Expression of a cascading genetic network within liposomes

AbstractLiposomes have long been used as possible compartments for artificial cells, and it has been shown that liposomes can sustain various types of biochemical reactions. To elevate the degree of molecular complexity of the system in liposomes, we have constructed a two-stage genetic network encapsulated in liposomes. This two-stage genetic network was constructed with the plasmid pTH, in which the protein product of the first stage (T7 RNA polymerase) is required to drive the protein synthesis of the second stage (GFP). We show that the two-stage genetic network constructed in a cell-free expression system is functional within liposomes

Halogen‐Free πupiupi‐Conjugated Polymers Based on Thienobenzobisthiazole for Efficient Nonfullerene Organic Solar Cells: Rational Design for Achieving High Backbone Order and High Solubility

In π-conjugated polymers, a highly ordered backbone structure and solubility are always in a trade-off relationship that must be overcome to realize highly efficient and solution-processable organic photovoltaics (OPVs). Here, it is shown that a π-conjugated polymer based on a novel thiazole-fused ring, thieno[2′, 3′:5, 6]benzo[1, 2-d:4, 3-d′]bisthiazole (TBTz) achieves both high backbone order and high solubility due to the structural feature of TBTz such as the noncovalent interlocking of the thiazole moiety, the rigid and bent-shaped structure, and the fused alkylthiophene ring. Furthermore, based on the electron-deficient nature of these thiazole-fused rings, the polymer exhibits deep HOMO energy levels, which lead to high open-circuit voltages (VOCs) in OPV cells, even without halogen substituents that are commonly introduced into high-performance polymers. As a result, when the polymer is combined with a typical nonfullerene acceptor Y6, power conversion efficiencies of reaching 16% and VOCs of more than 0.84 V are observed, both of which are among the top values reported so far for “halogen-free” polymers. This study will serve as an important reference for designing π-conjugated polymers to achieve highly efficient and solution-processable OPVs

Clinical effects of a selective urate reabsorption inhibitor dotinurad in patients with hyperuricemia and treated hypertension : a multicenter, prospective, exploratory study (DIANA)

Introduction Dotinurad is a newer urate-lowering agent that selectively inhibits urate transporter 1 in the renal proximal tubule and increases urinary urate excretion. Currently, little is known about the clinical efficacies of dotinurad in patients with hyperuricemia and hypertension. The aim of this study was to assess the clinical effects of a selective urate reabsorption inhibitor dotinurad on serum uric acid (SUA) levels and relevant vascular markers in patients with hyperuricemia and treated hypertension. Methods This investigator-initiated, multicenter, prospective, single-arm, open-label, exploratory clinical trial in Japan enrolled patients with hyperuricemia and treated hypertension who received a 24-week dotinurad therapy (a starting dose at 0.5 mg once daily and up-titrated to 2 mg once daily). The primary endpoint was a percentage change in the SUA level from baseline to week 24. The secondary endpoints were cardiovascular and metabolic measurements, including changes in the cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) and derivatives of reactive oxygen metabolites (d-ROMs) concentration at week 24. Results Fifty patients (mean age 70.5 ± 11.0 years, with 76.0% being men, and mean SUA level 8.5 ± 1.2 mg/dL) were included in the analysis. The percentage change from baseline in the SUA level at week 24 was − 35.8% (95% confidence interval [CI] − 39.7% to − 32.0%, P < 0.001), with approximately three quarters of patients achieving an SUA level of ≤ 6.0 mg/dL at week 24. The proportional changes from baseline in the geometric mean of CAVI and d-ROMs at week 24 were 0.96 (95% CI 0.92 to 1.00, P = 0.044) and 0.96 (95% CI 0.92 to 1.00, P = 0.044), respectively. Conclusion In addition to meaningful SUA-lowering effects, 24 weeks of dotinurad therapy may favorably affect arterial stiffness and oxidative stress markers, suggesting off-target vascular protection of dotinurad. Further research is expected to verify our findings and elucidate the entire off-target effects of dotinurad

Revisiting PFA-mediated tissue fixation chemistry: FixEL enables trapping of small molecules in the brain to visualize their distribution changes

ホルマリン漬けから着想した小分子可視化法 --医薬品開発効率化につながる新たな戦略--. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2022-12-05.Various small molecules have been used as functional probes for tissue imaging in medical diagnosis and pharmaceutical drugs for disease treatment. The spatial distribution, target selectivity, and diffusion/excretion kinetics of small molecules in structurally complicated specimens are critical for function. However, robust methods for precisely evaluating these parameters in the brain have been limited. Herein, we report a new method termed “fixation-driven chemical cross-linking of exogenous ligands (FixEL), ” which traps and images exogenously administered molecules of interest (MOIs) in complex tissues. This method relies on protein-MOI interactions and chemical cross-linking of amine-tethered MOI with paraformaldehyde used for perfusion fixation. FixEL is used to obtain images of the distribution of the small molecules, which addresses selective/nonselective binding to proteins, time-dependent localization changes, and diffusion/retention kinetics of MOIs such as the scaffold of PET tracer derivatives or drug-like small molecules

Identification of Hepatic Niche Harboring Human Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemic Cells via the SDF-1/CXCR4 Axis

In acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients, the bone marrow niche is widely known to be an important element of treatment response and relapse. Furthermore, a characteristic liver pathology observed in ALL patients implies that the hepatic microenvironment provides an extramedullary niche for leukemic cells. However, it remains unclear whether the liver actually provides a specific niche. The mechanism underlying this pathology is also poorly understood. Here, to answer these questions, we reconstituted the histopathology of leukemic liver by using patients-derived primary ALL cells into NOD/SCID/Yc null mice. The liver pathology in this model was similar to that observed in the patients. By using this model, we clearly demonstrated that bile duct epithelial cells form a hepatic niche that supports infiltration and proliferation of ALL cells in the liver. Furthermore, we showed that functions of the niche are maintained by the SDF-1/CXCR4 axis, proposing a novel therapeutic approach targeting the extramedullary niche by inhibition of the SDF-1/CXCR4 axis. In conclusion, we demonstrated that the liver dissemination of leukemia is not due to nonselective infiltration, but rather systematic invasion and proliferation of leukemic cells in hepatic niche. Although the contribution of SDF-1/CXCR4 axis is reported in some cancer cells or leukemic niches such as bone marrow, we demonstrated that this axis works even in the extramedullary niche of leukemic cells. Our findings form the basis for therapeutic approaches that target the extramedullary niche by inhibiting the SDF-1/CXCR4 axis

CNVs in Three Psychiatric Disorders

BACKGROUND: We aimed to determine the similarities and differences in the roles of genic and regulatory copy number variations (CNVs) in bipolar disorder (BD), schizophrenia (SCZ), and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). METHODS: Based on high-resolution CNV data from 8708 Japanese samples, we performed to our knowledge the largest cross-disorder analysis of genic and regulatory CNVs in BD, SCZ, and ASD. RESULTS: In genic CNVs, we found an increased burden of smaller (500 kb) exonic CNVs in SCZ/ASD. Pathogenic CNVs linked to neurodevelopmental disorders were significantly associated with the risk for each disorder, but BD and SCZ/ASD differed in terms of the effect size (smaller in BD) and subtype distribution of CNVs linked to neurodevelopmental disorders. We identified 3 synaptic genes (DLG2, PCDH15, and ASTN2) as risk factors for BD. Whereas gene set analysis showed that BD-associated pathways were restricted to chromatin biology, SCZ and ASD involved more extensive and similar pathways. Nevertheless, a correlation analysis of gene set results indicated weak but significant pathway similarities between BD and SCZ or ASD (r = 0.25–0.31). In SCZ and ASD, but not BD, CNVs were significantly enriched in enhancers and promoters in brain tissue. CONCLUSIONS: BD and SCZ/ASD differ in terms of CNV burden, characteristics of CNVs linked to neurodevelopmental disorders, and regulatory CNVs. On the other hand, they have shared molecular mechanisms, including chromatin biology. The BD risk genes identified here could provide insight into the pathogenesis of BD