biological organs

Body size profoundly affects organism fitness and ecosystem dynamics through the scaling of physiological traits. This study tests for variation in metabolic scaling and its potential drivers among corals differing in life history strategies and taxonomic identity. Data were compiled from published sources and augmented with empirical measurements of corals in Moorea, French Polynesia. The data compilation revealed metabolic isometry in broadcasted larvae, but size-independent metabolism in brooded larvae; empirical measures of Pocillopora acuta larvae also supported size-independent metabolism in brooded coral larvae...

Apelin and its receptor (APJ) are expressed in the reproductive organs of some mammalian females. The function of oviduct has also been suggested to be compromised in the hyperandrogenism condition. However, expression of apelin and APJ has not been shown in the oviduct of hyperandrogenized mice. Thus, the present study has investigated the localization and expression of apelin and APJ in the letrozole-induced hyperandrogenized mice oviduct. Histomorphometric analysis showed decreased lumen of oviduct in the hyperandrogenized mice...

In many species of animals, red carotenoid-based coloration is produced by metabolizing yellow dietary pigments, and this red ornamentation can be an honest signal of individual quality. However, the physiological basis for associations between organism function and the metabolism of red ornamental carotenoids from yellow dietary carotenoids remains uncertain. A recent hypothesis posits that carotenoid metabolism depends on mitochondrial performance, with diminished red coloration resulting from altered mitochondrial aerobic respiration...

The noncanonical NFκB signaling pathway mediates the biological functions of diverse cell survival, growth, maturation, and differentiation factors that are important for the development and maintenance of hematopoietic cells and immune organs. Its dysregulation is associated with a number of immune pathologies and malignancies. Originally described as the signaling pathway that controls the NFκB family member RelB, we now know that noncanonical signaling also controls NFκB RelA and cRel. Here, we aim to clarify our understanding of the molecular network that mediates noncanonical NFκB signaling and review the human diseases that result from a deficient or hyper-active noncanonical NFκB pathway...

The rise of pyrazinamide (PZA)-resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) poses a major challenge to conventional tuberculosis (TB) treatments. PZA, a cornerstone of TB therapy, must be activated by the mycobacterial enzyme pyrazinamidase (PZase) to convert its active form, pyrazinoic acid, which targets the ribosomal protein S1. Resistance, often associated with mutations in the RpsA protein, complicates treatment and highlights a critical gap in the understanding of structural dynamics and mechanisms of resistance, particularly in the context of the G97D mutation...

Wastewater treatment in a constructed wetland is achieved by the presence of plant species, the metabolism of microorganisms, and the enzyme activities. Three small-scale hybrid subsurface flow constructed wetlands (HSFCWs) planted with Arundo donax and one unplanted HSFCW were constructed near a water resource recovery facility at Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University. The purpose of the study was to determine the correlation between soil enzymatic activities and the removal of contaminants from domestic wastewater...

Pathogenic microorganisms produce numerous metabolites, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Monitoring these metabolites in biological matrices (e.g., urine, blood, or breath) can reveal the presence of specific microorganisms, enabling the early diagnosis of infections and the timely implementation of targeted therapy. However, complex matrices only contain trace levels of VOCs, and their constituent components can hinder determination of these compounds. Therefore, modern analytical techniques enabling the non-invasive identification and precise quantification of microbial VOCs are needed...

Vitamin B12 is a complex compound synthesized by microorganisms. The industrial production of vitamin B12 relies on specific microbial fermentation processes. E. coli has been utilized as a host for the de novo biosynthesis of vitamin B12 , incorporating approximately 30 heterologous genes. However, a metabolic imbalance in the intricate pathway significantly limits vitamin B12 production. In this study, we employed multivariate modular metabolic engineering to enhance vitamin B12 production in E. coli by manipulating two modules comprising a total of 10 genes within the vitamin B12 biosynthetic pathway...

With the aim of developing biocompatible and water-soluble C60 derivatives, three types of C60 -peptide conjugates consisting of hydrophilic oligopeptide anchors (oligo-Lys, oligo-Glu, and oligo-Arg) were synthesized. A previously reported Prato reaction adduct of a biscarboxylic acid-substituted C60 derivative was subjected to a solid phase synthesis for amide formation with N - terminal amines of peptides on resin to successfully provide C60 -peptide conjugates with one C60 and two peptide anchors as water-soluble moieties...

Geobacter sulfurreducens profoundly shapes Earth's biogeochemistry by discharging respiratory electrons to minerals and other microbes through filaments of a two-decades-long debated identity. Cryogenic electron microscopy has revealed filaments of redox-active cytochromes, but the same filaments have exhibited hallmarks of organic metal-like conductivity under cytochrome denaturing/inhibiting conditions. Prior structure-based calculations and kinetic analyses on multi-heme proteins are synthesized herein to propose that a minimum of ~7 cytochrome 'nanowires' can carry the respiratory flux of a Geobacter cell, which is known to express somewhat more (≥20) filaments to increase the likelihood of productive contacts...

The interaction between nanoparticles (NPs) and biological environments is profoundly influenced by a stable, strongly adsorbed "hard" protein corona. This corona significantly determines the NPs' pharmacokinetics and biological destiny. Our study delves into the mechanisms by which colloidal Au nanocrystals that are synthesized electrochemically without surface-capping organic ligands, known as CNM-Au8, traverse the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and target human brain tissue for treating neurodegenerative disorders...

Marine organisms are often subject to numerous anthropogenic stressors, resulting in widespread ecosystem degradation. Physiological responses to these stressors, however, are complicated by high biological variability, species-specific sensitivities, nonlinear relationships, and countless permutations of stressor combinations. Nevertheless, quantification of these relationships is paramount for parameterizing predictive tools and ultimately for effective management of marine resources. Multi-level, multi-stressor experimentation is therefore key, yet the high replication required has remained a logistical challenge and a financial barrier...

UNLABELLED: The gene family known as the Lateral Organ Boundary Domain ( LBD ) is responsible for producing transcription factors unique to plants, which play a crucial role in controlling diverse biological activities, including their growth and development. This research focused on examining Cerasus humilis ' ChLBD gene, owing to its significant ecological, economic, and nutritional benefits. Examining the ChLBD gene family's member count, physicochemical characteristics, phylogenetic evolution, gene configuration, and motif revealed 41 ChLBD gene family members spread across 8 chromosomes, with ChLBD gene's full-length coding sequences (CDSs) ranging from 327 to 1737 base pairs, and the protein sequence's length spanning 109 ( ChLBD30 )-579 ( ChLBD35 ) amino acids...

BACKGROUND: Equine influenza (EI) is a transmissible viral respiratory sickness of the Equidae family. Two viruses, H7N7 and H3N8 caused EI; however, H7N7 has not been detected for decades. H3N8 has circulated and bifurcated into Eurasian and American lineages. The latter subsequently diversified into Kentucky, South America, and Florida sub-lineages. Florida clade 1 (FC1) and Florida clade 2 (FC2) strains are the only circulating EI viruses (EIVs) in the meantime. Immunization is considered the major means for the prevention and control of EI infection...

Elucidating the effects of domesticated organisms escaping into the natural environment represents a topic of importance in both evolutionary and conservation biology. However, when excluding the abundant data on salmonids, there is a lack of knowledge on this topic for marine fish aquaculture, which continues to expand globally. In order to bridge this empirical gap, we investigated a suspected escape of sexually mature domesticated Atlantic cod from a commercial marine fish farm in northern Norway. This involved genotyping samples of fish from cages on the farm, putatively identified escapees and wild cod captured in the region and samples of recently spawned eggs collected in the sea...

Background: The decline in muscle strength and function with aging is well recognized, but remains poorly characterized at the molecular level. Here, we report the epigenetic relationship between genome-wide DNA methylation and handgrip strength (HGS) among Chinese monozygotic (MZ) twins. Methods: DNA methylation (DNAm) profiling was conducted in whole blood samples through Reduced Representation Bisulfite Sequencing method. Generalized estimating equation was applied to regress the DNAm of each CpG with HGS...

The antibodies in the natural biological world utilize bivalency/multivalency to achieve a higher affinity for antigen capture. However, mimicking this mechanism on the electrochemical sensing interface and enhancing biological affinity through precise spatial arrangement of bivalent aptamer probes still pose a challenge. In this study, we have developed a novel self-assembly layer (SAM) incorporating triblock polyA DNA to enable accurate organization of the aptamer probes on the interface, constructing a "lock-and-key-like" proximity hybridization assay (PHA) biosensor...

Mitochondria have multiple functions such as supplying energy, regulating the redox status, and producing proteins encoded by an independent genome. They are closely related to the physiology and pathology of many organs and tissues, among which the brain is particularly prominent. The brain demands 20% of the resting metabolic rate and holds highly active mitochondrial activities. Considerable research shows that mitochondria are closely related to brain function, while mitochondrial defects induce or exacerbate pathology in the brain...

Tissue-resident memory T cells (TRM ) serve as the frontline of host defense, playing a critical role in protection against invading pathogens. This emphasizes their role in providing rapid on-site immune responses across various organs. The physiological significance of TRM is not just confined to infection control; accumulating evidence has revealed that TRM also determine the pathology of diseases such as autoimmune disorders, inflammatory bowel disease, and cancer. Intensive studies on the origin, mechanisms of formation and maintenance, and physiological significance of TRM have elucidated the transcriptional and functional diversity of these cells, which are often affected by local cues associated with their presence...

Animal-derived biomaterials have been extensively employed in clinical practice owing to their compositional and structural similarities with those of human tissues and organs, exhibiting good mechanical properties and biocompatibility, and extensive sources. However, there is an associated risk of infection with pathogenic microorganisms after the implantation of tissues from pigs, cattle, and other mammals in humans. Therefore, researchers have begun to explore the development of non-mammalian regenerative biomaterials...