Chitin is an abundant aminopolysaccharide found in insect pests and phytopathogenic microorganisms but absent in higher plants and vertebrates. It is crucial for mitigating threats posed by chitin-containing organisms...Chitin is an abundant aminopolysaccharide found in insect pests and phytopathogenic microorganisms but absent in higher plants and vertebrates. It is crucial for mitigating threats posed by chitin-containing organisms to human health, food safety, and agriculture. Therefore, targeting the chitin biosynthesisassociated bioprocess holds a promise for developing human-safe and eco-friendly antifungal agents or pesticides. Chitin biosynthesis requires chitin synthase and associated factors, which are involved in the modification, regulation, organization or turnover of chitin during its biosynthesis. A number of enzymes such as chitinases, hexosaminidases, chitin deacetylases are closely related and therefore are promising targets for designing novel agrochemicals that target at chitin biosynthesis. This review summarizes the advances in understanding chitin biology over the past decade by our research group and collaborates,specifically regarding essential proteins linked to chitin biosynthesis that can be exploited as promising pesticide targets. Examples of small bioactive molecules that against the activity of these targets are given.展开更多
Purpose: To compare the sensitivity of Hexosaminidase A (HexA) enzyme-based testing to gene sequencing for carrier detection in non-Jewish individuals. Methods: Blood samples were obtained from parents and relatives o...Purpose: To compare the sensitivity of Hexosaminidase A (HexA) enzyme-based testing to gene sequencing for carrier detection in non-Jewish individuals. Methods: Blood samples were obtained from parents and relatives of affected patients at an annual Tay-Sachs and Allied Diseases Foundation meeting. A family history was taken for each individual. Samples were analyzed for leukocyte HexA activity, serum HexA activity and subjected to extensive gene sequencing. The results from these analyses were combined with our previously published data describing 34 obligate Tay-Sachs disease (TSD) carriers. Results: Twelve additional TSD carriers were detected in this study. Gene sequencing successfully identified all 12 carriers whereas enzyme analysis identified 11 of 12 carriers. This individual is a carrier of the B1 variant that is known to cause false negative results with enzyme testing. Combined data from 46 non-Jewish TSD carriers revealed that gene sequencing had a higher sensitivity rate than HexA enzyme-based testing (94% versus 87%) in non-Jewish TSD carriers. In our series, approximately 4% of non-Jewish TSD carriers have this mutation. Conclusions: HexA gene sequencing provides a higher sensitivity for TSD carrier detection than HexA based enzyme analysis in non-Jewish patients primarily due to the presence of individuals with the B1 variant.展开更多
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (No. 2022YFD1700200)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 32161133010, 3230170969)+1 种基金the Innovation Program of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, the Shenzhen Science and Technology Program (No. KQTD20180411143628272)the Special Funds for Science Technology Innovation and Industrial Development of Shenzhen Dapeng New District (No. PT202101–02)。
文摘Chitin is an abundant aminopolysaccharide found in insect pests and phytopathogenic microorganisms but absent in higher plants and vertebrates. It is crucial for mitigating threats posed by chitin-containing organisms to human health, food safety, and agriculture. Therefore, targeting the chitin biosynthesisassociated bioprocess holds a promise for developing human-safe and eco-friendly antifungal agents or pesticides. Chitin biosynthesis requires chitin synthase and associated factors, which are involved in the modification, regulation, organization or turnover of chitin during its biosynthesis. A number of enzymes such as chitinases, hexosaminidases, chitin deacetylases are closely related and therefore are promising targets for designing novel agrochemicals that target at chitin biosynthesis. This review summarizes the advances in understanding chitin biology over the past decade by our research group and collaborates,specifically regarding essential proteins linked to chitin biosynthesis that can be exploited as promising pesticide targets. Examples of small bioactive molecules that against the activity of these targets are given.
文摘Purpose: To compare the sensitivity of Hexosaminidase A (HexA) enzyme-based testing to gene sequencing for carrier detection in non-Jewish individuals. Methods: Blood samples were obtained from parents and relatives of affected patients at an annual Tay-Sachs and Allied Diseases Foundation meeting. A family history was taken for each individual. Samples were analyzed for leukocyte HexA activity, serum HexA activity and subjected to extensive gene sequencing. The results from these analyses were combined with our previously published data describing 34 obligate Tay-Sachs disease (TSD) carriers. Results: Twelve additional TSD carriers were detected in this study. Gene sequencing successfully identified all 12 carriers whereas enzyme analysis identified 11 of 12 carriers. This individual is a carrier of the B1 variant that is known to cause false negative results with enzyme testing. Combined data from 46 non-Jewish TSD carriers revealed that gene sequencing had a higher sensitivity rate than HexA enzyme-based testing (94% versus 87%) in non-Jewish TSD carriers. In our series, approximately 4% of non-Jewish TSD carriers have this mutation. Conclusions: HexA gene sequencing provides a higher sensitivity for TSD carrier detection than HexA based enzyme analysis in non-Jewish patients primarily due to the presence of individuals with the B1 variant.
