Basic and Pathological Biochemistry Laboratory

The laboratory of basic and pathological biochemistry was created in 2021 as a result of the remodeling of the previously functioning biochemistry laboratory.

The field of laboratory research includes:

• cancer research

• the mechanism of the occurrence and treatment of diabetes mellitus,

• hypoxia,

• oxidative stress,

• animal models,

• enzymology,

• radiation biochemistry,

• medical and clinical biochemistry,

• biological effect of nanoparticles (green synthesis),

• Mechanism of action of herbal solutions.

The main scientific directions operating in the laboratory:

• Evaluation of the anticancer effect of some promising RA herbs used in traditional medicine in the treatment and prevention of breast cancer (in vitro and in vivo models). The effects of plant extracts on the activity of cell signaling systems such as HER2 / PI3K / Akt / mTOR and JAK2 / STAT3 are elucidated, and cell cycle regulators including p53, p21, and CDK4/6 are also investigated.

• Different plant extracts and known chemotherapeutic agents (Doxorubicin, 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU), nor-NOHA (NG-Hydroxy-nor-L-arginine), L-NAME (L-NG-Nitro arginine methyl ester )) elucidation of anticancer effect of combinations in normal and cancer cell culture in vitro model and in vivo using rat breast cancer experimental model is performed.

• The metabolic role of L-arginine in antidiabetic therapy is investigated by regulating the activity of arginase and nitric oxide synthase enzymes under the influence of streptozotocin (STZ) in hyperglycemic rats.

• The effect of different types of radiation on unicellular eukaryotic organisms, yeasts, some metabolic processes, morphology, growth, and multiplication of C. guilliermondii NP-4 is investigated. The antifungal and anticancer effect of silver nanoparticles obtained with the presence of bee’s royal jelly is evaluated.

• Conformational changes and properties of enzymes and proteins of antioxidant systems are investigated.

• Antibacterial and anticancer effects of silver and zinc nanoparticles using hydroponic plant and algae solutions are evaluated.

Partnerships

The laboratory cooperates with the following institutions:

• Department of Food Chemistry, Technology and Biotechnology, Gdansk University of Technology (Gdansk, Poland),

• Laboratory of Professor Alina Maloyan, Knight Cardiovascular Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, USA.

• RA NAS "Immunology and tissue engineering" laboratory of L. A. Orbeli Institute of Physiology,

• RA NAS Hr. Buniatyan Institute of Biochemistry,

• RA NAS G. S. Davtyan Institute of Hydroponics Problems,

• RA NAS Institute of Pharmaceutical and Organic Chemistry,

• Institute of Molecular Biology of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia.

Staff

1. Nikolay Avtandilyan

2. Hayarpi Javrushyan

3. Mikael Ginovyan

4. Anush Aghajanyan

5. Ernestina Barseghyan

6. Hasmik Karapetyan

7. Hayrapetyan Narine

8. Gayane Semerjian

9. Gayane Petrosyan

10. Svetlana Hovhannisyan

11. Edita Nadiryan

12. Mary Kocharyan

13. Tatevik Manutsyan

14. Lydia Benyaminova 

15. Susan Marutyan

Top 5 publications (Scopus, Web of Science 2018-2023):

1. Avtandilyan, N., Javrushyan, H., Ginovyan, M., Karapetyan, A., & Trchounian, A. (2023). Anti-cancer effect of in vivo inhibition of nitric oxide synthase in a rat model of breast cancer.Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, 478(2), 261-275. 
2. Ginovyan, M., Javrushyan, H., Petrosyan, G., Kusznierewicz, B., Koss-Mikołajczyk, I., Koziara, Z., & Avtandilyan, N. (2023). Anti-cancer effect of Rumex obtusifolius in combination with arginase/nitric oxide synthase inhibitors via downregulation of oxidative stress, inflammation, and polyamine synthesis. The International Journal of Biochemistry & Cell Biology, 158, 106396 
3. Javrushyan, H., Nadiryan, E., Grigoryan, A., Avtandilyan, N., & Maloyan, A. (2022). Antihyperglycemic activity of L-norvaline and L-arginine in high-fat diet and streptozotocin-treated male rats. Experimental and molecular pathology, 126, 104763. 
4. Timotina, M., Aghajanyan, A., Schubert, R. et al. Biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles using extracts of Stevia rebaudiana and evaluation of antibacterial activity. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 38, 196 (2022). 
5. K. Hovnanyan, S. Marutyan, S. Marutyan, M. Hovnanyan, L. Navasardyan, A. Trchounian, Ultrastructural investigation of acidocalcisomes and ATPase activity in yeast Candida guilliermondii NP‐4 as ‘complementary’ stress‐targets, Letters in Applied Microbiology, Volume 71, Issue 4, 1 October 2020, Pages 413–419