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Topic Review
IR/Raman Spectroscopy in Biological and Environmental Studies
Various types of vibrational spectroscopy (generally, it includes various variants of Raman and infrared spectroscopy) have been used for a long time to evaluate a variety of biological objects. Moreover, using vibrational spectroscopy, it is possible to evaluate individual compounds, cells, tissues, multicellular organisms (both living and fixed), and the products of their vital activity. These techniques are used for the assessment of the qualitative and quantitative composition of substances in studied biological objects and the conformations of compounds composing them. Among the advantages of these methods, one can mention their relative non-invasiveness, their significant experience in the subsequent analysis of results, and the possibility to perform in situ and in vivo measurements. 
  • 741
  • 27 Apr 2023
Topic Review
Polymorphism in α-Synuclein
The synucleinopathies exhibit differences in their clinical and pathological representations, reminiscent of prion disorders. Emerging evidence suggests that α-Syn self-assembles and polymerizes into conformationally diverse polymorphs in vitro and in vivo, similar to prions. These α-Syn polymorphs arising from the same precursor protein may exhibit strain-specific biochemical properties and the ability to induce distinct pathological phenotypes upon their inoculation in animal models.
  • 733
  • 20 Oct 2021
Topic Review
Changes in Cell Biology under Low-Level Laser Therapy
In clinical practice, low-level laser therapy (LLLT) was introduced by E. Master in the second half of the 1960s. Since that time, this type of radiation has been successfully used in cardiology, hematology, dermatology, surgery, orthopedics, and other clinical specialties. Two main LLLT features seem to have the strongest impact on cell biology. First is the wavelength. Wavelengths from 600 nm up to 1070 nm have the greatest impact on the promotion of cell proliferation. This phenomenon is probably related to the absorption or interference of light beyond this range. Light with shorter wavelengths is strongly absorbed by hemoglobin, while longer wavelengths are absorbed by water. The second important factor is energy density. In general, lower energy density (0.05 J/cm2–10 J/cm2) promotes cell proliferation, while higher energy density (above 50 J/cm2) enhances apoptotic processes. The mutual transition of both phenomena has a continuous nature. This biphasic response is also known as the “Arndt–Schulz law”.
  • 733
  • 27 Sep 2022
Topic Review
Sodium Channels in Action Potentials Initiation
Living organisms react to external stimuli to adapt their activity to the environment for survival. Acquired information is encoded by neurons by action potentials (APs) in a series of discrete electrical events. Rapid initiation of the AP is critical for fast reactions and strongly relies on voltage-activated Na+-selective channels (NaVs), which are widely expressed by both invertebrate and vertebrate neurons.
  • 721
  • 02 Sep 2022
Topic Review
Aquaporin-1 Facilitates Transmesothelial Water Permeability
Mesothelial cells in human peritoneum express the water channel aquaporin 1 (AQP1) at the plasma membrane, suggesting that, although in a non-physiological context, it may facilitate osmotic water exchange during peritoneal dialysis (PD).
  • 717
  • 08 Dec 2021
Topic Review
RNA Structure and RNA–RNA Interactions
Complex RNA–RNA interactions are increasingly known to play key roles in numerous biological processes from gene expression control to ribonucleoprotein granule formation. By contrast, the nature of these interactions and characteristics of their interfaces, especially those that involve partially or wholly structured RNAs, remain elusive. This entry describes different modalities of RNA–RNA interactions with an emphasis on those that depend on secondary, tertiary, or quaternary structure, and highlight a two-way relationship between RNA structure and interactions.
  • 709
  • 12 Jan 2022
Topic Review
HDX-MS Applications on Membrane Proteins
Understanding the higher-order structure of membrane proteins (MPs), which are vital for numerous biological processes, is crucial for comprehending their function. Although several biophysical approaches have been used to study the structure of MPs, limitations exist owing to the proteins’ dynamic nature and heterogeneity. Mass spectrometry (MS) is emerging as a powerful tool for investigating membrane protein structure and dynamics.
  • 709
  • 19 May 2023
Topic Review
GSL-Enriched Microdomains in Immune Functions
Glycosphingolipids (GSLs), together with cholesterol, sphingomyelin (SM), and glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored and membrane-associated signal transduction molecules, form GSL-enriched microdomains. These specialized microdomains interact in a cis manner with various immune receptors, affecting immune receptor-mediated signaling.
  • 708
  • 22 Sep 2021
Topic Review
Intramolecular Dynamics of Membrane Proteins
Membrane proteins play important roles in biological functions, with accompanying allosteric structure changes. Understanding intramolecular dynamics helps elucidate catalytic mechanisms and develop new drugs. In contrast to the various technologies for structural analysis, methods for analyzing intramolecular dynamics are limited. Single-molecule measurements using optical microscopy have been widely used for kinetic analysis.
  • 700
  • 09 Dec 2022
Topic Review
Non-Equilibrium Thermodynamics and Psychology in Biological Aging
In humans, biological aging (age-associated degrading changes), widely observed in molecular and cellular processes, underly the time-dependent decline in spatial navigation, time perception, cognitive and psychological abilities, and memory. Cross-talk of biological, cognitive, and psychological clocks provides an integrative contribution to healthy and advanced aging. At the molecular level, genome, proteome, and lipidome instability are widely recognized as the primary causal factors in aging. Through stress response systems (SRS), the environmental and psychological stressors contribute to the age-associated “collapse” of protein homochirality. The role of prevalent protein chirality and entropy of protein folding in biological aging is mainly overlooked. In a more generalized context, the time-dependent shift from enzymatic to the nonenzymatic transformation of biochirality might represent an important and yet underappreciated hallmark of aging. We provide the experimental arguments in support of the racemization theory of aging.
  • 698
  • 17 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Enhanced Osteogenic Differentiation of hMSCs
Osteogenic differentiations of mesenchymal stem cells are known to be influenced by both intracellular and extracellular factors. In terms of the extracellular factors, extracellular environment which would include biomaterials that are used for tissue regenerations play important role. Surface modifications of biomaterials in both phycial and chemical ways have been investigated to induce osteogenic differentiations. In terms of chemical modifications, induction of chemcial functionalities such as amine, would provide favorable environment for osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells. Use of devices such as non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma (also known as bio-plasma) have been investigated in relation to the osteogenic differentiations.
  • 690
  • 06 Nov 2020
Topic Review
Uses of Magnetic Fields for Health Applications
Early life on Earth evolved in the contexts of temperature, available elements, and molecules (including water), as well as the biophysical boundary conditions of the planet. The latter include gravity (1 g), exogenous and endogenous radiation from particles from beyond Earth and radioactive elements on Earth, and magnetic fields due to the planet’s magnetic field and local concentrations of molecules such as iron. Humans and other animals, plants, and microorganisms have been exposed to a variety of magnetic fields other than the geomagnetic field of Earth and deposits of ferro materials. Magnetic fields, static or electromagnetic, have been used in attempts to improve outcomes for the repair of a variety of tissues.
  • 690
  • 19 Jun 2024
Topic Review
3-D structures of Potent Antimicrobial Peptides
Global rise of infections and deaths caused by drug-resistant bacterial pathogens are among the unmet medical needs. In an age of drying pipeline of novel antibiotics to treat bacterial infections, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are proven to be valid therapeutics modalities.  Direct in vivo applications of many AMPs could be challenging; however, works are demonstrating encouraging results for some of them.
  • 688
  • 05 May 2022
Topic Review
Serum Albumin for Magnetic Nanoparticles Coating
Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have great potential in biochemistry and medical science. In particular, iron oxide nanoparticles have demonstrated a promising effect in various biomedical applications due to their high magnetic properties, large surface area, stability, and easy functionalization. However, colloidal stability, biocompatibility, and potential toxicity of MNPs in physiological environments are crucial for their in vivo application. In this context, many research articles focused on the possible procedures for MNPs coating to improve their physic-chemical and biological properties. The fabrication strategy of biocompatible iron oxide nanoparticles using human serum albumin (HSA) is viable. HSA is mainly a transport protein with many functions in various fundamental processes. It is a highly potential candidate for nanoparticles coating and theranostics area and can provide biocompatibility, prolonged blood circulation, and possibly resolve the drug-resistance cancer problem. 
  • 679
  • 10 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Giant Unilamellar Vesicle Electroformation
Since its inception more than thirty years ago, electroformation has become the most commonly used method for growing giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs). Although the method seems quite straightforward at first, researchers must consider the interplay of a large number of parameters, different lipid compositions, and internal solutions in order to avoid artifactual results or reproducibility problems.
  • 678
  • 23 Nov 2021
Topic Review
Intrinsically Disordered Proteins
Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) do not have rigid 3D structures, showing changes in their folding depending on the environment or ligands. Intrinsically disordered proteins are widely spread in eukaryotic genomes, and these proteins participate in many cell regulatory metabolism processes. Some IDPs, when aberrantly folded, can be the cause of some diseases such as Alzheimer′s, Parkinson′s, and prionic, among others. In these diseases, there are modifications in parts of the protein or in its entirety.
  • 678
  • 22 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Prediction of Protein Stability Changes
Predicting protein stability changes upon genetic variations is still an open challenge. It is essential to understand the impact of the alterations in the amino acid sequence, mainly due to non-synonymous (or missense) DNA variations leading to the disruption or the enhancement of the protein activity, on human health and disease. In particular, protein stability perturbations have already been associated to pathogenic missense variants and they were shown to contribute to the loss of function in haploinsufficient genes.
  • 662
  • 02 Jul 2021
Topic Review
Applications of Strain-Amplification Techniques with α-Synuclein
α-Synuclein (αS) is remarkable for both its extensive conformational plasticity and pathologic prion-like properties. A fundamental understanding of αS’ conformational properties has been translated to the development of strain amplification technologies, which have provided further insight into the role of specific strains in distinct α-synucleinopathies, and show promise for the early diagnosis of disease. Strain amplification assays, protein misfolding cyclic amplification (PMCA) and real-time quaking-induced conversion (RT-QuIC), are powerful emerging techniques that can detect misfolded αS to diagnose and differentiate synucleinopathies.
  • 662
  • 27 Jul 2022
Topic Review
Calcium Sources to Somatic Release of Serotonin
The soma, dendrites and axon of neurons may display calcium-dependent release of transmitters and peptides. Such release is named extrasynaptic for occurring in absence of synaptic structures. Emphasis is given to the somatic release of serotonin by the classical leech Retzius neuron, which has allowed detailed studies on the fine steps from excitation to exocytosis. Trains of action potentials induce transmembrane calcium entry through L-type channels. For action potential frequencies above 5 Hz, summation of calcium transients on individual action potentials activates the second calcium source: ryanodine receptors produce calcium-induced calcium release. The resulting calcium tsunami activates mitochondrial ATP synthesis to fuel transport of vesicles to the plasma membrane. Serotonin that is released maintains a large-scale exocytosis by activating the third calcium source: serotonin autoreceptors coupled to phospholipase C promote IP3 production. Activated IP3 receptors in peripheral endoplasmic reticulum release calcium that promotes vesicle fusion. The Swiss-clock workings of the machinery for somatic exocytosis has a striking disadvantage. The essential calcium-releasing endoplasmic reticulum near the plasma membrane hinders the vesicle transport, drastically reducing the thermodynamic efficiency of the ATP expenses and elevating the energy cost of release. 
  • 654
  • 09 Feb 2022
Topic Review
Activity and Affinity of Pin1 Variants
Pin1, or Protein interacting with Never-in-Mitosis (NIMA) 1, is a peptidyl-prolyl isomerase responsible for isomerizing phosphorylated S/T-P motifs. Pin1 has two domains that each have a distinct ligand binding site, but only its PPIase domain has catalytic activity. Vast evidence supports interdomain allostery of Pin1, with binding of a ligand to its regulatory WW domain impacting activity in the PPIase domain. 
  • 653
  • 22 Feb 2022
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