Institute of
bioorganic chemistry

Scientists from IBCH RAS, together with colleagues from the Federal Research Center for Physical and Chemical Medicine and other Russian institutes, have developed a platform for fluorescent imaging of small non-coding RNAs (sncRNAs) in living cells. The system consists of a fluorogenic cyanine dye and a genetically encoded Mango II aptamer-based label, which is attached to the sncRNA of interest and causes an increase in dye fluorescence upon complex formation. An approach to optimizing the spectral properties of dyes was proposed and a minimal genetically encoded label (52 nt) for sncRNA visualization was developed. The applicability of the system for intracellular imaging and tracking of sncRNA was verified using an intracellular internalization of Mycobacterium smegmatis by a host macrophage. The work was published in Nucleic Acids Research.

A group of scientists from the Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics and the Laboratory of Carbohydrates of the IBCH RAS, the A.V. Shubnikov Institute of Crystallography, and the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (Hamburg) developed a new approach to study the structure of nanoparticles by combining SAXS and molecular dynamics. In their paper, published in Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces, they characterized the surface structure of core-shell nanoparticles formed by biotin-CMG2-DOPE amphiphil using SAXS contrast variation and low-resolution Ab initio structure restoration. This approach demonstrates heterogeneity of the nanoparticles surface through a non-uniform distribution of the polar CMG2 spacer around the nonpolar core, localized in the form of patches. The data were verified by comparing with all-atom nanoparticle structure obtained from molecular dynamics simulation, indicating the efficacy of SAXS contrast variation to assess surface structure heterogeneity of multi-phase nanoparticles. Learn more

In birch-dominated areas, sensitization of the human immune system to pollen from trees of the order Fagales is considered to be initiated by the major birch pollen allergen Bet v 1. A collaboration of scientists from the Science-Educational center of the IBCh RAS and the Center for Pathophysiology, Infectology and Immunology of the Medical University of Vienna proved that the humoral and cellular response of the human immune system to pollen allergens from trees of the order Fagales is not mediated by cross-reactivity with the birch pollen Bet v 1, but indicates the existence of Bet v 1-independent sensitization in individuals from birch tree-dominated areas. This study has been published in Allergy. Learn more

Lectin-modified nano-PLGA nanoparticles loaded with photodynamic therapy sensitizer (IR775) and magnetite (mPLGA/IR775) were shown to be effective theranostic agents, realizing effective magnetically assisted targeted delivery, tumor bioimaging, and treatment under external light irradiation. The in vitro and in vivo functionality of these nanoparticles were thoroughly tested, and 100% inhibition of allograft solid tumor growth was shown, thus confirming the great potential of the developed nanoformulation for bioimaging and photodynamic therapy. The results are published in Pharmaceutics. Learn more

Plants utilize small secreted peptides as important mediators of many processes, including growth and response to stress conditions. One of such regulators is the conservative 5 kDa cysteine-rich RALF (Rapid Alkalinization Factor) peptide family, which is widely present in terrestrial plants. A group of scientists from the Laboratory for Systemic Analysis of Proteins and Peptides of IBCh RAS, together with colleagues from Moscow State University, Peoples' Friendship University of Russia, Center of Physical-Chemical Medicine, and Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, showed that RALFs regulate the immune response in the moss Physcomitrium patens. This study extends our knowledge of the adaptive significance and conserved functions of RALF peptides in terrestrial plants. The work was published in Frontiers in Plant Science (IF=6.6). Learn more