scholarly journals Biological functions of supramolecular assemblies of small molecules in the cellular environment

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jingyu Wang ◽  
Hui Li ◽  
Bing Xu
Keyword(s):  
Small Molecules ◽  
Supramolecular Assemblies ◽  
Emergent Properties ◽  
Biological Functions ◽  
Therapeutic Approaches ◽  
Cellular Environment ◽  
Novel Therapeutic

Supramolecular assemblies of small molecules, exhibiting emergent properties, are becoming a new and dynamic molecular platform for biological functions and for developing novel therapeutic approaches.

scholarly journals Small molecules that target the ubiquitin system

2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 479-497 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hai Qiu Wu ◽  
David Baker ◽  
Huib Ovaa
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Neurodegenerative Diseases ◽  
Small Molecules ◽  
Small Molecule ◽  
Normal Operation ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Therapeutic Approaches ◽  
Ubiquitin System ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Novel Therapeutic

Eukaryotic life depends upon the interplay between vast networks of signaling pathways composed of upwards of 109–1010 proteins per cell. The integrity and normal operation of the cell requires that these proteins act in a precise spatial and temporal manner. The ubiquitin system is absolutely central to this process and perturbation of its function contributes directly to the onset and progression of a wide variety of diseases, including cancer, metabolic syndromes, neurodegenerative diseases, autoimmunity, inflammatory disorders, infectious diseases, and muscle dystrophies. Whilst the individual components and the overall architecture of the ubiquitin system have been delineated in some detail, how ubiquitination might be successfully targeted, or harnessed, to develop novel therapeutic approaches to the treatment of disease, currently remains relatively poorly understood. In this review, we will provide an overview of the current status of selected small molecule ubiquitin system inhibitors. We will further discuss the unique challenges of targeting this ubiquitous and highly complex machinery, and explore and highlight potential ways in which these challenges might be met.

scholarly journals Ligands as Stabilizers of G-Quadruplexes in Non-Coding RNAs

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (20) ◽  
pp. 6164
Author(s):  
Joana Figueiredo ◽  
Tiago Santos ◽  
André Miranda ◽  
Daniela Alexandre ◽  
Bernardo Teixeira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Small Molecules ◽  
Regulation Of Gene Expression ◽  
Mirna Biogenesis ◽  
Biological Processes ◽  
Biological Functions ◽  
Therapeutic Approaches ◽  
Stem Loop ◽  
Rna Transcripts ◽  
Non Coding Rnas

The non-coding RNAs (ncRNA) are RNA transcripts with different sizes, structures and biological functions that do not encode functional proteins. RNA G-quadruplexes (rG4s) have been found in small and long ncRNAs. The existence of an equilibrium between rG4 and stem−loop structures in ncRNAs and its effect on biological processes remains unexplored. For example, deviation from the stem−loop leads to deregulated mature miRNA levels, demonstrating that miRNA biogenesis can be modulated by ions or small molecules. In light of this, we report several examples of rG4s in certain types of ncRNAs, and the implications of G4 stabilization using small molecules, also known as G4 ligands, in the regulation of gene expression, miRNA biogenesis, and miRNA−mRNA interactions. Until now, different G4 ligands scaffolds were synthesized for these targets. The regulatory role of the above-mentioned rG4s in ncRNAs can be used as novel therapeutic approaches for adjusting miRNA levels.

Adipocytes-released Peptides Involved in the Control of Gastrointestinal Motility

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (6) ◽  
pp. 614-629 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eglantina Idrizaj ◽  
Rachele Garella ◽  
Roberta Squecco ◽  
Maria Caterina Baccari
Keyword(s):  
Central Nervous System ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Adipose Tissue ◽  
Gastrointestinal Motility ◽  
Diagnostic Tools ◽  
Therapeutic Approaches ◽  
Motor Responses ◽  
Gastrointestinal Motor ◽  
Treatment Of Obesity ◽  
Novel Therapeutic

The present review focuses on adipocytes-released peptides known to be involved in the control of gastrointestinal motility, acting both centrally and peripherally. Thus, four peptides have been taken into account: leptin, adiponectin, nesfatin-1, and apelin. The discussion of the related physiological or pathophysiological roles, based on the most recent findings, is intended to underlie the close interactions among adipose tissue, central nervous system, and gastrointestinal tract. The better understanding of this complex network, as gastrointestinal motor responses represent peripheral signals involved in the regulation of food intake through the gut-brain axis, may also furnish a cue for the development of either novel therapeutic approaches in the treatment of obesity and eating disorders or potential diagnostic tools.

scholarly journals Methyltransferases in the Pathogenesis of Keratinocyte Cancers

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (14) ◽  
pp. 3402
Author(s):  
Eun Kyung Ko ◽  
Brian C. Capell
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Squamous Cell Carcinoma ◽  
Basal Cell Carcinoma ◽  
Cell Carcinoma ◽  
Squamous Cell ◽  
Basal Cell ◽  
Histone Methylation ◽  
Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma ◽  
Therapeutic Approaches ◽  
Novel Therapeutic

Recent evidence suggests that the disruption of gene expression by alterations in DNA, RNA, and histone methylation may be critical contributors to the pathogenesis of keratinocyte cancers (KCs), made up of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC), which collectively outnumber all other human cancers combined. While it is clear that methylation modifiers are frequently dysregulated in KCs, the underlying molecular and mechanistic changes are only beginning to be understood. Intriguingly, it has recently emerged that there is extensive cross-talk amongst these distinct methylation processes. Here, we summarize and synthesize the latest findings in this space and highlight how these discoveries may uncover novel therapeutic approaches for these ubiquitous cancers.

scholarly journals Current and Future Treatments for Classic Galactosemia

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 75 ◽  
Author(s):  
Britt Delnoy ◽  
Ana I. Coelho ◽  
Maria Estela Rubio-Gozalbo
Keyword(s):  
Standard Of Care ◽  
Type I ◽  
Therapeutic Approaches ◽  
Restricted Diet ◽  
Galactose Metabolism ◽  
Galt Activity ◽  
Classic Galactosemia ◽  
Pathogenic Factors ◽  
Future Treatments ◽  
Novel Therapeutic

Type I (classic) galactosemia, galactose 1-phosphate uridylyltransferase (GALT)-deficiency is a hereditary disorder of galactose metabolism. The current therapeutic standard of care, a galactose-restricted diet, is effective in treating neonatal complications but is inadequate in preventing burdensome complications. The development of several animal models of classic galactosemia that (partly) mimic the biochemical and clinical phenotypes and the resolution of the crystal structure of GALT have provided important insights; however, precise pathophysiology remains to be elucidated. Novel therapeutic approaches currently being explored focus on several of the pathogenic factors that have been described, aiming to (i) restore GALT activity, (ii) influence the cascade of events and (iii) address the clinical picture. This review attempts to provide an overview on the latest advancements in therapy approaches.

scholarly journals MBRS-48. IDENTIFICATION OF NOVEL THERAPEUTIC APPROACHES FOR MYC-DRIVEN MEDULLOBLASTOMA

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. iii406-iii406
Author(s):  
Kübra Taban ◽  
David Pauck ◽  
Mara Maue ◽  
Viktoria Marquardt ◽  
Hua Yu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Drugs ◽  
Current Therapy ◽  
Cancer Drug ◽  
Mrna Levels ◽  
Cell Models ◽  
Therapeutic Approaches ◽  
Group 3 ◽  
Novel Therapeutic

Abstract Medulloblastoma (MB) is the most common malignant brain tumor in children and is frequently metastatic at diagnosis. Treatment with surgery, radiation and multi-agent chemotherapy may leave survivors of these brain tumors with long-term deficits as a consequence. One of the four consensus molecular subgroups of MB is the MYC-driven group 3 MB, which is the most malignant type and has a poor prognosis under current therapy. Thus, it is important to discover more effective targeted therapeutic approaches. We conducted a high-throughput drug screening to identify novel compounds showing efficiency in group 3 MB using both clinically established inhibitors (n=196) and clinically-applicable compounds (n=464). More than 20 compounds demonstrated a significantly higher anti-tumoral effect in MYChigh (n=7) compared to MYClow (n=4) MB cell models. Among these compounds, Navitoclax and Clofarabine showed the strongest effect in inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in MYChigh MB models. Furthermore, we show that Navitoclax, an orally bioavailable and blood-brain barrier passing anti-cancer drug, inhibits specifically Bcl-xL proteins. In line, we found a significant correlation between BCL-xL and MYC mRNA levels in 763 primary MB patient samples (Data source: “R2 https://hgserver1.amc.nl”). In addition, Navitoclax and Clofarabine have been tested in cells obtained from MB patient-derived-xenografts, which confirmed their specific efficacy in MYChigh versus MYClow MB. In summary, our approach has identified promising new drugs that significantly reduce cell viability in MYChigh compared to MYClow MB cell models. Our findings point to novel therapeutic vulnerabilities for MB that need to be further validated in vitro and in vivo.

scholarly journals Multiregional genetic evolution of metastatic uveal melanoma

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel A. Rodriguez ◽  
Jessica Yang ◽  
Michael A. Durante ◽  
Alexander N. Shoushtari ◽  
Stergios J. Moschos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Uveal Melanoma ◽  
Tumor Development ◽  
Genetic Evolution ◽  
Metastatic Progression ◽  
Therapeutic Approaches ◽  
Primary Tumors ◽  
Early Tumor ◽  
Rapid Autopsy ◽  
Genetic Events ◽  
Novel Therapeutic

AbstractUveal melanoma (UM) is the most common primary intraocular malignancy in adults and leads to deadly metastases for which there is no approved treatment. Genetic events driving early tumor development are well-described, but those occurring later during metastatic progression remain poorly understood. We performed multiregional genomic sequencing on 22 tumors collected from two patients with widely metastatic UM who underwent rapid autopsy. We observed multiple seeding events from the primary tumors, metastasis-to-metastasis seeding, polyclonal seeding, and late driver variants in ATM, KRAS, and other genes previously unreported in UM. These findings reveal previously unrecognized temporal and anatomic complexity in the genetic evolution of metastatic uveal melanoma, and they highlight the distinction between early and late phases of UM genetic evolution with implications for novel therapeutic approaches.

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