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Topic Review
Zinc and autophagy in AMD
Zinc supplementation is reported to slow down the progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), but there is no general consensus on the beneficiary effect on zinc in AMD. As zinc can stimulate autophagy that is declined in AMD, it is rational to assume that it can slow down its progression. As melanosomes are the main reservoir of zinc in the retina, zinc may decrease the number of lipofuscin granules that are substrates for autophagy. The triad zinc–autophagy–AMD could explain some controversies associated with population studies on zinc supplementation in AMD as the effect of zinc on AMD may be modulated by genetic background. This aspect was not determined in many studies regarding zinc in AMD. Zinc deficiency induces several events associated with AMD pathogenesis, including increased oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation and the resulting lipofuscinogenesis. The latter requires autophagy, which is impaired. This is a vicious cycle-like reaction that may contribute to AMD progression. Promising results with zinc deficiency and supplementation in AMD patients and animal models, as well as emerging evidence of the importance of autophagy in AMD, are the rationale for future research on the role of autophagy in the role of zinc supplementation in AMD.
  • 1.9K
  • 30 Jul 2020
Topic Review
Signal Peptide Interactions during ER Translocation
Cleavable endoplasmic reticulum (ER) signal peptides (SPs) and other non-cleavable signal sequences target roughly a quarter of the human proteome to the ER. These short peptides, mostly located at the N-termini of proteins, are highly diverse. For most proteins targeted to the ER, it is the interactions between the signal sequences and the various ER targeting and translocation machineries such as the signal recognition particle (SRP), the protein-conducting channel Sec61, and the signal peptidase complex (SPC) that determine the proteins’ target location and provide translocation fidelity. 
  • 1.9K
  • 16 Dec 2021
Topic Review
Promising Lead Compounds for Resistant-Tuberculosis
According to WHO report, globally about 10 million active tuberculosis cases, resulting in about 1.6 million deaths, further aggravated by drug-resistant tuberculosis and/or comorbidities. Incomplete therapeutic regimen, meager dosing, and the capability of the latent and/or active state tubercular bacilli to abide and do survive against contemporary first-line and second-line antitubercular drugs escalate the prevalence of drug-resistant tuberculosis. To explore and identify the most potential antitubercular drug candidate among various reported compounds, here we focused to highlight the promising lead derivatives of isoniazid, coumarin, griselimycin, and antimicrobial peptides. The aim of the present review is to fascinate significant lead compounds in the development of potential clinical drug candidates that might be more precise and effective against drug-resistant tuberculosis, the world research looking for a long time.
  • 1.9K
  • 10 Dec 2020
Topic Review
Glyoxalase System
Dicarbonyl compounds, including methylglyoxal (MGO) and glyoxal (GO), are mainly formed as byproducts of glucose metabolism. The main glyoxalase system consists of glyoxalase I and II (Glo1 and Glo2) and is the main enzyme involved in the detoxification of dicarbonyl stress, which occurs as an accumulation of MGO or GO due to decreased activity or expression of Glo1. Dicarbonyl stress is a major cause of cellular and tissue dysfunction that causes various health issues, including diabetes, aging, and cancer. 
  • 1.9K
  • 22 Jan 2021
Topic Review
Antagonistic Yeasts
Antagonistic yeasts (also known as biocontrol yeasts) are promising substitutes for chemical fungicides in the control of postharvest decay owing to their widespread distribution, antagonistic ability, environmentally friendly nature, and safety for humans.
  • 1.9K
  • 26 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Endogenous Retroviruses Activity in Mouse
Endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) are genetic elements resulting from relics of ancestral infection of germline cells, now recognized in human as cofactors in the etiology of several complex diseases as neurodevelopmental disorders. Autism spectrum disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorders, and schizophrenia are neurodevelopmental disorders, currently attributed to the interplay among genetic vulnerability, environmental risk factors, and maternal immune activation. The role of ERVs in human embryogenesis, their intrinsic responsiveness to external stimuli, and the interaction with the immune system support the involvement of ERVs in the derailed neurodevelopmental process. Although definitive proofs that ERVs are involved in neurobehavioral alterations are still lacking, both preclinical models and human studies indicate that the abnormal expression of ERVs could represent a neurodevelopmental disorders-associated biological trait.
  • 1.9K
  • 30 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Proteomics
Global proteomic tools, such as liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight, are used to profile the sperm proteins to identify the molecular pathways that are defective in infertile men. This article discusses the use of proteomic techniques to analyze the spermatozoa proteome. It also highlights the general steps involved in global proteomic approaches including bioinformatic analysis of the sperm proteomic data.
  • 1.9K
  • 27 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Cellular Neurobiology of Psychedelics
Psychedelic substances have gained significant attention in recent years for their potential therapeutic effects on various psychiatric disorders.
  • 1.9K
  • 07 Nov 2023
Topic Review
GID/CTLH E3 Ligase Complexes
Multi-subunit E3 ligases facilitate ubiquitin transfer by coordinating various substrate receptor subunits with a single catalytic center. Small molecules inducing targeted protein degradation have exploited such complexes, proving successful as therapeutics against previously undruggable targets. The C-terminal to LisH (CTLH) complex, also called the glucose-induced degradation deficient (GID) complex, is a multi-subunit E3 ligase complex highly conserved from Saccharomyces cerevisiae to humans, with roles in fundamental pathways controlling homeostasis and development in several species.
  • 1.9K
  • 09 Jun 2022
Topic Review
B Cell Lymphoma 2 and Cancer Therapy
Bcl-2 is an anti-apoptotic protein that is associated with several cancer progression. Bcl-2 was the first protein to be documented among the Bcl-2 family proteins. It was the first gene exhibited to promote prolonged cell survival and growth rather than enhanced proliferation, which revealed that inhibition of cell death is vital in tumorigenesis.
  • 1.9K
  • 12 Nov 2021
Topic Review
The Biological Functions of Glutathione
Glutathione (GSH) is a ubiquitous tripeptide that is biosynthesized in situ at high concentrations (1–5 mM) and involved in the regulation of cellular homeostasis via multiple mechanisms.
  • 1.9K
  • 07 Nov 2023
Topic Review
Long Non-coding RNAs
Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) constitute important group of RNA molecules with various biological activities. Despite significant progress in the understanding of lncRNAs, pivotal functions of this class of molecules are emerging. Among these, role in DNA damage response (DDR) seems to be fundamental. Various lncRNAs were found to modulate DNA repair on different levels: through TP53 activity modulation at transcriptional and translational level, through recruitment of chromatin remodelers that modulate the access of DNA repair proteins to the site of damage, and by working as scaffolds and mediators for DNA repair proteins, and acting as sponges for various DNA-damage-associated miRNAs. Considering that, lncRNAs involvement in DDR constitute interesting field of research with numerous future applications, such as development of new targeted anticancer therapies. 
  • 1.9K
  • 22 Jan 2021
Topic Review
Sphingosine Kinase 1
Sphingosine kinase (SPHK) catalyses the ATP-dependent phosphorylation of sphingosine to form sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P), which acts as an intracellular second messenger and extracellular ligand for specific receptors. S1P can be released through specific transporters to act as a ligand for the family of G protein-coupled S1P receptors 1 to 5 (S1P1 to S1P5) and regulates a wide range of biological effects including transformation and cancer cell survival. S1P levels are tightly regulated by the balance between synthesis by SPHK, reversible conversion to sphingosine by specific S1P phosphatases (SPP1 and SPP2), and degradation by S1P lyase. 
  • 1.9K
  • 27 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Extracellular Hemoglobin
Hemoglobin is essential for maintaining cellular bioenergetic homeostasis through its ability to bind and transport oxygen to the tissues. Besides its ability to transport oxygen, hemoglobin within erythrocytes plays an important role in cellular signaling and modulation of the inflammatory response either directly by binding gas molecules (NO, CO, and CO2) or indirectly by acting as their source. Once hemoglobin reaches the extracellular environment, it acquires several secondary functions affecting surrounding cells and tissues. By modulating the cell functions, this macromolecule becomes involved in the etiology and pathophysiology of various diseases. The up-to-date results disclose the impact of extracellular hemoglobin on (i) redox status, (ii) inflammatory state of cells, (iii) proliferation and chemotaxis, (iv) mitochondrial dynamic, (v) chemoresistance and (vi) differentiation.
  • 1.9K
  • 06 Dec 2022
Topic Review
Therapeutic miRNA-Enriched Extracellular Vesicles
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are 50–300 nm vesicles secreted by eukaryotic cells. They can carry cargo (including miRNA) from the donor cell to the recipient cell. miRNAs in EVs can change the translational profile of the recipient cell and modulate cellular morphology. This endogenous mechanism has attracted the attention of the drug-delivery community in the last few years. EVs can be enriched with exogenous therapeutic miRNAs and used for treatment of diseases by targeting pathological recipient cells. However, there are some obstacles that need to be addressed before introducing therapeutic miRNA-enriched EVs in clinics.
  • 1.9K
  • 19 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Aspergillus
Aspergilli have been widely used in the production of organic acids, enzymes, and secondary metabolites for almost a century. Today, several GRAS (generally recognized as safe) Aspergillus species hold a central role in the field of industrial biotechnology with multiple profitable applications. Since the 1990s, research has focused on the use of Aspergillus species in the development of cell factories for the production of recombinant proteins mainly due to their natively high secretion capacity. Advances in the Aspergillus-specific molecular toolkit and combination of several engineering strategies (e.g., protease-deficient strains and fusions to carrier proteins) resulted in strains able to generate high titers of recombinant fungal proteins
  • 1.9K
  • 09 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Membrane Lipid Switches
Peripheral membrane proteins are required for signal propagation upon ligand-induced receptor activation at the plasma membrane. The translocation of this amphitropic peripheral proteins from or to the plasma membrane enables signal cascade propagation into the cells. This translocation greatly depends on the membrane’s lipid composition and, consequently, regulation of the lipid bilayer emerges as a novel therapeutic strategy. Indeed, relevant changes in membrane lipids can induce massive translocation of peripheral signaling proteins from or to the plasma membrane, which controls how cells behave. We called these changes “lipid switches”, as they alter the cell’s status (e.g., proliferation, differentiation, death, etc.) in response to the modulation of membrane lipids. This discovery enables therapeutic interventions focused on modifying the bilayer’s lipids, an approach known as membrane-lipid therapy (MLT) or melitherapy.
  • 1.9K
  • 28 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Pharmacological Activation of AMPK
The AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is the central component of a signaling pathway that is conserved in essentially all eukaryotes, the exceptions being a few parasites (e.g., Plasmodium falciparum, the causative agent of malaria) that spend most of their life cycle living inside other eukaryotic cells, in which case the host cell provides AMPK and the parasite may therefore have been able to dispense with it. AMPK is activated by various stresses that act via both classical (canonical) and non-classical (non-canonical) pathways. Pharmacological activation of AMPK can also be achieved via a range of mechanisms. Here, we enumerate the different classes of AMPK activators and describe their mechanisms of action.
  • 1.9K
  • 27 Jan 2021
Topic Review
Osteosarcoma Pathogenesis
Osteosarcoma (OS) is thought to originate from mesenchymal stem cells and is the primary malignant bone tumor that most commonly affects children, adolescents, and young adults.
  • 1.9K
  • 10 Feb 2021
Topic Review
Biodiversity of Citrus
Citrus, belonging to the Rutaceae family, is a commercial fruit worldwide, and it is mainly recognized for its nutritional, anti-oxidant, and significant medicinal properties. Citruses are a group of multifaceted fruit crops with a rich traditional knowledge, deeply rooted in ethnic culture, and the fruits have been considered to be health-protecting and health-promoting food supplements since ancient times.
  • 1.9K
  • 16 May 2023
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