About this Research Topic
Molecular chaperones play a pivotal role in ensuring proper cellular protein homeostasis through their involvement in protein folding, assembly, and degradation. Concurrently, polyamines (small organic molecules) participate in various crucial biochemical processes, including the synthesis, functioning, maintenance, and stability of nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) and proteins. Additionally, polyamines play a pivotal role in cell signaling, DNA binding, transcription, RNA splicing, and the functioning of cytoskeletons. Both polyamines and molecular chaperones therefore emerge as key determinants of overall cellular function. Their intricate interplay and regulatory roles also contribute significantly to maintaining cellular homeostasis and functionality. This interplay between polyamines and molecular chaperones impacts various diseases, including cancer, heart disease, neurological disorders, metabolic disorders, and age-related pathologies. Molecular chaperones and polyamines also regulate protein homeostasis in other cell types that are not implicated in human disease, such as plant cells. It is therefore crucial to fully comprehend the molecular processes governing both chaperone-mediated protein folding and the influence of polyamines in both functional and non-functional cells.
This research topic aims to elucidate the regulatory functions of polyamines and explore the roles of chaperones in protein aggregation, chaperone-client interactions, and proteostasis maintenance. Specific questions include: How do polyamines and molecular chaperones interact to maintain cellular homeostasis? What are the molecular mechanisms underlying their roles in disease pathogenesis? How can these insights be leveraged to develop novel therapeutic strategies? Hypotheses to be tested include the potential for polyamines and molecular chaperones to serve as biomarkers or therapeutic targets in various diseases.
To gather further insights into the boundaries of molecular chaperones and polyamines in disease, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
- Description of novel roles of polyamines/molecular chaperones in modulating cellular processes
- Biophysical and biochemical characterization of polyamines/molecular chaperones
- Molecular chaperones/polyamines in relation to human disease
- Application of molecular chaperones and/or polyamines in the development of novel therapeutics
- Development of molecular chaperone-based biomarkers
This research topic aims to elucidate the regulatory functions of polyamines and explore the roles of chaperones in protein aggregation, chaperone-client interactions, and proteostasis maintenance. Specific questions include: How do polyamines and molecular chaperones interact to maintain cellular homeostasis? What are the molecular mechanisms underlying their roles in disease pathogenesis? How can these insights be leveraged to develop novel therapeutic strategies? Hypotheses to be tested include the potential for polyamines and molecular chaperones to serve as biomarkers or therapeutic targets in various diseases.
To gather further insights into the boundaries of molecular chaperones and polyamines in disease, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
- Description of novel roles of polyamines/molecular chaperones in modulating cellular processes
- Biophysical and biochemical characterization of polyamines/molecular chaperones
- Molecular chaperones/polyamines in relation to human disease
- Application of molecular chaperones and/or polyamines in the development of novel therapeutics
- Development of molecular chaperone-based biomarkers
Keywords: molecular chaperones, polyamines, protein folding, proteostasis, disease mechanisms, therapeutic targets, diagnostic markers, cellular processes
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
