QuadBase: genome-wide database of G4 DNA—occurrence and conservation in human, chimpanzee, mouse and rat promoters and 146 microbes

Emerging evidence indicates the importance of G-quadruplex motifs as drug targets. [Stuart A. Borman, Ascent of quadruplexes—nucleic acid structures become promising drug targets. Chem. Eng. News, 2007;85, 12–17], which stems from the fact that these motifs are present in a surprising number of promoters wherein their role in controlling gene expression has been demonstrated for a few. We present a compendium of quadruplex motifs, with particular focus on their occurrence and conservation in promoters—QuadBase. It is composed of two parts (EuQuad and ProQuad). EuQuad gives information on quadruplex motifs present within 10 kb of transcription starts sites in 99 980 human, chimpanzee, rat and mouse genes. ProQuad contains quadruplex information of 146 prokaryotes. Apart from gene-specific searches for quadruplex motifs, QuadBase has a number of other modules. ‘Orthologs Analysis’ queries for conserved motifs across species based on a selected reference organism; ‘Pattern Search’ can be used to fetch specific motifs of interest from a selected organism using user-defined criteria for quadruplex motifs, i.e. stem, loop size, etc. ‘Pattern Finder’ tool can search for motifs in any given sequence. QuadBase is freely available to users from non-profit organization at http://quadbase.igib.res.in/

QuadBase: genome-wide database of G4

doi:10.1093/nar/gkm78

Daidzein in traditional Chinese medicine: A deep dive into its Ethnomedicinal and therapeutic applications

Introduction: Daidzein, a secondary metabolite found in Soybean (Glycine max L.) and Pueraria lobata (Willd.), plays a pivotal role in various therapeutic applications, including its potential as an anticancer agent, particularly in estrogen-dependent breast cancer, along with anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory, cardiovascular, antidiabetic, antioxidative, and neurogenerative effects. Daidzein's ability to traverse the blood-brain barrier enhances cognition, reduces aggression, and promotes locomotor activity. Its structural resemblance to estrogens positions it as a potential remedy for menopausal osteoporosis. Methodology: The methodology for the comprehensive review on Daidzein entailed a literature search utilising keywords such as ''Daidzein'' and various therapeutic activities, including “Antioxidant,” “Anti-inflammatory,” “Anticancer,” “Antiviral,” “Antiobesity,” “Antidiabetic,” “Nephrotoxicity,” “Cardiovascular,” “Neuroprotective,” “Osteoporosis,” “Menopausal Symptoms,” “Aging,” “Cognitive Activities”. Academic databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, and Web of Science were employed for the search, considering articles published within the last 20 years to capture recent research while encompassing significant historical studies. Results: The results provide insights into the diverse effects of daidzein across various health domains, including its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antiviral, antiobesity, antidiabetic, nephrotoxicity, cardiovascular, neuroprotective, osteoporosis, menopausal symptoms, ageing, and cognitive activities. Discussion: : The discussion section critically analyses the collective evidence gathered from the studies. It explores the mechanisms underlying daidzein's therapeutic effects and discusses the implications of these findings for both Traditional Chinese Medicine and modern healthcare practices. However, challenges related to its low bioavailability and toxicity necessitate further research, providing a foundation for future studies on daidzein's potential applications