Researchers have discovered that a subunit of the ubiquitin-proteasome system acted independently of the proteasome machinery to regulate AMPA receptors, a type of glutamate receptor, at multiple steps of their life cycle. Published in the May 26, 2023, issue of Science, the findings could point to ways to target AMPA receptors. They are responsible for the majority of excitatory transmission in the central nervous system, and current drugs seeking to influence AMPA-based transmission are “good but they are not great,” Erin Schuman told BioWorld. “This regulatory particle is watching the glutamate receptor at each step.” Schuman is the director of the Max Planck Institute for Brain Research and the paper’s senior author. Read More
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a rare, progressive and chronic lung disease that causes scarring of the lung tissue and leads to an irreversible decline in lung function. Several studies have linked the p53 tumor suppressor gene to pulmonary fibrosis. Read More
At the recent ATS meeting, Tavanta Therapeutics Inc. introduced TAVT-135, a cell-penetrating peptide (CPP) conjugate that acts as a chloride ion (Cl-) transporter. The product is currently being investigated for cystic fibrosis (CF), regardless of CF transmembrane conductance regulatory (CFTR) gene mutation status. Read More
Hilleman Laboratories Singapore Pte Ltd. and the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) have established a collaboration to explore using novel circular ribonucleic acid (circRNA) technology to develop a Nipah virus vaccine and to validate the technology platform for application for other infectious diseases pathogens. Read More
Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute has disclosed baculoviral IAP repeat-containing protein 7 (BIRC7; ML-IAP) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer. Read More
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is an aggressive brain cancer with poor prognosis and survival. TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is a protein that induces apoptosis in cancer cells by binding death receptors type 4 and 5. Researchers at the University of North Carolina explored using hiNeuroS-TRAIL combined with the ClpP activator TR-107 as a potential treatment. Read More
Intron Biotechnology Inc. has announced the identification of lysogenic bacteriophages prophage and jamphage in the pancreatic cancer-related microbiome. This identification was achieved as part of the ongoing Phageriarus development project that is focused on acquiring bacteriophage-derived proteins that can serve as immune regulators, with the ultimate goal of developing phage-based immunotherapeutics for immune disorders and cancer. Read More
Mutations in the RPGRIP1 gene are associated with rare retinal dystrophies and most commonly with Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA) type 6, which is characterized by vision loss, among other symptoms. Read More
Celros Biotech Co. Ltd. has synthesized cytochrome b-245 heavy chain (CYBB; NOX2) and NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of atherosclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, cirrhosis, diabetes, cancer, glomerulonephritis, psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis, among others. Read More
Bietti’s crystalline corneoretinal dystrophy (BCD) is an autosomal recessive inherited disease caused by mutations in the cytochrome P450 (CYP) family 4 subfamily V member 2 (CYP4V2) gene, which encodes a polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) hydroxylase dominantly expressed in retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells. Read More
Ubix Therapeutics Inc. has identified proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) comprising cereblon (CRBN) ligands coupled to a Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) targeting moiety via linker acting as BTK degradation inducers reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer and autoimmune disease. Read More
Shanghai Euregen Biopharma Co. Ltd. has divulged menin (MEN1)/MLL interaction inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer, autoimmune disease, diabetes and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease). Read More
Vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) activation plays a crucial role in the development of several vascular diseases, including intimal hyperplasia indicative of restenosis. Fragile X-related protein 1 (FXR1) is a muscle-enhanced RNA binding protein that has been proposed to regulate inflammation negatively and is overexpressed in injured arteries. However, the role of FXR1 in vascular disease remains unclear. Read More
