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Topic Review
Miracle Berry
Miracle berry (MB) (Synsepalum dulcificum) is an indigenous fruit whose small, ellipsoid, and bright red berries have been described to transform a sour taste into a sweet one. MB is rich in terpenoids, phenolic compounds, and flavonoids, which are responsible for their described antioxidant activities. Moreover, MB has been reported to ameliorate insulin resistance and inhibit cancer cell proliferation and malignant transformation in vitro. Herein, we briefly summarize the current knowledge of MB to provide a scientific basis for its potential use as a supplement in the management of chronic diseases related to altered metabolism, including obesity and insulin resistance, which are well-known risk factors in cancer. First, we introduce cancer as a metabolic disease, highlighting the impact of systemic metabolic alterations, such as obesity and insulin resistance, in cancer initiation and progression. Next, as oxidative stress is closely associated with metabolic stress, we also evaluate the effect of phytochemicals in managing oxidative stress and its relationship with cancer. Finally, we summarize the main biological activities described for MB-derived extracts with a special focus on the ability of miraculin to transform a sour taste into a sweet one through its interaction with the sweet taste receptors. The identification of sweet taste receptors at the gastrointestinal level, with effects on the secretion of enterohormones, may provide an additional tool for managing chronic diseases, including cancer.
  • 2.1K
  • 21 Feb 2021
Topic Review
Elicitors in Plants and Insects
Molecular elicitors are the key bio-elements in the detection and recognition of attacking enemies in tissue consumption. Insect oral secretion, frass, and fluid of egg deposition contain biologically active molecules called herbivore-associated elicitors (HAEs) that are recognized by pattern-recognition receptors (PRRs). Many plants distinguish insect feeding from wounding by HAEs present in their oral secretions (OS) and induce local and/or systemic responses against arthropod feeding.
  • 2.1K
  • 17 Jun 2022
Topic Review
Peroxisome Proliferator-activated Receptors
Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are nuclear receptors that exert important functions in mediating the pleiotropic effects of diverse exogenous factors such as  physical exercise and food components. Particularly, PPARs act as transcription factors that control the expression of genes implicated in lipid and glucose metabolism, and cellular proliferation and  differentiation.  In this review, we aimed to summarize recent advancements reported on the effects of lifestyle and food habits on PPAR transcriptional activity.
  • 2.1K
  • 30 Oct 2020
Topic Review
3D-LC
Three-dimensional liquid chromatography (3D-LC) is the consecutive combination of 3 independent LC techniques to decrease the complexity of proteome digest samples. 3D-LC systems can be performed in an online or offline manner. Ideally, each dimension in a 3D-LC system is completely orthogonal to the others.
  • 2.1K
  • 27 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Von Willebrand Factor
The von Willebrand factor (vWF) is a plasma protein that mediates platelet adhesion and leukocyte recruitment to vascular injury sites and carries coagulation factor VIII, a building block of the intrinsic pathway of coagulation. A steep rise in shear rates, which may occur at sites of arterial stenosis and injury, is crucial for unfolding and activation of vWF. The hemostatic activity of vWF is counterbalanced by ADAMTS-13, a vWF-cleaving protease. The presence of ultra-large multimers of vWF in the bloodstream is associated with spontaneous thrombosis, whereas its deficiency leads to bleeding.
  • 2.1K
  • 12 Nov 2020
Topic Review
Carnitine Acyl-carnitine Carrier
The SLC25A20 transporter, also known as carnitine acyl-carnitine carrier (CAC), catalyzes the transport of short, medium and long carbon chain acyl-carnitines across the mitochondrial inner membrane in exchange for carnitine. The 30-year story of the protein responsible for this function started with its purification from rat liver mitochondria. 
  • 2.1K
  • 07 Apr 2021
Topic Review
Rhizopus oryzae Lipase
Lipases are biocatalysts with a significant potential to enable a shift from current pollutant manufacturing processes to environmentally sustainable approaches. The main reason of this prospect is their catalytic versatility as they carry out several industrially relevant reactions as hydrolysis of fats in water/lipid interface and synthesis reactions in solvent-free or non-aqueous media such as transesterification, interesterification and esterification. Because of the outstanding traits of Rhizopus oryzae lipase (ROL), 1,3-specificity, high enantioselectivity and stability in organic media, its application in energy, food and pharmaceutical industrial sector has been widely studied. Significant advances have been made in the biochemical characterisation of ROL particularly in how its activity and stability are affected by the presence of its prosequence. In addition, native and heterologous production of ROL, the latter in cell factories like Escherichia coli, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Komagataella phaffii (Pichia pastoris), have been thoroughly described. Therefore, in this review, we summarise the current knowledge about R. oryzae lipase (i) biochemical characteristics, (ii) production strategies and (iii) potential industrial applications.
  • 2.1K
  • 10 Dec 2020
Topic Review
Reactive Species on Amino Acids
Reactive oxygen species ROS can be triggered by exogenous sources (tobacco, pollution, xenobiotics, drugs, ionizing radiation and so on), but they can also be generated inside the cell by two different mechanisms: enzymatic and non-enzymatic; in both cases, they can have irreversible effects on animal and plant cells and tissues. The superoxide anion •O2− is unstable and cannot pass through membranes, but is rapidly converted to hydrogen peroxide H2O2 and it is membrane-permeable. In the Fenton reaction, H2O2 produces the hydroxyl radical •OH + −OH, which is highly reactive in the mitochondrial matrix. Elevated levels of ROS lead to increased mtDNA damage.
  • 2.1K
  • 23 Nov 2022
Topic Review
ASIA Syndrome
Autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants (ASIA) was first introduced in 2011 by Shoenfeld et al. and encompasses a cluster of related immune mediated diseases, which develop among genetically prone individuals as a result of adjuvant agent exposure.
  • 2.1K
  • 20 Feb 2021
Topic Review
Astrocytic Factors Controlling Synaptogenesis
Astrocytes are essential players of brain circuit development and homeostasis controlling many aspects of synapse formation, function, plasticity and elimination both during development and adulthood. Accordingly, alterations in astrocyte morphogenesis and physiology may severely affect proper brain development, causing neurological or neuropsychiatric conditions. Recent findings revealed a huge astrocyte heterogeneity among different brain areas, which is likely at the basis of the different synaptogenic potential of these cells in selected brain regions. 
  • 2.1K
  • 13 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Aquaporin
The aquaporins (AQPs) are a family of small integral membrane proteins that facilitate the bidirectional transport of water across biological membranes in response to osmotic pressure gradients as well as enabling the transmembrane diffusion of small neutral solutes (such as urea, glycerol, and hydrogen peroxide) and ions. AQPs are expressed throughout the human body.
  • 2.1K
  • 18 Feb 2022
Topic Review
List of Protein Subcellular Localization Prediction Tools
This list of protein subcellular localisation prediction tools includes software, databases, and web services that are used for protein subcellular localization prediction. Some tools are included that are commonly used to infer location through predicted structural properties, such as signal peptide or transmembrane helices, and these tools output predictions of these features rather than specific locations. These software related to protein structure prediction may also appear in lists of protein structure prediction software.
  • 2.1K
  • 18 Oct 2022
Topic Review
Biological Activities of Paper Mulberry
Paper mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera) is one of the most common skin-lightening agents in the beauty industry due to its strong anti-tyrosinase activity. It consists of various components, including flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids, phenols, saponins, coumarins, glycosides, and polysaccharides, which possess a wide range of pharmacological properties. Apart from its anti-tyrosinase activity, paper mulberry and its compounds exhibited anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiviral, anticancer, antidiabetic, anticholinesterase, antigout, antinociceptive, and hepatoprotective effects. Phenols and flavonoids were demonstrated to be the main contributors to the biological activities of paper mulberry. Paper mulberry is widely applied in cosmetics for skin lightening and skin moisturizing purposes and shows potential for application in hair care products due to the hair nourishing effects. The safety of paper mulberry for topical application was proven in clinical studies.
  • 2.1K
  • 18 Nov 2022
Topic Review
In Vivo Methods for Measuring the Glycemic Index
The concept of Glycemic Index (GI) was suggested by Jenkins to classify carbohydrate-containing foods. GI is “an expression of the percentage of the area under the blood glucose response curve when taking the same amount of carbohydrate as glucose”. It is a physiological way to explain how dietary carbohydrate impacts blood glucose. The GI value has a range between 1 and 100. Glucose, as the reference material, has a GI value of 100. A food with a lower GI value (≤54) raises blood glucose more slowly.
  • 2.1K
  • 12 May 2022
Topic Review
Symmetric and Asymmetric Synapses Driving Neurodegenerative Disorders
In 1959, E. G. Gray described two different types of synapses in the brain for the first time: symmetric and asymmetric. Later on, symmetric synapses were associated with inhibitory terminals, and asymmetric synapses to excitatory signaling. The balance between these two systems is critical to maintain a correct brain function. Likewise, the modulation of both types of synapses is also important to maintain a healthy equilibrium. Cerebral circuitry responds differently depending on the type of damage and the timeline of the injury. For example, promoting symmetric signaling following ischemic damage is beneficial only during the acute phase; afterwards, it further increases the initial damage. Synapses can be also altered by players not directly related to them; the chronic and long-term neurodegeneration mediated by tau proteins primarily targets asymmetric synapses by decreasing neuronal plasticity and functionality. Dopamine represents the main modulating system within the central nervous system. Indeed, the death of midbrain dopaminergic neurons impairs locomotion, underlying the devastating Parkinson’s disease.
  • 2.1K
  • 10 Dec 2021
Topic Review
BH3-Only Proteins Noxa and Puma in Apoptosis Regulation
Apoptosis is an evolutionarily conserved and tightly regulated cell death pathway. Physiological cell death is important for maintaining homeostasis and optimal biological conditions by continuous elimination of undesired or superfluous cells. The BH3-only pro-apoptotic members are strong inducers of apoptosis. The pro-apoptotic BH3-only protein Noxa activates multiple death pathways by inhibiting the anti-apoptotic B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) family protein, Mcl-1, and other protein members leading to Bax and Bak activation and mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization (MOMP). On the other hand, Puma is induced by p53-dependent and p53-independent apoptotic stimuli in several cancer cell lines. Moreover, this protein is involved in several physiological and pathological processes, such as immunity, cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases. Future heat shock research could disclose the effect of hyperthermia on both Noxa and BH3-only proteins. This suggests post-transcriptional mechanisms controlling the translation of both Puma and Noxa mRNA in heat-shocked cells. 
  • 2.1K
  • 10 Mar 2022
Topic Review
MicroRNA-21 in Cancer
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs that play an important role in regulating gene expression at a posttranscriptional level. As one of the first discovered oncogenic miRNAs, microRNA-21 (miR-21) has been highlighted for its critical role in cancers, such as glioblastoma, pancreatic adenocarcinoma, non-small cell lung cancer, and many others. MiR-21 targets many vital components in a wide range of cancers and acts on various cellular processes ranging from cancer stemness to cell death. Expression of miR-21 is elevated within cancer tissues and circulating miR-21 is readily detectable in biofluids, making it valuable as a cancer biomarker with significant potential for use in diagnosis and prognosis.
  • 2.1K
  • 21 Sep 2022
Topic Review
Histone deacetylase (HDAC)
Histone deacetylase (HDAC) enzymes play crucial roles in epigenetic gene expression and are an attractive therapeutic target. Five HDAC inhibitors have been approved for cancer treatment to date, however clinical applications have been limited due to poor single agent drug efficacy and side effects associated with a lack of HDAC isoform or complex selectivity. An emerging strategy aiming to address these limitations is the development of bifunctional HDAC therapeutics – single molecules comprising a HDAC inhibitor conjugated to another specificity targeting moiety. There has been many recent advancements in novel types of dual-targeting HDAC modulators, including PROTACs, often achieving high HDAC isoform selectivity, as well as some dual inhibitor examples affording HDAC complex selectivity. Such bifunctional molecules have future potential in achieving enhanced drug efficacy and therapeutic benefits in treating disease.
  • 2.1K
  • 12 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Alternative Splicing
Alternative splicing (AS) is a critical post-transcriptional regulatory mechanism used by more than 95% of transcribed human genes and responsible for structural transcript variation and proteome diversity.
  • 2.1K
  • 18 Mar 2021
Topic Review
Effect of Oral l-Carnitine Supplementation on Exercise Performance
l-Carnitine (l-C) and any of its forms (glycine-propionyl l-Carnitine (GPL-C) or l-Carnitine l-tartrate (l-CLT)) has been frequently recommended as a supplement to improve sports performance due to, among others, its role in fat metabolism and in maintaining the mitochondrial acetyl-CoA/CoA ratio. 
  • 2.1K
  • 15 Dec 2021
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