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Featured Reviews in Chemical Biology 2026

A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Chemical Biology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2026 | Viewed by 1156

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Chemistry, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
Interests: chemical biology; molecular diversity; drug discovery; bioimaging and high throughput/high content screening; target identification/validation; chemical probes
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Bioengineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
Interests: fluorescent probes; AIEgens; imaging; theranostic
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In this Special Issue, titled ‘Featured Reviews in Chemical Biology 2026’, we aim to publish high-quality review articles within the section of Chemical Biology of Molecules. While the field overlaps with medicinal and bioorganic chemistry, it is defined by distinct aspects that mark studies suitable for this section. Research at the interface of Chemistry and Biology, where molecules are used to probe, manipulate, or visualize biological systems at the molecular level, is particularly relevant. Such studies can provide new insights into biological mechanisms or offer tools for their control. Contributions should focus on bioactive compounds, whether synthesized or isolated, or molecular probes designed to achieve these objectives. Reviews highlighting strategies to detect, capture, or modulate specific components in a biological context are especially welcome. This Special Issue seeks to showcase advances that exemplify the chemical–biological interface and inspire future investigations.

Prof. Dr. Seung Bum Park
Prof. Dr. Haidong Li
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.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Molecules is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • chemical biology
  • chemical probes
  • phenotypic screening
  • target identification/validation
  • bioactive metabolites
  • signaling molecules
  • drug discovery
  • enzymology
  • synthetic biology

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

37 pages, 1363 KB  
Review
Biochemistry of Human Gut Microbiota: Related Diseases and Dietary Interactions
by Sude Toydemir and Gokce Merey
Molecules 2026, 31(8), 1369; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules31081369 - 21 Apr 2026
Viewed by 769
Abstract
The human gut microbiota represents a complex and dynamic ecosystem of trillions of microorganisms that play a fundamental role in maintaining physiological homeostasis, regulating metabolism, and modulating the immune system. This narrative review explores the biochemical intricacies of the gut microbiome, focusing on [...] Read more.
The human gut microbiota represents a complex and dynamic ecosystem of trillions of microorganisms that play a fundamental role in maintaining physiological homeostasis, regulating metabolism, and modulating the immune system. This narrative review explores the biochemical intricacies of the gut microbiome, focusing on the dominant phyla (Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, Verrucomicrobia, Fusobacteria) and their specific contributions to host health. A critical emphasis is placed on the metabolic outputs of these microorganisms, such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) like butyrate, which serve as vital energy sources and anti-inflammatory signaling molecules. Conversely, the review examines how dysbiosis, the disruption of microbial balance, is mechanistically linked to the pathogenesis of diverse conditions, including obesity, diabetes mellitus, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and gout. Furthermore, it highlights the profound impact of dietary interventions on microbial architecture, notably, how non-digestible carbohydrates promote beneficial taxa and eubiosis, while high-fat and high-sugar diets drive metabolic endotoxemia and systemic inflammation. By synthesizing current knowledge on microbial biotransformations of proteins and polyphenols, this work underscores the bidirectional relationship between nutrition and the microbiome. Ultimately, understanding these biochemical interactions is essential for developing targeted probiotic, prebiotic, and nutritional strategies to prevent and manage chronic metabolic and inflammatory disorders. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Featured Reviews in Chemical Biology 2026)
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