-GlcNAc, the final product of the hexosamine path, constitutes one of the essential substrates for assembly of bacterial and fungal cell walls, the enzyme is an interesting target for antimicrobial therapy.The structure of E. coli enzyme, known since 2001, forms a dimer of two identical...
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Does the chemical modification of Nystatin A1 affect the drug's ability to overcome the multidrug resistance of fungi?
PublicationAlthough the contemporary medicine keeps moving forward, disseminated infections caused by fungal pathogens are an emerging challenge. The dramatic rise of fungal diseases, especially the most life-threatening systemic mycoses is associated with a permanently growing number of immunodeficient patients. Undoubted difficulties in the treatment of fungal infections are caused by lack of highly effective and selective antifungal drugs,...
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Regulation of LPS assembly via controlled proteolysis and sensing of LPS stress in Escherichia coli
PublicationLipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a complex glycolipid, essential for the bacterial viability and along with phospholipids, it constitutes the major amphiphilic component of outer membrane (OM) in most of the Gram-negative bacteria, including Escherichia coli. LPS molecules confer an effective permeability barrier to the OM and play a crucial role in bacteria-environment and -host interactions. The synthesis and accumulation of this...
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Regulated assembly of lipopolysaccharide and sensing of its alterations in Escherichia coli
PublicationThis thesis describes mechanism of the regulation of the transcription of the rpoE gene encoding an essential RNA polymerase subunit in Escherichia coli. The RpoE regulates extracytoplasmic stress response regulon and is required to initiate transcription of genes, whose products are involvedin the folding of periplasmic proteins and synthesis and transport of outer membrane components. The transcriptional regulation of the rpoE...
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Influence of mussels (Mytilus galloprovincials) from polluted and non-polluted areas on some atherosclerosis indices in rats fed cholesterol
PublicationBadano wpływ diety z dodatkiem małży z obszarów zanieczyszczonych i obszarów czystych ekologicznie na niektóre objawy arteriosklerozy u szczurów.Na podstawie wyników badań in vitro, małże pochodzące z obszarów zanieczyszczonych charakteryzują sie większą zawartością protein, metali ciężkich oraz przeciwutleniaczy.Badania przeprowadzono na 28 szczurach podzielonych na 4 grupy. Szczury z grupy kontrolnej otrzymywały podstawową diete...
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In silico epitope prediction of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato antigens for the detection of specific antibodies
PublicationDespite many years of research, serodiagnosis of Lyme disease still faces many obstacles. Difficulties arise mainly due to the low degree of amino acid sequence conservation of the most immunogenic antigens among B. burgdorferi s.l. genospecies, as well as differences in protein production depending on the environment in which the spirochete is located. Mapping B-cell epitopes located on antigens allows for a better understanding...
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Development of chromatographic and mass spectrometry conditions for untargeted lipidomic analysis of human breast milk
PublicationHuman breast milk (HBM) is a complex biofluid containing components which are essential for the proper growth of the newborn (for example nutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins, lipids) and also bioactive substances. According to the literature, most of studies involving HBM nutrients investigations focused essentially on the determination of proteins. The molecular composition of lipids in HBM is not well known as the protein...
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Electronic noses: Powerful tools in meat quality assessment
PublicationMain factors that are considered by consumers when choosing meat products are colour and aroma, of which the latter is a more reliable indicator of quality. However, a simple sensory evaluation of hedonistic qualities is often not sufficient to determine whether protein is past its shelf life, and consumption of spoiled meat can lead to serious health hazards. Some volatile compounds can be used as spoilage indicators, and so a...
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Sodium alginate decreases the permeability of intestinal mucus
PublicationIn the small intestine the nature of the environment leads to a highly heterogeneous mucus layer primarily composed of the MUC2 mucin. We set out to investigate whether the soluble dietary fibre sodium alginate could alter the permeability of the mucus layer. The alginate was shown to freely diffuse into the mucus and to have minimal effect on the bulk rheology when added at concentrations below 0.1%. Despite this lack of interaction...
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Białka prokariotycznego systemu MMR: rola oraz interakcje
PublicationUszkodzenia komórkowego DNA w postaci błędnie sparowanych lub niesparowanych zasad azotowych są wynikiem niewłaściwie zachodzących procesów metabolizmu DNA, takich jak replikacja, rekombinacja oraz naprawa DNA. Utrwalenie tego rodzaju zmian prowadzi do powstania mutacji. System MMR (ang. DNA mismatch repair) usuwa te uszkodzenia przyczyniając się do zwiększenia wierności replikacji DNA oraz utrzymania stabilności genomu komórki....
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Isolation of Citrus lemon extracellular vesicles: Development and process control using capillary electrophoresis
PublicationA new and scalable method for the isolation of extracellular vesicles (EV) from Citrus lemon juice samples was developed. The methodology included preliminary preconcentration of the sample using ultrafiltration (UF) followed by size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) purification and final preconcentration of the eluates. Transmission electron microscopy and proteomic analysis showed that isolates contained exosome-like vesicles, exocyst-positive...
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Analytical Strategies and Applications in Lipidomics
PublicationLipidomics is a field of study aiming at a comprehensive analysis of a set of lipids in biological systems. This includes both quantitative and qualitative characterization of lipid profiles, comparative studies of lipidomes, and analysis of lipid-protein interactions. Lipids are structurally diversified that make their analysis a challenging task. The constant advances in analytical technologies, especially in the field of high-performance...
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MRM–MS of marker peptides and their abundance as a tool for authentication of meat species and meat cuts in single-cut meat products
PublicationThe abundance of protein markers in different types of meat cuts was explored in the context of authentication of raw meat (pork, beef and chicken) and processed meat products. Peptides originating from myoglobin (Mb) and myosin (My) were analyzed using multiple reaction monitoring mass spectrometry (MRM–MS). Analytical protocol was optimized for good repeatability (CV < 10%) and high sensitivity. The MS signal intensity of Mb...
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Modeling SARS‐CoV‐2 proteins in the CASP‐commons experiment
PublicationCritical Assessment of Structure Prediction (CASP) is an organization aimed at advancing the state of the art in computing protein structure from sequence. In the spring of 2020, CASP launched a community project to compute the structures of the most structurally challenging proteins coded for in the SARS-CoV-2 genome. Forty-seven research groups submitted over 3000 three-dimensional models and 700 sets of accuracy estimates on...
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Amino Acid and Peptide‐Based Antiviral Agents
PublicationA significant number of antiviral agents used in clinical practice are amino acids, short peptides, or peptidomimetics. Among them, several HIV protease inhibitors (e. g. lopinavir, atazanavir), HCV protease inhibitors (e. g. grazoprevir, glecaprevir), and HCV NS5A protein inhibitors have contributed to a significant decrease in mortality from AIDS and hepatitis. However, there is an ongoing need for the discovery of new antiviral...
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Keratinocyte-derived small extracellular vesicles supply antigens for CD1a-resticted T cells and promote their type 2 bias in the context of filaggrin insufficiency
PublicationIntroduction: Exosome-enriched small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) are nanosized organelles known to participate in long distance communication between cells, including in the skin. Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease for which filaggrin (FLG) gene mutations are the strongest genetic risk factor. Filaggrin insufficiency affects multiple cellular function, but it is unclear if sEV-mediated cellular communication...
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Przydatność białka rybiego w postaci kolagenu lub żelatyny oraz polisacharydu - kapa-karagenu do wytwarzania aktywnych opakowań biodegradowalnych = Usefulness of fish collagen, gelatin and carrageenan for preparation of active biodegradable packages
PublicationSummary - The possibility of use of protein films made of fish collagen or gelatin as well as polysaccharide carrageenan films as carriers of enzymes (lysozyme or lysostaphyne), for preparation of microbiologically active packages, was investigated. It was found that crosslinking of such systems with N-[3(dimethylamino)propyl]-N'-ethylcarboimide (EDC) does not influence the activity of lysozyme immobilized in the films (Table 1)....
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Photonic sensor to detect rapid changes in CRP levels
PublicationOne of the most important biomarkers used to determine inflammation is C-reactive protein (CRP). Its level, when it is within the range that does not define inflammation, informs about the risk of cardiovascular events. If the norm is exceeded and inflammation is detected in the body, CRP level can increase 1000 times within a few hours. The type of infection can also be determined based on the level of elevated CRP. All this makes...
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Cyanogenic Compounds and Estrogen Disruptors
PublicationBalanced diet consists largely of plants containing cyanogenic compounds in the form of the more common cyanogenic glycosides and sometimes lipids. Maize, wheat, rye, apples, barley, oats, sugar cane and yet many other plants consumed by humans contain cyanogenic compounds. However the risk of poisoning is negligible as it is very easy to remove the toxic HCN by grinding and drying in air or soaking in water and an additional...
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In vitro antioxidative and binding properties of phenolics in traditional, citrus and exotic fruits
PublicationMany polyphenols bind proteins, therefore our research was focused on the potential of protein binding to polyphenols of investigated fruits and their health-related effects. The contents of polyphenols and related antioxidant activities of traditional, citrus and exotic fruits were compared. The presence of polyphenols (flavonoids and phenolic acids) in the investigated samples and their interaction with human serum albumin (HSA)...
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Engineering Candida albicans glucosamine-6-phosphate synthase for efficient enzyme purification
PublicationRationally designed muteins of Candida albicans glucosamine-6-phosphate synthase, an enzyme known as a promising target for antifungal chemotherapy, were constructed, overexpressed in Escherichia coli and purified to near homogeneity. To facilitate and to optimize the purification of the enzyme, three recombinant versionscontaining internal oligoHis fragments were constructed: (i) by substituting residues 343 - 348...
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Drop-coating deposition surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy on silver substrates for biofluid analysis
PublicationUtilization of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy as a measurement technique is of particular interest in biodetection due to its superb chemical specificity and high sensitivity. The use of SERS substrates further improve this method by massive enhancement of the molecule Raman spectrum, permitting very low levels of detection. Therefore it is important to seek for new ways to develop reliable substrates, which are quickly and...
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Low-power microwave-induced fabrication of functionalised few-layer black phosphorus electrodes: A novel route towards Haemophilus Influenzae pathogen biosensing devices
PublicationIn this paper, various passivation schemes were applied at few-layer black phosphorus (FLBP) to achieve covalent functionalisation with 4-azidobenzoic acid, improving its electrochemical response intended for analytical and biosensing applications. The thermal and microwave assisted modification procedures in toluene and dime-thylformamide resulted in high reversibility of reactions on functionalised FLBP using a ferricyanide/ferrocya-nide...
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DMSO and TMAO—Differences in Interactions in Aqueous Solutions of the K-Peptide
PublicationInteractions between a solvent and their co-solute molecules in solutions of peptides are crucial for their stability and structure. The K-peptide is a synthetic fragment of a larger hen egg white lysozyme protein that is believed to be able to aggregate into amyloid structures. In this study, a complex experimental and theoretical approach is applied to study systems comprising the peptide, water, and two co-solutes: trimethylamide...
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Ultrasound assisted synthesis of 3-alkynyl substituted 2-chloroquinoxaline derivatives: Their in silico assessment as potential ligands for N-protein of SARS-CoV-2
PublicationIn view of recent global pandemic the 3-alkynyl substituted 2-chloroquinoxaline framework has been explored as a potential template for the design of molecules targeting COVID-19. Initial in silico studies of representative compounds to assess their binding affinities via docking into the N-terminal RNA-binding domain (NTD) of N-protein of SARS-CoV-2 prompted further study of these molecules. Thus building of a small library of...
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Molecularly targeted nanoparticles: an emerging tool for evaluation of expression of the receptor for advanced glycation end products in a murine model of peripheral artery disease
PublicationAbstract Background: Molecular imaging with molecularly targeted probes is a powerful tool for studying the spatio-temporal interactions between complex biological processes. The pivotal role of the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) in numerous pathological processes, aroused the demand for RAGE targeted imaging in various diseases. In the study, we evaluated the use of a diagnostic imaging agent for RAGE quantification...
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Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis of Urinary Extracellular Vesicle Proteins as a New Challenge in Laboratory Medicine
PublicationUrinary extracellular vesicle (uEV) proteins may be used as specific markers of kidney damage in various pathophysiological conditions. The nanoparticle-tracking analysis (NTA) appears to be the most useful method for the analysis of uEVs due to its ability to analyze particles below 300 nm. The NTA method has been used to measure the size and concentration of uEVs and also allows for a deeper analysis of uEVs based on their protein...
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Modification of gradient HPLC method for determination of small molecules' affinity to human serum albumin under column safety conditions: Robustness and chemometrics study
PublicationIn the early stages of drug discovery, beyond the biological activity screening, determining the physicochemical properties that affect the distribution of molecules in the human body is an essential step. Plasma protein binding (PPB) is one of the most important investigated endpoints. Nevertheless, the methodology for measuring %PPB is significantly less popular and standardized than other physicochemical properties, like lipophilicity....
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Phage-Directed Synthesis of Photoluminescent Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles under Benign Conditions
PublicationBiological systems, especially bacteriophages and peptides, are an attractive green alternative to other known methods of nanoparticle synthesis. In this work, for the first time, bacteriophages were employed to synthesize a specific peptide, capable of producing nanoparticles (NPs). Derivatives of M13 bacteriophage exposing a ZnO-binding peptide (TMGA-LGLKWPV) on either pIII or pVIII phage coat protein were constructed and used...
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Heterogeneity of quaternary structure of glucosamine-6-phosphate deaminase from Giardia lamblia
PublicationThe oligoHis-tagged versions of glucosamine-6- phosphate deaminase from Giardia lamblia (GlmNagB-HisN, GlmNagB-HisC) were constructed and purified to hear homogeneity, and their kinetic and structural properties were compared to those of the wild-type enzyme (GlmNagB). Introduction of the oligoHis tag at the GlmNagB C-terminus resulted in almost complete loss of the catalytic activity, while the catalytic properties of GlmNagB-HisN...
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Niebiałkowe związki azotowe
PublicationNiebiałkowe związki azotowe (NPN - non protein nitrogen) są grupą składników wchodzących w skład produktów żywnościowych ważną nie tylko z punktu widzenia producentów żywności, ale także dla specjalistów do spraw żywienia. Do grupy tej należą przede wszystkim wolne aminokwasy i krótkie peptydy, aminy, kwasy nukleinowe i nukleotydy oraz inne mało cząsteczkowe składniki zawierające azot (glikozydy cyjanogenne, alkaloidy, tiazole,...
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Fragmentomic analysis of biopeptides in silico released from milk proteins
PublicationThe fragmentomic-assisted method was employed to predict the biological potential of peptides derived from milk proteins hydrolyzed by papain and bromelain. Firstly, protein sequences were acquired from the BIOPEP-UWM database and then hydrolyzed by the above enzymes using a BIOPEP-UWM tool called “Enzyme(s) action”. The released peptides were defined as parent peptides and further analyzed for the presence of shorter peptidic...
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Niebiałkowe związki azotowe
PublicationNiebiałkowe związki azotowe (ang. non protein nitrogen, NPN) są grupą składników wchodzących w skład produktów żywnościowych ważną nie tylko z punktu widzenia producentów żywności, lecz także dla specjalistów do spraw żywienia. Do tej grupy należą przede wszystkim wolne aminokwasy i oligopeptydy, aminy, kwasy nukleinowe i nukleotydy oraz inne mało cząsteczkowe składniki zawierające azot (glikozydy cyjanogenne, alkaloidy, tiazole,...
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Interaction of human serum albumin with volatiles and polyphenols from some berries
PublicationHeadspace solid-phase microextraction coupled with comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography with time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HS-SPME/GC GCeTOFMS) identified 19 and quantified 6 monoterpenes in gooseberries, blueberries and cranberries. As a protein model human serum albumin (HSA) was used in interaction with terpenes. Specific binding of terpenes to HSA under the physiological conditions was a result of the formation...
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In silico assessment and sonochemical synthesis of 2-alkynyl 3-chloropyrazines as prospective ligands for SARS-CoV-2
PublicationThe recent global pandemic caused by COVID-19 has triggered an intense effort worldwide towards the development of an effective cure for this disease. In our effort we have explored the 2-alkynyl substituted 3-chloropyrazine framework as a potential template for the design of molecules for this purpose. Our strategy was supported by the in silico studies of representative compounds to assess their binding affinities via docking...
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Future opportunities for products derived from black soldier fly (BSF) treatment as animal feed and fertilizer - A systematic review
PublicationThe pursuit of novel food products with good nutritional value for both direct and indirect human consumption is crucial. Given the nutritional benefits of insects and the sustainability of this sort of farming, using them as food for farmed animals is a promising alternative. In this regard, the black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) is most capable of efficiently converting a wide variety of organic materials, from food waste...
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Modulation of carcinogen metabolizing cytochromes p450 in rat liver and kidney by cabbage and sauerkraut juices: comparison with the effects of indole-3-carbinol and phenethyl isothiocyanate
PublicationThis study investigated the effect of raw cabbage and sauerkraut juices on the activity and expression of CYP1A1, 1A2, 1B1 and 2B in Wistar rat liver and kidney. The results were compared with those of two commercially available products of glucosinolates degradation: indole-3-carbinol (I3C) and phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC). Significant differences in the effect of the cabbage juices as well as I3C and PEITC between the liver...
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Selected symmetrically substituted carbazoles: Investigation of anticancer activity and mechanisms of action at the cellular and molecular levels
PublicationDNA topoisomerases play a critical role as essential enzymes in controlling alterations in the topology of DNA. They achieve this by orchestrating the coordinated process of breaking and rejoining DNA strands, which is crucial for maintaining the proper structure of DNA during regular cellular development. The search for and development of new potential anticancer drugs is a challenging yet immensely important area of research...
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Application of human bile salts for in vitro digestion models
PublicationIn this study, experimental in vitro models simulating the environment of the human gastrointestinal tract were used to assess the impact of physiological surfactants, such as bile salts, on the kinetics of digestion. Bile salts are biosurfactants synthesised in the liver and secreted together with bile into the small intestine. There are many reports on the role of bile salts in lipolysis, but the knowledge of their influence...
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Suppressors of lapC mutation identify new regulators of LpxC, which mediates the first committed step in lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis
PublicationGram-negative bacteria, such as Escherichia coli, are characterized by an asymmetric outer membrane (OM) with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) located in the outer leaflet and phospholipids facing the inner leaflet. E. coli recruits LPS assembly proteins LapB, LapC and LapD in concert with FtsH protease to ensure a balanced biosynthesis of LPS and phospholipids. We recently reported that bacteria either lacking the periplasmic domain of...
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Escherichia coli Strains with Virulent Factors Typical for Uropathogens were Isolated from Sinuses from Patients with Chronic Rhinosinusitis—Case Report
PublicationEscherichia coli were isolated from three patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) by intraoperative sinus tissue biopsy. Taking into account the unusual replicative niche and previous treatment failures, it was decided to focus on the virulence and drug resistance of these bacteria. The strains turned out to be multi-sensitive, but the rich virulence factors profile of bacteria typical for phylogenetic group B2 deserved attention....
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Identification and molecular modeling of a novel lipase from an Antarctic soil metagenomic library.
PublicationIn this work, we present the construction of a metagenomic library in Escherichia coli using pUC19 vector and environmental DNA directly isolated from Antarctic topsoil and screened for lipolytic enzymes. The screening on agar supplemented with olive oil and rhodamine B revealed one clone with lipolytic activity (Lip1) out of 11,000 E. coli clones. This clone harbored a plasmid, pLip1, which has an insert of 4722 bp that has been...
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Pre-treatment of bio fraction waste prior to fermentation processes
PublicationCurrent efforts are taken to increase resource efficiency, close material loops, and improve sustainable waste and by-products management. Thus, networking agro-food by-products and converting them into valuable products completely exhausting the potential of the raw material becomes significant. Model lignocellulosic and starch based biomass were subjected to pre-treatment with the application of acidic compounds, i.e. sulphuric...
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The Unfolded Protein Response: A Double-Edged Sword for Brain Health
PublicationEfficient brain function requires as much as 20% of the total oxygen intake to support normal neuronal cell function. This level of oxygen usage, however, leads to the generation of free radicals, and thus can lead to oxidative stress and potentially to age-related cognitive decay and even neurodegenerative diseases. The regulation of this system requires a complex monitoring network to maintain proper oxygen homeostasis. Furthermore,...
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Homoisocitrate dehydrogenase from Candida albicans: properties, inhibition, and targeting by an antifungal pro-drug
PublicationThe LYS12 gene from Candida albicans, coding for homoisocitrate dehydrogenase was cloned and expressed as a His-tagged protein in Escherichia coli. The purified gene product catalyzes the Mg2+- and K+-dependent oxidative decarboxylation of homoisocitrate to alpha-ketoadipate. The recombinant enzyme demonstrates strict specificity for homoisocitrate. SDS-PAGE of CaHIcDH revealed its molecular mass of 42.6±1 kDa, while in size-exclusion...