Cancer represents a set of more than 100 diseases, including malignant tumors from different locations. Strategies inducing differentiation have had limited success in the treatment of established cancers. Marine sponges are a biological reservoir of bioactive molecules, especially lectins. Several animal and plant lectins were purified with antitumor activity, mitogenic, anti-inflammatory and antiviral, but there are few reports in the literature describing the mechanism of action of lectins purified from marine sponges to induce apoptosis in human tumor cells. In this work, a lectin purified from the marine sponge Cinachyrella apion (CaL) was evaluated with respect to its hemolytic, cytotoxic and antiproliferative properties, besides the ability to induce cell death in tumor cells. The antiproliferative activity of CaL was tested against HeLa, PC3 and 3T3 cell lines, with highest growth inhibition for HeLa, reducing cell growth at a dose dependent manner (0.5–10 µg/mL). Hemolytic activity and toxicity against peripheral blood cells were tested using the concentration of IC₅₀ (10 µg/mL) for both trials and twice the IC₅₀ for analysis in flow cytometry, indicating that CaL is not toxic to these cells. To assess the mechanism of cell death caused by CaL in HeLa cells, we performed flow cytometry and western blotting. Results showed that lectin probably induces cell death by apoptosis activation by pro-apoptotic protein Bax, promoting mitochondrial membrane permeabilization, cell cycle arrest in S phase and acting as both dependent and/or independent of caspases pathway. These results indicate the potential of CaL in studies of medicine for treating cancer.

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the hypoglycemic effect of the trypsin inhibitor isolated from tamarind seeds (TTI) in an experimental model of T2DM and the in silico interaction between the conformational models of TTI 56/287 and the insulin receptor (IR). After inducing T2DM, 15 male Wistar rats were randomly allocated in three groups (n = 5): 1—T2DM group without treatment; 2—T2DM group treated with adequate diet; and 3—T2DM treated with TTI (25 mg/kg), for 10 days. Insulinemia and fasting glucose were analyzed, and the HOMA-IR and HOMA-β were calculated. The group of animals treated with TTI presented both lower fasting glucose concentrations (p = 0.0031) and lower HOMA-IR indexes (p = 0.0432), along with higher HOMA-β indexes (p = 0.0052), than the animals in the other groups. The in silico analyses showed that there was an interaction between TTIp 56/287 and IR with interaction potential energy (IPE) of −1591.54 kJ mol⁻¹ (±234.90), being lower than that presented by insulin and IR: −894.98 kJ mol⁻¹ (±32.16). In addition, the presence of amino acids, type of binding and place of interaction other than insulin were identified. This study revealed the hypoglycemic effect of a bioactive molecule of protein origin from Tamarind seeds in a preclinical model of T2DM. Furthermore, the in silico analysis allowed the prediction of its binding in the IR, raising a new perspective for explaining TTI’s action on the glycemic response.

Trypsin inhibitors from tamarind seed have been studied in vitro and in preclinical studies for the treatment of obesity, its complications and associated comorbidities. It is still necessary to fully understand the structure and behaviour of these molecules. We purifed this inhibitor, sequenced de novo by MALDI-TOF/TOF, performed its homology modelling, and assessed the interaction with the trypsin enzyme through molecular dynamics (MD) simulation under physiological conditions. We identified additional 75 amino acid residues, reaching approximately 72% of total coverage. The four best conformations of the best homology modelling were submitted to the MD. The conformation n°287 was selected considering the RMSD analysis and interaction energy (–301.0128 kcal.mol⁻¹). Residues Ile (54), Pro (57), Arg (59), Arg (63), and Glu (78) of pTTI presented the highest interactions with trypsin, and arginine residues were mainly involved in its binding mechanism. The results favour bioprospecting of this protein for pharmaceutical health applications.

Relato de Experiência: As Atividades Lúdicas como Perspectivas para a Educação Ambiental na Escola Municipal – Macau-RN / Experience Report: Playful Activities as Perspectives for Environmental Education in the Municipal School – Macau-RN

In recent years, environmental modeling has become increasingly crucial for understanding and mitigating the impacts of human activities on the environment. However, traditional methods for environmental mapping, primarily those of physical understanding, face challenges related to accuracy, time, and cost. In this sense, this work aimed to evaluate the technical feasibility of altimetric mapping and 3D model construction using drones, precision geodesy, and 3D printing as an extremely effective and low-cost alternative for environmental modeling. The study focused spatially on the boundaries of the IFRN/Campus Macau terrain. The study was conducted in five stages: I) Literature review; II) Geodetic survey (GNSS); III) Aerophotogrammetric survey; IV) Processing of geodetic and aerophotogrammetric data; and V) 3D printing. A protocol was obtained for the elaboration with high vertical and horizontal accuracy of the Digital Surface Model (DSM), orthomosaic, and 3D model (virtual and physical) of the mapped environment. Regarding the 3D model, its printing allowed for a perfect understanding of the geomorphology of the mapped environment and the existing physical structures. The applied technique could be useful in various areas, such as enhancing the planning stage in civil construction, architecture, and environmental studies. Also becoming a great ally in future geomorphological and tactile cartography studies.

The Potiguar Basin, in Rio Grande do Norte (Northeastern Brazil), has an extensive coastline with a rich diversity of marine sponges that remain poorly explored for their biotechnological potential. In this study, three sponge species—Suberites aurantiacus, Mycale (Zygomycale) angulosa, and Halichondrida—were collected, and a preliminary extraction was then performed to remove the most hydrophobic fraction with n-hexane. The remaining sediment was re-extracted with chloroform and methanol (1:1), and the resulting extracts (ESUB, EMYC, and EHALI, respectively) were analyzed. Chemical characterization using Gas–Liquid Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) revealed distinct profiles for each genus, with the presence of alcohols, alkaloids, phenolic compounds, and lipids, mainly sterols. ESUB presented 17 identified compounds, EMYC had 15 identified and EHALI showed 15 identified. The antioxidant potential of the extracts was evaluated in vitro using DPPH radical scavenging, copper ion chelation, and total antioxidant capacity (TAC). The EC₅₀ values (mg/mL) for DPPH were 0.05 (ESUB), 0.14 (EMYC), and 0.06 (EHALI), while for copper chelation they were 0.03, 0.034, and 0.026, respectively. Preliminary toxicological assays indicated low toxicity, with IC₅₀ values above 9.6 mg/mL in human erythrocytes and Tenebrio molitor larvae, demonstrating a favorable safety profile for potential therapeutic applications. The study presents a preliminary screening of underexplored species in an equally underexplored region and supports further studies on their bioactive potential.