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Related Concept Videos

Olefin Metathesis Polymerization: Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization (ROMP)01:16

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Ring-opening metathesis polymerization or ROMP involves strained cycloalkenes as starting materials. The mechanism of ROMP proceeds by reacting cycloalkene with Grubbs catalyst to give metallacyclobutane intermediate which undergoes a ring-opening reaction to form new carbene. The new carbene reacts with another molecule of cycloalkene. Repetition of these steps leads to the formation of an unsaturated open-chain polymer product. All these steps are reversible, however, relieving the ring...
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Actin polymerization occurs through the head-to-tail association of binding sites on monomeric actin or G-actin to form filamentous or F-actin. The polymerization can be divided into three phases ̶  nucleation, elongation, and steady-state phase.
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Step-Growth Polymerization: Overview01:03

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Step-growth or condensation polymerization is a stepwise reaction of bi or multifunctional monomers to form long-chain polymers. As all the monomers are reactive, most of the monomers are consumed at the early stages of the reaction to form small chains of reactive oligomers, which then combine to form long polymer chains in the late stages. Hence, the reaction has to proceed for a long time to achieve high molecular weight polymers.
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Actin Polymerization and Cell Motility01:13

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Actin is a family of globular proteins that are highly abundant in eukaryotic cells. It makes up approximately 1-5% of total cell protein concentration. Actin monomers polymerize to form a complex network of polarized filaments, the actin cytoskeleton, that plays a crucial role in many cellular processes, including cell motility, division, endocytosis, and metastasis of cancer cells.
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Recently, the development of olefin metathesis polymerization advanced the field of polymer synthesis. Simply put, the reorganization of substituents on their double bonds between two olefins in the presence of a catalyst is known as the olefin metathesis reaction. The use of metathesis reaction for polymer synthesis is called olefin metathesis polymerization.
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Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview01:10

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Chain-growth or addition polymerization is successive addition reactions of monomers with a polymer chain. In radical chain-growth polymerization, the reaction proceeds via a free-radical intermediate. The free radical is formed from radical initiators, which spontaneously generate free radicals by homolytic fission. Organic peroxides (such as dibenzoyl peroxide, as shown in Figure 1) or azo compounds are popular radical initiators. A low concentration ratio of radical initiator to monomer is...
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Ethylene Polymerizations Using Parallel Pressure Reactors and a Kinetic Analysis of Chain Transfer Polymerization
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Targeting HbS Polymerization.

Frank A Ferrone1

  • 1Department of Physics, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA.

Seminars in Hematology
|January 9, 2019
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Sickle cell disease is caused by hemoglobin polymer formation. Preventing this polymer formation, by increasing fetal hemoglobin or red blood cell volume, offers a fundamental treatment approach.

Keywords:
AllosteryAnti-sickling drugsKineticsOxygen deliveryPolymer structureVaso-occlusion

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Area of Science:

  • Hematology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Sickle cell disease (SCD) stems from a specific mutation (β6 glu to val) in hemoglobin, leading to polymer formation.
  • This polymerization causes vaso-occlusion and severe health complications characteristic of SCD.
  • Preventing hemoglobin polymerization is a key therapeutic strategy for SCD.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To critically review current and emerging strategies for preventing hemoglobin polymer formation in sickle cell disease.
  • To evaluate methods targeting polymer structure and hemoglobin concentration.
  • To discuss the potential of increasing fetal hemoglobin (HbF) and altering red blood cell volume.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on SCD pathophysiology and treatment.
  • Analysis of approaches to inhibit sickle hemoglobin polymerization.
  • Examination of strategies including HbF induction, allosteric modification, and red blood cell swelling.

Main Results:

  • Fetal hemoglobin (HbF) does not polymerize and can be induced as a therapeutic strategy.
  • Restricting allosteric changes in hemoglobin during oxygen delivery inhibits polymer formation.
  • Increasing red blood cell volume by swelling demonstrates recent therapeutic benefits.

Conclusions:

  • Preventing sickle hemoglobin polymerization is a fundamental approach to treating SCD.
  • Induction of HbF and strategies to restrict allosteric changes are viable treatment avenues.
  • Enhancing red blood cell volume represents a promising new direction in SCD management.