Topic Review
Myostatin/Activin-A Signaling and Functions
Myostatin and activin-A are two of thirty-three members of the TGF-β family.
  • 476
  • 31 Aug 2021
Topic Review
TAL Effector
TAL (transcription activator-like) effectors (often referred to as TALEs, but not to be confused with the three amino acid loop extension homeobox class of proteins) are proteins secreted by Xanthomonas bacteria via their type III secretion system when they infect various plant species. These proteins can bind promoter sequences in the host plant and activate the expression of plant genes that aid bacterial infection. They recognize plant DNA sequences through a central repeat domain consisting of a variable number of ~34 amino acid repeats. There appears to be a one-to-one correspondence between the identity of two critical amino acids in each repeat and each DNA base in the target sequence. These proteins are interesting to researchers both for their role in disease of important crop species and the relative ease of retargeting them to bind new DNA sequences. Similar proteins can be found in the pathogenic bacterium Ralstonia solanacearum and Burkholderia rhizoxinica., as well as yet unidentified marine microorganisms. The term TALE-likes is used to refer to the putative protein family encompassing the TALEs and these related proteins.
  • 476
  • 08 Nov 2022
Topic Review
The Molecular Mechanisms of 4-N-[2-(4-Phenoxyphenyl)Ethyl]Quinazoline-4,6-Diamine Activity
Quinazoline derivatives are a large pool of natural and synthetic compounds. The first derivatives of quinazoline were synthesized at the end of the 19th century. one quinazoline derivative (4-N-[2-(4-phenoxyphenyl)ethyl]quinazoline-4,6-diamine)—EVP4593 (also marked as QNZ) was originally synthesized in 2003 as a modulator of the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signal transduction pathway. Since that time, EVP4593 has been widely used as a blocker of NF-κB signaling (Sigma-Aldrich, cat #481417). Further it has been reported the ability of EVP4593 to affect store-operated calcium channels.
  • 476
  • 21 Dec 2022
Topic Review
Stem Cell Therapy for Diabetes
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the most prevalent metabolic disorders. In order to replace the function of the destroyed pancreatic beta cells in diabetes, islet transplantation is the most widely practiced treatment. However, it has several limitations. As an alternative approach, human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) can provide an unlimited source of pancreatic cells that have the ability to secrete insulin in response to a high blood glucose level. However, the determination of the appropriate pancreatic lineage candidate for the purpose of cell therapy for the treatment of diabetes is still debated. While hPSC-derived beta cells are perceived as the ultimate candidate, their efficiency needs further improvement in order to obtain a sufficient number of glucose responsive beta cells for transplantation therapy. On the other hand, hPSC-derived pancreatic progenitors can be efficiently generated in vitro and can further mature into glucose responsive beta cells in vivo after transplantation.
  • 475
  • 14 May 2021
Topic Review
Molecular Mechanisms of Autophagy
Autophagy is a main catabolic mechanism of the cell and refers to an evolutionary process by which cellular components and damaged organelles are degraded or recycled through lysosomal activity. Autophagy contributes to preserve cellular homeostasis and provides the cells the ability to adapt to stressful conditions and prevent cellular damage and cell death.
  • 475
  • 20 Dec 2021
Topic Review
Exploiting DNA Replication Stress in Breast Cancer Treatment
Proliferating cells rely on DNA replication to ensure accurate genome duplication. Cancer cells, including breast cancer cells, exhibit elevated replication stress (RS) due to the uncontrolled oncogenic activation, loss of key tumor suppressors, and defects in the DNA repair machinery. This intrinsic vulnerability provides a great opportunity for therapeutic exploitation. An increasing number of drug candidates targeting RS in breast cancer are demonstrating promising efficacy in preclinical and early clinical trials.
  • 475
  • 08 Dec 2022
Topic Review
Ferroptosis in Cancers and Leukemia
Ferroptosis is a mode of cell death regulated by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation. Grow- ing evidence suggests ferroptosis induction as a novel anti-cancer modality that could potentially overcome therapy resistance in cancers. The molecular mechanisms involved in the regulation of ferroptosis are complex and highly dependent on context. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of its execution and protection machinery in each tumor type is necessary for the implementation of this unique cell death mode to target individual cancers. 
  • 476
  • 04 May 2023
Topic Review
Multiple Signaling Neurodevelopmental Pathways
Understanding the autistic brain and the involvement of genetic, non-genetic, and numerous signaling pathways in the etiology and pathophysiology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is complex, as is evident from various studies. Apart from multiple developmental disorders of the brain, autistic subjects show a few characteristics like impairment in social communications related to repetitive, restricted, or stereotypical behavior, which suggests alterations in neuronal circuits caused by defects in various signaling pathways during embryogenesis. Most of the research studies on ASD subjects and genetic models revealed the involvement of mutated genes with alterations of numerous signaling pathways like Wnt, hedgehog, and Retinoic Acid (RA).
  • 474
  • 12 Jul 2021
Topic Review
Stress Granules Dynamics during Acute Ischemic Stroke
Ischemic stroke is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide. Following an ischemic insult, cells undergo endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, which increases the ER’s protein-folding and degradative capacities and blocks the global synthesis of proteins by phosphorylating the eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2-alpha (eIF2α). Phosphorylation of eIF2α is directly related to the dynamics of stress granules (SGs), which are membraneless organelles composed of RNA-binding proteins and mRNA. SGs play a critical role in mRNA metabolism and translational control. Other translation factors are also linked to cellular pathways, including SG dynamics following a stroke. Because the formation of SGs is closely connected to mRNA translation, it is interesting to explore the relationship between SG dynamics and cellular outcome in cases of ischemic damage.
  • 475
  • 19 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Obesity-Associated Cancers
Obesity, one of the major problems in modern human society, is correlated with various diseases, including type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). In particular, epidemiological and experimental evidence indicates that obesity is closely linked to at least 13 different types of cancer. The mechanisms that potentially explain the link between obesity and cancer include hyperactivation of the IGF pathway, metabolic dysregulation, dysfunctional angiogenesis, chronic inflammation, and interaction between pro-inflammatory cytokines, endocrine hormones, and adipokines. 
  • 474
  • 18 May 2022
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