The Role ALPK1 in Health and Disease

Scientist Studying ALKPK1
ALPK1 (Alpha Kinase 1) is an atypical serine/threonine-protein kinase that specifically detects and binds the pathogen-associated pattern metabolites (PAMPs), ADP-beta-D-manno-heptose (Beta-ADP-Heptose) or D-glycero-beta-D-manno-heptose 1,7-bisphosphate (HBP). These metabolic precursors of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) biosynthesis are present in all Gram-negative and some Gram-positive bacteria.  This interaction stimulates ALPK1 to phosphorylate and activate TIFA, initiating an innate immune response
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Resolving the Many Roles of DHX36

DHX36 RNA Helicase Unwinds G4 RNA Structures
While most researchers are familiar with canonical DNA structures, primarily B (but also even A or Z) DNA, an even more exotic form exerts a vast influence over nearly every aspect of nucleic acid function. In both DNA and RNA, tracts of guanine with at least four consecutive members can self-associate via Hoogsten base pairing
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MAPK14 in Context

Researcher Studying MAPK14
MAPK14 (or p38 alpha or SAPK2a) is a proline-directed serine/threonine kinase activated by environmental stress or inflammatory signaling. While it is a well-conserved eukaryotic gene in the mitogen-activated protein kinase family, MAPK14 doesn’t typically respond to mitogens. All the same, MAPK14 is critically involved in cardiac development, sex determination, innate and adaptive immunity, and cellular
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PRMT5 is Innately Interesting

PRMT5 Role with Macrophages
PRMT5 is a type II arginine methyltransferase that dimethylates arginine residues symmetrically. Its various functions extend into T cell development, B cell regulation, hematopoiesis, and mitotic control. In the past, research on PRMT5 primarily focused on cancer and the adaptive immune response. These are both situations where metabolism and growth are critical. Recent reports implicate
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The Multifaceted Roles of IRE1 Are Unfolding

IRE1 Proteins in ER
IRE1 (Inositol-Requiring Enzyme 1) is one of three resident transmembrane endoplasmic reticulum (ER) proteins that sense and signal distress from improper protein synthesis and conformation. (While IRE1 alpha is almost universally expressed and IRE1 beta is confined to the gut, both will be conflated as IRE1 here.)  Secreted and transmembrane proteins are primarily produced in
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TYK2 Inhibition Finally Comes of Age

TYK2 Inhibition Discovery
Tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2) was the first of the Janus family of non-receptor tyrosine kinases to be discovered. For three decades, the other members of this family, JAK1, JAK2, and JAK3, have dominated the research for inhibitors of autoimmune disease, largely because the effect upon them was more pronounced. They are called “Janus kinases” because
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NSP14 – A Promising SARS-CoV-2 Therapeutic Target

NSP14 - Coronavirus Target
Non-Structural Proteins of Coronaviruses Coronaviruses have complex RNA-synthesizing machinery composed of many non-structural proteins (NSPs). While one-third of the viral genome encodes for structural proteins such as the spike, envelope, and nucleocapsid proteins, the remaining two-thirds encodes for NSPs. NSP genes are located within the 5’-region of the genome and studies have revealed that NSPs
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MDA5, A Nucleic Acid Sensor Critical for Immune Response

MDA5 Innate Immunity
RLR Family of Proteins Melanoma differentiation-associated protein 5 (MDA5), also known as interferon-induced helicase-1 (IFH1), is one of the three members of the RIG-like receptors (RLRs) family of proteins. The RLR family of proteins share similar protein domains essential for their functions – namely the N-terminal caspase activation and recruit domains (CARDs), DExD/H box RNA
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The Double-Edged Sword in Cancer Pathogenesis – JNK1

JNK1 And Cancer Pathogenesis
Properties and Function of JNK1 c-Jun N-terminal kinase 1 (JNK1), also commonly known as Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 8 (MAPK8), is a member of the JNK subgroup of MAP kinases. JNK1 is encoded by the MAPK8 gene. MAP kinases form a superfamily of protein kinases that function by phosphorylating various protein substrates, including transcription factors, which
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RIG-I: Important Sensor of Cytosolic RNA

RIGI Cytosolic RNA Sensor
RIG-I-Like Receptors Retinoic acid-inducible gene 1 (RIG-I) is a cytoplasmic RNA helicase member of the RIG-I-like receptor (RLR) family of proteins. RIG-I is highly conserved within vertebrates. Structurally, RIG-I is comprised of three main functional domains – Caspase Activation and Recruitment Domain (CARD) for signal transduction, DExD/ H-box RNA helicase domain, and C-terminal domain for
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