Phytochemicals, which are bioactive compounds contained in fruits, vegetables, and teas, have a positive effect on human health by having anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticarcinogenic effects. Several studies have highlighted the ability of bioactive compounds to activate key cellular enzymes associated with important signaling pathways related to cell division and proliferation, as well as their role in inflammatory and immunological responses. Some phytochemicals are associated with increased proliferation, differentiation, and expression of markers related to osteogenesis, bone formation, and mineralization by activating various signaling pathways.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe evolution of eukaryotes is a fundamental event in the history of life. The closest prokaryotic lineage to eukaryotes, the Asgardarchaeota, encode proteins previously found only in eukaryotes, providing insight into their archaeal ancestor. Eukaryotic cells are characterized by endomembrane organelles, and the Arf family GTPases regulate organelle dynamics by recruiting effector proteins to membranes upon activation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFN-Methylation of the peptide backbone confers pharmacologically beneficial characteristics to peptides that include greater membrane permeability and resistance to proteolytic degradation. The borosin family of ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides offer a post-translational route to install amide backbone α-N-methylations. Previous work has elucidated the substrate scope and engineering potential of two examples of type I borosins, which feature autocatalytic precursors that encode N-methyltransferases that methylate their own C-termini in trans.
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