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Topic Review
Berbamine
Berbamine is a natural, potent, pharmacologically active biomolecule isolated from Berberis amurensis. Berbamine has been shown to modulate different oncogenic cell-signaling pathways in different cancers.
  • 1.3K
  • 15 Apr 2022
Topic Review
LGMD2D myotubes
LGMD2D (LGMD-R3 according to the new nomenclature) is a rare autosomal recessive disease affecting striated muscle. It belongs to the group of limb girdle muscular dystrophies because of the involvement of the proximal musculature of the shoulders and pelvic girdle. LGMD2D is caused by mutations in the SGCA gene coding for α-sarcoglycan (SG).  
  • 1.3K
  • 01 Nov 2020
Topic Review
Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester
Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), is one of the most extensively investigated active components of propolis and it is considered responsible for most of its beneficial effects. Among the others, CAPE exerts protection towards many neurological disorders. This review summarizes the protective effects of CAPE towards oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, neurotoxic substances, neurodegenerative diseases, brain tumors and neuronal injuries as well. A paragrah on derivatives of CAPE is also included.
  • 1.3K
  • 30 Mar 2021
Topic Review
Enzymatic Biocatalysis for Degradation of Plastic PET
Most Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) degrading enzymes belong to the 3.40.50.1820 superfamily, according to the CATH database, since they share a conserved catalytic domain and assume the typical alpha/beta hydrolase fold. Breaking of PET bonds is typically accomplished by a catalytic triad involving a serine, a histidine and a negatively charged residue, usually an aspartate or a glutamate.
  • 1.3K
  • 29 Jan 2023
Topic Review
Research Trends of Microbial Fuel Cells in 1990-2022
Microbial fuel cells have undergone several modifications since their creation, mainly due to the different substrates that can be used as fuel for the generation of electrical energy. Research on microbial fuel cells tends to grow, with China as a leading country on the subject, written by the author Wang X. It is observed that the new cell research trends deal with the modification and fabrication of electrodes with nanomaterials in order to improve their power and reduce costs to show their viability on a larger scale.
  • 1.3K
  • 15 Mar 2023
Topic Review
Diabetes Mellitus and Mitochondria Dysfunction
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease that is characterized by an absolute or relative deficiency of insulin, the hormone that stimulates the transport of glucose across cell membranes, which leads to an increase in blood glucose—hyperglycemia. Two main types of diabetes are distinguished. Type I diabetes mellitus (about 10% of cases of diabetes) is an autoimmune disorder that results from the progressive destruction of the insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas by T cells and activated macrophages and eventually leads to insulin deficiency in the organism. It is well known that type I diabetes most frequently develops in childhood and causes severe long-term complications, including retinopathy, neuropathy, and nephropathy [4,5,6]. Type II diabetes or adult-onset diabetes (about 90% of cases) is characterized by an impairment of homeostasis of glucose and insulin, in particular, the development of insulin resistance of target tissues associated with compensatory hyperinsulinemia, followed by beta-cell dysfunction. Type II diabetes mellitus is accompanied by glucose toxicity, lipotoxicity, and chronic oxidative stress, which finally can result in damage to vital organs and development of life-threatening secondary complications [4,7]. Mitochondria are one of the main targets of diabetes at the intracellular level. Recent data indicate that disturbances in mitochondrial calcium transport systems and a pathophysiological phenomenon called the permeability transition pore are involved in the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus. 
  • 1.3K
  • 26 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Microphthalmia-Associated Transcription Factor
Microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) is a central player of melanocyte survival, function and development. It belongs to the MiT/TFE family of transcription factors in vertebrates, consisting of four distinct but closely related and evolutionary conserved members, including MITF, transcription factor EB (TFEB), TFE3 and TFEC. Structurally, MITF encodes a basic–helix–loop–helix leucine zipper (bHLH-ZIP) transcription factor, thereby exerting its function by regulating genes involved in cell cycle progression and differentiation, a role sustained throughout the process of melanogenesis and in melanoma.
  • 1.3K
  • 13 Aug 2021
Topic Review
GABAergic pain modulation
GABAA receptors (GABAARs) are ligand-gated heteropentameric ion channels, most commonly formed by 2α, 2β, and 1γ subunit. They are expressed in spinal cord dorsal horn, both at the pre- and postsynaptic site, controlling the transmission of pain, itch, touch and proprioception.
  • 1.3K
  • 19 Jan 2021
Topic Review
Aβ-Peptide Production and Conformational Behavior
Alzheimer’s disease  (AD) is the most common type of neurodegenerative disease in the world. Genetic evidence strongly suggests that aberrant generation, aggregation, and/or clearance of neurotoxic amyloid-β peptides (Aβ) triggers the disease. Aβ accumulates at the points of contact of neurons in ordered cords and fibrils, forming the so-called senile plaques. Aβ isoforms of different lengths are found in healthy human brains regardless of age and appear to play a role in signaling pathways in the brain and to have neuroprotective properties at low concentrations. This entry describes molecular mechanisms of amyloid-β precursor protein processing in AD.
  • 1.3K
  • 11 Oct 2021
Topic Review
Human Neuroblastoma Cell
Neuroblastoma is one of the most common childhood solid tumors and develops from neural stem cells that normally comprise the embryonic structure termed the neural crest. Human neuroblastoma cell lines have special properties as they exhibit cell growth and are induced to become mature neurons by drugs such as retinoid.
  • 1.3K
  • 21 Oct 2021
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. 
  • 1.3K
  • 28 Mar 2022
Topic Review
miR-944 in Cancer
miR-944 is localized in intron 4 of TP63. ΔNp63 in intron 3 of TP63 recruits the transcription factor AP-2 to promote miR-944 gene expression, which mediates epidermal differentiation induction by ΔNp63. miR-944 is dysregulated in various cancers. In squamous cell carcinoma. miR-944 can target and inhibit 27 protein-coding genes, thereby regulating cell cycle, proliferation, apoptosis, epithelial mesenchymal transition, cancer cell invasion and migration, and other cell behaviors. The genes targeted by miR-944 are involved in three signaling pathways, including the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, Jak/STAT3 pathway, and PI3K/AKT pathway. miR-944 was regulated by a total of 11 competing endogenous RNAs, including 6 circular RNAs and 5 long non-coding RNAs. Abnormally expressed miR-944 can act as an independent prognostic factor and is closely related to tumor invasion, lymph node metastasis, TNM staging, and drug resistance. miR-944 is expected to become a critical biomarker with great clinical application value in cancer.
  • 1.3K
  • 15 Sep 2022
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.
  • 1.3K
  • 28 Oct 2020
Topic Review
The Natterin Proteins Diversity
The Natterin proteins were first revealed in the venom of the medically significant Brazilian toadfish Thalassophryne nattereri (VTn) in five orthologs named Natterin (1–4, and -P). They were identified as being responsible for the main toxic non-lethal effects of the VTn, such as local edema and excruciating pain, that evolved to necrosis. Following the first identification, the group of Natterin-like proteins has been expanded over time. Several sequences homologous to Natterin have been identified in different teleostean genomes, such as the venomous catfish Plotosus lineatus and non-venomous fish, including lampreys-Lampetra japonica or Lethenteron camtschaticum and Lampetra morii, arctic charr Salvelinus alpinus, zebrafish Danio rerio, atlantic cod Gadus morhua, and ovate pompano Trachinotus ovatus.
  • 1.3K
  • 09 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Base Excision Repair Mechanisms
Base excision repair (BER) corrects forms of oxidative, deamination, alkylation, and abasic single-base damage that appear to have minimal effects on the helix. Since its discovery in 1974, the field has grown in several facets: mechanisms, biology and physiology, understanding deficiencies and human disease, and using BER genes as potential inhibitory targets to develop therapeutics.
  • 1.3K
  • 26 Sep 2023
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.
  • 1.3K
  • 12 Jan 2021
Topic Review
Biochemistry of Antioxidants and Their Mode of Action
Antioxidants are a class of a multitude of chemical substances clearly associated with large health benefits and lower risks of various age-related diseases.
  • 1.3K
  • 11 Apr 2023
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.
  • 1.3K
  • 12 Jun 2023
Topic Review
Neuroprotective Effects of Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate in Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia, characterised by a marked decline of both memory and cognition, along with pathophysiological hallmarks including amyloid beta peptide (Aβ) accumulation, tau protein hyperphosphorylation, neuronal loss and inflammation in the brain. Additionally, oxidative stress caused by an imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants is considered one of the main risk factors for AD, since it can result in protein, lipid and nucleic acid damage and exacerbate Aβ and tau pathology. Green tea, and its main bioactive compound, epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), have been targeted as a plausible option for the modulation of AD. Specifically, EGCG acts as an antioxidant by regulating inflammatory processes involved in neurodegeneration such as ferroptosis and microglia-induced cytotoxicity and by inducing signalling pathways related to neuronal survival. Furthermore, it reduces tau hyperphosphorylation and aggregation and promotes the non-amyloidogenic route of APP processing, thus preventing the formation of Aβ and its subsequent accumulation.
  • 1.3K
  • 20 Oct 2023
Topic Review
Oxygen-Based Molecules
Oxygen-based compounds are an instrumental part of the group of small, relatively reactive molecules which control cellular activities. Traditionally such molecules have been referred to as the reactive oxygen species (ROS) and include hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), superoxide (O2∙−), and hydroxyl radicals (∙OH). However, several other reactive signaling molecules also contain oxygen, although referred to as reactive nitrogen species (RNS). These include nitric oxide (NO) and peroxynitrite (ONOO−), and therefore could be grouped together with the ROS as oxygen-based compounds. 
  • 1.3K
  • 04 Aug 2021
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