physiological functions

Antibody inhibitors are compounds with the same activity as the original therapeutic antibodies, which can be used as positive controls for drug efficacy evaluation and other studies. Antibody inhibitors can also assist in verifying the functional activity of the target protein. These antibody inhibitors are active in vivo and can achieve certain physiological functions by blocking or neutralizing target proteins, such as CD20, HER2, EGFR, VEGFR, TNF-α, etc. In drug screening, antibody inhibitor-based screening can be carried out to identify active compounds targeting target proteins and target diseases.

MCE can provide 21 antibody inhibitors that can be used for drug development in cancer, immunity, infection and other hot research areas.

Macrophages are effector cells of the innate immune system, engulfing bacteria and secreting pro-inflammatory and antibacterial mediators. They are an important component of the first line defense against pathogens and tumor cells. In addition, macrophages play an important role in eliminating damaged cells through programmed cell death. Like all immune cells, macrophages originate from pluripotent hematopoietic stem cells in the bone marrow. Macrophages play key functions in many physiological processes beyond homeostasis and innate immunity, including metabolic function, cell debris clearance, tissue repair, and remodeling. In order to fulfill their different functional roles, macrophages can polarize into a series of phenotypes, including classic (pro inflammatory, M1) and alternative (anti-inflammatory, healing promoting, M2) activation states, as well as a wide range of regulatory phenotypes and subtypes. Macrophages exist in all vertebrate tissues and have a dual function in host protection and tissue damage, maintaining a good balance.

MCE designs a unique collection of 158 macrophage related compounds. It is a good tool to be used for research on Inflammation, cancer and other diseases.

Lipids are a fundamental class of organic molecules implicated in a wide range of biological processes, and based on this can be broadly classified into five categories: fatty acids, triacylglycerols (TAGs), phospholipids, sterol lipids and sphingolipids. Lipids play a crucial role in different metabolic pathways and cellular functions. Lipid metabolism is an important physiological process that is related to nutrient adjustment, hormone regulation, and homeostasis. Lipid metabolism dysregulation is associated with many diseases such as obesity, liver disease, aging and inflammation.

MCE offers a unique collection of 656 compounds related to lipid metabolism, which target relevant targets in the process of lipid metabolism, such as ATGL, MAGL, FAAH, acetyl-Coa Carboxylase, FASN, etc. MCE lipid metabolism compound library is a useful tool for research lipid metabolism and drug discovery of diseases related to lipid metabolism.

The endocrine system is a chemical messenger system comprising feedback loops of the hormones released by internal glands of an organism directly into the circulatory system, regulating distant target organs. Hormones are chemicals that serve to communicate between organs and tissues for physiological regulation and behavioral activities. Hormones affect distant cells by binding to specific receptor proteins in the target cell, resulting in a change in cell function.

The endocrine system is concerned with the integration of developmental events proliferation, growth, and differentiation, and the psychological or behavioral activities of metabolism, growth and development, tissue function, sleep, digestion, respiration, excretion, mood, stress, lactation, movement, reproduction, and sensory perception caused by hormones. Irregulated hormone release, inappropriate response to signaling or lack of a gland can lead to endocrine disease.

MCE offers a unique collection of 874 endocrinology related compounds targeting varieties of hormone receptors such as thyroid hormone receptor, TSH receptor, GNRH receptor, adrenergic receptor, etc. MCE Endocrinology Compound Library is a useful tool for the discovery of endocrinology drugs.

Protein serine/threonine kinases (PSKs) are protein kinases that use ATP as a high-energy donor molecule to transfer phosphate groups to serine/threonine residues of target protein. As an important signal transduction regulator, serine/threonine kinases can affect the function of target proteins by disrupting enzyme activity or binding of target proteins to other proteins. Serine/threonine kinases are involved in the regulation of immune response, cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis and other physiological processes. Serine/threonine kinase inhibitors are an important class of compounds that have been widely studied in cancer, chronic inflammation, autoimmune diseases, aging and other diseases.

MCE designs a unique collection of 1,286 serine/threonine kinase inhibitors, mainly targeting the receptor PKA, Akt, PKC, MAPK/ERK, etc, which is an effective tool for development and research of anti-cancer, anti-chronic inflammatory diseases, anti-autoimmune diseases and anti-aging compounds.

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.

Obesity is widely recognized as the largest and fastest growing public health problem and is associated with numerous chronic disorders including osteoarthritis, obstructive sleep apnea, gallstones, fatty liver disease, reproductive and gastrointestinal cancers, dyslipidemia, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, heart failure, coronary artery disease, stroke, etc. Although obesity has long been associated with serious health issues, it has only recently been regarded as a disease in the sense of being a specific target for medical therapy. Obesity may be viewed as the dysregulation of two physiological functions, appetite regulation and energy metabolism, which combine to create disordered energy balance. Consequently, developing obesity treatments that target novel pathways is a growing focus for both biopharmaceutical industries.

MCE Anti-Obesity Compound Library owns a unique collection of 2,361 compounds, which mainly target signaling pathway of controlling appetite, fatty acid metabolism and energy expenditure, etc. This library is a useful tool for discovery anti-obesity drugs.

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.

Neuronal Signaling is involved in the regulation of the mechanisms of the central nervous system (CNS) such as its structure, function, genetics and physiology as well as how this can be applied to understand diseases of the nervous system. Every information processing system in the CNS is composed of neurons and glia, neurons have evolved unique capabilities for intracellular signaling (communication within the cell) and intercellular signaling (communication between cells). G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), including 5-HT receptor, histamine receptor, opioid receptor, etc. are the largest class of sensory proteins and are important therapeutic targets in Neuronal Signaling. Besides, Notch signaling, such as β- and γ-secretase, also plays multiple roles in the development of the CNS including regulating neural stem cell (NSC) proliferation, survival, self-renewal and differentiation. GPCR dysfunction caused by receptor mutations and environmental challenges contributes to many neurological diseases. Notch signaling in neurons, glia, and NSCs is also involved in pathological changes that occur in disorders such as stroke, Alzheimer's disease and CNS tumors. Thus, targeting Neuronal Signaling, such as notch signaling and GPCRs, can be used as therapeutic interventions for several different CNS disorders.

MCE designs a unique collection of 2,572 Neuronal Signaling-related compounds that act as a useful tool for the research of neuronal regulation and neuronal diseases.