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Topic Review
GPCR signaling in the carotid-body
       The carotid body (CB) is a vital sensory organ, located near the carotid bifurcation, that constantly monitors blood supplying the brain. The CB is stimulated by acute hypoxia, upon which it rapidly activates vital cardiovascular and respiratory reflexes, including peripheral vasoconstriction, elevated heart rate and increased breathing. These ensure that sufficient blood-oxygen is delivered to the brain to support survival. It is now apparent that there are numerous G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) expressed in the CB, and that modulation of these receptors is able to alter baseline CB activity and the sensitivity to hypoxia. Indeed, components of GPCR signaling pathways represent some of the most highly expressed genes in the rodent CB.
  • 979
  • 25 Aug 2020
Topic Review
Endomembrane System and Abiotic Stress in Plants
The sustainable exploitation of agri-environmental systems focuses more and more on practices where crops and plant species are adapted to edaphoclimatic conditions. Recent studies have shown that increased stress tolerance is related to the reorganization of cell membranes that sometimes lead to major changes in the solutes’ homeostasis and water transfer. When under stress, protein trafficking in plants is compromised, usually leading to changes in the endomembrane system that may include protein transport through unconventional routes and alteration of morphology, activity and content of key organelles, as the ER and the vacuole. Such events provide the tools for cells to adapt and overcome the challenges brought on by stress.
  • 979
  • 18 Feb 2022
Topic Review
Membrane Proteins on Artificial Lipid Membranes
Membrane proteins play an important role in key cellular functions, such as signal transduction, apoptosis, and metabolism. Therefore, structural and functional studies of these proteins are essential in fields such as fundamental biology, medical science, pharmacology, biotechnology, and bioengineering.
  • 979
  • 04 May 2023
Topic Review
Lemur Tyrosine Kinases
The members of the Lemur Tyrosine Kinases (LMTK1-3) subfamily constitute a group of three membrane-anchored kinases. They are known to influence a wide variety of key cellular events, often affecting cell proliferation and apoptosis. They have been discovered to be involved in cancer, in that they impact various signalling pathways that influence cell proliferation, migration, and invasiveness. 
  • 978
  • 04 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Zebrafish and High-Throughput Cardiac Research
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States and worldwide. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of cardiac development and regeneration will improve diagnostic and therapeutic interventions against heart disease. In this direction, zebrafish is an excellent model because several processes of zebrafish heart development are largely conserved in humans, and zebrafish has several advantages as a model organism. Zebrafish transcriptomic profiles undergo alterations during different stages of cardiac development and regeneration which are revealed by RNA-sequencing. ChIP-sequencing has detected genome-wide occupancy of histone post-translational modifications that epigenetically regulate gene expression and identified a locus with enhancer-like characteristics. ATAC-sequencing has identified active enhancers in cardiac progenitor cells during early developmental stages which overlap with occupancy of histone modifications of active transcription as determined by ChIP-sequencing. 
  • 978
  • 31 Dec 2021
Topic Review
Cell-Free DNA and Bladder Cancer
Bladder cancer (BC) is the 10th most frequent cancer in the world. The initial diagnosis and surveillance of BC require a combination of invasive and non-invasive methods, which are costly and suffer from several limitations. Cystoscopy with urine cytology and histological examination presents the standard diagnostic approach. Various biomarkers (e.g., proteins, genes, and RNAs) have been extensively studied in relation to BC.
  • 978
  • 24 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Biological Activities of Rice Phytoalexins
Domesticated rice (Oryza sativa L., Poaceae) is one of the widely grown food crops worldwide and is the primary food source in many countries, especially but not only in Asia. Unlike other staple cereal crops, most rice production is used for human consumption in the form of whole-husked grains. In addition to being a primary source of carbohydrates, proteins, and other essential nutrients, rice provides a wide range of bioactive secondary metabolites, including phenolic acids, flavonoids, terpenoids, steroids, and alkaloids. Wild and cultivated rice species are known to possess a wide variety of antimicrobial secondary metabolites, known as phytoalexins, which are part of their active defense mechanisms. These compounds are biosynthesized transiently by rice in response to pathogens and certain abiotic stresses. 
  • 978
  • 31 Jan 2023
Topic Review
Parasporins, Bacillus thuringiensis Proteins
Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is a bacterium capable of producing Cry toxins, which are recognized for their bio-controlling actions against insects. However, a few Bt strains encode proteins lacking insecticidal activity but showing cytotoxic activity against different cancer cell lines and low or no cytotoxicity toward normal human cells. 
  • 977
  • 29 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Flavonoids-Based Delivery Systems towards Cancer Therapies
Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide. Cervical cancer, for instance, is considered a major scourge in low-income countries. Its development is mostly associated with the human papillomavirus persistent infection and despite the availability of preventive vaccines, they are only widely administered in more developed countries, thus leaving a large percentage of unvaccinated women highly susceptible to this type of cancer. The treatments are based on invasive techniques, being far from effective. Therefore, the search for novel, advanced and personalized therapeutic approaches is imperative. Flavonoids belong to a group of natural polyphenolic compounds, well recognized for their great anticancer capacity, thus promising to be incorporated in cancer therapy protocols. However, their use is limited due to their low solubility, stability and bioavailability. Several types of flavonoid-based delivery systems are being developed for anticancer therapy, namely for cervical cancer. The consideration of these new forms of delivery systems allows for the use of fewer flavonoids as well as permits the use of ligands that efficiently target these systems to cancer cells, therefore reducing the risk of toxicity in healthy cells and improving their therapeutic effect. A variety of delivery systems for the encapsulation of these drugs can be explored, depending on the material considered and the properties exhibited by the drug.
  • 977
  • 08 Jul 2022
Topic Review
Tibolone
Low bone mineral density (osteoporosis) is associated with vertebral and nonvertebral fractures in postmenopausal women. Tibolone is a low-risk hormone replacement therapy alternative to estrogen therapy, effective in the treatment of menopausal symptoms and prevention of bone loss, but the evidence is controversial. This study with meta-analysis summarizes the clinical trials of the tibolone effect on percentage change of bone mineral density in the lumbar spine, femoral neck, and total hip in postmenopausal women.
  • 976
  • 01 Apr 2021
Topic Review
Detrimental Effects of Reactive Oxidative Stress
Oxidative stress is defined as a disturbance in the balance between oxidant production and antioxidant activity. Oxidative stress is characterized by an increase in reactive oxygen species or a decrease in antioxidants in the body. This imbalance leads to detrimental effects, including inflammation and multiple chronic diseases, ranging from impaired wound healing to highly impacting pathologies in the neural and cardiovascular systems, or the bone, amongst others. 
  • 975
  • 10 Jan 2024
Biography
Radha Ambalavanan
Registered Scientist (RSci), recognised by the Science Council through the Royal Society of Biology, and a Biomedical Researcher at the Self Research Institute (SRI), with over a decade of academic and applied experience spanning biochemistry, public health informatics, and ontology-based health data integration.  Proficient in utilizing comprehensive academic databases such as PubMed, Science
  • 975
  • 01 Feb 2026
Topic Review
Mitochondrial Diseases
Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) diseases are a group of maternally inherited genetic disorders caused by a lack of energy production.
  • 974
  • 04 Feb 2021
Topic Review
Bacteriophage-Derived Depolymerases against Bacterial Biofilm
In addition to specific antibiotic resistance, the formation of bacterial biofilm causes another level of complications in attempts to eradicate pathogenic or harmful bacteria, including difficult penetration of drugs through biofilm structures to bacterial cells, impairment of immunological response of the host, and accumulation of various bioactive compounds (enzymes and others) affecting host physiology and changing local pH values, which further influence various biological functions. In this study, we provide an overview on the formation of bacterial biofilm and its properties, and then we focus on the possible use of phage-derived depolymerases to combat bacterial cells included in this complex structure. On the basis of the study, we conclude that, although these bacteriophage-encoded enzymes may be effective in destroying specific compounds involved in the formation of biofilm, they are rarely sufficient to eradicate all bacterial cells. Nevertheless, a combined therapy, employing depolymerases together with antibiotics and/or other antibacterial agents or factors, may provide an effective approach to treat infections caused by bacteria able to form biofilms.
  • 974
  • 23 Feb 2021
Topic Review
Unfolded Protein Response and CD
Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress triggers a series of signaling and transcriptional events termed the unfolded protein response (UPR). Severe ER stress is associated with the development of fibrosis in different organs, including lung, liver, kidney, heart, and intestine. ER stress is an essential response of epithelial and immune cells in the pathogenesis of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), including Crohn’s disease (CD). Intestinal epithelial cells are susceptible to ER stress-mediated damage due to secretion of a large amount of proteins that are involved in mucosal defense. In other cells, ER stress is linked to myofibroblast activation, extracellular matrix production, macrophage polarization, and immune cell differentiation.
  • 974
  • 07 May 2021
Topic Review
Reactive Carbonyl Species in Plant Physiology
Oxidation of membrane lipids by reactive oxygen species (ROS) or O2/lipoxygenase leads to the formation of various bioactive compounds collectively called oxylipins. Reactive carbonyl species (RCS) are a group of oxylipins that have the α,β-unsaturated carbonyl structure, including acrolein and 4-hydroxy-(E)-2-nonenal. RCS provides a missing link between ROS stimuli and cellular responses in plants via their electrophilic modification of proteins.
  • 974
  • 10 Nov 2021
Topic Review
Autoimmunity and Inflammation of RA
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic inflammatory autoimmune disease identified by continuous joint inflammation promoting cartilage and bone damage, incapacity, and eventually systemic complications.
  • 973
  • 19 Jan 2021
Topic Review
LncRNAs in Translation
Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), a group of non-protein coding RNAs with lengths of more than 200 nucleotides, exert their effects by binding to DNA, mRNA, microRNA, and proteins and regulate gene expression at the transcriptional, post-transcriptional, translational, and post-translational levels. Depending on cellular location, lncRNAs are involved in a wide range of cellular functions, including chromatin modification, transcriptional activation, transcriptional interference, scaffolding and regulation of translational machinery.
  • 973
  • 19 Apr 2021
Topic Review
FNDC5/Irisin System in Neuroinflammation
Irisin, the circulating peptide originating from fibronectin type III domain-containing protein 5 (FNDC5), is mainly expressed by muscle fibers under peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC1α) control during exercise. In addition to several beneficial effects on health, physical activity positively affects nervous system functioning, particularly the hippocampus, resulting in amelioration of cognition impairments. Recently, FNDC5/irisin detection in hippocampal neurons and the presence of irisin in the cerebrospinal fluid opened a new intriguing chapter in irisin history. Interestingly, in the hippocampus of mice, exercise increases FNDC5 levels and upregulates brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression. BDNF, displaying neuroprotection and anti-inflammatory effects, is mainly produced by microglia and astrocytes. 
  • 973
  • 21 May 2021
Topic Review
Network Regulation of microRNA Biogenesis and Target Interaction
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are versatile, post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression. Canonical miRNAs are generated through the two-step DROSHA- and DICER-mediated processing of primary miRNA (pri-miRNA) transcripts with optimal or suboptimal features for DROSHA and DICER cleavage and loading into Argonaute (AGO) proteins, whereas multiple hairpin-structured RNAs are encoded in the genome and could be a source of non-canonical miRNAs. Advances in miRNA biogenesis research have revealed details of the structural basis of miRNA processing and cluster assistance mechanisms that facilitate the processing of suboptimal hairpins encoded together with optimal hairpins in polycistronic pri-miRNAs. In addition, a deeper investigation of miRNA–target interaction has provided insights into the complexity of target recognition with distinct outcomes, including target-mediated miRNA degradation (TDMD) and cooperation in target regulation by multiple miRNAs.
  • 971
  • 20 Feb 2023
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