Woody plant encroachment alters soil hydrological properties and reduces downward flux of water in tallgrass prairie

Plant and Soil - Plant and soil interact to shape ecosystem properties, processes and services provided. Changes in ecosystem productivity, biogeochemical cycling and plant herbivore interactions...     

The binding of beta-glycerophosphate to glycogen phosphorylase b in the crystal

The binding of beta-glycerophosphate (glycerol-2-P) to glycogen phosphorylase b in the crystal has been studied by X-ray diffraction at 3 A resolution. Glycerol-2-P binds to the allosteric effector site in a position close to that of AMP, glucose-6-P, UDP-Glc, and phosphate. In this position, glycerol-2-P is stabilized through interactions of its phosphate moiety with the guanidinium groups of Arg 309 and Arg 310 which undergo conformational changes, and the hydroxyl group of Tyr 75, while the same residues and solvent are involved in van der Waals interactions with the remaining part of the molecule. Kinetic experiments indicate that glycerol-2-P partially competes with both the activator (AMP) and the inhibitor (glucose 6-phosphate) of phosphorylase b. A comparison of the positions of glycerol-2-P, AMP, glucose 6-phosphate, UDP-Glc, and Pi at the allosteric site is presented.     

Ethnobotanical significance of medicinal plants: Beta-amyloid and tau aggregation inhibitors against Alzheimer's disease

Among the various neurodegenerative disorders, Alzheimer's disease (AD) is identified as one of primary causes of dementia in the elderly, which progresses slowly leading to cognitive decline and ability to function independently. Although various pathological mechanisms have been proposed, the exact mechanism is not yet elucidated. Numerous processes such as old age, mitochondrial dysfunction, and genetics lead to the aggregation of beta-amyloid (Aβ) as amyloid plaques and tau proteins as neurofibrillary tangles in the neurons leading to their death and destruction, finally leading to AD. The current treatment measures can only temporarily improve the symptoms, slowing cognitive decline without any effect on AD pathology for better therapeutic effect. Furthermore, the high failure rates of a number of drugs during clinical trials due to their side effects has led the researchers to focus on alternative sources for drug development. As natural ingredients were considered the primary line of treatment in the olden days, and as several medicinal plant products are also proven as effective AD targets, it will be wise to investigate those with significant ethnobotanical value as potential neuroprotectives, nootropics or memory boosters. Throughout the study, propanoids, glycosides, iridoids, carotenoids and flavonoids that show potential anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-cholinesterase were also found to be inhibitors of Aβ and tau aggregation, where Saikosaponin C, Fisetin, and Morin can act as dual inhibitors. The review provides an insight in the need for proper and complete scientific evaluation of these ethnobotanically useful medicinal plants to be identified as potential leads in AD therapy.     

An eco-friendly route of γ-Fe2O3 nanoparticles formation and investigation of the mechanical properties of the HPMC-γ-Fe2O3 nanocomposites

Bioprocess and Biosystems Engineering - In recent times, biosynthetic approaches toward the synthesis of nanoparticles have been shown to have several advantages over physical and chemical methods....     

Elucidating the molecular interaction of Zebrafish (Danio rerio) peptidoglycan recognition protein 2 with diaminopimelic acid and lysine type peptidoglycans using in silico approaches

Abstract

Peptidoglycan recognition proteins (PGRPs) belong to the family of pattern recognition receptor, represent the major constituent of innate immunity. Although PGRPs are structurally conserved through evolution, their involvement in innate immunity is different in vertebrates and invertebrates. They are highly specific towards recognition of ligands and can hydrolyze bacterial peptidoglycans (PGNs). Zebrafish PGRPs (zPGRPs) have both peptidoglycans lytic amidase activity and broad-spectrum bactericidal activity, but far less is known about how these receptors recognize these microbial ligands. Such studies are hindered due to lack of structural and functional configuration of zPGRPs. Therefore, in this study, we predicted the three-dimensional structure of zPGRP2 through theoretical modeling, investigated the conformational and dynamic properties through molecular dynamics simulations. Molecular docking study revealed the microbial ligands, that is, muramyl pentapeptide–DAP , muramyl pentapeptide–LYS, muramyl tripeptide–DAP, muramyl tripeptide–Lys, muramyl tetrapeptide–DAP, muramyl tetrapeptide–LYS and tracheal cytotoxin interacts with the conserved amino acids of the ligand recognition site comprised of β1, α2, α4, β4 and loops connecting β1 ? α2, α2 ? β2, β3 ? β4 and α4 ? α5. Conserved His31, His32, Ala34, Ile35, Pro36, Lys38, Asp60, Trp61, Trp63, Ala89, His90, Asp106, His143 and Arg144 are predicted to essential for binding and provides stability to these zPGRP–PGN complexes. Our study provides basic molecular information for further research on the immune mechanisms of PGRP’s in Zebrafish. The plasticity of the zPGRP’s binding site revealed by these microbial ligands suggests an intrinsic capacity of the innate immune system to rapidly evolve specificities to meet new microbial challenges in the future.

Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma     

Computational Analysis of “-omics” Data to Identify Transcription Factors Regulating Secondary Metabolism in Rauvolfia serpentina

Plant Molecular Biology Reporter - Rauvolfia serpentina has been known to produce therapeutically important indole alkaloids used in treatment of various diseases. Despite its medicinal importance,...