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Topic Review
Lycium barbarum Polysaccharides
The fruit of Lycium barbarum L. (goji berry) is used as traditional Chinese medicine, and has the functions of immune regulation, anti-tumor, neuroprotection, anti-diabetes, and anti-fatigue. One of the main bioactive components is L. barbarum polysaccharide (LBP). 
  • 1.5K
  • 25 Apr 2021
Topic Review
mTORC1-Autophagy Axis for Skeletal Muscle Diseases
The mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) complex 1, mTORC1, integrates nutrient and growth factor signals with cellular responses and plays critical roles in regulating cell growth, proliferation, and lifespan. mTORC1 signaling has been reported as a central regulator of autophagy by modulating almost all aspects of the autophagic process, including initiation, expansion, and termination. An increasing number of studies suggest that mTORC1 and autophagy are critical for the physiological function of skeletal muscle and are involved in diverse muscle diseases.
  • 1.5K
  • 29 Dec 2022
Topic Review
The Roles of Mitochondrial to Chronic Kidney Disease
Mitochondria are heterogeneous and highly dynamic organelles, playing critical roles in adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthesis, metabolic modulation, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and cell differentiation and death. Mitochondrial dysfunction has been recognized as a contributor in many diseases. The kidney is an organ enriched in mitochondria and with high energy demand in the human body. Recent studies have been focusing on how mitochondrial dysfunction contributes to the pathogenesis of different forms of kidney diseases, including acute kidney injury (AKI) and chronic kidney disease (CKD). AKI has been linked to an increased risk of developing CKD. AKI and CKD have a broad clinical syndrome and a substantial impact on morbidity and mortality, encompassing various etiologies and representing important challenges for global public health. Renal mitochondrial disorders are a common feature of diverse forms of AKI and CKD, which result from defects in mitochondrial structure, dynamics, and biogenesis as well as crosstalk of mitochondria with other organelles. Persistent dysregulation of mitochondrial homeostasis in AKI and CKD affects diverse cellular pathways, leading to an increase in renal microvascular loss, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and eventually renal failure. It is important to understand the cellular and molecular events that govern mitochondria functions and pathophysiology in AKI and CKD, which should facilitate the development of novel therapeutic strategies. This review provides an overview of the molecular insights of the mitochondria and the specific pathogenic mechanisms of mitochondrial dysfunction in the progression of AKI, CKD, and AKI to CKD transition. We also discuss the possible beneficial effects of mitochondrial-targeted therapeutic agents for the treatment of mitochondrial dysfunction-mediated AKI and CKD, which may translate into therapeutic options to ameliorate renal injury and delay the progression of these kidney diseases.
  • 1.5K
  • 01 Nov 2021
Topic Review
Bioluminescence-Induced Photoswitchable Protein-Based Optical Probes
Bioluminescence-based probes have long been used to quantify and visualize biological processes in vitro and in vivo. It is obvious that using bioluminescence to trigger optogenetic tools has advantages such as noninvasive detection and spatial and temporal precision. Berglund and co-workers fused channelrhodopsin-2 with Gaussia luciferase to create luminopsin (LMO) that responds to intrinsic biological light from the reaction of luciferase and coelenterazine. Since then, the merging of bioluminescence and photosensory domains has become a novel strategy for the design and expansion of toolboxes for sensing and controlling biological processes, which is not only applied in neuroscience, but has also gradually come to play a role in other biological areas. These probes generally consist of two key components, the luciferase and the light-activated proteins in one molecule or in one system. Bioluminescence typically created by a coelenterazine-type luciferin–luciferase system triggers the photosensitive domains so as to drive downstream biological processes.
  • 1.5K
  • 27 Mar 2023
Topic Review
Dermatan Sulfate in Tissue Development
The crucial roles of dermatan sulfate (DS) have been demonstrated in tissue development of the cutis, blood vessels, and bone through construction of the extracellular matrix and cell signaling. DS classically exerts physiological functions via interaction with collagens, growth factors, and heparin cofactor-II.
  • 1.5K
  • 14 Jul 2022
Topic Review
Perilipin 5 in NAFLD
Perilipins are a family of five closely related proteins expressed on the surface of lipid droplets (LD) in several tissues acting in several pathways involved in lipid metabolism. Recent studies have shown that Plin5 depletion acts protectively in the pathogenesis of liver injury underpinning the importance of pathways associated with PLIN5. PLIN5 expression is involved in pro-inflammatory cytokine regulation and mitochondrial damage, as well as endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, making it critical target of the NAFLD-HCC studies. 
  • 1.5K
  • 23 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Blockchain for Future Wireless Networks
The emerging need for high data rate, low latency, and high network capacity encourages wireless networks (WNs) to build intelligent and dynamic services, such as intelligent transportation systems, smart homes, smart cities, industrial automation, etc. The WN is impeded by several security threats, such as data manipulation, denial-of-service, injection, man-in-the-middle, session hijacking attacks, etc., that deteriorate the security performance of the aforementioned WN-based intelligent services. Toward this goal, various security solutions, such as cryptography, artificial intelligence (AI), access control, authentication, etc., are proposed by the scientific community around the world.
  • 1.5K
  • 08 Jul 2022
Topic Review
Transcriptional Regulation of the Hippo Pathway
Hippo signaling pathway is a key modulator of tissue growth with widespread implications in organ development, cell growth, regeneration, and stem cell function.
  • 1.5K
  • 15 Aug 2022
Topic Review
Selenium/Selenoproteins in Male Reproductive Function
Selenium (Se) is an important trace mineral having many essential roles at the cellular and organismal levels in animal and human health. The biological effects of Se are mainly carried out by selenoproteins (encoded by 25 genes in humans and 24 in mice). As an essential component of selenoproteins, Se performs structural and enzymic roles; in the latter context it is well known for its catalytic and antioxidative functions. Studies involving different animal models have added great value to our understanding regarding the potential implications of Se and selenoproteins in mammalian fertility and reproduction. 
  • 1.5K
  • 15 Sep 2021
Topic Review
Phage Therapy for Crops
Phage therapy consists of applying bacteriophages, whose natural function is to kill specific bacteria. Bacteriophages are safe, evolve together with their host, and are environmentally friendly. The indiscriminate use of antibiotics and salt minerals (Zn2+ or Cu2+) has caused the emergence of resistant strains that infect crops, causing difficulties and loss of food production. Phage therapy is an alternative that has shown positive results and can improve the treatments available for agriculture.
  • 1.5K
  • 08 Feb 2023
Topic Review
Vitamins in Treatment of Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common progressive neurodegenerative disorder after Alzheimer’s disease. Pathophysiologically, it is characterized by intracytoplasmic aggregates of α-synuclein protein in the Lewy body and loss of dopaminergic neurons from substantia nigra pars compacta and striatum regions of the brain. Although the exact mechanism of neurodegeneration is not fully elucidated, it has been reported that environmental toxins such as MPTP, rotenone, paraquat, and MPP+ induce oxidative stress, which is one of the causative factors for it. There is no complete cure. However, the indispensable role of oxidative stress in mediating PD indicates that antioxidant therapy could be a possible therapeutic strategy against the disease. The deficiency of vitamins has been extensively co-related to PD. Dietary supplementation of vitamins with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and free radical scavenging properties could be the potential neuroprotective therapeutic strategy. 
  • 1.5K
  • 24 Feb 2023
Topic Review
Age-Dependent Decline of NAD+—Universal Truth or Confounded Consensus?
Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) is an essential molecule involved in various metabolic reactions, acting as an electron donor in the electron transport chain and as a co-factor for NAD+-dependent enzymes. Despite systematic claims of overall decline in NAD+ levels with aging in multiple species, including humans, the evidence to support such claims is very limited and often restricted to a single tissue or cell type. The literature on the topic has been reviewed and it is found that there is a need for much larger, preferably longitudinal, studies to assess how NAD+ levels develop with aging.
  • 1.5K
  • 11 Jan 2022
Topic Review
RNA Helicases
RNA helicases constitute a large family of proteins with functions in all aspects of RNA metabolism, including unwinding or annealing of RNA molecules to regulate pre-mRNA, rRNA and miRNA processing, clamping protein complexes on RNA, or remodeling ribonucleoprotein complexes, to regulate gene expression. RNA helicases also regulate the activity of specific proteins through direct interaction. Abnormal expression of RNA helicases has been associated with different diseases, including cancer, neurological disorders, aging, and autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) via regulation of a diverse range of cellular processes such as cell proliferation, cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis. 
  • 1.5K
  • 23 Jul 2021
Topic Review
Ankyrin-B in Cardiac Function
Ankyrin-B (encoded by ANK2), originally identified as a key cytoskeletal-associated protein in the brain, is highly expressed in the heart and plays critical roles in cardiac physiology and cell biology. In the heart, ankyrin-B directs the targeting and localization of key ion channels and transporters, structural proteins, and signaling molecules. The role of ankyrin-B in normal cardiac function is illustrated in animal models lacking ankyrin-B expression, which display significant electrical and structural phenotypes,1 and life-threatening arrhythmias. Further, ankyrin-B dysfunction has been associated with cardiac phenotypes in humans (now referred to as “ankyrin-B syndrome”) including sinus node dysfunction, heart rate variability, atrial fibrillation, conduction block, arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy, structural remodeling, and sudden cardiac death.
  • 1.5K
  • 30 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Telomerase in Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the main cause of vision loss in the elderly, is associated with oxidation in the retina cells promoting telomere attrition. Activation of telomerase was reported to improve macular functions in AMD patients. The catalytic subunit of human telomerase (hTERT) may directly interact with proteins important for senescence, DNA damage response, and autophagy, which are impaired in AMD. hTERT interaction with mTORC1 (mTOR (mechanistic target of rapamycin) complex 1) and PINK1 (PTEN-induced kinase 1) activates macroautophagy and mitophagy, respectively, and removes cellular debris accumulated over AMD progression. Ectopic expression of telomerase in retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells lengthened telomeres, reduced senescence, and extended their lifespan. 
  • 1.5K
  • 09 Jul 2021
Topic Review
DNA Barcoding and Seafood Mislabelling
The recent increase in international fish trade leads to the need for improving the traceability of fishery products. In relation to this, consistent monitoring of the production chain focusing on technological developments, handling, processing and distribution via global networks is necessary. Molecular barcoding has therefore been suggested as the gold standard in seafood species traceability and labelling.
  • 1.5K
  • 20 Jul 2023
Topic Review
Basic Helix-Loop-Helix (bHLH) in Arabidopsis
The basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor family is one of the largest transcription factor gene families in Arabidopsis thaliana, and contains a bHLH motif that is highly conserved throughout eukaryotic organisms. Members of this family have two conserved motifs, a basic DNA binding region and a helix-loop-helix (HLH) region. These proteins containing bHLH domain usually act as homo- or heterodimers to regulate the expression of their target genes, which are involved in many physiological processes and have a broad range of functions in biosynthesis, metabolism and transduction of plant hormones.
  • 1.5K
  • 16 Jul 2021
Topic Review
Legume Pangenome for Crop Improvement
Legume crops play a crucial role in ensuring global food security. Legume reference genomes have been constructed for soybean, chickpea, common bean, pigeonpea, pea, lupin, peanut, cowpea, and mungbean. However, pangenomes are needed to obtain insights into the genome dynamics, gene-content variation, genetic basis of agronomic-trait variation, and evolutionary relationship in various legumes.
  • 1.5K
  • 30 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Forensic Applications of Markers Present on X Chromosome
The X chromosome is considered one of the most stable nuclear chromosomes, presenting a size length of approximately 155 million base pairs (Mb), accounting for nearly 5% of the human genome. The X chromosome has many characteristics that are not shared by its counterpart, the Y chromosome. In males, the heterogametic sex, there is a single copy of the X chromosome and a single Y chromosome, while in females, there are two copies of the X chromosome. These mammalian sex chromosomes are believed to have evolved from an ordinary pair of autosomes, referred to as the ancestral protosex chromosomes. The proto-X and proto-Y underwent a series of deletion/addition events during evolution and became the modern X and Y. Additionally, it is believed that a mutation in a sex-determining locus (SRY) is responsible for triggering an evolutionary process of stepwise loss of recombination between the ancestral autosome pair, creating an X-specific region and a Y-specific region in the proto-Y (MSY).
  • 1.5K
  • 22 Sep 2022
Topic Review
Dostarlimab
Dostarlimab (JEMPERLI) is a PD-1 monoclonal antibody for the treatment of adult patients, with mismatch repair deficient (dMMR), recurrent or advanced endometrial cancer that has progressed on or following prior therapy with a platinum-containing regimen. As determined by an FDA-approved test this indication was granted rapid approval based on the rate of tumor response and the duration of the response. Continued approval for this indication is conditioned on further confirmatory trials demonstrating and documenting clinical benefit.
  • 1.5K
  • 11 Aug 2022
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