Carbonic anhydrase and acid base balance in relation to thermal stress in buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis)

The blood samples from fifteen normal lactating buffaloes were taken from December 15th 1978 to 31st August, 1979. Depending upon the climatic conditions, the whole period of study was divided into four seasons. The mean values of carbonic anhydrase (moles CO₂/l/sec×10^?5) were 3.08±0.26, 4.94±0.44, 5.23±0.35, 6.44±0.32 in pregnant and 4.87±0.27, 4.53±0.41, 4.74±0.45, 6.36±0.40 in non-pregnant animals during winter, spring, hot and dry and hot and humid seasons. Mean values of pO₂ (mm Hg) were 31.26±1.41, 31.92±0.61, 35.90±0.59, 33.80 ±0.67 in pregnant and 31.89±0.44, 31.53±0.54, 35.52±0.69, 31.65±0.95 in non-pregnant buffaloes during winter, spring, hot and dry and hot and humid periods, respectively. There were highly significant (P< 0.01) differences between seasons with respect to pO₂, pCO₂, actual HCO₃ and heamoglobin. However, PCV changed significantly (P<0.01) with the physiological status of the animal. Different correlation of biochemical parameters with climatic elements were discussed. Thus, the shifts in the levels of carbonic anhydrase, HCO₃ and heamoglobin may prove to be a better tool/index for thermal stress in buffaloes.     

Purification and characterization of an extracellular alpha-amylase from Bacillus subtilis AX20

A Bacillus subtilis AX20 from soil with ability to produce extracellular alpha-amylases was isolated. The characterization of microorganism was performed by biochemical tests as well as 16S rDNA sequencing. Maximum amylase activity (38 U/ml) was obtained at stationery phase when the culture was grown at 37 degrees C. The enzyme was purified to homogeneity with an overall recovery of 24.2% and specific activity of 4133 U/mg. The native protein showed a molecular mass of 149 kDa composed of a homodimer of 78 kDa polypeptide by SDS-PAGE. The optimum pH and temperature of the amylase were 6 and 55 degrees C, respectively. The enzyme was inhibited by Hg(2+), Ag(2+), and Cu(2+) and it did not show an obligate requirement of metal ions. The enzyme was not inhibited by EDTA or EGTA, suggesting that this enzyme is not a metalloenzyme. The end products of corn starch and soluble starch were glucose (70-75%) and maltose (20-25%). Rapid reduction of blue value and the end products suggest an endo mode of action for the amylase. The purified amylase shows interesting properties useful for industrial applications.     

Genome mining for natural product biosynthetic gene clusters in the Subsection V cyanobacteria

Background

Cyanobacteria are well known for the production of a range of secondary metabolites. Whilst recent genome sequencing projects has led to an increase in the number of publically available cyanobacterial genomes, the secondary metabolite potential of many of these organisms remains elusive. Our study focused on the 11 publically available Subsection V cyanobacterial genomes, together with the draft genomes of Westiella intricata UH strain HT-29-1 and Hapalosiphon welwitschii UH strain IC-52-3, for their genetic potential to produce secondary metabolites. The Subsection V cyanobacterial genomes analysed in this study are reported to produce a diverse range of natural products, including the hapalindole-family of compounds, microcystin, hapalosin, mycosporine-like amino acids and hydrocarbons.

Results

A putative gene cluster for the cyclic depsipeptide hapalosin, known to reverse P-glycoprotein multiple drug resistance, was identified within three Subsection V cyanobacterial genomes, including the producing cyanobacterium H. welwitschii UH strain IC-52-3. A number of orphan NRPS/PKS gene clusters and ribosomally-synthesised and post translationally-modified peptide gene clusters (including cyanobactin, microviridin and bacteriocin gene clusters) were identified. Furthermore, gene clusters encoding the biosynthesis of mycosporine-like amino acids, scytonemin, hydrocarbons and terpenes were also identified and compared.

Conclusions

Genome mining has revealed the diversity, abundance and complex nature of the secondary metabolite potential of the Subsection V cyanobacteria. This bioinformatic study has identified novel biosynthetic enzymes which have not been associated with gene clusters of known classes of natural products, suggesting that these cyanobacteria potentially produce structurally novel secondary metabolites.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-015-1855-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

The Presence of Arginine in the Pro-Arg-Pro Motif Augments the Lethality of Proline Rich Antimicrobial Peptides of Insect Source

Antimicrobial peptides are emerging as alternate drug candidates over couple of decades. The diversity exists in amino acid sequence, conformation and mechanism of action of these peptides. Cationic antimicrobial peptides constitute major class which is further classified depending on abundance of amino acid. Insect originated cationic proline rich antimicrobial peptides do not destabilize bacterial cell membrane but have intracellular targets. Some of the peptides belonging to proline rich class such as Apidaecins and Drosocin have unique tripeptide, Pro-Arg-Pro motif which is absent in Formaecin I of same group. Earlier we have designed a non-glycosylated analog of Formaecin I which contains a Pro-Lys-Pro motif. In this report, we have shown that substitution of lysine to arginine in Pro-Lys-Pro motif increases lethal action of this peptide against all the tested bacterial strains without affecting its structural, cytotoxic and membrane permeabilization properties. Importance of arginine in Pro-Arg-Pro motif is reemphasized when substitution of arginine to lysine in Pro-Arg-Pro, tripeptide sequence of Apidaecin and Drosocin results into decrease in their activity. Maintaining overall charge, this substitution indicates the role of arginine beyond providing cationicity.     

Sequestration of phosphoinositides by mutated MARCKS effector domain inhibits stimulated Ca(2+) mobilization and degranulation in mast cells

Protein kinase C β (PKCβ) participates in antigen-stimulated mast cell degranulation mediated by the high-affinity receptor for immunoglobulin E, FcεRI, but the molecular basis is unclear. We investigated the hypothesis that the polybasic effector domain (ED) of the abundant intracellular substrate for protein kinase C known as myristoylated alanine-rich protein kinase C substrate (MARCKS) sequesters phosphoinositides at the inner leaflet of the plasma membrane until MARCKS dissociates after phosphorylation by activated PKC. Real-time fluorescence imaging confirms synchronization between stimulated oscillations of intracellular Ca(2+) concentrations and oscillatory association of PKCβ-enhanced green fluorescent protein with the plasma membrane. Similarly, MARCKS-ED tagged with monomeric red fluorescent protein undergoes antigen-stimulated oscillatory dissociation and rebinding to the plasma membrane with a time course that is synchronized with reversible plasma membrane association of PKCβ. We find that MARCKS-ED dissociation is prevented by mutation of four serine residues that are potential sites of phosphorylation by PKC. Cells expressing this mutated MARCKS-ED SA4 show delayed onset of antigen-stimulated Ca(2+) mobilization and substantial inhibition of granule exocytosis. Stimulation of degranulation by thapsigargin, which bypasses inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate production, is also substantially reduced in the presence of MARCKS-ED SA4, but store-operated Ca(2+) entry is not inhibited. These results show the capacity of MARCKS-ED to regulate granule exocytosis in a PKC-dependent manner, consistent with regulated sequestration of phosphoinositides that mediate granule fusion at the plasma membrane.     

MDA5 and TLR3 initiate pro-inflammatory signaling pathways leading to rhinovirus-induced airways inflammation and hyperresponsiveness

Rhinovirus (RV), a single-stranded RNA picornavirus, is the most frequent cause of asthma exacerbations. We previously demonstrated in human bronchial epithelial cells that melanoma differentiation-associated gene (MDA)-5 and the adaptor protein for Toll-like receptor (TLR)-3 are each required for maximal RV1B-induced interferon (IFN) responses. However, in vivo, the overall airway response to viral infection likely represents a coordinated response integrating both antiviral and pro-inflammatory pathways. We examined the airway responses of MDA5- and TLR3-deficient mice to infection with RV1B, a minor group virus which replicates in mouse lungs. MDA5 null mice showed a delayed type I IFN and attenuated type III IFN response to RV1B infection, leading to a transient increase in viral titer. TLR3 null mice showed normal IFN responses and unchanged viral titers. Further, RV-infected MDA5 and TLR3 null mice showed reduced lung inflammatory responses and reduced airways responsiveness. Finally, RV-infected MDA5 null mice with allergic airways disease showed lower viral titers despite deficient IFN responses, and allergic MDA5 and TLR3 null mice each showed decreased RV-induced airway inflammatory and contractile responses. These results suggest that, in the context of RV infection, binding of viral dsRNA to MDA5 and TLR3 initiates pro-inflammatory signaling pathways leading to airways inflammation and hyperresponsiveness.