Angelika Patelak, Julia Nowak-Niedźwiecka, Beata Machnicka
{"title":"Molecular mechanisms of mherapy resistance in ovarian cancer","authors":"Angelika Patelak, Julia Nowak-Niedźwiecka, Beata Machnicka","doi":"10.18388/5djwbt46","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18388/5djwbt46","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Ovarian cancer remains one of the most frequently diagnosed and lethal gynaecological malignancies. Standard treatment involves surgical cytoreduction followed by chemotherapy based on platinum compounds and taxanes. Despite initial therapeutic efficacy, many patients experience disease recurrence and develop drug resistance, posing a significant clinical challenge. This review summarises the main molecular mechanisms underlying resistance to commonly used drugs, including paclitaxel, cisplatin, and PARP inhibitors. The role of multidrug resistance (MDR), associated with the overexpression of ABC transporters and alterations in drug metabolism, is discussed. Particular attention is given to cellular mechanisms, including changes in microtubule structure, regulation of apoptosis, and activation of signalling pathways such as PI3K/AKT/mTOR. Mechanisms related to drug transport, detoxification, and DNA repair are also addressed, together with the influence of the tumour microenvironment and epigenetic modifications. Understanding these mechanisms may contribute to the development of novel therapeutic strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":20335,"journal":{"name":"Postepy biochemii","volume":"72 2","pages":"67-84"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148387751","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Paulina Lipska, Julia Konarska, Adrianna Raczkowska, Karolina Jaworska
{"title":"Riboregulation in bacteria: From simple switches to complex regulatory networks","authors":"Paulina Lipska, Julia Konarska, Adrianna Raczkowska, Karolina Jaworska","doi":"10.18388/tkbrr231","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18388/tkbrr231","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Riboregulation is a key component of bacterial adaptation, as regulatory RNAs enable rapid and precise control of gene expression in response to stress and fluctuating environmental conditions. This control is exerted at the levels of transcription, translation, and mRNA stability, allowing the cell to efficiently adjust gene expression without the need to produce additional protein regulators. Regulation involves both locally acting elements (including riboswitches, thermosensors, and antisense RNAs) and in trans acting molecules primarily sRNAs which form extensive networks affecting the expression of many genes simultaneously. The multilayered nature of these systems is further enhanced by sRNA-binding proteins and RNA sponges, which modulate the availability of regulators and shape complex gene expression control networks. Modern methods like Hfq-CLASH enable better identification of these interactions in vivo. In parallel, applied research leverages these mechanisms in synthetic biology and against antibiotic resistance.</p>","PeriodicalId":20335,"journal":{"name":"Postepy biochemii","volume":"72 2","pages":"85-98"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148387703","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"New possibilities and perspectives for the use of fly maggots in clinical practice","authors":"Aleksandra Wyszyńska","doi":"10.18388/wq70yc30","DOIUrl":"10.18388/wq70yc30","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Maggot therapy is a method for treating chronic, non-healing wounds using live fly larvae that consume necrotic tissue, thereby cleaning the wound. The species most commonly used is Lucilia sericata (Meigen, 1826). Although clinically applied, the method raises concerns among patients and medical staff. Current research highlights the therapeutic potential of chemical compounds in larval excretions/secretions (ES), particularly against the growing issue of antibiotic resistance, as a complement to standard antibiotic therapy. Most studies focus on ES from L. sericata, while other fly species have been less explored. Investigated groups include Calliphoridae, Muscidae, and Sarcophagidae. Studies suggest ES may have antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, and anticancer properties. This work focuses on the less-studied species and the properties of their ES.</p>","PeriodicalId":20335,"journal":{"name":"Postepy biochemii","volume":"72 1","pages":"37-48"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147675815","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The Year 2026 in Biology: A Jubilee Year","authors":"Jan Barciszewski","doi":"10.18388/cb4tp945","DOIUrl":"10.18388/cb4tp945","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p></p>","PeriodicalId":20335,"journal":{"name":"Postepy biochemii","volume":"72 1","pages":"49"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147675837","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"140 years of the model organism Escherichia coli as the \"workhorse of molecular biology and biomedicine\"","authors":"Beata Sokołowska","doi":"10.18388/k2p7j927","DOIUrl":"10.18388/k2p7j927","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The Escherichia coli bacterium is presented from its discovery in 1885 by the German-Austrian microbiologist and pediatrician Theodor Escherich, to contemporary research using state-of-the-art experimental and bioinformatic techniques, including artificial intelligence and machine learning. E. coli accompany humans from birth as a commensal organism of the gut microbiota. However, some E. coli strains exhibit pathogenic properties, causing intestinal and extraintestinal diseases, sometimes threatening the health and even life of the host. At the same time, 140 years after the discovery of E. coli bacteria, it is the best-studied single-celled organism in the world. Molecular biologists, bacteriologists, and biochemists point to the enormous importance of E. coli as a model organism in understanding the molecular mechanisms of key life processes in both health and disease, as well as its use in industrial-scale biotechnology. That is why E. coli is called the “workhorse of molecular biology and biomedicine,” and scientists working with E. coli strains have been recognized and honored for their discoveries with numerous Nobel Prizes.</p>","PeriodicalId":20335,"journal":{"name":"Postepy biochemii","volume":"72 1","pages":"1-21"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147675461","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Piotr Michałowski, Katarzyna Rynarzewska, Dagmara Nowicka, Olimpia Gawrońska, Katarzyna Bielicka-Daszkiewicz
{"title":"Fungal secondary metabolites as a source of bioactive compounds: a modern approach to their acquisition and analysis","authors":"Piotr Michałowski, Katarzyna Rynarzewska, Dagmara Nowicka, Olimpia Gawrońska, Katarzyna Bielicka-Daszkiewicz","doi":"10.18388/2dqryt92","DOIUrl":"10.18388/2dqryt92","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Secondary metabolites, which are natural products of fungi, perform key biological functions and have applications in medicine. The production of these compounds is subject to the control of clusters of biosynthetic genes located within the genome. It has been observed that these genes can become dormant under standard culture conditions. The advent of modern genetic and epigenetic methodologies has rendered the activation of these elements possible, thus facilitating the identification of novel bioactive compounds. The present article delineates classes of metabolites, the mechanisms of their biosynthesis, and current research strategies, combining knowledge from biology, genetics, and biotechnology.</p>","PeriodicalId":20335,"journal":{"name":"Postepy biochemii","volume":"72 1","pages":"23-36"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147675845","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Erratum for: The role of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) in the male gonad and prostate, E. Górowska-Wójtowicz, M. Kudrycka Postepy Biochem. 71(3):208-219","authors":"Kamila Bąkowska-Żywicka","doi":"10.18388/pb.2025_642","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18388/pb.2025_642","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":20335,"journal":{"name":"Postepy biochemii","volume":"71 4","pages":"433-434"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145934202","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Microbial rhodopsins – from structure to function and ecological adaptation","authors":"Anna Karnkowska, Małgorzata Malczewska","doi":"10.18388/pb.2021_638","DOIUrl":"10.18388/pb.2021_638","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Rhodopsin proteins are found in all three domains of life, and the two best-known types to date are animal and microbial rhodopsins. Animal rhodopsins are found only in animals, while microbial rhodopsins are found in microorganisms in all domains, and mainly in protists among eukaryotes. All known rhodopsins have a similar structure, consisting of seven transmembrane α-helices and a retinal ligand. Animal and microbial types do not show sequence similarity, suggesting their convergent evolution. Animal rhodopsins are responsible for vision and control of the biological clock, while microbial rhodopsins are responsible for cell phototaxis and also act as hydrogen or ion pumps. These processes may be involved in converting energy from photons into energy used by the cell. A lot more is known about rhodopsins in marine microorganisms than in freshwater ones. The differences between rhodopsins appearing in these two ecosystems can be significant because they are characterized by different environmental conditions, which lead to different optical properties, consequently affecting the sequences and structure of rhodopsins.</p>","PeriodicalId":20335,"journal":{"name":"Postepy biochemii","volume":"71 4","pages":"405-412"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145934325","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Erratum for: Genetic and Molecular Pathomechanisms of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Therapeutic Perspectives – Current State of Knowledge, K. Kalkowski Postepy Biochem. 71(3):252-259","authors":"Kamila Bąkowska-Żywicka","doi":"10.18388/pb.2025_643","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18388/pb.2025_643","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":20335,"journal":{"name":"Postepy biochemii","volume":"71 4","pages":"435-436"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145934208","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The impact of components of traditional and electronic cigarettes on the induction of the EMT process in lung cancer","authors":"Weronika Wójtowicz, Katarzyna Raszczok, Mateusz Wierzbinka, Karolina Jankowska, Karolina Bajdak-Rusinek, Kamil Barański","doi":"10.18388/pb.2021_635","DOIUrl":"10.18388/pb.2021_635","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Lung cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality worldwide and is strongly associated with tobacco smoke exposure. In recent years, electronic cigarettes have gained popularity as seemingly safer alternatives to conventional cigarettes; however, their impact on tumor biology remains controversial. A central process in lung cancer progression is the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), which promotes cellular invasion, migration, and therapy resistance. This review summarizes current evidence on how nicotine, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), carbonyl compounds, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) modulate EMT through key signaling pathways, including PI3K/AKT, MAPK/ERK, Wnt/β-catenin, Notch, and HIF-1α. Moreover, it discusses the role of thermal processes during tobacco combustion and e-liquid heating in generating carcinogenic by-products. Emerging data indicate that both traditional and electronic cigarettes release bioactive agents capable of inducing EMT, thereby contributing to lung cancer pathogenesis and revealing potential therapeutic targets.</p>","PeriodicalId":20335,"journal":{"name":"Postepy biochemii","volume":"71 4","pages":"361-368"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145933537","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}