The origin of different bending stiffness between double-stranded RNA and DNA revealed by magnetic tweezers and simulations.

The subtle differences in the chemical structures of double-stranded (ds) RNA and DNA lead to significant variations in their biological roles and medical implications, largely due to their distinct biophysical properties, such as bending stiffness. Although it is well known that A-form dsRNA is stiffer than B-form dsDNA under physiological salt conditions, the underlying cause of this difference remains unclear. In this study, we employ high-precision magnetic-tweezer experiments along with molecular dynamics simulations and reveal that the relative bending stiffness between dsRNA and dsDNA is primarily determined by the structure- and salt-concentration-dependent ion distribution around their helical structures. At near-physiological salt conditions, dsRNA shows a sparser ion distribution surrounding its phosphate groups compared to dsDNA, causing its greater stiffness. However, at very high monovalent salt concentrations, phosphate groups in both dsRNA and dsDNA become fully neutralized by excess ions, resulting in a similar intrinsic bending persistence length of approximately 39 nm. This similarity in intrinsic bending stiffness of dsRNA and dsDNA is coupled to the analogous fluctuations in their total groove widths and further coupled to the similar fluctuation of base-pair inclination, despite their distinct A-form and B-form helical structures.

DNA combing versus DNA spreading and the separation of sister chromatids.

DNA combing and DNA spreading are two central approaches for studying DNA replication fork dynamics genome-wide at single-molecule resolution by distributing labeled genomic DNA on coverslips or slides for immunodetection. Perturbations in DNA replication fork dynamics can differentially affect either leading or lagging strand synthesis, for example, in instances where replication is blocked by a lesion or obstacle on only one of the two strands. Thus, we sought to investigate whether the DNA combing and/or spreading approaches are suitable for resolving adjacent sister chromatids during DNA replication, thereby enabling the detection of DNA replication dynamics within individual nascent strands. To this end, we developed a thymidine labeling scheme that discriminates between these two possibilities. Our data suggests that DNA combing resolves sister chromatids, allowing the detection of strand-specific alterations, whereas DNA spreading typically does not. These findings have important implications when interpreting DNA replication dynamics from data obtained by these two commonly used techniques.

Cross-linking mass spectrometry discovers, evaluates, and corroborates structures and protein-protein interactions in the human cell.

Significant recent advances in structural biology, particularly in the field of cryoelectron microscopy, have dramatically expanded our ability to create structural models of proteins and protein complexes. However, many proteins remain refractory to these approaches because of their low abundance, low stability, or-in the case of complexes-simply not having yet been analyzed. Here, we demonstrate the power of using cross-linking mass spectrometry (XL-MS) for the high-throughput experimental assessment of the structures of proteins and protein complexes. This included those produced by high-resolution but in vitro experimental data, as well as in silico predictions based on amino acid sequence alone. We present the largest XL-MS dataset to date, describing 28,910 unique residue pairs captured across 4,084 unique human proteins and 2,110 unique protein-protein interactions. We show that models of proteins and their complexes predicted by AlphaFold2, and inspired and corroborated by the XL-MS data, offer opportunities to deeply mine the structural proteome and interactome and reveal mechanisms underlying protein structure and function.

Perspectives in Plant Abiotic Stress Signaling.

State-of-the-art collections of strategies, approaches, and methods are immediately useful for ongoing characterizations or for novel discoveries in the scientific field of plant abiotic stress signaling. It must however be kept in mind that, in the future, these strategies, approaches, and methods will be facing a number of increasingly complex issues. The development of the necessary confrontation of laboratory-based knowledge on abiotic stress signaling mechanisms with real-life in natura situations of plant-stress interactions involves at least five levels of complexity: (i) plant biodiversity, (ii) the spatio-temporal heterogeneity of stress-related parameters, (iii) the unknowns of future stress-related constraints, (iv) the influence of biotic interactions, (v) the crosstalk between various signaling pathways and their final integration into physiological responses. These complexities are major bottlenecks for assessing the evolutionary, ecological, and agronomical relevance of abiotic stress signaling studies. All of the presently-described strategies, approaches, and methods will have to be gradually complemented with the development of real-time and in natura tools, with systematic application of mathematical modeling to complex interactions and with further research on the impact of stress memory mechanisms on long-term responses.

Lyophilization of Molecular Biology Reactions: A Review.

Molecular biology is a widely used and widespread technique in research and as a laboratory diagnostic tool, aiming to investigate targets of interest from the obtainment, identification, and analysis of genetic material. In this context, methods, such as Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR), real-time PCR, loopmediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), and loop-mediated isothermal amplification with reverse transcription (RT-LAMP), can be cited. Such methods use enzymes, buffers, and thermosensitive reagents, which require specific storage conditions. In an attempt to solve this problem, the lyophilization procedure (dehydration process by sublimation) can be applied, aiming to preserve and prolong the useful life of the reaction components in cases of temperature variation. In this review, we present a synthesis of the lyophilization process, describing the events of each step of the procedure and providing general information about the technique. Moreover, we selected lyophilization protocols found in the literature, paying attention to the conditions chosen by the authors for each step of the procedure, and structured the main data in tables, facilitating access to information for researchers who need material to produce new functional protocols.

Time-resolved small-angle neutron scattering (TR-SANS) for structural biology of dynamic systems: Principles, recent developments, and practical guidelines.

We present an overview of time-resolved small-angle neutron scattering (TR-SANS) applied to biological systems, with a focus on bio-macromolecules and assemblies they form, together with practical guidelines. After a brief introduction to the theory and practice of SANS, we present the general setup and specifics of time-resolved experiments, as well as an overview of diverse experimental results and applications from the past ≈25years. Subsequently, we provide guidelines and practical instructions for the design, planning and execution for TR-SANS experiments, as a function of the time- and length-scales of the biological processes of interest, the availability of sample amount and deuterium labeling, and the structural information sought. We conclude with a discussion of the most recent instrumental and sample environment developments and perspectives for the future.

Prevalencia de Porphyromonas gingivalis en un grupo de pacientes con aparatología fija de ortodoncia / Prevalence of Porphyromonas gingivalis in a group of patients with fixed orthodontic appliances

Introducción: existen diversos patógenos que pueden afectar no sólo la salud periodontal, sino también la salud general de los pacientes. Objetivo: determinar la Porphyromonas gingivalis (PG) en el primer molar superior derecho de adolescentes, de entre 12 y 18 años, con al menos un mes de tratamiento de ortodoncia con aparatología fija. Material y métodos: se realizó un estudio observacional, descriptivo, transversal de casos en un grupo de 26 adolescentes con tratamiento de ortodoncia, compuesto de brackets metálicos, tubos o bandas, arcos NiTi termoactivos, módulos, cadenas o ligaduras; sin importar sexo, edad, tiempo de tratamiento o maloclusión. Se formaron dos pares de grupos 1 y 2 (15 mujeres y 11 hombres), A y B (13 mujeres y 13 hom- bres) comparando los resultados obtenidos entre los grupos. Resulta- dos: dentro del grupo 1 y 2 la detección molecular de microorganismos arroja que 80% fueron positivas a la PG, 58.33% presenta maloclusión y en promedio 89% de las pacientes son positivas a PG. La detección molecular del grupo A y B indica que 54.54% fueron positivos a PG, mientras que 83.3% presenta maloclusión y en promedio 47% son positivos a PG. Conclusión: la explicación de los eventos moleculares que se desencadenan en la cavidad oral y los sistemas afectados por PG contribuyen a la prevención de complicaciones al tener una mejor comprensión de los fenómenos infecciosos (AU)

Introduction: there are various pathogens that can affect not only periodontal health, but also the general health of patients. Objective: to determine Porphyromonas gingivalis (PG) in the upper right first molar of adolescents, between 12 and 18 years old, with at least one month of orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances. Material and methods: a cross-sectional descriptive observational study of cases was carried out in a group of 26 adolescents with orthodontic treatment, consisting of metal brackets, tubes or bands, thermoactive NiTi archwires, modules, chains or ligatures; regardless of sex, age, treatment time or malocclusion. Two pairs of groups 1 and 2 (15 women and 11 men), A and B (13 women and 13 men) were formed, comparing the results obtained between the groups. Results: within group 1 and 2, the molecular detection of microorganisms shows that 80% were positive for PG, 58.33% presented malocclusion and an average of 89% of patients were positive for PG. The molecular detection of group A and B indicates that 54.54% were positive for PG while 83.3% presented malocclusion and on average 47% were positive for PG. Conclusion: the explanation of the molecular events that are triggered in the oral cavity and the systems affected by PG contribute to the prevention of complications by having a better understanding of the infectious phenomena (AU)

Métodos de diagnóstico molecular en la práctica odontológica / Molecular diagnostic methods in dental practice

El diagnóstico molecular, mediante la aplicación de técnicas molecu- lares, ha permitido estudiar microorganismos presentes en el inicio y progresión de la caries dental, enfermedad periodontal, y en los fracasos endodónticos. Las técnicas moleculares permiten la detección y cuan- tificación del material genético del ácido desoxirribonucleico (DNA), ácido ribonucleico (RNA) o proteínas, lo que posibilita el estudio del genoma completo o secuencias de DNA específicas. Estas técnicas surgen como una necesidad de detectar microorganismos de difícil o lento crecimiento en cultivos; la técnica más utilizada es la reacción en cadena de la polimerasa (PCR) que permite la amplificación de peque- ños segmentos de material genético al utilizar cebadores, por lo que es un método económico, preciso, sensible y rápido para la detección de microorganismos. El presente artículo de revisión bibliográfica servirá para informar sobre los avances de las técnicas moleculares utilizadas para el diagnóstico en la práctica odontológica (AU)

Molecular diagnosis, through the application of molecular techniques, has made it possible to study microorganisms present in the onset and progression of dental caries, periodontal disease, and endodontic failures. Molecular techniques allow the detection and quantification of the genetic material of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), ribonucleic acid (RNA) or proteins, allowing the study of the complete genome or specific DNA sequences, they arise as a need to detect difficult or slow growing microorganisms in cultures. The most widely used technique is the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) that allows the amplification of small segments of genetic material using primers, it is an economical, precise, sensitive and fast method for the detection of microorganisms. This bibliographic review article will serve to report on the advances in molecular techniques used for diagnosis in dental practice (AU)

Tecnología molecular para optimizar el uso de biomarcadores en la clínica / Molecular technology to optimize the use of biomarkers in the clinic

Este capítulo pretende introducir lastecnologías moleculares que se han ido optimizandopara el análisis de los biomarcadores en los últimosaños y que están siendo aplicadas actualmente en lapráctica clínica.El capítulo está dividido en tres bloques, en los quese tratan los conceptos y técnicas de biología molecular relacionadas con los biomarcadores basados enDNA, RNA y proteínas. Además, se dan ejemplos de casos reales en los que se utilizan estas tecnologías moleculares en la rutina clínica. (AU)

logies that have been optimized for theanalysis of biomarkers in recent years and that are currently being applied in clinical practice.The chapter is divided into three blocks, which dealwith the concepts and techniques of molecular biology related to DNA-, RNA- and proteins-based biomarkers.In addition, real case examples in which these molecular technologies are used in clinical routine are given. (AU)

Determination of the Optimal Bacterial DNA Extraction Method to Explore the Urinary Microbiota.

Recent advances in molecular biology have been successfully applied to the exploration of microbiota from various fluids. However, the urinary microbiota remains poorly explored, as its analysis requires specific technical considerations. Indeed, urine is a low microbial biomass environment, in which the representativity of each bacterium must be respected to obtain accurate data. Thus, sensitive extraction methods must be used to obtain good quality DNA while preserving the proportions between species. To address this, we compared the efficiency of five extraction methods on artificial urine samples spiked with low amounts of four bacteria species. The quality of the DNA obtained was further evaluated by different molecular biology approaches, including quantitative PCR and amplicon-based next-generation sequencing (NGS). Although two extraction methods allowed DNA of sufficient quality for NGS analysis to be obtained, one kit extracted a larger amount of DNA, which is more suitable for the detection of low-abundant bacteria. Results from the subsequent assessment of this kit on 29 human clinical samples correlated well with results obtained using conventional bacterial urine culture. We hope that our work will make investigators aware of the importance of challenging and adapting their practice in terms of the molecular biology approaches used for the exploration of microbiota.

Experience of quantity and quality of DNA and RNA extraction from limited pediatric blood samples: A comparative analysis of automated and manual kit-based method.

INTRODUCTION: Optimal DNA and RNA quantity and purity is essential for downstream molecular biology experimentation and to avoid re-processing of sample. Despite availability of different kits and automated systems for nucleic acid isolation there is limited data on their performance evaluation, more so with pediatric blood samples, that are usually compromised in quantity. Hence, we evaluated the performance of automated QIAcube platform using pediatric blood samples in parallel with manual Qiagen extraction kits. MATERIALS AND METHODS: : A total of 500 samples were analyzed based on groups of PBMC and direct blood input. The isolated DNA and RNA were surveyed for quantity and quality tests by spectrophotometric and downstream analysis. RESULTS: : There was no significant difference in the DNA quantity (ng/ul) between manual and automated method based on similar sample input but quality (260/280) was significantly better with the QIAcube platform when direct blood and or PBMCs were used for extraction respectively (1.82 ± 004 Vs. 1.84.002; P-0.000008 and 1.859 ± 005 Vs. 1.843 ± 0.003; P-0.02). Moreover, the standard error mean was low for both quantity and quality in the QIAcube method suggesting uniformity. Comparison of quality assessment by spectrophotometer and qubit fluorimeter showed that QIAcube sheared DNA less (P- 0.038) as compared to manual method (P-0.013). Also, time taken to process the samples in QIAcube was 23% less than the kit-based method. CONCLUSION: Overall analysis of QIAcube platform suggests that it yields more better, uniform, and less-sheared quality of nucleic acid in a relatively less time as compared to manual extraction kits.

Molecular genetic evidence supporting diverse histogenic origins of germ cell tumors.

Germ cell tumors (GCTs) originate during the histogenesis of primordial germ cells to mature gametes. Previous studies identified five histogenic mechanisms in ovarian mature teratomas (type I: failure of meiosis I; type II: failure of meiosis II; type III: duplication of the genome of a mature gamete; type IV: no meiosis; and type V: fusion of two different ova), but those of other GCTs remain elusive. In this study, we analyzed 84 GCTs of various pathologic types to identify the histogenesis using single-nucleotide polymorphism array by analyzing copy-neutral loss of heterozygosity (CN-LOH) and copy number alterations (CNAs). We detected types I and II in ovarian teratomas, type III in ovarian teratomas and yolk sac tumors (YSTs), and type IV in all GCT types. The GCTs with multiple-type histogenesis (I-IV) (ovarian mature/immature teratomas and YST) show meiotic CN-LOH with scant CNAs. Type IV-only GCTs are either with mitotic CN-LOH and abundant CNAs (seminoma, dysgerminoma, testicular mixed GCTs) or with scant CNAs and no CN-LOH (pediatric testicular and mediastinal teratomas). The development sequences of CN-LOH and CNA are different between the multiple type (I-IV) GCTs and type IV-only GCTs. We analyzed two different histologic areas in eight GCTs (one mature teratoma with a mucin-secreting adenoma, two immature teratomas, and five mixed GCTs). We found that GCTs (mature teratoma, immature teratoma, and mixed GCT) showed different genomic alterations between histologic areas, suggesting that genomic differences within a GCT could accompany histologic differentiation. Of note, we found evidence for collision tumors in a mixed GCT. Our data indicate that GCTs may have various histogenesis and intratumoral genomic differences, which might provide important information for the identification of GCTs, especially for those with different histologic areas. © 2021 The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Cancer biology and molecular genetics of A3 adenosine receptor.

A3 adenosine receptor (A3AR) is a cell membrane protein, which has been found to be overexpressed in a large number of cancer types. This receptor plays an important role in cancer by interacting with adenosine. Specifically, A3AR has a dual nature in different pathophysiological conditions, as it is expressed according to tissue type and stimulated by an adenosine dose-dependent manner. A3AR activation leads to tumor growth, cell proliferation and survival in some cases, while triggering cytostatic and apoptotic pathways in others. This review aims to describe the most relevant aspects of A3AR activation and its ligands whereas it summarizes A3AR activities in cancer. Progress in the field of A3AR modulators, with a potential therapeutic role in cancer treatment are reported, as well.

The genetics of human performance.

Human physiology is likely to have been selected for endurance physical activity. However, modern humans have become largely sedentary, with physical activity becoming a leisure-time pursuit for most. Whereas inactivity is a strong risk factor for disease, regular physical activity reduces the risk of chronic disease and mortality. Although substantial epidemiological evidence supports the beneficial effects of exercise, comparatively little is known about the molecular mechanisms through which these effects operate. Genetic and genomic analyses have identified genetic variation associated with human performance and, together with recent proteomic, metabolomic and multi-omic analyses, are beginning to elucidate the molecular genetic mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of physical activity on human health.

Basic principles of molecular biology of cancer cell-Molecular cancer indicators.

Molecular biology of cancer cell is a domain of medical science that is rapidly growing in our days. Knowing the ways and paths that cancer cells follow is crucial to the prevention of cancer itself. Central role to these paths, concerning the cell cycle and the process of apoptosis, has the protein p53. The whole mechanism of the cell cycle is activated by the action of various mitogens, such as growth factors, hormones and cytokines. Carcinogenesis involves alterations of genes (proto-oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes), which encode proteins of the signal transduction. Many of the damages that lead to carcinogenesis may be due to the lack of repressive signals for cell division, but also to the absence of the sensitivity of cells to repressive signals. The cell has mechanisms of receiving apoptotic-antitumor signals and mechanisms of execution of these instructions. A percentage of cancers (4-8%) are etiologically linked to germ (stem) cells mutations and occur at an increased frequency in families (hereditary cancers). Substantial progress in understanding the mechanisms of carcinogenesis, filtration and metastasis of cancer has highlighted the key role of specific genes, primarily oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes.

Chemical and Enzymatic Probing of Viral RNAs: From Infancy to Maturity and Beyond.

RNA molecules are key players in a variety of biological events, and this is particularly true for viral RNAs. To better understand the replication of those pathogens and try to block them, special attention has been paid to the structure of their RNAs. Methods to probe RNA structures have been developed since the 1960s; even if they have evolved over the years, they are still in use today and provide useful information on the folding of RNA molecules, including viral RNAs. The aim of this review is to offer a historical perspective on the structural probing methods used to decipher RNA structures before the development of the selective 2'-hydroxyl acylation analyzed by primer extension (SHAPE) methodology and to show how they have influenced the current probing techniques. Actually, these technological breakthroughs, which involved advanced detection methods, were made possible thanks to the development of next-generation sequencing (NGS) but also to the previous works accumulated in the field of structural RNA biology. Finally, we will also discuss how high-throughput SHAPE (hSHAPE) paved the way for the development of sophisticated RNA structural techniques.

EU-RNA-seq for in vivo labeling and high throughput sequencing of nascent transcripts.

The protocol allows for labeling nascent RNA without isolating nuclei. The cell-permeable uridine analog, 5-ethynyluridine (EU), is added to media to allow in vivo labeling of nascent transcripts. Cells are lysed, total RNA is collected, and biotin is conjugated to EU-labeled RNAs. Custom biotin RNAs are added and biotinylated RNAs are isolated for generation of cDNA libraries. The sequencing data are normalized to controls for quantitative assessment of the nascent transcriptome. The protocol takes 4 days, not including sequencing and analysis. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Palozola et al. (2017).