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
Ion Channels of Nociception
Acute pain plays the vital role protecting our health whereas chronic and pathological pain are debilitating conditions.  However molecular mechanisms of pain which are the keys for pain relief remain largely unaddressed. Nevertheless, new molecular actors with important roles in pain mechanisms are being characterized, such as the mechanosensitive Piezo ion channels. This study presents modern trends and promising advances in the field of molecular mechanisms of pain. 
  • 1.4K
  • 24 Mar 2021
Topic Review
Biosynthesis of Non-Canonical Amino Acids
The functional pool of canonical amino acids (cAAs) has been enriched through the emergence of non-canonical amino acids (ncAAs). NcAAs play a crucial role in the production of various pharmaceuticals. The biosynthesis of ncAAs has emerged as an alternative to traditional chemical synthesis due to its environmental friendliness and high efficiency.
  • 1.4K
  • 10 Oct 2023
Topic Review
Decoding CD271 in melanoma
The evolution of melanoma, the most aggressive type of skin cancer, is triggered bydriver mutations that are acquired in the coding regions of particularly BRAF (rat fibrosarcomaserine/threonine kinase, isoform B) or NRAS (neuroblastoma-type ras sarcoma virus) in melanocytes.Although driver mutations strongly determine tumor progression, additional factors are likelyrequired and prerequisite for melanoma formation. Melanocytes are formed during vertebratedevelopment in a well-controlled di erentiation process of multipotent neural crest stem cells(NCSCs). However, mechanisms determining the properties of melanocytes and melanoma cellsare still not well understood. The nerve growth factor receptor CD271 is likewise expressed inmelanocytes, melanoma cells and NCSCs and programs the maintenance of a stem-like and migratoryphenotype via a comprehensive network of associated genes. Moreover, CD271 regulates phenotypeswitching, a process that enables the rapid and reversible conversion of proliferative into invasive ornon-stem-like states into stem-like states by yet largely unknown mechanisms. Here, we summarizecurrent findings about CD271-associated mechanisms in melanoma cells and illustrate the role ofCD271 for melanoma cell migration and metastasis, phenotype-switching, resistance to therapeuticinterventions, and the maintenance of an NCSC-like state.
  • 1.4K
  • 28 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Differential Inhibitors of Aldose Reductase
Aldose reductase, classified within the aldo-keto reductase family as AKR1B1, is an NADPH dependent enzyme that catalyzes the reduction of hydrophilic as well as hydrophobic aldehydes. AKR1B1 is the first enzyme of the so-called polyol pathway that allows the conversion of glucose into sorbitol, which in turn is oxidized to fructose by sorbitol dehydrogenase. The activation of the polyol pathway in hyperglycemic conditions is generally accepted as the event that is responsible for a series of long-term complications of diabetes such as retinopathy, cataract, nephropathy and neuropathy. The role of AKR1B1 in the onset of diabetic complications has made this enzyme the target for the development of molecules capable of inhibiting its activity.
  • 1.4K
  • 11 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Biological Activity of Coriander Essential Oil
There has been a growing demand for the use of naturally-derived compounds in medicine, food preservation, pesticides, and herbicides. The coriander essential oils, produced as secondary metabolites, contain single or groups of phytocompounds that possess pharmacological activities such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, and insecticidal properties. The biological activities and therapeutic effects of coriander essential oil make it a suitable agent for treating bacterial and fungal infections in plants and animals, and for use in the pharmaceutical and food industries.
  • 1.4K
  • 12 Jun 2023
Topic Review
The Molecular Basis of Fragile X-Premutation-Associated Conditions
The premutation of the fragile X messenger ribonucleoprotein 1 (FMR1) gene is characterized by an expansion of the CGG trinucleotide repeats (55 to 200 CGGs) in the 5’ untranslated region and increased levels of FMR1 mRNA. Molecular mechanisms leading to fragile X-premutation-associated conditions (FXPAC) include cotranscriptional R-loop formations, FMR1 mRNA toxicity through both RNA gelation into nuclear foci and sequestration of various CGG-repeat-binding proteins, and the repeat-associated non-AUG (RAN)-initiated translation of potentially toxic proteins.
  • 1.4K
  • 28 Sep 2023
Topic Review
Signal Transduction by VIP and PACAP Receptors
Homeostasis of the human immune system is regulated by many cellular components, including two neuropeptides, VIP and PACAP, primary stimuli for three class B G protein-coupled receptors, VPAC1, VPAC2, and PAC1. Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) regulate intestinal motility and secretion and influence the functioning of the endocrine and immune systems. Inhibition of VIP and PACAP receptors is an emerging concept for new pharmacotherapies for chronic inflammation and cancer, while activation of their receptors provides neuroprotection. Major molecular switches of VPAC1, VPAC2, and PAC1 may act as triggers for receptor activation and compare them with similar non-covalent interactions changing upon activation that were observed for other GPCRs. Interhelical interactions in VIP and PACAP receptors that are important for agonist binding and/or activation provide a molecular basis for the design of novel selective drugs demonstrating anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and neuroprotective effects. As to the genetic variants of VIP, PACAP, and their receptors on signalling mediated by endogenous agonists, this sequence diversity resulting from gene splicing has a significant impact on agonist selectivity and potency as well as on the signalling properties of VIP and PACAP receptors. 
  • 1.4K
  • 28 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Multivariate Analysis
Multivariate analysis (MA) is becoming a fundamental tool for processing in an efficient way the large amount of data collected in X-ray diffraction experiments. Multi-wedge data collections can increase the data quality in case of tiny protein crystals; in situ or operando setups allow investi-gating changes on powder samples occurring during repeated fast measurements; pump and probe experiments at X-ray free-electron laser (XFEL) sources supply structural characterization of fast photo-excitation processes. In all these cases, MA can facilitate the extraction of relevant in-formation hidden in data, disclosing the possibility of automatic data processing even in absence of a priori structural knowledge.
  • 1.4K
  • 12 Jan 2021
Topic Review
IL-6 Signaling in colorectal cancer onset and progression
IL-6 is a pleiotropic cytokine showing both pro- and anti-inflammatory roles.
  • 1.4K
  • 10 Dec 2021
Topic Review
Insights into HP1a-Chromatin Interactions
     Understanding the packaging of DNA into chromatin is essential for the study of gene expression regulatory mechanisms. Heterochromatin establishment and maintenance dynamics have emerged as key features involved in genome stability, cellular growth, and disease. The heterochromatin protein HP1a is the most extensively studied factor that has both establishment and heterochromatin maintenance activities. This protein has two primary domains, namely the chromoshadow and the chromodomain, separated by a hinge region. Several works have taken place over the years, taking the challenge of defining HP1a partners using diverse experimental approaches. We revised and assemble on explaining these interactions and the potential complexes and subcomplexes associated formed with this essential protein. Characterization of these complexes will allow us to clearly understand the consequences of HP1a interactions in heterochromatin in maintenance, heterochromatin dynamics, and the direct relationship of heterochromatin with gene regulation.
  • 1.4K
  • 03 Apr 2021
Topic Review
CRISPR/Cas in Research of Telomeres
Telomeres are highly specialized nucleoprotein complexes that play a critical role in cell senescence and aging. Each chromosomal end must be “capped” with a critical amount of telomere repeats to prevent DNA repair pathways from being activated. As a result of the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-associated system’s (Cas) method, targeted genetic studies are now underway to change telomerase, the genes that govern it as well as telomeres.
  • 1.4K
  • 24 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Hedgehog Signaling for Basal Cell Carcinoma
Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) is the most commonly diagnosed cancer worldwide. While the survivability of BCC is high, many patients are excluded from clinically available treatments due to health risks or personal choice. Further, patients with advanced or metastatic disease have severely limited treatment options. The dysregulation of the Hedgehog (Hh) signaling cascade drives onset and progression of BCC. As such, the modulation of this pathway has driven advancements in BCC research.
  • 1.4K
  • 23 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Potential Biochemical Properties and Genetics of C-Reactive Protein
C-Reactive Protein (CRP) is supposed to be an accredited benchmark for physicians, to reveal or rule out inflammation, and multifarious scientific endeavors have been made so as to detect the direct pleiotropic functions of this protein. The use of CRP as the most important and critical immunochemical marker of several medical conditions, including infections such as sepsis, physiological organ diseases, various autoimmune disorders, malignancies and other health conditions, has become widely popular.
  • 1.4K
  • 14 Nov 2023
Topic Review
Role of Proteins and Divalent Ions in LLPS
Liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS) is one of the key mechanisms affecting how macromolecular assemblies, including membrane-less organelles (MLOs), are formed and regulated. The molecular and biochemical mechanisms involved in the biomineralization pathway remain puzzling. Additionally, the significance of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs), which are an abundant organic component of hard tissues, in the formation of liquid precursors of biominerals remains to be solved. Research on the interactions between proteins and divalent cations is essential for understanding the resulting liquid precursors.
  • 1.4K
  • 21 Sep 2022
Topic Review
TRPM2
The transient receptor potential (TRP) melastatin-like subfamily member 2 (TRPM2) is a non-selective calcium-permeable cation channel. It is expressed by many mammalian tissues, including bone marrow, spleen, lungs, heart, liver, neutrophils, and endothelial cells. The best-known mechanism of TRPM2 activation is related to the binding of ADP-ribose to the nudix-box sequence motif (NUDT9-H) in the C-terminal domain of the channel.
  • 1.4K
  • 01 Sep 2021
Topic Review
Protein Tertiary Structure Prediction
The prediction of three-dimensional (3D) protein structure from amino acid sequences has stood as a significant challenge in computational and structural bioinformatics for decades. The widespread integration of artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms has substantially expedited advancements in protein structure prediction, yielding numerous significant milestones. In particular, the end-to-end deep learning method AlphaFold2 has facilitated the rise of structure prediction performance to new heights, regularly competitive with experimental structures in the 14th Critical Assessment of Protein Structure Prediction (CASP14). 
  • 1.4K
  • 26 Feb 2024
Topic Review
ATRA and EMT-Related Proteins in Breast Cancer
The knowledge of the structure, function, and abundance of specific proteins related to the EMT process is essential for developing effective diagnostic approaches to cancer with the perspective of diagnosis and therapy of malignancies. The success of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) differentiation therapy in acute promyelocytic leukemia has stimulated studies in the treatment of other tumors with ATRA. 
  • 1.4K
  • 23 Dec 2021
Topic Review
Cardiac Autonomic Neuropathy
Cardiac autonomic neuropathy (CAN) is one of the earliest manifestations of type 2 diabetes (T2D). It constitutes the major cause of silent cardiovascular events in patients without overt cardiac disease. The high prevalence of CAN in patients newly diagnosed with T2D suggests that its pathophysiology is rooted in an earlier stage of metabolic derangement, possibly being prediabetes.
  • 1.4K
  • 11 Dec 2020
Topic Review
Age-Related Lysosomal Dysfunctions
Aging is a process associated with the detriment of normal physiological functions, which leads to the manifestation of diverse diseases such as cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases, joint degenerative diseases, and metabolic diseases such as diabetes, among others. Lysosomes are heterogeneous organelles enclosed by a lipid bilayer and filled with hydrolytic enzymes. The lysosomes are traditionally described as the subcellular structures where the degradation of other organelles and macromolecules takes place, a fundamental process for maintaining cellular proteostasis. There are several degradation processes in which the lysosomes are involved. If the substrate reaching the lysosomes comes from the extracellular environment, the degradation process is called endocytosis. If the material to be digested comes from the cell itself, the process is classified as autophagy. The lysosomes are also involved in plasma membrane repair through a mechanism called lysosomal exocytosis.  During aging, damage in cellular organelles disbalances the cellular homeostatic processes. Lysosomal dysfunction is emerging as an important factor that could regulate the production of inflammatory molecules, metabolic cellular state, or mitochondrial function. Thus, lysosomal alkalinization, amino acid storage, iron disturbances and lipofuscin accummulation are characteristic features of the lysosome during aging. 
  • 1.4K
  • 30 Jul 2022
Topic Review
Protein Translocation to Endosymbiotic Organelles
The problem with increasing the yield of recombinant proteins is resolvable using different approaches, including the transport of a target protein to cell compartments with a low protease activity. In the cell, protein targeting involves short-signal peptide sequences recognized by intracellular protein transport systems. 
  • 1.4K
  • 17 Oct 2022
  • Page
  • of
  • 134
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