Conference “Human Biochemistry” Dedicated to the 100th Birth Anniversary of Temirbolat Berezov

On October 19, 2024, we celebrated the 100th birth anniversary of Prof. Temirbolat Berezov, the founder of the Department of Biochemistry at the Patrice Lumumba People's Friendship University of Russia (RUDN). A distinguished professor and a member of the Soviet Academy of Medical Sciences, Berezov carried on the legacy of the Russian school of biochemistry, following in the footsteps of Alexander Braunshtein, Boris Zbarsky, Sergey Mardashev, and Sergey Severin. In Russia, Prof. Berezov is widely known as the author of the fundamental textbook Biological Chemistry for medical students. Those who knew him—friends, colleagues, and students—always spoke of his discipline, diligence, tact, and meticulous attention to detail. Berezov's research focused on nitrogen metabolism, the metabolic vulnerabilities of cancer cells, the molecular mechanisms regulating enzymatic activity during carcinogenesis, and the use of enzymes in cancer treatment. His early work explored the mechanisms of pyridoxal-dependent catalysis, the physiological role of vitamin B6, and its impact on amino acid metabolism [1–3]. During the 1960s and 1970s, he studied asparaginases from various bacterial sources [4–6]. In the 1980s, he became the first researcher in the USSR to investigate the properties of lysine-α-oxidase [7, 8], solidifying his reputation as a leading expert in the study of anticancer enzymes [9, 10]. Today, the Department of Biochemistry at RUDN continues to build on his legacy, focusing on new mechanisms of action and potential applications of asparaginase, methionase, and lysine-α-oxidase in cancer therapy [11–22]. On October 17–19, 2024, the RUDN Department of Biochemistry, supported by the Association of Molecular, Cellular, and Synthetic Biology, held a conference dedicated to the 100th anniversary of Temirbolat Berezov. The conference “Human Biochemistry #berezov2024” brought together biochemistry researchers and practical healthcare specialists (endocrinologists, oncologists, specialists in clinical laboratory diagnostics, and related medical specialists), who discussed the problems of pathogenesis of human diseases, their diagnostic capabilities, and research of the targets and mechanisms of action of new drugs. The track for researchers in molecular oncology included the problems of carcinogenesis and biochemistry of tumors, genomics of tumor cells, nanotechnology in oncology, modern aspects of the study of tumor markers, and the possibilities of experimental oncology. The track for specialists in endocrinology included subforums of molecular endocrinology, biochemistry of regeneration, oncoendocrinology, biochemistry of inflammation, and age-related changes. Specialists in the field of clinical laboratory diagnostics discussed the molecular diagnostics of infectious diseases, biosensors, biochemical aspects of myocardial injury, vascular pathology, and kidney diseases. A group of scientific subforums was devoted to the mechanisms of action and practical aspects of development of drugs: molecular pharmacology, toxicological assessment of new agents, research of herbal preparations, synthetic medicinal chemistry, genetic technologies in drug invention, computer design of drugs, mathematical modeling in biochemistry and pharmacology, and modern approaches to the creation of new drug-delivery systems. Relevant program reports were made at subforums Enzymology, Biochemistry of Nutrition, Biochemistry of the Brain, Structural Biology of Membrane Proteins, Free Radical Processes in Health and Disease, Proteomics, Creation of Materials with a Given Functional Effect, and Creation of Materials Based on Nanoparticles. A separate platform—roundtables and scientific sections—was formed for teachers of biochemistry and related disciplines at the university. In total, the conference brought together more than 1600 participants: more than 40 scientific subforums, seven roundtables, three scientific and educational schools, and three master classes.More than 70 participants presented the results of their own research at the competition of reports of young scientists at six specialized sections. An intellectual game—a biochemical quiz—was the final event of the conference. Several articles were selected among more than 400 abstracts of the conference proceedings and included in this issue of the journal. They cover various aspects of human biochemistry: pathology of pregnancy and pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus, properties of secretome of mesenchymal stromal cells, brain biochemistry, antioxidant properties of molecules of various origins, metabolism of vitamins, and fundamental aspects of biochemistry of inflammation and tumor cells.