| 1. |
- Surendran, Praveen, et al.
(författare)
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Discovery of rare variants associated with blood pressure regulation through meta-analysis of 1.3 million individuals
- 2020
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Ingår i: Nature Genetics. - : Nature Publishing Group. - 1061-4036 .- 1546-1718. ; 52:12, s. 1314-1332
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Genetic studies of blood pressure (BP) to date have mainly analyzed common variants (minor allele frequency > 0.05). In a meta-analysis of up to similar to 1.3 million participants, we discovered 106 new BP-associated genomic regions and 87 rare (minor allele frequency <= 0.01) variant BP associations (P < 5 x 10(-8)), of which 32 were in new BP-associated loci and 55 were independent BP-associated single-nucleotide variants within known BP-associated regions. Average effects of rare variants (44% coding) were similar to 8 times larger than common variant effects and indicate potential candidate causal genes at new and known loci (for example, GATA5 and PLCB3). BP-associated variants (including rare and common) were enriched in regions of active chromatin in fetal tissues, potentially linking fetal development with BP regulation in later life. Multivariable Mendelian randomization suggested possible inverse effects of elevated systolic and diastolic BP on large artery stroke. Our study demonstrates the utility of rare-variant analyses for identifying candidate genes and the results highlight potential therapeutic targets.
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| 2. |
- Chikowore, Tinashe, et al.
(författare)
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GWAS transethnic meta-analysis of BMI in similar to 700k individuals reveals novel gene-smoking interaction in African populations
- 2020
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Ingår i: Genetic Epidemiology. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 0741-0395 .- 1098-2272. ; 44:5, s. 475-476
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Tidskriftsartikel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Sixty two percent of the 1.12 billion obese people globally reside in low‐middle income countries, 77% of which are in Africa. There is paucity of data on gene‐lifestyle interactions associated with the increasing prevalence of obesity among Africans. We hypothesised that gene‐environment interacting (GEI) variants exhibit heterogenous effects on obesity in transethnic meta‐analysis of marginal SNP associations as a result of modification by an unknown exposure that varies across populations.Body mass index (BMI) genome‐wide association study (GWAS) summary statistics for 678,671 individuals representative of the major global ancestries were aggregated at 21,338,816 SNPs via fixed‐effects meta‐analysis. Lead SNPs attaining genome‐wide significance (P < 5 × 10−8) were tested for heterogeneity in effects between GWAS. Lead SNPs with significant evidence of heterogeneity after Bonferroni correction were then selected for interaction analysis with selected lifestyle factors in an independent AWI‐Gen study of 10,500 African participants. Significant interaction findings were then replicated in 3,177 individuals of African ancestry in the UK Biobank.Of 881 lead SNPs, five had significant heterogenous effects on BMI (P < 5.7 × 10−5). Rs471094, at the CDKAL1 locus had significant interaction with smoking status, which reduced the effect of the BMI raising allele in current smokers (Betaint = −0.949 kg/m2; P int = .002) compared with non‐smokers in AWI‐Gen. This finding was validated in the UK Biobank (Betaint = −1.471 kg/m2, P int = .020; meta‐analysis Betaint = −1.050 kg/m2, P int = .0002). Our results highlight the first gene‐lifestyle interaction on BMI in Africans and demonstrate the utility of transethnic meta‐analysis of GWAS for identifying GEI effects.
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| 3. |
- Hegazy, Mohamed-Elamir F., et al.
(författare)
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Terpenoid bio-transformations and applications via cell/organ cultures : a systematic review
- 2020
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Ingår i: Critical reviews in biotechnology. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0738-8551 .- 1549-7801. ; 40:1, s. 64-82
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Structurally diverse natural products are valued for their targeted biological activity. The challenge of working with such metabolites is their low natural abundance and complex structure, often with multiple stereocenters, precludes large-scale or unsophisticated chemical synthesis. Since select plants contain the enzymatic machinery necessary to produce specialized compounds, tissue cultures can be used to achieve key transformations for large-scale chemical and/or pharmaceutical applications. In this context, plant tissue-culture bio-transformations have demonstrated great promise in the preparation of pharmaceutical products. This review describes the capacity of cultured plant cells to transform terpenoid natural products and the specific application of such transformations over the past three decades (1988-2019).
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| 4. |
- Hussien, Taha A., et al.
(författare)
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Guaianolide Sesquiterpene Lactones from Centaurothamnus maximus
- 2021
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Ingår i: Molecules. - : MDPI AG. - 1431-5157 .- 1420-3049. ; 26:7
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Centaurothamnus maximus (family Asteraceae), is a leafy shrub indigenous to the southwestern Arabian Peninsula. With a paucity of phytochemical data on this species, we set out to chemically characterize the plant. From the aerial parts, two newly identified guaianolides were isolated: 3β-hydroxy-4α(acetoxy)-4β(hydroxymethyl)-8α-(4-hydroxy methacrylate)-1αH,5αH, 6αH-gual-10(14),11(13)-dien-6,12-olide (1) and 15-descarboxy picrolide A (2). Seven previously reported compounds were also isolated: 3β, 4α, 8α-trihydroxy-4-(hydroxymethyl)-lαH, 5αH, 6βH, 7αH-guai-10(14),11(13)-dien-6,12-olide (3), chlorohyssopifolin B (4), cynaropikrin (5), hydroxyjanerin (6), chlorojanerin (7), isorhamnetin (8), and quercetagetin-3,6-dimethyl ether-4’-O-β-d-pyranoglucoside (9). Chemical structures were elucidated using spectroscopic techniques, including High Resolution Fast Atom Bombardment Mass Spectrometry (HR-FAB-MS), 1D NMR; 1H, 13C NMR, Distortionless Enhancement by Polarization Transfer (DEPT), and 2D NMR (1H-1H COSY, HMQC, HMBC) analyses. In addition, a biosynthetic pathway for compounds 1–9 is proposed. The chemotaxonomic significance of the reported sesquiterpenoids and flavonoids considering reports from other Centaurea species is examined.
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| 5. |
- Ibrahim, Mahmoud A. A., et al.
(författare)
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Blue Biotechnology : Computational Screening of Sarcophyton Cembranoid Diterpenes for SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease Inhibition
- 2021
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Ingår i: Marine Drugs. - : MDPI. - 1660-3397 .- 1660-3397. ; 19:7
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The coronavirus pandemic has affected more than 150 million people, while over 3.25 million people have died from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). As there are no established therapies for COVID-19 treatment, drugs that inhibit viral replication are a promising target; specifically, the main protease (M-pro) that process CoV-encoded polyproteins serves as an Achilles heel for assembly of replication-transcription machinery as well as down-stream viral replication. In the search for potential antiviral drugs that target M-pro, a series of cembranoid diterpenes from the biologically active soft-coral genus Sarcophyton have been examined as SARS-CoV-2 M-pro inhibitors. Over 360 metabolites from the genus were screened using molecular docking calculations. Promising diterpenes were further characterized by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations based on molecular mechanics-generalized Born surface area (MM-GBSA) binding energy calculations. According to in silico calculations, five cembranoid diterpenes manifested adequate binding affinities as M-pro inhibitors with Delta G(binding) < -33.0 kcal/mol. Binding energy and structural analyses of the most potent Sarcophyton inhibitor, bislatumlide A (340), was compared to darunavir, an HIV protease inhibitor that has been recently subjected to clinical-trial as an anti-COVID-19 drug. In silico analysis indicates that 340 has a higher binding affinity against M-pro than darunavir with Delta G(binding) values of -43.8 and -34.8 kcal/mol, respectively throughout 100 ns MD simulations. Drug-likeness calculations revealed robust bioavailability and protein-protein interactions were identified for 340; biochemical signaling genes included ACE, MAPK14 and ESR1 as identified based on a STRING database. Pathway enrichment analysis combined with reactome mining revealed that 340 has the capability to re-modulate the p38 MAPK pathway hijacked by SARS-CoV-2 and antagonize injurious effects. These findings justify further in vivo and in vitro testing of 340 as an antiviral agent against SARS-CoV-2.
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| 6. |
- Ibrahim, Mahmoud A. A., et al.
(författare)
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In silico drug discovery of major metabolites from spices as SARS-CoV-2 main protease inhibitors
- 2020
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Ingår i: Computers in Biology and Medicine. - : Elsevier BV. - 0010-4825 .- 1879-0534. ; 126
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious illness caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), originally identified in Wuhan, China (December 2019) and has since expanded into a pandemic. Here, we investigate metabolites present in several common spices as possible inhibitors of COVID-19. Specifically, 32 compounds isolated from 14 cooking seasonings were examined as inhibitors for SARS-CoV-2 main protease (MPrn), which is required for viral multiplication. Using a drug discovery approach to identify possible antiviral leads, in silico molecular docking studies were performed. Docking calculations revealed a high potency of salvianolic acid A and curcumin as MPr inhibitors with binding energies of 9.7 and 9.2 kcal/mol, respectively. Binding mode analysis demonstrated the ability of salvianolic acid A and curcumin to form nine and six hydrogen bonds, respectively with amino acids proximal to MPr 's active site. Stabilities and binding affinities of the two identified natural spices were calculated over 40 ns molecular dynamics simulations and compared to an antiviral protease inhibitor (lopinavir). Molecular mechanics-generalized Born surface area energy calculations revealed greater salvianolic acid A affinity for the enzyme over curcumin and lopinavir with energies of 44.8, 34.2 and 34.8 kcal/mol, respectively. Using a STRING database, protein-protein interactions were identified for salvianolic acid A included the biochemical signaling genes ACE, MAPK14 and ESR1; and for curcumin, EGFR and TNF. This study establishes salvianolic acid A as an in silico natural product inhibitor against the SARS-CoV-2 main protease and provides a promising inhibitor lead for in vitro enzyme testing.
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| 7. |
- Ibrahim, Mahmoud A. A., et al.
(författare)
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In Silico Mining of Terpenes from Red-Sea Invertebrates for SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease (M-pro) Inhibitors
- 2021
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Ingår i: Molecules. - : MDPI AG. - 1431-5157 .- 1420-3049. ; 26:7
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the causative agent for the COVID-19 pandemic, which generated more than 1.82 million deaths in 2020 alone, in addition to 83.8 million infections. Currently, there is no antiviral medication to treat COVID-19. In the search for drug leads, marine-derived metabolites are reported here as prospective SARS-CoV-2 inhibitors. Two hundred and twenty-seven terpene natural products isolated from the biodiverse Red-Sea ecosystem were screened for inhibitor activity against the SARS-CoV-2 main protease (M-pro) using molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations combined with molecular mechanics/generalized Born surface area binding energy calculations. On the basis of in silico analyses, six terpenes demonstrated high potency as M-pro inhibitors with Delta G(binding) <= -40.0 kcal/mol. The stability and binding affinity of the most potent metabolite, erylosides B, were compared to the human immunodeficiency virus protease inhibitor, lopinavir. Erylosides B showed greater binding affinity towards SARS-CoV-2 M-pro than lopinavir over 100 ns with Delta G(binding) values of -51.9 vs. -33.6 kcal/mol, respectively. Protein-protein interactions indicate that erylosides B biochemical signaling shares gene components that mediate severe acute respiratory syndrome diseases, including the cytokine- and immune-signaling components BCL2L1, IL2, and PRKC. Pathway enrichment analysis and Boolean network modeling were performed towards a deep dissection and mining of the erylosides B target-function interactions. The current study identifies erylosides B as a promising anti-COVID-19 drug lead that warrants further in vitro and in vivo testing.
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| 8. |
- Mohamed, Tarik A., et al.
(författare)
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Plant cell cultures : An enzymatic tool for polyphenolic and flavonoid transformations
- 2022
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Ingår i: Phytomedicine. - : Elsevier BV. - 0944-7113 .- 1618-095X. ; 100
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: In the pharmaceutical sector, tissue culture techniques for large-scale production of natural chemicals can be a less expensive alternative to large-scale synthesis. Although recent biotransformation research have used plant cell cultures to target a wide range of bioactive compounds, more compiled information and synopses are needed to better understand metabolic pathways and improve biotransformation efficiencies.Purpose: This report reviews the biochemical transformation of phenolic natural products by plant cell cultures in order to identify potential novel biotechnological approaches for ensuring more homogeneous and stable phenolic production year-round under controlled environmental conditions.Methods: Articles on the use of plant cell culture for polyphenolic and flavonoid transformations (1988 - 2021) were retrieved from SciFinder, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science through electronic and manual search in English. Following that, the authors chose the required papers based on the criteria they defined. The following keywords were used for the online search: biotransformation, Plant cell cultures, flavonoids, phenolics, and pharmaceutical products.Results: The initial search found a total of 96 articles. However, only 70 of them were selected as they met the inclusion criteria defined by the authors. The analysis of these studies revealed that plant tissue culture is applicable for the large-scale production of plant secondary metabolites including the phenolics, which have high therapeutic value.Conclusion: Plant tissue cultures could be employed as an efficient technique for producing secondary metabolites including phenolics. Phenolics possess a wide range of therapeutic benefits, as anti-oxidant, anti-cancer, and antiinflammatory properties. Callus culture, suspension cultures, transformation, and other procedures have been used to improve the synthesis of phenolics. Their production on a large scale is now achievable. More breakthroughs will lead to newer insights and, without a doubt, to a new era of phenolics-based pharmacological agents for the treatment of a variety of infectious and degenerative disorders.
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| 9. |
- Young, William J., et al.
(författare)
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Genetic analyses of the electrocardiographic QT interval and its components identify additional loci and pathways
- 2022
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Ingår i: Nature Communications. - : Springer Nature. - 2041-1723. ; 13
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The QT interval is a heritable electrocardiographic measure associated with arrhythmia risk when prolonged. Here, the authors used a series of genetic analyses to identify genetic loci, pathways, therapeutic targets, and relationships with cardiovascular disease. The QT interval is an electrocardiographic measure representing the sum of ventricular depolarization and repolarization, estimated by QRS duration and JT interval, respectively. QT interval abnormalities are associated with potentially fatal ventricular arrhythmia. Using genome-wide multi-ancestry analyses (>250,000 individuals) we identify 177, 156 and 121 independent loci for QT, JT and QRS, respectively, including a male-specific X-chromosome locus. Using gene-based rare-variant methods, we identify associations with Mendelian disease genes. Enrichments are observed in established pathways for QT and JT, and previously unreported genes indicated in insulin-receptor signalling and cardiac energy metabolism. In contrast for QRS, connective tissue components and processes for cell growth and extracellular matrix interactions are significantly enriched. We demonstrate polygenic risk score associations with atrial fibrillation, conduction disease and sudden cardiac death. Prioritization of druggable genes highlight potential therapeutic targets for arrhythmia. Together, these results substantially advance our understanding of the genetic architecture of ventricular depolarization and repolarization.
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