Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
7.8
5.6
Journals
IJMS
Special Issues
State-of-the-Art Molecular Biology in Italy
ijms-logo
Submit to IJMS Review for IJMS Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

► Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser
share announcement

State-of-the-Art Molecular Biology in Italy

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Biology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2022) | Viewed by 8598

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Marco Tatullo

E-Mail Website
Collection Editor
Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neurosciences and Sense Organs, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
Interests: regenerative medicine; regenerative dentistry; stem cells; MSCs; biomaterials; growth factors; PRF; PRP; tissue engineering; biomimetics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Mirko Manetti

E-Mail Website
Collection Editor
Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Section of Anatomy and Histology, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134 Florence, Italy
Interests: anatomy; histology; morphological and functional aspects of stromal cells; endothelial cell biology; angiogenesis; cellular and molecular mechanisms of tissue fibrosis; pathogenesis of autoimmune, chronic inflammatory and connective tissue diseases; animal models of human disorders; systemic sclerosis; scleroderma
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Irene Rosa

E-Mail Website
Collection Editor
Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Section of Anatomy and Histology, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134 Florence, Italy
Interests: anatomy; histology; morphological and functional aspects of stromal cells and endothelial cells; angiogenesis; tissue fibrosis; systemic sclerosis; scleroderma
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Eloisa Romano

E-Mail Website
Collection Editor
Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134 Florence, Italy
Interests: angiogenesis; cellular and molecular mechanisms of tissue fibrosis; pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases; chronic inflammatory and connective tissue diseases; systemic sclerosis; scleroderma; endothelial cell biology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Topical Collection of the International Journal of Molecular Sciences (IJMS) aims to rapidly publish contributions on all aspects of molecular biology, cell biology, and biochemical, genetic and epigenetic research from Italy. We encourage the submission of manuscripts that provide novel and mechanistic insights and papers that report significant advances in the fields. Species including but not limited to mammals, rodents, fish, flies, worms, yeast, or other models of disease are of interest. Topics include but are not limited to:

  • Biological activities at the molecular level
  • Biological processes of cell functions and maintenance
  • Molecular processes of cell division, senescence, and cell death
  • Biomolecule interactions and cell-to-cell communication
  • DNA and RNA biosynthesis, metabolism, interactions, and functions
  • Protein biosynthesis, degradation, and functions
  • Molecular mechanisms and models of diseases
  • Molecular processes of cell and organelle dynamics
  • Gene functions, genetics, and genomics
  • Epigenetics and epigenomics
  • Signaling networks and system biology
  • Protein structure and function
  • Molecular mechanisms of reproduction and differentiation
  • Molecular mechanisms of drugs and small molecules
  • Molecular and medical bioinformatics
  • Molecular methodologies and imaging techniques

Prof. Dr. Marco Tatullo
Prof. Dr. Mirko Manetti
Dr. Irene Rosa
Dr. Eloisa Romano
Collection Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • molecular biology
  • cell biology
  • signal transduction and regulation
  • cell growth and differentiation
  • apoptosis
  • genetics
  • epigenetics

Published Papers (4 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

11 pages, 2124 KiB  
Article
Detection and pH-Thermal Characterization of Proteinases Exclusive of Honeybee Worker-Fate Larvae (Apis mellifera L.)
by Simona Sagona, Chiara D’Onofrio, Vincenzo Miragliotta and Antonio Felicioli
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(24), 15546; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms232415546 - 8 Dec 2022
Viewed by 967
Abstract
The occurrence of the honeybee caste polyphenism arises when a change in diet is transduced into cellular metabolic responses, resulting in a developmental shift mediated by gene expression. The aim of this investigation was to detect and describe the expression profile of water-soluble [...] Read more.
The occurrence of the honeybee caste polyphenism arises when a change in diet is transduced into cellular metabolic responses, resulting in a developmental shift mediated by gene expression. The aim of this investigation was to detect and describe the expression profile of water-soluble proteases during the ontogenesis of honeybee worker-fate larvae. The extraction of insect homogenates was followed by the electrophoretic separation of the protein extract in polyacrylamide gels under semi-denaturing condition, precast with gelatin, pollen, or royal jelly protein extracts. The worker-fate honeybee larva showed a proteolytic pattern that varied with aging, and a protease with the highest activity at 72 h after hatching was named PS4. PS4 has a molecular weight of 45 kDa, it remained active until cell sealing, and its enzymatic properties suggest a serine-proteinase nature. To define the process that originates a queen-fate larvae, royal jelly and pollen were analysed, but PS4 was not detected in either of them. The effect of food on the PS4 was investigated by mixing crude extracts of queen and worker-fate larvae with pollen and royal jelly, respectively. Only royal jelly inhibited PS4 in worker-fate larvae. Taken together, our data suggest that PS4 could be involved in caste differentiation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art Molecular Biology in Italy)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

10 pages, 1457 KiB  
Article
Pathological 25 kDa C-Terminal Fragments of TDP-43 Are Present in Lymphoblastoid Cell Lines and Extracellular Vesicles from Patients Affected by Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration and Neuronal Ceroidolipofuscinosis Carrying a GRN Mutation
by Sara Cimini, Sonia Bellini, Claudia Saraceno, Luisa Benussi, Roberta Ghidoni, Silvia Clara Giliani, Gianfranco Puoti, Laura Canafoglia, Giorgio Giaccone and Giacomina Rossi
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(22), 13753; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms232213753 - 9 Nov 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1376
Abstract
Frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) is a complex disease, characterized by progressive degeneration of frontal and temporal lobes. Mutations in progranulin (GRN) gene have been found in up to 50% of patients with familial FTLD. Abnormal deposits of post-translationally-modified TAR DNA-binding protein [...] Read more.
Frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) is a complex disease, characterized by progressive degeneration of frontal and temporal lobes. Mutations in progranulin (GRN) gene have been found in up to 50% of patients with familial FTLD. Abnormal deposits of post-translationally-modified TAR DNA-binding protein of 43 kDa (TDP-43) represent one of the main hallmarks of the brain pathology. To investigate in peripheral cells the presence of the different TDP-43 forms, especially the toxic 25 kDa fragments, we analyzed lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) and the derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) from patients carrying a GRN mutation, together with wild-type (WT) healthy controls. After characterizing EV sizes and concentrations by nanoparticle tracking analysis, we investigated the levels of different forms of the TDP-43 protein in LCLs and respective EVs by Western blot. Our results showed a trend of concentration decreasing in EVs derived from GRN-mutated LCLs, although not reaching statistical significance. A general increase in p-TDP-43 levels in GRN-mutated LCLs and EVs was observed. In particular, the toxic 25 kDa fragments of p-TDP-43 were only present in GRN-mutated LCLs and were absent in the WT controls. Furthermore, these fragments appeared to be more concentrated in EVs than in LCLs, suggesting a relevant role of EVs in spreading pathological molecules between cells. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art Molecular Biology in Italy)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

11 pages, 4817 KiB  
Article
Biochemical and Neuropathological Findings in a Creutzfeldt–Jakob Disease Patient with the Rare Val180Ile-129Val Haplotype in the Prion Protein Gene
by Gianluigi Zanusso, Elisa Colaizzo, Anna Poleggi, Carlo Masullo, Raffaello Romeo, Sergio Ferrari, Matilde Bongianni, Michele Fiorini, Dorina Tiple, Luana Vaianella, Marco Sbriccoli, Flavia Porreca, Michele Equestre, Maurizio Pocchiari, Franco Cardone and Anna Ladogana
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(18), 10210; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms231810210 - 6 Sep 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1727
Abstract
Genetic Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease (gCJD) associated with the V180I mutation in the prion protein (PrP) gene (PRNP) in phase with residue 129M is the most frequent cause of gCJD in East Asia, whereas it is quite uncommon in Caucasians. We report on [...] Read more.
Genetic Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease (gCJD) associated with the V180I mutation in the prion protein (PrP) gene (PRNP) in phase with residue 129M is the most frequent cause of gCJD in East Asia, whereas it is quite uncommon in Caucasians. We report on a gCJD patient with the rare V180I-129V haplotype, showing an unusually long duration of the disease and a characteristic pathological PrP (PrPSc) glycotype. Family members carrying the mutation were fully asymptomatic, as commonly observed with this mutation. Neuropathological examination showed a lesion pattern corresponding to that commonly reported in Japanese V180I cases with vacuolization and gliosis of the cerebral cortexes, olfactory areas, hippocampus and amygdala. PrP was deposited with a punctate, synaptic-like pattern in the cerebral cortex, amygdala and olfactory tract. Western blot analyses of proteinase-K-resistant PrP showed the characteristic two-banding pattern of V180I gCJD, composed of mono- and un-glycosylated isoforms. In line with reports on other V180I cases in the literature, Real-Time Quaking Induced Conversion (RT-QuIC) analyses did not demonstrate the presence of seeding activity in the cerebrospinal fluid and olfactory mucosa, suggesting that this haplotype also may result in a reduced seeding efficiency of the pathological PrP. Further studies are required to understand the origin, penetrance, disease phenotype and transmissibility of 180I-129V haplotype in Caucasians. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art Molecular Biology in Italy)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

31 pages, 761 KiB  
Review
Candidate Biological Markers for Social Anxiety Disorder: A Systematic Review
by Alice Caldiroli, Enrico Capuzzi, Letizia M. Affaticati, Teresa Surace, Carla L. Di Forti, Antonios Dakanalis, Massimo Clerici and Massimiliano Buoli
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(1), 835; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24010835 - 3 Jan 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3692
Abstract
Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is a common psychiatric condition associated with a high risk of psychiatric comorbidity and impaired social/occupational functioning when not promptly treated. The identification of biological markers may facilitate the diagnostic process, leading to an early and proper treatment. Our [...] Read more.
Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is a common psychiatric condition associated with a high risk of psychiatric comorbidity and impaired social/occupational functioning when not promptly treated. The identification of biological markers may facilitate the diagnostic process, leading to an early and proper treatment. Our aim was to systematically review the available literature about potential biomarkers for SAD. A search in the main online repositories (PubMed, ISI Web of Knowledge, PsychInfo, etc.) was performed. Of the 662 records screened, 61 were included. Results concerning cortisol, neuropeptides and inflammatory/immunological/neurotrophic markers remain inconsistent. Preliminary evidence emerged about the role of chromosome 16 and the endomannosidase gene, as well as of epigenetic factors, in increasing vulnerability to SAD. Neuroimaging findings revealed an altered connectivity of different cerebral areas in SAD patients and amygdala activation under social threat. Some parameters such as salivary alpha amylase levels, changes in antioxidant defenses, increased gaze avoidance and QT dispersion seem to be associated with SAD and may represent promising biomarkers of this condition. However, the preliminary positive correlations have been poorly replicated. Further studies on larger samples and investigating the same biomarkers are needed to identify more specific biological markers for SAD. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art Molecular Biology in Italy)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-4
Back to TopTop