Virtually all aerobic organisms synthesize heme, an iron protoporphyrin complex that functions as an oxygen transporter and electron carrier in multiple enzymes and mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes. Heme is synthesized by a highly conserved multistep process, beginning with the condensation of glycine and succinyl-CoA by ALA synthase (ALAS) to form 5-aminolevulinic acid, and continuing...

This paper reviews the evidence for novel physiological functions of oligosaccharides. A history of the research and development and the types of health benefits are discussed. A key property of the physiological functions lies in the indigestibility of oligosaccharides, which gives rise to fermentation in the large intestine, followed by an increase of Bifidobacteria and short-chain fatty acid...

Suppressors of cytokine signalling (SOCS) proteins are modulators of cytokine and growth factor signalling whose aberrant regulation has been linked to a variety of inflammatory and neoplastic diseases. SOCS proteins are able to act as substrate-recruiting component of E3-ubiquitin ligase complexes and target interacting proteins for degradation. At least some of the family members can also dir...

Aluminum (Al), cobalt (Co), sodium (Na), selenium (Se), and silicon (Si) are considered beneficial elements for plants: they are not required by all plants but can promote plant growth and may be essential for particular taxa. These beneficial elements have been reported to enhance resistance to biotic stresses such as pathogens and herbivory, and to abiotic stresses such as drought, salinity, ...