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Animal cell cultures have found applications in various fields, from basic to advanced research. This includes studying the fundamentals of cell biology, mechanisms of the cell cycle, specialized cell functions, cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions, toxicity testing for the study of new drugs, gene therapy for replacing non-functional genes with functional cells, characterization of cancer cells, understanding the role of various chemical substances, viruses, and radiation in cancer cells, vaccine production, monoclonal antibodies, and pharmaceuticals. Additionally, the cultivation of viruses for use in vaccine production, such as for diseases like rabies, hepatitis B, and measles, is another important application of animal cell cultures. Aim. The purpose of this study was to analyze the literature data on the use of animal cell lines in genetic engineering, therapy, xenotransplantation, biopharmaceuticals, the food industry, and research. Methods. An analytical review of literature data was conducted using the information analysis of Medline (PubMed), Web of Science and Scopus databases, Google Scholar, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and other sources up to the inclusive year 2023 using the keywords: “animal cell lines”, “immunobiological preparations”, “xenotransplantation”, “biopharmaceuticals”, “genetic engineering”. Results. An analysis of research related to the use of animal cells in the biopharmaceutical industry was carried out, and considerations regarding the prospects for their use in various research and production technologies were outlined. Conclusion. The technology of cultivating animal cells has become a fundamental tool in the development of research in the field of biotechnological sciences. The ability to culture animal cells in vitro has allowed the development of innovative methods, such as iPSC and organ-on-a-chip models, which have provided valuable information about disease mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets. Although there are some challenges with the use of animal cells related to variability in differentiation efficiency and concerns about safety and efficacy, further studies are needed to optimize protocols and overcome these limitations. Overall, animal cell culture technology remains an important component of modern biomedical research and has the potential to revolutionize the field of regenerative medicine.

Traditionally, genetic engineering in the pig was a challenging task. Genetic engineering of somatic cells followed by somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) could produce genetically engineered (GE) pigs carrying site-specific modifications. However, due to difficulties in engineering the genome of somatic cells and developmental defects associated with SCNT, a limited number of GE pig models were reported. Recent developments in genome-editing tools, such as zinc finger nucleases (ZFNs), transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs) and the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated (Cas) 9 system, have markedly changed the effort and time required to produce GE pig models. The frequency of genetic engineering in somatic cells is now practical. In addition, SCNT is no longer essential in producing GE pigs carrying site-specific modifications, because direct injection of genome-editing systems into developing embryos introduces targeted modifications. To date, the CRISPR/Cas9 system is the most convenient, cost-effective, timely and commonly used genome-editing technology. Several applicable biomedical and agricultural pig models have been generated using the CRISPR/Cas9 system. Although the efficiency of genetic engineering has been markedly enhanced with the use of genome-editing systems, improvements are still needed to optimally use the emerging technology. Current and future advances in genome-editing strategies will have a monumental effect on pig models used in agriculture and biomedicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following multiple reports warning for threats posed by raising levels of atmospheric CO2, it is of paramount importance that human society rapidly evolves to be sustainable. Processes relying on photosynthetic microorganisms, converting CO2 and water into compounds of interest, fuelled by light, are very pertinent, particularly if not directly competing for arable land. Here, we identify specific research questions that remain to be targeted to exploit the full potential of cyanobacterial cell factories. We argue that this approach will be more likely to be successful if organisms such as Synechocystis are not perceived as mere chassis for CO2 fixation, but rather considered as the ‘green’ E. coli.

Two cultivars of potato ( Solanum tuberosum L.) were transformed with a barley antiporter gene HvNHX2 driven by the CaMV 35S promoter. The expressed transgene conferred a higher NaCl tolerance to one of the cultivars. Under salt stress, the more salt-tolerant transgenic plants had longer roots, higher dry weight, and suppressed cell expansion as compared to wild-type plants. The salt tolerance of the plants grown in vitro was not accompanied by elevated total sodium in any plant organs tested. Instead, higher potassium was found in roots of transgenic plants. Possible mechanisms of plant salt tolerance are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

All three α 2 -adrenoceptor subtypes have a long third intracellular loop (3i), which is conserved by overall size and charge-hydrophobic properties but not by amino acid sequence similarity. These properties must be relevant for function and structure, because they have been preserved during hundreds of millions of years of evolution. The contribution of different loop portions to agonist/antagonist binding properties and G protein coupling of the human α 2B -adrenoceptor (α 2B -AR) was investigated with a series of 3i truncated constructs (Δ 3i). We used a variety of agonists/antagonists in competition binding assays. We stimulated α 2B -AR Δ3i with various agonists and measured [ 35 S]GTPγS binding in isolated cell membranes with or without antagonist inhibition. We also evaluated the ability of oligopeptides, analogous to the amino and carboxyl terminal parts of 3i, to promote G protein activation, monitored with the [ 35 S]GTPγS assay. Our results reveal that the carboxyl end residues of 3i, R360(6.24) to V372(6.36), are important for G i / G o protein activation. Deletions in regions from G206(5.72) to R245(5.110) altered the binding of some α 2B -AR agonists, indicating that agonist binding is dependent on the conformation of the 3i domain, possibly through the involvement of G protein interactions. The truncated receptor constructs may be more stable on purification and thus be useful for structural characterization of α 2B -AR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Frederick Buttel was one of the pioneers in studying the social impacts of biotechnology, claiming originally that it will involve profound changes in social structure. Recently Buttel turned around his argument proposing that, rather than revolutionary, biotechnology is more a "substitutionist" technological form to be applied to declining sectors of the economy than an "epoch-making" technology. This paper provides both external and internal critiques of Buttel's new position based on the concept of the "third technological revolution," looking at the impact of new technologies as a global and interrelated phenomenon, and not on an individual case-by-case basis. The concluding section suggests the necessity of bringing into the analysis those living in the Third World: 60% of this population lives from agriculture and will be affected by the deployment of agricultural biotechnologies, whether through "substitutionism" or through totally new products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lignins, which result from the dehydrogenative polymerization of cinnamyl alcohols, are complex heteropolymers deposited in the walls of specific cells of higher plants. Lignins have probably been associated to land colonization by plants but several aspects concerning their biosynthesis, structure and function are still only partially understood. This review focuses on the modern physico-chemical methods of structural analysis of lignins, and on the new approaches of molecular biology and genetic engineering applied to lignification. The principles, advantages and limitations of three important analytical tools for studying lignin structure are presented. They include carbon 13 nuclear magnetic resonance, analytical pyrolysis and thioacidolysis. The use of these methods is illustrated by several examples concerning the characterization of grass lignins, 'lignin-like' materials in protection barriers of plants and lignins produced by cell suspension cultures. Our present limited knowledge of the spatio temporal deposition of lignins during cell wall differentiation including the nature of the wall components associated to lignins during cell wall differentiation including the nature of the wall components associated to lignin deposition and of the cross-links between the different wall polymers is briefly reviewed. Emphasis is placed on the phenylpropanoid pathway enzymes and their corresponding genes which are described in relation to their potential roles in the quantitative and qualitative control of lignification. Recent findings concerning the promoter sequence elements responsible for the vascular expression of some of these genes are presented. A section is devoted to the enzymes specifically involved in this synthesis of monolignols: cinnamoyl CoÁ reductase and cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase. The recent characterization of the corresponding cDNAa/genes offers new possibilities for a better understanding of the regulation of lignification. Finally, at the level of the synthesis, the potential involvement of proxidases and laccases in the polymerization of monolignols is critically discussed. In addition to previously characterized naturally occurring lignin mutants, induced lignin mutants have been obtained during the last years through genetic engineering. Some examples included plants transformed by O-methyltransferase and cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase antisense constructs which exhibit mofidied lignins. Such strategies offer promising perspectives in gaining a better understanding of ligning metabolisms and functions and represent a realistic way to improve plant biomass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the expression and initial characterization of 19 active-site variants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae inorganic pyrophosphate (PPase). including measurements of thermostability, oligomeric structure and specific activity at pH 7.2. 13 of the 19 conservative substitutions resulted in at least a fivefold decrease in activity. indicating that these residues are important for yeast PPase catalysis. The E58D. D 11 7E. D120E and D1 52E variants had no activity under the conditions tested, suggesting that GluSK. Asp117. Asp12O and Asp152 may have crucial roles in catalysis. The effects of the mutations on catalytic activity were very similar to those observed with the corresponding variants of Escherichia coli PPase. proving conclusively that the active site and mechanism of soluble PPases are conserved. The D71E variant was more thermostable and the K56R, E78K, D115E and K154R variants were more thermolabile than the wild-type enzyme. whereas subunit:subunit interactions were somewhat weakened by the K56R, R78K, Y89F arid K154R substitutions. These results suggest that Lys56, Asp71, Arg78, Tyr89, Asp115 and Lys 154 are structurally important for yeast PPase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Humans and animals are unable to synthesize essential amino acids such as branch chain amino acids methionine (Met), lysine (Lys) and tryptophan (Trp). Therefore, these amino acids need to be supplied through the diets. Several essential amino acids are deficient or completely lacking among crops used for human food and animal feed. For example, soybean is deficient in Met; Lys and Trp are lacking in maize. In this mini review, we will first summarize the roles of essential amino acids in animal nutrition. Next, we will address the question: "What are the amino acids deficient in various plants and their biosynthesis pathways?" And: "What approaches are being used to improve the availability of essential amino acids in plants?" The potential targets for metabolic engineering will also be discussed, including what has already been done and what remains to be tested.