Contrary to earlier findings, preperoxisomal membrane structures form in yeast cells lacking the peroxin Pex3 and are competent to mature into functional peroxisomes upon Pex3 reintroduction.
Approximately every 100 years, as witnessed in the last two centuries, we are facing an influenza pandemic, necessitating the need to combat a novel virus strain. As a result of the new coronavirus (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 [SARS‐CoV‐2] outbreak in January 2020, many clinical studies are being carried out with the aim of combating or eradicating the disease altogether. However, so far, developing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) detection kits or vaccines has remained elusive. In this regard, the development of antiviral nanomaterials by surface engineering with enhanced specificity might prove valuable to combat this novel virus. Quantum dots (QDs) are multifaceted agents with the ability to fight against/inhibit the activity of COVID‐19 virus. This article exclusively discusses the potential role of QDs as biosensors and antiviral agents for attenuation of viral infection.
Herein,
we report facile theranostic platinum nanoparticles (PtNPs)
conjugated to an anticancer drug, doxorubicin (DOX), in unraveling
the inhibition of a cell survival PI3K/AKT (phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein
kinase B) signaling pathway in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer
cells. The significant features of our DOX@PtNPs as a theranostic
platform are as follows: (i) drug release studies showed a progressive
pH-dependent delivery; (ii) in vitro studies of DOX@PtNPs
displayed a relatively higher cytotoxicity to breast cancer cells
compared to unconjugated PtNPs and DOX; (iii) intracellular drug release
studies showed a specific binding of DOX@PtNPs and their release within
the cytoplasm and perinuclear region; (iv) DOX@PtNPs induced the apoptosis
of cancer cells by DNA damage via the generation
of elevated levels of reactive oxygen species and decreased mitochondrial
membrane potential (ΔΨm), as evidenced by fluorescence
microscopic studies; and (v) DOX@PtNPs inhibited the PI3K/AKT signaling
pathway in breast cancer cells by activating PTEN, a tumor suppressor
gene. The induced mitochondrial-dependent apoptotic pathway led to
the activation of downstream caspases. Finally, our findings illustrate
that DOX@PtNPs may serve as a better theranostic agent for cancer
nanomedicine.
We demonstrated that in the yeast Hansenula polymorpha peroxisome fission and degradation are coupled processes that are important to remove intra-organellar protein aggregates. Protein aggregates were formed in peroxisomes upon synthesis of a mutant catalase variant. We showed that the introduction of these aggregates in the peroxisomal lumen had physiological disadvantages as it affected growth and caused enhanced levels of reactive oxygen species. Formation of the protein aggregates was followed by asymmetric peroxisome fission to separate the aggregate from the mother organelle. Subsequently, these small, protein aggregate-containing organelles were degraded by autophagy. In line with this observation we showed that the degradation of the protein aggregates was strongly reduced in dnm1 and pex11 cells in which peroxisome fission is reduced. Moreover, this process was dependent on Atg1 and Atg11.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.