Your browser does not fully support modern features. Please upgrade for a smoother experience.
Subject:
All Disciplines Arts & Humanities Biology & Life Sciences Business & Economics Chemistry & Materials Science Computer Science & Mathematics Engineering Environmental & Earth Sciences Medicine & Pharmacology Physical Sciences Public Health & Healthcare Social Sciences
Sort by:
Most Viewed Latest Alphabetical (A-Z) Alphabetical (Z-A)
Filter:
All Topic Review Biography Peer Reviewed Entry Video Entry
Topic Review
Biosynthesis of Lasso Peptides
Lasso peptides are a subclass of ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs) and feature the threaded, lariat knot-like topology. The basic post-translational modifications (PTMs) of lasso peptide contain two steps, including the leader peptide removal of the ribosome-derived linear precursor peptide by an ATP-dependent cysteine protease, and the macrolactam cyclization by an ATP-dependent macrolactam synthetase.
  • 2.2K
  • 26 Jul 2022
Topic Review
Non-Viral Vectors in Gene Therapy
Efficient delivery of genetic material into cells is a critical process to translate gene therapy into clinical practice. In this sense, the increased knowledge acquired during past years in the molecular biology and nanotechnology fields has contributed to the development of different kinds of non-viral vector systems as a promising alternative to virus-based gene delivery counterparts. 
  • 2.2K
  • 28 Jul 2021
Topic Review
Bioactive Flavonoids from Citrus Fruits
Citrus species are one of the world’s popular fruit crops, cultivated all over the world for their economic and nutritional values. Citrus, like other fruits and vegetables, are an important source of several antioxidant molecules (polyphenols, ascorbic acid, and carotenoids) that can inhibit the harmful effects of free radicals on the human body; due to their functional values and health-promoting properties, Citrus species are considered valuable fruits not only in agri-food industry, but also in pharmaceutical industry. Flavonoids are among the major constituents of polyphenols found in different parts of Citrus fruits (skin, peels, seed, pulp membrane, and juice). Flavonoids have different biological properties (antiviral, antifungal, and antibacterial activities). Several studies have also shown the health-related properties of Citrus flavonoids, especially antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammation, anti-aging, and cardiovascular protection activities.
  • 2.2K
  • 29 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Curcuma longa L. Essential Oil
Curcuma longa L. rhizome essential oil is a valuable product in pharmaceutical industry due to its wide beneficial health effects.
  • 2.2K
  • 09 Feb 2021
Topic Review
Functions of Circular RNAs
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a distinctive class of regulatory non-coding RNAs characterised by the presence of covalently closed ends. They are evolutionary conserved molecules, and although detected in different tissues, circRNAs resulted specifically enriched in the nervous system, where they might play an important role in neuronal specification and activity.  Notably, deregulation of circRNAs expression has been linked with various neurological disorders. Little is known about circRNA mode of action, the few species characterized have been shown to act as molecular decoy for microRNAs (miRNAs) or RNA binding proteins (RBPs), to control transcription of their host genes and, although classify as ncRNAs, some of them hold the capacity to direct synthesis of short peptides/proteins.    
  • 2.2K
  • 30 Jul 2020
Topic Review
Bacterial Flagellar Filament
The bacterial flagellum is a complex and dynamic nanomachine that propels bacteria through liquids. It consists of a basal body, a hook, and a long filament. The flagellar filament is composed of thousands of copies of the protein flagellin (FliC) arranged helically and ending with a filament cap composed of an oligomer of the protein FliD. The overall structure of the filament core is preserved across bacterial species, while the outer domains exhibit high variability, and in some cases are even completely absent. Flagellar assembly is a complex and energetically costly process triggered by environmental stimuli and, accordingly, highly regulated on transcriptional, translational and post-translational levels. Apart from its role in locomotion, the filament is critically important in several other aspects of bacterial survival, reproduction and pathogenicity, such as adhesion to surfaces, secretion of virulence factors and formation of biofilms. Additionally, due to its ability to provoke potent immune responses, flagellins have a role as adjuvants in vaccine development.
  • 2.2K
  • 02 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Genetically-Encoded Probes for Live-Cell Imaging of Histone Modifications
Epigenetic modifications of histones (methylation, acetylation, phosphorylation, etc.) are of great importance in determining the functional state of chromatin. There are various fluorescent probes for histone modification detection. Various types of live-cell imaging epigenetic sensors suitable for conventional as well as super-resolution fluorescence microscopy are described.
  • 2.2K
  • 25 Aug 2022
Topic Review
Microbial Enzyme Applied to Plastic Depolymerization
The accumulation of synthetic plastic waste in the environment has become a global concern. Microbial enzymes (purified or as whole-cell biocatalysts) represent emerging biotechnological tools for waste circularity; they can depolymerize materials into reusable building blocks, but their contribution must be considered within the context of present waste management practices. 
  • 2.2K
  • 28 Feb 2023
Topic Review
Unqiue Hyaluronic Acid
Hyaluronic acid (also known as sodium hyaluronate or hyaluronan) is a straight-chain, natural polysaccharide and the only nonsulfated GAG composed of alternating (1–4)-β d-glucuronic and (1–3)-β N-acetyl-d-glucosamine units. Both carbohydrate units are spatially related to glucose; therefore, in the β-configuration, it is possible for all their bulky groups (hydroxyl and carboxyl groups and the anomeric carbon on the neighboring sugar) to be in sterically favorable planes, while all the small hydrogen atoms occupy less sterically favorable axial positions. This chemical structure of HA is energetically very stable because of interactions between hydrophobic and intermolecular hydrogen bonds and the acetamide and carboxylate groups.
  • 2.2K
  • 12 May 2022
Topic Review
BMSC Osteogenic or Adipogenic Differentiation
Bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) are multipotent cells in the bone marrow which can differentiate into chondrocytes, osteoblasts, adipocytes (fat cells) and other cell types. Many factors have been identified to control the process of BMSC osteogenic or adipogenic differentiation in the bone.
  • 2.2K
  • 12 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Sugar Transporters in Plants
Phytohormone transporters, alkaloid transporters, ion and ion chelator transporters, sugar transporters, and amino acid transporters are common active transporters in plants. The examples of phytohormone transporters, alkaloid transporters, and ion and ion chelator transporters include ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters and Multidrug And Toxic compound Extrusion (MATE) transporters, while the examples of sugar transporters include MonoSaccharide Transporters (MSTs) and SUcrose Transporters (SUTs). These transporters have been reported to play important roles in various biological processes including cellular detoxification, nutrient transport, and stress adaptation. 
  • 2.2K
  • 17 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Cytokines Drive Angiogenesis
Cytokines are important molecular players in cancer development, progression, and potential targets for treatment. Despite being small and overlooked, research has revealed that cytokines influence cancer biology in multiple ways. Cytokines are often found to contribute to immune function, cell damage, inflammation, angiogenesis, metastasis, and several other cellular processes important to tumor survival. Cytokines have also proven to have powerful effects on complex tumor microenvironment molecular biology and microbiology.  Angiogenesis, also termed neovascularization, is blood vessel development from pre-existing vasculature. It is regulated by a careful balance of pro- and anti-angiogenic factors.
  • 2.2K
  • 10 May 2022
Topic Review
Phytochemical and Potential Properties of Seaweeds
Seaweeds have been employed as source of highly bioactive secondary metabolites that could act as key medicinal components. Seaweeds have many uses: they are consumed as fodder, and have been used in medicines, cosmetics, energy, fertilizers, and industrial agar and alginate biosynthesis. The beneficial effects of seaweed are mostly due to the presence of minerals, vitamins, phenols, polysaccharides, and sterols, as well as several other bioactive compounds. These compounds seem to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, antimicrobial, and anti-diabetic activities.
  • 2.2K
  • 01 Aug 2022
Topic Review
Targeting CDK4/6 for Anticancer Therapy
Cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 (CDK4/6) are key regulators of the cell cycle and are deemed as critical therapeutic targets of multiple cancers. Various approaches have been applied to silence CDK4/6 at different levels, i.e., CRISPR to knock out at the DNA level, siRNA to inhibit translation, and drugs that target the protein of interest. Here we summarize the current status in this field, highlighting the mechanisms of small molecular inhibitors treatment and drug resistance.
  • 2.2K
  • 12 Apr 2022
Topic Review
ADP-ribosylation
Adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-ribosylation is a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+)-dependent post-translational modification that is found on proteins as well as on nucleic acids. Promising technological advances have enabled the development of innovative tools to detect NAD+ and NAD+/NADH (H for hydrogen) ratios as well as ADP-ribosylation. These tools have significantly enhanced our current understanding of how intracellular NAD dynamics contribute to the regulation of ADP-ribosylation as well as to how mono-ADP-ribosylation integrates into various cellular processes.
  • 2.2K
  • 23 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Uremic Toxins
Some uremic toxins such as indol acetic acid, indoxyl sulfate, p-cresyl sulfate hippuric acid, phenyl sulfate, trimethylamine N-oxide, and hydrogen sulfide in the blood of CKD patients come from the metabolism of bacteria in the gut. As a result of the conducted research, the list of potential uremic toxins is constantly being modified. For example, it is suggested that the current list of cytokines that are considered potential uremic toxins is incomplete and excessive.
  • 2.2K
  • 28 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Quantum Biology
Recent evidence suggests that a broad range of complex and dynamic processes in living systems could exploit quantum effects to enhance and/or regulate biological functions. These non-trivial quantum effects may play a crucial role in maintaining the non-equilibrium state of biomolecular systems so as to achieve biological advantages that cannot be understood within the boundaries of classical physics. Quantum biology is the study of such quantum aspects of living systems. 
  • 2.2K
  • 24 Mar 2021
Topic Review
Limb Development
The function of retinoic acid (RA) during limb development is still debated, as loss and gain of function studies led to opposite conclusions. With regard to limb initiation, genetic studies demonstrated that activation of FGF10 signaling is required for the emergence of limb buds from the trunk, with Tbx5 and RA signaling acting upstream in the forelimb field, whereas Tbx4 and Pitx1 act upstream in the hindlimb field. Early studies in chick embryos suggested that RA as well as Meis1 and Meis2 (Meis1/2) are required for subsequent proximodistal patterning of both forelimbs and hindlimbs, with RA diffusing from the trunk, functioning to activate Meis1/2 specifically in the proximal limb bud mesoderm. However, genetic loss of RA signaling does not result in loss of limb Meis1/2 expression and limb patterning is normal, although Meis1/2 expression is reduced in trunk somitic mesoderm. More recent studies demonstrated that global genetic loss of Meis1/2 results in a somite defect and failure of limb bud initiation. Other new studies reported that conditional genetic loss of Meis1/2 in the limb results in proximodistal patterning defects, and distal FGF8 signaling represses Meis1/2 to constrain its expression to the proximal limb.
  • 2.2K
  • 19 Jan 2021
Topic Review
Properties of Claudin-2
Claudin-2 is a member of the claudin family of epithelial tight junction proteins expressed mostly in the kidneys and gastrointestinal tract. Its role as a cation-selective and water permeable paracellular channel is well studied. In addition, newly emerging strong evidence also shows that it can modulate proliferation, migration, and cell fate determination. These effects appear to be due to its interactions with cytosolic adapters, that connect it to key signaling pathways. A multitude of new data document dysregulated claudin-2 expression in many pathologies including cancer, inflammation, and fibrosis. Thus, changes in claudin-2 expression may contribute to the generation, maintenance, and/or progression of diseases through both permeability-dependent and -independent mechanisms. Based on this, efforts are underway to develop therapies targeting claudin-2 with the hope of benefiting patients with a variety of disease. 
  • 2.2K
  • 30 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is an important oxidation molecule regulating aerobic metabolism. Redox signals include physiological oxidative stress (EU stress), and excessive oxidative stress can damage molecules. The main enzyme sources of H2O2 are nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase or NADPH oxidase (NOx), mitochondrial respiratory chain and various kinds of oxidase. NOx family consists of seven enzyme subtypes, which produce a superoxide anion (O2 -) which can be converted to H2O2 by superoxide dismutase or spontaneously. H2O2 passes through the membrane through some aquaporin (AQP), which is called porphyrin hydroperoxide. It diffuses in cells and tissues, triggering cellular effects such as proliferation, immune cell recruitment and morphological changes. 
  • 2.2K
  • 27 Jan 2022
  • Page
  • of
  • 133
Featured Entry Collections
>>

Featured Reprints

>>
Encyclopedia of Digital Society, Industry 5.0 and Smart City
Encyclopedia of Engineering
Encyclopedia of Social Sciences
Encyclopedia of Medieval Royal Iconography
Academic Video Service
Feedback

Quick Survey

Encyclopedia MDPI is conducting a targeted survey to identify the specific barriers hindering efficient research. We invite you to spend 3 minutes defining the priorities for our next generation of structured knowledge tools.
Take Survey