What is Leptin?
Leptin is a hormone primarily produced by fat cells (adipocytes) in the body. It plays a crucial role in regulating energy balance by: Key Functions […]
Biochemistry
What is glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP)?
Glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) is a hormone involved in the regulation of insulin secretion in response to food intake. This hormone is well reviewed by […]
What is Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1)?
Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is an incretin hormone, which means it’s released from the gut (intestine) in response to food and helps regulate blood glucose levels. […]
What Is Mitochondrial Oxidative Stress (MOS)?
Mitochondrial oxidative stress (MOS) refers to the excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) within the mitochondria, leading to potential cellular damage. Mitochondria are the […]
What is RNA (Ribonucleic Acid)?
RNA (Ribonucleic Acid) is a molecule essential to many biological processes, acting primarily as a messenger and functional molecule in cells. While it shares some […]
What is Non-Coding RNA (ncRNA)?
Non-coding RNA (ncRNA) refers to RNA molecules that are transcribed from DNA but do not encode proteins. Instead, they perform a variety of regulatory, structural, […]
Natural Antifreeze Phenomena in Biological Cells
Natural antifreeze mechanisms in biological cells enable certain organisms to survive and thrive in extremely low-temperature environments. These adaptations are particularly crucial in polar and […]
Exploiting Fluorescence Microscopy
Fluorescence microscopy is a powerful imaging technique widely used in biology, medicine, and materials science to study the structure and function of cells, tissues, and […]
Umami – The 5th Taste
Umami flavour makes for a fascinating story because of the molecular nature of this sensory sensation. For many years, it was thought to be an […]
Protein Refolding
Protein refolding refers to the process of restoring the three-dimensional shape of a protein that has been unfolded or denatured. Proteins are large molecules that […]
What are Fats?
Fats, also known as triglycerides, are a type of lipid and an important energy storage molecule in many organisms. They are composed of glycerol and […]
Bacteriophages
Bacteriophages, often referred to as phages, are viruses that specifically infect and replicate within bacteria. The term “bacteriophage” originates from the Greek words “bakterion,” meaning […]
Beta-lactoglobulin
Beta-lactoglobulin (BLG) is a major whey protein found in the milk of mammals, particularly in cow’s milk. It belongs to the lipocalin protein family and […]
What is Cholecystokinin (CCK)?
Cholecystokinin (CCK) is a digestive hormone produced primarily in the small intestine (specifically the duodenum and jejunum). It plays several important roles in digestion and […]
Polyketide Synthesis
Polyketide synthesis is a fascinating process, mainly occurring in microorganisms like bacteria and fungi, which produces a diverse group of secondary metabolites known as polyketides. […]
The Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) Receptor
Introduction to TRPV1 The Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) receptor, also known as the capsaicin receptor, is a member of the TRP (transient receptor […]
What is the difference between mRNA translation in prokaryotes versus eukaryotes?
mRNA translation, the process by which messenger RNA (mRNA) molecules are decoded by ribosomes to produce proteins, exhibits differences between prokaryotes and eukaryotes due to […]
How do Cells Stick Together? Adhesion Proteins Of Course
Adhesion proteins play a fundamental role in various biological processes by facilitating cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) interactions. These proteins are crucial for maintaining tissue […]
Decoding Protein Function: Genetic Active Site Search (GASS) as a Tool for Identifying Binding Sites
Understanding the function of proteins is paramount in elucidating biological processes and developing targeted therapeutics. An essential aspect of protein function is the identification of […]
Revolutionizing Protein Structure Prediction with AlphaFold2
Understanding the three-dimensional (3D) structure of proteins is crucial for deciphering their functions and developing targeted therapies for various diseases. Historically, predicting protein structures has […]