imagine (Institute of molecular genetics and genetic engineering)
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Novel 1,3,4-thiadiazole-chalcone hybrids containing catechol moiety: synthesis, antioxidant activity, cytotoxicity and DNA interaction studies
Hybrid compounds that combine the 1,3,4-thiadiazole-containing catechol moiety with a chalcone motif were synthesized and examined for their antioxidant activity, cytotoxicity, and DNA-binding activity. A series of thirteen compounds showed strong antioxidant and cytotoxic effects on human acute promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells. Several compounds exerted good cytotoxic activities on cervical adenocarcinoma HeLa cells. The treatment of HeLa cells with IC50 and double IC50 concentrations of the compounds 5a, 5c, 5f, and 5m induced a statistically significant increase in the percentage of cells within a subG1 cell cycle phase. The examined compounds caused G2/M cell cycle arrest in HeLa cells. Each of these compounds triggered apoptosis in HeLa cells through activation of caspase-3, the main effector caspase, caspase-8, which is involved in the extrinsic apoptotic pathway, and caspase-9, which is involved in the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. All of the examined compounds decreased the expression levels of MMP2 in HeLa cells and levels of protumorigenic miR-133b. Compounds 5a and 5m lowered the expression level of oncogenic miR-21 in HeLa cells. In addition, compounds 5a, 5f, and 5m decreased the expression levels of oncogenic miR-155 while the treatment of HeLa cells with compounds 5a, 5c, and 5f increased expression of tumor-suppressive miR-206. Observed effects of these compounds on expression levels of four examined miRNAs suggest their prominent cancer-suppressive activity. An investigation by absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy showed more efficient calf thymus DNA binding activity of the compound 5m in comparison to other tested compounds. Results of a pUC19 plasmid cleavage study and comet assay showed DNA damaging activities of compounds 5a and 5c.Related to published version:[https://imagine.imgge.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/1168]This is the peer reviewed version of the paper: Jakovljević, K., Joksović, M. D., Matić, I., Petrović, N., Stanojković, T., Sladić, D., Vujčić, M., Janović, B., Joksović, L., Trifunović, S., & Marković, V. (2018). Novel 1,3,4-thiadiazole-chalcone hybrids containing catechol moiety: Synthesis, antioxidant activity, cytotoxicity and DNA interaction studies. Medchemcomm, 9(10), 1679–1697. [https://doi.org/10.1039/c8md00316e
Clinical case seminar - familial intracranial germinoma
Background: Intracranial germinomas (ICG) are uncommon brain neoplasms with extremely rare familial occurrence. Because ICG invades the hypothalamus and/or pituitary, endocrine dysfunction is one of the common determinants of these tumours. We present two brothers with a history of ICG. Patient 1 is a 25-year-old male who suffered from weakness of the right half of his body at the age of 18 years. Cranial MRI revealed a mass lesion in the left thalamus. He underwent neurosurgery, and the tumour was removed completely. Histopathological (HP) and immunohistochemical analyses verified the diagnosis of pure germinoma. He experienced complete remission of the tumour after radiation therapy. At the age of 22 years a diagnosis of isolated growth hormone deficiency (IGHD) was established and GH replacement was initiated. Molecular genetic analysis of the tumour tissue detected the mutation within exon 2 in KRAS gene. Patient 2 is a 20-year-old man who presented with diabetes insipidus at the age of 12 years. MRI detected tumour in the third ventricle and pineal region. After endoscopic tumour biopsy the HP diagnosis was pure germinoma. He received chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy and was treated with GH during childhood. At the age of 18 years GH replacement was reintroduced. A six-month follow-up during the subsequent two years in both brothers demonstrated the IGF1 normalisation with no MRI signs of tumour recurrence. Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, so far only six reports have been published related to familial ICG. The presented two brothers are the first report of familial ICG case outside Japan. They have been treated successfully with GH therapy in adulthood
Influence of Short Central PEO Segment on Hydrolytic and Enzymatic Degradation of Triblock PCL Copolymers
Hydrolytic, enzymatic degradation and composting under controlled conditions of series of triblock PCL/PEO copolymers, PCEC, with central short PEO block (M (n) 400 g/mol) are presented and compared with homopolymer (PCL). The PCEC copolymers, synthesized via ring-opening polymerization of epsilon-caprolactone, were characterized by H-1 NMR, quantitative C-13 NMR, GPC, DSC and WAXS. The introduction of the PEO central segment ( lt 2 wt%) in PCL chains significantly affected thermal degradation and crystallization behavior, while the hydrophobicity was slightly reduced as confirmed by water absorption and moisture uptake experiments. Hydrolytic degradation studies in phosphate buffer after 8 weeks indicated a small weight loss, while FTIR analysis detected changes in crystallinity indexes and GPC measurements revealed bulk degradation. Enzymatic degradation tested by cell-free extracts containing Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 confirmed high enzyme activity throughout the surface causing morphological changes detected by optical microscopy and AFM analysis. The changes in roughness of polymer films revealed surface erosion mechanism of enzymatic degradation. Copolymer with the highest content of PEO segment and the lowest molecular weight showed better degradation ability compared to PCL and other copolymers. Furthermore, composting of polymer films in a model compost system at 37 A degrees C resulted in significant degradation of the all synthesized block copolymers
Synthesis, structural characterization and antimicrobial activity of silver(I) complexes with 1-benzyl-1H-tetrazoles
Herein, we report the synthesis and structural characteristics of three tetrazole-containing compounds, 1-benzyl-1H-tetrazole (bntz), 1-benzyl-1H-tetrazol-5-amine (bntza) and 1-(4-methoxybenzyl)-1H-tetrazol-5-amine (mbntza) and the corresponding silver(I) complexes of the general formula [Ag(NO3-O)(L-N4)(2)](n), L = bntz (1), bntza (2) and mbntza (3). Silver(I) complexes 1-3 and 1-benzyl-1H-tetrazoles have been studied in detail by NMR, IR and UV-Vis spectroscopic methods and the structures of 1 and 2 have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The results of these analyses revealed a monodentate coordination of the ligands to Ag(I) ion via the N4 tetrazole nitrogen. The antimicrobial potential of silver(I) complexes 1-3 was evaluated against the broad panel of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and fungi, displaying their remarkable inhibiting activity with MIC (minimal inhibitory concentration) values in the range 2-8 and 0.16-1.25 mu g/mL (3.8-16.3 and 0.31-2.15 mu M), respectively. On the other hand, 1-benzyl-1H-tetrazoles used for the synthesis of the silver(I) complexes were not active against the investigated strains, suggesting that the activity of the complexes originates from the Ag(I) ion exclusively. Moreover, silver(I) complexes 1-3 have good therapeutic potential, which can be deduced from their moderate cytotoxicity on the human fibroblast cell line MRC5, with IC50 values falling in the range 30-60 mu g/mL (57.7-103.4 mu M).Peer-reviewed manuscript:[https://imagine.imgge.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/1759
LraI from Lactococcus raffinolactis BGTRK10-1, an Isoschizomer of EcoRI, Exhibits Ion Concentration-Dependent Specific Star Activity
Restriction enzymes are the main defence system against foreign DNA, in charge of preserving genome integrity. Lactococcus raffinolactis BGTRK10-1 expresses LraI Type II restriction-modification enzyme, whose activity is similar to that shown for EcoRI; LraI methyltransferase protects DNA from EcoRI cleavage. The gene encoding LraI endonuclease was cloned and overexpressed in E. coli. Purified enzyme showed the highest specific activity at lower temperatures (between 13 degrees C and 37 degrees C) and was stable after storage at -20 degrees C in 50% glycerol. The concentration of monovalent ions in the reaction buffer required for optimal activity of LraI restriction enzyme was 100 mM or higher. The recognition and cleavage sequence for LraI restriction enzyme was determined as 5'-G/AATTC-3', indicating that LraI restriction enzyme is an isoschizomer of EcoRI. In the reaction buffer with a lower salt concentration, LraI exhibits star activity and specifically recognizes and cuts another alternative sequence 5'-A/AATTC-3', leaving the same sticky ends on fragments as EcoRI, which makes them clonable into a linearized vector. Phylogenetic analysis based on sequence alignment pointed out the common origin of LraI restriction-modification system with previously described EcoRI-like restriction-modification systems
A new class of platinum(II) complexes with the phosphine ligand pta which show potent anticancer activity
The anticancer potential of sixteen platinum(II) complexes with general formulae [PtCl(hq)(S-dmso)] (1a-8a) and [PtCl(hq)(pta)] (1b-8b) (where hq is 5-chloro-7-iodo-8-quinolinol (clioquinol; cqH) (1a, 1b), 8-hydroxy-5-nitroquinoline (nitroxoline; nxH) (2a, 2b), 5,7-dichloro-8-quinolinol (3a, 3b), 5,7-diiodo-8-quinolinol (4a, 4b), 5,7-dibromo-8-quinolinol (5a, 5b), 5,7-dichloro-8-hydroxy-2-methyl-quinoline (6a, 6b), 8-hydroxyquinoline (7a, 7b) and 8-quinolinethiol (8a, 8b); dmso is dimethyl sulfoxide and pta is 1,3,5triaza- 7-phosphaadamantane) was determined through in vitro cytotoxicity assay in human fibroblasts (MRC5) and two carcinoma cell lines (A375 and A549) and embryotoxicity assay in a zebrafish model. Interactions with double stranded DNA through in vitro assay and a molecular docking study were examined. All complexes, except 6a, exhibited a high cytotoxic effect on MRC5 cells at a concentration of 10 mu g mL(-1) while 1b, 5a, 6a and 3b showed selective toxicity towards carcinoma cell lines. In general, pta-based complexes (series b) were more toxic according to the results of a MTT screen and the LC50 values obtained in zebrafish (Danio rerio) assay; they also induced higher oxidative stress in this model. Successful cellular uptake of complexes was shown by the ICP-MS methodology. The binding propensity of the complex with DNA obtained in in silico studies can be correlated with those from the experimental investigation. Compounds with the highest binding potential, according to the interaction energy value, were 1b, 3b, 6b and 5b. From observations of the DNA interaction ability and of the in silico assessment, no apparent DNA fragmentation was observed either on DNA extracted from the treated cancer cell line or from the zebrafish embryos
Genetic characterization of GSD I in Serbian population revealed unexpectedly high incidence of GSD Ib and 3 novel SLC37A4 variants
Glycogen storage disease (GSD) type I is inborn metabolic disease characterized by accumulation of glycogen in multiple organs. We analyzed 38 patients with clinical suspicion of GSD I using Sanger and next-generation sequencing (NGS). We identified 28 GSD Ib and 5 GSD Ia patients. In 5 patients, GSD III, VI, IX, cholesteryl-ester storage disease and Shwachman-Diamond syndrome diagnoses were set using NGS. Incidences for GSD Ia and GSD Ib were estimated at 1:172746 and 1:60461 live-births, respectively. Two variants were identified in G6PC gene: c.247C gt T (p.Arg83Cys) and c.518T gt C (p.Leu173Pro). In SLC37A4 gene, 6 variants were detected. Three previously reported variants c.81T gt A (p.Asn27Lys), c.162C gt A (p.Ser54Arg) and c.1042_1043delCT (p.Leu348Valfs*53) accounted for 87% of all analyzed alleles. Computational, transcription studies and/or clinical presentation in patients confirmed pathogenic effect of 3 novel variants: c.248G gt A (p.Gly83Glu), c.404G gt A (p.Gly135Asp) and c.785G gt A (p.Ser263Glyfs*33 or p.Gly262Asp). In the cohort, hepatomegaly, hypoglycemia and failure to thrive were the most frequent presenting signs of GSD Ia, while hepatomegaly and recurrent bacterial infections were clinical hallmarks of GSD Ib. All GSD Ib patients developed neutropenia while 20.6% developed inflammatory bowel disease. Our study revealed the highest worldwide incidence of GSD Ib. Furthermore, description of 3 novel variants will facilitate medical genetic practice.This is the peer reviewed version of the paper: Skakic, A., Djordjevic, M., Sarajlija, A., Klaassen, K., Tosic, N., Kecman, B., Ugrin, M., Spasovski, V., Pavlovic, S., & Stojiljkovic, M. (2018). Genetic characterization of GSD I in Serbian population revealed unexpectedly high incidence of GSD Ib and 3 novel SLC37A4 variants. Clinical Genetics, 93(2), 350–355. [https://doi.org/10.1111/cge.13093
Root malate efflux and expression of TaALMT1 in Serbian winter wheat cultivars differing in Al tolerance
Aluminium (Al) toxicity in acid soils is a global problem. Here, we investigated Al tolerance in high yielding winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars bred in Serbia. The common relative mot length (RRL) test for Al tolerance, and both physiological (malate efflux) and molecular (Aluminium-Activated Malate Transporter 1 [TaALMT1] expression) approaches were used for this characterization. Both moderately Al-tolerant cvs. Ljiljana and Arabeska showed significantly higher malate efflux rate from the root tips in comparison to moderately Al-sensitive cv. Pobeda and followed the RRL pattern. Irrespectively of Al supply, moderately Al-tolerant cultivars showed significantly higher relative TaALMT1 expression than the Al-sensitive ones. A considerably high level of Al tolerance was found in cv. Ljiljana, which showed the highest Al-induced malate efflux along with the highest constitutive expression level of TaALMT1 transcripts. Our results also demonstrate that Al tolerance is based on a constitutive trait of high TaALMT1 expression and malate efflux in wheat roots, resulting in a decrease in root length reduction