post-translational modification

Edible mushrooms as emerging biofactories for natural therapeutics and oral biopharmaceutical delivery

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Mushrooms are emerging as natural medicine factories that can be genetically engineered to produce medications taken by mouth. Beyond their traditional use as health foods, scientists are now using advanced genetic techniques to program mushrooms to manufacture therapeutic proteins and vaccines. These engineered mushrooms can naturally package and protect these medications as they pass through the stomach, releasing them safely in the intestines for absorption. This approach offers a sustainable, affordable, and cold-chain-independent alternative to conventional injected medications.

Advances of Peptides for Plant Immunity

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Plant peptides are small signaling molecules that help plants defend themselves against diseases and pests. These peptides can work by directly killing pathogens or by activating the plant’s immune system. Researchers have identified over 1000 different plant peptides, and this review explains how they work and how they could be used to create disease-resistant crops and natural biopesticides.

PRMT5 promotes cellulase production by regulating the expression of cellulase gene eg2 through histone methylation in Ganoderma lucidum

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Scientists discovered that a protein called PRMT5 helps mushrooms (Ganoderma lucidum) produce more cellulase enzymes, which break down plant materials like corn straw and corn cobs. By controlling a specific gene called eg2 through a chemical modification on histone proteins, PRMT5 increases enzyme production. This discovery could help industries produce cellulase more efficiently and sustainably convert agricultural waste into useful sugars for biofuels and other products.

Deubiquitinase Ubp5 is essential for pulmonary immune evasion and hematogenous dissemination of Cryptococcus neoformans

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Researchers studied a protein called Ubp5 that helps the fungus Cryptococcus neoformans cause disease in humans. By removing this protein, the fungus became much less harmful and the immune system could fight it better. The fungus with the missing protein had problems with its outer coating, couldn’t hide as well from the immune system, and couldn’t spread to the brain. This suggests that blocking Ubp5 could be a new way to help the body defend against this dangerous fungal infection.

Comparative phosphoproteome analysis to identify candidate phosphoproteins involved in blue light-induced brown film formation in Lentinula edodes

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Researchers studied how blue light triggers brown film formation on shiitake mushroom mycelia by analyzing protein modifications called phosphorylation. Using advanced mass spectrometry techniques, they identified thousands of phosphorylation changes in proteins when mushroom mycelia are exposed to blue light. The findings revealed that blue light activates several important processes including light sensing, pigment production, and cell wall degradation, providing insights into how mushrooms develop fruiting bodies in response to light signals.

N6-methyladenosine-modified circRIMS2 mediates synaptic and memory impairments by activating GluN2B ubiquitination in Alzheimer’s disease

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This research reveals how an abnormal RNA molecule called circRIMS2 contributes to Alzheimer’s disease by damaging brain synapses and impairing memory. Scientists found that circRIMS2 levels are elevated through a chemical modification called m6A methylation, and this causes a cascade of events leading to the destruction of important proteins needed for brain communication. The study shows that blocking this damaging pathway using a specially designed peptide can restore memory and synaptic function in Alzheimer’s disease models, offering hope for new therapeutic approaches.

Calcineurin-mediated regulation of growth-associated protein 43 is essential for neurite and synapse formation and protects against α-synuclein-induced degeneration

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Researchers discovered that a specific protein called GAP-43 plays a crucial role in protecting brain cells from damage caused by α-synuclein, a protein involved in Parkinson’s Disease. When GAP-43 is modified through a process called phosphorylation at certain sites, it promotes the growth of neurites (neural connections) and formation of healthy synapses. The drug FK506, already approved by the FDA, appears to work by controlling this phosphorylation process, offering potential therapeutic benefits for Parkinson’s patients.

Identification of the High Mannose N-Glycan Isomers Undescribed by Conventional Multicellular Eukaryotic Biosynthetic Pathways

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Researchers developed a new method to identify the sugar structures attached to proteins in various foods and organisms. They discovered that many of these sugar structures are different from what scientists previously thought based on standard biological pathways. Using advanced mass spectrometry technology, they created a database to quickly identify these novel sugar structures, which could help better understand how organisms modify their proteins.

Deubiquitinase Ubp5 is essential for pulmonary immune evasion and hematogenous dissemination of Cryptococcus neoformans

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This study shows that removing a fungal enzyme called Ubp5 from Cryptococcus neoformans significantly weakens the fungus and allows the body’s immune system to fight the infection more effectively. The fungus without Ubp5 loses its ability to hide from the immune system, triggering stronger protective immune responses including more T cells and beneficial inflammatory signals. This research suggests that targeting Ubp5 could be a promising strategy to help treat cryptococcal infections by enhancing the body’s natural defense mechanisms.

Research Keyword: post-translational modification