Featured Pathways
Estrogens play important roles in growth, development, reproduction, and maintenance of a diverse range of mammalian tissues. The physiological effects of estrogens are mediated by the intracellular ERs (Estrogen Receptors), which regulate transcription of target genes through binding to specific DNA target sequences. The ERs orchestrate both transcriptional and non-genomic functions in response[..]
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a gamma-herpesvirus that infects more than 90% of people worldwide, is the etiologic agent of infectious mononucleosis, and is associated with multiple human malignancies, primarily of lymphoid and epithelial cell origin, including Burkitt’s lymphoma, post-transplant lymphoma, AIDS-associated lymphomas, Hodgkin’s disease, T-Cell lymphoma, NPC (Nasopharyngeal[..]
Thrombin is a multifunctional serine protease involved in a number of pathophysiological processes that include blood clotting, inflammation, repair processes and tumor metastasis. In brain, thrombin regulates the viability of neurons and astrocytes by increasing survival under conditions of hypoglycemia and oxidative stress and inducing apoptosis under other conditions. Thrombin is also[..]
Signals that derive from cell adhesion to the ECM (Extracellular Matrix) regulate important physiological events including cell motility and growth, and most often involve changes in the organization of the actin cytoskeleton. Cells interact with the ECM via transmembrane receptors, termed integrins, located at the cell surface. Binding of integrins to the ECM is accompanied by a localized[..]
p53 is a tumour suppressor protein that regulates the expression of a wide variety of genes involved in Apoptosis, Growth arrest, Inhibition of cell cycle progression, Differentiation and accelerated DNA repair or Senescence in response to Genotoxic or Cellular Stress. As a transcription factor, p53 is composed of an N-terminal Activation Domain, a central specific DNA Binding Domain, and a[..]
 Pathway.jpg)
Nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) comprises a family of transcription factors that regulate the expression of genes encoding proteins and microRNAs (miRNA, miR) precursors and may regulate a variety of biological processes such as inflammation, immunity, cell proliferation, differentiation, survival, cancer development, and progression (Ref.1, 2 and 3). NF-kappaB is ubiquitously expressed and[..]
The C (Complement) system consists of about twenty plasma proteins that function either as enzymes or as binding proteins. In addition to these plasma proteins, the complement system includes multiple distinct cell-surface receptors that exhibit specificity for the physiological fragments of complement proteins and that occur on inflammatory cells and cells of the immune system. Activation of the[..]
Covalent modifications of proteins, such as phosphorylation, acetylation and ubiquitylation, play an important role in most cellular processes because they can cause rapid changes in the activities of pre-existing proteins. This type of mechanism for regulating protein function is especially crucial in signal transduction pathways and in cell cycle. Posttranslational modifications (PTMs) by[..]
Apoptosis is a naturally occurring process by which a cell is directed to Programmed Cell Death. Apoptosis is based on a genetic program that is an indispensable part of the development and function of an organism. In this process, cells that are no longer needed or that will be detrimental to an organism or tissue are disposed of in a neat and orderly manner; this prevents the development of an[..]
mTOR (Mammalian Target of Rapamycin) is a 289-kDa serine/threonine protein kinase and a member of the PIKK (Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase-related Kinase) family. The protein consists of a Catalytic Kinase domain, an FRB (FKBP12–Rapamycin Binding) domain, a putative Auto-inhibitory domain (Repressor domain) near the C-terminus and up to 20 tandemly repeated HEAT motifs at the Amino[..]
