Thyroid is an endocrine gland that is responsible for producing and releasing two hormones: triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). Hypothyroidism as the disorder happens when the synthesis of those hormones is impaire...Thyroid is an endocrine gland that is responsible for producing and releasing two hormones: triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). Hypothyroidism as the disorder happens when the synthesis of those hormones is impaired. It is most commonly caused by the chronic autoimmune inflammation of the thyroid, referred to as Hashimoto’s disease. In this case, apart from the pharmacological treatment, diet does matter a great deal, too. It is extremely important to provide the body with all the essential nutrients. Exclusion of products that may interfere with the uptake of iodine - the trace element that is indispensable for the thyroid gland hormone synthesis, seems to be crucial, too. They most of all include cruciferous vegetables containing goitrogens (goitrogenic substances). This review aimed to collect and summarize the available scientific data on the safety of the cruciferous vegetable consumption within the context of its impact upon the thyroid function.
Auxins are a phytohormones that regulates of processes related to plant growth and morphogenesis, therefore their deficiency or excess results in severe developmental disorders. Plants have developed mechanisms aimed at...Auxins are a phytohormones that regulates of processes related to plant growth and morphogenesis, therefore their deficiency or excess results in severe developmental disorders. Plants have developed mechanisms aimed at regulating the level of the active form of these hormones, including their: directional transport, local biosynthesis, and degradation, as well as reversible and irreversible inactivation by binding to additional chemical groups. Despite almost a hundred years since the discovery of auxins, the functioning of these mechanisms, especially at the level of metabolism, is still not fully understood. In recent years, thanks to the development of new research methods, significant progress has been made in this field. This applies to both the identification of auxin biosynthetic pathways and the genes involved in them, as well as the detection of new auxin metabolites, their mutual connections and enzymes involved in their biosynthesis, transformation, and degradation. This work focuses on summarizing the current knowledge on this topic, considering the relationship of auxin metabolism with developmental processes and the response to changing environmental conditions.
How cells sense water is of fundamental importance in biology. Hygrosensation has been demonstrated in specialized sensory cells that sense extracellular moisture. Even in microorganisms, osmosensors do not sense water p...How cells sense water is of fundamental importance in biology. Hygrosensation has been demonstrated in specialized sensory cells that sense extracellular moisture. Even in microorganisms, osmosensors do not sense water per se. Water-sensing mechanisms would have been necessary for organisms to migrate and survive in water-poor conditions and to evolve into multicellular organisms. Due to the potential ability of water molecules to bind to gas-binding sites in the heme-based sensing domains of gasoreceptors, I suggest that some of them could have a parallel role as protein aquareceptors. Just as gasoreceptors function in almost every cell, aquareceptors must also function in almost every cell. I think that aquareceptors must be present in the cell membrane, cytoplasm, and every organelle. I also wonder if hemoglobin could also be considered a putative aquareceptor.
Vitamin C is one of the most important and necessary nutrient for human health, which has great potential as cosmeceutic, which protects health and the skin good condition. Thru the collagen biosynthesis stimulation it a...Vitamin C is one of the most important and necessary nutrient for human health, which has great potential as cosmeceutic, which protects health and the skin good condition. Thru the collagen biosynthesis stimulation it affects to the physiology of human skin, participating in the hydroxylation process of proline and lysine, and participates in tissue reconstruction while wound healing. Deficiency of vitamin C causes irregularities in the blood vessels functioning, epidermis and dermis. Is an effective antioxidant neutralizing free radicals, prevents inflammatory and carcinogenic processes. The epidermis and dermis are most exposed to free radicals from the external environment and from the inside of the body. In inflammatory diseases of the skin, such as atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, in the proper skin the levels of vitamin C are reduced. Therefore, delivering it to the skin using cosmetic preparations is important not only for cosmetic, but also health effect. The problem associated with the introduction of vitamin C in cosmetics is its limited penetration through the stratum corneum. Current studies are focused on searching for stable compounds of ascorbic acid and new media, which will allow for better way of delivery of ascorbic acid to the dermis in the future.
One of the main problems of modern medicine is the phenomenon of drug resistance. Inappropriate use of antibiotics is considered to be the most important reason for the emergence of new resistance mechanisms in microorga...One of the main problems of modern medicine is the phenomenon of drug resistance. Inappropriate use of antibiotics is considered to be the most important reason for the emergence of new resistance mechanisms in microorganisms. Carbapenems, which belong to the β-lactams, are considered the most effective group of antimicrobial agents. Unfortunately, as a result of prolonged exposure to the aforementioned drugs, bacteria have developed several mechanisms for survival. The most important of these is the production of hydrolytic enzymes (carbapenemases), which cleave the β-lactam ring and inactivate the antibiotics. The mentioned enzymes are encoded by blaKPC genes, which are located in so-called mobile genetic elements (i.e. plasmids and transposons). Such localization is associated with their ease of transfer between different bacterial species in the process of horizontal gene transfer.
In addition to innate and gained resistance poliploidy of cancer cells is described as a mechanism responsible for lack of response or cancer relapses after initial patient recovery. Formation of these cells is induced b...In addition to innate and gained resistance poliploidy of cancer cells is described as a mechanism responsible for lack of response or cancer relapses after initial patient recovery. Formation of these cells is induced by cyto- and genotoxic agents, which trigger endoreduplication, cytokinesis failure, cell fusion or canibalism. These processes lead to amplification of DNA, cell cycle arrest and escape from death. Cancer reinitiation results from depolyploidization by neosis, amitotic and meiotic-like divisions. In this paper we review the known mechanisms, which drive cancer cell transition to poliploidy, major features of these cells and their role in cancer progression. We also depict the current approaches, which target metabolic and signaling pathways that are crucial for survival and functioning of polyploid cells. The combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy with agents capable of inhibiting or eliminating polyploid cells could substantially improve the success rate and efficacy of anticancer therapies.
Heavy metal contamination in soil is a global concern due to its harmful effect to all living organisms. Phytoremediation is an emerging cost- effective technology, which utilizes different types of hyperaccumulator plan...Heavy metal contamination in soil is a global concern due to its harmful effect to all living organisms. Phytoremediation is an emerging cost- effective technology, which utilizes different types of hyperaccumulator plants for the removal of heavy metal pollutants. Crop plants have been suggested as a good candidate for recultivation of agricultural soil in phytoremediation process, however the molecular mechanisms responsible for the crop tolerance to heavy metals is still unknown. Metal-tolerance proteins (MTPs) are divalent cation transporters that play critical roles in metal tolerance and ion homeostasis in plants. The current study identified 12 HvMTPs in the barley (Hordeum vulgare, Hv) genome; the majority of MTPs were hydrophobic proteins found in the vacuolar membrane. Gene expression profiling suggests that HvMTPs play an active role in maintaining barley nutrient homeostasis throughout its life cycle. The expression of barley HvMTP genes in the presence of heavy metals revealed that these MTPs were induced by at least one metal ion, implying their involvement in metal tolerance.
Linker histones (H1) are basic proteins that are part of the nucleosome structure in the cell nucleus and are involved in the packaging of genetic material and the regulation of gene expression. As research progressed, i...Linker histones (H1) are basic proteins that are part of the nucleosome structure in the cell nucleus and are involved in the packaging of genetic material and the regulation of gene expression. As research progressed, it was discovered that linker histones constitute the largest group of histones in terms of variants found in humans. Even though the H1 variants differ slightly in the primary structure, they can perform different functions, undergo multiple post-translational modifications and differ in cellular localization. In addition to the nucleus, histones H1 can occur in the cytoplasm, on the cell surface and in the intercellular space. In these places, they play a supporting role for the immune system and act as signaling molecules. Changes in the levels of histones and their post-translational modifications have been associated with many human diseases and it is postulated that some of them may serve as biomarkers or therapeutic targets.
U1 snRNP (U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein) is a nuclear ribonucleoprotein complex involved mainly in pre-mRNA splicing, which is a key regulatory process in the eukaryotic gene expression pathway, but also in the proc...U1 snRNP (U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein) is a nuclear ribonucleoprotein complex involved mainly in pre-mRNA splicing, which is a key regulatory process in the eukaryotic gene expression pathway, but also in the process of preventing premature transcription termination (telescripting). U1 snRNP interacts directly with RNA polymerase II, thereby influencing the synthesis and maturation of transcripts in the cell nucleus, including the formation of the 3' end of mRNA and polyadenylation. At the level of cell physiology, it regulates the functioning of mitochondria and energy metabolism. The core of the U1 snRNP complex is U1 snRNA, encoded by many copies of genes that differ in sequence and expression level, and the expression of some of them leads to the formation of defective products. According to current reports, U1 snRNA can be used for therapeutic purposes to regulate gene expression and improve mRNA splicing defects, which are the cause of many diseases. Here we present selected recent discoveries and achievements related to U1 snRNP.
Bacteriocins are peptides or proteins produced by bacteria to kill or inhibit the growth of other bacteria inhabiting the same ecological niche. The growing interest in bacteriocins reflects their potential use in food p...Bacteriocins are peptides or proteins produced by bacteria to kill or inhibit the growth of other bacteria inhabiting the same ecological niche. The growing interest in bacteriocins reflects their potential use in food preservation and treatment of infections caused by antibiotic-resistant pathogenic bacteria, among other applications. The number of published studies on the identification of new bacteriocin-producing strains is constantly increasing. At the same time, there is a noticeable lack of research describing the mechanisms of action of most newly identified bacteriocins, as well as the mechanisms leading to the development of resistance to these bacteriocins and cross-resistance to antibiotics. Detailed understanding of these issues will allow to develop guidelines ensuring the most effective, safe and long-term use of bacteriocins without the risk of resistance development. This work describes the main assumptions of the doctoral dissertation of Aleksandra Tymoszewska, which objectives were to characterize the mechanisms of action and of resistance to class II bacteriocins of Gram-positive bacteria. Using the model bacterium Lactococcus lactis, two groups of bacteriocins were examined: (i) garvicins Q, A, B and C, and BacSJ; and (ii) aureocin A53 (AurA53)- and enterocin L50 (EntL50)-like bacteriocins. Bacteriocins of group (i) have been shown to recognize susceptible cells and form pores in the cell membrane using a specific receptor, the mannose-specific phosphotransferase system (Man-PTS), and sensitive bacteria have been shown to acquire resistance to the these bacteriocins by modifying the structure of Man-PTS. On the other hand, the acquisition of resistance to group (ii) membrane-targeting and receptor-independent bacteriocins occurs through changes in the structure of the bacterial cell wall and membrane, which are induced by changes in the expression of proteins involved in lipid metabolism or components of the YsaCB-KinG-LlrG regulatory system. The results shed new light on previous views on the mechanisms of action of bacteriocins and open up opportunities for their further study.
In 2024, it will be 140 years since the birth of Jan Karol Parnas, one of the most outstanding biochemists and one of the most outstanding Polish scientists of the first half of the 20th century. The article presents a s...In 2024, it will be 140 years since the birth of Jan Karol Parnas, one of the most outstanding biochemists and one of the most outstanding Polish scientists of the first half of the 20th century. The article presents a synthetic biography of Prof. Parnas, his influence on the organization of scientific life in interwar Poland, and presents his students and collaborators who created the so-called "The School of Parnassus". It shows how this figure still influences the thinking of Polish biochemists about their Society and the attitude towards biochemical communities abroad, especially in Ukraine, which owes as much to Prof. Parnas as Poland does.
With the development of medicine and the aging population, the demand for more effective therapies is escalating. A tool that facilitates the discovery and introduction of new therapeutic drugs is High-Throughput Screeni...With the development of medicine and the aging population, the demand for more effective therapies is escalating. A tool that facilitates the discovery and introduction of new therapeutic drugs is High-Throughput Screening (HTS). These tests, consisting of a wide set of various assays, allow testing hundreds of thousands of compounds in a short period of time. The aim is to accurately identify active compounds that could become potential therapeutic candidates in the pharmaceutical industry. HTS is the first step in the quest for potential drugs, therefore it is one of the crucial tests that determine whether a particular drug candidate will be discovered. In this review, different stages of high-throughput screening studies will be described, as well as methods utilized in these studies. The necessary steps in the optimization of these tests, selection of equipment, automation and key quality control parameters for reliably performed screening will also be presented.
Biological sciences are increasingly uncovering the foundations of life in greater detail, made possible by the development of research methods enabling exploration at the nanometer scale. Optical microscopy, a field wit...Biological sciences are increasingly uncovering the foundations of life in greater detail, made possible by the development of research methods enabling exploration at the nanometer scale. Optical microscopy, a field with a significant contribution to current knowledge, is inherently limited by the Abbe limit, stemming from the fundamental wave properties of light. Through the efforts of scientists, this limit can be circumvented, as evidenced by STED and MINFLUX techniques. STED allows imaging with a resolution down to 40 nm, while MINFLUX enables resolution as fine as 2 nm. Both techniques require labelling of biological molecular targets with fluorescent markers and enable imaging in living cells, facilitating the study of dynamic biological processes. This article provides an introduction to super-resolution techniques STED and MINFLUX, demonstrating their utility through the example of studying kinesin movement along microtubules using the MINFLUX technique.
Chemical compounds of natural origin, the so-called natural products and their derivatives, constitute the basis of medicines. They are widely used, among others, in the agricultural, veterinary, food and cosmetics indus...Chemical compounds of natural origin, the so-called natural products and their derivatives, constitute the basis of medicines. They are widely used, among others, in the agricultural, veterinary, food and cosmetics industries. The article presents the division of natural products, with particular emphasis on bioactive secondary metabolites, and progress in the development of synthetic biology tools for their bioproduction.
Single-cell transcriptomics (scRNA-Seq) is a breakthrough technology that has opened the way to characterizing gene expression with unprecedented resolution. It has enabled the discovery of the cellular diversity of orga...Single-cell transcriptomics (scRNA-Seq) is a breakthrough technology that has opened the way to characterizing gene expression with unprecedented resolution. It has enabled the discovery of the cellular diversity of organisms and tracing their developmental processes. A range of technological solutions have been developed to allow analysis of tens of thousands to even a million cells in a single experiment, as well as an extensive set of tools for bioinformatics analysis of the generated data. The wealth of information provided by scRNA-Seq and the possibility of using this method to study cells, organoids, tissues and even entire organisms determine its wide range of applications. In this paper, we present the experimental and computational parts of the scRNA-Seq procedure, as well as the most important applications of this technology in biomedicine, developmental biology and plant biology.
Mass spectrometry (MS) as an analytical technique enables the identification and quantitative determination of proteins, metabolites, or lipids in a studied sample. However, this method has limitations regarding the numb...Mass spectrometry (MS) as an analytical technique enables the identification and quantitative determination of proteins, metabolites, or lipids in a studied sample. However, this method has limitations regarding the number of molecules that can be identified at a given time. To increase the number of identifications, the application of ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) can be employed. This technique allows the separation of ions based on their mobility while traversing the analyser in a gradient of an electromagnetic field and opposing gas pressure. The separation is performed in conjunction with MS analysis, adding another dimension to the analysis, resulting in a significant improvement in the number of identified compounds and a reduction in noise. Alternatively, while maintaining the same number of identifications, analysis can be performed in a shorter time period. It is crucial to pay special attention to the type of IMS analyser used, as its specific implementation dictates further stages of analysis and ion detection capabilities.
Structural biology is focused on understanding the architecture of biomolecules, such as proteins and nucleic acids. Deciphering the structure helps to understand their function in the cell at a very precise – molecular...Structural biology is focused on understanding the architecture of biomolecules, such as proteins and nucleic acids. Deciphering the structure helps to understand their function in the cell at a very precise – molecular level. This makes it possible to not only determine the basis of diseases but also to propose therapeutic strategies and tools. Such a strong motivation for the development of structural biology has led to the development of a number of methods, which enable determination of the structures of the molecules of life. The continuous progress has been enabled by the integration of biology, chemistry, physics, and computer science, making structural biology extremely interdisciplinary. In its 35-year history, the Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Poznan has become one of the key Polish institutions conducting research in the field of structural biology. On one hand, the research has brought international recognition, and on the other hand, it has forced the implementation and development of cutting-edge methods. This review discusses the methods used in structural biology at the Institute.
Mass spectrometry is an important tool in proteomic, metabolomic and lipidomic analysis. To fully use its potential, it is crucial to select and configure the appropriate analytical approach. For untargeted research, the...Mass spectrometry is an important tool in proteomic, metabolomic and lipidomic analysis. To fully use its potential, it is crucial to select and configure the appropriate analytical approach. For untargeted research, there are two main strategies available: data-dependent analysis (DDA) and data-independent analysis (DIA). Both methods differ in the way the analysis is carried out and in the degree of coverage of the obtained data, which is why each of them can be used in various types of research. The DDA method is based on continuous scanning of the analyzed ions, as a result of which the precursors with the highest intensity are fragmented in the MS2 mode. On the other hand, DIA, due to the use of combined ranges of precursor ion isolation, allows for a deeper analysis of the analyzed compounds. Both approaches also have modifications that improve their operation and enable obtaining more valuable data. Methods combining both techniques are also appearing on the horizon, such as DDIA, which uses the advantages of both methods, opening new analytical possibilities.
There is no technique that would make a greater contribution to the development of genetics, molecular biology and medicine than DNA sequencing. For many years, the method based on enzymatic DNA synthesis developed by Fr...There is no technique that would make a greater contribution to the development of genetics, molecular biology and medicine than DNA sequencing. For many years, the method based on enzymatic DNA synthesis developed by Frederic Sanger was the gold standard in this area. At the end of the 20th century, there was a dynamic development of next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies, which ended the era of single gene analysis and initiated the era of genome sequencing. Despite fierce competition, one NGS technology has practically completely dominated the global market. In the article, we present our own review of DNA sequencing methods, starting from the Sanger method to high-throughput second- and third-generation sequencing technologies, with particular emphasis on those that have achieved commercial success. We present their short history, principles of operation, technical possibilities, applications and limitations. In the summary, we reveal how much human genome sequencing costs at the current stage of the genomic revolution and outline the prospects for further development of genomics.
Computer simulations using ever-increasing computing power and machine learning techniques allow advanced molecular modelling, molecular dynamics simulations and studies of intermolecular interactions. However, due to th...Computer simulations using ever-increasing computing power and machine learning techniques allow advanced molecular modelling, molecular dynamics simulations and studies of intermolecular interactions. However, due to the complexity of biological systems and chemical processes at the molecular level, their accurate representation using classical computer models and techniques has faced a number of significant limitations for many years. A new and promising direction for the development of computational science and its potential applications in biochemistry is quantum computing and its integration with classical high-performance supercomputing systems. This article responds to the growing interest in the use of available quantum computers in exemplary applications. In this paper, we aim to provide an overview of the basic notions involved in the development of quantum algorithms and simulations related to issues at the interface of quantum chemistry and biochemistry. In addition, the article introduces the basic principles of performing simulations using the state-of-the-art quantum computers in the era of Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum (NISQ). Experimental results of the classical-quantum algorithm Variational Quantum Eigensolver (VQE) for example molecules H2 and CH+ are also presented. Despite the many shortcomings of currently available quantum computers, the analysed VQE algorithm proved to be effective in approximating the ground state of molecules using a minimal functional basis.