CD44 induced enhancement of phosphatase activity and calcium influx: Modifications of EGR-1 expression and cell proliferation

The purpose of this study was to investigate how CD44 impaired Akt phosphorylation, EGR-1 expression and cell proliferation. E6.1 Jurkat cells, which lack endogenous CD44 expression, were engineered to express CD44. Previously we showed that Akt is hypophosphorylated, EGR-1 expression is reduced and proliferation is impaired in CD44 expressing E6.1 Jurkat cells. The cell cycle was studied using flow cytometry and the role of calcium (Ca²⁺) in Akt phosphorylation and EGR-1 expression was investigated using Western blotting. Phosphatase activity was assessed using a commercially available kit. CD44 expressing cells showed disruption at the G₁ to S transition. Chelation of Ca²⁺ from the culture media impaired Akt phosphorylation and EGR-1 expression in both CD44 expressing cells and the open vector control. Moreover, Ni²⁺ disrupted cell proliferation in both cell types suggesting Ca²⁺ import through calcium release activated calcium channels (CRAC). Staining of cells with fura-2 AM showed significantly higher Ca²⁺ in CD44 expressing cells as compared with the vehicle control. Finally, non-calcium mediated phosphatase activity was significantly greater in CD44 expressing cells. We propose that the enhanced phosphatase activity in the CD44 cells increased the dephosphorylation rate of Akt; at the same time, the increased intracellular concentration of Ca²⁺ in the CD44 cells ensured that the phosphorylation of Akt remains intact albeit at lower concentrations as compared with the vector control. Reduced Akt phosphorylation resulted in lowered expression of EGR-1 and hence, reduced the cell proliferation rate.     

Decreasing the level of ethyl acetate in ethanolic fermentation broths of Escherichia coli KO11 by expression of Pseudomonas putida estZ esterase

During the fermentation of sugars to ethanol relatively high levels of an undesirable coproduct, ethyl acetate, are also produced. With ethanologenic Escherichia coli strain KO11 as the biocatalyst, the level of ethyl acetate in beer containing 4.8% ethanol was 192 mg liter(-1). Although the E. coli genome encodes several proteins with esterase activity, neither wild-type strains nor KO11 contained significant ethyl acetate esterase activity. A simple method was developed to rapidly screen bacterial colonies for the presence of esterases which hydrolyze ethyl acetate based on pH change. This method allowed identification of Pseudomonas putida NRRL B-18435 as a source of this activity and the cloning of a new esterase gene, estZ. Recombinant EstZ esterase was purified to near homogeneity and characterized. It belongs to family IV of lipolytic enzymes and contains the conserved catalytic triad of serine, aspartic acid, and histidine. As expected, this serine esterase was inhibited by phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride and the histidine reagent diethylpyrocarbonate. The native and subunit molecular weights of the recombinant protein were 36,000, indicating that the enzyme exists as a monomer. By using alpha-naphthyl acetate as a model substrate, optimal activity was observed at pH 7.5 and 40 degrees C. The Km and Vmax for alpha-naphthyl acetate were 18 microM and 48.1 micromol. min(-1). mg of protein(-1), respectively. Among the aliphatic esters tested, the highest activity was obtained with propyl acetate (96 micromol. min(-1). mg of protein(-1)), followed by ethyl acetate (66 micromol. min(-1). mg of protein(-1)). Expression of estZ in E. coli KO11 reduced the concentration of ethyl acetate in fermentation broth (4.8% ethanol) to less than 20 mg liter(-1).     

Rapid bioremediation of Alizarin Red S and Quinizarine Green SS dyes using <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trichoderma lixii</Emphasis> F21 mediated by biosorption and enzymatic processes

In this study, a newly isolated ascomycete fungus Trichoderma lixii F21 was explored to bioremediate the polar [Alizarin Red S (ARS)] and non-polar [Quinizarine Green SS (QGSS)] anthraquinone dyes. The bioremediation of ARS and QGSS by T. lixii F21 was found to be 77.78 and 98.31 %, respectively, via biosorption and enzymatic processes within 7 days of incubation. The maximum biosorption (ARS = 33.7 % and QGSS = 74.7 %) and enzymatic biodegradation (ARS = 44.1 % and QGSS = 23.6 %) were observed at pH 4 and 27 °C in the presence of glucose and yeast extract. The laccase and catechol 1,2-dioxygenase produced by T. lixii F21 were involved in the molecular conversions of ARS and QGSS to phenolic and carboxylic acid compounds, without the formation of toxic aromatic amines. This study suggests that T. lixii F21 may be a good candidate for the bioremediation of industrial effluents contaminated with anthraquinone dyes.     

A Computational analysis on Lectin and Histone H1 protein of different pulse species as well as comparative study with rice for balanced diet

The issue of balanced nutrition is of great concern to human. Meat and fish are the best sources of protein. The affordability of these resources for people in developing countries is less. Thus, there is an increasing interest in pulses and its derivates as an alternative to fish and meat. Lectin and histone H1 are the most common proteins in various pulses and our interest is in identifying the dominant essential amino acids in them for use as supplements. However, actin and lectin are common among Oryza Sativa and cicer arietinum. We describe the amount of lectin and histone H1 in cicer arietinum, Lens culinaris and Pisum sativum in a comparative manner. cicer arietinum was found to contain more essential amino acids than Lens culinaris and Pisum sativum. The secondary structures of lectin and histone H1 protein were analyzed to gain functional inferences in these species. The comparative study shows the relatively poor presence of the amino acid methionine in most pulses. However, Oryza Sativa was found to contain sufficient methionine. The study shows that pulses (especially cicer arietinum) were a suitable alternative source to meat and fish for Lectin and Histone H1 balance. Hence, pulses could be suggested with rice for balanced protein diet.     

Candidate genes for drought tolerance and improved productivity in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Candidate genes are sequenced genes of known biological action involved in the development or physiology of a trait. Twenty-one putative candidate genes were designed after an exhaustive search in the public databases along with an elaborate literature survey for candidate gene products and/or regulatory sequences associated with enhanced drought resistance. The downloaded sequences were then used to design primers considering the flanking sequences as well. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) performed on 10 diverse cultivars that involvedJaponica, Indica and local accessions, revealed 12 polymorphic candidate genes. Seven polymorphic candidate genes were then utilized to genotype 148 individuals of CT9993 × IR62266 doubled haploid (DH) mapping population. The segregation data were tested for deviation from the expected Mendelian ratio (1:1) using a Chi-square test (<1%). Based on this, four candidate genes were assessed to be significant and the remaining three, as non-significant. All the significant candidate genes were biased towards CT9993, the female parent in the DH mapping population. Single-marker analysis strongly associated (<1%) them to different traits under both well-watered and low-moisture stress conditions. Two candidate genes,EXP15 andEXP13, were found to be associated with root number and silicon content in the stem respectively, under both well-watered and low-moisture stress conditions     

Synthesis of 3-benzyl-2-substituted quinoxalines as novel monoamine oxidase A inhibitors

A new series of 3-benzyl-2-substituted quinoxalines have been synthesized by means of microwave enhancement of nucleophilic substitution reaction involving the corresponding 2-chloroquinoxaline analogs and substituted amines or hydrazine. The synthesized compounds were evaluated for their monoamine oxidase A and B inhibitory activity by determination of their IC(50). All the newly synthesized compounds showed more selective inhibitory activity toward MAO-A than MAO-B. In addition, the acute toxicity of the synthesized compounds was determined. This work may be a fruitful matrix of the synthesis of a new series of novel MAO-A inhibitors with good safety margins.     

Structure–activity relationship (SAR) studies of 3-(2-amino-ethyl)-5-(4-ethoxy-benzylidene)-thiazolidine-2,4-dione: Development of potential substrate-specific ERK1/2 inhibitors

A series of analogs of 3-(2-amino-ethyl)-5-(4-ethoxy-benzylidene)-thiazolidine-2,4-dione, a putative substrate-specific ERK1/2 inhibitor, were synthesized and biologically characterized in human leukemia U937 cells to define its pharmacophore. It was discovered that shift of ethoxy substitution from the 4- to the 2-position on the phenyl ring significantly improved functional activities of inhibiting cell proliferation and inducing apoptosis. This may provide access to a new lead for developing ERK1/2 substrate-specific inhibitors.