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| Open AccessLipophilic prodrugs of nucleoside triphosphates as biochemical probes and potential antivirals
Charged phosphorylated metabolite such as nucleoside tri-phosphates exhibit poor membrane permeability due to their high polarity, limiting their utility as drugs or cellular probes. Here the authors develop a method to render nucleoside triphosphates cell permeable and allows their release by an enzyme-triggered mechanism.
- Tristan Gollnest
- , Thiago Dinis de Oliveira
- & Chris Meier
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| Open AccessPharmaceutical screen identifies novel target processes for activation of autophagy with a broad translational potential
Autophagy is a homeostatic process that could be a potential drug target in the treatment of disease. Here the authors identify in a pharmaceutical screen flubendazole as an inducer of autophagy initiation and flux by affecting microtubules, mTOR, TFEB and Beclin 1 activity.
- Santosh Chauhan
- , Zahra Ahmed
- & Vojo Deretic
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| Open AccessDevelopment of high-yield influenza A virus vaccine viruses
The availability of high-yield virus strains remains an important bottleneck in the rapid production of influenza vaccines. Here, the authors report the development of influenza A vaccine backbone that improves the virus yield of various seasonal and pandemic influenza vaccine strains in cell culture.
- Jihui Ping
- , Tiago J.S. Lopes
- & Yoshihiro Kawaoka
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Article
| Open AccessStructural basis for drug-induced allosteric changes to human β-cardiac myosin motor activity
Omecamtiv Mecarbil (OM) is a small molecule allosteric effector of cardiac myosin in clinical trials for treatment of systolic heart failure. Here the authors determine the crystal structure of an OM-bound human β-cardiac myosin motor domain to provide molecular level insight into the mechanism of drug action.
- Donald A. Winkelmann
- , Eva Forgacs
- & Ann M. Stock
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| Open AccessCarbohydrate scaffolds as glycosyltransferase inhibitors with in vivo antibacterial activity
The inhibition of bacterial glycosyltransferase has the potential to be an effective therapeutic target against drug resistance bacteria. Here, the authors present a novel class of inhibitor compounds based on a monosaccharide scaffold, which are able to eliminate bacterial infections in mice.
- Johannes Zuegg
- , Craig Muldoon
- & Matthew A. Cooper
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| Open AccessLansoprazole is an antituberculous prodrug targeting cytochrome bc1
Tuberculosis control is threatened by the continued emergence of drug-resistant strains. Here, Rybniker et al. screen a library of FDA-approved drugs and identify a gastric proton pump inhibitor that also has antituberculosis activity and targets the bacterial cytochrome bc1complex.
- Jan Rybniker
- , Anthony Vocat
- & Stewart T. Cole
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| Open AccessCrystallographic structure of a small molecule SIRT1 activator-enzyme complex
Sirtuins are NAD+-dependent deacylases implicated in the regulation of stress responses, bioenergetics and epigenetic control. Here the authors describe the crystal structure of a sirtuin-activating compounds (STAC)-sirtuin complex and begin to elucidate the mechanism of sirtuins activation by STACs.
- Han Dai
- , April W. Case
- & James L. Ellis
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| Open AccessProtein conformational plasticity and complex ligand-binding kinetics explored by atomistic simulations and Markov models
Conformational plasticity influences several aspects of protein function. Here the authors combine extensive MD simulations with Markov state models—using trypsin as model—to reveal new mechanistic details of how conformational plasticity influence ligand-receptors interactions.
- Nuria Plattner
- & Frank Noé
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Article
| Open AccessCaenorhabditis elegans is a useful model for anthelmintic discovery
Screening for new anthelmintic compounds that are active against parasitic nematodes is costly and labour intensive. Here, the authors use the non-parasitic nematode Caenorhabditis elegansto identify 30 anthelmintic lead compounds in an effective and cost-efficient manner.
- Andrew R. Burns
- , Genna M. Luciani
- & Peter J. Roy
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Article
| Open AccessGanoderma lucidum reduces obesity in mice by modulating the composition of the gut microbiota
Ganoderma lucidumis a medicinal mushroom used in Traditional Chinese Medicine with putative anti-diabetic properties. Here, the authors show that polysaccharides from a water extract of this mushroom exert beneficial metabolic effects by modulating the composition of the gut microbiota in mice.
- Chih-Jung Chang
- , Chuan-Sheng Lin
- & Hsin-Chih Lai
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A chemogenomic screening identifies CK2 as a target for pro-senescence therapy in PTEN-deficient tumours
It has been proposed that the identification of genes regulating senescence in the absence of PTEN might help develop pro-senescence compounds for the treatment of cancer. Here, the authors use a combination of chemical and shRNA functional screen and identify CK2 as a potential target.
- Madhuri Kalathur
- , Alberto Toso
- & Andrea Alimonti
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Article
| Open AccessPhotoswitchable fatty acids enable optical control of TRPV1
Fatty acids are ancient lipids with numerous functions, from metabolic processes as a source of energy to structural and signalling roles within cell membranes. Here, the authors present azobenzene-modified fatty acids and their application as photoswitchable agonists of the Vanilloid Receptor 1.
- James Allen Frank
- , Mirko Moroni
- & Dirk Trauner
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Nanoparticles that deliver triplex-forming peptide nucleic acid molecules correct F508del CFTR in airway epithelium
Cystic fibrosis is a lethal genetic disorder commonly caused by the F508del mutation which is not amenable to gene therapy. Here, the authors use triplex-forming PNA molecules and donor DNA in biodegradable polymer nanoparticles to correct F508del and achieve clinically relevant levels of gene editing.
- Nicole Ali McNeer
- , Kavitha Anandalingam
- & Marie E. Egan
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Honokiol blocks and reverses cardiac hypertrophy in mice by activating mitochondrial Sirt3
The chemical honokiol is found in the bark of magnolia trees, which are used for traditional medicine in Asian countries. Here, Pillai et al, show honokiol protects the heart from hypertrophic remodelling in mice, and even reverses established cardiac hypertrophy, by activating the deacetylase Sirt3.
- Vinodkumar B. Pillai
- , Sadhana Samant
- & Mahesh P. Gupta
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| Open AccessAnalgesia and unwanted benzodiazepine effects in point-mutated mice expressing only one benzodiazepine-sensitive GABAA receptor subtype
Benzodiazepines (BDZs) target GABAA receptors to alleviate pain but these also cause side effects. Here the authors use mice in which only one GABAA receptor is BDZ-sensitive at a time to identify α2GABAAas the receptor that provides maximal analgesic activity but minimal side-effects in response to BDZs.
- William T. Ralvenius
- , Dietmar Benke
- & Hanns Ulrich Zeilhofer
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Glycopeptide analogues of PSGL-1 inhibit P-selectin in vitro and in vivo
Inhibiting the interaction between the membrane protein P-selectin and its ligand PSGL-1 is thought to block inflammation. Here the authors report an efficient stereoselective synthesis for PSGL-1 glycopeptide mimics and show that these compounds inhibit PSGL-1/P-selectin in vitro and in vivo.
- Venkata R. Krishnamurthy
- , Mohammed Y. R. Sardar
- & Elliot L. Chaikof
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| Open AccessTriaminopyrimidine is a fast-killing and long-acting antimalarial clinical candidate
The emergence of resistant Plasmodiumstrains fuels the search for new antimalarials. Here, the authors present a new class of potent antimalarial compounds, the triaminopyrimidines, that display low toxicity and long half-life in animal models.
- Shahul Hameed P.
- , Suresh Solapure
- & Vasan K. Sambandamurthy
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Article
| Open AccessTransfer hydrogenation catalysis in cells as a new approach to anticancer drug design
Organometallic complexes are effective hydrogenation catalysts for organic reactions. Here the authors report for the first time that transfer hydrogenation catalysis can take place inside the cell and could be used as a novel anticancer strategy.
- Joan J. Soldevila-Barreda
- , Isolda Romero-Canelón
- & Peter J. Sadler
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De novo branching cascades for structural and functional diversity in small molecules
Generating diverse structures with a minimum amount of synthetic effort is an important goal for drug discovery. Here, the authors report a two-phase synthesis for the generation of skeletally diverse small molecules—forming molecular scaffolds and subsequently diversifying each into multiple structures.
- Miguel Garcia-Castro
- , Lea Kremer
- & Kamal Kumar
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| Open AccessSensitive β-galactosidase-targeting fluorescence probe for visualizing small peritoneal metastatic tumours in vivo
Surgical removal of the metastases remains a life-extending approach to ovarian cancer, but the nodules are difficult to detect. Here the authors show that a new cell-permeable probe for β-galactosidase can sensitively and specifically detect peritoneal metastases in mouse models of ovarian cancer.
- Daisuke Asanuma
- , Masayo Sakabe
- & Yasuteru Urano
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| Open AccessTriggering HIV polyprotein processing by light using rapid photodegradation of a tight-binding protease inhibitor
The study of HIV proteolysis during maturation and replication can be difficult since different steps in these processes occur simultaneously. Here, the authors present a photolabile HIV protease inhibitor which can be deactivated by light irradiation, allowing synchronized induction of viral maturation.
- Jiří Schimer
- , Marcela Pávová
- & Jan Konvalinka
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| Open AccessStereochemical bias introduced during RNA synthesis modulates the activity of phosphorothioate siRNAs
Therapeutic oligonucleotides can be made more stable by substituting their achiral phosphodiester groups for chiral phosphorothioate linkages. Here, the authors present a synthesis of phosphorothioated RNAs, where the activator controls strand stereochemistry, and also the activity of assembled siRNAs.
- Hartmut Jahns
- , Martina Roos
- & Jonathan Hall
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| Open AccessBotulinum toxin A complex exploits intestinal M cells to enter the host and exert neurotoxicity
It is unclear how ingested botulinum neurotoxin invades the host to cause illness. Here, the authors show that the toxin complex containing neurotoxin, hemagglutinin (HA), and NTNHA proteins traverses the epithelial barrier via HA-glycoprotein 2 interaction and endocytosis by Peyer’s patch microfold cells.
- Takuhiro Matsumura
- , Yo Sugawara
- & Yukako Fujinaga
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Quantitative high throughput screening using a primary human three-dimensional organotypic culture predicts in vivo efficacy
Tumour microenvironment affects the outcome of pharmacological anticancer treatments. Here, Kenny et al. show that organotypic cultures of ovarian cancer cells can recapitulate metastasis. They identify several new compounds that block cancer invasion and metastasis and improve survival in mouse models.
- Hilary A. Kenny
- , Madhu Lal-Nag
- & Ernst Lengyel
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| Open AccessThe ligand binding mechanism to purine nucleoside phosphorylase elucidated via molecular dynamics and machine learning
Understanding the dynamics of enzyme-substrate complexation provides an insight into potential drugs, but intermediate states are difficult to observe experimentally. Here, the authors use simulations and machine learning to analyse the binding of transition state inhibitors to purine nucleoside phosphorylase.
- Sergio Decherchi
- , Anna Berteotti
- & Andrea Cavalli
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Comprehensive bioimaging with fluorinated nanoparticles using breathable liquids
Perfluorinated organic molecules have shown many uses, including as imaging agents. Here, the authors report that fluorinated gold nanoparticles offer an effective means of mass spectrometry tissue imaging, in addition to facilitating X-ray analysis providing complementary information to mass spectral images.
- Michael E. Kurczy
- , Zheng-Jiang Zhu
- & Gary Siuzdak
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Low MITF/AXL ratio predicts early resistance to multiple targeted drugs in melanoma
Increased expression of MITF transcription factor is thought to promote melanoma progression and kinase inhibitor resistance. Here Muller et al. show that MITF loss is also common in melanomas and confers kinase inhibitor resistance due to upregulation of AXL and other receptor tyrosine kinases.
- Judith Müller
- , Oscar Krijgsman
- & Daniel S. Peeper
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| Open AccessSteroidal and non-steroidal third-generation aromatase inhibitors induce pain-like symptoms via TRPA1
Use of aromatase inhibitors for breast cancer therapy is associated with severe pain symptoms, the underlying mechanism of which is unknown. Here the authors show that in mice, TRPA1 is a major mediator of the proinflammatory and proalgesic actions of aromatase inhibitors.
- Camilla Fusi
- , Serena Materazzi
- & Romina Nassini
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| Open AccessCell type-specific delivery of short interfering RNAs by dye-functionalised theranostic nanoparticles
A potential drug should specifically interact with its intended target in order to limit unwanted side effects. Here, the authors fabricate a biodegradable polymer nanoparticle with a fluorescent hepatic uptake transporter ligand to achieve targeted in vivosiRNA delivery and imaging of delivery.
- Adrian T. Press
- , Anja Traeger
- & Michael Bauer
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Mybpc3 gene therapy for neonatal cardiomyopathy enables long-term disease prevention in mice
Hereditary hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is caused by mutations in cardiomyocyte genes, such as MYBPC3. Here, the authors use virus-mediated gene therapy to correct Mycbpc3mutations in 1-day-old mice and, by administering just a single dose, prevent development of HCM over a period of 34 weeks.
- Giulia Mearini
- , Doreen Stimpel
- & Lucie Carrier
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| Open AccessPyrazoleamide compounds are potent antimalarials that target Na+ homeostasis in intraerythrocytic Plasmodium falciparum
Novel antimalarial drugs are urgently needed to combat parasite drug resistance. Here, Vaidya et al. describe a new chemical class of potent antimalarial compounds that act by disrupting the parasite's sodium homeostasis.
- Akhil B. Vaidya
- , Joanne M. Morrisey
- & Lawrence W. Bergman
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An antioxidant nanozyme that uncovers the cytoprotective potential of vanadia nanowires
It is known that some nanomaterials can exhibit enzyme-like activities, prompting interest in the novel applications this property may allow. Here, the authors show how vanadia nanowires possess glutathione peroxidase-like activity, and can effectively protect cells from oxidative damage.
- Amit A. Vernekar
- , Devanjan Sinha
- & Govindasamy Mugesh
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Semi-permeable coatings fabricated from comb-polymers efficiently protect proteins in vivo
The attachment of polymers to protein molecules is known to shield them from biological breakdown. Here, the authors apply this concept to an asparaginase, in order to prevent its deactiviation by host immune responses during leukaemia treatment.
- Mi Liu
- , Pål Johansen
- & Marc A. Gauthier
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Suppression of the FOXM1 transcriptional programme via novel small molecule inhibition
Overexpression of the FOXM1 transcription factor occurs in several cancer and correlates with poor prognoses. Here, the authors identify a novel small molecule capable of displacing FOXM1 from its DNA consensus motif in vitro, displace it from target promoters and downregulate the expression of its target genes cancer cells.
- Michael V. Gormally
- , Thomas S. Dexheimer
- & Shankar Balasubramanian
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Article
| Open AccessStructural basis of IL-23 antagonism by an Alphabody protein scaffold
Protein scaffolds can serve as alternatives to antibodies in a range of applications. Here, the authors report the design and development of Alphabody™, a protein scaffold featuring a single-chain antiparallel triple-helix coiled-coil fold that the authors use to develop Alphabodies that can neutralize human IL-23 with high specificity and affinity.
- Johan Desmet
- , Kenneth Verstraete
- & Savvas N. Savvides
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Structure-guided discovery of potent and dual-acting human parainfluenza virus haemagglutinin–neuraminidase inhibitors
Human parainfluenza viruses (hPIVs) cause common respiratory diseases in children. Here the authors rationally design small molecules targeting the hPIV haemagglutinin–neuraminidase protein, and show that the compounds inhibit viral entry and exit from cultured cells.
- Patrice Guillon
- , Larissa Dirr
- & Mark von Itzstein
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| Open AccessOptical control of insulin release using a photoswitchable sulfonylurea
Sulfonylureas are widely used anti-diabetic drugs, which promote insulin release by blocking a pancreatic ion channel. Here the authors create a photoswitchable sulfonylurea derivative and use it to control insulin release from cultured cells and isolated pancreatic islets by illumination with blue light.
- Johannes Broichhagen
- , Matthias Schönberger
- & Dirk Trauner
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Rapid in vivo detection of isoniazid-sensitive Mycobacterium tuberculosis by breath test
There is an urgent need for rapid point-of-care tools for tuberculosis diagnosis and antibiotic sensitivity analysis. Here, the authors describe a breath test that, within minutes, detects isoniazid-susceptible Mycobacterium tuberculosisin infected animals.
- Seong W. Choi
- , Mamoudou Maiga
- & Graham S. Timmins
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Pharmacological correction of obesity-induced autophagy arrest using calcium channel blockers
Cellular defects in autophagy contribute to the development of fatty liver in obesity. Here, Park et al.reveal that hepatic autophagy is impaired by chronically elevated cytosolic calcium levels, and show that a clinically approved calcium channel blocker can improve metabolic parameters of obese mice.
- Hwan-Woo Park
- , Haeli Park
- & Jun Hee Lee
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Article
| Open AccessScreening of DUB activity and specificity by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry
Deubiquitylases (DUBs) remove ubiquitin chains from proteins. Here the authors develop a mass spectrometry-based DUB activity screen using unmodified diubiquitin isomers to characterize substrate specificity for 42 human DUBs, and assess the potency and selectivity of 11 DUB inhibitors.
- Maria Stella Ritorto
- , Richard Ewan
- & Matthias Trost
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| Open AccessProtein painting reveals solvent-excluded drug targets hidden within native protein–protein interfaces
Identifying the site where a protein binds to another molecule is an important factor for the design of therapeutics intended to prevent this interaction. Here, the authors coat protein–receptor complexes with surface-binding molecules, and determine their interacting regions using mass spectrometry.
- Alessandra Luchini
- , Virginia Espina
- & Lance A. Liotta
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Treatment of acute lung injury by targeting MG53-mediated cell membrane repair
MG53 acts as a membrane repair protein in striatal muscle. Here the authors report that MG53 is also expressed in the lung, where it exerts a similar repair function in the context of pulmonary epithelial damage, and show that administration of recombinant MG53 ameliorates lung injury in mice.
- Yanlin Jia
- , Ken Chen
- & Jianjie Ma
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FOXO1 inhibition yields functional insulin-producing cells in human gut organoid cultures
The transcription factor FOXO1 has been shown to control the differentiation of enteroendocrine cells in mice. Here the authors extend these findings to humans by showing that FOXO1-expressing cells also exist in the human gut, and that inhibition of FOXO1 generates insulin-secreting cells in human gut organoid cultures.
- Ryotaro Bouchi
- , Kylie S. Foo
- & Domenico Accili
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Legumain protease-activated TAT-liposome cargo for targeting tumours and their microenvironment
Legumain is a protease found expressed in tumour cells and may be useful in the specific targeting of chemotherapeutics to tumour cells. Here, the authors design nanoparticles that are loaded with doxorubicin and contain a legumain cleavage site; once the nanoparticles enter tumour cells legumain activity results in the release of doxorubicin.
- Ze Liu
- , Min Xiong
- & Rong Xiang
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Article
| Open AccessPyrimidine-2,4,6-triones are a new class of voltage-gated L-type Ca2+ channel activators
Selective inhibitors of the L-type Ca2+ channel Cav1.3 are being developed as neuroprotective drugs. Here, Ortner et al. assess the pharmacological properties of a recently reported, selective Cav1.3 blocker and show that this agent is a Ca2+channel activator.
- Nadine J. Ortner
- , Gabriella Bock
- & Jörg Striessnig
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In vivo imaging of specific drug–target binding at subcellular resolution
The ability to image the action of drugs in cells in real time could yield valuable information on their efficacy and mode of action. Here, the authors use multiphoton fluorescence anisotropy microscopy to image drug distribution and target engagement in real time at the cellular level in vivo.
- J. M. Dubach
- , C. Vinegoni
- & R. Weissleder
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Nanoparticle-formulated siRNA targeting integrins inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma progression in mice
Integrin proteins regulate important cellular processes such as proliferation and differentiation. Here the authors show that siRNA-mediated knockdown of two integrin subunits slows down progression of hepatocellular carcinoma in mice by reducing activation of the METoncogene.
- Roman L. Bogorad
- , Hao Yin
- & Victor Koteliansky
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High-throughput and combinatorial gene expression on a chip for metabolism-induced toxicology screening
Current tools to test drug metabolism and toxicity in the liver are mainly based on time-consuming traditional cell culture methods. Here Kwon et al.report a high-throughput system employing cells cultured on micropillars that can be transfected with combinations of drug-metabolizing enzymes.
- Seok Joon Kwon
- , Dong Woo Lee
- & Moo-Yeal Lee
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Transition-metal-substituted polyoxometalate derivatives as functional anti-amyloid agents for Alzheimer’s disease
Beta amyloid aggregation, a process implicated in Alzheimer’s disease pathology, is inhibted by polyoxometalate with a Wells–Dawson structure. Gao et al.show that transition metal-functionalized derivatives are more effective at inhibiting beta amyloid aggregation than non-functionalized derivatives.
- Nan Gao
- , Hanjun Sun
- & Xiaogang Qu