Essential Reading
Glycosome Protein Discovery Identifies New Target for Antiparasitic Treatments
A detailed molecular map of a parasite-specific organelle has revealed a promising new target for antiparasitic drug development, potentially advancing treatment options for African sleeping sickness, Chagas disease, and leishmaniasis. Researchers from Ruhr University Bochum and the University of Würzburg used subcellular proteomics to produce the first high-confidence inventory of membrane proteins found in the glycosome – a peroxisome-related organelle unique to trypanosomatid parasites such as Trypanosoma brucei.
Using mass spectrometry-based subcellular proteomics, the team identified 28 glycosome membrane proteins, several of them previously unknown and some unique to the parasite lineage. One protein in particular, TbPEX15, drew attention as a potential therapeutic target… Read more
Athletes: US Meat Cleared – But Watch Who You Kiss
Growth-promoting drugs banned in sport were detected in beef sold across the US – but at levels far below regulatory limits, according to a new surveillance study using anti-doping laboratory methods. The findings suggest that athletes are highly unlikely to fail a drug test from consuming meat in typical quantities.
A separate risk, however, has recently gained attention: the potential for banned substances to be transmitted through intimate contact. In 2024, French researchers published a case study documenting the first confirmed instance of ostarine being transferred via body fluids between romantic partners. LC-MS/MS revealed that the athlete’s urinary concentration reached 13 ng/mL – the same level as in her initial doping control – despite her never having ingested the substance directly… Read more
Worth Your Time
Non-targeted metabolomics using HPLC-MS/MS reveals differences in the urine metabolome between patients with general or severe Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia: a form of community acquired pneumonia prevalent in children. Link
Classification of three metabolic subtypes – glycolytic, oxidative, and a mix of glycolytic and oxidative – of glioblastoma tumors, via spatial transcriptomics and mass spectrometry imaging. Link
Sara Cherry and colleagues use mass spectrometry to determine changes in proteome composition during West Nile virus (WNV) infection, leading to the identification of HERPUD1 – a protein which restricts WNV replication. Link
A new easy and rapid UHPLC-MS/MS quantification method effectively identifies 16 organic pollutants in sea sand, including eight hormones, four pharmaceuticals and a habit consumption compound. Link
Researchers successfully extract and quantify 39 flavonoid species in spinach samples via a high-throughput UHPLC-MS/MS approach which takes just 11.5 minutes. Link
(Mass) Spectacular and Strange
(Not So) Red Hot Chili Peppers
When evaluating your chances of survival prior to a spicy meal, you may naturally turn to the tried and tested Scoville scale to find out just how hot a chili will be (and therefore how many pints of milk you’ll be getting through). New research using LC-MS-based flavoromics, however, has revealed that the Scoville scale may not tell the whole story.
Researchers analyzed 10 chili varieties with equal capsaicinoid content, yet sensory testing revealed wildly different levels of perceived heat. Non-targeted LC-MS and multivariate analysis identified three compounds – capsianoside I, roseoside, and gingerglycolipid A – that naturally suppress pungency. Confirmed through follow-up sensory assays, these molecules may explain why some peppers burn less than expected.
“These advancements could enable the customization of desirable spicy flavor profiles,” suggested study author Devin Peterson, “or lead to the creation of a household ingredient designed to tone down excessive heat – the anti-spice.”
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