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Topic Review
Algal Evolution
Phylogenetically algae is regarded as polyphyletic as its origin cannot be traced back to single common hypothetical ancestor. However, genomic studies on algae suggest that algae evolved through endosymbiosis giving rise to at least eight to nine phyla over a period of time.
  • 15.3K
  • 25 Nov 2020
Topic Review
Black Ginseng
Black ginseng is a processed ginseng which prepared by  steaming and drying of white or red ginseng  for several times (usually 9). This process resulting in extensive changes in types and amounts of several secondary metabolites. Thus, primary ginsenosides (the main active inredients in ginseng) were transformed into less polar derivatives by steaming. In addition, apparent changes happened to other secondary metabolites such as the increasing  of phenolic compounds, reducing sugars and acidic polysaccharides as well as the decrease in concentrations of free amino acids and total polysaccharides. Furthermore, the presence of some Maillard reaction products like maltol was also engaged. These obvious chemical changes were associated with a noticeable superiority for black ginseng over white and red ginseng in most of the comparative biological studies including anticarcinogenic, immunomodulatory, anti-Inflammatory, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, antioxidant and tonic effects.
  • 8.2K
  • 30 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Protein dynamics
Protein dynamics is a highly complex phenomenon comprising numerous contributions from motions with different mechanisms of action and happening with diverse timescales and amplitudes that highly depend on the system and the local environment.
  • 8.1K
  • 01 Nov 2020
Topic Review
Urinary Tract Infection
Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a common bacterial infection of the urethra, bladder, ureters, and the kidneys. A diagnosis of a positive UTI is any pathogen with a bacterial load of greater than 100,000 CFU/mL in the urine. A bacterial load under 100,000 CFU/mL is considered a negative UTI result. Escherichia coli (E.coli) is the most common pathogen that infects the urinary tract.
  • 7.6K
  • 10 Aug 2020
Topic Review
Vascular bundles
Vascular bundles play important roles in transporting nutrients, growth signals, amino acids, and proteins between aerial and underground tissues. 
  • 7.4K
  • 26 Feb 2021
Topic Review
G protein-coupled receptor in hepatocytes
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are cell surface receptors that mediate the function of extracellular ligands. Understanding how GPCRs work at the molecular level has important therapeutic implications, as 30-40% of the drugs currently in clinical use mediate therapeutic effects by acting on GPCRs. Like many other cell types, hepatocyte's function is regulated by GPCRs. A better understanding of the metabolic role of GPCRs in hepatocytes, the dominant constituent cells of the liver, could lead to the development of novel drugs that are clinically useful for the treatment of various metabolic diseases, including Type 2 diabetes, NAFLD, and NASH. 
  • 7.2K
  • 06 Nov 2020
Topic Review
Enzymatic Reactions in Honey
Honey is known for its content of biomolecules, such as enzymes. The enzymes of honey originate from bees, plant nectars, secretions or excretions of plant-sucking insects, or microorganisms such as yeasts. Honey can be characterized by enzyme-catalyzed and non-enzymatic reactions. Notable examples of enzyme-catalyzed reactions are the production of hydrogen peroxide through glucose oxidase activity and the conversion of hydrogen peroxide to water and oxygen by catalase enzymes. 
  • 6.3K
  • 19 Aug 2022
Topic Review
HMG-CoA-Reductase
3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMG-CoAR) is an enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of cholesterol and an important target in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia.
  • 6.0K
  • 29 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Vitamin D Synthesis and Metabolism
Vitamin D, conventionally considered a nutrient, is a potent hormone regulating many physiological functions. Vitamin D exists as a prohormone that needs to be transformed into biologically active products that bind to their cognate nuclear receptors to regulate diverse physiological processes.
  • 6.0K
  • 13 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Co-Culture System
Co-culture system provides a novel platform to study interaction between different cell types in an in-vitro method. The co-cultures techniques have played key role in the understanding of cell–cell communication and relevant for drug response analysis. 
  • 6.0K
  • 21 Jan 2021
Topic Review
Melatonin Protects Mitochondria and Adenosine Triphosphate Production
Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) is a ubiquitous, mitochondria-targeted molecule present in all tested eukarya and bacteria. In March 2022, the first discovery of the serotonin N-acetyltransferase (SNAT) gene—responsible for the penultimate formation of N-acetylserotonin (NAS) before its final conversion into melatonin — in archaea further consolidates the status of melatonin as a regulator of biomolecular condensates in all three domains of life in the cellular empire. RNA viruses including SARS-CoV-2 contain proteins with intrinsically disordered regions that undergo liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS). Liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) of these proteins form membraneless condensates that act as “viral factories” to facilitate and enhance replication. Phase separation of the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (N) protein is associated with mitochondrial dysfunction and rewiring of energy production away from oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) to favor aerobic glycolysis in cytoplasm. Increased adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in cytoplasm supports viral replication. Melatonin protects mitochondria from damage, maintains adequate levels to disassemble “viral factories”, and prevents suppression of host antiviral immune responses by inhibiting nucleocapsid phase separation via antioxidant-dependent and -independent means.
  • 5.9K
  • 05 Sep 2022
Topic Review
Curcumin's Structure and Biological Properties
Curcumin, a natural polyphenolic compound derived from the South Asian turmeric plant (Curcuma longa), has well-characterized antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-protein-aggregate, and anticancer properties.
  • 5.9K
  • 06 Nov 2020
Topic Review
Collagen
Collagen is the major fibrillar protein in most living organisms. Among the different types of collagen, type I collagen is the most abundant one in the tissues of marine invertebrates. The present overview has focused on a brief history of collagen, basic structure and synthesis, nomenclature, types, and classifications, sources of collagen with the emphasis on sea cucumber collagen, and related functional properties.
  • 5.7K
  • 13 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Hyaluronic Acid
Hyaluronic acid, as a natural linear polysaccharide, has attracted researchers’ attention from its initial detection and isolation from tissues in 1934 until the present day. Due to biocompatibility and a high biodegradation of hyaluronic acid, it finds wide application in bioengineering and biomedicine: from biorevitalizing skin cosmetics and endoprostheses of joint fluid to polymeric scaffolds and wound dressings. However, the main properties of aqueous polysaccharide solutions with different molecular weights are different. Moreover, the therapeutic effect of hyaluronic acid-based preparations directly depends on the molecular weight of the biopolymer. The present entry collects the information about hyaluronic acid and its original properties. Particular emphasis is placed on the structural, physical and physico-chemical properties of hyaluronic acid in water solutions, as well as their degradability.
  • 5.6K
  • 31 Aug 2020
Topic Review
Genome-wide association studies (GWAS)
Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) are studies assessing and analyzing either differences or variations in DNA sequences across the human genome to detect genetic risk factors of diseases prevalent within a target population under study.
  • 4.9K
  • 24 Aug 2020
Topic Review
Mango (Mangifera indica L.) Leaves
Mango (Mangifera indica L.) ascribed to the family Anacardiaceae has been adjudged as the vital traditionally significant and one of the most economically important tropical fruit crop globally.
  • 4.8K
  • 28 May 2021
Topic Review
Stilbene Biosynthesis
Stilbenes are a small family of polyphenolic secondary metabolites that can be found in several distantly related plant species. These compounds act as phytoalexins, playing a crucial role in plant defense against phytopathogens, as well as being involved in the adaptation of plants to abiotic environmental factors. Among stilbenes, trans-resveratrol is certainly the most popular and extensively studied for its health properties. However, many other stilbenes, both monomeric and oligomeric, are currently under intensive investigation due to their biological role and bioactivity.
  • 4.7K
  • 14 Jan 2021
Topic Review
Aquaporin Inhibitors
Aquaporins (AQPs) are water channel proteins that are essential to life, being expressed in all kingdoms. In humans, there are 13 AQPs, at least one of which is found in every organ system. The structural biology of the AQP family is well-established and many functions for AQPs have been reported in health and disease. AQP expression is linked to numerous pathologies including tumor metastasis, fluid dysregulation, and traumatic injury. The targeted modulation of AQPs therefore presents an opportunity to develop novel treatments for diverse conditions. Various techniques such as video microscopy, light scattering and fluorescence quenching have been used to test putative AQP inhibitors in both AQP-expressing mammalian cells and heterologous expression systems. The inherent variability within these methods has caused discrepancy and many molecules that are inhibitory in one experimental system (such as tetraethylammonium, acetazolamide, and anti-epileptic drugs) have no activity in others. Some heavy metal ions (that would not be suitable for therapeutic use) and the compound, TGN-020, have been shown to inhibit some AQPs. Clinical trials for neuromyelitis optica treatments using anti-AQP4 IgG are in progress. However, these antibodies have no effect on water transport. More research to standardize high-throughput assays is required to identify AQP modulators for which there is an urgent and unmet clinical need.
  • 4.4K
  • 06 Sep 2021
Topic Review
Fatty Acid Synthase
Fatty acid synthase is a multi-enzyme protein that involves in fatty acid synthesis. It's main function is to synthesise palmitate, a 16-carbon long chain saturated fatty acid from acetyl-CoA and malonyl-CoA, in the presence of NADPH.
  • 4.4K
  • 01 Sep 2020
Topic Review
SpyCatcher-SpyTag System
The SpyCatcher-SpyTag system was developed as a method for protein ligation. It is based on a modified domain from a Streptococcus pyogenes surface protein (SpyCatcher), which recognizes a cognate 13-amino-acid peptide (SpyTag). Upon recognition, the two form a covalent isopeptide bond between the side chains of a lysine in SpyCatcher and an aspartate in SpyTag. This technology has been used, among other applications, to create covalently stabilized multi-protein complexes, for modular vaccine production, and to label proteins (e.g., for microscopy). 
  • 4.4K
  • 19 Oct 2022
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