Binding of 2CA1P (nocturnal inhibitor) to the active site of RubisCO using Genetic Algorithm (GA)

Ribulose-1, 5- Bisphosphate carboxylase/ oxygenase (RubisCO) catalyzes the first step in net photosynthetic assimilation and photorespiratory carbon oxidation. The activity of this enzyme is modulated in response to changes in light intensity as suggested in a number of early reports. Several studies found that the natural inhibitor 2CA1P is involved in the inhibition of the enzyme under reduced light intensity in rice (Oryza sativa). Due to the lack of studies and information on the interaction between this inhibitor and the active site of the enzyme, we attempted to predict the interaction between the amino acids in the active site and the inhibitor using both Hyperchem7.5 and GOLD software. After the docking; three possibilities having the highest fitness score were found (65.71, 64.72, 62.04), in these possibilities the inhibitor was bound to the enzyme, the phosphate and carboxylate groups in the same positions with a clear difference in the position of OH. In order to confirm the accuracy of the genetic algorithm, the artificial inhibitor 2CABP was docked back in the active site of the enzyme using the same parameters used in the case of the 2CA1P and the algorithm''s predictions were compared with the experimentally observed binding mode. The results showed that the difference in the active sites before and after the docking was in the range of 0.93 Å which indicated that the results were very accurate. Depending on this result it was concluded that the results obtained in the case of the 2CA1P were close to the experimental results.     

Evaluating the role of autologous mesenchymal stem cell seeded on decellularized pericardium in the treatment of myocardial infarction: an animal study

Inappropriate left ventricular remodeling following myocardial infarction (MI) can result in subsequent severe dysfunction. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that decellularized pericardium (DP) or seeded pericardial patch with autologous adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs) could be safely used in a MI scar and could improve heart function. Twelve rabbits were randomly divided into three equal groups. Four weeks after MI induction by ligation of the left anterior descending artery in 12 rabbits, animals of G1 (n = 4) received DP patch with labeled ADMSCs. DP patch was implanted in animals of G2 (n = 4). Rabbits of G3 (n = 4) remained without any intervention after MI induction (control group). Serial examinations including echocardiography, electrocardiography (ECG), scanning electron microscopy, histology and immunohistochemistry (IHC) were performed to evaluate the efficacy of the implanted scaffolds on recovery of the infracted myocardium. The results demonstrated that left ventricular contractile function and myocardial pathological changes were significantly improved in rabbits implanted with either DP or ADMSC-seeded pericardium. However, the seeded pericardium was more effective in scar repairing 2 months after the operation, IHC staining with Desmin and CD34 and positive immunofluorescence staining verified the differentiation of ADMSCs to functional cardiomyocytes. This approach may involve the application of autologous ADMSCs seeded on pericardial patch in an attempt to regenerate a contractible myocardium in an animal model of MI.     

Screening Approach for Chiral Separation of β‐Aminoketones by HPLC on Various Polysaccharide‐Based Chiral Stationary Phases

Nine β‐aminoketones were synthesized via Mannich reaction when benzaldehyde was condensed with some primary amines and acetophenone. The purified compounds were identified by using spectroscopic methods. The enantiomeric separation of these derivatives was carried out by high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) using several coated and immobilized polysaccharide stationary phases, namely, Chiralcel^® OD‐H, Chiralcel^® OD, Chiralcel^® OJ, Chiralpak^® AD, Chiralpak^® IA, and Chiralpak^® IB using different mobile phases composed of n‐hexane and alcohol mixed in various ratios or pure ethanol or isopropanol. The retention behavior and selectivity of these chiral stationary phases were examined in isocratic normal phase mode. The results indicate that cellulose derivatives have higher enantioselectivity than amylose derivatives for the separation of racemic β‐amino ketones. Chirality 27:332–338, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Spurious localizations of diX-indigo microcrystals generated by the histochemical GUS assay

For several models expressing theuidA orgus reporter gene with or without a presequence for mitochondrial targeting, we have demonstrated that the compartmentation of -glucuronidase (E.C. 3.2.1.31) activity was not in agreement within situ localization of the diX-indigo microcrystals generated by the cytoenzymological GUS assay. These crystals were generally associated with the various cytomembranes and lipid inclusions. Experiments with purified -glucuronidase or withgus-expressing bacteria incubated with 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl--d-glucuronide and maize oil-phosphate buffer emulsion indicated that the intermediate products resulting from the GUS assay actively diffused and crystallized preferentially in association with lipids, sometimes far from the site of enzyme activity. This phenomenon could not be suppressed by the addition of potassium ferricyanide in the incubation medium. These findings are discussed with regard to previously reported biochemical and histochemical data on animal tissues, and focus on the necessity for caution in studies of tissue-specific gene expression using the GUS assay, particularly for lipid-rich plant models.     

Tobacco BY-2 cells expressing fission yeast cdc25 bypass a G2/M block on the cell cycle

The mitotic inducer gene from Schizosaccharomyces pombe, Spcdc25, was used as a tool to investigate regulation of G2/M in higher plants using the BY-2 (Nicotiana tabacum) cell line as a model. Spcdc25-expressing BY-2 cells exhibited a reduced mitotic cell size through a shortening of the G2 phase. The cells often formed isodiametric double files both in BY-2 cells and in cell suspensions derived from 35S::Spcdc25 tobacco plants. In Spcdc25-expressing cells, the tobacco cyclin-dependent kinase, NtCDKB1, showed high activity in early S phase, S/G2 and early M phase, whereas in empty vector cells CDKB1 activity was transiently high in early S phase but thereafter remained lower. Spcdc25-expressing cells also bypassed a block on G2/M imposed by the cytokinin biosynthetic inhibitor lovastatin (LVS). Surprisingly, cytokinins were at remarkably low levels in Spcdc25-expressing cells compared with the empty vector, explaining why these cells retained mitotic competence despite the presence of LVS. In conclusion, synchronised Spcdc25-expressing BY-2 cells divided prematurely at a small cell size, and they exhibited premature, but sustained, CDKB1 activity even though endogenous cytokinins were virtually undetectable.     

Antimalarial drug discovery against malaria parasites through haplopine modification: An advanced computational approach

The widespread emergence of antimalarial drug resistance has created a major threat to public health. Malaria is a life-threatening infectious disease caused by Plasmodium spp., which includes Apicoplast DNA polymerase and Plasmodium falciparum cysteine protease falcipain-2. These components play a critical role in their life cycle and metabolic pathway, and are involved in the breakdown of erythrocyte hemoglobin in the host, making them promising targets for anti-malarial drug design. Our current study has been designed to explore the potential inhibitors from haplopine derivatives against these two targets using an in silico approach. A total of nine haplopine derivatives were used to perform molecular docking, and the results revealed that Ligands 03 and 05 showed strong binding affinity compared to the control compound atovaquone. Furthermore, these ligand-protein complexes underwent molecular dynamics simulations, and the results demonstrated that the complexes maintained strong stability in terms of RMSD (root mean square deviation), RMSF (root mean square fluctuation), and Rg (radius of gyration) over a 100 ns simulation period. Additionally, PCA (principal component analysis) analysis and the dynamic cross-correlation matrix showed positive outcomes for the protein-ligand complexes. Moreover, the compounds exhibited no violations of the Lipinski rule, and ADMET (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity) predictions yielded positive results without indicating any toxicity. Finally, density functional theory (DFT) and molecular electrostatic potential calculations were conducted, revealing that the mentioned derivatives exhibited better stability and outstanding performance. Overall, this computational approach suggests that these haplopine derivatives could serve as a potential source for developing new, effective antimalarial drugs to combat malaria. However, further in vitro or in vivo studies might be conducted to determine their actual effectiveness.     

Single Mechanosensitive and Ca2+-Sensitive Channel Currents Recorded from Mouse and Human Embryonic Stem Cells

Cell-attached and inside-out patch clamp recording was used to compare the functional expression of membrane ion channels in mouse and human embryonic stem cells (ESCs). Both ESCs express mechanosensitive Ca²⁺ permeant cation channels (MscCa) and large conductance (200 pS) Ca²⁺-sensitive K⁺ (BK_Ca2+) channels but with markedly different patch densities. MscCa is expressed at higher density in mESCs compared with hESCs (70 % vs. 3 % of patches), whereas the BK_Ca2+ channel is more highly expressed in hESCs compared with mESCs (~50 % vs. 1 % of patches). ESCs of both species express a smaller conductance (25 pS) nonselective cation channel that is activated upon inside-out patch formation but is neither mechanosensitive nor strictly Ca²⁺-dependent. The finding that mouse and human ESCs express different channels that sense membrane tension and intracellular [Ca²⁺] may contribute to their different patterns of growth and differentiation in response to mechanical and chemical cues.     

Effect of colloidal β-cyclodextrins-Fe(3) O(4) magnetic nanoparticles on the chemiluminescence enhancement of luminol-Ag(III) complex for rapid and sensitive determination of cysteine in human serum

Colloidals solution of Fe₃O₄ magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs), capped with β‐cyclodextrins (β‐CD) as inclusion complexes, were found to enhance the chemiluminescence (CL) intensity of the luminol–diperiodatoargentate(III) (DPA) system. On injection of cysteine into the luminol–DPA–β‐CD–Fe₃O₄ MNPs inclusion complexes system, the CL intensity is strongly enhanced. The enhanced CL signal is ascribed to the catalytic effect of Fe₃O₄ MNPs capped with β‐CD, which is assumed to stabilize the CL intermediate. Based on these findings, a rapid and sensitive assay was developed for the determination of cysteine in human serum. The effects of analytical variables on the CL signal were studied and optimized. Under the optimum conditions, the CL intensity was directly proportional to the concentration of cysteine in the range 8.0 × 10^–9–1.0 × 10^–6 mol/L. The detection limit was 2.8 × 10^–9 mol/L (3 S_b/m) and the relative standard deviation (RSD) for 10 replicate determinations of 1.0 × 10^–7 mol/L cysteine was 3.5%. The proposed method was applied to the sensitive determination of cysteine in human serum samples, and compared with the Ellman method with satisfactory results. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.