Modulation of adenylate cyclase activity by sulfated glycosaminoglycans II. Effects of mucopolysaccharides and dextran sulfate on the activity of adenylate cyclase derived from various tissues

Heparin was found to be the most potent inhibitor of rat ovarian luteinizing hormone-sensitive adenylate cyclase (I₅₀ = 2 μg/ml) when compared to other naturally occurring glycosaminoglycans. This inhinibition was also appparent when this enzyme was stimulated by follicle-stimulating hormone or prostaglandin E ₂. Heparin was also found to inhibit glucagon-sensitive rat hepatice adenylate cyclase, and the prostaglandin E₁-sensitive enzyme from rat ileum and human platelets. In contrast, heparin stimulated the dopamine sensitive adenylate cyclase from rat caudate nucleus. The sulfade polysugar dextran sulfate exerts similar effects on adenylate cyclase activity of the rat ovary was shown to inhibit hormone binding to rat ovarian plasma membrane in a manner similar to that exerted by heparin. In contrast to heparin, dextran sulfate inhibited dopamine-sensitive adenylate cyclase from rat caudate nucleus.     

Isolation and characterization of catechol oxidase from Solanum melongena

Catechol oxidase was distributed in soluble and particulate fractions of Solanum melongena. The purified preparation appears to be homogeneous by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The enzyme shows two pH maxima—with catechol, 6.5 and 7.5; and with dopa, 6.5 and 7.9. The latent form of the enzyme does not occur in S. melongena. The preparation resembles the enzyme from other sources in substrate specificity towards various mono- and diphenols, having a higher affinity for catechol than dopa; this tendency increases on purification. The cresolase activity decreases with purification and a lag period with p-cresol is observed. The oxidation of mono- and diphenols is inhibited by ascorbic acid, sulphydryl compounds and chelating agents.     

Purification and Characterization of DT 389 GCSF Fusion Protein: A Unique Immunotoxin Against the Human Granulocyte-Colony Stimulating Factor Receptor

Immunotoxin is a recombinant fusion toxin which has been developed to kill cancer cells selectively. DT389GCSF as a new immunotoxin consists of a truncated     

Identification of an Immunoglobulin M (IgM) Antibody Against Enolase 1 Protein (ENO1) Derived from HEK-293 Cells in Patients with Kidney Failure

Kidney failure is one of the most important challenges in medicine. In this study, we used HEK-293 kidney cells to evaluate and compare changes in the expr     

BaTiO3-Graphene-Affinity Layer–Based Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) Biosensor for Pseudomonas Bacterial Detection

Plasmonics - In the present work, a highly sensitive SPR biosensor based on silver (Ag), barium titanate (BaTiO3), graphene, and affinity layer is proposed for the detection of Pseudomonas...     

Effect of Drought Stress on Certain Morphological and Physiological Characteristics of a Resistant and a Sensitive Canola Cultivar

Water stress is one of the main abiotic factors that reduces plant growth, mainly due to high evaporative demand and low water availability. In order to evaluate the effects of drought stress on certain morphological and physiological characteristics of two canola cultivars, we conducted a factorial experiment based on a completely randomized design. The findings show that drought stress exacerbations result in the plant's response to stress due to increased canola resistance caused by changes in plant pigments, proline, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and malondialdehyde, glucose, galactose, rhamnose and xylose. These in turn ultimately influence the morphological characteristics of canola. Drought stress reduces the concentration of carotenoids, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophylls; however, glucose, galactose, rhamnose, xylose, proline, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, malondialdehyde (in leaves and roots) and the chlorophyll a and b ratios were increased. Reduction of plant height, stem height, root length, fresh and dry weight of canola treated with 300 g/l PEG compared to non‐treatment were 0.264, 0.236, 0.394, 0.183 and 0.395, respectively. From the two canola cultivars, the morphological characteristics of the NIMA increased compared to the Ks7 cultivar. Interaction effects of cultivar and drought stress showed that NIMA cultivar without treatment had the highest number of morphological characteristics such as carotenoid concentration, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophylls a and b, whereas the cultivar with 300 g/l PEG (drought stress) had the highest amount of proline, malondialdehyde, soluble sugars and enzymes in leaves and roots. Increasing activity of oxidative enzymes and soluble sugars in canola under drought stress could be a sign of their relative tolerance to drought stress.     

Molecular Docking Analysis of 120 Potential HPV Therapeutic Epitopes Using a New Analytical Method

International Journal of Peptide Research and Therapeutics - The accurate modelling and scoring of protein–peptide (Pr–Pe) complexes are determining factors in the drug discovery...     

Preclinical insights into the gut‐skeletal muscle axis in chronic gastrointestinal diseases

Muscle wasting represents a constant pathological feature of common chronic gastrointestinal diseases, including liver cirrhosis (LC), inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), chronic pancreatitis (CP) and pancreatic cancer (PC), and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Recent clinical and experimental studies point to the existence of a gut‐skeletal muscle axis that is constituted by specific gut‐derived mediators which activate pro‐ and anti‐sarcopenic signalling pathways in skeletal muscle cells. A pathophysiological link between both organs is also provided by low‐grade systemic inflammation. Animal models of LC, IBD, CP and PC represent an important resource for mechanistic and preclinical studies on disease‐associated muscle wasting. They are also required to test and validate specific anti‐sarcopenic therapies prior to clinical application. In this article, we review frequently used rodent models of muscle wasting in the context of chronic gastrointestinal diseases, survey their specific advantages and limitations and discuss possibilities for further research activities in the field. We conclude that animal models of LC‐, IBD‐ and PC‐associated sarcopenia are an essential supplement to clinical studies because they may provide additional mechanistic insights and help to identify molecular targets for therapeutic interventions in humans.