The enzyme HK2 is a potential regulator of osteoarthritis

This resource is a video abstract of a research paper created by Research Square on behalf of its authors. It provides a synopsis that's easy to understand, and can be used to introduce the topics it covers to students, researchers, and the general public. The video's transcript is also provided in full, with a portion provided below for preview: "Patients with osteoarthritis typically experience progressive cartilage degeneration, joint inflammation, and bony growth around the joints. Treatment of this painful condition remains difficult because the underlying mechanisms aren’t clear, but recent evidence suggests that an increase in aerobic glycolysis, a form of glucose metabolism, may play a role. Aerobic glycolysis is regulated in part by the enzyme hexokinase 2 (HK2), which is upregulated in the joint tissues of patients with osteoarthritis . In addition to participating in glycolysis, HK2 affects cell growth, proliferation, survival, organelle recycling, and death under the influences of various other osteoarthritis-related proteins and pathways. For example, HK2 activity is promoted by the PI3K/Akt pathway, which is activated in osteoarthritis cartilage and HK2 might activate the transcription factor NF-κB to encourage downstream inflammatory processes in joints..." The rest of the transcript, along with a link to the research itself, is available on the resource itself.

Material Type: Diagram/Illustration, Reading

Enzyme RhoB could be promising target in combating ulcerative colitis

This resource is a video abstract of a research paper created by Research Square on behalf of its authors. It provides a synopsis that's easy to understand, and can be used to introduce the topics it covers to students, researchers, and the general public. The video's transcript is also provided in full, with a portion provided below for preview: "RhoB is a rescue enzyme activated by toxins, stress, and inflammation and has been found to enhance the clearance of UTI-causing E. coli. Given these roles, researchers wondered whether RhoB might be a useful signal of other diseases—namely, ulcerative colitis. To find out, the team examined colon tissue from patients with ulcerative colitis, as well as mice with drug-induced colitis. They discovered that RhoB was enhanced in both humans and mice, with gut microbes contributing to that increase. Unlike in other studies, here RhoB was found to play an antagonistic role: compared with control mice (WT), colitis tended to recede in mice with low RhoB (RhoB-/-). A similar trend was observed in organs artificially grown from the tissue of mice without the gene that codes for RhoB. In these RhoB-less organoids, cells showed an increased ability to repair colon tissue compared with tissue from untreated control mice..." The rest of the transcript, along with a link to the research itself, is available on the resource itself.

Material Type: Diagram/Illustration, Reading

Enzyme JARID1B could be new target for fighting spread of colorectal cancer

This resource is a video abstract of a research paper created by Research Square on behalf of its authors. It provides a synopsis that's easy to understand, and can be used to introduce the topics it covers to students, researchers, and the general public. The video's transcript is also provided in full, with a portion provided below for preview: "Colorectal cancer is the most common cancer worldwide and among the top 3 causes of cancer-related death in men and women. Despite advances in diagnosing and treating colorectal cancer prognosis remains poor because of persistent mechanisms of tumor proliferation. A new study has zeroed in on one protein that could be behind some of these mechanisms of colorectal cancer spread. JARID1B is a demethylase enzyme encoded by the gene KDM5B and has been implicated in the development of several cancers, including breast, prostate, and liver cancer. Researchers found that JARID1B was significantly upregulated in colorectal cancer tissue versus adjacent normal tissue. In patients with colorectal cancer, high JARID1B expression was associated with poor overall survival. Experiments revealed that JARID1B promoted the spread of colorectal tumor cells through the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Specifically, by inhibiting the protein CDX2..." The rest of the transcript, along with a link to the research itself, is available on the resource itself.

Material Type: Diagram/Illustration, Reading

A G protein and PDE enzymes help regulate adrenergic signaling for cardiac control

This resource is a video abstract of a research paper created by Research Square on behalf of its authors. It provides a synopsis that's easy to understand, and can be used to introduce the topics it covers to students, researchers, and the general public. The video's transcript is also provided in full, with a portion provided below for preview: "The pumping action of the heart is tightly regulated by many factors. For example, the ion channel proteins RyR2 and SERCA2a regulate cardiac contraction via the β adrenergic receptor (βAR) pathway and under stress conditions, βAR stimulation promotes the enzyme activity of PKA to ultimately enhance cardiac contraction and relaxation. However, it’s unclear exactly how βAR-stimulated PKA dynamically affects RyR2 and SERCA2a within their nano-scale subcellular domains. To learn more, researchers recently used biosensors to detect PKA activity at these nanodomains in heart cells from mice, rats, and rabbits. They found that the βAR subtype β₁AR signaled to both RyR2 and SERCA2a nanodomains via PKA, while β₂AR did not. Specifically, β₂AR signaling at these nanodomains was prevented by the enzymes PDE3 and PDE4, which controlled baseline PKA activity, but blocking an inhibitory G protein permitted β₂AR signaling at the RyR2 nanodomains..." The rest of the transcript, along with a link to the research itself, is available on the resource itself.

Material Type: Diagram/Illustration, Reading

A non-immune form of the enzyme NOS2 is expressed during stem cell differentiation

This resource is a video abstract of a research paper created by Research Square on behalf of its authors. It provides a synopsis that's easy to understand, and can be used to introduce the topics it covers to students, researchers, and the general public. The video's transcript is also provided in full, with a portion provided below for preview: "The enzyme NOS2 produces nitric oxide, a signaling molecule involved in processes like blood pressure regulation, immunity, and stem cell differentiation. NOS2 has three isoforms (NOS2-1, NOS2-2, and NOS2-3), but it’s unclear which one is expressed in differentiating human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs), which are important tools for regenerative medicine and research. To learn more about NOS2 in these essential cells, researchers recently examined public RNA sequencing data for hPSCs. They found that NOS2 mRNA was transiently expressed during differentiation of hPSCs into various cell types, such as heart muscle, cartilage, and pre-placental cells, and the specific isoform expressed, NOS2-2, had a markedly different structure than the common immunity-related isoform NOS2-1. In vitro, four separate hPSC cell lines transiently expressed NOS2 mRNA and protein while they were differentiating into cortical neurons, and further analyses revealed that only the NOS2-2 isoform was expressed in these cells..." The rest of the transcript, along with a link to the research itself, is available on the resource itself.

Material Type: Diagram/Illustration, Reading

Integrated Chemical Engineering Topics I: Introduction to Biocatalysis

This course provides a brief introduction to the field of biocatalysis in the context of process design. Fundamental topics include why and when one may choose to use biological systems for chemical conversion, considerations for using free enzymes versus whole cells, and issues related to design and development of bioconversion processes. Biological and engineering problems are discussed as well as how one may arrive at both biological and engineering solutions.

Material Type: Full Course

Author: Jones Prather, Kristala

What Factors Influence How Efficiently the Work of a Cell is Carried Out

In this investigation, students will design experiments and gather data to observe the factors that influence the activity of enzymes.

Material Type: Activity/Lab, Assessment, Lesson Plan

Author: Jeanne Reed

Enzymatic Proteins - How They Regulate Life

In this seminar students will explore the hacking of glue! You will inquire about the way in which enzymes are a part of chemical reactions in the biological sense through simulations.  Experimental investigations will lead to the understanding of the denaturing process of enzymes.StandardsBIO.A.2.2.2 Describe how biological macromolecules form from monomers.BIO.A.2.2.3 Compare and contrast the structure and function of carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids in organisms.

Material Type: Lesson Plan

Authors: Bonnie Waltz, Deanna Mayers, Tracy Rains

Oral eliglustat maintains efficacy over 8 years in previously untreated adults with moderate to severe Gaucher disease type 1

This resource is a video abstract of a research paper created by Research Square on behalf of its authors. It provides a synopsis that's easy to understand, and can be used to introduce the topics it covers to students, researchers, and the general public. The video's transcript is also provided in full, with a portion provided below for preview: "A recently completed clinical trial of the oral drug eliglustat has delivered promising long-term results for adults with Gaucher disease type 1 – a rare and sometimes life-threatening genetic disorder that interferes with the breakdown of certain types of lipids. GD1 is caused by deficient activity of the lysosomal enzyme acid β-glucosidase. Reduced catalytic activity of the enzyme results in pathogenic accumulation of the enzyme’s substrates, primarily glucosylceramide, in various organs. The result is progressive and debilitating enlargement of the spleen and liver, anemia, low platelet counts, and skeletal manifestations. The historical standard of care is biweekly intravenous infusions of recombinant enzyme, which boosts degradation of glucosylceramide. By contrast, eliglustat, an oral substrate reduction therapy, reduces glucosylceramide storage by slowing its production..." The rest of the transcript, along with a link to the research itself, is available on the resource itself.

Material Type: Diagram/Illustration, Reading

Biochemical Engineering

This course focuses on the interaction of chemical engineering, biochemistry, and microbiology. Mathematical representations of microbial systems are featured among lecture topics. Kinetics of growth, death, and metabolism are also covered. Continuous fermentation, agitation, mass transfer, and scale-up in fermentation systems, and enzyme technology round out the subject material.

Material Type: Full Course

Author: Jones Prather, Kristala

PKCα integrates spatiotemporally distinct Ca2+ and autocrine BDNF signaling to facilitate synaptic plasticity

This resource is a video abstract of a research paper created by Research Square on behalf of its authors. It provides a synopsis that's easy to understand, and can be used to introduce the topics it covers to students, researchers, and the general public. The video's transcript is also provided in full, with a portion provided below for preview: "Our ability to form new memories is inextricably tied to synaptic plasticity – the structural and functional remodeling of brain tissue that allows us to adapt to an ever-changing environment. During plasticity, synapses must continually process and respond to ongoing fluctuations in biochemical information. Adding to the complexity of this arrangement is the fact that these signals occur under highly variable spatiotemporal scales. How do neurons perform such complex calculations? Researchers from the Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience report that a specific isozyme of protein kinase C, known as PKCα, may be the key. The PKC family of enzymes has a long-established, critical role in synaptic plasticity. But which forms of PKC are activated and how activation occurs during this process has remained a mystery. To answer this question, the researchers developed highly specific biosensors to track the activity of classic PKC isozymes in brain tissue..." The rest of the transcript, along with a link to the research itself, is available on the resource itself.

Material Type: Diagram/Illustration, Reading

The Warburg effect complicates the impact of DHODH inhibition on ferroptosis

This resource is a video abstract of a research paper created by Research Square on behalf of its authors. It provides a synopsis that's easy to understand, and can be used to introduce the topics it covers to students, researchers, and the general public. The video's transcript is also provided in full, with a portion provided below for preview: "Cancers are complex diseases largely characterized by rapid cellular proliferation. This can be slowed by regulated cell death mechanisms like ferroptosis. Ferroptosis is triggered by extensive peroxidation of cell membrane phospholipids by reactive oxygen species (ROS), but ferroptosis can be inhibited by enzymes that undo peroxidation like GPX4. Another enzyme, DHODH, supports GPX4 and is vital to the production of pyrimidine nucleotides, critical building blocks for rapidly proliferating cells. In theory, this would make inhibiting DHODH a valuable therapeutic target for cancer by freeing up ferroptosis and hampering proliferation. However, this is complicated by the “Warburg effect,” which is common in some cancer cells. The Warburg effect is a shift away from using mitochondria for energy to other metabolic processes, which has knock-on effects..." The rest of the transcript, along with a link to the research itself, is available on the resource itself.

Material Type: Diagram/Illustration, Reading

Jell-O: More Than Meets the Eye

Students are tasked with designing their own experiment to discover why you cannot add fresh pineapple to Jell-O. After analyzing their results, they will construct a CER that will be used to assess their understanding of the concepts.

Material Type: Activity/Lab, Assessment

Author: STEMToolkit Administrator

Experimental Microbial Genetics

In this class, students engage in independent research projects to probe various aspects of the physiology of the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA14, an opportunistic pathogen isolated from the lungs of cystic fibrosis patients. Students use molecular genetics to examine survival in stationary phase, antibiotic resistance, phase variation, toxin production, and secondary metabolite production. Projects aim to discover the molecular basis for these processes using both classical and cutting-edge techniques. These include plasmid manipulation, genetic complementation, mutagenesis, PCR, DNA sequencing, enzyme assays, and gene expression studies. Instruction and practice in written and oral communication are also emphasized. WARNING NOTICE The experiments described in these materials are potentially hazardous and require a high level of safety training, special facilities and equipment, and supervision by appropriate individuals. You bear the sole responsibility, liability, and risk for the implementation of such safety procedures and measures. MIT shall have no responsibility, liability, or risk for the content or implementation of any of the material presented. Legal Notice

Material Type: Full Course

Authors: Croal, Laura, Laub, Michael, Melvold, Janis, Newman, Dianne

DECOMPOSITION OF STARCH LAB

Chemical reactions play an important role in our digestive system. This activity will allow you to observe one of those reactions, known as a decomposition reaction.  Decomposition is a reaction that breaks down a complex substance into simpler substances. You will be using the enzyme amylase to break down a starch into a simple sugar. This lab will simulate what is happening in your mouth when your saliva (which contains the enzyme amylase) begins to break down the complex carbohydrate starch.

Material Type: Activity/Lab

Author: Teresa Walters

Jell-O: More Than Meets the Eye

Students are tasked with designing their own experiment to discover why you cannot add fresh pineapple to Jell-O. After analyzing their results, they will construct a CER that will be used to assess their understanding of the concepts.

Material Type: Activity/Lab, Assessment

Author: Janelle Roberts

DNA replication concept map

This activity contains a concept map on DNA replication and repair. These topics are challenging for most undergraduates; thus, this exercise is designed them to give them practice at distinguishing between the enzymes and processes involved.

Material Type: Activity/Lab

Author: Emily Meredith

Chemical and Biological Reaction Engineering

This course applies the concepts of reaction rate, stoichiometry and equilibrium to the analysis of chemical and biological reacting systems, derivation of rate expressions from reaction mechanisms and equilibrium or steady state assumptions, design of chemical and biochemical reactors via synthesis of chemical kinetics, transport phenomena, and mass and energy balances. Topics covered include: chemical/biochemical pathways; enzymatic, pathway, and cell growth kinetics; batch, plug flow and well-stirred reactors for chemical reactions and cultivations of microorganisms and mammalian cells; heterogeneous and enzymatic catalysis; heat and mass transport in reactors, including diffusion to and within catalyst particles and cells or immobilized enzymes.

Material Type: Full Course

Authors: Green, William, Wittrup, K.

Biomolecular Kinetics and Cellular Dynamics (BE.420J)

This subject deals primarily with kinetic and equilibrium mathematical models of biomolecular interactions, as well as the application of these quantitative analyses to biological problems across a wide range of levels of organization, from individual molecular interactions to populations of cells.

Material Type: Full Course

Authors: Tidor, Bruce, Wittrup, Karl

Concepts of Biology instructional videos - Camosun College

This series of instructional videos was created by Camosun College for a Canadian edition of the OpenStax "Concepts of Biology" open textbook as part of the BC Open Textbook Project. The lectures are taught by Charles Molnar, a Biology instructor at Camosun College. The videos are accompanied by transcripts.

Material Type: Lecture

Author: Sonya Bennett-Brandt