Current Protein and Peptide Science - Online First

L-lysine, an essential amino acid, is indispensable for numerous biological functions, including protein synthesis, collagen crosslinking, mineral absorption, and carnitine biosynthesis. Its biosynthesis occurs via the Diaminopimelate (DAP) pathway in bacteria and plants and the α-aminoadipate (AAA) pathway in fungi and some archaea. Lysine catabolism primarily involves the saccharopine pathway. Lysine deficiencies can lead to connective tissue disorders, impaired fatty acid metabolism, anemia, and protein-energy malnutrition. Commercial production relies predominantly on microbial fermentation using Corynebacterium glutamicum, with strains enhanced through classical and metabolic engineering approaches. With global production exceeding 1 million tons annually, which is largely dominated by Chinese manufacturers, lysine supplements are readily accessible and exhibit absorption rates comparable to those of dietary protein sources. Beyond its nutritional role, lysine is integral to epigenetic regulation via histone modifications and is implicated in diseases, such as hyperlysinemia and pyridoxine-dependent epilepsies, underscoring its vital role in health maintenance and industrial relevance.

Neurodegenerative diseases are brought on by the loss of function of nerve cells in the brain or peripheral nervous system and afflict millions of people worldwide. Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease are the two most common neurodegenerative diseases. These neurodegenerative diseases are multi-factorial, progressive, age-related, and influenced by two factors: genetic and environmental. Successful treatment of neurodegenerative diseases is yet a challenging task due to lack of selectivity, toxicity, and the growth of multi-drug-resistant cells to the currently available drugs. Plant-derived, natural secondary metabolites have a significant impact on the research and development of novel medications against neurodegenerative disease. Plant-derived natural products are frequently regarded as safe and relatively safer substitutes for synthetic drugs. The present review deals with the elucidation of plant-derived secondary metabolites, namely alkaloids, flavonoids, and terpenoids, as anti-neurological therapeutics with special reference to various enzymatic targets, such as β-secretase, γ-secretase, α-Secretase, acetylcholinesterase, monoamine oxidase, and phosphodiesterase-4.

With its high potential, mRNA nanomedicine has become one of the transformative frontiers of modern therapeutic strategies for treating and preventing a wide array of diseases. This review article covers recent developments in mRNA nanomedicine and its prospects in terms of innovations in drug delivery systems, stability improvements, and targeted therapeutic applications. The versatility of mRNA means that almost any protein can potentially be encoded into it, making it a powerhouse for vaccines, gene editing, and protein replacement therapies. Recent breakthroughs in nanoparticle technology have significantly enhanced mRNA molecules' delivery efficiency and stability, surmounting previous barriers concerning rapid degradation and immune system activation. It has been developed innovations such as LNPs, polymer-based carriers, and hybrid nanocarriers have been central to the success of targeted delivery and the sustained release of mRNA. This review further underlines the potential of mRNA nanomedicine for oncological, infectious, and genetic diseases by highlighting ongoing clinical trials, emerging therapeutic paradigms, and future directions that lay much emphasis on delivery platform optimization, mRNA stability, and broadening the scope of mRNA nanomedicine therapy. With the power of emerging technologies and solving present challenges, mRNA nanomedicine has a vast potential to revolutionize the future landscape of personalized medicine and targeted therapies.

Baicalein (BN) is an active ingredient naturally present in Chinese herbs, such as Scutellaria baicalein, Coptis chinensis, and Dendrobium officinale. It has a variety of pharmacological activities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects. Therefore, Baicalein (BN) is widely used in the field of medicine and is considered a potential natural medicine. Osteoporosis (OP) is a bone metabolic disease characterized by decreased bone mineral density and bone structure destruction, which is mainly caused by decreased bone formation and increased bone resorption. With the continuous development of molecular biology, the signaling pathways and gene targets of bone metabolism are also expanding. Recent studies have shown that baicalein may affect the function of osteoblasts, osteoclasts, and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells through MAPK/ERK and MAPKs/NF-κB signaling pathways, so as to have a therapeutic effect on OP. However, the specific mechanism of baicalein in the treatment of OP is still unclear. This article reviews the literature, analyzes and summarizes the mechanism of action of baicalein, and discusses its potential in the prevention and treatment of OP, so as to provide a basis for the clinical application of baicalein.