HUN-REN Research Centre for Natural Sciences

Human factor H-related protein 5 modulates the classical and lectin complement pathways on selected host ligands

Abstract C4b-binding protein (C4BP) and factor H (FH) are the main soluble negative regulators of the classical/lectin (CP/LP) and alternative (AP) complement pathways, respectively. They do not only act in solution but also interact with host ligands such as C-reactive protein (...

An Experimental and Computational Investigation of the Kinetics of Branched Butyl Radicals 2-Methylpropan-1-yl and 2-Methylpropan-2-yl with Molecular Oxygen

Abstract We have measured the rate coefficient for the reaction between the 2-methylpropan-1-yl radical and molecular oxygen as a function of temperature and pressure in both He and N2 bath gases using photoionization mass spectrometry. Similar measurements were performed for the...

Special Issue “Molecular Links Between Sensory Nerves, Inflammation, and Pain 3.0”

Pain is a complex sensation that emerges from dynamic interactions of sensory neurons, immune and inflammatory mechanisms, membrane signaling processes, and central nervous system networks [...]

Conetworks and Organogels of Poly(methyl acrylate) Crosslinked with Degradable, Disulfide and β-Thioester Containing Bisacrylate Macromonomer

Here, we report, for the first time, on a new class of sulfur-containing double hydrophopbic conetworks, poly(methyl acrylate)-l-poly(3,6-dioxa-1,8-octane-dithiol-co-poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate) (PMA-l-P(DODT-co-PEGDA). Direct one-pot synthesis of acrylate-telechelic P(DODT-...

Antibody-drug conjugate engineering: from design to efficacy and safety

Antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs) represent a rapidly expanding class of targeted cancer therapeutics that combine the high selectivity of monoclonal antibodies with the potent cytotoxic activity of small-molecule drugs. Their clinical success relies on the simultaneous optimizatio...

A bacterial protein inhibitor of dUTPase disrupts zebrafish embryogenesis through a conserved active‐site mechanism

Abstract Deoxyuridine triphosphatase (dUTPase) is essential for DNA replication fidelity and embryonic development in metazoa, yet whether a protein inhibitor can acutely disrupt dUTPase function in a living vertebrate has not been tested. The Staphylococcus aureus Stl protein in...

Coupling between statistical learning and interference suppression

Abstract In an ever-changing environment, synchronizing automatic and controlled behaviors is essential for successful adaptation. Yet, the relationship between these behaviors is often debated, partly because of the diverse approaches used to investigate them. The present study...

Longitudinal evidence for decreasing statistical learning abilities across childhood

Abstract Statistical learning enables us to identify patterns in our environment and predict future events, thereby supporting a range of motor, cognitive, and linguistic skills. Despite its significance, the developmental trajectory of statistical learning has remained unclear d...

The structure of the dopamine D 3 receptor bound to cariprazine reveals principles for partial agonists with designed pharmacology

The third-generation antipsychotic cariprazine is a low-efficacy partial agonist of the dopamine D 3 receptor (D 3 R). Here, we report the cryo–electron microscopy structure of cariprazine bound to D 3 R, establishing a framework for understanding ligand recognition in this recep...

flexiAsCas12a and other Cas12a variants enhance the applicability of Cas12a nucleases in prime editing

Abstract Background Amongst the genome manipulation tools based on the versatile CRISPR-Cas system, prime editing is the most prominent one as a method that enables precise insertions, deletions, and substitutions without inducing double-strand breaks. Cas12a nucleases are widely...

Donor-SetSwitching in Morpholine-Functionalized 8-Hydroxyquinolines:Consequences for Metal Binding and the Bioactivity of RhCp* Complexes

Abstract Morpholine-functionalized 8-hydroxyquinoline (HQ) derivatives with reduced Schiff base linkers, Morph-Et-HQ and Morph-Pr-HQ, were synthesized and comprehensively characterized to investigate the influence of linker length on donor-set preference, metal binding, and the b...

Ligand-based pharmacophore modeling for the discovery of NaV1.7 inhibitors

Abstract Voltage-gated sodium channel Na V 1.7 is a key mediator of electrical excitability and signal transmission in peripheral nociceptors and has emerged as a highly attractive therapeutic target for the development of novel analgesic agents. However, the development of selec...

No gender differences in predictive processing

Abstract Statistical learning, defined as the implicit extraction of environmental regularities, is considered a fundamental cognitive mechanism that supports predictive processing across individuals, domains, and species. However, whether it is modulated by gender remains unclea...

Characteristic central nervous system fingerprints and related molecular signatures in difficult-to-treat rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract Background Despite guideline-recommended treatment, approximately 30% of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients remain symptomatic and are classified as difficult-to-treat (D2T), representing an unmet clinical need. D2T RA is a heterogeneous state potentially involving diffe...