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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
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
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
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
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
Epigenomic Dysregulation in Schizophrenia
       Schizophrenia is a severe psychiatric disorder with a complex array of signs and symptoms that causes very significant disability in young people. While schizophrenia has a strong genetic component, with heritability around 80%, there is also a very significant range of environmental exposures and stressors that have been implicated in disease development and neuropathology, such as maternal immune infection, obstetric complications, childhood trauma and cannabis exposure. It is postulated that epigenetic factors, as well as regulatory non-coding RNAs, mediate the effects of these environmental stressors. In this review, we explore the most well-known epigenetic marks, including DNA methylation and histone modification, along with emerging RNA mediators of epigenomic state, including miRNAs and lncRNAs, and discuss their collective potential for involvement in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia implicated through the postmortem analysis of brain tissue. Given that peripheral tissues, such as blood, saliva, and olfactory epithelium have the same genetic composition and are exposed to many of the same environmental exposures, we also examine some studies supporting the application of peripheral tissues for epigenomic biomarker discovery in schizophrenia. Finally, we provide some perspective on how these biomarkers may be utilised to capture a signature of past events that informs future treatment.
  • 1.4K
  • 27 Aug 2020
Topic Review Peer Reviewed
Ecdysteroids
Ecdysteroid: member of a class of polyhydroxylated steroids found in invertebrate animals (zooecdysteroids; moulting hormones), plants (phytoecdysteroids) and fungi (mycoecdysteroids). Over 500 structural analogues are currently known. Biosynthetically, they derive from C27-, C28- or C29-sterols. The most frequently encountered analogue (in arthropods and plants) is 20-hydroxyecdysone (2β,3β,14α,20R,22R,25-hexahydroxycholest-7-en-6-one). In arthropods, ecdysteroids occur universally and regulate development by inducing moulting and reproduction, where their action is mediated by high-affinity binding to an intracellular member of the class of nuclear receptor (NR) proteins (ecdysteroid receptor; EcR) dimerised with a second NR (USP/RxR). This receptor complex binds to specific DNA promoter sites and regulates gene expression. In plants, ecdysteroids are a class of secondary compounds, occurring in varying amounts in certain species, but not all in others. Phytoecdysteroids are believed to contribute to the reduction of invertebrate predation by acting as feeding deterrents or endocrine disruptors. Ecdysteroids also possess a wide range of positive pharmacological effects in mammals, where the mode of action involves moderate-affinity binding to plasma-membrane-bound receptors and not interaction with the classical NRs for vertebrate steroid hormones.
  • 1.4K
  • 13 Apr 2022
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.
  • 1.4K
  • 09 Aug 2021
Topic Review
KRAS and the Inflammatory Tumor Microenvironment Modulation
The TME is a dynamic network composed, not only by tumor cells, but also by several non-tumor cell types, including stromal cells as immune cells (macrophages, neutrophils, dendritic and natural killer cells, myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), B and T cells), fibroblasts, adipocytes, endothelial cells, neurons, osteoblasts, osteoclasts, and the extracellular matrix (ECM). This non-cellular component, together with the tumor and the non-tumor cells, establish a dynamic, challenging microenvironment that can be modulated, but especially modulates cancer cell activities, dictating the success of tumor progression. Inflammation has been gradually recognized as a key initiator and contributor for tumorigenesis by orchestrating the immune surveillance and the immune escape, but also by affecting treatment response. Interestingly, the concept of tumor-promoting inflammation has been tightly associated with KRAS mutations. In fact, in colorectal cancers, the majority of the cases with a high prevalence of KRAS mutations correlate with chronic inflammatory diseases. KRAS and its downstream interactors are described as capable of shaping the immune microenvironment through the induction of the nuclear factor kappa light chain enhancer of activated B cells (NF)-kB signaling, which in turn promotes the transcription of several cytokines and chemokines, including interleukin (IL)-1α/β, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), Cys-X-Cys Chemokine (CXCL)-1, 2, 5, and 8, monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1 or CCL2), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), intracellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), and endothelial leukocyte adhesion molecule 1 (ELAM1). Independently of NF-kB, KRAS-downstream partners, such as RAF/MAPK and PI3K, may also induce IL-10, transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) expression. Several studies already reported that KRAS mutations could drive the secretion of anti-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-10 and TGF-β, with the ability to sustain an immunosuppressive TME, whereas other studies verified that KRAS mutations could interfere with the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as ICAM-1, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-18. Thus, KRAS seems to act as a modulator of both an anti-inflammatory and a pro-inflammatory TME.
  • 1.4K
  • 22 Feb 2022
Topic Review
Databases in Metabolomics
Metabolomics has advanced from innovation and functional genomics tools and is currently a basis in the big data-led precision medicine era. Metabolomics is promising in the pharmaceutical field and clinical research.
  • 1.4K
  • 27 Oct 2022
Topic Review
Protein Arginine Methyltransferase PRMT7
PRMT7 is a member of the protein arginine methyltransferase (PRMT) family, which methylates a diverse set of substrates. Arginine methylation as a posttranslational modification regulates protein–protein and protein–nucleic acid interactions, and as such, has been implicated in various biological functions. PRMT7 is a unique, evolutionarily conserved PRMT family member that catalyzes the mono-methylation of arginine. The structural features, functional aspects, and compounds that inhibit PRMT7 are discussed here. Several studies have identified physiological substrates of PRMT7 and investigated the substrate methylation outcomes which link PRMT7 activity to the stress response and RNA biology. PRMT7-driven substrate methylation further leads to the biological outcomes of gene expression regulation, cell stemness, stress response, and cancer-associated phenotypes such as cell migration. Furthermore, organismal level phenotypes of PRMT7 deficiency have uncovered roles in muscle cell physiology, B cell biology, immunity, and brain function. 
  • 1.4K
  • 10 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Anti-Lipopolysaccharide Factor
Sepsis is a life-threatening complication of an infectious process that results from the excessive and uncontrolled activation of the host’s pro-inflammatory immune response to a pathogen. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), also known as endotoxin, which is a major component of Gram-negative bacteria’s outer membrane, plays a key role in the development of Gram-negative sepsis and septic shock in humans. To date, no specific and effective drug against sepsis has been developed.
  • 1.4K
  • 22 Nov 2023
Topic Review
Nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain 2
Nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain 2 (NOD2) is a cytoplasmic receptor that recognizes invading molecules and danger signals inside the cells.
  • 1.4K
  • 17 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Relationship between D-Amino Acids and Schizophrenia
D-amino acids may play key roles for specific physiological functions in different organs including the brain. Importantly, D-amino acids have been detected in several neurological disorders such as schizophrenia, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and age-related disorders, reflecting the disease conditions. Relationships between D-amino acids and neurophysiology may involve the significant contribution of D-Serine or D-Aspartate to the synaptic function, including neurotransmission and synaptic plasticity. Gut-microbiota could play important roles in the brain-function, since bacteria in the gut provide a significant contribution to the host pool of D-amino acids. In addition, the alteration of the composition of the gut microbiota might lead to schizophrenia. Furthermore, D-amino acids are known as a physiologically active substance, constituting useful biomarkers of several brain disorders including schizophrenia.
  • 1.4K
  • 17 May 2022
Topic Review
MicroRNAs-dysregulation and mitochondrial-dysfunction in neurodegenerative-diseases
       Neurodegenerative diseases are debilitating and currently incurable conditions causing severe cognitive and motor impairments, defined by the progressive deterioration of neuronal structure and function, eventually causing neuronal loss. Understand the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying these disorders are essential to develop therapeutic approaches. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short non-coding RNAs implicated in gene expression regulation at the post-transcriptional level. Moreover, miRNAs are crucial for different processes, including cell growth, signal transmission, apoptosis, cancer and aging-related neurodegenerative diseases. Altered miRNAs levels have been associated with the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial dysfunction. Mitochondrial dysfunction and ROS formation occur in many neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Huntington’s diseases. The crosstalk existing among oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction and miRNAs dysregulation plays a pivotal role in the onset and progression of neurodegenerative diseases.
  • 1.4K
  • 01 Sep 2020
Topic Review
Antioxidant Compounds of Mushrooms as Neuroprotective Agents
Mushrooms have been used for their nutritional value and medicinal properties. They therefore represent not only a food but also a precious source of biologically active compounds that act as nutraceuticals. Numerous studies have shown that edible mushrooms possess anticancer, anti-atherosclerotic, hypocholesterolemic, hypolipidemic, antiviral, antimicrobial, immunostimulant, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-aging effects. The antioxidant properties of edible mushrooms are mainly related to their content in phenolic compounds and polysaccharides. Among polyphenol groups, phenolic acids are the main antioxidants, whereas the major antioxidant effects of polysaccharides are attributed to beta-glycans. These compounds show significant reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging activity and are also able to stimulate the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) enzymes.
  • 1.4K
  • 27 Jun 2023
Topic Review
CLMS application for protein interfaces
The fundamentals of how protein–protein/RNA/DNA interactions influence the structures and functions of the workhorses from the cells have been well documented in the 20th century. A diverse set of methods exist to determine such interactions between different components, particularly, the mass spectrometry (MS) methods, with its advanced instrumentation, has become a significant approach to analyze a diverse range of biomolecules, as well as bring insights to their biomolecular processes. Cross-linking mass spectrometry (CLMS) holds promise to identify interaction sites in larger and more complex biological systems.
  • 1.4K
  • 16 Mar 2021
Topic Review Video
Plant-Derived Extracellular Vesicles for Next-Generation Drug Delivery
Plant cells release tiny membranous vesicles called extracellular vesicles (EVs), which are rich in lipids, proteins, nucleic acids, and pharmacologically active compounds. These plant-derived EVs (PDEVs) are safe and easily extractable and have been shown to have therapeutic effects against inflammation, cancer, bacteria, and aging. They have shown promise in preventing or treating colitis, cancer, alcoholic liver disease, and even COVID-19. PDEVs can also be used as natural carriers for small-molecule drugs and nucleic acids through various administration routes such as oral, transdermal, or injection. The unique advantages of PDEVs make them highly competitive in clinical applications and preventive healthcare products in the future.
  • 1.4K
  • 31 May 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.
  • 1.4K
  • 15 Mar 2023
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.
  • 1.4K
  • 13 Aug 2021
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