Current Medicinal Chemistry - Volume 13, Issue 10, 2006

β-Endorphin (β-EP) is generally classified as aμ;andδ;opioid receptor agonist but is also an agonist of theɛopioid receptor. Although several selective agonists and antagonists for m, d, and k opioid receptors are known, selectiveɛreceptor agonists or antagonists have not been reported for some time. Recently, we designed and synthesized the selectiveɛreceptor agonist, 17-(cyclopropylmethyl)-4,5α-epoxy-3,6β- dihydroxy-6,14-en Read More

Chromatin remodeling is a fundamental phenomenon in the life of eukaryotic cells, bearing implications to numerous physiological and pathological phenomena. This review outlines the chemistry of natural and synthetic agents endowed with the ability to interfere with such biological function, with a particular emphasis on histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors. Other aspects covered in this article comprise structure activity rel Read More

Almost all of the key molecules in organisms involved in the innate and adaptive immune response (including immunoglobulins, cytokines and cytokine receptors, complements, CD molecules, adhesions, Tcell receptors and major histocompatibility complex molecules) are glycoproteins. Besides, foreign antigens, such as many viral envelope proteins, are glycoproteins too. Carbohydrates attached to proteins or peptides a Read More

In the past, autoimmunity was thought to be mediated by antibodies and immune complexes. It has now become clear that many autoimmune diseases, especially tissue specific, are T cell-mediated, or at least T cell-dependent. The pathogenesis of cell-mediated autoimmune diseases, including multiple sclerosis, uveitis, diabetes, arthritis, and others, is now thought to be, in a large measure, driven by interferon-γ-produ Read More

Photodynamic Therapy employing 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) as a precursor of the photosensitizer Protoporphyrin IX has become a promising approach to treat superficial cancers. However, the hydrophilic nature of the ALA molecule somewhat limits the penetration through the skin as well as all cell membranes. Different attempts are currently under investigation to enhance ALA penetration, such as the development o Read More

Choline kinase (ChoK) is a cytosolic enzyme present in various tissues, whcih catalyzes the phosphorylation of choline to form phosphorylcholine (PCho) in the presence of ATP and magnesium. ChoK is important for the generation of two major membrane phospholipids, phosphatidylcholine (PC) and sphingomyelin (SM) and subsequently for the cell division. ChoK plays a vital role in cell signaling pathways and regulation of cel Read More

Gastric hyperacidity and ulceration of the stomach mucosa due to various factors are serious health problems of global concern. Although the mechanism of acid secretion from the parietal cells is now well understood, the processes involved in gastric ulceration are still not clear. Among the various causes of gastric ulceration, lesions caused by stress, alcohol consumption, Helicobacter pylori and due to use of non-steroid Read More

Currently available therapeutic options for non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, such as dietary modification, oral hypoglycemics, and insulin, have limitations of their own. Many natural products and herbal medicines have been recommended for the treatment of diabetes. The present paper reviews medicinal plants that have shown experimental or clinical antidiabetic activity and that have been used in traditional syste Read More

The conversion of cysteine to 3-sulfino-alanine is a major pathway in cysteine catabolism. Cysteine dioxygenase catalyzes the reaction and dietary intake of the essential amino acid methionine and the semiessential amino acid cysteine increases the level of this enzyme by suppressing enzyme degradation via polyubiquitination. The production of cellular antioxidants such as glutathione, thioredoxin, and their families is importan Read More