PARP1 Inhibitors: Antitumor Drug Design

Malyuchenko N.V.,

Kotova E.Y.,

Kulaeva O.I.,

Kirpichnikov M.P.,

Studitskiy V.M

Published: Jan. 1, 2015

The poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1) enzyme is one of the promising molecular targets for the discovery of antitumor drugs. PARP1 is a common nuclear protein (1-2 million molecules per cell) serving as a “sensor” for DNA strand breaks. Increased PARP1 expression is sometimes observed in melanomas, breast cancer, lung cancer, and other neoplastic diseases. The PARP1 expression level is a prognostic indicator and is associated with a poor survival prognosis. There is evidence that high PARP1 expression and treatment-resistance of tumors are correlated. PARP1 inhibitors are promising antitumor agents, since they act as chemo- and radiosensitizers in the conventional …

TALEN and CRISPR/Cas Genome Editing Systems: Tools of Discovery

Nemudryi A.A.,

Valetdinova K.R.,

Medvedev S.P.,

Zakian S.M.

Published: Jan. 1, 2014

Precise studies of plant, animal and human genomes enable remarkable opportunities of obtained data application in biotechnology and medicine. However, knowing nucleotide sequences isn’t enough for understanding of particular genomic elements functional relationship and their role in phenotype formation and disease pathogenesis. In post-genomic era methods allowing genomic DNA sequences manipulation, visualization and regulation of gene expression are rapidly evolving. Though, there are few methods, that meet high standards of efficiency, safety and accessibility for a wide range of researchers. In 2011 and 2013 novel methods of genome editing appeared - this are TALEN (Transcription Activator-Like Effector Nucleases) and CRISPR …

“Green” Nanotechnologies: Synthesis of Metal Nanoparticles Using Plants

Makarov VV,

Love A.J.,

Sinitsyna O.V.,

Makarova S.S.,

Yaminsky I.V.,

Yaminsky I.V.,

Taliansky M.E.,

Kalinina N.O.

Published: Jan. 1, 2014

While metal nanoparticles are being increasingly used in many sectors of the economy, there is growing interest in the biological and environmental safety of their production. The main methods for nanoparticle production are chemical and physical approaches that are often costly and potentially harmful to the environment. The present review is devoted to the possibility of metal nanoparticle synthesis using plant extracts. This approach has been actively pursued in recent years as an alternative, efficient, inexpensive, and environmentally safe method for producing nanoparticles with specified properties. This review provides a detailed analysis of the various factors affecting the morphology, size, …

NeuN As a Neuronal Nuclear Antigen and Neuron Differentiation Marker

Gusel’nikova V.V.,

Korzhevskiy D.E.

Published: Jan. 1, 2015

The NeuN protein is localized in nuclei and perinuclear cytoplasm of most of the neurons in the central nervous system of mammals. Monoclonal antibodies to the NeuN protein have been actively used in the immunohistochemical research of neuronal differentiation to assess the functional state of neurons in norm and pathology for more than 20 years. Recently, NeuN antibodies have begun to be applied in the differential morphological diagnosis of cancer. However, the structure of the protein, which can be revealed by antibodies to NeuN, remained unknown until recently, and the functions of the protein are still not fully clear. In …

Survival guide: Escherichia coli in the stationary phase

Pletnev P.I.,

Bogdanov A.А.,

Dontsova O.А.,

Osterman I.А.,

Sergiev P.V.

Published: Jan. 1, 2015

This review centers on the stationary phase of bacterial culture. The basic processes specific to the stationary phase, as well as the regulatory mechanisms that allow the bacteria to survive in conditions of stress, are described.