Binding of berberine to human telomeric quadruplex - spectroscopic, calorimetric and molecular modeling studies

This study examines the characteristics of binding of berberine to the human telomeric d[AG(3)(T(2)AG(3))(3)] quadruplex. By employing UV-visible spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy and isothermal titration calorimetry, we found that the binding affinity of berberine to the human telomeric quadruplex is 10(6). The complete thermodynamic profile for berberine binding to the quadruplex, at 25 degrees C, shows a small negative enthalpy (DeltaH) of -1.7 kcal.mol(-1), an entropy change with TDeltaS of +6.5 kcal.mol(-1), and an overall favorable free energy (DeltaG) of -8.2 kcal.mol(-1) .Through the temperature dependence of DeltaH, we obtained a heat capacity (DeltaC(p)) of -94 (+/- 5) cal.mol(-1).K(-1). The osmotic stress method revealed that there is an uptake of 13 water molecules in the complex relative to the free reactants. Furthermore, the molecular modeling studies on different quadruplex-berberine complexes show that berberine stacking at the external G-quartet is mainly aided by the pi-pi interaction and the stabilization of the high negative charge density of O6 of guanines by the positively charged N7 of berberine. The theoretical heat capacity (DeltaC(p)) values for quadruplex-berberine models are -89 and -156 cal.mol(-1).K(-1).     

A new Smurf in the village.

TGF-beta signaling is modulated by Smurfs, E3-ubiquitin ligases that selectively target the receptors and Smad proteins for degradation. New evidence from Drosophila suggests that Smurfs regulate the amplitude and the duration of the cellular response to signaling in vivo.     

Removal of Vacuolar Targeting Signal from Class I Vacuolar Chitinase leads to its Extracellular Secretion in Transgenic Tobacco

Chitinase, an antifungal pathogenesis related (PR) protein is present in different isoforms. Class I basic chitinase which is generally more antifungal in nature compared to other chitinase classes, is present in vacuoles. It is speculated that extracellular secretion of this vacuolar enzyme by removing its vacuolar targeting signal at C- terminus might further increase its effectivity. Tobacco class I chitinase cDNA was earlier modified by PCR to add two stop codons before vacuolar targeting signal, so that the protein without this signal would be secreted extracellularly.Transgenic tobacco plants were raised with modified chitinase cDNA and native unmodified cDNA, both under the control of CaMV 35 S promoter, using Agrobacterium mediated transformation. Transgenic plants with unmodified class I chitinase cDNA expressed the enzyme in vacuoles and those having modified cDNA expressed the enzyme in extracellular spaces while retaining its biological activity.     

Attenuation of NF-κβ mediated apoptotic signaling by tocotrienol ameliorates cognitive deficits in rats postnatally exposed to ethanol

Ethanol-induced damage in the developing brain may result in cognitive impairment including deficits on neuropsychological tests of learning, memory and executive function, yet the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. In the present study we investigated the protective effect of tocotrienol against cognitive deficit, neuroinflammation and neuronal apoptosis in rat pups postnatally exposed to ethanol. Pups were administered ethanol (5g/kg, 12% v/v) by intragastric intubation on postnatal days 7, 8 and 9. Ethanol-exposed pups showed significant memory impairment in Morris water maze task as evident from increase in escape latency and total distance travelled to reach the hidden platform. Time spent in target quadrant, % total distance traversed in target quadrant and frequency of appearance in target quadrant was also significantly decreased in ethanol exposed pups in probe trial. Poor memory retention was exhibited by ethanol-exposed pups in elevated plus maze test also. Impaired cognition was associated with significantly enhanced acetylcholinesterase activity, increased neuroinflammation (oxidative-nitrosative stress, TNF-α, IL-1β and TGF-β1) and neuronal apoptosis (NF-κβ and Caspase-3) in different brain regions of ethanol-exposed pups. Co-administration with tocotrienol significantly ameliorated all the behavioral, biochemical and molecular alterations in the different brain regions of ethanol exposed pups. The current study thus demonstrates the possible involvement of NF-κβ mediated apoptotic signaling in cognitive deficits associated with postnatal ethanol exposure in rats and points to the potential of tocotrienol in the prevention of cognitive deficits in children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs).     

Characterization of halophilic bacteria from environmental samples from the brackish water of Pulicat Lake, India

Culture dependent phenotypic characterization and 16S rDNA based phylogenetic analyses were applied to study the aerobic halophilic bacterial population present in the Pulicat brackish-water Lake of India. Five different media were employed for isolation of bacteria. A total of 198 morphotypes were recovered, purified and screened for salt tolerance in nutrient agar medium amended with 5–25% NaCl. Based on 16S rDNA restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis with three restriction endonucleases, 51 isolates tolerant to 5% or more NaCl were grouped into 29 clusters. Phylogenetic analysis using 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that 29 strains could further be allocated into two clades: 19 to Firmicutes and 10 to γ-Proteobacteria. Firmicutes included low G+C Gram-positive bacteria related to family Bacillaceae, which included five genera Bacillus, Virgibacillus, Rummelibacillus, Alkalibacillus and Halobacillus. Another genera included in Firmicutes was Salimicrobium halophilum. In the γ-Proteobacteria group, all the isolates belonged to one genus Halomonas, represented by six different species Halomonas salina, H. shengliensis, H. salifodinae, H. pacifica, H. aquamarina and H. halophila. Most of the isolates exhibited cellulase, xylanase, amylase and protease activities.     

Suppression of the cytotoxic T-lymphocyte response in mice by pertussis toxin

Pertussis toxin (PT), the major toxin produced by Bordetella pertussis, has been reported both to enhance and to suppress immune responsiveness. These findings suggested that PT contributes to the virulence of B. pertussis through mechanisms involving immune regulation. We report that PT suppressed both the primary and the secondary cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) responses of mouse spleen cells cultured against two different allogeneic stimulator spleen cells in vitro. This suppression was dependent on the dose of PT used. PT must be present during the initial stages (within the first 24 hr) of CTL generation. Soluble factor(s) obtained from spleen cells preexposed to PT did not suppress the CTL response. Suppression of the CTL response observed was not due to depletion of the antigen by PT. The cytotoxic activity of CTL clones could not be suppressed by PT. The analysis of responder spleen cells, fractionated by anti-immunoglobulin panning techniques, provided evidence that L3T4-, Lyt 2+ cells mediate the PT-induced immunosuppression. We propose that suppression of the CTL response by PT is generated through the activation of L3T4-, Lyt 2+ suppressor T lymphocytes.     

Dopaminergic Neurotoxicity In Vivo and Inhibition of Mitochondrial Respiration In Vitro by Possible Endogenous Pyridinium-Like Substances

Elucidation of the mechanism(s) by which 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6- tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) and its active metabolite 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+) cause parkinsonism in humans and other primates has prompted consideration of possible endogenous MPTP/MPP(+)-like neurotoxins in the etiology of idiopathic Parkinson's disease. Here we examined inhibition of mitochondrial respiration in vitro and neurotoxicity in rats in vivo produced by beta-carbolinium compounds that are presumed to form following Pictet-Spengler cyclization of serotonin. We also evaluated N-methylisoquinolinium, a putative endogenous neurotoxin, in the same manner. The latter compound exhibited MPP(+)-like mitochondrial respiratory inhibition, whereas the beta-carbolinium compounds, although more potent inhibitors of electron transport, exhibited weak accumulation-dependent enhancement of inhibition in intact mitochondria. It is interesting that the beta-carbolinium compounds inhibited succinate- as well as glutamate-supported respiration, and are best described as inhibitor-uncouplers. The results of partitioning experiments suggest that both the low accumulation potential and the inhibition of succinate respiration may be a consequence of the beta-carboliniums being in equilibrium with neutral "anhydro" bases. Relative to MPP+, all compounds tested had weak dopaminergic uptake activity in vitro and weak dopaminergic toxicity in vivo, consistent with other findings of relatively low neurotoxic potential for presumed endogenous pyridiniums.     

Decolourization of 4-Chloro-2-Nitrophenol by a Soil Bacterium,Bacillus subtilis RKJ 700

A 4-Chloro-2-nitrophenol (4C2NP) decolourizing strain RKJ 700 was isolated from soil collected from a pesticide contaminated site of India and identified as Bacillus subtilis on the basis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. Bacillus subtilis RKJ 700 decolourized 4C2NP up to concentration of 1.5 mM in the presence of additional carbon source. The degradation pathway of 4C2NP was studied and 4-chloro-2-aminophenol, 4-chloro-2-acetaminophenol and 5-chloro-2-methylbenzoxazole (5C2MBZ) were identified as metabolites by high performance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Resting cell studies showed that Bacillus subtilis RKJ 700 depleted 4C2NP completely with stoichiometric formation of 5C2MBZ. This is the first report of (i) the degradation of 4C2NP at high concentration (1.5 mM) and, (ii) the formation of 5C2MBZ by a soil bacterium.     

A Study of Cultural Bias in Field Guide Determinations of Mushroom Edibility Using the Iconic Mushroom, Amanita muscaria, as an Example

A Study of Cultural Bias in Field Guide Determinations of Mushroom Edibility Using the Iconic Mushroom, Amanita muscaria , as an Example. Mushroom field guides teach identification skills as well as provide information on the edible or toxic qualities of each species of wild mushroom. As such they function as modern-day village elders for an increasingly urban, nature-ignorant population. This paper identifies underlying cultural bias in the determination of mushroom edibility in English-language field guides, using the iconic mushroom, Amanita muscaria, as an example. We explore a selection of ethnographic and medical texts that report the use of A. muscaria as a food, and we accept parboiling as a safe method of detoxifying it for the dinner table. Mushroom field guides, however, almost universally label the mushroom as poisonous. We discuss the cultural underpinnings and literary form of mushroom field guides and demonstrate that they work within a mostly closed intellectual system that ironically shares many of the same limitations of cultural bias found in traditional folk cultures, but with the pretense of being modern and scientific. An erratum to this article can be found at