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:
Most Viewed Latest Alphabetical (A-Z) Alphabetical (Z-A)
Filter:
All Topic Review Biography Peer Reviewed Entry Video Entry
Topic Review
Cell-Penetrable Peptide-Conjugated FADD protein
Peptide mediated intracellular delivery of FADD protein, efficiently expressed in the cytosol and target core pro-tumorigenic NFκB signaling to restrict cancer cells proliferation. This approach has the potential to design strategies for targeted delivery of proteins inside the cells, which might be useful in cancer therapeutics.
  • 765
  • 26 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Vertebral Fractures in HIV-Infected Patients
HIV-infected patients show high risk of fracture. The aims of our study were to determine the prevalence of vertebral fractures (VFs) and their associations with vitamin D in HIV patients. 100 patients with HIV infection and 100 healthy age- and sex-matched controls were studied. Bone mineral density was measured by quantitative ultrasound at the non-dominant heel. Serum osteocalcin and C-terminal telopeptide of collagen type 1 served as bone turnover markers. Bone ultrasound measurements were significantly lower in patients compared with controls (Stiffness Index (SI): 80.58 ± 19.95% vs. 93.80 ± 7.10%, respectively, p < 0.001). VFs were found in 16 patients and in 2 controls. HIV patients with vertebral fractures showed lower stiffness index (SI) (70.75 ± 10.63 vs. 83.36 ± 16.19, respectively, p = 0.045) and lower vitamin D levels (16.20 ± 5.62 vs. 28.14 ± 11.94, respectively, p < 0.02). The majority of VFs (87.5%) were observed in HIV-infected patients with vitamin D insufficiency, and regression analysis showed that vitamin D insufficiency was significantly associated with vertebral fractures (OR 9.15; 95% CI 0.18–0.52, p < 0.04). VFs and are a frequent occurrence in HIV-infected patients and may be associated with vitamin D insufficiency.
  • 764
  • 03 Nov 2020
Topic Review
PBK/TOPK
T-lymphokine-activated killer cell-originated protein kinase (TOPK, also known as PDZ-binding kinase or PBK) plays a crucial role in cell cycle regulation and mitotic progression. Abnormal overexpression or activation of TOPK has been observed in many cancers, including colorectal cancer, triple-negative breast cancer, and melanoma, and it is associated with increased development, dissemination, and poor clinical outcomes and prognosis in cancer. Moreover, TOPK phosphorylates p38, JNK, ERK, and AKT, which are involved in many cellular functions, and participates in the activation of multiple signaling pathways related to MAPK, PI3K/PTEN/AKT, and NOTCH1; thus, the direct or indirect interactions of TOPK make it a highly attractive yet elusive target for cancer therapy. Small molecule inhibitors targeting TOPK have shown great therapeutic potential in the treatment of cancer both in vitro and in vivo, even in combination with chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Therefore, targeting TOPK could be an important approach for cancer prevention and therapy.
  • 763
  • 22 Sep 2021
Topic Review
Thyroid Cancer from the Tumor-Suppressor Genes Perspective
Thyroid cancer is the most frequent endocrine malignancy and accounts for approximately 1% of all diagnosed cancers. A variety of mechanisms are involved in the transformation of a normal tissue into a malignant one. Loss of tumor-suppressor gene (TSG) function is one of these mechanisms. By identifying alterations in these genes and their protein products, people can understand the thyroid cancer-related gene changes for the development of diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic strategies for this cancer.
  • 763
  • 31 May 2022
Topic Review
Mycotoxins Beauvericin and Enniatins
Mycotoxins are a structurally diverse group of mostly low-molecular-weight compounds. Their structures range from single heterocyclic rings to irregularly arranged rings of six to eight members and their molecular weights are usually less than 1000 Da. Therefore, they do not induce any response in the human immune system.
  • 762
  • 05 Feb 2021
Topic Review
Coenzyme Q10: Novel Formulations
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) was first identified back in the fifties by two groups, Festenstein et al. (1955) and Crane et al. (1957). Its name was chosen due to the fact that it is an ubiquitous quinone present in all cells and that its chemical structure comprises a quinone group with a variable number of isoprenyl units, being ten in the case of humans. Its reduced form is known as ubiquinol and the oxidized one as ubiquinone. Both forms coexist and through sequential redox reactions serve to regenerate each other (Q cycle). 
  • 762
  • 14 Jul 2021
Topic Review
Tumor-Associated Macrophages (TAMs)
Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are a major component of the immune cells of the TME. They play a prominent role by secreting cytokines and chemokines and coordinating with inflammatory mechanisms to promote tumor development, invasion, metastasis, immunosuppression, angiogenesis, and drug tolerance. Different subtypes of TAMs have different functions, which can be dynamically changed in response to various signals from cancer cells or the TME.
  • 762
  • 18 Aug 2021
Topic Review
α-Mangostin Nanoparticles in Breast Cancer
α-Mangostin (AMG) is a potent anticancer xanthone that was discovered in mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana Linn.). AMG possesses the highest opportunity for chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic therapy. AMG inhibits every step in the process of carcinogenesis. AMG suppressed multiple breast cancer (BC) cell proliferation and apoptosis by decreasing the creation of cancerous compounds. Accumulating BC abnormalities and their associated molecular signaling pathways promotes novel treatment strategies. Chemotherapy is a commonly used treatment; due to the possibility of unpleasant side effects and multidrug resistance, there has been substantial progress in searching for alternative solutions, including the use of plant-derived natural chemicals. Due to the limitations of conventional cancer therapy, nanotechnology provides hope for effective and efficient cancer diagnosis and treatment. Nanotechnology enables the delivery of nanoparticles and increased solubility of drugs and drug targeting, resulting in increased cytotoxicity and cell death during BC treatment.
  • 762
  • 22 Sep 2021
Topic Review
γ-aminobutyric Acid and Barley Seedlings
It has been revealed that high NaCl stress (>60 mmol L−1) induced phenolics accumulation in barley seedlings, with γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) playing a key role. Interestingly, low NaCl stimulus (20 mmol L−1) enhancing phenolics synthesis and growth of barley seedlings was also reported recently. Hence, exogenous GABA and its bio-synthesis inhibitor 3-mercaptopropionic acid (3-MP) were applied to reveal the mechanism of GABA regulating phenolics metabolism in barley seedlings treated with 20 mmol L−1 NaCl. The contents of total phenolics and flavonoids significantly increased by 11.64% and 14.52% under NaCl, respectively. The addition of GABA further increased phenolics and flavonoids contents, especially for gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, caffeic acid, and quercetin, compared with NaCl treatment. Simultaneously, GABA increased the activities and mRNA levels of phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), cinnamic acid 4-hydroxylase (C4H), and 4-coumalyl CoA ligase (4CL). The addition of 3-MP suppressed the above effects, except for increasing the protein levels of PAL, C4H, and 4CL. Low concentration of NaCl not only promoted growth, but also stimulated endogenous GABA metabolism to affect key enzymes activities and mRNA levels for phenolics synthesis in barley seedlings.
  • 762
  • 15 Oct 2021
Topic Review
Molecular Diagnosis of COVID-19
COVID-19 is no longer a global pandemic due to development and integration of different technologies for the diagnosis and treatment of the disease, technological advancement in the field of molecular biology, electronics, computer science, artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, nanotechnology, etc. has led to the development of molecular approaches and computer aided diagnosis for the detection of COVID-19. 
  • 761
  • 11 Jan 2023
Topic Review
Membrane Proteins
(Trans)membrane enzymes are typically not considered as good catalyst in biotechnology, due to difficultlies in production and purification. However, a growing number of applications are proposed in bioelectrocatalysis as membrane enzymes catalyse a number of energy-conversion reactions that are key in society. Bioelectrocatalytic systems that have been developed broadly fall in two catagories: (a) enzymatic biofuel cells and (b) biophotoelectrocatalyst. In order for these systems to function efficiently, the interface between the electrode surface and the membrane enzymes needs to be specifically tailored to retain the structural integrity of these amphiphilic macromolecules while - at the same time - enable fast electron exchange between the solid surface and the protein. This entry summarises key approaches in this area, which we here coin as "membrane protein modified electrodes".
  • 760
  • 11 Jan 2021
Topic Review
4-1BBL
The ability of tumor cells to evade the immune system is one of the main challenges we confront in the fight against cancer. Multiple strategies have been developed to counteract this situation, including the use of immunostimulant molecules that play a key role in the anti-tumor immune response. Such a response needs to be tumor-specific to cause as little damage as possible to healthy cells and also to track and eliminate disseminated tumor cells. Therefore, the combination of immunostimulant molecules and tumor-associated antigens has been implemented as an anti-tumor therapy strategy to eliminate the main obstacles confronted in conventional therapies. The immunostimulant 4-1BBL belongs to the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) family and it has been widely reported as the most effective member for activating lymphocytes.
  • 760
  • 09 Jul 2021
Topic Review
Two phytochrome A Types in Plants
The phytochrome (phy) system of plants with the main phyA and phyB controls their development beginning from seed germination to fruiting and senescence. The regulation reactions are categorized into three modes—the very low and low fluence responses (VLFR and LFR) and the high irradiance responses (HIR). The phyA is unique among the other phytochromes; it is major in etiolated seedlings and light-labile, and mediates all the three photoresponse modes. The phyB is light-stable, dominates in deetiolated plants, and performs the LFR. The phyA is itself heterogeneous which may explain its functional complexity. It comprises two native types, phyA′ and phyA″, the products of post-translational modification of the molecule at the N-terminus, possibly, via serine phosphorylation. This alters chromophore-apoprotein interactions resulting in the different photochemical, phenomenological, and functional properties of the two phyA pools. The phyA′ is major, water-soluble, and light-labile; the phyA″ is minor, amphiphilic, and relatively light-stable. The phyA′ mediates the VLFR whereas the water-soluble fraction of phyA″ is responsible for the HIR and LFR, the processes taking place in the nucleus. The membrane- (protein-) associated fraction of phyA” is likely to participate in the cytoplasmic photoregulation processes. The phyA pools' functions—their mode, intensity and sign—depend on plant's species, genotype and organ/tissue. The evidence of the existence of the two distinct phyA types in a plant, and their physicochemical properties and their role in the phyA functioning are discussed.
  • 760
  • 17 May 2023
Topic Review
Ras Isoforms
The central protein in the oncogenic circuitry is the Ras GTPase that has been under intense scrutiny for the last four decades.  The complexity of the Ras functioning is further exemplified by the fact that the three canonical Ras genes encode for four protein isoforms (H-Ras, K-Ras4A, K-Ras4B, and N-Ras).
  • 759
  • 29 Jun 2021
Topic Review
CRISPR/Cas-Based Gene Editing
There is a growing need for a molecular vehicle that can successfully load and deliver CRISPR/Cas ribonucleoprotein complexes (and other gene editing systems) into target tissues. Synthetic delivery vehicles are being developed but so far have been only moderately successful. Extracellular vesicles are ideal candidates for a universal biological platform to produce ready-to-use, programmable, and highly biocompatible CRISPR therapeutics. Using extracellular vesicles in the CRISPR/Cas research and, ultimately, in the clinic, demands novel, advanced techniques for protein/RNA loading, surface engineering, and manufacturing. Safety of CRISPR/Cas systems and EVs also need to be tested extensively for every particular application.
  • 759
  • 03 Nov 2020
Topic Review
CUT Domain Proteins in Cancer
Recent studies revealed that CUT domains function as accessory factors that accelerate DNA repair by stimulating the enzymatic activities of the base excision repair enzymes OGG1, APE1, and DNA pol β. Strikingly, the role of CUT domain proteins in DNA repair is exploited by cancer cells to facilitate their survival. Cancer cells in which the RAS pathway is activated produce an excess of reactive oxygen species (ROS) which, if not counterbalanced by increased production of antioxidants, causes sustained oxidative DNA damage and, ultimately, cell senescence. These cancer cells can adapt by increasing their capacity to repair oxidative DNA damage in part through elevated expression of CUT domain proteins such as CUX1, CUX2, or SATB1. In particular, CUX1 overexpression was shown to cooperate with RAS in the formation of mammary and lung tumors in mice. Conversely, knockdown of CUX1, CUX2, or SATB1 was found to be synthetic lethal in cancer cells exhibiting high ROS levels as a consequence of activating mutations in KRAS, HRAS, BRAF, or EGFR. Importantly, as a byproduct of their adaptation, cancer cells that overexpress CUT domain proteins exhibit increased resistance to genotoxic treatments such as ionizing radiation, temozolomide, and cisplatin.
  • 758
  • 22 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Molecular Basis of Soybean Cold Tolerance
Cold stress is a major factor influencing the geographical distribution of soybean growth and causes immense losses in productivity. Understanding the molecular mechanisms that the soybean has undergone to survive cold temperatures will have immense value in improving soybean cold tolerance. Cold-tolerant quantitative trait loci (QTLs) were found to be overlapped with the genomic region of maturity loci of E1, E3, E4, pubescence color locus of T, stem growth habit gene locus of Dt1, and leaf shape locus of Ln, indicating that pleiotropic loci may control multiple traits, including cold tolerance. The C-repeat responsive element binding factors (CBFs) are evolutionarily conserved across species. The expression of most GmDREB1s was upregulated by cold stress and overexpression of GmDREB1B;1 in soybean protoplast, and transgenic Arabidopsis plants can increase the expression of genes with the DRE core motif in their promoter regions under cold stress. Other soybean cold-responsive regulators, such as GmMYBJ1, GmNEK1, GmZF1, GmbZIP, GmTCF1a, SCOF-1 and so on, enhance cold tolerance by regulating the expression of COR genes in transgenic Arabidopsis. CBF-dependent and CBF-independent pathways are cross-talking and work together to activate cold stress gene expression. 
  • 758
  • 02 Feb 2023
Topic Review
Tumour Immune Microenvironment
Targeting altered tumour metabolism is an emerging therapeutic strategy for cancer treatment. The metabolic reprogramming that accompanies the development of malignancy creates targetable differences between cancer cells and normal cells, which may be exploited for therapy. In this entry, we focus on the metabolic dysregulation exerted by tumour cells on the immune microenvironment, leading to tumour immunosuppression. This metabolic rewiring and crosstalk with the tumour microenvironment also play a key role in cell proliferation, metastasis, and the development of treatment resistance. Nonetheless, greater understanding of the metabolic crosstalk presents strategies that aid in the precision targeting of altered tumour metabolism, including therapeutic strategies combining metabolic inhibition with immunotherapy.
  • 757
  • 09 Dec 2020
Topic Review
Plant Genome Sequencing Technology
The development of technology that can capture large volumes of sequence data at low costs and with high accuracy has driven the acceleration of plant genome sequencing advancements. The sequencing of all plant species is a long-term goal that may become key to effectively supporting life on Earth through the improved management of plants in wild populations and their selection and genetic enhancement for use in agriculture and food production.
  • 757
  • 19 Jul 2022
Topic Review
Avocado–Soybean Unsaponifiables
Avocado and soybean unsaponifiables (ASU) constitute vegetable extracts made from fruits and seeds of avocado and soybean oil. Characterized by its potent anti-inflammatory effects, this ASU mixture is recommended to act as an adjuvant treatment for osteoarthritic pain and slow-acting symptomatic treatment of hip and knee osteoarthritis; autoimmune diseases; diffuse scleroderma and scleroderma-like states (e.g., morphea, sclerodactyly, scleroderma in bands). Besides, it was reported that it can improve the mood and quality of life of postmenopausal women in reducing menopause-related symptoms.
  • 756
  • 24 Mar 2021
  • Page
  • of
  • 133
Featured Entry Collections
>>

Featured Books

>>
Encyclopedia of Social Sciences
Encyclopedia of COVID-19
Encyclopedia of Fungi
Encyclopedia of Digital Society, Industry 5.0 and Smart City
ScholarVision Creations
Feedback