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Topic Review
Nephronectin
Nephronectin (NPNT) was originally identified as an ECM protein by two independent research groups in 2001. Brandenberger et al. reported NPNT to be involved in the embryonic development of the kidney, hence the name nephronectin (nephron: unit within the kidney; nectin: cellular adhesion proteins). Morimura and colleagues discovered the same protein to be associated with osteoblast differentiation, and named it preosteoblast epidermal growth factor-like repeat protein with meprin, A5 protein and receptor protein-tyrosine phosphatase µ domain (POEM).
  • 1.2K
  • 08 Apr 2021
Topic Review
Sprouts and Microgreens for Healthy Diets
Healthy diets prevent diet-related non-communicable diseases; they provide nutrients and health-promoting substances from nutritious foods in adequate amounts. With society's growing interest in healthy eating, the interest in fresh, ready-to-eat, functional food, such as microscale vegetables (sprouted seeds and microgreens), has been on the rise in recent years globally. This entry briefly describes the crops commonly used for microscale vegetable production, highlights Brassica vegetables because of their health-promoting secondary metabolites and looks at consumer acceptance of sprouts and microgreens. Landraces, wild food plants, and crops' wild relatives often have high phytonutrient density and exciting flavours and tastes, thus providing scope to widen the range of crops and species used for this purpose. Moreover, the nutritional value and content of phytochemicals often vary with plant growth and development stages of the same crop. Sprouted seeds and microgreens are often more nutrient-dense than ungerminated seeds or mature vegetables. This entry also describes the environmental and priming factors that may impact the nutritional value and content of phytochemicals of microscale vegetables. Due to their short growth cycle, nutrient-dense sprouts and microgreens can be produced with minimal input and without pesticides. They can even be home-grown and harvested as needed, hence having low environmental impacts and a broad acceptance among health-conscious consumers.
  • 1.2K
  • 21 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Citrus Fruit Loss Caused by Pathogens
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) contribute to the improvement of production and consumption systems, hence, assisting in the eradication of hunger and poverty. As a result, there is growing global interest in the direction of economic development to create a zero-waste economy or circular economy. Citrus fruits are a major fruit crop, with annual global production surpassing 100 million tons, while orange and tangerine production alone account for more than half of the overall production. During pre- and postharvest stages of citrus fruit production, it is estimated that more than 20% of fruit biomass is lost, due, primarily, to biotic stresses. Due to substantial changes in fruit characteristics and environmental conditions, some of the most economically significant pathogens infect fruits in the field during the growing season and remain dormant or inactive until they resume growth after harvest. 
  • 1.2K
  • 31 Aug 2022
Topic Review
Alkenylbenzenes and Food
Alkenylbenzenes are potentially toxic (genotoxic and carcinogenic) compounds present in plants such as basil, tarragon, anise star and lemongrass. These plants are found in various edible consumer products, e.g., popularly used to flavour food. Thus, there are concerns about the possible health consequences upon increased exposure to alkenylbenzenes especially due to food intake. It is therefore important to constantly monitor the amounts of alkenylbenzenes in our food chain. 
  • 1.2K
  • 22 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Transglutaminase 2
Transglutaminase 2 (TG2) is a ubiquitously expressed enzyme catalyzing the crosslinking between Gln and Lys residues and involved in various pathophysiological events. Besides this crosslinking activity, TG2 functions as a deamidase, GTPase, isopeptidase, adapter/scaffold, protein disulfide isomerase, and kinase. It also plays a role in the regulation of hypusination and serotonylation.
  • 1.2K
  • 11 Aug 2021
Topic Review
CD47-SIRPα Innate Immune Checkpoint on Neutrophils
Immunotherapy aims to engage various immune cells in the elimination of cancer cells. Neutrophils are the most abundant leukocytes in the circulation and have unique mechanisms by which they can kill cancer cells opsonized by antibodies. However, neutrophil effector functions are limited by the inhibitory receptor SIRPα, when it interacts with CD47. The CD47 protein is expressed on all cells in the body and acts as a ‘don’t eat me’ signal to prevent tissue damage. Cancer cells can express high levels of CD47 to circumvent tumor elimination. Thus, blocking the interaction between CD47 and SIRPα may enhance anti-tumor effects by neutrophils in the presence of tumor-targeting monoclonal antibodies. Blocking the CD47-SIRPα interaction may therefore potentiate neutrophil-mediated antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) towards cancer cells, and various inhibitors of the CD47-SIRPα axis are now in clinical studies.
  • 1.2K
  • 27 Jul 2022
Topic Review
FGCaMP7 Genetically Encoded Calcium Indicator
Genetically encoded calcium indicators (GECIs) have become a widespread tool for the visualization of neuronal activity. As compared to popular GCaMP GECIs, the FGCaMP indicator benefits from calmodulin from the Aspergillus niger fungus, which prevent its interaction with the intracellular environment. However, FGCaMP exhibits a two-phase fluorescence behavior with the variation of calcium ion concentration, has moderate sensitivity in neurons (as compared to the GCaMP6s indicator), and has not been fully characterized in vitro and in vivo. To address these limitations, we developed an enhanced version of FGCaMP, called FGCaMP7. FGCaMP7 preserves the ratiometric phenotype of FGCaMP, with a 3.1-fold larger ratiometric dynamic range in vitro. FGCaMP7 demonstrates 2.7- and 8.7-fold greater photostability compared to mEGFP and mTagBFP2 fluorescent proteins in vitro, respectively. The ratiometric response of FGCaMP7 is 1.6- and 1.4-fold higher, compared to the intensiometric response of GCaMP6s, in non-stimulated and stimulated neuronal cultures, respectively. We reveal the inertness of FGCaMP7 to the intracellular environment of HeLa cells using its truncated version with a deleted M13-like peptide; in contrast to the similarly truncated variant of GCaMP6s. We characterize the crystal structure of the parental FGCaMP indicator. Finally, we test the in vivo performance of FGCaMP7 in mouse brain using a two-photon microscope and an NVista miniscope; and in zebrafish using two-color ratiometric confocal imaging.
  • 1.2K
  • 29 Oct 2020
Topic Review
DKK1 in Hair Regeneration
Dickkopf-related protein 1 (DKK1) is distinctly identified as an inhibitor of canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling.
  • 1.2K
  • 22 Nov 2021
Topic Review
Long Non-coding RNAs
Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) constitute important group of RNA molecules with various biological activities. Despite significant progress in the understanding of lncRNAs, pivotal functions of this class of molecules are emerging. Among these, role in DNA damage response (DDR) seems to be fundamental. Various lncRNAs were found to modulate DNA repair on different levels: through TP53 activity modulation at transcriptional and translational level, through recruitment of chromatin remodelers that modulate the access of DNA repair proteins to the site of damage, and by working as scaffolds and mediators for DNA repair proteins, and acting as sponges for various DNA-damage-associated miRNAs. Considering that, lncRNAs involvement in DDR constitute interesting field of research with numerous future applications, such as development of new targeted anticancer therapies. 
  • 1.2K
  • 22 Jan 2021
Topic Review
LINE1 Retrotransposons
LINE-1 (L1) is a class of autonomous mobile genetic elements that form somatic mosaicisms in various tissues of the organism. The activity of L1 retrotransposons is strictly controlled by many factors in somatic and germ cells at all stages of ontogenesis. Alteration of L1 activity was noted in a number of diseases: in neuropsychiatric and autoimmune diseases, as well as in various forms of cancer.
  • 1.2K
  • 20 Oct 2021
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