Topology Mapping of Insulin-Regulated Glucose Transporter GLUT4 Using Computational Biology

The type 2 diabetes is increasing rapidly around the globe. The primary cause for this is insulin resistance due to the disruption of the insulin signal transduction mechanism. Insulin signal transduction stimulates glucose transport through the glucose transporter GLUT4, by promoting the exocytosis process. Understanding the structural topology of GLUT4 mechanism will increase our understanding of the dynamic activities about glucose transport and its regulation in the membrane environment. However, little is known about the topology of GLUT4. In this article, we have determined the amino acid composition, disulfide topology, structure conformation pattern of GLUT4. The amino acid composition portrays that leucine composition is the highest contributing to 15.5 % among all other amino acids. Three cysteine residues such as Cys223, Cys361, and Cys363 were observed and the last two were associated with one disulfide bond formation. We have generated surface cavities to know the clefts/pockets on the surface of this protein that showed few irregular cavities placed mostly in the transmembrane-helical part. Besides, topology mapping of 12 transmembrane-helixes was done to predict N- and O-glycosylation sites and to show the highly glycosylated GLUT4 that includes both N- and O-glycosylation sites. Furthermore, hydrophobic segment and molecular charge distribution were analyzed. This article shows that bioinformatics tools can provide a rapid methodology to predict the topology of GLUT4. It also provides insights into the structural details and structural functioning relationships in the human GLUT4. The results can be of great help to advance future drug development research using GLUT4 as a target protein.     

Decreased glutamine synthetase,increased citrulline–nitric oxide cycle activities,and oxidative stress in different regions of brain in epilepsy rat model

To understand their role in epilepsy, the nitric oxide synthetase (NOS), argininosuccinate synthetase (AS), argininosuccinate lyase (AL), glutamine synthetase (GS), and arginase activities, along with the concentration of nitrate/nitrite (NOx), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), and total antioxidant status (TAS), were estimated in different regions of brain in rats subjected to experimental epilepsy induced by subcutaneous administration of kainic acid (KA). The short-term (acute) group animals were killed after 2 h and the long term (chronic) group animals were killed after 5 days of single injection of KA (15 mg/kg body weight). After decapitation of rats, the brain regions were separated and in their homogenates, the concentration of NOx, TBARS and TAS and the activities of NOS, AS, AL, arginase and glutamine synthetase were assayed by colorimetric methods. The results of the study demonstrated the increased activity of NOS and formation of NO in acute and chronic groups epilepsy. The activities of AS and AL were increased and indicate the effective recycling of citrulline to arginine. The activity of glutamine synthetase was decreased in acute and chronic groups of epilepsy compared to control group and indicate the modulation of its activity by NO in epilepsy. The activity of arginase was not changed in acute group; however it was decreased in chronic group and may favor increased production of NO in this condition. The concentration TBARS were increased and TAS decreased in acute and chronic groups of epilepsy and supports the oxidative stress in epilepsy.     

A 32 kb critical region excluding Y402H in CFH mediates risk for age-related macular degeneration

Complement factor H shows very strong association with Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD), and recent data suggest that multiple causal variants are associated with disease. To refine the location of the disease associated variants, we characterized in detail the structural variation at CFH and its paralogs, including two copy number polymorphisms (CNP), CNP147 and CNP148, and several rare deletions and duplications. Examination of 34 AMD-enriched extended families (N = 293) and AMD cases (White N = 4210 Indian = 134; Malay = 140) and controls (White N = 3229; Indian = 117; Malay = 2390) demonstrated that deletion CNP148 was protective against AMD, independent of SNPs at CFH. Regression analysis of seven common haplotypes showed three haplotypes, H1, H6 and H7, as conferring risk for AMD development. Being the most common haplotype H1 confers the greatest risk by increasing the odds of AMD by 2.75-fold (95% CI = [2.51, 3.01]; p = 8.31×10⁻¹⁰⁹); Caucasian (H6) and Indian-specific (H7) recombinant haplotypes increase the odds of AMD by 1.85-fold (p = 3.52×10⁻⁹) and by 15.57-fold (P = 0.007), respectively. We identified a 32-kb region downstream of Y402H (rs1061170), shared by all three risk haplotypes, suggesting that this region may be critical for AMD development. Further analysis showed that two SNPs within the 32 kb block, rs1329428 and rs203687, optimally explain disease association. rs1329428 resides in 20 kb unique sequence block, but rs203687 resides in a 12 kb block that is 89% similar to a noncoding region contained in ΔCNP148. We conclude that causal variation in this region potentially encompasses both regulatory effects at single markers and copy number.     

Exploring the evolutionary relationship of insulin receptor substrate family using computational biology

Insulin receptor substrate (IRS) harbors proteins such as IRS1, IRS2, IRS3, IRS4, IRS5 and IRS6. These key proteins act as vital downstream regulators in the insulin signaling pathway. However, little is known about the evolutionary relationship among the IRS family members. This study explores the potential to depict the evolutionary relationship among the IRS family using bioinformatics, algorithm analysis and mathematical models.     

Recessive Mutations in SLC38A8 Cause Foveal Hypoplasia and Optic Nerve Misrouting without Albinism

Foveal hypoplasia and optic nerve misrouting are developmental defects of the visual pathway and only co-occur in connection with albinism; to date, they have only been associated with defects in the melanin-biosynthesis pathway. Here, we report that these defects can occur independently of albinism in people with recessive mutations in the putative glutamine transporter gene SLC38A8. Nine different mutations were identified in seven Asian and European families. Using morpholino-mediated ablation of Slc38a8 in medaka fish, we confirmed that pigmentation is unaffected by loss of SLC38A8. Furthermore, by undertaking an association study with SNPs at the SLC38A8 locus, we showed that common variants within this gene modestly affect foveal thickness in the general population. This study reveals a melanin-independent component underpinning the development of the visual pathway that requires a functional role for SLC38A8.     

Profiling the phyto-constituents of Punica granatum fruits peel extract and accessing its in-vitro antioxidant,anti-diabetic,anti-obesity,and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitory properties

This context was investigated to assess the in vitro antioxidant, anti-diabetic, anti-obesity, and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition traits of Punica granatum fruits peel extract. Initially, among various extracts tested, aqueous and ethanolic peel extracts depicted the presence of diverse phytoconstituents. In vitro antioxidative properties of peel extracts were determined using standard methodologies. Results showed that aqueous and ethanolic extracts had IC₅₀ values of 471.7 and 509.16 μg/mL, respectively in terms of 1,1,diphenyl 2,2,picrylhydrazyl scavenging. Likewise, IC₅₀ values of aqueous and ethanol extract were obtained as 488.76 and 478.47 μg/mL towards the degradation of hydrogen peroxide. The ethanolic extract exhibited the highest inhibition of α-glucosidase by showing activity of 53.34 ± 2.0 to 15.18 ± 1.4 U/L in a dose dependent manner (100–1000 µg/mL). Ethanolic extract was reported as the most active inhibitor of lipase with an IC₅₀ value of 603.50 µg/mL. Ethanolic extract showed increased inhibition of ACE in a concentration dependent manner (100–1000 µg/mL) with IC₅₀ value of 519.45 µg/mL. Fourier transform-infrared spectrum revealed the availability of various functional groups in the ethanolic extract of peel. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry chromatogram of peel extract illustrated 23 diversified chemical constituents including 1,2,3,4-butanetetrol, Dimethyl sulfone, 9-octadecenamide, and Pentadecanoic acid as predominant compounds. In summary, P. granatum fruits peel extract revealed promising antioxidant, anti-diabetic, anti-obesity, and anti-hypertensive properties.     

Effect of glucose and phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) rich Phaseolus vulgaris extract on growth and protein synthesis of pharmaceutically important cyanobacteria Nostoc ellipsosporum NCIM 2786

Nostoc ellipsosporum is a highly potent cyanobacterium for production of pharmaceutically important chemicals. In this study, an effort has been made to determine the effect of glucose and phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) rich Phaseolus vulgaris extract on N. ellipsosporum growth and protein production. Maximum growth was observed in Fog’s medium supplemented with glucose. SEM analysis showed that the regular and well developed heterocysts were observed in Fog’s media supplemented with glucose. Significant medium components were evaluated by Plackett–Burman (PB) design and PHA extract was found to be the most significant in growth medium. Results of this study showed that both glucose and PHA rich P. vulgaris extract have positive effects and enhance the growth and protein synthesis.