Life Science Articles

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Quantum Dots in Photovoltaics

The utility of quantum dots in continually expanding as more is discovered about how they work and their specific properties that can provide novel methods of doing things. One such use is in photovoltaic energy.

19 Jul 2010

Tau Protein Function

The proteins work together with a globular protein called tubulin to stabilize microtubules and aid the assembly of tubulin in the mircrotubules.

9 Jun 2010

What are Tau Proteins?

Tau proteins are proteins that perform the function of stabilizing microtubules. These proteins are abundant in nerve cells and are present to a much lesser degree in oligodendrocytes and astrocytes. When Tau proteins become defective and fail to adequately stabilize microtubules, pathologies of the nervous system can develop such as Alzheimer’s disease.

9 Jun 2010

What are Metabolites?

An understanding of metabolism is pivotal to comprehending the phenotypic behavior of all living organisms (including humans) where metabolism is integral to health and proper functioning. Metabolites are the intermediate products of metabolic reactions catalyzed by various enzymes that naturally occur within cells. This term is usually used to describe small molecules, although broader application is often practiced.

1 Jun 2010

Telomeres and Cancer

A ribonucleoprotein enzyme complex known as telomerase maintains telomere length in cancer cells by adding TTAGGG repeats onto the telomeric ends, compensating for the normal shortening of telomeres in all dividing cells.

20 May 2010

Systemic Telomere Length and Aging

Telomere length is the result of the equilibrium between shortening and lengthening mechanisms, and in many different organisms there is a decrease in length with increasing age. This suggests that the activity of the enzyme telomerase (which is a specialized reverse transcriptase) is limiting, even in stem cell compartments.

20 May 2010

Telomere Measurement

Southern blotting and terminal restriction fragment analysis have traditionally been regarded as the gold standard for measuring telomere length. Nevertheless, due to its labor-intensive and time-consuming nature, reproducibility problems, as well as the requirement for large amounts of genomic DNA, newer analysis methods based on polymerase chain reaction have been developed. Real-time PCR (qPCR) is the most widely used among them, and the ensuing results show a high degree of correlation with results from Southern blot analyses.

20 May 2010

Telomere Lengthening

To circumvent active DNA damage pathways that are prompted by critically short telomeres, cells must contend with the loss of telomere repeats due to various causes either by copying repeats using recombination pathways, or by synthesizing telomeric DNA “from scratch” using telomerase. The latter mechanism is found in most normal and malignant cells.

20 May 2010

Telomere Shortening

Several different mechanisms related to DNA replication, repair and remodeling are responsible for the loss of telomeric DNA. Some of the aforementioned processes take place at every chromosome end during every cell cycle, whereas others arise infrequently as a result of replicative errors or DNA damage.

20 May 2010

Telomere Function

The telomeres are special structures on the chromosome ends that are essential for providing protection from enzymatic end-degradation and maintaining chromosomal and genomic stability. This is the reason why adequate telomere structure (including the presence of telomere-binding proteins) remains pivotal for avoiding cellular dysfunction.

20 May 2010

Lentivirus Applications

Lentivirus is a genus in the family of Retroviridae that is very suitable for remodeling into gene transfer vectors due to its stable transgene expression, the ability to reach the nuclei of the important non-dividing cells and its substantially low immunogenic profile. The most important application of lentiviral vectors is gene therapy which includes the transfer of therapeutic genes into the patient's cells.

19 May 2010

Lentivirus Properties

Lentivirus genus represents a diverse, yet exceptionally cohesive group of retroviruses. Their influence on the health and general well-being of animals and humans alike has been enormous. Members of this group are found in primates, ungulates (cattle, sheep, horse and goat) and felids (cat). Vectors derived from these viruses that integrate into cellular DNA are promising tools for targeted gene therapy.

19 May 2010

Lentivirus Genome

Viruses that belong to the genus Lentivirus of the family Retroviridae are exogenous, have specific morphology and contain a relatively complex retroviral genome. Vectors derived from lentiviruses can be used for treatment strategies dependent on both transgene expression and gene correction. Gene vectors are also used extensively in basic biomedical research.

19 May 2010

What is Lentivirus?

Viruses are small obligate intracellular parasites with either a RNA or DNA genome that are surrounded by a protective protein coat and transfer their genetic material to infected cells.

19 May 2010

Morphology of Nanoparticles

Nanoparticles possess a variety of shapes and their names are characterized by their different shapes. For example, there are nanospheres that are spherical, nanoreefs, nanoboxes, nanoclusters, nanotubes etc. These shapes or morphologies sometimes arise spontaneously as an effect of a templating or directing agent during synthesis for example during miscellar emulsions or anodized alumina pores, or from the innate crystallographic growth patterns of the materials themselves.

17 May 2010

Safety of Nanoparticles

Current research indicates that exposure via inhalation and skin contact can result in nanoparticles entering the body. Nanoparticles are tiny particles that can be inhaled or ingested and may pose a possible problem both medically and environmentally.

17 May 2010

Nanoparticle Colloids

What are colloids?

17 May 2010

Synthesis of Nanoparticles

Nanoparticles may be created using several methods. Some of them may occur in nature as well. The methods of creation include attrition and pyrolysis

17 May 2010

Nanoparticle Uniformity

When nanoparticles are synthesized, high level of purity and uniformity of structure is necessary for putting these particles to use in private, industrial and military sectors. There must be high purity ceramics, polymers, glass-ceramics and material composites in creation of these particles. Nanoparticles are generally classified based on their dimensionality, morphology, composition, uniformity, and agglomeration.

17 May 2010