Pradeep, M. | bioRxiv Science

bioRxiv2026

MRPL47 as a Novel Mitochondrial Biomarker for Early Detection and Therapeutic Response in Ovarian Cancer

MRPL47 (Mitochondrial Ribosomal Protein Large Subunit 47) gene in chromosome 3q26 encodes a protein that is part of the large subunit of the mitochondrial ribosome. We observed that MRPL47 is frequently amplified and overexpressed in ovarian cancer samples. Importantly, increased expression of MRPL47 mRNA is associated with high levels of MRPL47 protein in ovarian cancer patients. High expression of MRPL47 is also associated with poor overall and recurrence free survival of ovarian cancer patients. Notably, MRPL47 improved metabolic fitness by enhancing cellular respiration, and glycolysis in cancer cells. Gene set enrichment analysis and target specific knockdown assays revealed that MYC transcription factor regulates MRPL47 expression. Furthermore, MRPL47 was identified very high in the plasma samples of ovarian cancer patients compared to those of healthy volunteers. MRPL47 was also associated with cisplatin resistance, whereas its expression predicted sensitivity to cisplatin therapy. Taken together, we demonstrated that MRPL47 can be used as a diagnostic biomarker for ovarian cancer and other cancers with 3q26 chromosomal amplification.

cancer biology↗

bioRxiv2025

Evaluation of Iodine-Based Contrast Agents for Micro-Computed Tomography Imaging of Porcine Cardiac Conduction System

PurposeThis study compares two iodine-based contrast agents: iodine in ethanol (I2E) and aqueous solution of potassium triiodide (I2KI) in optimizing high-resolution, contrast-enhanced micro computed tomography imaging (micro-CT) of the cardiac conduction system (CCS) in porcine hearts. The study evaluates their relative efficacy in enhancing tissue contrast and anatomical delineation, aiming to improve CCS visualization for advanced cardiac research. MethodsDissected porcine hearts were stained with I2E or I2KI for contrast enhancement and scanned with micro-computed tomography. Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), and volumetric shrinkage were evaluated. Additionally, qualitative visualization of CCS-related anatomical landmarks, such as the sinoatrial node (SAN), atrioventricular node (AVN), and Purkinje fibres, was performed, along with assessment of artefact occurrence and sample integrity. The efficacy of the contrast agents was also determined by segmenting the regions of interest corresponding to the CCS from micro-CT images. These were then further validated against histology. ResultsI2E provided superior CNR, fewer artefacts, and preserved sample integrity, enabling smooth post-processing and histological sectioning. I2KI staining produced higher soft-tissue signal intensity and faster stain saturation (day 2) than I2E (day 3). However, I2KI exhibited leaching and introduced substantial staining artefacts. I2KI also exhibited structural disintegration, which, in turn, compromised downstream processing. ConclusionThese results suggest that I2E is a viable alternative to I2KI for CCS micro-CT imaging when sample preservation and downstream analyses are essential, whereas I2KI may be preferred for rapid, high-intensity staining where tissue integrity is less critical.

bioengineering↗