Innovative Biotechnologies for Advancing Protein Function Investigation

A special issue of Biology (ISSN 2079-7737). This special issue belongs to the section "Biotechnology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 February 2025 | Viewed by 1618

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
School of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen 518172,China
Interests: NAD signaling; NAD-consuming enzyme; biochemistry; immunology; neurobiology; biotechnology

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Guest Editor
1. Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
2. Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
Interests: molecular biology; cell biology; neurobiology; biochemistry; biotechnology; protein function; cell fate

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Guest Editor
Department of Pathology, Institute of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
Interests: molecular cell biology; biotechnology; protein interactions; gene expression and regulation; immunopathology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Proteins, as fundamental biomolecules, underpin a diverse array of cellular processes, forming the cornerstone of biological mechanisms. A comprehensive understanding of their functions is essential to elucidate biological mechanisms, unravel disease pathways, and facilitate therapeutic interventions. As our insight into protein function deepens, it is necessary to develop innovative biotechnological approaches, enabling us to interrogate protein functions with unprecedented precision and depth. This Special Issue aims to showcase pioneering research that introduces novel technologies, tools, and strategies to unravel the multifaceted functions of proteins across diverse biological systems.

The field of biotechnology has experienced a rapid evolution, from cutting-edge imaging modalities and high-throughput technologies to sophisticated computational models and precision protein engineering. These advancements have expanded our toolkit for investigating protein functions. This Special Issue builds upon this momentum, aiming to foster a deeper understanding of protein functions in a health and disease context.

We invite researchers, scientists, and experts in the field of biotechnology to contribute their original research, reviews, and perspectives to this Special Issue. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

  • Novel methodologies for achieving high-resolution visualization of proteins within intricate biological environments.
  • High-throughput screening technologies that facilitate the large-scale assessment of protein functions, expediting the identification of key functional players.
  • State-of-the-art computational models and algorithms, predicting protein functions, interactions, and dynamic structural changes.
  • Cutting-edge strategies designed to modify and optimize protein functions for specific applications.
  • Innovative tools and platforms designed to dissect complex protein–protein, protein–ligand interactions and signaling pathways.

This Special Issue bridges the gap between current literature and emerging biotechnological innovations, thus offering a unique and up-to-date perspective on the topic. While existing literature has undoubtedly contributed to our understanding of protein functions, this Special Issue distinguishes itself by focusing specifically on the latest technologies and strategies that drive our ability to scrutinize protein functions. It acknowledges the challenges and limitations faced by researchers in traditional protein studies and positions itself as a progressive extension of the current literature, offering a timely and comprehensive update on the state-of-the-art biotechnologies that are transforming protein function investigation.

Dr. Yongjuan Zhao
Dr. Wanhua Li
Dr. Qiwen Deng
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • protein imaging and visualization
  • high-throughput screening
  • computational methodologies
  • protein engineering
  • protein–protein interactions
  • protein–ligand interactions
  • biological mechanisms

Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

16 pages, 2756 KiB  
Article
Inhibition of Hyperglycemia and Hyperlipidemia by Blocking Toll-like Receptor 4: Comparison of Wild-Type and Toll-like Receptor 4 Gene Knockout Mice on Obesity and Diabetes Modeling
by Xingyu Zhao, Jiawei Zheng, Jing Wang, Bin Li and Wuyang Huang
Biology 2024, 13(1), 63; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology13010063 - 22 Jan 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1366
Abstract
Innate immune receptor TLR4 plays an important role in glycolipid metabolism. The objective of this study is to investigate the inhibitory effects of blocking TLR4 on hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia by comparing WT and TLR4−/− mice in obesity and diabetes modeling. The knockout [...] Read more.
Innate immune receptor TLR4 plays an important role in glycolipid metabolism. The objective of this study is to investigate the inhibitory effects of blocking TLR4 on hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia by comparing WT and TLR4−/− mice in obesity and diabetes modeling. The knockout of the TLR4 gene could prevent weight gain induced by a high-fat diet (HFD)/high-sugar and high-fat diet (HSHFD), and the differences in the responses existed between the sexes. It extends the time required to reach the obesity criteria. However, when mice were injected with intraperitoneal streptozotocin (STZ) after being fed by HSHFD for two months, TLR4−/− mice exhibited less weight loss than WT. Blocking TLR4 alleviated the changes in body weight and blood glucose, consequently reducing the efficiency of diabetes modeling, especially for male mice. Additionally, male TLR4−/− obese mice exhibit lower total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels in serum and less formation of fat droplets in the liver compared to WT. On the other hand, the knockout of TLR4 significantly increased the high-density lipoprotein (HDL) of male mice. This study should provide new insights into the role of TLR4, as well as opportunities to target novel approaches to the prevention and treatment of metabolic diseases like obesity and diabetes. Full article
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