Current Protein and Peptide Science - Volume 24, Issue 1, 2023

In 2007, diabetes affected around 244 million people across the globe. The number of diabetics worldwide is projected to reach 370 million by 2030. With diabetes incidence reaching epidemic proportions globally, diabetic nephropathy (DN) has emerged as one of the most difficult health conditions. Although therapeutic approaches such as rigorous blood glucose and blood pressure management are successful in preventi Read More

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitously present in the environment. These compounds have demonstrated both mutagenic and carcinogenic properties. In the past few decades, scientists have constantly been looking for a possible route to their biological degradation. Bacterial ring hydroxylating dioxygenases (RHDs) implicated in the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon degradation comprise a large family Read More

ASXL2, as a transcription regulator, is a research hotspot for tumor detection. The aberrant expression of ASXL2 protein has been mainly implicated in malignant hematological and heart diseases. To further explore the predictive value of ASXL2 in diseases, we reviewed the structure and function of ASXL2 protein, the post-translational modification mechanism, and the expression of ASXL2 protein in the pathogenesis Read More

Platelets and their progenitors express high levels of integrin αIIbβ3, which plays a key role in platelet functions, hemostasis, and arterial thrombosis. Because of their quick and high efficacy, the three anti-αIIbβ3 drugs, abciximab, eptifibatide, and tirofiban, are regarded as potent anti-thrombotics and clinically approved by US Food and Drug Administration. However, because they interfere with the inside-out signal Read More

Sodium, potassium, and protons are the most important ions for life on earth, and their homeostasis is crucially needed for the survival of cells. The biological cells have developed a system that regulates and maintains the integrity of the cells by facilitating the exchange of these ions. These systems include the specific type of ion transporter membrane proteins such as cation-proton antiporters. Cation proton antiporters ind Read More

With 1.5 million new infections and 690,000 AIDS-related deaths globally each year, HIV- 1 remains a pathogen of significant public health concern. Although a wide array of effective antiretroviral drugs have been discovered, these largely target intracellular stages of the viral infectious cycle, and inhibitors that act at or before the point of viral entry still require further advancement. A unique class of HIV-1 entry inhibitors, call Read More

Thymosin β4 (Tβ4) is the β-thymosin (Tβs) with the highest expression level in human cells; it makes up roughly 70-80% of all Tβs in the human body. Combining the mechanism and activity studies of Tβ4 in recent years, we provide an overview of the subtle molecular mechanism, pharmacological action, and clinical applications of Tβ4. As a G-actin isolator, Tβ4 inhibits the polymerization of G-actin by binding to the Read More

The new coronavirus currently named SARS-CoV-2 was announced by the World Health Organization as the virus causing the COVID-19 pandemic. The pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 initiates upon contact of a structural spike protein with the angiotensin II-converting enzyme receptor, leading to the induction of inflammatory mechanisms and progression to severe disease in some cases. Currently, studies have emerged linking C Read More

Globally Ambrosia species (Asteraceae), commonly called ragweed, are recognized to be one of the most problematic groups of invasive weeds and one of the main allergenic genus. Climate and land-use change and air pollution are expected to promote ragweed spread, increase airborne ragweed pollen concentrations (the source of allergens), extend the pollen season, and promote longdistance transport of pollen or sub- Read More