metabolic balance

Metabolism is the set of life-sustaining chemical reactions in organisms that maintain cell homeostasis. Metabolic pathways are enzyme-mediated biochemical reactions that lead to biosynthesis (anabolism) or breakdown (catabolism) of molecules including glucose metabolism, lipid metabolism and amino acid or protein metabolism within a cell or tissue. As catalysts, enzymes are crucial to metabolism as they allow a reaction to proceed more rapidly and tregulate the rate of a metabolic reaction. Due to the importance of metabolic balance in the organism, the abnormal function of metabolic enzymes often leads to the occurrence of a variety of metabolic diseases, such as diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, etc.

MCE designs a unique collection of 3,611 metabolic enzymes related small molecules, which is an important tool for studying the metabolic activities of organisms and developing drugs for metabolic diseases.

Lactic acid metabolism is one of the key metabolic pathways within living organisms. It plays a crucial role not only in cellular energy conversion but is also closely related to a variety of physiological and pathological processes. The production and clearance of lactic acid are important indicators of cellular metabolic balance, and its abnormal regulation may lead to conditions such as lactic acidosis, muscle fatigue, and hereditary metabolic diseases. Moreover, lactic acid is closely related to the malignancy of tumors and is considered a biomarker for malignant tumors and poor prognosis. Lactic acid can serve as a metabolic substrate to support the metabolic needs of tumor cells under hypoxic conditions, and it can also cause acidification of the tumor microenvironment, suppress immune cell function to promote immune evasion, and induce drug resistance in tumor cells. Currently, targeting lactic acid-lactylation and its related metabolic pathways has become a new research avenue for cancer treatment. In-depth exploration of the molecular mechanisms of lactic acid metabolism can help in screening lead compounds that regulate the lactic acid metabolism.

MCE contains 399 small molecule compounds targeting enzymes involved in lactic acid metabolism. This library is of significant value for researching the role of lactate metabolism in the mechanisms of diseases.

Bile acids are a class of amphiphilic molecules derived from the metabolic breakdown of cholesterol, primarily synthesized in the liver, and play a crucial role in the intestines. Based on their structural characteristics, bile acids are mainly divided into two categories: free bile acids (including Cholic acid, Deoxycholic acid, Chenodeoxycholic acid) and conjugated bile acids (including Glycocholic acid, Glycochenodeoxycholic acid, Taurocholic acid, etc.). Bile acids play a significant role in the pathophysiological research of liver and gastrointestinal diseases and are closely associated with the occurrence of metabolic diseases such as obesity, type II diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and atherosclerosis. Bile acids maintain metabolic balance within the body by regulating sugar metabolism, lipid metabolism, and amino acid metabolism, and they influence the activity of metabolism-related enzymes and transporters. In addition, Bile acids can also be used to construct a bile acid metabolism research platform, which helps to delve into the metabolic pathways and dynamic changes of bile acids in living organisms and aids in identifying new biomarkers for certain diseases.

MCE included 58 bile acids, including Cholic acid, Deoxycholic acid, Glycocholic acid, etc., which are effective tools for the study of liver and gallbladder diseases.

Macrophages are effector cells of the innate immune system, engulfing bacteria and secreting pro-inflammatory and antibacterial mediators. They are an important component of the first line defense against pathogens and tumor cells. In addition, macrophages play an important role in eliminating damaged cells through programmed cell death. Like all immune cells, macrophages originate from pluripotent hematopoietic stem cells in the bone marrow. Macrophages play key functions in many physiological processes beyond homeostasis and innate immunity, including metabolic function, cell debris clearance, tissue repair, and remodeling. In order to fulfill their different functional roles, macrophages can polarize into a series of phenotypes, including classic (pro inflammatory, M1) and alternative (anti-inflammatory, healing promoting, M2) activation states, as well as a wide range of regulatory phenotypes and subtypes. Macrophages exist in all vertebrate tissues and have a dual function in host protection and tissue damage, maintaining a good balance.

MCE designs a unique collection of 195 macrophage related compounds. It is a good tool to be used for research on Inflammation, cancer and other diseases.