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Scholarly Publications by Integral Academia

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Start date: 2024Subject: search.filters.subject.Epigenetics

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    Bioinformatics Approaches in Noncoding RNAs Research
    (Springer, Cham, 2026) Fariya Khan, Ajay Kumar, Salman Akhtar
    In recent years, noncoding RNAs have sparked significant interest in understanding the diverse roles of ncRNAs in cellular regulation and disease processes. Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), encompassing small noncoding RNAs (sncRNAs) and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), are critical regulators of gene expression, epigenetic modifications, and various cellular processes within the human genome. The diverse nature ncRNAs, along with certain complex features, has made them difficult to study through traditional experimental methods. As a result, bioinformatics tools have expanded the possibilities for offering new insights through advanced computational strategies. This chapter explores the recent advancements in ncRNA databases, emphasizing their importance and the innovative in silico strategies that enable the prediction and analysis of biological interactions, particularly for miRNAs and lncRNAs. It offers an in-depth overview of the structural properties, classification, and functions of various types of noncoding RNAs, highlighting their crucial roles in cellular processes. Additionally, the chapter discusses the significant therapeutic potential of ncRNAs, focusing on their applications in treating cancer and other severe diseases. These insights are pivotal in advancing the development of targeted therapies and precision medicine.
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    Natural Compounds as Epigenetic Modulators to Treat Neurodegenerative Disorders
    (Springer, Singapore, 2025) Mohammad Rumman, Mohsin Vahid Khan
    Neurodegenerative disorders largely affect individuals at an advanced age; however, early-onset neurodegenerative diseases have also been reported. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disorder that affects millions of people worldwide, along with Huntington’s disease, Parkinson’s disease (PD), multiple system atrophy, and progressive supranuclear palsy. The etiology and pathological mechanisms of neurodegenerative disorders are diverse; however, dysregulated epigenetic modifications have frequently been observed in these disorders. In AD, DNA methylation is extensively suppressed in the neuronal cells of the affected regions. Similarly, abnormal DNA methylation pattern has been associated with dopaminergic neuron degeneration in PD. Besides, alterations in histone modification patterns have also been reported in the brains of animal models as well individuals with neurodegenerative disorders. Thus, targeting the epigenetic regulators is one of the strategies for managing and treating neurodegenerative diseases. Plant-derived natural compounds hold an immense potential in the field of drug discovery, as these compounds are abundantly available and exhibit minimal to no side effects. The anticancer, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, cardio-protective, hepato-protective, and anti-obesity qualities of these substances have all been thoroughly investigated. Mechanistically, these natural compounds can modulate diverse cellular processes, including transcription, oxidative stress, translation, cellular trafficking, and post-translational modification. A large group of herbal natural compounds are shown to regulate the activity of several epigenetic regulators. By modulating the activity of specific epigenetic regulators, these natural compounds can revert the epigenetic signatures, thereby preventing neurodegenerative disease progression. This chapter discusses the possible role of natural compounds as epigenetic modulators in neurodegenerative conditions.
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    Epigenetics as Diagnostic and Therapeutic Tool in Neurodegenerative Disorders
    (Bentham Science, 2024) Rufaida Wasim; Tarique Mahmood, Farogh Ahsan, Aditya Singh, Asad Ahmad
    Epigenetics is a field that is concerned with the investigation of heritable modifications in gene expression that transpire without DNA sequence alterations, thereby establishing a connection between the genome and its surroundings. Epigenetics simply analyzes gene expression amendment beyond variation to the DNA sequence. The gradual accumulation of epigenetic changes over the course of an individual's life span may contribute to neurodegeneration. This chapter deals with epigenetic alteration, which affects the progress of neurodegeneration with age. Epigenetic regulation, encompassing DNA methylation and histone modification, has been implicated in the anomalous alterations in gene expression that occur during the progression of neurodegeneration. The concept of epigenetics is useful to synthesize novel medications to target these disorders. In recent times, a plethora of epigeneticsbased medications have been developed for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Huntington's. Due to a major lack of early screening processes that allow therapeutic agents to be distributed to afflicted neurons paramount to cell death, many neurological conditions have severely restricted options for treatment. Significant progress has been seen in neurodegenerative disease biomarkers. These biomarkers have been unfortunate, due to substantial disparities amidst the tissues acclimated to source biomarkers and biomarkers of disease. Neurodegeneration may be exacerbated by epigenetic changes that develop gradually. Epigenetic biomarkers could aid in the diagnosis, and monitoring, of neurodegenerative diseases.