basal Cell

A membrane protein is a protein molecule that is attached to or associated with the membrane of a cell or an organelle. Membrane proteins can be classified into two groups based on how the protein is associated with the membrane: integral membrane proteins and peripheral membrane proteins. In humans, about 30% genome encodes membrane proteins. Membrane proteins perform a variety of functions vital to the survival of organisms, for example, signal transduction, molecules or ion transportation, enzymatic catalysis, and intercellular communication. Membrane proteins also play important roles in drug discovery. As reported, more than 60% of current drug targets are membrane proteins.

MCE supplies a unique collection of 6,927 compounds targeting a variety of membrane proteins. MCE Membrane Protein-targeted Compound Library can be used for membrane protein-focused screening and drug discovery.

MCE Novel Bioactive Compound Library consists of 1,220 bioactive compounds with validated bioactivities tested by cell-based assays or biochemical assays. All compounds in this library are structurally novel and bioactivity diverse which makes it easier to discover new lead compounds. MCE Novel Bioactive Compound Library, as a supplement of MCE bioactive compound library (HY-L001), is a useful tool to screen new lead compounds.

Techniques for reprogramming somatic cells create new opportunities for drug screening, disease modeling, artificial organ development, and cell therapy. The development of reprogramming techniques has grown exponentially since Yamanaka reprogrammed somatic cells to become induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) using four transcription factors, OCT4, SOX2, KLF4, and c-MYC in 2006. Despite the development of efficient reprogramming methods, most methods are inappropriate for clinical applications because they carry the risk of integrating exogenous genetic factors or use oncogenes. Alternative approaches, such as those based on miRNA, non-viral genes, non-integrative vectors, and small molecules, have been studied as possible solutions to the problems. Among these alternatives, small molecules are attractive options for clinical applications. Reprogramming using small molecules is inexpensive and easy to control in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. It offers a high level of cell permeability, ease of synthesis and standardization, and it is appropriate for mass-producing cells.

MCE Reprogramming Compound Library contains a unique collection of 2,080 compounds that act on reprogramming signaling pathways. These compounds are potential stimulators for reprogramming. This library is a useful tool for researching reprogramming and regenerative medicine.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are small membrane binding structures that are released from cells into the surrounding environment and play a crucial role in mediating and regulating intercellular communication related to physiological and pathological processes. EVs are lipid membrane vesicles composed of proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. EVs can be divided into several types based on their source, such as extracellular vesicles, microcapsules, and apoptotic vesicles. The size range of exosomes is 30-150nm, which are endocrine in multi vesicular endosomes (MVEs); microvesicles (50-1000nm) are secreted directly through extracellular interactions, thereby releasing plasma membrane vesicles. In contrast, apoptotic bodies are usually larger, ranging in size from 1 to 5 μ m. This is generated during programmed cell death. EV plays a crucial role in transmitting information between cells and influencing the behavior and function of receptor cells.

MCE designs a unique collection of 406 small molecules related to extracellular vesicles (EVs). It is a good tool to be used for research on metabolize, cancer and other diseases.

Protein phosphorylation is a key post-translational modification underlying the regulation of many cellular processes. Phosphatases and kinases contribute to the regulation of protein phosphorylation homeostasis in the cell. This reversible regulation of protein phosphorylation is critical for the proper control of a wide range of cellular activities, including cell cycle, proliferation and differentiation, metabolism, cell-cell interactions, etc.

Protein phosphatases have evolved in separate families that are structurally and mechanistically distinct. Based on substrate specificity and functional diversity, protein phosphatases are classified into two superfamilies: Protein serine/threonine phosphatases and Protein tyrosine phosphatases. Ser/Thr phosphatases are metalloenzymes belonging to two major gene families termed PPP (phosphoprotein phosphatase) and PPM (metal-dependent protein phosphatases), whereas protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) belong to distinct classes of enzymes that utilize a phospho-cysteine enzyme intermediate as a part of their catalytic action.

MCE supplies a unique collection of 134 phosphatase inhibitors that mainly targeting protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) and serine/threonine-specific protein phosphatases. MCE Phosphatase Inhibitor Library is a useful tool for phosphatase drug discovery and related research.

Mitochondrial autophagy refers to the selective encapsulation and degradation of damaged mitochondria by cells through the autophagy mechanism, thereby maintaining mitochondrial and cellular homeostasis. The concept of mitochondrial autophagy has received extensive attention since it was proposed. Current studies have shown that the mechanisms of mitochondrial autophagy can generally be divided into two categories: Ubiquitin-dependent pathways and Ub-independent pathways. In addition, mitochondrial autophagy is a research hotspot related to the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, metabolic diseases and other clinical diseases. Therefore, high-throughput screening based on mitochondrial autophagy can effectively screen out compounds that are closely related to the occurrence of diseases and analyze their mechanisms.

MCE can provide a library of 549 mitophagy compounds, which can be used for drug development and mechanism research in cancer, immunity, infection and other hot research fields.

The TCA cycle (tricarboxylic acid cycle)—is also known as the Krebs cycle or the citric acid cycle (CAC). The TCA cycle is a series of chemical reactions that release stored energy through the oxidation of acetyl-CoA in carbohydrates, fats, and proteins.

For decades, the TCA cycle has been considered as the central pathway for cell oxidative phosphorylation to produce energy and biosynthesis. Research shows that TCA cycle is associated with many diseases, especially cancer. In colon carcinoma, liver cancer and other cancers, there are mutations that lead to the imbalance of TCA cycle metabolites, indicating that TCA cycle may be related to the occurrence of cancer. Understanding the role and molecular mechanism of TCA cycle in inhibiting or promoting cancer progression will promote the development of new metabolite-based cancer treatment methods in the future.

MCE supplies a unique collection of 65 compounds related to the TCA cycle. MCE TCA Cycle Compound Library is a useful tool for the TCA cycle related research and anti-cancer drug development.

Membrane receptors, also known cell surface receptors or transmembrane receptors, are transmembrane proteins embedded into the plasma membrane which play an essential role in maintaining communication between the internal processes within the cell and various types of extracellular signals. They act in cell signaling by receiving (binding to) extracellular molecules, which are also called ligands. These extracellular molecules include hormones, cytokines, growth factors, neurotransmitters, lipophilic signaling molecules such as prostaglandins, and cell recognition molecules.

There are three kinds of membrane receptors: ion channel-linked receptors, enzyme-linked receptors and G-protein-linked receptors. They play important roles in keeping human normal physiologic processes. GPCRs and ion channels are important drug targets in drug discovery.

MCE provides a unique collection of 4,674 compounds targeting a variety of membrane receptors. MCE Membrane reeptor-targeted Compound Library can be used for membrane receptor-focused screening and drug discovery.

Adult stem cells are important for tissue homeostasis and regeneration due to their ability to self-renew and generate multiple types of differentiated daughters. Self-renewal is reflected by their capacity to undergo multiple/limitless divisions. Several signaling pathways are involved in self-renewal of stem cells, that is, Notch, Wnt, and Hedgehog pathways or Polycomb family proteins. Recent studies mainly focus on cancer stem cell (CSCs), induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSCs), neural stem cell and maintenance of embryonic stem cell pluripotency. Among them, CSCs have been believed to be responsible for tumor initiation, growth, and recurrence that have implications for cancer therapy.

MCE owns a unique collection of 1,757 compounds that can be used for stem cell regulatory and signaling pathway research.

COVID-19 poses a serious threat to people's health, and it is urgent to develop drugs to treat COVID-19 quickly. The screening of anti-COVID-19 drugs by using the clinical and approved compounds can greatly shorten the research and development cycle. In addition, the virtual screening technology can effectively narrow the scope of screening and improve the screening efficiency in the pre-screening of new drugs.

Taking advantage of our virtual screening, we conduct virtual screening of approved compound library and clinical compound library based on the 3CL protease (PDB ID: 6LU7), Spike Glycoprotein (PDB ID: 6VSB), NSP15 (PDB ID: 6VWW), RDRP, PLPro and ACE2 (Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2) structure. We design a unique collection of 1,475 compounds which may have anti-COVID-19 activity. Anti-COVID-19 Compound Library will be a powerful tool for screening new anti-COVID-19 activity drugs.

Nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB)/Rel proteins include NF-κB2 p52/p100, NF-κB1 p50/p105, c-Rel, RelA/p65, and RelB. These proteins function as dimeric transcription factors that regulate the expression of genes and influence a broad range of biological processes including innate and adaptive immunity, inflammation, stress responses, B-cell development, and lymphoid organogenesis. NF-κB plays a key role in regulating the immune response to infection. In addition, activation of the NF-κB pathway is involved in the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory diseases, such as asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, and inflammatory bowel disease. Incorrect regulation of NF-κB has been linked to cancer, inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, septic shock, viral infection, and improper immune development.

MCE owns a unique collection of 809 small molecule compounds that can be used in the research of NF-κB signaling pathway or high throughput screening (HTS) related drug discovery.

Oxygen homeostasis regulation is the most fundamental cellular process for adjusting physiological oxygen variations, and its irregularity leads to various human diseases, including cancer. Hypoxia is closely associated with cancer development, and hypoxia/oxygen-sensing signaling plays critical roles in the modulation of cancer progression.

Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) is a transcription factor that functions as a master regulator of oxygen homeostasis. A variety of HF-1 target genes have been identified thus far which encode proteins that play key roles in critical developmental and physiological processes including angiogenesis/vascular remodeling, erythropoiesis, glucose transport, glycolysis, iron transport, and cell proliferation/survival.

HIF-1 is a heterodimeric transcription factor consisting of a constitutively expressed β-subunit and an oxygen-regulated α-subunit. The unique feature of HIF-1 is the regulation of HIF-1α expression and activity based upon the cellular O₂ concentration. Under normoxic conditions, hydroxylation of HIF-1α on these different proline residues is essential for HIF proteolytic degradation by promoting interaction with the von Hippel-Lindau tumor-suppressor protein (pVHL) through hydrogen bonding to the hydroxyproline-binding pocket in the pVHL β-domain. As oxygen levels decrease, hydroxylation of HIF decreases; HIF-1α then no longer binds pVHL, and becomes stabilized, allowing more of the protein to translocate to the cell’s nucleus, where it acts as a transcription factor, upregulating (often within minutes) the production of proteins that stimulate blood perfusion in tissues and thus tissue oxygenation.

MCE offers a unique collection of 2,545 oxygen sensing related compounds targeting HIF/HIF Prolyl-Hydroxylase, MAPK/ERK, PI3K/AKT signaling pathways, etc. MCE Oxygen Sensing Compound Library is a useful tool to study hypoxia, oxidative stress and discover new anti-cancer drugs.

GPCRs are a large family of cell surface receptors that respond to a variety of external signals. Binding of a signaling molecule to a GPCR results in G protein activation, which in turn triggers the production of any number of second messengers. GPCRs play an important role in the human body, and increased understanding of these receptors has greatly affected modern medicine. In fact, researchers estimate that between one-third to one-half of all approved drugs act by binding to GPCRs. GPCRs are a large group of drug targets in drug discovery.

MCE provides a unique collection of 2,316 small molecules targeting GPCRs that can be used in the screening for various GPCRs-related research and drug development projects.

MCE Cell-ATP Viability Detection Kit is used for detecting the number and viability of living cells in culture based on high-sensitivity bioluminescence detection technology of the ATP present.

DMEM (Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium) is a widely used basal medium for supporting the growth of many different mammalian cells. Cell lines successfully cultured in DMEM include Hela, 293, Cos-7, and PC-12, as well as primary fibroblasts, neurons, glial cells, HUVECs, and smooth muscle cells.

DMEM/F-12 (Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium/Nutrient Mixture F-12) is a widely used basal medium for supporting the growth of many different mammalian cells. Cell successfully cultured in DMEM/F-12 include MDCK, glial cells, fibroblasts, human endothelial cells, etc.

DMEM (Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium) is a widely used basal medium for supporting the growth of many different mammalian cells. Cell lines successfully cultured in DMEM include Hela, 293, Cos-7, and PC-12, as well as primary fibroblasts, neurons, glial cells, HUVECs, and smooth muscle cells, etc.

MCE PEI Transfection Reagent is designed based on 25 kDa PEI. It has high-efficiency, low-toxicity, strong-stability, and is suitable for many cell types, such as HEK-293、HEK-293T、CHO-K1、COS-1、COS-7、NIH/3T3、Sf9、HepG2 and HeLa et, even some hard-to-transfect cells. It can also be applied to large-scale recombinant protein expression and virus production.