Infectious Disorders - Drug Targets (Formerly Current Drug Targets - Infectious Disorders) - Volume 8, Issue 1, 2008

Most of the actions of estrogens are mediated by two isoforms of the estrogen receptor (ER) encoded by different genes, ERαand ERβ, which were cloned in 1986 and 1987, respectively. Both receptors function as ligand-dependent transcription factors to regulate gene expression according to the classical estrogen signalling pathway. However, estrogen signalling seems to be more complicated than the genomic pathway becau Read More

Understanding how novel antifungal compounds work in target cells is useful not only in facilitating the discovery of new drugs but also new tools that can be used for further exploration of the targeted biological pathways and their regulation. Various genomic and genetic technologies have been developed in the model yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and have been successfully used to identify drug target pathways. This r Read More

Synthesis of farnesyl pyrophosphate (FPP), a key intermediate of the isoprenoid biosynthesis pathway, is catalyzed by FPP synthase (FPPS). Antiprotozoal properties of bisphosphonates, which target FPPS, have generated interest in FPPS as a potential antiprotozoal drug target. The genes encoding FPPS from parasitic protozoa were assessed to analyze structural and functional features of the enzyme. Comparisons Read More

Technology surrounding genomics, or the study of an organism's genome and its gene use, has advanced rapidly resulting in an abundance of readily available genomic data. Although genomics is extremely valuable, proteins are ultimately responsible for controlling most aspects of cellular function. The field of proteomics, or the study of the full array of proteins produced by an organism, has become the premier arena for Read More

Infectious disorders have always received special attention due to their global importance in human health. Recently this area has been in special focus due to increased global biological threats, bioterrorism and prominent media coverage given to some recent infectious disease epidemics [1, 2]. Global climate changes have also led to an increased risk of infectious diseases [3]. Reemergence of the infectious diseases and cont Read More

Numerous experimental and clinical data show that the physiological actions of insulin and sexual steroids interact in target tissues for these hormones. In the other hand, sexual steroids has effects on peripheral tissues, and since the skeletal muscle is the main responsible for peripheral glucose uptake, it would be possible that the sexual steroids induce directly in the muscle a decrease of the sensibility of this tissue to ins Read More

Adipose tissue has recently been described as one of the major endocrine gland that plays a role in energy homeostasis, lipid metabolism, immune response, and reproduction. An excess of white adipose tissue, caused by a complex interaction between genetic, hormonal, behavioral, and environmental factors, results in obesity: a heterogeneous disorder that predisposes humans to a variety of diseases. Among several ho Read More

Rapid estrogen actions are triggered after estrogens are bound to a variety of proteins in organelles other than the nucleus. Those include classic estrogen receptors ERα and ERβ, novel membrane proteins that behave as estrogen receptors such as GPR30, ion channels, and other ligand receptors. In pancreatic α and β-cells, estrogens binding to a non-classical membrane estrogen receptors at physiological concentration Read More

The incidence of neurodegenerative diseases is higher in postmenopausal women that young women. In this sense, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, ischemic brain injury and memory or cognitive dysfunction increase dramatically when the ovarian function declines. On the other hand, insulin resistance represents an independent factor in the etiology of age-associated coronary and cerebrovascular disease. Therefore, Read More