Your browser does not fully support modern features. Please upgrade for a smoother experience.
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 by:
Most Viewed Latest Alphabetical (A-Z) Alphabetical (Z-A)
Filter:
All Topic Review Biography Peer Reviewed Entry Video Entry
Topic Review
Metabolic Reprogramming in Sickle Cell Diseases
Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a genetic disorder that affects millions of individuals worldwide. Chronic anemia, hemolysis, and vasculopathy are associated with SCD, and their role has been well characterized. These symptoms stem from hemoglobin (Hb) polymerization, which is the primary event in the molecular pathogenesis of SCD and contributes to erythrocyte or red blood cell (RBC) sickling, stiffness, and vaso-occlusion. The disease is caused by a mutation at the sixth position of the β-globin gene, coding for sickle Hb (HbS) instead of normal adult Hb (HbA), which under hypoxic conditions polymerizes into rigid fibers to distort the shapes of the RBCs. Only a few therapies are available, with the universal effectiveness of recently approved therapies still being monitored. 
  • 1.1K
  • 18 Jul 2022
Topic Review
HuR and Hepatobiliary Cancers
HuR owns the post-transcriptional control of a large number of RNAs, enabling the protein to play pivotal roles that are dictated by the molecular functions of the transcripts. HuR targets, chiefly, include many mRNAs encoding proteins involved in cell proliferation, senescence, apoptosis, differentiation, stress, and immune responses. In turn, HuR was found to be involved not only in physiological processes (e.g., adipogenesis and muscle differentiation) but also in disease (primarily, cancer and inflammation). 
  • 1.1K
  • 24 Jun 2022
Topic Review
ALDH in Gynecologic Malignancies
Gynecologic cancers cause over 600,000 deaths annually in women worldwide. The development of chemoresistance after initial rounds of chemotherapy contributes to tumor relapse and death due to gynecologic malignancies. In this regard, cancer stem cells (CSCs), a subpopulation of stem cells with the ability to undergo self-renewal and clonal evolution, play a key role in tumor progression and drug resistance. Aldehyde dehydrogenases (ALDH) are a group of enzymes shown to be robust CSC markers in gynecologic and other malignancies. These enzymes also play functional roles in CSCs, including detoxification of aldehydes, scavenging of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and retinoic acid (RA) signaling, making ALDH an attractive therapeutic target in various clinical scenarios. In this review, we discuss the critical roles of the ALDH in driving stemness in different gynecologic malignancies. We review inhibitors of ALDH, both general and isoform-specific, which have been used to target CSCs in gynecologic cancers. Many of these inhibitors have been shown to be effective in preclinical models of gynecologic malignancies, supporting further development in the clinic. Furthermore, ALDH inhibitors, including 673A and CM037, synergize with chemotherapy to reduce tumor growth. Thus, ALDH-targeted therapies hold promise for improving patient outcomes in gynecologic malignancies.
  • 1.1K
  • 20 Feb 2021
Topic Review
LEAFY COTYLEDON 2: A Regulatory Factor in Plant
Transcription factors are key molecules in the regulation of gene expression in all organisms. The transcription factor LEAFY COTYLEDON 2 (LEC2), which belongs to the DNA-binding protein family, contains a B3 domain. The transcription factor is involved in the regulation of important plant biological processes such as embryogenesis, somatic embryo formation, seed storage protein synthesis, fatty acid metabolism, and other important biological processes.
  • 1.1K
  • 13 Dec 2021
Biography
Oleg B. Ptitsyn
Oleg Borisovich Ptitsyn was born in Leningrad, USSR, on July 18, 1929. His mother, Iva Ruvimovna Protas (1904–1976), and father, Boris Vladimirovich Ptitsyn (1903–1965), were chemists. In 1941, after the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, 12-year-old Oleg and his mother, then a scientist for the State Optics Institute, were evacuated to the east, across the Volga River, to the town of Yos
  • 1.1K
  • 07 Nov 2022
Topic Review
LIMK1 in Spine Regulation
The LIM-domain-containing protein kinases (LIMK1 and LIMK2) are key regulators of the actin cytoskeleton by affecting the actin-binding protein, cofilin. Additionally, LIMK1 is implicated in the regulation of gene expression through its interaction with the cAMP-response element-binding protein (CREB). Accumulating evidence indicates that LIMKs are critically involved in brain function and dysfunction.
  • 1.1K
  • 17 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Emerging Pathogen-Detection Techniques in Agro-Food Sector
The agro-food sector is one of major contributors to the economy of a developing country. This sector offers a primary source of nutrition for livestock and also more than 80% of the food consumed by human beings. The monitoring of agro-food products is essential to maintain our civilization with food security via reducing the risk of infections. The diagnosis of pathogens can be carried out in plants themselves, in obtained food products, or in humans after the consumption of contaminated agro-foods.
  • 1.1K
  • 29 Jul 2022
Topic Review
Application of Molecular Hydrogen to Postharvest Produce
Molecular hydrogen (H2) has been found to have significant effects in a range of organisms, from plants to humans. In the biomedical arena it has been found to have positive effects for neurodegenerative disease and even for treatment of COVID-19. In plants H2 has been found to improve seed germination, foliar growth, and crops: effects being most pronounced under stress conditions. It has also been found that treatment with H2 can improve the postharvest preservation of fruits, vegetables and flowers.
  • 1.1K
  • 04 Nov 2022
Topic Review
SALL Proteins in Cancer
SALL proteins are a family of four conserved C2H2 zinc finger transcription factors that play critical roles in organogenesis during embryonic development. They regulate cell proliferation, survival, migration, and stemness; consequently, they are involved in various human genetic disorders and cancer. SALL4 is a well-recognized oncogene; however, SALL1–3 play dual roles depending on the cancer context and stage of the disease.
  • 1.1K
  • 11 Jan 2022
Topic Review
PPAR Ligands in Viral Infections
Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors (PPARs), belonging to the nuclear receptor superfamily, are transcription factors playing well-established roles in several metabolic pathways in the organism, including lipid and glucose metabolism, energetic homeostasis, cell differentiation and proliferation. Since their discovery, a body of knowledge has been collected on them, and the three receptor subtypes (PPARα, PPARγ, PPARβ/δ) have attracted a great deal of efforts by medicinal chemists to identify novel drugs targeting the metabolism. PPAR agonists, antagonists, and modulators represent important pharmacological tools to induce beneficial therapeutic effects in metabolic disorders, such as metabolic syndrome, obesity, diabetes, and others.
  • 1.1K
  • 30 Jan 2022
Topic Review
The Role of Epigenetics in Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is characterised by high levels of blood glucose resulting from a combination of factors, including insulin resistance, a decrease in insulin secretion, and an increase in glucose production by the liver. Epigenetic changes have been shown to influence these factors through changes in changes in gene expression patterns.
  • 1.1K
  • 11 Jul 2023
Topic Review
Ferredoxin-NADP+ Oxidoreductase and Flavodoxin
Distinct isoforms of FAD-containing ferredoxin-NADP+ oxidoreductase (FNR) and ferredoxin (Fd) are involved in photosynthetic and non-photosynthetic electron transfer systems. The FNR (FAD)-Fd [2Fe-2S] redox pair complex switches between one- and two-electron transfer reactions in steps involving FAD semiquinone intermediates. In cyanobacteria and some algae, one-electron carrier Fd serves as a substitute for low-potential FMN-containing flavodoxin (Fld) during growth under low-iron conditions. This complex evolves into the covalent FNR (FAD)-Fld (FMN) pair, which participates in a wide variety of NAD(P)H-dependent metabolic pathways as an electron donor, including bacterial sulfite reductase, cytochrome P450 BM3, plant or mammalian cytochrome P450 reductase and nitric oxide synthase isoforms. These electron transfer systems share the conserved Ser-Glu/Asp pair in the active site of the FAD module. In addition to physiological electron acceptors, the NAD(P)H-dependent diflavin reductase family catalyzes a one-electron reduction of artificial electron acceptors such as quinone-containing anticancer drugs. Conversely, NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase (NQO1), which shares a Fld-like active site, functions as a typical two-electron transfer antioxidant enzyme, and the NQO1 and UDP-glucuronosyltransfease/sulfotransferase pairs function as an antioxidant detoxification system.
  • 1.1K
  • 17 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Heat Shock Protein B8
The Heat Shock Protein B8 (HSPB8) is a small chaperone involved in chaperone-assisted selective autophagy (CASA). CASA promotes the selective degradation of proteins to counteract cell stress such as tumor-induced stress. HSPB8 is also involved in (i) the cell division machinery regulating chromosome segregation and cell cycle arrest in the G0/G1 phase and (ii) inflammation regulating dendritic cell maturation and cytokine production. HSPB8 expression and role are tumor-specific, showing a dual and opposite role.
  • 1.1K
  • 10 Mar 2021
Topic Review
Plant-Based Compounds Against SARS-CoV-2
Polyphenols and alkaloids are the most widespread plant-based products with prominent properties including anti-cancer, antioxidant, antimalarial, antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-dengue effects. Accordingly, these phytochemicals can be promising candidates for discovering effective therapeutic regimens for SARS-CoV-2. 
  • 1.1K
  • 02 Feb 2023
Topic Review
Acid-Sensing Ion Channels and Mechanosensation
Acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) are mainly proton-gated cation channels, which can be activated by a drop in extracellular pH below 7.0 and triggered by nonproton ligands during physiological pH levels.
  • 1.1K
  • 12 May 2021
Topic Review
Melatonin on NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation
The NLRP3 inflammasome is a part of the innate immune system and responsible for the rapid identification and eradication of pathogenic microbes, metabolic stress products, reactive oxygen species, and other exogenous agents. NLRP3 inflammasome is overactivated in several neurodegenerative, cardiac, pulmonary, and metabolic diseases. Therefore, suppression of inflammasome activation is of utmost clinical importance. Melatonin is a ubiquitous hormone mainly produced in the pineal gland with circadian rhythm regulatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory functions. Melatonin is a natural product and safer than most chemicals to use for medicinal purposes. Many in vitro and in vivo studies have proved that melatonin alleviates NLRP3 inflammasome activity via various intracellular signaling pathways.
  • 1.1K
  • 07 Jul 2021
Topic Review
Fibrinogen and Antifibrinolytic Proteins
The antifibrinolytic proteins alpha-2 antiplasmin (α2AP), thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI), complement C3 and plasminogen activator inhibitor-2 (PAI-2), can be incorporated into the fibrin clot by FXIIIa and affect fibrinolysis by different mechanisms. Therefore, these antifibrinolytic proteins are attractive targets for the development of novel therapeutics, both for the modulation of thrombosis risk, but also for potentially improving clot instability in bleeding disorders.
  • 1.1K
  • 03 Dec 2021
Topic Review
Molecular Mechanism of Autophagy Regulation by Persulfidation
The term “autophagy”, (from the Greek words auto, meaning “self” and phagein, meaning “to eat”)—literally, eating one’s self—was first created by Christian de Duve over 40 years ago, who discovered lysosomes and provided clear proof of their participation in this process. It is an evolutionarily conserved process of degradation and recycling in eukaryotic organisms. The research of H2S as a signaling molecule has been focused on the effect of sulfide donors on different diseases and physiological pathways, until in 2009 when Snyder’s group described persulfidation or S-sulfhydration as the mechanism of H2S signaling. Since then, numerous targets have been identified to undergo persulfidation, and it has become recognized as the main mechanism by which H2S controls several cellular functions. Persulfidation is a posttranslational modification of cysteine residues, where a thiol group (RSH) is transformed into a persulfide group (RSSH)
  • 1.1K
  • 22 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Biomedical Applications of Polyoxometalates Environmental
Polyoxometalates (POMs) are clusters of units of oxoanions of transition metals, such as Mo, W, V and Nb, that can be formed upon acidification of neutral solutions. Once formed, some POMs have shown to persist in solution, even in the neutral and basic pH range. These inorganic clusters, amenable of a variety of structures, have been studied in environmental, chemical, and industrial fields, having applications in catalysis and macromolecular crystallography, as well as applications in biomedicine, such as cancer, bacterial and viral infections, among others.
  • 1.1K
  • 14 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Molecular Biomarkers of K-RAS Dependency
Oncogenic v-Ki-ras2 Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (K-RAS) plays a key role in the development and maintenance of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). The targeting of K-RAS would be beneficial to treat tumors whose growth depends on active K-RAS. The analysis of K-RAS genomic mutations is a clinical routine; however, an emerging question is whether the mutational status is able to identify tumors effectively dependent on K-RAS for tailoring targeted therapies. With the emergence of novel K-RAS inhibitors in clinical settings, this question is relevant. Several studies support the notion that the K-RAS mutation is not a sufficient biomarker deciphering the effective dependency of the tumor. Transcriptomic and metabolomic profiles of tumors, while revealing K-RAS signaling complexity and K-RAS-driven molecular pathways crucial for PDAC growth, are opening the opportunity to specifically identify K-RAS-dependent- or K-RAS-independent tumor subtypes by using novel molecular biomarkers. This would help tumor selection aimed at tailoring therapies against K-RAS. In this review, we will present studies about how the K-RAS mutation can also be interpreted in a state of K-RAS dependency, for which it is possible to identify specific K-RAS-driven molecular biomarkers in certain PDAC subtypes, beyond the genomic K-RAS mutational status.
  • 1.1K
  • 31 Jul 2020
  • Page
  • of
  • 134
Featured Entry Collections
>>

Featured Reprints

>>
Encyclopedia of Digital Society, Industry 5.0 and Smart City
Encyclopedia of Engineering
Encyclopedia of Social Sciences
Encyclopedia of Medieval Royal Iconography
Academic Video Service
Feedback