Current Enzyme Inhibition - Volume 1, Issue 3, 2005

A review of methods based on enzyme inhibition in environmental monitoring is presented, which is mainly focussed on the detection of pollutants, such as pesticides, heavy metal ions and other toxic compounds. The sensing principles, design of the biosensor and an evaluation of biosensors structures (i.e. electrochemical, optical, piezoelectric and calorimetric) that have been developed for environmental monitoring are also Read More

Nitro compounds are used in various industries, including the pharmaceutical industry. These compounds have considerable importance for human health for two distinctly different reasons. Some nitro compounds are toxic environmental contaminants and pose a serious threat to human health; others are used as therapeutic agents. Nitro compounds are used as agents for the treatment of infectious diseases caused by G Read More

Nitric oxide (NO) exerts its action in several physiological and pathological events. The great propensity for Cys(NO)-(de)nitrosylation represents a mechanism which modulates cysteine protease action. Cys(NO)-(de)nitrosylation is assisted by basic and acid residues, within the environment of the Cys catalytic residue. In particular, Cys-nitrosylation is catalyzed by amino acid residues which stabilize the reactive deprotonated fo Read More

Diabetes mellitus rate is rising worldwide and is now recognized as the most common cause of endstage renal disease and blindness among adults, and a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Diabetics present more extensive atherosclerosis, and particularly, the type 2 diabetes mellitus patients are often obese, hypertensive, and dyslipidaemic subjects, sharing the criteria of the metabolic syndrome. Nowadays, the renin Read More

Ischemia/reperfusion injury is unavoidable during cardiopulmonary bypass surgery because the surgery is conducted during ischemic arrest of the heart. Animal studies have shown that the administration of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors can protect against lethal arrhythmias, preserve ventricular function, and improve coronary reserve after ischemia/reperfusion. Two factors to consider when using ACE inhibito Read More

Several metals have been shown to be carcinogenic to humans and/or experimental animals. The mechanisms of their carcinogenicity are not completely understood, even if DNA repair inhibition seems to be the most probable. Current evidence suggests that DNA repair systems are very sensitive target for nickel (II), cadmium (II), cobalt (II) and arsenic (III) leading to a diminished removal of endogenous and exogenously i Read More

Somatostatin (SRIF) is a cyclic peptide widely distributed throughout the body with important physiological effects (mostly inhibitory) on several organ systems. SRIF may act as a neurohormone, neurotransmitter, neuromodulator or as a local factor, and exhibits potent antiproliferative activity. SRIF effects have formed the basis for the clinical use of SRIF analogues in the treatment of endocrine tumours, acromegaly an Read More

Caspases are a family of aspartate-specific cysteine proteinases that play a critical role in the execution phase of apoptosis. They are normally present in cells in a proenzyme form that requires limited proteolysis for enzymatic activity. The processing of caspases needs the reduction of a cysteine residue as well as other cysteine residues around the catalytic site for enzymatic activity and dimerization via sulfhydryl groups. Read More

Very little is known about the numerous causes and molecular mechanisms of aneuploidy in any cell type. However, recent data suggest that alterations in proteasome activity may be one of several potential mechanisms that predispose cells to faulty chromosome segregation. Proteasomes represent multicatalytic 26S proteases consisting of a 20S central catalytic core bordered by two 19 S components that hy Read More

As shown in several screenings, cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) are sources of very interesting metabolites, many of which possess significant biological activities [1]. Cyanopeptides, as a rule, metabolites of a peptidic nature, show in addition to hepato- and neurotoxic properties, a broad spectrum of biological activities, including antitumour [2], immunosuppressive [3] and antimicrobial effects [4], as well as angiotensin-co Read More

Lipoxygenases (LOs) constitute a family of dioxygenases containing one non-heme iron atom per molecule, which oscillates between Fe2+ (inactive enzyme) and Fe3+ (active form) during the catalytic cycle. They catalyze the oxygenation of polyunsaturated fatty acids containing a (1Z, 4Z)-penta-1,4-diene system to the corresponding hydroxyperoxy derivatives. Arachidonic acid, which contains four double bonds in its config Read More

Diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema (DME) remain important causes of visual loss worldwide despite the adoption of intensive glycemic control for the management of diabetes. Several interacting and mutually perpetuating abnormal biochemical systems, such as non-enzymatic glycation, protein kinase C (PKC) β activation, the polyol pathway, and oxidative stress, may be activated by sustained hypergl Read More