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Topic Review
Quiescent Cancer Cells
Quiescent cancer cells (QCCs) are cancer cells that are reversibly suspended in G0 phase with the ability to re-enter the cell cycle and initiate tumor growth, and, ultimately, cancer recurrence and metastasis.
  • 1.8K
  • 23 Mar 2021
Topic Review
Yeast Cells in Microencapsulation
Yeasts are uni/multicellular eukaryotic organisms, originally thought to be ascomycetous fungi, but later recognized to also comprise basidiomycetous organisms; more typically, yeasts reproduce asexually (rapid duplication) but can also adopt sexual reproduction.
  • 1.8K
  • 02 Jul 2021
Topic Review
Replication Protein A
Replication protein A (RPA) is a heterotrimeric protein complex and the main single-stranded DNA (ssDNA)-binding protein in eukaryotes. RPA has key functions in most of the DNA-associated metabolic pathways and DNA damage signalling. Its high affinity for ssDNA helps to stabilise ssDNA structures and protect the DNA sequence from nuclease attacks. RPA consists of multiple DNA-binding domains which are oligonucleotide/oligosaccharide-binding (OB)-folds that are responsible for DNA binding and interactions with proteins. These RPA–ssDNA and RPA–protein interactions are crucial for DNA replication, DNA repair, DNA damage signalling, and the conservation of the genetic information of cells. Proteins such as ATR use RPA to locate to regions of DNA damage for DNA damage signalling.
  • 1.8K
  • 18 Feb 2024
Topic Review
Telocytes
Telocytes/CD34+ stromal cells in the normal and pathological peripheral nervous system (PNS). We consider the following aspects: (A) general characteristics of telocytes; (B) the presence, characteristics and arrangement of telocytes in the normal PNS, including i) nerve epi-perineurium and endoneurium (e.g., telopodes extending into the endoneurial space); ii) sensory nerve endings (e.g., Meissner and Pacinian corpuscles, and neuromuscular spindles); iii) ganglia; and iv) the intestinal autonomic nervous system; (C) the telocytes in the pathologic PNS, encompassing (i) hyperplastic neurogenic processes (neurogenic hyperplasia of the appendix and gallbladder), highly demonstrative of telocyte characteristics and relations, (ii) PNS tumours, such as neurofibroma, schwannoma and granular cell tumour. 
  • 1.8K
  • 26 Oct 2020
Topic Review
The Synthesis Pathway of L-Theanine in Microorganisms
Theanine, a representative non-protein amino acid in tea, is one of the umami components of tea and a major factor in the formation of the unique flavor of tea leaves. In addition to its delicious taste, theanine has a variety of health functions and is used in the food supplement, pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and cosmetic industries. 
  • 1.8K
  • 30 Jun 2023
Topic Review
The Dual Role of Reactive Oxygen Species
The phrase “reactive oxygen species” (ROS) is commonly used to describe the highly reactive free radicals and molecules originating from molecular oxygen. This so-called bi-radical state of oxygen explains its reactivity: one of its electrons can be paired with an external electron with an antiparallel spin, resulting in the production of the highly reactive superoxide radical (O2·−). Since the superoxide radical is weakly basic and highly soluble in water at physiological pH, cellular membranes are relatively impermeable to it. However, O2·− can be converted into membrane-permeable H2O2 by superoxide dismutase (SOD) or protonated to hydroperoxyl radicals (HOO·). Furthermore, O2·− reacts with H2O2 through the Haber–Weiss reaction using iron catalysis, resulting in the formation of highly reactive and cytotoxic hydroxyl radicals (HO·). Furthermore, during the hydroperoxide and polyunsaturated fatty acid metabolism, other types of ROS, namely the peroxyl (ROO·) and alkoxyl (RO·) radicals, are formed as intermediates. On the one hand, high amounts of ROS may damage biomolecules due to their high reactivity. On the other hand—at strictly regulated levels—ROS are essential to maintaining the redox homeostasis of the cells, and they are engaged in many cellular signalling pathways, so their total elimination by the antioxidant system is not expedient.
  • 1.8K
  • 13 May 2022
Topic Review
Structure, Expression Regulation, and Subcellular Localization of USP16
Ubiquitin-specific peptidase 16 (USP16) is a deubiquitinase that plays a role in the regulation of gene expression, cell cycle progression, and various other functions. It was originally identified as the major deubiquitinase for histone H2A and has since been found to deubiquitinate a range of other substrates, including proteins from both the cytoplasm and nucleus. USP16 is phosphorylated when cells enter mitosis and dephosphorylated during the metaphase/anaphase transition. While much of USP16 is localized in the cytoplasm, separating the enzyme from its substrates is considered an important regulatory mechanism. Some of the functions that USP16 has been linked to include DNA damage repair, immune disease, tumorigenesis, protein synthesis, coronary artery health, and male infertility. The strong connection to immune response and the fact that multiple oncogene products are substrates of USP16 suggests that USP16 may be a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of certain human diseases.
  • 1.8K
  • 06 Apr 2023
Topic Review
Protein Glutathionylation and Glutaredoxin in Neurodegenerative Diseases
The brain is highly sensitive to oxidative stress due to its high oxygen consumption, abundance of unsaturated fatty acids which are prone to oxidation, and low antioxidant levels. It is a metabolically active and a high energy demanding organ that relies heavily on mitochondria for its energy needs. Majority of oxygen consumed by mitochondria during oxidative phosphorylation is coupled to ATP synthesis while ~4% contributes to the generation of superoxides which are further metabolized to reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS modify proteins causing functional and structural damage to biomolecules. Prolonged exposure to reactive oxygen species (ROS) also damages DNA, mitochondrial membranes, and lipids, impairing its metabolic functions including synthesis of ATP, fatty acid oxidation and metabolism of essential biomolecules.
  • 1.8K
  • 16 Dec 2022
Topic Review
G-Quadruplexes: Emerging Anticancer Roles
G-quadruplexes, a family of (thermodynamically and kinetically stable) tetraplex helices, are non-canonical secondary structures derived from guanine (G)-rich sequences of nucleic acids. G-quadruplexes were found to occur in functionally-important regions of the human genome, including the telomere tandem sequences, several proto-oncogene promoters and other regulatory regions, ribosomal DNA (rDNA), as well as mRNA sequences encoding for proteins with roles in tumorigenesis, thus establishing a clear connection between G-quadruplexes and known hallmarks of cancer. Stabilization of G-quadruplexes belonging to the above categories, by means of small-molecule intervention, has been correlated with a range of anticancer effects, which has led to classifying G-quadruplexes as novel potential targets in anticancer research. The most common ways in which G-quadruplexes are now understood to serve in an anticancer capacity are presented herein.
  • 1.8K
  • 03 Mar 2021
Topic Review
Cytoskeleton
Cell migration is an essential process from embryogenesis to cell death. This is tightly regulated by numerous proteins that help in proper functioning of the cell. In diseases like cancer, this process is deregulated and helps in the dissemination of tumor cells from the primary site to secondary sites initiating the process of metastasis. For metastasis to be efficient, cytoskeletal components like actin, myosin, and intermediate filaments and their associated proteins should co-ordinate in an orderly fashion leading to the formation of many cellular protrusions-like lamellipodia and filopodia and invadopodia. Knowledge of this process is the key to control metastasis of cancer cells that leads to death in 90% of the patients. The focus of this review is giving an overall understanding of these process, concentrating on the changes in protein association and regulation and how the tumor cells use it to their advantage. Since the expression of cytoskeletal proteins can be directly related to the degree of malignancy, knowledge about these proteins will provide powerful tools to improve both cancer prognosis and treatment.
  • 1.8K
  • 20 Apr 2023
Topic Review
Lamin-A/C expression in immune cells
Nuclear envelope lamin A/C type-V intermediate filaments are a major constituent of the mammalian nuclear lamina, a dense fibrous protein meshwork located in the nuclear interior. Lamin A/C proteins control nuclear mechanics and structure and modify cellular signaling, gene transcription, epigenetic regulation, cell cycle progression, cell differentiation, and cell migration. The immune system is constituted by the innate and adaptive immunity. Innate immune response is mediated by myeloid cells such as neutrophils, macrophages, and dendritic cells. These cells produce a rapid and nonspecific response through phagocytosis, cytokine production, and complement activation, as well as activating adaptive immunity. Specific adaptive immune response is provoked by antigen presentation by antigen presenting cells (APCs) and the cytokine milieu, and is mainly mediated by the cellular functions of T cells and the production of antibodies by B cells. Unlike most cell types, immune cells regulate their lamin A/C protein expression relatively rapidly to exert their functions, with expression increasing in macrophages, reducing in neutrophils, and increasing transiently in T cells. In this article, it is discussed and summarized studies that have addressed the regulation of the expression of lamin A/C in cells of the innate and adaptive immune system.
  • 1.8K
  • 27 Oct 2020
Topic Review
ANO1 in Cystic Fibrosis
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common of rare hereditary diseases in Caucasians, and it is estimated to affect 75,000 patients globally. CF is a complex disease due to the multiplicity of mutations found in the CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene causing the CFTR protein to become dysfunctional. Although CFTR is the main chloride channel in the lungs, others could, e.g., anoctamin-1 (ANO1 or TMEM16A), compensate for the deficiency of CFTR. 
  • 1.8K
  • 26 Oct 2021
Topic Review
NcRNAs with Regulatory Functions
Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) play prominent roles in the regulation of gene expression via their interactions with other biological molecules such as proteins and nucleic acids.
  • 1.8K
  • 12 Nov 2021
Topic Review
High-Value Bioactive Primary Metabolites of Microalgae
Microalgae is an aquatic microorganism with a plethora of diverse bioactive compounds including phenolics, carotenoids, vitamin B12 and peptides. Microalgal bioactive compounds have been shown to possess positive health effects such as antihypertensive, anti-obesity, antioxidative, anticancer and cardiovascular protection.
  • 1.8K
  • 08 Jul 2023
Topic Review
Astrocyte Pathology in Neurodevelopmental Disorders
The discovery in the last decade of unique astroglial features that include their role in synaptic plasticity and memory function has broadened and refurbished the conception of brain function in health and disease. Astrocytes are both necessary and sufficient for memory function, and contribute to the pathophysiology of cognitive and intellectual disability disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, Fragile X syndrome (FXS), or Down syndrome (DS). We review some of the most relevant studies demonstrating that astrocytes are involved in the synaptic pathology of the two most common genetic forms of intellectual disability (FXS and DS).
  • 1.8K
  • 11 Dec 2020
Topic Review
AB5 Derivatives of Cyclotriphosphazene
AB5 compounds issued from the reactivity of hexachlorocyclotriphosphazene are relatively easy to obtain using two ways: either first the reaction of one chloride with one reagent, followed by the reaction of the five remaining Cl with another reagent, or first the reaction of five chlorides with one reagent, followed by the reaction of the single remaining Cl with another reagent. This particular property led to the use of such compounds as core for the synthesis of dendrons (dendritic wedges), using the five functions for growing the dendritic branches. The single function can be used for the synthesis of diverse types of dendrimers (onion peel, dumbbell-shape, Janus), for covalent or non-covalent grafting to solid surfaces, providing nanomaterials, for grafting a fluorophore, especially for studying biological mechanisms, or for self-associations to get micelles.
  • 1.8K
  • 04 Aug 2021
Topic Review
G Protein-Coupled Receptor with the Aging-Related Mechanisms
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) represent one of the most functionally diverse classes of transmembrane proteins. GPCRs and their associated signaling systems have been linked to nearly every physiological, and also pathophysiological, process. G protein-coupled receptor 19 (GPR19), is a novel orphan GPCR that likely represents an important new target for novel remedial strategies for pathological disease conditions associated with aging-related cellular and tissue damage.
  • 1.8K
  • 16 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Multi-Omics Integration for Design of Novel Therapies
Multi-omics is a cutting-edge approach that combines data from different biomolecular levels, such as DNA, RNA, proteins, metabolites, and epigenetic marks, to obtain a holistic view of how living systems work and interact. Multi-omics has been used for various purposes in biomedical research, such as identifying new diseases, discovering new drugs, personalizing treatments, and optimizing therapies.
  • 1.8K
  • 06 Nov 2023
Topic Review
Membrane Proteins in Diseases and Potential as Biomarkers
Many biological processes (physiological or pathological) are relevant to membrane proteins (MPs), which account for almost 30% of the total of human proteins. As such, MPs can serve as predictive molecular biomarkers for disease diagnosis and prognosis. 
  • 1.8K
  • 11 May 2023
Topic Review
Chemical and Cell-Based Antioxidant Assays
Antioxidants remain interesting molecules of choice for suppression of the toxic effects of free radicals in foods and human systems. The current practice involves the use of mainly synthetic molecules as potent antioxidant agents. However, due to the potential negative impact on human health, there is an intensive effort within the research community to develop natural alternatives with similar antioxidant efficacy but without the negative side effects of synthetic molecules. Still, the successful development of new molecules depends on the use of reliable chemical or cell culture assays to screen antioxidant properties. Chemical antioxidant assays include the determination of scavenging ability against free radicals such as DPPH, superoxide anion radicals, hydroxyl radicals, hydrogen peroxide, and nitric oxide. Other antioxidant tests include the ability of compounds to bind and sequester prooxidant metal cations, reduce ferric iron, and attenuate the rate of lipid oxidation. Ex vivo tests utilize cell cultures to confirm entry of the molecules into cells and the ability to quench synthetic intracellular free radicals or to stimulate the increased biosynthesis of endogenous antioxidants.
  • 1.8K
  • 19 Aug 2021
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