Tag: Biochemistry

Heparin is a fast-acting anticoagulant that has been in clinical use for over 65 years. It does not act alone, but rather works by dramatically enhancing the activity of a natural inhibitor in the body. This article explores the sophisticated pharmacological mechanism that explains precisely how heparin inhibits thrombin, a key enzyme in the coagulation cascade, to prevent the formation and extension of dangerous blood clots.

First isolated from wool grease, the compound **lanosterol** is a crucial tetracyclic triterpenoid and precursor to all steroids in animals and fungi. It also has a lesser-known, intriguing alternative name: **kryptosterol**.

Over 30 steroid hormones are produced in the adrenal cortex alone, a stark contrast to the diverse class of signaling peptides found throughout the body. So, is a peptide a steroid? Absolutely not; they differ fundamentally in chemical composition, mechanism of action, and physiological effects.

First isolated from the liver extracts of the spiny dogfish shark, *Squalus acanthias*, in the early 2000s, trodusquemine is a naturally occurring aminosterol investigated for its therapeutic potential in metabolic and neurodegenerative diseases. What are the natural sources of trodusquemine and how has this unique compound made the journey from a marine organism to a subject of modern medical research?