Tag: zinc

  • Carbonic anhydrases (or carbonate dehydratases) and inhibitors

    The carbonic anhydrases (or carbonate dehydratases) (EC 4.2.1.1) form a family of enzymes that catalyze the interconversion between carbon dioxide and water and the dissociated ions of carbonic acid (i.e. bicarbonate and hydrogen ions). The active site of most carbonic anhydrases contains a zinc ion. They are therefore classified as metalloenzymes. The enzyme maintains acid-base balance and helps transport carbon dioxide. Carbonic anhydrase helps maintain acid–base homeostasis, regulate pH, and fluid balance. Depending on its location, the role of the enzyme changes slightly. For…

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  • Carboxypeptidases function in blood clotting, growth factor production, wound healing, reproduction, and many other processes

    A carboxypeptidase (EC number 3.4.16 – 3.4.18) is a protease enzyme that hydrolyzes (cleaves) a peptide bond at the carboxy-terminal (C-terminal) end of a protein or peptide. This is in contrast to an aminopeptidases, which cleave peptide bonds at the N-terminus of proteins. Humans, animals, bacteria and plants contain several types of carboxypeptidases that have diverse functions ranging from catabolism to protein maturation. At least two mechanisms have been discussed. Functions Initial studies…

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  • Zeuterin, it rhymes with neuterin

    Zeuterin (zū-tur-in) is the trade name of an injectable product containing zinc gluconate and the amino acid arginine, which is used for sterilizing young male dogs without the removal of the testicles. The product is injected directly into the testicle, where the zinc gluconate destroys the sperm and causes inflammation, which leads to fibrosis and causes sterility. Sperm production continues for up to 60 days after product…

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  • Naphthenic acid

    Naphthenic acids (NAs) are a mixture of several cyclopentyl and cyclohexyl carboxylic acids with molecular weight of 120 to well over 700 atomic mass units. The main fraction are carboxylic acids with a carbon backbone of 9 to 20 carbons. McKee et al. claim that “naphthenic acids (NAs) are primarily cycloaliphatic carboxylic acids with 10 to 16 carbons”, although acids containing…

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  • Luminous gemstones

    Luminous gemstones

    Folktales about luminous gemstones are an almost worldwide motif in mythology and history among Asian, European, African, and American cultures. Some stories about light-emitting gems may have been based on luminescent and phosphorescent minerals such as diamonds. Mineralogical luminosity First, it will be useful to introduce some mineralogical terminology for gemstones that can glow when exposed to light, friction, or heat. Note that the following discussion will…

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  • List of human clusters of differentiation (OR CD) MOLECULES

    List of human clusters of differentiation (OR CD) MOLECULES

    * = group; ** = not listed on hcdm CD1* MHC-like molecule that presents lipid molecules CD1a CD1a (Cluster of Differentiation 1a), or T-cell surface glycoprotein CD1a, is a human protein encoded by the CD1A gene. An antigen-presenting protein that binds self and non-self lipid and glycolipid antigens and presents them to T-cell receptors on natural killer T-cells. CD1b T-cell surface glycoprotein CD1b. Expressed on cortical thymocytes, certain T-cell leukemias…

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  • X-Linked Disorders

    X-linked dominant inheritance X-linked dominant X-linked hypophosphatemia – Focal dermal hypoplasia – Fragile X syndrome – Aicardi syndrome – Incontinentia pigmenti – Rett syndrome – CHILD syndrome – Lujan–Fryns syndrome – Orofaciodigital syndrome 1 – Craniofrontonasal dysplasia X-linked dominant inheritance, sometimes referred to as X-linked dominance, is a mode of genetic inheritance by which a dominant gene is carried on the X…

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  • IQGAP1

    Ras GTPase-activating-like protein IQGAP1 (IQGAP1) also known as p195 is a ubiquitously expressed protein that in humans is encoded by the IQGAP1gene.[5][6][7] IQGAP1 is a scaffold protein involved in regulating various cellular processes ranging from organization of the actincytoskeleton, transcription, and cellular adhesion to regulating the cell cycle. History IQGAP1 was discovered in 1994.[5] Its name stems from the fact that its RasGAP-related domain (GRD) has sequence homology to…

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  • Cadherin-1

    Cadherin-1 or Epithelial cadherin(E-cadherin), (not to be confused with the APC/C activator protein CDH1) is a protein that in humans is encoded by the CDH1gene.[5] Mutations are correlated with gastric, breast, colorectal, thyroid, and ovarian cancers. CDH1 has also been designated as CD324 (cluster of differentiation 324). It is a tumor suppressor gene.[6][7] History The discovery of cadherin cell-cell adhesion proteins is attributed to Masatoshi Takeichi, whose experience…

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  • Microphthalmia-associated transcription factor aka class E basic helix-loop-helix protein 32 or bHLHe32

    Microphthalmia-associated transcription factor also known as class E basic helix-loop-helix protein 32 or bHLHe32 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the MITF gene. AKA MITF, CMM8, MI, WS2, WS2A, bHLHe32, microphthalmia-associated transcription factor, melanogenesis associated transcription factor, COMMAD, melanocyte inducing transcription factor, MITF-A RNA expression pattern Human Mouse (ortholog) Top expressed inretinal pigment epitheliumright ventriclemyocardiumvastus lateralis muscledeltoid muscleurethrarenal medullavisceral pleurasaphenous veinsecondary oocyte Top…

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  • No proof for the need of zinc in human cells was shown until the late 1930s where its presence was demonstrated in carbonic anhydrase and the 1960s where it was identified as a necessary element for humans

    Zinc was identified to be essential in fungal growth of yeast as shown by Jules Raulin in 1869 yet no proof for the need of zinc in human cells was shown until the late 1930s where its presence was demonstrated in carbonic anhydrase and the 1960s where it was identified as a necessary element for humans. Maret W (2018). Arruda MA (ed.).…

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  • What Is Metalloproteinase?

    Metalloproteinase – the name alone screams “I’m here to ruin everything” – is a feral pack of enzymes armed with metal claws (zinc, mostly, because it’s the shiniest weapon in the elemental arsenal) that shred proteins like they’re auditioning for a slasher flick. These molecular psychopaths don’t just cut – they obliterate, turning the extracellular…

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  • What Are Plant Matrix Metalloproteinases?

    What Are Plant Matrix Metalloproteinases?

    Plant matrix metalloproteinases are metalloproteins and zinc enzymes found in plants. Matrix Metalloproteinase Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are zinc endopeptidases, commonly called metzincins. MMP enzymes represent an ancient family of proteins with major similarities in genetic make-up that are present in a range of diverse organisms from unicellular bacteria to multicellular vertebrates and invertebrates. The superfamily is distinguished due to its motif consisting of three histidines bonded to…

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  • What are Matrix Metalloproteinases?

    The MMPs belong to a larger family of proteases known as the metzincin superfamily.[ Matrix Metalloproteinases: Its implications in cardiovascular disorders] Collectively, these enzymes are capable of degrading all kinds of extracellular matrix proteins, but also can process a number of bioactive molecules. They are known to be involved in the cleavage of cell surface receptors, the release of apoptotic ligands (such as the FAS ligand), and chemokine/cytokine inactivation.[Van…

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  • Histones

    In biology, histones are highly basic proteins abundant in lysine and arginine residues that are found in eukaryotic cell nuclei. They act as spools around which DNA winds to create structural units called nucleosomes.[1][2] Nucleosomes in turn are wrapped into 30-nanometer fibers that form tightly packed chromatin. Histones prevent DNA from becoming tangled and protect it from DNA damage. In addition, histones play important roles in gene regulation and DNA replication. Without histones, unwound DNA in chromosomes would be…

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