Bowman's layer is an acellular corneal structure, which is considered to be a specially modified anterior stroma. It is presumed, that it forms as a result of ongoing epithelial-stromal interactions and no clear physiological purpose has been proven. Despite this fact, Bowman's layer has found its place in corneal transplantation. It has been performed for over a decade, mainly in treatment of advanced keratoconus with multiple modifications. Transplantation of Bowman's layer can be expected to become a widely used surgical procedure in the treatment of many corneal pathologies involving fragmentation and destruction of Bowman's layer. This article aims to summarize information available on its structure, possible function, and transplantation. A thorough literature search was performed in the PubMed database and Google Scholar using keywords: Bowman's layer, structure, function, preparation and corneal transplantation. All the relevant sources were used, which represent 77 peer-reviewed articles with information corcerning the topic of this article.

• Keywords
• Bowman’s layer, Corneal transplantation, Function, Preparation, Structure,
• MeSH
• Bowman Membrane pathology   MeSH
• Keratoconus surgery   therapy   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Corneal Diseases surgery   therapy   MeSH
• Corneal Transplantation * MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Review MeSH

Comparative evolutionary genomics has revealed that novel protein coding genes can emerge randomly from non-coding DNA. While most of the myriad of transcripts which continuously emerge vanish rapidly, some attain regulatory regions, become translated and survive. More surprisingly, sequence properties of de novo proteins are almost indistinguishable from randomly obtained sequences, yet de novo proteins may gain functions and integrate into eukaryotic cellular networks quite easily. We here discuss current knowledge on de novo proteins, their structures, functions and evolution. Since the existence of de novo proteins seems at odds with decade-long attempts to construct proteins with novel structures and functions from scratch, we suggest that a better understanding of de novo protein evolution may fuel new strategies for protein design.

• MeSH
• Genomics MeSH
• Evolution, Molecular * MeSH
• Proteins * genetics   MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Review MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Proteins * MeSH

BACKROUND AND AIMS: Early evaluation of cardiac remodeling may be useful in predicting heart failure in patients with arterial hypertension. The identification of biomarkers as useful clinical tools in this regard is ongoing. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of selected cardiac biomarkers levels with parameters of cardiac structure and function in patients with arterial hypertension. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Included in the study were patients with arterial hypertension with normal left ventricular ejection fraction (LV EF) and absence of signs of heart failure. The levels of selected biomarkers: NT-proBNP, sST2, Galectin-3, GDF-15, Cystatin C, TIMP-1 and ceruloplasmin were measured and assessed together with other biochemical and echocardiographic parameters. RESULTS: A total of 92 patients (61% men) mean age 61.5 years were included. Mean LV EF was 64.7% and mean LV mass index was 91.7 g/m2. NT-proBNP level correlated significantly with the parameters of LV diastolic function: velocity of E wave (r=0.377, P<0.002), and with E/A ratio, (r=0.455, P<0.0001), with E lat (r=-0.354, P=0.006), E/E' ratio, r=0.393, P<0.002, with ePAP (r=0.390, P=0.014), and with age (r=0.384, P<0.0001). Statistically significant correlations for GDF-15 were as follows: with age (r=0.426, P<0.0001) and left atrial diameter (LA) (r=0.401, P<0.0001), for Cystatin C there are statistically significant correlation with age (r=0.288, P=0.006) and LA (r=0.329, P=0.004). Only sST2 level correlated significantly with parameters of cardiac structure: with LV mass (r=0.290, P<0.01) and LV mass index (r=0.307, P=0.012) and with posterior wall thickness PW (r=0.380, P<0.001). No other observed variables including Galectin-3 and TIMP-1, correlated significantly with age or echocardiographic variables. In a comparison of patients with and without left ventricular hypertrophy, statistically significant differences were found only in LA (P<0.0001) and sST2 (P=0.004). In a multivariate logistic regression, sST2 and TIMP were independent predictors of left ventricular hypertrophy. CONCLUSION: NT-proBNP level as a biomarker of cardiac remodeling correlated with parameters of LV diastolic function in patients with arterial hypertension. Soluble ST2 correlated with parameters of cardiac structure. Biomarkers sST2 and TIMP-1 were associated with left ventricular hypertrophy.

• Keywords
• NT-proBNP, TIMP-1, arterial hypertension, biomarkers, cardiac structure, heart function, sST2,
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

Quantitative structure-function relationships (QSFR) and quantitative structure-stability relationships (QSSR) analyses are described here. The objective of these analyses is to investigate and quantitatively describe the effect of the changes in structure of protein on its function or stability. During the analysis, the structural and physico-chemical properties of the amino acid residues are related to activity or stability data derived for the group of proteins containing systematic substitutions at certain positions. Four examples of the application of these analyses on the data obtained with proteins modified by site-directed mutagenesis experiments are provided. Structure-function relationships were studied for 15 mutants in position 172 of the haloalkane dehalogenase and 19 mutants in position 222 of the subtilisin, while the structure-stability relationships were investigated for 13 mutants in position 157 of phage T4 lysozyme and 18 mutants in position 49 of alpha-subunits tryptophan synthase. A total of 402 molecular descriptors derived from AAindex database were used to quantify amino acid properties and the multivariate statistical technique--partial least squares projections to latent structures--was used to identify those of them which are important for explanation of the activity and stability data. Quantitative models were developed and internally validated for every data set. The possibilities for further development of both analyses and their application for predictive and analytical purposes in protein engineering research are discussed.

• MeSH
• Glutamic Acid chemistry   MeSH
• Mutagenesis, Site-Directed MeSH
• Protein Engineering MeSH
• Thermodynamics MeSH
• Tryptophan Synthase chemistry   genetics   MeSH
• Structure-Activity Relationship MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Glutamic Acid MeSH
• Tryptophan Synthase MeSH

Microsomal epoxide hydrolase (EPHX1) is an evolutionarily highly conserved biotransformation enzyme for converting epoxides to diols. Notably, the enzyme is able to either detoxify or bioactivate a wide range of substrates. Mutations and polymorphic variants in the EPHX1 gene have been associated with susceptibility to several human diseases including cancer. This review summarizes the key knowledge concerning EPHX1 gene and protein structure, expression pattern and regulation, and substrate specificity. The relevance of EPHX1 for human pathology is especially discussed.

• Keywords
• Disease, EPHX1, Function, Gene, Genotype, Structure,
• MeSH
• Liver Diseases, Alcoholic genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Epoxide Hydrolases genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Genetic Predisposition to Disease genetics   MeSH
• Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide * MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Mutation * MeSH
• Neoplasms genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic MeSH
• Risk Factors MeSH
• Substrate Specificity MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Review MeSH
• Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural MeSH
• Names of Substances
• EPHX1 protein, human MeSH Browser
• Epoxide Hydrolases MeSH

This Special Issue of the International Journal of Molecular Sciences (IJMS) is a direct continuation of the previous Special Issue of this journal, entitled "Purinergic P2 Receptors: Structure and Function" https://www [...].

• MeSH
• Adenosine Triphosphate * MeSH
• Purinergic P2 Receptor Antagonists MeSH
• Receptors, Purinergic P1 MeSH
• Receptors, Purinergic P2 * MeSH
• Signal Transduction MeSH
• Publication type
• Editorial MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Adenosine Triphosphate * MeSH
• Purinergic P2 Receptor Antagonists MeSH
• Receptors, Purinergic P1 MeSH
• Receptors, Purinergic P2 * MeSH

The phosphatidylinositol 4-kinases (PI4Ks) synthesize phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate (PI4P), a key member of the phosphoinositide family. PI4P defines the membranes of Golgi and trans-Golgi network (TGN) and regulates trafficking to and from the Golgi. Humans have two type II PI4Ks (α and β) and two type III enzymes (α and β). Recently, the crystal structures were solved for both type II and type III kinase revealing atomic details of their function. Importantly, the type III PI4Ks are hijacked by +RNA viruses to create so-called membranous web, an extensively phosphorylated and modified membrane system dedicated to their replication. Therefore, selective and potent inhibitors of PI4Ks have been developed as potential antiviral agents. Here we focus on the structure and function of PI4Ks and their potential in human medicine.

• Keywords
• Crystal structure, Inhibitor, Phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase, Virus,
• MeSH
• 1-Phosphatidylinositol 4-Kinase antagonists & inhibitors   metabolism   MeSH
• Antiviral Agents pharmacology   MeSH
• Cell Membrane metabolism   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• trans-Golgi Network drug effects   MeSH
• Protein Transport drug effects   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Review MeSH
• Names of Substances
• 1-Phosphatidylinositol 4-Kinase MeSH
• Antiviral Agents MeSH

We lack a predictive understanding of the environmental drivers determining the structure and function of archaeal communities as well as the proteome associated with these important soil organisms. Here, we characterized the structure (by 16S rRNA gene sequencing) and function (by metaproteomics) of archaea from 32 soil samples across terrestrial ecosystems with contrasting climate and vegetation types. Our multi-"omics" approach unveiled that genes from Nitrosophaerales and Thermoplasmata dominated soils collected from four continents, and that archaea comprise 2.3 ± 0.3% of microbial proteins in these soils. Aridity positively correlated with the proportion of Nitrosophaerales genes and the number of archaeal proteins. The interaction of climate x vegetation shaped the functional profile of the archaeal community. Our study provides novel insights into the structure and function of soil archaea across climates, and highlights that these communities may be influenced by increasing global aridity.

• Keywords
• 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, Archaea, Climate, Metaproteomics, Soil, Vegetation,
• MeSH
• Archaea * genetics   MeSH
• Ecosystem MeSH
• Soil * MeSH
• Soil Microbiology MeSH
• RNA, Ribosomal, 16S MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Soil * MeSH
• RNA, Ribosomal, 16S MeSH

The TERT (telomerase reverse transcriptase) subunit of telomerase is an intensively studied macromolecule due to its key importance in maintaining genome integrity and role in cellular aging and cancer. In an effort to provide an up-to-date overview of the topic, we discuss the structure of TERT genes, their alternative splicing products and their functions. Nucleotide databases contain more than 90 full-length cDNA sequences of telomerase protein subunits. Numerous in silico, in vitro and in vivo experimental techniques have revealed a great deal of structural and functional data describing particular features of the telomerase subunit in various model organisms. We explore whether particular findings are generally applicable to telomerases or species-specific. We also discuss in an evolutionary context the role of identified functional TERT subdomains.

• MeSH
• Alternative Splicing MeSH
• Eukaryotic Cells chemistry   enzymology   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Evolution, Molecular MeSH
• Molecular Sequence Data MeSH
• Prokaryotic Cells chemistry   enzymology   MeSH
• Telomerase chemistry   genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Telomere metabolism   MeSH
• Protein Binding MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Review MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Telomerase MeSH

The upper airways play an essential role in the conduction of air into the lungs, and influence the properties of the inhaled air by both the anatomical structure and the functional properties of the mucosa, cartilages and neural and lymphatic tissues. The upper airways also play an important role in the protection of the lower airways, in the formation of the sound and host the sense of olfaction. Main events in the development of the upper airways happen during early embryonic periods. Postnatally, the growth of the airways follows the growth of the skeleton of the head and of the neck and thorax. Growth is accelerated mainly during the first 2 years of life; thereafter, it linearly follows the growth of the body. For a profound understanding of the function of the upper airways, it is important to understand the main developmental events during both prenatal and postnatal periods.

• MeSH
• Respiratory System embryology   MeSH
• Respiratory Physiological Phenomena MeSH
• Risk Assessment MeSH
• Infant MeSH
• Larynx embryology   physiology   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Respiratory Mechanics MeSH
• Infant, Newborn MeSH
• Airway Obstruction epidemiology   etiology   MeSH
• Paranasal Sinuses embryology   physiology   MeSH
• Child, Preschool MeSH
• Sensitivity and Specificity MeSH
• Congenital Abnormalities diagnosis   epidemiology   MeSH
• Child Development physiology   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Infant MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Infant, Newborn MeSH
• Child, Preschool MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Review MeSH
• Comparative Study MeSH