Creative BioMart

The Kinesins Gene Family is a critical group of motor proteins responsible for a wide array of cellular processes, ranging from intracellular transport to mitotic spindle assembly. These ATP-dependent molecular motors move along microtubules and are essential for proper cell division, neuronal function, and organelle positioning. Understanding kinesin family structure, regulation, and expression has become a central focus in biomedical research.   The Kinesins Gene Family: Structure and Classification Kinesins are classified into over 14 subfamilies (KIF1–KIFC3), comprising more than 45 genes in humans. Each kinesin motor protein contains a motor domain that binds microtubules and hydrolyzes ATP, enabling directional movement. The N-terminal kinesins typically move toward the plus-end of microtubules, while C-terminal kinesins move toward the minus-end, playing roles in retrograde transport.   Notably, KIF5A, KIF1A, and KIF11 have been extensively studied. ... Continue reading →

Chemokines are a specialized subset of small cytokines that play a crucial role in the immune system by directing the movement of circulating leukocytes to sites of inflammation, infection, and injury. Acting as chemoattractant molecules, chemokines are central to both innate and adaptive immunity, influencing not only immune surveillance but also wound healing and angiogenesis. Over the past few decades, advancements in immunology and molecular biology have intensified the focus on chemokines, particularly recombinant chemokines, for their potential therapeutic and diagnostic applications.   Classification of Chemokines Chemokines are typically classified based on the arrangement of their conserved cysteine residues. There are four major subfamilies: CC, CXC, CX3C, and C chemokines.   CXC chemokines (α-chemokines): These have a single amino acid separating the first two cysteine residues. An example is CXCL8 (IL-8), known for attracting neutrophils.   CC ... Continue reading →

Introduction to GALE Protein UDP-galactose-4-epimerase (GALE) is a pivotal enzyme in galactose metabolism and glycoconjugate biosynthesis, catalyzing the interconversion of UDP-galactose and UDP-glucose through a NAD+-dependent mechanism. This 348-amino acid protein, encoded by the GALE gene on chromosome 1p36, represents a critical node in the Leloir pathway and broader nucleotide sugar metabolism. Since its initial characterization in the 1950s, GALE has emerged as a molecule of profound biomedical importance, with mutations causing Type III galactosemia (GALE deficiency) and emerging roles in cancer metabolism and congenital disorders of glycosylation (CDGs).   Recent structural biology breakthroughs have revealed GALE's remarkable conformational dynamics, with the enzyme undergoing large-scale domain movements during its catalytic cycle. The 2023  structure at 2.8 Å resolution captured GALE in multiple states, providing unprecedented insight into its ... Continue reading →

  There are many uses of CD molecules, not only participating in the recognition of antigens, capturing antigens, promoting the interaction between immune cells and antigens or immune molecules, but also mediating the adhesion between immune cells, immune cells and matrix, in the immune response. And play an important role in both activation and effector phases.   What is cluster of differentiation (CD)? Cluster of differentiation (also known as differentiation group or simply Cluster of differentiation, CD) refers to the cell surface molecules used to identify those used for immune antigen recognition. Physiologically, CD molecules are usually used as important receptors or ligands of cells; in addition, some CDs can be used in the signaling cascade of cells (cascade reaction), thereby changing the behavior of cells; some CD proteins are not related to cell communication, but has other functions, such as cell adhesion.   More than 400 molecules have been ... Continue reading →

The transcription factor Prdm16 functions as a potent suppressor of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) signaling, and its inactivation is thought to promote the progression of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Recently, in an article published in the Cell Biology titled "Antagonism between Prdm16 and Smad4 specifies the trajectory and progression of pancreatic cancer", scientists from Virginia Commonwealth University and other institutions uncovered the previously undiscovered special association between two groups of special proteins. The tandem operation of histones prevents the growth of pancreatic cancer, and the findings may provide scientists with important information to help develop new treatments for pancreatic cancer.   Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma accounts for the vast majority of all pancreatic tumors, and it is also the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Most patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage of the disease, when ... Continue reading →

Maintaining a healthy weight can be quite a challenge for many people. The global prevalence of obesity has risen rapidly in recent decades, affecting more than two billion people, making it one of the largest causes of poor health worldwide. Moreover, after people reach middle age, many people will inevitably gain weight. Obesity-related diseases, including heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer, are a significant cause of preventable premature death.   One way the body regulates weight is by using leptin, which is produced by fat tissue. The more adipose tissue in the body, the more leptin is produced. Leptin travels to the brain and "tells" specific neurons how much fat is stored in the body, and a lot of leptin means there is a lot of fat stored. In response, the brain triggers behaviors that suppress appetite and increase energy expenditure, leading to loss of fat tissue and weight loss. When all is well, a leptin-mediated feedback loop ... Continue reading →

Glioblastoma is a deadly brain cancer with a dire prognosis. Unlike most cancers, it still grows in the presence of the p53 protein. Scientists have been unable to solve the case for decades...until now. CSHL scientists have discovered that a protein called BRD8 goes out of control in glioblastoma, paralyzing P53. The discovery could help turn this deadly cancer into a treatable disease.   Brain cancer, glioblastoma, is a fierce and formidable adversary. Among the millions of victims, including Senator John McCain, President Biden's son and famous film critic Gene Siskel, most patients died within two years, and few survived five years due to lack of effective treatment options, a statistic that has not improved in decades.   "Glioblastomas are notoriously aggressive," said Professor Alea Mills of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL). "The norm is to do surgery, treat with strong drugs, and hope for the best." But now, Mills and her colleagues have ... Continue reading →

A major hurdle that carbohydrate researchers have been trying to overcome is the limited tools available to decipher the effects of sugar. As a workaround, most researchers use lectins (sugar-binding proteins) isolated from plants or fungi, but they are large, weakly bound, and limited in specificity and the range of sugars detected. The article was published in ACS Chemical Biology. Researchers in Professor Barbara Imperiali's team developed a platform to address this deficiency.   "The challenge with carbohydrate polymers is that their biosynthesis is not template-driven," says Imperiali, senior author of the study and professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biology. "Technological advances in proteins and nucleic acids have driven the development of biology, medicine and biotechnology. The carbohydrate field is seriously lagging behind and tools are desperately being sought."   Biosynthesizing carbohydrates requires a specific enzyme to ... Continue reading →