N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)–gold and –silver complexes have attracted the interest of the scientific community because of their multiple applications and their versatility in being chemically modified in order to improve their biological properties. However, most of these complexes contain one or more chiral centers, and have been obtained and studied as racemic mixture. In particular, concerning the interesting biological and medicinal properties, many questions about how the chirality may influence these properties still remain unanswered. Aiming at a better understanding, herein a series of enantiopure NHC–gold and –silver complexes was synthesized, characterized and biologically evaluated in different in vitro systems. The individuated complexes exerted different properties based on the complexed metal and the specific configuration, with the (R)-gold–NHC complexes being the most active, particularly as anti-inflammatory molecules. Docking simulations indicated a different binding mode for each enantiomer. Moreover, anticancer and antibacterial activities were also evaluated for the considered enantiomers. Overall, the reported data may contribute to a better understanding of the different biological properties exerted by the enantiopure gold and silver complexes.

Cutaneous melanoma is the most dangerous and deadly form of human skin malignancy. Despite its rarity, it accounts for a staggering 80% of deaths attributed to cutaneous cancers overall. Moreover, its final stages often exhibit resistance to drug treatments, resulting in unfavorable outcomes. Hence, ensuring access to novel and improved chemotherapeutic agents is imperative for patients grappling with this severe ailment. Pyrazole and its fused systems derived thereof are heteroaromatic moieties widely employed in medicinal chemistry to develop effective drugs for various therapeutic areas, including inflammation, pain, oxidation, pathogens, depression, and fever. In a previous study, we described the biochemical properties of a newly synthesized group of imidazo–pyrazole compounds. In this paper, to improve our knowledge of the pharmacological properties of these molecules, we conduct a differential proteomic analysis on a human melanoma cell line treated with one of these imidazo–pyrazole derivatives. Our results detail the changes to the SKMEL-28 cell line proteome induced by 24, 48, and 72 h of 3e imidazo–pyrazole treatment. Notably, we highlight the down-regulation of the Ras-responsive element binding protein 1 (RREB1), a member of the zinc finger transcription factors family involved in the tumorigenesis of melanoma. RREB1 is a downstream element of the MAPK pathway, and its activation is mediated by ERK1/2 through phosphorylation.

Human glycyl-tRNA synthetase (GARS), encoded by the GARS1 gene, is a key protein within the aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases family, responsible for catalyzing the attachment of glycine to its corresponding tRNA during protein synthesis. While aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases are primarily known for their role in translation, emerging evidence indicates that they also have non-canonical functions in physiological and pathological processes, including metabolism, angiogenesis, immune responses, and inflammation. This review integrates glycyl-tRNA synthetase evolutionary origins, isoform biology, structure function relationships, immune roles, and cellular stress evidence across bladder, prostate, breast, colorectal, and hepatocellular tumors. Unlike prior papers about GARS, we (i) distinguish cytosolic vs mitochondrial GARS isoforms and their detection pitfalls; (ii) synthesize non-canonical mechanisms (neddylation interfaces, extracellular vesicles-mediated C-ter and N-ter peptides, CDH6-dependent signaling); and (iii) provide a comparative reliability map across cancers, identifying urinary bladder cancer as the most substantiated indication with convergent transcriptomic, proteomic, metabolic, and preliminary translational evidence. Current literature is dominated by correlative and in-vitro studies, and prospective clinical validation is scarce. GARS is a promising but incompletely defined oncologic and immunobiologic node; targeted, standardized, and clinically anchored studies are now feasible and necessary.

Diadenosine polyphosphates, including diadenosine tetraphosphate (Ap4A), are ubiquitous nucleotides that are present across diverse life forms, gaining considerable interest due to their role as cellular signaling molecules. Ap4A, in particular, has been extensively researched in various biological systems, especially under conditions of environmental stress. This review provides an in-depth analysis of the current knowledge surrounding Ap4A, focusing on its biosynthesis and degradation pathways, the identification of Ap4A protein targets and the molecular mechanisms underlying its action. Furthermore, this review aims to examine the interplay between the various pathogenetic mechanisms driving tumor development and the potential role of Ap4A which emerges as pivotal signaling molecules orchestrating cellular responses to environmental challenges, positioning them at the nexus of cancer adaptation and progression.

Tryptophan metabolism plays a central role in host-microbiota interactions and immune regulation, yet the simultaneous quantification of metabolites from the kynurenine, serotonin, and indole pathways remains analytically challenging due to their diverse physicochemical properties and wide dynamic concentration ranges. Here, we report an efficient, derivatization-free HPLC-MS/MS workflow for the targeted quantification of eleven key tryptophan-derived metabolites in human plasma. The method employs a biphenyl stationary phase to achieve robust chromatographic resolution of structurally similar analytes, including compounds known to co-elute in C18 stationary phase, improving chromatographic selectivity and minimizing co-elution of structurally related analytes. Sample preparation requires only 50 µL of plasma and relies on a simple protein-precipitation step, allowing high throughput. The method demonstrated strong performance in terms of sensitivity, accuracy, and reproducibility, supported by extensive internal standardization. The combination of multi-pathway coverage, analytical cycle, and suitability for human plasma positions this workflow as a valuable tool for monitoring gut-related metabolic signatures in both research studies and potential clinical applications.