Protein function is regulated at multiple levels. One prevalent mode is to form covalent adducts between small proteins and specific amino acid residues on targets thereby affecting their fate and/or function. One such protein modification is SUMOylation and it involves attachment of SUMO (Small ubiquitin-like modifiers) on lysine residues of targets. Plants maintain apparently strict […]

Efficient inter-organelle communication is critical for maintaining cellular physiology and driving cell functions. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is involved several such inter-organellar crosstalk with mitochondria, lysosomes, golgi complex, endosomes and peroxisomes. The functional tethering of ER and mitochondria at Mitochondria-Associated Endoplasmic Reticulum Membranes (MAMs) provides a signaling hotspot for transfer of lipid and calcium (Ca2+) across […]

Gliomas are a type of human brain tumors that comprise <1.6% of all new cancer diagnoses worldwide. These tumors have a poor clinical prognosis, which is evident from the mortality to incidence rate ratio (MIR) of 0.80 as compared to say, breast (MIR 0.28) or prostrate cancer (MIR 0.26), thus being far more fatal than […]

The cells in our bodies communicate in order for the body to stay healthy and functional. A new form of cell-cell communication, named tunneling nanotubes (“TNTs”), was recently discovered. TNTs are thin, hollow tunnels between cells that enable the transport of a variety of “cargoes” between healthy cells of various animals. TNT formation is induced […]

Frequent and inappropriate use of antibiotics leads to the development of resistance and removal of the gut microbiota, which are critical for our survival. Hence, the search for alternative approaches, including the use of probiotics, is being explored. Consuming probiotics provides various health-promoting effects like preventing harmful microbes that can cause infection. One of the […]