Nonadiabatic Transitions and Laser Control of Molecular Processes

In this review, we outline critical molecular processes that have been implicated by discovery of genetic mutations in autism. These mechanisms need to be mapped onto the neurodevelopment step(s) gone awry that may be associated with cause in autism. Molecular mechanisms include: (i) regulation of gene expression; (ii) pre-mRNA splicing; (iii) protein localization, translation, and turnover; (iv) synaptic transmission; (v) cell signaling; (vi) the functions of cytoskeletal and scaffolding proteins; and (vii) the function of neuronal cell adhesion molecules. While the molecular mechanisms appear broad, they may converge on only one of a few steps during neurodevelopment that perturbs the structure, function, and/or plasticity of neuronal circuitry. While there are many genetic mutations involved, novel treatments may need to target only one of few developmental mechanisms.

Download Full-text

Sialic Acid—Modified Nanoparticles—New Approaches in the Glioma Management—Perspective Review

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms22147494 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (14) ◽

pp. 7494

Author(s):

Przemyslaw Wielgat ◽

Katarzyna Niemirowicz-Laskowska ◽

Agnieszka Z. Wilczewska ◽

Halina Car

Keyword(s):

Sialic Acid ◽

Clinical Observation ◽

Malignant Cell ◽

Cellular Heterogeneity ◽

Molecular Processes ◽

Management Perspective ◽

Therapeutic Tools ◽

And Function ◽

Worse Prognosis

The cell surface is covered by a dense and complex network of glycans attached to the membrane proteins and lipids. In gliomas, the aberrant sialylation, as the final stage of glycosylation, is an important regulatory mechanism of malignant cell behavior and correlates with worse prognosis. Better understanding of the role of sialylation in cellular and molecular processes opens a new way in the development of therapeutic tools for human brain tumors. According to the recent clinical observation, the cellular heterogeneity, activity of brain cancer stem cells (BCSCs), immune evasion, and function of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) are attractive targets for new therapeutic strategies. In this review, we summarize the importance of sialic acid-modified nanoparticles in brain tumor progression.

Download Full-text

Quantitative linear dichroism imaging of molecular processes in living cells made simple by open software tools

Communications Biology ◽

10.1038/s42003-021-01694-1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Alexey Bondar ◽

Olga Rybakova ◽

Josef Melcr ◽

Jan Dohnálek ◽

Petro Khoroshyy ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Biological Systems ◽

Linear Dichroism ◽

Quantitative Information ◽

Living Cells ◽

Software Tools ◽

Model Systems ◽

Membrane Properties ◽

Polarization Microscopy ◽

Molecular Processes ◽

Wide Range

AbstractFluorescence-detected linear dichroism microscopy allows observing various molecular processes in living cells, as well as obtaining quantitative information on orientation of fluorescent molecules associated with cellular features. Such information can provide insights into protein structure, aid in development of genetically encoded probes, and allow determinations of lipid membrane properties. However, quantitating and interpreting linear dichroism in biological systems has been laborious and unreliable. Here we present a set of open source ImageJ-based software tools that allow fast and easy linear dichroism visualization and quantitation, as well as extraction of quantitative information on molecular orientations, even in living systems. The tools were tested on model synthetic lipid vesicles and applied to a variety of biological systems, including observations of conformational changes during G-protein signaling in living cells, using fluorescent proteins. Our results show that our tools and model systems are applicable to a wide range of molecules and polarization-resolved microscopy techniques, and represent a significant step towards making polarization microscopy a mainstream tool of biological imaging.

Download Full-text

Biophysics and Modeling of Mechanotransduction in Neurons: A Review

Mathematics ◽

10.3390/math9040323 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (4) ◽

pp. 323

Author(s):

Martina Nicoletti ◽

Letizia Chiodo ◽

Alessandro Loppini

Keyword(s):

Ion Channels ◽

Cell Membrane ◽

Sensory Neurons ◽

Neuronal Cell ◽

Molecular Processes ◽

Biological Mechanisms ◽

Mechanosensitive Ion Channels ◽

Complex Interactions ◽

Different Types ◽

Intracellular Organelles

Mechanosensing is a key feature through which organisms can receive inputs from the environment and convert them into specific functional and behavioral outputs. Mechanosensation occurs in many cells and tissues, regulating a plethora of molecular processes based on the distribution of forces and stresses both at the cell membrane and at the intracellular organelles levels, through complex interactions between cells’ microstructures, cytoskeleton, and extracellular matrix. Although several primary and secondary mechanisms have been shown to contribute to mechanosensation, a fundamental pathway in simple organisms and mammals involves the presence of specialized sensory neurons and the presence of different types of mechanosensitive ion channels on the neuronal cell membrane. In this contribution, we present a review of the main ion channels which have been proven to be significantly involved in mechanotransduction in neurons. Further, we discuss recent studies focused on the biological mechanisms and modeling of mechanosensitive ion channels’ gating, and on mechanotransduction modeling at different scales and levels of details.

Download Full-text