0000000001080695

AUTHOR

Veronica Di Sarno

Overcome Chemoresistance: Biophysical and Structural Analysis of Synthetic FHIT-Derived Peptides.

The fragile histidine triad (FHIT) protein is a member of the large and ubiquitous histidine triad (HIT) family of proteins. On the basis of genetic evidence, it has been postulated that the FHIT protein may function as tumor suppressor, implying a role for the FHIT protein in carcinogenesis. Recently, Gaudio et al. reported that FHIT binds and delocalizes annexin A4 (ANXA4) from plasma membrane to cytosol in paclitaxel-resistant lung cancer cells, thus restoring their chemosensitivity to the drug. They also identified the smallest protein sequence of the FHIT still interacting with ANXA4, ranging from position 7 to 13: QHLIKPS. This short sequence of FHIT protein was not only able to bind …

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β-Lactoglobulin Heptapeptide Reduces Oxidative Stress in Intestinal Epithelial Cells and Angiotensin II-Induced Vasoconstriction on Mouse Mesenteric Arteries by Induction of Nuclear Factor Erythroid 2-Related Factor 2 (Nrf2) Translocation

Peptides derived from buffalo dairy products possess multiple healthy properties that cannot be exerted as long as they are encrypted in parent proteins. To evaluate the biological activities of encrypted peptide sequences from buffalo ricotta cheese, we performed a simulated gastrointestinal (GI) digestion. Chemical and pharmacological characterization of the digest led to the identification of a novel peptide endowed with antioxidant and antihypertensive action. The GI digest was fractionated by Semiprep-HPLC, and fractions were tested against reactive oxygen species (ROS) release in an H2O2-treated intestinal epithelial cell line. UHPLC-PDA-MS/MS analysis revealed the presence of an abun…

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Analysis of the metabolic switch induced by the spirulina peptide SP6 in high fat diet ApoE-/-mice model: A direct infusion FT-ICR-MS based approach

Atherosclerosis, dyslipidemia and hypertension are comorbid diseases often found in combination. Among different pharmacological approaches the employment of natural multifunctional peptides is an attractive option as side therapy. Mass spectrometry-based metabolomics provide valuable information on metabolic changes and can be useful to elucidate peptide pharmacodynamics. In this this work we performed a preliminary investigation on the potential effect of a recently characterized Spirulina platensis peptide named SP6 (GIVAGDVTPI) on the modulation of metabolism in a high fat diet ApoE-/- mice atherosclerotic model. A direct infusion Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrome…

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New 1,2,4-oxadiazole nortopsentin derivatives with cytotoxic activity

New analogs of nortopsentin, a natural 2,4-bis(3&prime

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1,2,4-Oxadiazole topsentin analogs as staphylococcal biofilm inhibitors targeting the bacterial transpeptidase sortase A

The inhibition or prevention of biofilm formation represents an emerging strategy in the war against antibiotic resistance, interfering with key players in bacterial virulence. This approach includes the inhibition of the catalytic activity of transpeptidase sortase A (Srt A), a membrane enzyme responsible for covalently attaching a wide variety of adhesive matrix molecules to the peptidoglycan cell wall in Gram-positive strains. A new series of seventeen 1,2,4-oxadiazole derivatives was efficiently synthesized and screened as potential new anti-virulence agents. The ability of inhibiting biofilm formation was evaluated against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens. Remarkably, all…

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2,6-Disubstituted imidazo[2,1-b][1,3,4]thiadiazole derivatives as potent staphylococcal biofilm inhibitors.

Abstract A class of 36 new 2-(6-phenylimidazo[2,-1-b][1,3,4]thiadiazol-2-yl)-1H-indoles was efficiently synthesized and evaluated for their anti-biofilm properties against the Gram-positive bacterial reference strains Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, S. aureus ATCC 6538 and Staphylococcus epidermidis ATCC 12228, and the Gram-negative strains Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 15442 and Escherichia coli ATCC 25922. Many of these new compounds, were able to inhibit biofilm formation of the tested staphylococcal strains showing BIC50 lower than 10 μg/ml. In particular, derivatives 9c and 9h showed remarkable anti-biofilm activity against S. aureus ATCC 25923 with BIC50 values of 0.5 and 0.8 μg/ml, r…

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Polyphenolic Extract from Tarocco (Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck) Clone "Lempso" Exerts Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Effects via NF-kB and Nrf-2 Activation in Murine Macrophages.

Citrus fruits are often employed as ingredients for functional drinks. Among Citrus, the variety, “Lempso„, a typical hybrid of the Calabria region (Southern Italy), has been reported to possess superior antioxidant activity when compared to other common Citrus varieties. For these reasons, the aim of this study is to investigate in vitro the nutraceutical value of the Tarocco clone, “Lempso„, highlighting its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potential. A post-column 2,2′-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH•) radical scavenging assay for the screening of antioxidant compounds in these complex matrices was developed. Subsequently, polyphenolic extract was tes…

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Nobiletin and xanthohumol sensitize colorectal cancer stem cells to standard chemotherapy

Simple Summary Colorectal cancer stem cells (CR-CSCs) play a pivotal role in the therapy resistance and relapse of CRC patients. Herein we demonstrate that new treatment approaches comprising polymethoxyflavones and prenylflavonoids extracted from Citrus sinensis and Humulus lupulus, respectively, hamper the viability of CR-CSCs as well as synergizing with 5-fluorouracil and oxaliplatin (FOX)-based chemotherapy. Extract fractions containing Nobiletin and Xanthohumol, in combination with chemotherapy, decreased stemness properties of CR-CSCs and restrained the outgrowth of chemoresistant metastatic CR-CSCs. These data pinpoint Nobiletin and Xanthohumol as efficacious anti-cancer compounds in…

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1,2,4-Oxadiazole Topsentin Analogs with Antiproliferative Activity against Pancreatic Cancer Cells, Targeting GSK3β Kinase.

A new series of topsentin analogs, in which the central imidazole ring of the natural lead was replaced by a 1,2,4- oxadiazole moiety, was efficiently synthesized. All derivatives were pre-screened for antiproliferative activity against the National Cancer Institute (NCI-60) cell lines panel. The five most potent compounds were further investigated in various pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cell lines, including SUIT-2, Capan-1, and Panc-1 cells, eliciting EC50 values in the micromolar and sub-micromolar range, associated with significant reduction of cell migration. These remarkable results might be explained by the effects of these new topsentin analogues on epithelial-to-mesenchy…

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