Tumor Immune Escape Mechanisms and Apoptotic Resistance

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Down-regulation of MHC-class-I expression

In this article, I briefly describe tumor immune escape mechanisms and apoptotic resistance. Tumor cells evade immune surveillance and resist apoptosis through multiple interconnected mechanisms, promoting survival and progression. Understanding these strategies is essential for advancing effective cancer immunotherapies. The Dual Role of Immune Response The immune system operates through a delicate balance of activating … Read more >>

Quantitative Cell Analysis Using Flow Cytometry

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flow cytometry setup

In this article, I briefly describe quantitative cell analysis using flow cytometry. Flow Cytometry Flow cytometry, first developed in the early 1980s by Leonore Herzenberg and colleagues, quickly emerged as a powerful analytical tool in cell biology and immunology. One of its earliest and most significant applications was the analysis of lymphocyte subpopulations in patients … Read more >>

Conventional Imaging Techniques Based on Immunofluorescence

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Optical path in a fluorescence microscope

In this article, I briefly describe the conventional imaging techniques based on immunofluorescence. These techniques use fluorescently labeled antibodies to visualize specific proteins or other biomolecules within cells and tissues. These methods provide valuable insights into cellular structure, localization of molecules, and biological processes under a microscope. Fluorescence-Based Antibody Imaging Techniques Fluorescence microscopy allows precise … Read more >>

The Role of Invariant Chain in MHC Class II Trafficking and Immune Defense

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Antigenic peptide generation

In this article, I briefly describe the role of the invariant chain in guiding the transport of class-II MHC molecules from the rough endoplasmic reticulum to late endosomes. It plays a role in immune defense. The Invariant Chain: An essential chaperone in antigen presentation The immune system functions through a finely tuned interplay of molecules … Read more >>

G Proteins at the Crossroads of Health and Disease

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Factors regulating activity of G proteins

In this article, I provide a brief description of G proteins, which play crucial roles in various signaling processes. However, defects in G proteins lead to the development of many diseases. G Proteins Guanine nucleotide-binding proteins (G proteins) are a group of proteins that function as molecular switches within cells. They help transmit signals from … Read more >>

β-Adrenergic Receptor-Mediated Signal Transduction Involving Adenylyl Cyclase, cAMP, and PKA

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GTPase switch

In this article, I provide a brief explanation of the β-adrenergic receptor-mediated signal transduction process, which involves adenylyl cyclase, cAMP, and PKA. β-adrenergic receptor-mediated signal transduction is a key cellular communication pathway activated by adrenaline or noradrenaline. Upon ligand binding, the receptor stimulates adenylyl cyclase via a G-protein, leading to increased cAMP production, which in … Read more >>

The Importance of Aquatic Microbial Ecosystems

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detritus-consuming omnivorous organisms

In this article, I briefly describe the importance of aquatic microbial ecosystems. Microbial Interactions in Aquatic Ecosystems Aquatic ecosystems are home to intricate networks of interactions involving microorganisms and their relationships with larger plant and animal life. Microbes such as algae and protozoa play a crucial role at the base of the aquatic food web. … Read more >>

Advanced DNA Sequencing Technologies

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Reversible Terminator Sequencing

In this article, I provide a brief explanation of advanced DNA sequencing technologies. DNA Sequencing The process of determining the order of nucleotides in DNA is called DNA sequencing. It determines the order of the four bases, i.e., adenine, guanine, thymine, and cytosine. The nucleotide sequence is the basis for understanding a gene or genome, as … Read more >>

DNA Beyond the Double Helix: Structural Variants and Unusual Sequences

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ABZ-DNA

In this article, I will briefly describe the different structural variants of DNA and some unusual sequences beyond the double helix. The DNA Double Helix The journey of understanding DNA began in 1868, when Friedrich Miescher first isolated and characterized a substance he called nuclein, now known as DNA. In the late 1940s, Erwin Chargaff … Read more >>

Deciphering Protein Function through Analysis of Protein–Protein Interactions

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Yeast two-hybrid analysis

In this article, I briefly describe how the analysis of protein-protein interactions helps to understand protein function. Understanding Protein Roles through Molecular Associations The function of a specific protein can often be inferred by identifying the cellular components it binds to. When it comes to protein–protein interactions, associating a protein of unknown function with a … Read more >>