scholarly journals LncRNAs and the Angiogenic Switch in Cancer: Clinical Significance and Therapeutic Opportunities

Genes ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 152
Author(s):  
Peace Mabeta ◽  
Rodney Hull ◽  
Zodwa Dlamini
Keyword(s):  
Blood Vessels ◽  
Drug Targets ◽  
Patient Survival ◽  
Angiogenic Factors ◽  
Potential Drug ◽  
Hallmarks Of Cancer ◽  
Ribonucleic Acids ◽  
Angiogenic Switch ◽  
Potential Drug Targets ◽  
Potential Use

Angiogenesis is one of the hallmarks of cancer, and the establishment of new blood vessels is vital to allow for a tumour to grow beyond 1–2 mm in size. The angiogenic switch is the term given to the point where the number or activity of the pro-angiogenic factors exceeds that of the anti-angiogenic factors, resulting in the angiogenic process proceeding, giving rise to new blood vessels accompanied by increased tumour growth, metastasis, and potential drug resistance. Long noncoding ribonucleic acids (lncRNAs) have been found to play a role in the angiogenic switch by regulating gene expression, transcription, translation, and post translation modification. In this regard they play both anti-angiogenic and pro-angiogenic roles. The expression levels of the pro-angiogenic lncRNAs have been found to correlate with patient survival. These lncRNAs are also potential drug targets for the development of therapies that will inhibit or modify tumour angiogenesis. Here we review the roles of lncRNAs in regulating the angiogenic switch. We cover specific examples of both pro and anti-angiogenic lncRNAs and discuss their potential use as both prognostic biomarkers and targets for the development of future therapies.

scholarly journals NRF2 Regulation Processes as a Source of Potential Drug Targets against Neurodegenerative Diseases

Biomolecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 904 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ángel Cores ◽  
Marta Piquero ◽  
Mercedes Villacampa ◽  
Rafael León ◽  
J. Carlos Menéndez
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Neurodegenerative Diseases ◽  
Protein Degradation ◽  
Phase Ii ◽  
Drug Targets ◽  
Antioxidant Response ◽  
Potential Drug ◽  
Critical Overview ◽  
Potential Drug Targets ◽  
Potential Use

NRF2 acts by controlling gene expression, being the master regulator of the Phase II antioxidant response, and also being key to the control of neuroinflammation. NRF2 activity is regulated at several levels, including protein degradation by the proteasome, transcription, and post-transcription. The purpose of this review is to offer a concise and critical overview of the main mechanisms of NRF2 regulation and their actual or potential use as targets for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

Proteomic and Bioinformatic Analysis of Trypanosoma cruzi Chemotherapy and Potential Drug Targets: New Pieces for an Old Puzzle

2014 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 255-271 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rubem Sadok Menna-Barreto ◽  
Kele Belloze ◽  
Jonas Perales ◽  
Floriano Silva-Jr
Keyword(s):  
Trypanosoma Cruzi ◽  
Drug Targets ◽  
Bioinformatic Analysis ◽  
Potential Drug ◽  
Potential Drug Targets

Structure, Function and Interactions of Tau: Particular Focus on Potential Drug Targets for the Treatment of Tauopathies

2018 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. 325-337 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hojjat Borna ◽  
Kasim Assadoulahei ◽  
Gholamhossein Riazi ◽  
Asghar Beigi Harchegani ◽  
Alireza Shahriary
Keyword(s):  
Tau Protein ◽  
Drug Targets ◽  
Brain Injuries ◽  
Potential Drug ◽  
Microtubule Network ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Potential Risk Factors ◽  
Range Of Functions ◽  
Potential Drug Targets

Background & Objective: Neurodegenrative diseases are among the most widespread lifethreatening disorders around the world in elderly ages. The common feature of a group of neurodegenerative disorders, called tauopathies, is an accumulation of microtubule associated protein tau inside the neurons. The exact mechanism underlying tauopathies is not well-understood but several factors such as traumatic brain injuries and genetics are considered as potential risk factors. Although tau protein is well-known for its key role in stabilizing and organization of axonal microtubule network, it bears a broad range of functions including DNA protection and participation in signaling pathways. Moreover, the flexible unfolded structure of tau facilitates modification of tau by a wide range of intracellular enzymes which in turn broadens tau function and interaction spectrum. The distinctive properties of tau protein concomitant with the crucial role of tau interaction partners in the progression of neurodegeneration suggest tau and its binding partners as potential drug targets for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Conclusion: This review aims to give a detailed description of structure, functions and interactions of tau protein in order to provide insight into potential therapeutic targets for treatment of tauopathies.

scholarly journals Plasmodium Kinases as Potential Drug Targets for Malaria: Challenges and Opportunities

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 518-534
Author(s):  
Lauren B. Arendse ◽  
Susan Wyllie ◽  
Kelly Chibale ◽  
Ian H. Gilbert
Keyword(s):  
Drug Targets ◽  
Potential Drug ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Potential Drug Targets

scholarly journals In silico characterization and structural modeling of bacterial metalloprotease of family M4

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rajnee Hasan ◽  
Md. Nazmul Haq Rony ◽  
Rasel Ahmed
Keyword(s):  
Drug Targets ◽  
Active Sites ◽  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Tertiary Structure ◽  
Transmembrane Helix ◽  
Confidence Score ◽  
Potential Drug ◽  
Protein Protein Interaction ◽  
Industrial Level ◽  
Potential Drug Targets

Abstract Background The M4 family of metalloproteases is comprised of a large number of zinc-containing metalloproteases. A large number of these enzymes are important virulence factors of pathogenic bacteria and therefore potential drug targets. Whereas some enzymes have potential for biotechnological applications, the M4 family of metalloproteases is known almost exclusively from bacteria. The aim of the study was to identify the structure and properties of M4 metalloprotease proteins. Results A total of 31 protein sequences of M4 metalloprotease retrieved from UniProt representing different species of bacteria have been characterized for various physiochemical properties. They were thermostable, hydrophillic protein of a molecular mass ranging from 38 to 66 KDa. Correlation on the basis of both enzymes and respective genes has also been studied by phylogenetic tree. B. cereus M4 metalloprotease (PDB ID: 1NPC) was selected as a representative species for secondary and tertiary structures among the M4 metalloprotease proteins. The secondary structure displaying 11 helices (H1-H11) is involved in 15 helix-helix interactions, while 4 β-sheet motifs composed of 15 β-strands in PDBsum. Possible disulfide bridges were absent in most of the cases. The tertiary structure of B. cereus M4 metalloprotease was validated by QMEAN4 and SAVES server (Ramachandran plot, verify 3D, and ERRAT) which proved the stability, reliability, and consistency of the tertiary structure of the protein. Functional analysis was done in terms of membrane protein topology, disease-causing region prediction, proteolytic cleavage sites prediction, and network generation. Transmembrane helix prediction showed absence of transmembrane helix in protein. Protein-protein interaction networks demonstrated that bacillolysin of B. cereus interacted with ten other proteins in a high confidence score. Five disorder regions were identified. Active sites analysis showed the zinc-binding residues—His-143, His-147, and Glu-167, with Glu-144 acting as the catalytic residues. Conclusion Moreover, this theoretical overview will help researchers to get a details idea about the protein structure and it may also help to design enzymes with desirable characteristics for exploiting them at industrial level or potential drug targets.

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