Immobilized Lipases: An Overview
Lipases (triacylglycerol hydrolases, EC 3.1.1.3) are hydrolytic enzymes that catalyze the cleavage of ester bonds in triglycerides, releasing free fatty acids and glycerol. They are […]
Biochemistry
Southern Blotting – Principles, Methodology, and Applications
Southern blotting is a molecular biology technique developed by Edwin Southern in 1975, designed to detect specific DNA sequences within a complex mixture of DNA. […]
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 […]
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 […]
Molecular Evolution as Evidenced in the Three-Dimensional Structures of Proteins
Proteins are the primary functional molecules of life, performing a dazzling array of roles ranging from enzymatic catalysis to structural support, from transport and signaling […]
The Pathological Consequences of Bacterial Sialoglycan Mimicry
Bacterial pathogens have evolved sophisticated mechanisms to survive within host organisms, evade immune responses, and establish persistent infections. One such strategy involves the synthesis of […]
The Synthesis of Arginine
Arginine is a semi-essential amino acid that plays critical roles in protein synthesis, nitrogen metabolism, and cell signaling in both eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms. In […]
Supersecondary Structures in Proteins and Their Relationship to Tertiary Organization
Proteins are the essential molecular machines of life, enabling chemical catalysis, molecular recognition, signaling, transport, and structural integrity. Their extraordinary range of functions is a […]
Alpha-Helices, Beta-Sheets, and the Architecture of Protein Secondary Structure
Proteins are remarkable biological polymers whose functions span catalysis, structural support, signaling, transport, and regulation. Their diverse roles stem from the ability of linear chains […]
Glucose Transport Systems in Cells
Glucose is a central energy substrate and metabolic intermediate in nearly all forms of life. As the primary fuel for glycolysis, the tricarboxylic acid cycle, […]
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 […]
Examining Sialic Acids On Lipopolysaccharides
Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) are major structural components of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, playing critical roles in membrane integrity, immune recognition, and bacterial pathogenicity. Structurally, […]
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 […]
Allosterism in Enzymes: Mechanism, Significance, and Applications in Biotechnology
Enzymes are biological catalysts that accelerate chemical reactions essential to life. Among the many regulatory mechanisms controlling enzyme activity, allosterism—the modulation of enzyme function through […]