PRMT5 is Innately Interesting
Wednesday, 30 March 2022
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
- Published in Emerging Targets, Epigenetics, Innate Immunity
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The Multifaceted Roles of IRE1 Are Unfolding
Wednesday, 09 March 2022
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
- Published in Emerging Targets, Innate Immunity
MAPK1, An Elusive Regulator of Innate Immunity
Wednesday, 23 February 2022
Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases (MAPKs) and MAPK Signaling Cascade Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) are Ser/Thr kinases involved in converting extracellular signals to a large spectrum of fundamental cellular processes such as apoptosis, cell division, metabolism survival, etc. This signaling cascade is known as the MAPK pathway. MAPKs are highly conserved among eukaryotes, which mirrors its indispensable
- Published in HTS Assays, Innate Immunity
TYK2 Inhibition Finally Comes of Age
Tuesday, 01 February 2022
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
- Published in Emerging Targets, Innate Immunity
NSP14 – A Promising SARS-CoV-2 Therapeutic Target
Thursday, 20 January 2022
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
- Published in Emerging Targets, Innate Immunity
MDA5, A Nucleic Acid Sensor Critical for Immune Response
Monday, 15 November 2021
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
- Published in Emerging Targets, Innate Immunity
The Double-Edged Sword in Cancer Pathogenesis – JNK1
Wednesday, 03 November 2021
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
- Published in Emerging Targets, HTS Assays, Innate Immunity
RIG-I: Important Sensor of Cytosolic RNA
Tuesday, 19 October 2021
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
- Published in Emerging Targets, Innate Immunity
Webinar: Targeting Kinases Involved in the Innate Immune Response
Wednesday, 13 October 2021
Abstract: Clinical trials continue to determine whether therapeutic modulation of kinases can be used to suppress the immune system in autoimmune diseases or stimulate for antiviral and cancer immunotherapy. The discovery and characterization of small molecule modulators have aided these efforts. The Transcreener ADP² Kinase Assay meets this need as it relies on direct ADP
- Published in Emerging Targets, HTS Assays, Innate Immunity
IKK Complex, NF-kB, and Inflammation – An Intricate Relationship
Tuesday, 07 September 2021
Components of the IKK Complex The IκB kinase (IKK) complex consists of two catalytic subunits IKKα (IKK1) and IKKβ (IKK2), as well as a non-catalytic accessory protein IKKγ. IKKγ is also known as NF-κB essential modulator (NEMO). IKKα and IKKβ have high sequence homology and hence, are structurally similar. Both of those subunits possess phosphorylating
- Published in Emerging Targets, Innate Immunity