Multifactional glucanases

Diverse functional roles of multifunctional proteins arise from either their independent functional domains or dual activities mediated through a single active site. Presence of multifunctional proteins significantly enhances the metabolic efficiency of a cell. Microorganisms utilising complex substrates with extensive microheterogeneities, such as carbohydrates evolved batteries of multifunctional glucanases, facilitating parsimonious utilisation of these substrates. Various attempts have since been made to artificially construct these glucanases. Analysis of information on various glucanases would be helpful in understanding the evolutionary interrelationship between this class of enzymes and will give an insight into the structural features controlling different unrelated activities. This review examines the genesis, evolution and structural features of multifunctional glucanases.     

Glycated albumin and glycated hemoglobin levels in normal pregnancy

Glycated albumin levels showed a progressive increase during normal pregnancy. The mean values (mole hexose/mole protein) were 1.68 +/- 0.27 (n = 15) in nonpregnant women, 1.83 +/- 0.21 (n = 11) in first trimester, 2.00 +/- 0.41 (n = 13) in second trimester, and 2.42 +/- 0.49 (n = 15) in third trimester. Glycated hemoglobin levels indicated a biphase pattern with low values at midpregnancy (controls 0.29 +/- 0.05, first trimester 0.30 +/- 0.04, second trimester 0.27 +/- 0.05, and third trimester 0.33 +/- 0.04). The data suggest that glycated albumin reflects the decreased glucose tolerance in pregnancy better that glycated hemoglobin levels. The reasons for the differing pattern of the two glycated proteins are discussed.     

Parasite cyclophilins and antiparasite activity of cyclosporin A

Cyclosporin A (CsA) was initially developed as an immunosuppressive drug. In the past several years, it has been shown to possess antiparasite activity independent of the immune system. It is not known how the drug exerts these antiparasite effects, or why it is stage and/or species specific. The answers may lie in the enzymatic function of cyclophilins. The cyclophilins are a growing family of proteins that exhibit peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase (PPiase) activity and bid CsA to varying degrees. PPiases have been shown to play a role in the folding of many essential proteins. Antony Page, Sanjay Kumar and Clotilde Carlow here review parasite cyclophilins and their association with CsA. The possible biological function of parasite cyclophilins and their potential role in future drug discovery are also discussed.     

Non‐visual cues and indirect strategies that enable discrimination of asymmetric mates

The postulates of developmental instability–sexual selection hypothesis is intensely debated among evolutionary biologists, wherein despite a large amount of empirical data, evidence for or against it has been largely inconclusive. A key assumption of this hypothesis is that animals assess symmetry in potential mates as an indicator of genetic quality (developmental stability), and consequently use this information to discriminate against those with higher asymmetries while choosing mates. However, the perceptional basis that must underlie such discriminatory behavior (is symmetry a signal or is symmetry signaled) is not clearly defined. It is also argued that since asymmetry levels in natural populations are very low, the low signal‐to‐noise ratio would make accurate assessment of symmetry both difficult and costly. Rather than attempting to validate this hypothesis or even as to whether animals assess mate symmetry, this review simply aims to examine the plausibility that animals perceive symmetry (directly or indirectly) and consequently discriminate against asymmetric mates in response to perceived irregularities during courtship. For this, we review mate choice and courtship literature to identify potential sensory cues that might advertise asymmetry or lead to discrimination of asymmetric individuals. Although signaling associated with mate choice is commonly multimodal, previous studies on asymmetry have mainly focused on visual perception. In the light of a recent study (Vijendravarma et al., 2022, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 119, e2116136119), this review attempts to balance this bias by emphasizing on non‐visual perception of asymmetry. In conclusion, we discuss the methodological challenges associated with testing the role of multimodal cues in detecting mate asymmetry, and highlight the importance of considering ecological, behavioral, and evolutionary aspects of animals while interpreting empirical data that test such hypothesis.     

Clinical Significance of Circulating Serum Levels of sCD95 and TNF-α in Cytoprotection of Cervical Cancer

Background:This study correlates the serum levels of sCD95 & TNF-α with a simple cell-based assay to evaluate the capacity of the serum sample to induce apoptosis in Jurkat cells. Interlinking of these parameters can be explored to design a minimum invasive diagnostic strategy for cervical cancer (CC).Methods:Sera samples were assessed to induce apoptosis in Jurkat cells through FACS. Serum levels of sCD95 and TNF-α were measured by ELISA. JNK phosphorylation was evaluated in sera incubated Jurkat cells. Data was scrutinized through statistical analysis.Results:Significantly higher serum levels of sCD95 and lower TNF-α levels were observed in CC patients; their sera samples inhibited induction of apoptosis in Jurkat cells through reduced JNK phosphorylation. Statistical analysis linked these three parameters for the early screening of CC.Conclusion:Distinct sera levels of sCD95 & TNF-α in CC patients showed an anti-apoptotic effect, which can be considered for early detection of CC.Key Words: Apoptosis, sCD95, Jurkat Cells, Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha, Uterine Cervical Neoplasms     

Interaction between Cymbidium aloifolium and Apis cerana: Incidence of an outlier in modular pollination network of oil flowers

So far, oil‐rewarding flowers are known to be pollinated only by oil‐collecting bees, which gather and use lipids for larval feed and nest building. As honeybees do not have oil‐collecting appendages on their legs, they have not been associated with pollination of such flowers. In a predominantly Apis pollinated and food deceptive clade of wild Cymbidiums, we investigated the reproductive strategy of Cymbidium aloifolium, hitherto unknown for its floral oil reward. Our study demonstrates the requisites for establishment of mutualistic interaction between the oil flower and Apis cerana indica, a corbiculate bee. Success in pollination requires learning by honeybees to access the food reward, thereby displaying cognitive ability of the pollinator to access the customized reward. Morphometric matching between orchid flowers and the pollinator, and that between pollinia and stigmatic cavity also appear to be essential in the pollination success. Absence of pollinator competition and prolonged flower‐handling time are suggested to promote floral constancy. The present study highlights the need to explore the spectrum of pollination rewards pursued by honeybees, which may include unconventional composition of floral resources.     

Erythropoietin promotes M2 macrophage phagocytosis of Schwann cells in peripheral nerve injury

Following acute sciatic nerve crush injury (SNCI), inflammation and the improper phagocytic clearance of dying Schwann cells (SCs) has effects on remodeling that lead to morbidity and incomplete functional recovery. Therapeutic strategies like the use of erythropoietin (EPO) for peripheral nerve trauma may serve to bring immune cell phagocytotic clearance under control to support debris clearance. We evaluated EPO’s effect on SNCI and found EPO treatment increased myelination and sciatic functional index (SFI) and bolstered anti-apoptosis and phagocytosis of myelin debris via CD206⁺ macrophages when compared to saline treatment. EPO enhanced M2 phenotype activity, both in bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMMØs) and peritoneal-derived macrophages (PMØs) in vitro, as well as in PMØs in vivo. EPO increased efferocytosis of apoptotic sciatic nerve derived Schwann cells (SNSCs) in both settings as demonstrated using immunofluorescence (IF) and flow cytometry. EPO treatment significantly attenuated pro-inflammatory genes (IL1β, iNOS, and CD68) and augmented anti-inflammatory genes (IL10 and CD163) and the cell-surface marker CD206. EPO also increased anti-apoptotic (Annexin V/7AAD) effects after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induction in macrophages. Our data demonstrate EPO promotes the M2 phenotype macrophages to ameliorate apoptosis and efferocytosis of dying SCs and myelin debris and improves SN functional recovery following SNCI.Subject terms: Neurodegeneration, Somatic system     

How do plants defend themselves against pathogens-Biochemical mechanisms and genetic interventions

In agro-ecosystem, plant pathogens hamper food quality, crop yield, and global food security. Manipulation of naturally occurring defense mechanisms in host plants is an effective and sustainable approach for plant disease management. Various natural compounds, ranging from cell wall components to metabolic enzymes have been reported to protect plants from infection by pathogens and hence provide specific resistance to hosts against pathogens, termed as induced resistance. It involves various biochemical components, that play an important role in molecular and cellular signaling events occurring either before (elicitation) or after pathogen infection. The induction of reactive oxygen species, activation of defensive machinery of plants comprising of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidative components, secondary metabolites, pathogenesis-related protein expression (e.g. chitinases and glucanases), phytoalexin production, modification in cell wall composition, melatonin production, carotenoids accumulation, and altered activity of polyamines are major induced changes in host plants during pathogen infection. Hence, the altered concentration of biochemical components in host plants restricts disease development. Such biochemical or metabolic markers can be harnessed for the development of “pathogen-proof” plants. Effective utilization of the key metabolites-based metabolic markers can pave the path for candidate gene identification. This present review discusses the valuable information for understanding the biochemical response mechanism of plants to cope with pathogens and genomics-metabolomics-based sustainable development of pathogen proof cultivars along with knowledge gaps and future perspectives to enhance sustainable agricultural production.