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Topic Review
Biography
Peer Reviewed Entry
Video Entry
Topic Review
NRF2 Signaling Pathway in Cancer
Nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) and its major negative modulator Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (KEAP1) are main players of the cellular defense mechanisms against internal and external cell stressors.
1.1K
26 May 2021
Topic Review
Disordered Proteins and Dynamic Interactions
Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) or regions (IDRs), compared to the well-structural proteins, do not have stable tertiary structures under physiological conditions, and even remain dynamic in specific complexes and functional assemblies. It is now recognized that they are highly prevalent and play important roles in biology and human diseases due to the presence of many representative conformational states and potential dynamic interactions, which requires computer simulations for describing disordered protein ensembles and dynamic interactions involved in biological functions, diseases, and therapeutics.
1.1K
27 Oct 2021
Topic Review
Microglia in Prion Diseases
Prion diseases are rare transmissible neurodegenerative disorders caused by the accumulation of a misfolded isoform (PrPSc) of the cellular prion protein (PrPC) in the central nervous system (CNS). Neuropathological hallmarks of prion diseases are neuronal loss, astrogliosis, and enhanced microglial proliferation and activation. As immune cells of the CNS, microglia participate both in the maintenance of the normal brain physiology and in driving the neuroinflammatory response to acute or chronic (e.g., neurodegenerative disorders) insults. Microglia involvement in prion diseases, however, is far from being clearly understood.
1.1K
20 Nov 2020
Topic Review
Curcumin in Chronic Hepatitis
Curcumin, as a natural product, is inexpensive, without side effects, and can stimulate very well certain areas of the human immune system. The cytotoxicity of curcumin as photosensitizer could be expanded by the intravenous blue laser blood irradiation (IVBLBI) or photobiomodulation in patients with chronic hepatitis B infection, Hepatitis B e-antigen (HBeAg)-positive, noncirrhotic, but nonresponsive to classical therapy.
1.1K
26 May 2021
Topic Review
Leukaemic Stem Cells
Hematopoietic stem cells ‘choose’ a cell lineage from all options to develop towards a mature blood cell type and they are a mixture of cells with different lineage signatures. However, hematopoietic stem cells and their progeny retain enough versatility to ‘step sideways’ into a different pathway. Most, if not all cancers, arise from tissue-specific stem cells that have accumulated oncogenic insults to their genome and epigenome. We believe that the first oncogenic insult to a normal hematopoietic stem cell restricts the resulting leukaemia stem cell and its progeny to a single pathway. We hypothesized this from studies of transgenic mice in which we restricted oncogene expression to hematopoietic stem cells, via the Sca-1 promotor, and this led to lineage-restricted leukaemias.
1.1K
30 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Terpenoid Lactones
Terpenoids with lactone moieties have been indicated to possess various biological activities. Certain terpenoid lactones exist in nature, in plants and animals, but they can also be obtained by chemical synthesis. Terpenoids possessing lactone moieties are known for their cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anticancer, and antimalarial activities.
1.1K
31 May 2021
Topic Review
Calprotectin As a Drug Target
Calprotectin (CP), a heterodimer of S100A8 and S100A9 EF-hand calcium-binding proteins, is an integral part of the innate immune response. CP exploits the metal requirement of pathogens in the host immune response through the chelation of transition metals, starving pathogens of these nutrients. In addition, CP plays a role in the inflammatory response by acting as a ligand for cell surface receptors that signal through the NF-κB signaling pathway.
1.1K
21 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Prebiotic Synthesis of Ribose
Prebiotic reactions describe how biomolecules such as ribose, was synthesized and protected from degradation, nucleobases generated from HCN oligomers and other derivatives including prebiotic RNA (preRNA) were formed at the given circumstances. Prebiotic conditions remained a subject of debate, but a reasonable aspect to consider is that tetrahedral structure shaping biomolecules consisted almost exclusively of elements belonging to the CHNOPS group in the periodic table, where capital letters correspond to the elements of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus and sulfur. Intermediary steps in the formose reaction network contain aldol condensation, aldose-ketose isomerizations, producing C3 - C6 carbohydrates including pentoses. The generation of genetic material could have developed from the formose reaction to ribose and further to non-genetic prebiotic RNA (preRNA) [1-9]. Consecutive reactions of this pathway are not known. Those known abiotic chemical reactions were selected that could have resulted in preRNA and genetic RNA (genRNA). Processes generating primitive life on Earth consisted of three successive stages: i) abiotic reactions generating organic molecules, ii) formation of molecular aggregates showing primitive metabolism, iii) development of primitive cells and organisms resembling those that exist today. Only cellular life is known that adapted in every aspect to conditions that exist only on Earth. Here only the 1st stage, the abiotic phase is dealt with. Prebiotic conditions remained subjects of debate ranging from a strong reductive to a strong oxidative climate. Our theory is based on a mildly reductive atmosphere that could have existed at the beginning of life some 4.3 -4.5 billion years ago, much before the Great Oxidation Event that took place much later 2.3 - 2.5 billion years ago. During the abiotic synthesis of organic molecules, ribose was selected as the precursor to life. .
1.1K
15 Jun 2021
Topic Review
LncRNA–Protein Interaction
Epigenetic dysregulation is an important feature for cancer initiation and progression. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are transcripts that stably present as RNA forms with no translated protein and have lengths larger than 200 nucleotides. LncRNA can epigenetically regulate either oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes. Nowadays, the combined research of lncRNA plus protein analysis is gaining more attention. LncRNA controls gene expression directly by binding to transcription factors of target genes and indirectly by complexing with other proteins to bind to target proteins and cause protein degradation, reduced protein stability, or interference with the binding of other proteins. Various studies have indicated that lncRNA contributes to cancer development by modulating genes epigenetically and studies have been done to determine which proteins are combined with lncRNA and contribute to cancer development. In this review, we look in depth at the epigenetic regulatory function of lncRNAs that are capable of complexing with other proteins in cancer development.
1.1K
09 Nov 2020
Topic Review
Parkinson’s genes in neurological disorders
Neurodevelopmental and late-onset neurodegenerative disorders present as separate entities that are clinically and neuropathologically quite distinct. However, recent evidence has highlighted surprising commonalities and converging features at the clinical, genomic, and molecular level between these two disease spectra. This is particularly striking in the context of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD). Genetic causes and risk factors play a central role in disease pathophysiology and enable the identification of overlapping mechanisms and pathways. Several genes and genomic regions are highlighted, including SNCA (alpha-synuclein), PARK2 (parkin RBR E3 ubiquitin protein ligase), chromosome 22q11 deletion/DiGeorge region, and FMR1 (fragile X mental retardation 1) repeat expansion, which influence the development of both ASD and PD, with converging features related to synaptic function and neurogenesis. Both PD and ASD display alterations and impairments at the synaptic level, representing early and key disease phenotypes, which support the hypothesis of converging mechanisms between the two types of diseases. Therefore, understanding the underlying molecular mechanisms might inform on common targets and therapeutic approaches.
1.1K
24 Aug 2020
Topic Review
Deubiquitinase (DUB)
Ubiquitination is one of the most important regulatory machinery of post-translational modification of intracellular proteins. The cellular reversible ubiquitination regulatory machinery consisting of ubiquitinating cassette and deubiquitinating enzymes can change intracellular homeostasis to modulate cell fate. Modifiers involved in these regulations include monomers of ubiquitin (Ub), homopolymeric and heteropolymeric Ub chains. Ub protein, is a highly conserved small protein consisting of 76 amino acids throughout eukaryotes.
1.1K
01 Nov 2020
Topic Review
RET Receptor Tyrosine Kinase
Rearranged during transfection (RET) is the tyrosine kinase receptor that under normal circumstances binds ligand at the cell surface and mediates various essential roles in a variety of cellular processes such as proliferation, differentiation, survival, migration, and metabolism. RET plays a pivotal role in the development of both peripheral and central nervous systems. RET is expressed from early stages of embryogenesis and remains expressed throughout all life stages. Mutations either activating or inhibiting RET result in several aggressive diseases, namely cancer and Hirschsprung disease. However, the physiological ligand-dependent activation of RET receptor is important for the survival and maintenance of several neuronal populations, appetite, and weight gain control, thus providing an opportunity for the development of disease-modifying therapeutics against neurodegeneration and obesity. In this review, we describe the structure of RET, its signaling, and its role in both normal development as well as in developmental disorders. We highlight the differences in the signaling and outcomes of constitutive and ligand-induced RET activation. Finally, we review the data on recently developed small molecular weight RET agonists and their potential for the treatment of various diseases.
1.1K
26 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Legionella
Legionella are Gram-stain-negative rods associated with water environments: either natural or man-made systems. The inhalation of aerosols containing Legionella bacteria leads to the development of a severe pneumonia termed Legionnaires’ disease.
1.1K
20 Oct 2021
Topic Review
Classification and Biosynthesis of Flavonoids
Flavonoids are mainly found in plant cell vacuoles in the form of C-glycosides or O-glycosides. The basic molecular structure of flavonoids depends upon their basic C6–C3–C6 skeleton. Flavonoids are classified into seven subclasses based on modifications to their basic skeletons; these subclasses include flavones, flavanones, isoflavones, flavonols, chalcones, flavanols, and anthocyanins.
1.1K
04 Jul 2023
Topic Review
Cancer Cell Fusion
"A major challenge in treating cancer is posed by intratumor heterogeneity, with different sub-populations of cancer cells within the same tumor exhibiting therapy resistance through different biological processes. These include therapy-induced dormancy, apoptosis reversal (anastasis), and cell fusion. Unfortunately, such responses are often overlooked or misinterpreted as “death” in commonly used preclinical assays.This entry highlights the dark side of cell fusion in metastasis and therapy resistance of solid tumors."
1.1K
27 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Plant-Endophyte Interaction
Plants interact with diverse microbial communities and share complex relationships with each other. The intimate association between microbes and their host mutually benefit each other and provide stability against various biotic and abiotic stresses to plants. Endophytes are heterogeneous groups of microbes that live inside the host tissue without showing any apparent sign of infection.
1.1K
06 Sep 2022
Topic Review
TRPM7
The transient receptor potential cation channel, subfamily M, member 7 (TRPM7) is a ubiquitously expressed membrane protein, which forms a cation channel linked to a cytosolic protein kinase.
1.0K
02 Nov 2020
Topic Review
Toll-Like Receptor 4
Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are type I transmembrane glycoproteins belonging to the complex pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) expressed in immune and non-immune cells, including neurons and glia, which are involved in the regulation of innate immune and inflammatory responses. The TLR family comprises 11 members (TLR1–TLR11) in human and 12 (TLR1–TLR9, TLR11–TLR13) in mouse. TLR4 is one of the best characterized TLRs that surveys for the presence of structural motifs in a wide array of invading microorganisms, named pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), and endogenous damage or danger molecular patterns (DAMPs), also known as alarmins, released by damaged cells and injured tissues or derived from apoptotic and necrotic cells. Activation of TLR4 induces the downstream start of inflammasome pathways which results in the release of a plethora of pro-inflammatory cytokines, Type I interferons (IFNs) and other inflammatory mediators.
1.0K
28 Mar 2023
Topic Review
Biogenesis and Composition of RBC-Derived Extracellular Vesicles
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are cell-derived membrane vesicles that represent an endogenous mechanism for intercellular communication. The original classification distinguished exosomes (nano-sized vesicles with a diameter in the range of 30 to 120 nm), originating from the formation of multivesicular bodies, microvesicles, which are formed by cell membrane budding, and apoptotic bodies, derived from dying cells.
1.0K
20 Feb 2023
Topic Review
Interplay between Polyphenols and Lysyl Oxidase Enzymes
Collagen, the most abundant structural protein found in mammals, plays a vital role as a constituent of the extracellular matrix (ECM) that surrounds cells. Collagen fibrils are strengthened through the formation of covalent cross-links, which involve complex enzymatic and non-enzymatic reactions. Lysyl oxidase (LOX) is responsible for catalyzing the oxidative deamination of lysine and hydroxylysine residues, resulting in the production of aldehydes, allysine and hydroxyallysine. These intermediates undergo spontaneous condensation reactions, leading to the formation of immature cross-links, which are the initial step in the development of mature covalent cross-links. Additionally, non-enzymatic glycation contributes to the formation of abnormal cross-linking in collagen fibrils. During glycation, specific lysine and arginine residues in collagen are modified by reducing sugars, leading to the creation of Advanced Glycation End-products (AGEs). These AGEs have been associated with changes in the mechanical properties of collagen fibers.
1.0K
13 Jul 2023
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