Depression is one of the most prevalent psychiatric disorders worldwide, affecting over 280 million people according to the World Health Organization. It is characterized by persistent sadness, loss of interest in pleasurable activities, fatigue, disturbances in sleep and appetite, cognitive impairment, and, in severe cases, suicidal …
Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins, and each amino acid is distinguished by the chemical nature of its side chain (R-group). Among the twenty standard amino acids, a small subset is characterized by aromatic side chains. Amino acids with aromatic side chains contain a …
The term epigenetics refers to the study of heritable changes in gene function that occur without alterations in the DNA sequence itself. Unlike genetic mutations, which modify the nucleotide code, epigenetic mechanisms influence how genes are expressed—essentially turning them “on” or “off” in response to developmental …
The regulation of gene expression is a cornerstone of molecular biology, determining how cells function, differentiate, and respond to environmental cues. One of the most crucial epigenetic mechanisms governing gene activity is histone modification. Histones are the structural proteins around which DNA is wrapped to form …
What is Alanine Transaminase? Alanine transaminase (ALT), also known as serum glutamate-pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), is a crucial enzyme in the human body, primarily associated with liver health. Its measurement in blood tests is an essential diagnostic tool that provides insights into liver function and overall metabolic …
Though proteins can be stored with cosolvents such as salts and polyols to enhance their stability and activity for biological and biotechnological applications, however, the mechanisms for protein stability remain elusive. Generally, these cosolvents promote the shifting of protein conformations towards a more compact form and …
Biogenic amines are the amines found in the biological system with many vital functions and roles. First, let me describe what is an amine. Amines are organic compounds containing an amino group as a functional group. They are basically considered as a derivative of ammonia in …
A short introduction about HMG-CoA reductase HMG-CoA reductase or 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme-A reductase is an endoplasmic reticulum membrane-bound enzyme. It catalyzes the conversion of HMG-CoA to mevalonate. This step, the formation of the mevalonate, is the rate-limiting step of cholesterol biosynthesis as well as the synthesis of …
Everybody knows HDL cholesterol or High-Density Lipoprotein is good for health while LDL or Low-Density Lipoprotein is bad. However, HDL is not always good for health. One recent study shows HDL can be bad for heart health. Before getting into the topic, I would like to …
What is niacin? Niacin is an organic acid the IUPAC name of which is pyrimidine-3-carboxylic acid. It is also called nicotinic acid or vitamin B3. However, the biologically active form is nicotinamide, not niacin which is formed during the formation of niacin-derived cofactors nicotinamide adenine …
Angiotensin II from Angiotensinogen Angiotensin is a group of peptide hormones that contains mainly four types; I, II, III, and IV. However, the biologically active form is angiotensin II. All of these are produced from the single precursor protein angiotensinogen in different steps. Angiotensinogen is a …
Classification of the lipids Lipids are classified into two classes; saponifiable lipids and non-saponifiable lipids. In a saponifiable lipid family, there are two types of lipids Glycerol Esters and Non-glycerol Esters. Glycerol esters include triacylglycerols and phosphoglycerols while non-glycerol esters include two classes of lipids; waxes …
