Exploration on Separation of Periplaneta Americana Small Peptides with Tricine-SDS-PAGE System

[ Objective] This study aimed to explore a Tricine-SDS-PAGE method for separation and purification of Periplaneta Americana small peptides. [ Method] By comparing the separation effects of three types of gels with different ratios on P. Americana small peptides, an appropriate Tricine-SDS-PAGE method for separation of small peptides was established. [ Result] Standard low molecular weight Marker was preliminarily separated to a certain extent with polyacrylamide gel electraphoresis, while the sample mixture was not separated due to the different levels of aggregation in separating gel, spacer gel and stacking gel. [Condusion] More appropriate polyacrylamide gel electrephoresis separation method or other better separation methods were to be further explored for separating peptide mixture with smaller molecular weight.

A Comparative Study on Four Staining Methods for Antitumor Active Fraction of Periplaneta americana

[ Objective ] This study aimed to compare four staining methods for proteins of SDS-polyacrylamide gel dectrophoresis （SDS-PAGE） and explore a suit- able staining method for the antitumor active fraction of P. americana after polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. [ Method ] BSA was used as the standard for the comparison of Coomassie brilliant blue staining method, potassium staining method, calcium staining method and silver staining method, on the basis, antitumor ac- tive fraction samples of P. americana were used for SDS-PAGE electrophoresis and staining. [ Result] The results showed that silver staining method could be ac- curately, quickly and easily used for SDS-PAGE staining of the antitumor active fraction of P. amer/cana. [ Conclusion] This study laid the foundation for explo- ring the medicinal value of P. americana.

Targeting protein modifications in metabolic diseases:molecular mechanisms and targeted therapies

The ever-increasing prevalence of noncommunicable diseases(NCDs)represents a major public health burden worldwide.The most common form of NCD is metabolic diseases,which affect people of all ages and usually manifest their pathobiology through life-threatening cardiovascular complications.A comprehensive understanding of the pathobiology of metabolic diseases will generate novel targets for improved therapies across the common metabolic spectrum.Protein posttranslational modification(PTM)is an important term that refers to biochemical modification of specific amino acid residues in target proteins,which immensely increases the functional diversity of the proteome.The range of PTMs includes phosphorylation,acetylation,methylation,ubiquitination,SUMOylation,neddylation,glycosylation,palmitoylation,myristoylation,prenylation,cholesterylation,glutathionylation,S-nitrosylation,sulfhydration,citrullination,ADPribosylation,and several novel PTMs.Here,we offer a comprehensive review of PTMs and their roles in common metabolic diseases and pathological consequences,including diabetes,obesity,fatty liver diseases,hyperlipidemia,and atherosclerosis.Building upon this framework,we afford a through description of proteins and pathways involved in metabolic diseases by focusing on PTM-based protein modifications,showcase the pharmaceutical intervention of PTMs in preclinical studies and clinical trials,and offer future perspectives.Fundamental research defining the mechanisms whereby PTMs of proteins regulate metabolic diseases will open new avenues for therapeutic intervention.

The zinc finger transcription factor,KLF2,protects against COVID-19 associated endothelial dysfunction

Coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)is regarded as an endothelial disease(endothelialitis)with its patho-mechanism being incompletely understood.Emerging evidence has demonstrated that endothelial dysfunction precipitates COVID-19 and its accompanying multi-organ injuries.Thus,pharmacotherapies targeting endothelial dysfunction have potential to ameliorate COVID-19 and its cardiovascular complications.The objective of the present study is to evaluate whether kruppel-like factor 2(KLF2),a master regulator of vascular homeostasis,represents a therapeutic target for C0VID-19-induced endothelial dysfunction.Here,we demonstrate that the expression of KLF2 was reduced and monocyte adhesion was increased in endothelial cells treated with COVID-19 patient serum due to elevated levels of pro-adhesive molecules,ICAM1 and VCAM1.IL-1β and TNF-α;two cytokines elevated in cytokine release syndrome in COVID-19 patients,decreased KLF2 gene expression.Pharmacologic(atorvastatin and tannic acid)and genetic(adenoviral overexpression)approaches to augment KLF2 levels attenuated COVID-19-serum-induced increase in endothelial inflammation and monocyte adhesion.Next-generation RNA-sequencing data showed that atorvastatin treatment leads to a cardiovascular protective transcriptome associated with improved endothelial function(vasodilation,antiinflammation,antioxidant status,anti-thrombosis/-coagulation,anti-fibrosis,and reduced angiogenesis).Finally,knockdown of KLF2 partially reversed the ameliorative effect of atorvastatin on COVID-19-serum-induced endothelial inflammation and monocyte adhesion.Collectively,the present study implicates loss of KLF2 as an important molecular event in the development of COVID-19-induced vascular disease and suggests that efforts to augment KLF2 levels may be therapeutically beneficial.