Synapse maturation and structural plasticity at Drosophila neuromuscular junctions

The Drosophila larval neuromuscular junction has recently emerged as a powerful model system to characterize the cellular and molecular events involved in the formation and flexibility of synapses. The combination of molecular, genetic, electrophysiological and anatomical approaches has revealed, for example, the functional significance of the discs-large gene product (a novel synapse-organizing protein) in the nervous system. This protein is involved in the clustering of at least one ion channel and in the structural modification of glutamatergic synapses during target muscle growth. The manipulation of the genes encoding ion channels, components of second-messenger cascades, and cell adhesion molecules is beginning to tease apart the mechanisms underlying structural synaptic plasticity.     

Preparation and in vitro evaluation of xanthan gum facilitated superabsorbent polymeric microspheres

Interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) hydrogel microspheres of xanthan gum (XG) based superabsorbent polymer (SAP) and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) were prepared by water-in-oil (w/o) emulsion crosslinking method for sustained release of ciprofloxacin hydrochloride (CIPRO). The microspheres were prepared with various ratios of hydrolyzed SAP to PVA and extent of crosslinking density. The prepared microspheres with loose and rigid surfaces were evidenced by scanning electron microscope (SEM). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed the IPN formation. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) study was performed to understand the dispersion nature of drug after encapsulation. The in vitro drug release study was extensively evaluated depending on the process variables in both acidic and alkaline media. All the formulations exhibited satisfactory physicochemical and in vitro release characteristics. Release data indicated a non-Fickian trend of drug release from the formulations. Based on the results, this study suggest that CIPRO loaded IPN microspheres were suitable for sustained release application.     

Medicago truncatula stress associated protein 1 gene (MtSAP1) overexpression confers tolerance to abiotic stress and impacts proline accumulation in transgenic tobacco

Stress associated proteins (SAP) have been already reported to play a role in tolerance acquisition of some abiotic stresses. In the present study, the role of MtSAP1 (Medicago truncatula) in tolerance to temperature, osmotic and salt stresses has been studied in tobacco transgenic seedlings. Compared to wild type, MtSAP1 overexpressors were less affected in their growth and development under all tested stress conditions. These results confirm that MtSAP1 is involved in the response processes to various abiotic constraints. In parallel, we have performed studies on an eventual link between MtSAP1 overexpression and proline, a major player in stress response. In an interesting way, the results for the transgenic lines did not show any increase of proline content under osmotic and salt stress, contrary to the WT which usually accumulated proline in response to stress. These data strongly suggest that MtSAP1 is not involved in signaling pathway responsible for the proline accumulation in stress conditions. This could be due to the fact that the overexpression of MtSAP1 provides sufficient tolerance to seedlings to cope with stress without requiring the free proline action. Beyond that, the processes by which the MtSAP1 overexpression lead to the suppression of proline accumulation will be discussed in relation with data from our previous study involving nitric oxide.     

Crystal structure of alkaline phosphatase from the Antarctic bacterium TAB5

Alkaline phosphatases (APs) are non-specific phosphohydrolases that are widely used in molecular biology and diagnostics. We describe the structure of the cold active alkaline phosphatase from the Antarctic bacterium TAB5 (TAP). The fold and the active site geometry are conserved with the other AP structures, where the monomer has a large central beta-sheet enclosed by alpha-helices. The dimer interface of TAP is relatively small, and only a single loop from each monomer replaces the typical crown domain. The structure also has typical cold-adapted features; lack of disulfide bridges, low number of salt-bridges, and a loose dimer interface that completely lacks charged interactions. The dimer interface is more hydrophobic than that of the Escherichia coli AP and the interactions have tendency to pair with backbone atoms, which we propose to result from the cold adaptation of TAP. The structure contains two additional magnesium ions outside of the active site, which we believe to be involved in substrate binding as well as contributing to the local stability. The M4 site stabilises an interaction that anchors the substrate-coordinating R148. The M5 metal-binding site is in a region that stabilises metal coordination in the active site. In other APs the M5 binding area is supported by extensive salt-bridge stabilisation, as well as positively charged patches around the active site. We propose that these charges, and the TAP M5 binding, influence the release of the product phosphate and thus might influence the rate-determining step of the enzyme.     

What's Nu(SAP) in mitosis and cancer?

Unperturbed mitosis is a prerequisite for the generation of two genetically identical daughter cells. Nucleolar-spindle associated protein (NuSAP) is an important mitotic regulator. The activity of NuSAP is essential for a variety of cellular events that occur during mitosis starting from spindle assembly to cytokinesis. In addition to playing crucial roles during mitosis, NuSAP has been in the spotlight recently due to different studies exhibiting its importance in embryogenesis and cancer. In this review, we have extensively mined the current literature and made connections between different studies involving NuSAP. Importantly, we have assembled data pertaining to NuSAP from several proteomic studies and analyzed it thoroughly. Our review focuses on the role of NuSAP in mitosis and cancer, and brings to light several unanswered questions regarding the regulation of NuSAP in mitosis and its role in carcinogenesis.