Chemistry & Biology[JOURNAL]
Sun
200 papers
Engineering liposomes via click chemistry for multimodal biomedical applications: Evidence from eukaryotic transfection and antimicrobial light-triggered therapy.
Montassar K, Raphaelle Y, Margaux B … +7 more , Alexis H, Salvatore S, Paul-Alain J, Tristan M, Mathieu B, Aurore F, Tony LG
J Photochem Photobiol B · 2026 Jun · PMID 42392010 · Publisher ↗
Click chemistry is a powerful and versatile method for grafting various moieties onto a chemical backbone, enabling the integration of multiple functionalities into a single molecular scaffold. Here, a previously reporte...
Click chemistry is a powerful and versatile method for grafting various moieties onto a chemical backbone, enabling the integration of multiple functionalities into a single molecular scaffold. Here, a previously reported cationic lipophosphoramidate, BSV36, was employed in a series of liposomes functionalized with either a naphthalimide or a nitroaniline moiety. These modifications were introduced via aminolysis of phosphonodithioester click reaction, performed either before or after liposome formation. The various liposomes obtained could display - separately or in combination - multiple properties, i.e., fluorescence, nitric oxide (NO) photorelease, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) photogeneration. They were used to conduct a series of assays providing proof-of-principle that a single click-modified liposomal preparation can fluorescently label and photo-inactivate clinical bacterial strains, particularly Staphylococcus aureus, as well as to deliver plasmid DNA into human-derived cell lines. Importantly, comparison of liposome performance enabled the evaluation of the compatibility of the aforementioned features within a single entity. This work therefore offers new insights into the broadened applications of multimodular nanovesicles across diverse biomedical fields. In particular, it highlights their relevance for the treatment of recalcitrant infections in the context of genetic diseases, where the combined implementation of gene therapy and antimicrobial control could provide substantial therapeutic benefit.
Phytofabrication of Chitosan-MgO nanocomposites: Evaluation of their antioxidant, antibacterial, anticancer, and zebrafish embryo biocompatibility properties.
Begum MY, Rajkumar M, Govindaraj P … +3 more , Meenambigai K, Alhamod M, Alotaibi H
J Photochem Photobiol B · 2026 Jun · PMID 42378734 · Publisher ↗
Phytofabrication of polymer-based nanocomposites has emerged as a promising approach for developing multifunctional biomaterials with enhanced therapeutic efficacy. In the present study, chitosan-coated magnesium oxide n...
Phytofabrication of polymer-based nanocomposites has emerged as a promising approach for developing multifunctional biomaterials with enhanced therapeutic efficacy. In the present study, chitosan-coated magnesium oxide nanocomposites (CS-MgONCs) were successfully synthesized via a green biogenic route using Abutilon indicum leaf extract, integrating the advantages of biopolymers and metal oxides. The formation of CS-MgONCs was preliminarily confirmed by UV-Vis spectroscopy with a characteristic absorption peak at 280 nm. FTIR analysis revealed the involvement of key functional groups responsible for reduction and stabilization, while XRD patterns confirmed the crystalline nature of the nanocomposites. HR-TEM demonstrated a predominantly semi-spherical morphology with an average particle size of 58.93 nm. DLS and zeta potential analyses indicated good colloidal stability, with a surface charge of +8.76 mV, attributed to the chitosan coating. Functionally, CS-MgONCs exhibited significant dose-dependent antioxidant activity, achieving a maximum DPPH radical scavenging efficiency of 78.37 ± 1.34% at 200 μg/mL. The nanocomposites also demonstrated potent antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens, with notable zones of inhibition against Staphylococcus aureus (20.71 ± 0.74 mm) and Escherichia coli (19.71 ± 0.74 mm). Furthermore, marked anti-inflammatory activity was observed through inhibition of cyclooxygenase (COX), with 77.58 ± 1.37% suppression of COX-2 activity, suggesting effective modulation of inflammatory pathways. Biocompatibility assessment in zebrafish embryo models indicated acceptable safety profiles, with a 70% survival rate at 200 μg/mL. Importantly, the nanocomposites exhibited pronounced anticancer activity against HT-29 colon cancer cells, reducing cell viability to 21.48 ± 0.98% in a concentration-dependent manner. In conclusion, the findings highlight that biogenically synthesized CS-MgONCs integrate structural stability with multifunctional biological performance, positioning them as promising candidates for future biomedical and therapeutic applications.
The Programmable Microbiome: Integrative AI and Multi-Omics Frameworks for Precision T2DM Management.
Konwar B, Kim KS
Biology (Basel) · 2026 Jun · PMID 42345832 · Full text
The gut microbiota is recognized as a programmable metabolic organ that governs systemic homeostasis. Recent advances (2023-2025) have pivoted Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) research from a host-centric perspective towa...
The gut microbiota is recognized as a programmable metabolic organ that governs systemic homeostasis. Recent advances (2023-2025) have pivoted Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) research from a host-centric perspective toward a failure of bidirectional host-microbe metabolic flux. This review evaluates the molecular mechanisms underpinning this shift, focusing on microbial metabolite signaling, virome-mediated modulation, and the emergence of drug-microbiome interactions as critical therapeutic variables. We highlight the transformative role of AI-guided mapping and digital twin simulations in modeling high-resolution metabolic flux and predicting the stability of engineered microbial consortia. By integrating meta-transcriptomics and epigenomics, we characterize the functional plasticity of the microbiome under therapeutic stress. We argue that framing the microbiota as a programmable infrastructure-integrated with AI analytics and metabolic engineering-enables adaptive, real-time interventions. This synthesis offers a blueprint for transitioning from correlative observations toward precision microbiome engineering to achieve sustained metabolic resilience.
Toxicological Activities of Rhizomes and Fiddleheads in HPV16-Transgenic Mice.
Medeiros-Fonseca B, Faustino-Rocha AI, Pires MJ … +14 more , Neuparth MJ, Queiroga F, Gaivão I, Catarino MD, Cardoso SM, Bastos MM, Félix L, Venâncio C, Seixas F, Vasconcelos-Nóbrega C, Vala H, Medeiros R, Oliveira PA, Gil da Costa RM
Biology (Basel) · 2026 Jun · PMID 42345830 · Full text
is a globally distributed plant species, highly adaptable to various environments and historically significant as a food source for both animals and humans. This study evaluated the in vivo effects of aqueous extracts fr...
is a globally distributed plant species, highly adaptable to various environments and historically significant as a food source for both animals and humans. This study evaluated the in vivo effects of aqueous extracts from rhizomes and freeze-dried fiddleheads in a transgenic mouse model of human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16)-induced cancer. Rhizome extract was administered in drinking water at concentrations of 0.0125, 0.025, and 0.05 g/mL for 28 days across six experimental groups (n = 5): G1 (wild-type, control), G2 (wild-type, 0.05 g/mL), G3 (HPV, control), G4 (HPV, 0.0125 g/mL), G5 (HPV, 0.025 g/mL), and G6 (HPV, 0.05 g/mL). Freeze-dried fiddleheads were incorporated into the diet at concentrations of 12.5%, 25%, and 50%, also using six groups (n = 5). Humane endpoints, body weight, and food and water consumption were monitored weekly. The rhizome extract was associated with more pronounced biological effects compared to fiddleheads, particularly at the histological and molecular levels. Conversely, freeze-dried fiddleheads were better tolerated. The results indicate that rhizomes were associated with great biological impact under the present experimental conditions, particularly in HPV16 transgenic mice, highlighting a potential synergistic effect with HPV. The potential risks associated with consumption, as well as preparation methods, should be carefully considered, even for rhizomes which are often regarded as less harmful than other plant parts.
Nevermore: Target-Conditioned Protein-Ligand Representation Learning for Multi-Objective Lead Optimization with Database-Grounded Retrieval.
Refahi MS, Toutounchian M, Sokhansanj BA … +4 more , Yoo H, Brown JR, Ji HF, Rosen GL
Biology (Basel) · 2026 Jun · PMID 42345827 · Full text
Recently, there has been great interest in AI-based approaches for de novo design of novel drug candidates. However, the generation of useful lead drug candidate compounds requires more than predicting engagement with th...
Recently, there has been great interest in AI-based approaches for de novo design of novel drug candidates. However, the generation of useful lead drug candidate compounds requires more than predicting engagement with the desired protein target. Candidate molecules must also be anchored in the real world of medicinal chemistry for their synthesis and modification as well as satisfying multiple drug development-related criteria. Here, we present Nevermore, an AI target-conditioned, database-grounded workflow for prioritizing candidate ligands from large compound libraries. Nevermore uses a geometry-aware protein-ligand affinity oracle to score target-specific binding and perform sparse integer edits in count-based Morgan fingerprint space. Nevermore then retrieves the most structurally similar molecules from public chemical databases. This design enables multi-objective search over predicted affinity and absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) proxies while keeping all candidates anchored to valid database compounds. We evaluated Nevermore's performance across three biologically distinct targets: Menin, a protein-interaction target relevant to leukemia; SARS-CoV-2 M, a viral cysteine protease relevant to antiviral discovery; and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), a kinase-superfamily oncology target with extensive experimentally tested compounds. Nevermore retrieved candidate sets with favorable predicted affinity-property trade-offs. These results support database-grounded fingerprint steering as a practical computational strategy for lead prioritization and for generating testable molecular hypotheses, although the prioritized candidates remain predictions, requiring follow-up experimental validation.
Global Research Landscape and Thematic Evolution of Fungi-Derived Antimicrobials Against Methicillin-Resistant (MRSA): A Scientometric Analysis.
Ong CJN, Fortaleza JAG, Ramos ED … +7 more , Cabuhat KSP, Cruz JTP, Libres AC, Matamis JG, Mamaat JE, de Leon CS, Nuevo JJM
Biology (Basel) · 2026 Jun · PMID 42345823 · Full text
Methicillin-resistant (MRSA) remains a significant multidrug-resistant pathogen, frequently associated with persistent infections and biofilm formation, underscoring the urgent need for alternative antimicrobial strateg...
Methicillin-resistant (MRSA) remains a significant multidrug-resistant pathogen, frequently associated with persistent infections and biofilm formation, underscoring the urgent need for alternative antimicrobial strategies. Bioactive compounds derived from fungi have attracted considerable attention due to their structural diversity and demonstrated antibacterial activity against MRSA. This study employed a scientometric approach to assess global research trends, thematic evolution, and collaborative networks concerning fungi-derived anti-MRSA compounds. Bibliographic data were collected from the Scopus database, and a total of 1666 English-language articles and reviews published up to 2025 were analyzed using Bibliometrix/Biblioshiny and VOSviewer. The findings indicate a marked increase in research output after 2010, reflecting heightened scientific interest in fungal natural products for MRSA management. China and the United States emerged as leading contributors in terms of publication volume and international collaboration. Thematic analysis revealed a shift from broad antimicrobial screening to more specialized investigations, including antibiofilm activity, secondary metabolites, endophytic fungi, molecular docking, and antimicrobial resistance. Nonetheless, several challenges persist, such as insufficient mechanistic validation, limited toxicity and pharmacokinetic assessments, and a lack of clinically relevant studies. Overall, the field is increasingly multidisciplinary, integrating microbiology, natural product chemistry, and computational methodologies to advance the discovery of anti-MRSA agents.
The Effects of Bisphosphonates Used in Osteoporosis Treatment on Breast Cancer: Analysis with Integrative Bioinformatics Methods, DFT, ADMET and Molecular Docking Analysis.
Dogan SC, Goren K
Biology (Basel) · 2026 Jun · PMID 42345808 · Full text
This study evaluated the structural, electronic, pharmacokinetic, and receptor-binding properties of three bisphosphonate derivatives, alendronate, risedronate, and zoledronate, to investigate their therapeutic relevance...
This study evaluated the structural, electronic, pharmacokinetic, and receptor-binding properties of three bisphosphonate derivatives, alendronate, risedronate, and zoledronate, to investigate their therapeutic relevance in osteoporosis and breast cancer. Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations at the B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) level showed that risedronate exhibited the highest kinetic stability (ΔE = 6.7468 eV), whereas zoledronate displayed greater chemical reactivity (ΔE = 2.9669 eV) and the strongest nonlinear optical response (β = 1.20 × 10 esu). ADMET analysis indicated acceptable safety profiles for all compounds, although high polarity and low lipophilicity may limit oral bioavailability. Molecular docking against 11 breast cancer- and bone metabolism-related targets revealed favorable binding affinities, particularly for zoledronate and risedronate. Zoledronate showed strong interactions with , /, , and , whereas risedronate exhibited notable affinity for and . Bioinformatics analyses identified significant dysregulation of , , , , , and in breast cancer tissues, while survival analysis linked elevated FDPS, , and expression to poor prognosis. Network analyses highlighted pathways related to mevalonate metabolism, hormone signaling, angiogenesis, extracellular matrix remodeling, and the // axis. These findings support the potential repurposing of bisphosphonates, particularly zoledronate, for breast cancer-associated bone disease.
Effect of Methyl Jasmonate on the Growth, Antioxidant Potential, and Phenolic Compound Synthesis of L. In Vitro Shoots.
Chakarova M, Miladinova-Georgieva K, Geneva M … +8 more , Sichanova M, Trendafilova A, Ivanova V, Sozoniuk M, Dimitrova L, Dimitrova M, Nikolova M, Petrova M
Biology (Basel) · 2026 Jun · PMID 42345765 · Full text
L. is a valuable medicinal plant with strong anti-inflammatory properties attributed to its high levels of antioxidants and specific metabolites. The species is endemic to Europe, and its natural populations are threaten...
L. is a valuable medicinal plant with strong anti-inflammatory properties attributed to its high levels of antioxidants and specific metabolites. The species is endemic to Europe, and its natural populations are threatened by habitat disturbance and poor management. In vitro plant cultures are an alternative method for rapid plant multiplication and the controlled synthesis of biologically active substances. Elicitation is a common strategy for inducing physiological changes and defense responses in plants, thereby increasing their antioxidant potential and the synthesis of specialized metabolites. Methyl jasmonate, a plant growth regulator involved in the modulation of plant growth and development at morphological and molecular levels, has gained increasing attention as an elicitor. In the present study, three concentrations of MeJA (50, 100, and 200 μM) were applied for 3 and 7 days to evaluate their effects on growth, antioxidant capacity, and accumulation of caffeoylquinic acids in in vitro shoots of arnica. Seven-day MeJA treatment reduced growth parameters and was accompanied by increased activities of antioxidant enzymes SOD and APX, as well as elevated levels of water-soluble antioxidants, which correlated with the enhanced accumulation of caffeoylquinic acids, total phenolics, and flavonoids. The results demonstrate that MeJA affected shoot growth and antioxidant potential of , with concentration and treatment duration playing a critical role in response magnitude.
Imaging-Based Spatial Transcriptomics: Data Interpretation Methods and Biomedical Applications.
Li W, Zhou Y
Biology (Basel) · 2026 Jun · PMID 42345756 · Full text
Imaging-based spatial transcriptomics has advanced from low-plex single-molecule fluorescence in situ hybridization to a diverse set of highly multiplexed platforms, with recent multimodal and pathology-compatible capabi...
Imaging-based spatial transcriptomics has advanced from low-plex single-molecule fluorescence in situ hybridization to a diverse set of highly multiplexed platforms, with recent multimodal and pathology-compatible capabilities. Despite major differences in chemistry, coding, and imaging strategies across different platforms, their biological interpretation often converges on a few notable computational biology problems. This review examines imaging-based spatial transcriptomics through the lens of data interpretation and applications, focusing on the analytical framework that converts raw fluorescence signals or accompanying in situ sequencing data into molecule-, cell-, and tissue-level representations. We discuss the key challenges in preprocessing, registration, restoration, feature detection, barcode decoding, molecule calling, cell segmentation, transcript assignment, probabilistic cell typing, spatial-domain inference, and atlas integration. We also highlight how optical crowding, tissue thickness, panel bias, and multimodal complexity increase computational difficulty. Finally, we summarize applications of imaging-based spatial transcriptomics techniques, ranging from subcellular RNA localization to atlas-scale and pathology-aware spatial analysis.
On-demand H₂S delivery from NIR-activated dithiocarbamate-functionalized AuAg microdroplets for cellular anti-inflammation.
Zhang Z, Yao J, Lin Z … +3 more , Tang Y, Liu J, Li L
J Photochem Photobiol B · 2026 Jun · PMID 42330774 · Publisher ↗
The development of microscale biocompatible systems for precise regulation of biological processes presents considerable challenges, particularly in achieving spatiotemporal control over gaseous signaling molecules. In t...
The development of microscale biocompatible systems for precise regulation of biological processes presents considerable challenges, particularly in achieving spatiotemporal control over gaseous signaling molecules. In this work, we engineered coacervate microspheres through a self-assembly approach to co-encapsulate a hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) donor, histidine dithiocarbamate (His-DTC), together with near-infrared (NIR)-responsive gold-silver alloy nanoparticles (Au@Au/Ag NPs). These microspheres, with an average diameter of 13.6 ± 3.5 μm, exhibited strong photothermal conversion under 780 nm NIR irradiation, triggering the thermal decomposition of His-DTC and enabling controlled H₂S release. The optimized coacervate microdroplets enabled efficient, NIR-triggered release of physiologically significant amounts of H₂S, as quantified by fluorescence spectroscopy. In co-culture experiments with CEM cells, this release effectively elevated intracellular H₂S levels and activated the NRF2-HO-1-NQO1 pathway to exert potent anti-inflammatory effects. This remote-controlled and on-demand platform provides a novel strategy for the intelligent modulation of H₂S, offering broad potential for studying gasotransmitter-mediated cellular responses.
Skeletal porosity of a cold-water coral increases with decreasing aragonite saturation state along a depth gradient in the Mediterranean Sea.
Prada F, Marchini C, Montagna P … +11 more , Taviani M, Maestrini G, Mancuso A, Di Fazio V, Ghiroldi C, Simoni A, Polishchuk I, Pokroy B, Gattelli R, Falini G, Goffredo S
BMC Biol · 2026 Jun · PMID 42321832 · Full text
BACKGROUND: Cold-water corals (CWCs) are key ecosystem engineers that create complex three-dimensional habitats much like tropical reefs, but in deep, cold seas. However, like other reef-building systems, they are increa...
BACKGROUND: Cold-water corals (CWCs) are key ecosystem engineers that create complex three-dimensional habitats much like tropical reefs, but in deep, cold seas. However, like other reef-building systems, they are increasingly threatened by climate change and ocean acidification. CWC communities in the Mediterranean Sea may be especially vulnerable because these waters absorb more atmospheric CO than the global ocean, making it a mesocosm that mirrors broader global trends affecting marine life. Since calcification is energetically costly and likely becomes even more demanding as pH and carbonate ion availability decline, understanding how the decrease in aragonite saturation state (Ω) affects biomineralization is essential for predicting the future of these corals. RESULTS: Here, we investigated skeletal structural and compositional changes of the scleractinian CWC Desmophyllum dianthus along an Ω gradient in the Mediterranean Sea using specimens collected between 400 and 1200 m depth. Our findings indicate that skeletal porosity increases at the macro-scale with decreasing Ω, while micro- and nano-scale structural and compositional features remained unaffected. CONCLUSIONS: The persistence of micro- and nano-scale skeletal features across an 800 m depth gradient suggests that D. dianthus maintains tight biological control over mineralization at these scales, even as Ω declines. This control does not extend to the macro-scale, where increasing porosity alters the skeleton's overall architecture under lower Ω. D. dianthus thus appears to preserve the fundamental "building blocks" of its skeleton while changing its larger-scale structure, a decoupling that may make macro-scale porosity an early marker of acidification stress in CWCs.
Diet change reveals asymmetric response in gene expression and microbial composition across the digestive tract of two closely related herbivores.
Nielsen DP, Holding ML, Del Carlo RE … +11 more , Everson KM, Ochsenrider K, Simison WB, Henderson J, Dearing MD, Hayes JP, Frese SA, Richards LA, Ferguson BS, Forbey JS, Matocq MD
BMC Biol · 2026 Jun · PMID 42321771 · Full text
BACKGROUND: Understanding what shapes variation in organisms' capacity to utilize novel resources is essential to predicting how species will respond to environmental change. For herbivores, exposure to toxic phytochemic...
BACKGROUND: Understanding what shapes variation in organisms' capacity to utilize novel resources is essential to predicting how species will respond to environmental change. For herbivores, exposure to toxic phytochemicals in novel plants may limit persistence in new habitats. We investigated the behavioral, physiological, genetic, and microbial consequences of diet switching in two closely related species of rodent herbivores that each consume differentially toxic plants in their native habitat, and that maintain different dietary strategies (i.e., relative dietary specialist versus relative generalist). RESULTS: In reciprocal laboratory feeding trials, we exposed wild-caught woodrats (genus Neotoma) to toxins characteristic of either familiar or novel plant secondary compounds. We measured changes in food and water intake, locomotor activity, gut microbial composition, and gene expression across the digestive tract following feeding trials. The dietary generalist responded minimally, but the specialist responded strongly when exposed to the novel diet. This response included behavioral and genetic components including increased water intake, reduction in locomotor activity, increased differential expression of detoxification genes, and a greater shift in gut microbial composition. CONCLUSIONS: The dietary specialist exhibited a strong response to diet switching that corresponded with ecologically relevant shifts in behavior and physiology that would have negative fitness consequences. Although the dietary specialist had a strong genetic and microbial response to novel plant secondary compounds, this response would likely be insufficient to overcome the immediate challenge of exposure to novel dietary toxins in the wild. Our results underscore the link between feeding strategy and the capacity to shift to novel dietary resources in response to environmental change.
A BODIPY-based nanotheranostic suppresses osteosarcoma via dual photodynamic/photothermal action by disruption of YAP1/β-catenin Axis.
Deng Z, Zhang M, Zhu S … +7 more , Zhang Y, Liao H, Li J, Yan P, Zhang Q, Liu R, Ma B
J Photochem Photobiol B · 2026 Jun · PMID 42314525 · Publisher ↗
Osteosarcoma (OS), a highly aggressive bone cancer with a dismal prognosis in the metastatic setting, urgently demands novel therapeutic modalities. While phototherapy offers a promising, minimally invasive strategy, its...
Osteosarcoma (OS), a highly aggressive bone cancer with a dismal prognosis in the metastatic setting, urgently demands novel therapeutic modalities. While phototherapy offers a promising, minimally invasive strategy, its clinical efficacy is often hampered by the poor aqueous solubility of photosensitizers and the development of multidrug resistance. In response, we constructed the dual-modal nanoplatform BDP-NPs by leveraging a multifunctional F127/TPGS mixed micelle to encapsulate a cationic BODIPY photosensitizer, thereby creating a system engineered for enhanced tumor accumulation and to overcome multidrug resistance. Benefiting from their uniform size, colloidal stability, and hypoxia-responsive properties, the BDP-NPs demonstrate potent reactive oxygen species generation and high photothermal conversion efficiency under 525 nm laser irradiation. This dual-modal action induces severe mitochondrial dysfunction, thereby triggering apoptosis in both 3D tumor spheroids and tumor tissues. The synergistic phototherapy elicited profound mitochondrial-targeted cytotoxicity, inhibited clonogenic survival, and significantly suppressed tumor growth in human osteosarcoma models, all while maintaining a favorable biosafety profile. Mechanistic analyses revealed that this synergistic phototherapy plays a pivotal role in suppressing the YAP1/β-catenin axis, thereby reversing the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) program and consequently inhibiting OS cell proliferation, migration and invasion. This study not only establishes BDP-NPs as a potent and biocompatible nanotherapeutic for OS but also presents a groundbreaking phototherapeutic strategy to disrupt the YAP1/β-catenin axis-a key signaling network driving tumorigenesis and malignant progression. This approach provides a robust conceptual foundation for devising next-generation phototherapeutics that precisely target oncogenic signaling in aggressive cancers.
The fungal blind spot: Why marine carbon models ignore a key player.
Reich M
PLoS Biol · 2026 Jun · PMID 42308207 · Full text
Marine fungi were assumed to have a minor role in carbon cycling, unable to compete with bacteria. A new PLOS Biology study challenges this dogma, showing fungi can dominate labile dissolved organic matter assimilation,...
Marine fungi were assumed to have a minor role in carbon cycling, unable to compete with bacteria. A new PLOS Biology study challenges this dogma, showing fungi can dominate labile dissolved organic matter assimilation, reshaping our understanding of ocean carbon retention and storage.
Fungi enhance microbial carbon retention in high Arctic fjord sediment.
Trejos-Espeleta JC, Bradley JA, Coskun ÖK … +3 more , Wehrmann LM, Gomez-Saez GV, Orsi WD
PLoS Biol · 2026 Jun · PMID 42301986 · Full text
Fungi serve as critical biological carbon storage reservoirs in soil ecosystems, but whether this fungal trait is also important for marine sediment carbon storage processes is poorly understood. Here, we quantify for th...
Fungi serve as critical biological carbon storage reservoirs in soil ecosystems, but whether this fungal trait is also important for marine sediment carbon storage processes is poorly understood. Here, we quantify for the first time assimilation of dissolved free amino acids by fungi in marine sediments from a high Arctic fjord and show that a distinct community of marine fungi promoted the stabilization of assimilated carbon via a relatively high metabolic efficiency. This corresponded to higher in situ ratios of fungi:prokaryote biomass in the fjord benthos, indicating efficient fungal metabolism promotes increased retention of microbial biomass at the seafloor. Quantitative stable isotope probing linked this efficient assimilation of amino acids to more than 80 fungal taxa in the fjord sediments, primarily associated with aquatic hyphomycetes. An efficient assimilation of amino acids is shown here to be a trait of marine fungi that plays a role in retaining labile dissolved organic matter as microbial biomass in Arctic fjord benthic ecosystems, hotspots for carbon sequestration that are currently experiencing rapid change due to climate warming. Our results indicate that fungal metabolism and biomass in marine sediment should be considered as an important contributor to seafloor carbon storage.
Evolutionary analysis of transcription elongation factors reveals conserved and lineage-specific regulatory domains.
Francette AM, Grover A, Clark N … +1 more , Arndt KM
PLoS Biol · 2026 Jun · PMID 42296152 · Full text
In eukaryotes, transcription elongation factors (TEFs) associate with RNA Polymerase II (RNAPII) to facilitate gene expression and couple transcription to co-transcriptional processes, including chromatin regulation and...
In eukaryotes, transcription elongation factors (TEFs) associate with RNA Polymerase II (RNAPII) to facilitate gene expression and couple transcription to co-transcriptional processes, including chromatin regulation and RNA processing. To further our understanding of TEF biology, we developed a domain-centric analysis pipeline to perform a broad survey of 10 TEF orthologs-Paf1, Ctr9, Cdc73, Rtf1, Leo1, Spt4, Spt5, Spt6, Spn1, and Elf1-across the Tree of Life and analyze their evolutionary patterns in a structural context. We report evidence for all 10 TEFs being present in the last eukaryotic common ancestor, indicating that mechanisms of TEF-mediated transcription regulation are both ancient and conserved. However, some early-diverging eukaryotic clades exhibit signs of altered TEF domain composition. A comparative phylogenetic analysis highlighted conserved regions of TEFs that are detected in both metazoans and fungi and other regions that appear clade-specific, detected only in metazoans. These observations, together with additional insights generated from evolutionary rate covariation analysis, shed light on under-characterized aspects of TEFs, including domains for which functions have yet to be dissected.
Novel π-extended cationic meso-arylporphyrins as photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy: Synthesis, photoinduced toxicity and in vivofluorescence.
Zhdanova KA, Savelyeva IO, Markova AA … +15 more , Nguyen MT, Egorov AE, Voitova AV, Rybkin AY, Filatova NV, Bondarenko SD, Mishchenko DV, Gradova MA, Karpechenko NY, Maksimova VP, Popova VG, Govorov ND, Bezborodova OA, Kuzmin VA, Bragina NA
J Photochem Photobiol B · 2026 Jun · PMID 42284620 · Publisher ↗
In this work novel cationic π-extended meso-arylporphyrins with increased absorption in the red and near-infrared (NIR) region were synthesized as potential photosensitizers (PS) for photodynamic therapy (PDT). Introduct...
In this work novel cationic π-extended meso-arylporphyrins with increased absorption in the red and near-infrared (NIR) region were synthesized as potential photosensitizers (PS) for photodynamic therapy (PDT). Introduction of two phenylethynyl substituents shifts absorption bands of the porphyrins to the red/NIR region (Q-band up to 689 nm, ε ∼ 60,000 M cm) with high photostability. Zn(II) complexes SI-1 and SI-2 exhibit singlet oxygen quantum yields up to 0.65. The obtained compounds demonstrated an exceptionally high phototoxic effect in nanomolar range (IC50 ∼ 7-60 nM) in the HeLa cell line, which is ∼5-50 times higher compared to the reference chlorin e6. The in vitro intracellular accumulation of compounds was studied using flow cytometry and confocal microscopy. In vivo NIR fluorescence imaging confirms detectability and distinct biodistribution. Compound SI-1 shows the strongest in vivo signal, while SI-4 exhibits the highest dark-to-photoinduced cytotoxicity ratio. The obtained compounds showed great potential as new porphyrin-type photosensitizers.
Induced Mutagenesis Improves Grain Protein and Micronutrient (Fe and Zn) Content in Spring Wheat ( L.).
Gulina D, Saule K, Dinara Z … +5 more , Saule A, Malika A, Sabina S, Saltanat A, Khava Y
Biology (Basel) · 2026 Jun · PMID 42274542 · Full text
Improving grain nutritional quality without reducing yield remains a major challenge in wheat breeding. This study aimed to identify advanced mutant lines of spring wheat with enhanced grain protein, iron (Fe), and zinc...
Improving grain nutritional quality without reducing yield remains a major challenge in wheat breeding. This study aimed to identify advanced mutant lines of spring wheat with enhanced grain protein, iron (Fe), and zinc (Zn) contents combined with reduced phytate levels to improve mineral bioavailability. Mutant lines were developed from the spring wheat cultivar Zhenis using gamma irradiation (100 and 200 Gry) and evaluated for yield-related traits, grain morphometry, and nutritional parameters. Significant phenotypic and genetic variation was observed among the M mutant lines. Grain protein content ranged from 13.23% to 15.63%, and 46.7% of the lines showed significantly higher protein levels than the parent cultivar. Likewise, 43.3% of the mutant lines showed increases in grain iron and zinc contents of up to 3.4- and 2.94-fold, respectively, compared to the control. Phytate-to-mineral molar ratios were significantly reduced, indicating improved mineral bioavailability. Correlation analysis revealed positive associations between micronutrient accumulation and grain morphometric traits, particularly grain area. No strong negative relationship between nutritional quality and yield-related traits was detected in the selected lines. These results demonstrate that gamma-induced mutagenesis is an effective approach for developing biofortified wheat genotypes with improved nutritional quality and stable agronomic performance.
Ecotoxicological Effects of Conventional and Eco-Friendly Glitter: A Literature Review.
Futia S, Pastorino P, Solé M … +6 more , Caldaroni B, Gentile R, Dörr AJM, Prearo M, Renzi M, Elia AC
Biology (Basel) · 2026 Jun · PMID 42274540 · Full text
Glitter is a distinctive and largely overlooked form of primary microplastic. Unlike more commonly studied microplastics, glitter particles are typically flat, highly reflective, multi-layered, and are composed of polyme...
Glitter is a distinctive and largely overlooked form of primary microplastic. Unlike more commonly studied microplastics, glitter particles are typically flat, highly reflective, multi-layered, and are composed of polymers such as polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinyl chloride with metallic coatings and a wide range of additives. In response to regulatory restrictions on intentionally added microplastics and increasing consumer demand, "eco-friendly" alternatives based on modified regenerated cellulose, cellulose nanocrystals, or mica have been introduced, although their environmental safety remains insufficiently characterized. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the environmental occurrence and ecotoxicological effects of both conventional and biodegradable glitters. A systematic literature search in Scopus identified 15 peer-reviewed experimental studies meeting predefined inclusion criteria. Evidence spans a wide range of taxa, including bacteria (i.e., ), microalgae and cyanobacteria (i.e., , , ), aquatic plants (i.e., , ), marine and freshwater invertebrates as crustaceans (i.e., ), bivalves (i.e., ), sea urchins (i.e., ), brine shrimp ( sp.) and terrestrial soil fauna (, ). Results indicate that glitter cannot be treated as a uniform stressor: biological responses vary markedly with particle size, shape, colour, polymer type, additive composition, and weathering time, and leachates often exert stronger effects than intact particles. Reported impacts include impaired photosynthesis and growth, oxidative stress, developmental abnormalities, altered energy metabolism, and reduced reproduction. Substantial gaps remain regarding environmental concentrations, ageing processes, mixture effects, and long-term ecological consequences, particularly for biodegradable glitters. Addressing these gaps will require realistic exposure scenarios, mesocosm and field studies, and integrated chemical-biological approaches to support robust risk assessment and safer material design.
Dynamic Physical Distortions of Butterfly Pupal Wings: Potential Mechanical Signals from Eyespot Organizers for Color Pattern Determination.
Nakazato Y, Hirose E, Otaki JM
Biology (Basel) · 2026 May · PMID 42274507 · Full text
Butterfly wing color patterns are determined in pupal wing tissues, in which the prospective eyespot focus functions as a developmental organizer. Here, we investigated the microscopic structures of pupal wing tissues co...
Butterfly wing color patterns are determined in pupal wing tissues, in which the prospective eyespot focus functions as a developmental organizer. Here, we investigated the microscopic structures of pupal wing tissues containing an eyespot organizer in line with the physical distortion hypothesis. Histochemical staining revealed that the pupal cuticle and epidermis were wavy and thin at 6 h but smooth and thick at 12 h postpupation. The eyespot organizer was associated with the thickest cuticle layer, called the cuticle focal spot. Transmission election microscopy (TEM) revealed that the intervening space (IVS) between the cuticle layer and the cellular apical end was wide at 6 h but narrow at 12 h postpupation. The spatial relationship between cuticle thickness and IVS width was indicative of mechanical buckling of the region adjacent to the cuticle focal spot. Live in vivo imaging revealed that the IVS at and near the eyespot organizer trapped orange fluorescent protein (OFP) injected into hemolymph. Dynamic distortions of the pupal wing epidermis and cuticular surface were detected in live individuals over time. These results suggest that physical distortions of the wing tissue induced by differential cuticle synthesis and subsequent buckling may function as mechanical morphogenic signals from eyespot organizers.
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