Pseudopeptidases: From Structure to Function in Health and Disease
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Biochemistry".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 January 2027 | Viewed by 24
Special Issue Editors
Interests: insects; transcriptomics; mass spectrometry; peptidases; enzymology; digestive system; gluten hydrolysis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: biochemistry; molecular biology; physiology; enzymology; peptidases; fungi
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
We are pleased to announce the upcoming publication of a Special Issue of our journal dedicated to one of the most intriguing and rapidly developing areas of modern science: pseudopeptidases (inactive homologues of peptidases). This topic encompasses both the fundamental aspects of their structure and function, as well as their significance in the context of health and disease. Having lost their catalytic activity, they long remained in the shadow of their "working" counterparts, considered mere evolutionary "remnants." However, recent studies convincingly demonstrate that pseudopeptidases play a critical role in a wide range of biological processes, both under normal conditions and during the development of various pathological conditions. Their functions can range from regulating the activity of true peptidases to participating in signaling pathways, cell adhesion, immune response, and even the development of cancer.
Our Special Issue aims to become a comprehensive and authoritative source of information, bringing together the latest advances and promising research directions in the field of pseudopeptidases. We set the following key goals: (1) systematization and synthesis of current knowledge on the structure, mechanisms of function, and evolution of pseudopeptidases; (2) identification of new functional roles for pseudopeptidases in various biological systems; (3) investigation of the pathological significance of pseudopeptidases in the development of diseases, including cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, inflammatory processes, infectious diseases, etc.; (4) stimulation of further research by identifying current gaps in knowledge about pseudopeptidases and identifying promising directions for future research; (5) promotion of interdisciplinary collaboration by combining the efforts of researchers from various fields—such as biochemistry, molecular biology, genetics, medicine, and pharmacology—to achieve a deeper understanding of pseudopeptidases.
To achieve these goals, we will address the following objectives: (1) publish original studies presenting new experimental data and theoretical developments; (2) publish review articles summarizing the current state of research on specific aspects of pseudopeptidases; (3) present clinical studies on the diagnostic and therapeutic potential of pseudopeptidases in clinical practice; (4) discuss methodological approaches and highlight modern methods for pseudopeptidase research, including structural biology, genetic approaches, and bioinformatics; (5) analyze therapeutic prospects and evaluate the potential for developing new pseudopeptidase-targeted drugs for the treatment of various diseases; (6) create a discussion forum and platform for the exchange of opinions and ideas among leading experts in this field.
We invite researchers from around the world to present their latest work and contribute to this important Special Issue. This is a unique opportunity to share discoveries, receive valuable feedback from colleagues, and contribute to shaping the future of pseudopeptidase research.
Dr. Elena N. Elpidina
Dr. Yakov E. Dunaevsky
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.
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Keywords
- pseudopeptidases
- pseudoenzymes
- inactive homologs of peptidases
- peptidases
- protein structure
- protein function
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