The Biotechnology Journal

Multi-drug Resistance (MDR) Multidrug resistance (MDR)  is when cells become resistant to multiple drugs, making treatments less effective. This resistance often happens because the cells produce too many proteins that help pump the drugs out of the cells. As a result, the drugs can't reach a high enough concentration inside the cells to kill them. Multidrug resistance (MDR) in cancer involves mechanisms where cancer cells develop resistance to chemotherapy drugs through the overexpression of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters such as P-glycoprotein (P-GP/ABCB1), multidrug resistance-associated proteins (MRPs/ABCCs), and breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP/ABCG2). These transporters actively pump out chemotherapeutic agents from the cancer cells, reducing intracellular drug concentrations and rendering the drugs less effective in killing cancer cells. This resistance complicates cancer treatment and can lead to treatment failures and disease progression. In Antimicrobials...

  Mechanism of Gene Knockdown Gene knockdown is a technique used to reduce the expression of a specific gene . This is typically achieved through RNA interference (RNAi), where small interfering RNA (siRNA) or short hairpin RNA (shRNA) molecules target the messenger RNA (mRNA) of the gene, leading to its degradation and preventing it from being translated into a protein. This process effectively reduces the level of the target protein in the cell. This method allows scientists to study the function of specific genes by observing the effects of their reduced expression on cellular processes. Steps in the Knockdown Process: Applications of Gene Knockdown Functional Genomics: By knocking down genes, researchers can study their functions and understand their roles in various biological processes and pathways . Disease Modeling: Knockdown techniques are used to create cell and animal models of diseases, helping researchers understand disease mechanisms...

For prokaryotes, genes are polycistronic – expression of multiple gene is mediated by one promoter. In bacteria such as E. coli, it appears that the products of carbohydrate metabolism themselves activate the switch between glucose and lactose use. When lactose is available , some molecules will be converted to allolactose inside the cell. Allolactose binds to the lac repressor and makes it change shape so it can no longer bind DNA. Allolactose is an example of an inducer, a small molecule that triggers expression of a gene or operon. Thus, RNA Polymerase will bind with promoter region of gene and starts transcription. On the other hand when lactose is absent , lac repressor binds with operator preventing RNA Polymerase to perform any further transcription.  1. If Both Glucose and Lactose are Present E. coli prefers to use glucose over lactose for energy. When glucose is present, it is metabolized first. The breakdown of glucose produces catabolites. These catabolites prevent the ...

Engineering Enzymes: Building Better Catalysts for a Brighter Future Enzymes, nature's workhorses, are essential for life. These remarkable protein catalysts accelerate countless biochemical reactions, keeping organisms functioning smoothly. But natural enzymes sometimes have limitations. They might not work on the exact substrates we need, or they might not be stable or active under desired industrial conditions. This is where enzyme design comes in. By understanding how enzymes work and leveraging powerful tools, scientists are building novel enzymes with improved properties. Let's delve into the exciting world of enzyme design and explore its potential applications. Why Design Novel Enzymes? Natural enzymes, while impressive, can be limited in a few ways: ·           Substrate Specificity: They might not work on the specific molecules we're interested in. ·           Reaction Conditions: They...

Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) ,   a game-changer in biomedicine unlocks the potential for large-scale genetic studies in cancer. CRISPR is not just a tool, it's a revolution in cancer research, offering hope for a future where we can outsmart and overcome this disease. It allows us to: •        Identify genes crucial for CAR T-cell therapy, improving its effectiveness. •        Pinpoint genes associated with breast cancer risk, aiding in prevention strategies. •        Discover vulnerabilities in colon cancer, paving the way for targeted therapies. •        Identify driver genes in liver cancer, facilitating better treatment options. •        Study tumor development, drug resistance, and immunotherapy, leading to breakthroughs. This versatile technology, with its high efficiency and sca...

Telomeres are short conserved random tandem repeats present at the end of human chromosomes and acts as Cap/Helmet on chromosome. Telomeres present on the top prevents nearby chromosomes from fusing with each other which otherwise can cause malfunction or cancer. Telomeres are made of repeating sequences of TTAGGG on one strand paired with AATCCC on the other strand. Thus, one section of telomere is a "repeat" made of six "base pairs. Human telomeres typically range between 10 to 15 kb. An enzyme named Telomerase adds bases to telomere after each cell division/cycle. Telomerase prevents telomeres from degrading excessively in developing cells. However, when cells divide repeatedly, telomerase levels drop, causing the telomeres to shorten and the cells to age. Telomerase remains active in sperm and eggs, which are transferred from one generation to the next. Any organism with reproductive cells would soon become extinct if telomerase was absent, as it keeps the telomer...