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Topic Review
Delivery Systems for Mitochondrial Gene Therapy
Mitochondria are membrane-bound cellular organelles of high relevance responsible for the chemical energy production used in most of the biochemical reactions of cells. Mitochondria have their own genome, the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). Inherited solely from the mother, this genome is quite susceptible to mutations, mainly due to the absence of an effective repair system. Mutations in mtDNA are associated with endocrine, metabolic, neurodegenerative diseases, and even cancer. Mitochondrial gene therapy emerges as a promising strategy as it deeply focuses on the cause of mitochondrial disorder. The development of suitable mtDNA-based delivery systems to target and transfect mammalian mitochondria represents an exciting field of research, leading to progress in the challenging task of restoring mitochondria’s normal function. 
  • 1.2K
  • 20 Apr 2023
Topic Review
Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Targeting Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) lacks estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 expressions, making targeted therapies ineffective. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have emerged as a promising approach for TNBC treatment by modulating the tumor microenvironment (TME) and interacting with cancer cells.
  • 1.2K
  • 08 May 2023
Topic Review
Neurofibromin Functions
Neurofibromin is a large and multifunctional protein encoded by the tumor suppressor gene NF1, mutations of which cause the tumor predisposition syndrome neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). Neurofibromatosis type 1 is an autosomal dominant disorder caused by inherited or de novo germline mutations in the NF1 tumor suppressor gene. It is the most common tumor-predisposing disease in humans. It affects approximately one in 3000 live births and patients present widely heterogeneous clinical manifestations, even within the same family.
  • 1.2K
  • 28 Oct 2022
Topic Review
TRPC, TRPV and Vascular Disease
Ion channels play an important role in vascular function and pathology. In this review we gave an overview of recent findings and discussed the role of TRPC and TRPV channels as major regulators of cellular remodeling and consequent vascular disorders. Here, we focused on their implication in 4 relevant vascular diseases: systemic and pulmonary artery hypertension, atherosclerosis and restenosis.  
  • 1.2K
  • 22 Apr 2021
Topic Review
Thioredoxin-Related Transmembrane Proteins
The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is site of synthesis and maturation of membrane and secretory proteins in eukaryotic cells. The ER contains more than 20 members of the Protein Disulfide Isomerase (PDI) family. These enzymes regulate formation, isomerization and disassembly of covalent bonds between cysteine residues. As such, PDIs ensure protein folding, which is required to attain functional and transport-competent structure, and protein unfolding, which facilitates dislocation of defective gene products across the ER membrane for ER-associated degradation (ERAD). The PDI family includes over a dozen of soluble members and few membrane-bound ones. Among these latter, there are five PDIs grouped in the thioredoxin-related transmembrane (TMX) protein family.
  • 1.2K
  • 27 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Heat Shock Protein 90
Heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) is a molecular chaperone that could modulate the pain signaling.
  • 1.2K
  • 08 Jan 2021
Topic Review
Biomarker Studies in Stress Biology
Endpoints assessed at the population or community level are most often the result of the sum of effects on individuals, arising from the effects at the cellular and molecular levels. Within this framework, these lower biological level endpoints are more responsive at an early stage of exposure, making them potential toolboxes to be used as early-warning markers to address stress. Given this, by linking responses and understanding organisms’ metabolism and physiology, the possibilities for the use of biomarkers in stress biology are vast.
  • 1.2K
  • 10 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Fungal Biosynthetic Gene Clusters for Production Secondary Metabolites
Filamentous fungi are one of the most important producers of secondary metabolites. Some of them can have a toxic effect on the human body, leading to diseases. On the other hand, they are widely used as pharmaceutically significant drugs, such as antibiotics, statins, and immunosuppressants. A single fungus species in response to various signals can produce 100 or more secondary metabolites. Such signaling is possible due to the coordinated regulation of several dozen biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs), which are mosaically localized in different regions of fungal chromosomes.
  • 1.2K
  • 18 Jul 2023
Topic Review
Conditions Determining Male Infertility
The lack of knowledge of the causes of impaired reproductive potential results in an inability to implement specific treatment, which is associated with the lack of positive outcomes (pregnancy). This review will make relevant environmental comparisons. It will allow an understanding of the importance of environmental factors in shaping the body's defense and capabilities in the field of reproductive condition. The results can be used in enhancing diagnosis and deciding on appropriate infertility treatment.
  • 1.2K
  • 23 Mar 2021
Topic Review
Epidermal Stem Cells
The skin surface is modified by numerous appendages. These structures arise from epithelial stem cells (SCs) through the induction of epidermal placodes as a result of local signalling interplay with mesenchymal cells based on the Wnt–(Dkk4)–Eda–Shh cascade. Slight modifications of the cascade, with the participation of antagonistic signalling, decide whether multipotent epidermal SCs develop in interfollicular epidermis, scales, hair/feather follicles, nails or skin glands. 
  • 1.2K
  • 05 Jan 2021
Topic Review
Peretinoin
Peretinoin, an retinoid acid (RA), a metabolite of vitamin A and its related analogues (termed retinoids) has been suggested as a promising chemotherapeutic agent in cancer treatment. The synthetic oral retinoid peretinoin is the only agent for the secondary chemoprevention of HCC after curative therapy that is currently well applied into clinical development.
  • 1.2K
  • 12 Oct 2021
Topic Review
Ceramide Transport Protein CERT and Its Inhibitors
Lipid transfer proteins (LTPs) are recognized as key players in the inter-organelle trafficking of lipids and are rapidly gaining attention as a novel molecular target for medicinal products. In mammalian cells, ceramide is newly synthesized in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and converted to sphingomyelin in the trans-Golgi regions. The ceramide transport protein CERT, a typical LTP, mediates the ER-to-Golgi transport of ceramide at an ER-distal Golgi membrane contact zone. A potent inhibitor of CERT, named (1R,3S)-HPA-12, was found by coincidence among ceramide analogs. Since then, various ceramide-resembling compounds have been found to act as CERT inhibitors. Nevertheless, the inevitable issue remains that natural ligand-mimetic compounds might directly bind both to the desired target and to various undesired targets that share the same natural ligand. To resolve this issue, a ceramide-unrelated compound named E16A, or (1S,2R)-HPCB-5, that potently inhibits the function of CERT has been developed, employing a series of in silico docking simulations, efficient chemical synthesis, quantitative affinity analysis, protein–ligand co-crystallography, and various in vivo assays. (1R,3S)-HPA-12 and E16A together provide a robust tool to discriminate on-target effects on CERT from off-target effects. 
  • 1.2K
  • 14 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Anti-Aging Mechanism of Polysaccharides
Polysaccharides are natural and efficient biological macromolecules that act as antioxidants, anti-inflammatories, and immune regulators.
  • 1.2K
  • 26 Dec 2022
Topic Review
Peroxiredoxin
Peroxiredoxin (Prx) is a relatively recently discovered antioxidant enzyme family that scavenges peroxides and is known to be present in organisms from biological taxa ranging from bacteria to multicellular eukaryotes, including photosynthetic organisms.
  • 1.2K
  • 24 Mar 2021
Topic Review
Infrared and Resonance Raman Spectroscopies
Vibrational spectroscopy and in particular, resonance Raman (RR) spectroscopy can provide molecular details on metalloproteins, including those containing multiple cofactors, which are often challenging for other spectroscopies. Due to distinct spectroscopic fingerprints, RR spectroscopy has a unique capacity to monitor simultaneously and independently different metal cofactors that can have particular roles in metalloproteins. These include e.g., (i) different types of hemes, as well as their spin and redox states, (ii) different types of Fe-S clusters, and (iii) bi-metallic center and electron transfer (ET) Fe-S cluster in hydrogenases. IR spectroscopy can provide un-matched molecular details on specific enzymes like hydrogenases that possess catalytic centers coordinated by CO and CN- ligands, which exhibit spectrally well separated IR bands.
  • 1.2K
  • 12 Oct 2021
Topic Review
PKCtheta in Cancer
Protein Kinase C theta (PKCθ) is a serine/threonine kinase that belongs to the novel PKC sub-family. PKCθ has been extensively studied for its role in the immune system where it plays a critical role in T cell activation. Beyond its physiological role in immune responses, increasing evidence implicates PKCθ in the pathology of various diseases, especially autoimmune disorders and cancers. Particularly, in various types of cancers, the high PKCθ expression leads to aberrant cell proliferation, migration and invasion, thereby promoting cancer aggressiveness. The recent development and application of PKCθ inhibitors in the context of auto-immune diseases could benefit the emergence of treatment for cancers in which PKCθ has been implicated.
  • 1.2K
  • 20 Feb 2021
Topic Review
Biosynthetic Strategies for Macrocyclic Peptides
Macrocyclic peptides are predominantly peptide structures bearing one or more rings and spanning multiple amino acid residues. Macrocyclization has become a common approach for improving the pharmacological properties and bioactivity of peptides. A variety of ribosomal-derived and non-ribosomal synthesized cyclization approaches have been established.
  • 1.2K
  • 16 Jul 2021
Topic Review
Polyphenoloxidase (PPO)
Fresh-cut produce are quite popular among consumers due to their eating ease, high quality and functional content. However, some of the processing steps taking place during minimal processing (such as cutting, peeling, draining, etc.) might speed up decay, e.g., microbial growth, dehydration or browning. When it comes to the latter, polyphenol oxidase (PPO) plays an important role, being the center of many works focused on the understanding of its reaction mechanism and the application of conservative techniques. The aim of this review study was to compare recent research about the effect of PPO on minimally processed fruits and vegetables, trying to understand the way it acts, the measurement of its activity and current treatments, such as modified atmosphere packaging, washing treatments or edible coatings, among others. In conclusion, the combination of conservation techniques (that is, hurdle technology) is vital to guarantee global quality in minimally processed fruits and vegetables, including synergistic effects which will allow the use of mild treatment conditions to decrease PPO activity. However, further research is required to clearly understand PPO inhibition in trendy techniques such as irradiation. 
  • 1.2K
  • 10 Sep 2021
Topic Review
Retroviral Genome Packaging
Retroviruses selectively package two copies of their RNA genomes from a cellular milieu that includes a substantial excess of host and non-genomic viral RNAs. Present understanding of the structural determinants and mechanism of retroviral genome packaging has been derived from combinations of genetic experiments, phylogenetic analyses, nucleotide accessibility mapping, in silico RNA structure predictions, and biophysical studies. Genetic experiments provided early clues regarding the protein and RNA elements required for packaging, and nucleotide accessibility mapping experiments provided insights into the secondary structures of functionally important elements in the genome. Three-dimensional structural determinants of packaging were primarily derived by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. A key advantage of NMR, relative to other methods for determining biomolecular structure (such as X-ray crystallography), is that it is well suited for studies of conformationally dynamic and heterogeneous systems—a hallmark of the retrovirus packaging machinery.
  • 1.2K
  • 06 Nov 2020
Topic Review
S-Glutathionylation and S-Nitrosylation in Mitochondria: Homeostasis and Neurodegeneration
Redox post-translational modifications are derived from fluctuations in the redox potential and modulate protein function, localization, activity and structure. Amongst the oxidative reversible modifications, the S-glutathionylation of proteins was the first to be characterized as a post-translational modification, which primarily protects proteins from irreversible oxidation. S-nitrosylation, another post-translational modification, was identified in the past, but it was re-introduced as a prototype cell-signaling mechanism, one that tightly regulates core processes within the cell’s sub-compartments, especially in mitochondria. S-glutathionylation and S-nitrosylation are modulated by fluctuations in reactive oxygen and nitrogen species and, in turn, orchestrate mitochondrial bioenergetics machinery, morphology, nutrients metabolism and apoptosis.
  • 1.2K
  • 26 Dec 2022
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