Antimicrobial activity and cytotoxicity trait of a bioactive peptide purified from Lactococcus garvieae subsp. bovis BSN307T

A bioactive peptide of 8595 Da was purified from the cell free supernatant of Lactococcus garvieae subsp. bovis BSN307^T. MALDI MS/MS peptide mapping and the data base search displayed no significant similarity to any reported antimicrobial peptide of LAB. This peptide at a dose concentration of 200 µg ml⁻¹ inhibited the growth of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria by 58–89% and a dose of 500 µg ml⁻¹ scavenged 50% of DPPH-free radicals generated. Interestingly, cytotoxicity assay demonstrated that 17 µg ml⁻¹ of peptide selectively inhibited 50% proliferation of mammalian cancer cell lines HeLa and MCF-7 whereas normal H9c2 cells remained unaffected. Fluorescent microscopic analysis after DAPI nuclear staining of HeLa cells showed characteristics of apoptosis and activation of caspase-3 was ascertained by caspase-3 fluorescence assay.     

Comparative mapping of a gorilla-derived alpha satellite DNA clone on great ape and human chromosomes

We have isolated an alpha satellite DNA clone, pG3.9, from gorilla DNA. Fluorescence in situ hybridization on banded chromosomes under high stringency conditions revealed that pG3.9 identifies homologous sequences at the centromeric region of ten gorilla chromosomes, and, with few exceptions, also recognizes the homologous chromosomes in human. A pG3.9-like alphoid DNA is present on a larger number of orangutan chromosomes, but, in contrast, is present on only tow chromosomes in the chimpanzee. These results show that the chromosomal subsets of related alpha satellite DNA sequences may undergo different patterns of evolution.by J.B. Rattner     

Neuronal control of lipid metabolism by STR‐2 G protein‐coupled receptor promotes longevity in Caenorhabditis elegans

The G protein‐coupled receptor (GPCR) encoding family of genes constitutes more than 6% of genes in Caenorhabditis elegans genome. GPCRs control behavior, innate immunity, chemotaxis, and food search behavior. Here, we show that C. elegans longevity is regulated by a chemosensory GPCR STR‐2, expressed in AWC and ASI amphid sensory neurons. STR‐2 function is required at temperatures of 20°C and higher on standard Escherichia coli OP50 diet. Under these conditions, this neuronal receptor also controls health span parameters and lipid droplet (LD) homeostasis in the intestine. We show that STR‐2 regulates expression of delta‐9 desaturases, fat‐5, fat‐6 and fat‐7, and of diacylglycerol acyltransferase dgat‐2. Rescue of the STR‐2 function in either AWC and ASI, or ASI sensory neurons alone, restores expression of fat‐5, dgat‐2 and restores LD stores and longevity. Rescue of stored fat levels of GPCR mutant animals to wild‐type levels, with low concentration of glucose, rescues its lifespan phenotype. In all, we show that neuronal STR‐2 GPCR facilitates control of neutral lipid levels and longevity in C. elegans.     

Biotic elicitors enhance diosgenin production in Helicteres isora L. suspension cultures via up-regulation of CAS and HMGR genes

In an attempt to find an alternative and potent source of diosgenin, a steroidal saponin in great demand for its pharmaceutical importance, Helicteres isora suspension cultures were explored for diosgenin extraction. The effect of biotic elicitors on the biosynthesis of diosgenin, in suspension cultures of H. isora was studied. Bacterial as well as fungal elicitors such as Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Aspergillus niger were applied at varying concentrations to investigate their effects on diosgenin content. The HPLC based quantification of the treated samples proved that amongst the biotic elicitors, E. coli (1.5%) proved best with a 9.1-fold increase in diosgenin content over respective control cultures. Further, the scaling-up of the suspension culture to shake-flask and ultimately to bioreactor level were carried out for production of diosgenin. During all the scaling-up stages, diosgenin yield obtained was in the range between 7.91 and 8.64 mg l−1, where diosgenin content was increased with volume of the medium. The quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis showed biotic elicitors induced the expression levels of regulatory genes in diosgenin biosynthetic pathway, the 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGR) and cycloartenol synthase (CAS), which can be positively correlated with elicited diosgenin contents in those cultures. The study holds significance as H. isora represents a cleaner and easy source of diosgenin where unlike other traditional sources, it is not admixed with other steroidal saponins, and the scaled-up levels of diosgenin achieved herein have the potential to be explored commercially.     

Understanding the binding interaction between phenyl boronic acid P1 and sugars: determination of association and dissociation constants using S–V plots,steady‐state spectroscopic methods and molecular docking

Continuous monitoring of glucose and sugar sensing plays a vital role in diabetes control. The drawbacks of the present enzyme‐based sugar sensors have encouraged the investigation into alternate approaches to design new sensors. The popularity of fluorescence sensors is due to their ability to bind reversibly to compounds containing diol. In this study we investigated the binding ability of phenyl boronic acid P1 for monosaccharides and disaccharides (sugars) in aqueous medium at physiological pH 7.4 using steady‐state fluorescence and absorbance. P1 fluorescence was quenched due to formation of esters with sugars. Absorbance and fluorescence measurements led to results that indicated that the sugars studied could be ordered in terms of their affinity to P1, as stated: sucrose > lactose > galactose > xylose > ribose > arabinose. In each case, the slope of modified Stern–Volmer plots was nearly 1, indicating the presence of only a single binding site in boronic acids for sugars. Docking studies were carried out using Schrodinger Maestro v.11.2 software. The binding affinity of phenyl boronic acid P1 with periplasmic protein (PDB ID 2IPM and 2IPL) was estimated using GlideScore.     

Solvent-Free Synthesis,Characterization, and In Vitro Biological Activity Study of Xanthenediones and Acridinediones

Russian Journal of Bioorganic Chemistry - The present work highlights the broad range of oxygen and nitrogen heterocycles and their applications in medicinal field. A facial approach has been...     

Controlled Release of Ropinirole Hydrochloride from a Multiple Barrier Layer Tablet Dosage Form: Effect of Polymer Type on Pharmacokinetics and IVIVC

The purpose of the present study was to control in vitro burst effect of the highly water-soluble drug, ropinirole hydrochloride to reduce in vivo dose dumping and to establish in vitro–in vivo correlation. The pharmacokinetics of two entirely different tablet formulation technologies is also explored in this study. For pharmacokinetics study, FDA recommends at least 10% difference in drug release for formulations to be studied but here a different approach was adopted. The formulations F8A and F9A having similar dissolution profiles among themselves and with Requip® XL™ (f₂ value 72, 77, 71 respectively) were evaluated. The C_max of formulation F8A comprising hypromellose 100,000 cP was 1005.16 pg/ml as compared to 973.70 pg/ml of formulation F9A comprising hypromellose 4000 cP irrespective of T_max of 5 and 5.75 h, respectively. The difference in release and extent of absorption in vivo was due to synergistic effect of complex RH release mechanism; however, AUC_0–t and AUC_0–∞ values were comparable. The level A correlation using the Wagner–Nelson method supported the findings where R² was 0.7597 and 0.9675 respectively for formulation F8A and F9A. Thus, in vivo studies are required for proving the therapeutic equivalency of different formulation technologies even though f₂ ≥ 50. The technology was demonstrated effectively at industrial manufacturing scale of 200,000 tablets.KEY WORDS: controlled release polymer, in vitro–in vivo correlation (IVIVC), multiple barrier layer tablets, pharmacokinetics, ropinirole hydrochloride (RH)     

Structure and spectral characteristics of diquat-cucurbituril complexes from density functional theory

Electronic structure, ¹H NMR and infrared spectra of diquat (6,7-dihydrodipyrido[1,2-b:1′,2′-e] pyrazine-5,8-diium or DQ²⁺) encapsulated by cucurbit[n]uril (n?=?7,8) hosts are obtained using the density functional theory. Theoretical calculations have shown that both CB[7] or CB[8] host possesses strong affinity toward DQ²⁺ compared to its reduced cation or neutral species. Calculated ¹H NMR spectra reveal that H_α protons on bi-pyridinium rings of DQ²⁺@CB[8] complex are de-shielded owing to C=O?H interactions. On the other hand aromatic (H_β and H_δ) of DQ²⁺ within the CB[8] cavity exhibit significant shielding. The complexation of CB[8] with DQ²⁺ splits the carbonyl stretching vibration (1788 cm^?1) into two distinct vibrations which correspond to 1765 cm^?1 arising from hydrogen bonded carbonyls and the 1792 cm^?1 band from non-interacting ones. Further, the CN stretching vibration in DQ²⁺ exhibits a frequency blue-shift of 6 cm^?1 on its encapsulation within the CB[8] cavity. The direction of frequency shift has been explained on the basis of natural bond orbital analyses.

Evaluation of effects of arsenic on carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur metabolism in two contrasting varieties of Brassica juncea

This study evaluated the effects of arsenic (As) exposure on carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur (CNS) metabolism in Brassica juncea. Two contrasting, tolerant (TPM-1) and sensitive (TM-4), varieties of B. Juncea were selected and grown either in control sand (150 g) or in sand containing 10 mg of arsenate. Harvesting was performed at 7 and 15 days and various metabolites and enzymes of CNS as well as γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) metabolism were analyzed. At 7 days, TM-4 showed significantly higher As accumulation and stressed phenotype with increase in superoxide radicals, malondialdehyde, and cell death, as compared with TPM-1. However, the level of hydrogen peroxide was higher in TPM-1 than in TM-4. The level of GABA and the activity of glutamate decarboxylase increased in both roots and shoots of TPM-1, but not in TM-4. The level of nitrate and sulfate increased and decreased in shoots of TPM-1 and TM-4, respectively. The supply of fumarate and succinate was maintained in both shoots and roots of TPM-1 while it was only in shoots of TM-4. There was significant alteration in the profile of amino acids and in sulfur and nitrogen metabolism. However, at 15 days, As accumulation of both varieties was found to be similar along with an increase in GABA, nitrate, and sulfate in both shoots and roots except sulfate in TM-4. Supply of fumarate and succinate was also maintained and other responses were found to be similar in TPM-1 and TM-4. The study demonstrates that responses of CNS metabolism differ in varietal and time-dependent manner.