Tyrosine

have a critical role in Ras carcinogenesis and are commonly found in KRAS mutated cancers. The most intensely targeted pathways are the Raf-MEK-ERK (MAPK) and PI3K-AKT-mTOR signaling pathways. Raf-MEK-ERK MAPK signaling is initiated through receptor tyrosine kinases after their activation by growth factors (Mccubrey 2006). Once Ras is in its active GTP bound state Ras is able to bind to many effectors, one of the most important being B-Raf. Active B-Raf phosphorylates and activates the kinases…

When you hear the Phenylketonuria, what do you think? Is it that you have never heard that word be used before? It could just be that you think it can be a very harmful disorder to the human body. There are many questions that are asked about Phenylketonuria (PKU), and many of those can be answered easily. PKU is a birth defect that causes an amino acid to build up in your body. This defect/disorder can be treated in a multitude of different methods. If it is left untreated it can lead to…

Triiodothyronine, with a chemical name of 3,3',5-Triiodothyronine (T3), is one of four thyroid hormones that exhibit biological activity, and contains 3 iodines and 2 tyrosine’s, as seen in Fig. 1. 20 % of T3 is formed from the amino acid tyrosine within specific follicle cells of the thyroid gland by the oxidative condensation of its biological precursors, monoiodotyrosine and diiodotyrosine, and is then subsequently secreted into the bloodstream. The remaining 80% is produced from the…

The enzyme tyrosinase is located in melanocytes. These are cells that produce the pigment melanin. Melanin gives skin, eyes, and hair their color. Tyrosinase is a key factor in the first step of melanin production. It transforms the amino acid tyrosine to the compound dopaquinone. Then dopaquinone is converted to melanin in the hair follicles, skin and the retina. Tyrosinase is also responsible for the brown color that forms on the inside of fruits and vegetables after they have been cut. The…

It’s common to feel sleepy after Thanksgiving dinner: This sleepiness is typically caused by the amino acid tryptophan, which is found in turkey. Tryptophan increases the production of serotonin: Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that can affect a variety of things, including your mood, memory and sleep. When a food containing tryptophan is consumed with carbohydrates, even more serotonin is created, which is why sleepiness is common following dinner. While eating turkey and some kind of…

Thyroxine is an iodine-containing, thyroid hormone produced by the thyroid gland. Along with thyroxine, triiodothyronine is also produced in the thyroid gland. Thyroxine usually is converted into triiodothyronine by enzymes in target cells called deiodinases. Concentrations of thyroxine are usually greater in the body, but triiodothyronine is considered the major thyroid hormone. Thyroxine production is controlled by the pituitary gland. The hypothalamus will secrete thyrotropin-releasing…

Lung cancer is one of most common cancer in the United States and worldwide. Furthermore, there are two types of lung cancer: Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and Small cell lung cancer (SCLC). The most common type is NSCLC. There are three main subtypes of NSCLC: squamous cells, adenocarcinoma, and large cell carcinoma. The number one cause of lung cancer is smoking cigarettes but there are also other factors that cause lung cancer such as exposure to radon gas, asbestos, genetics, and air…

First, a specific tyrosine must be dephosphorylated on the receptor by the enzyme striatal-enriched tyrosine phosphatase (STEP). Once activated, the mGluR is able to activate a tumor-necrosis factor-α-converting enzyme (TACE). The stimulation of TACE will act to cleave the intramembrane protein, neuronal pentraxin…

Multiple studies have indicated that VEGF is expressed at higher levels in the underlying dermis, in epidermal keratinocytes, and in capillary lining cells and fibroblasts of keloids in comparison with normal skin. VEGFs bind to a family of receptor tyrosine kinases (VEGFR-1(FLT1),VEGFR-2( KDR/FLK1),VEGFR-3( FLT 4) . VEGFR-2 is very important for angiogenesis which is highly expressed in endothelium. Antibodies against VEGF are approved for the treatment for several tumours such as renal and…

Carbohydrates have the following basic composition. They are molecular compounds made from three elements: carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. Monosaccharides are simple sugars with multiple OH groups. Based on number of carbons 3, 4, 5, 6, a monosaccharide is a triose, tetrose, pentose or hexose respectively. Disaccharides are condensation products of two monosaccharide units; examples are maltose and sucrose. A disaccharide is 2 monosaccharides covalently linked molecule. Polysaccharides are polymers…