Aminopropyl-functionalized cubic Ia3d mesoporous silica nanoparticle as an efficient support for immobilization of superoxide dismutase

In this research, the immobilization of superoxide dismutase (SOD) onto aminopropyl-functionalized KIT-6 [n-PrNH(2)-KIT-6] was investigated. This organo-functionalized mesoporous silica nanoparticle was prepared using a non-ionic surfactant and was fully characterized by XRD, nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherm assay, IR and TGA techniques. An activity assay demonstrated that the immobilized SOD had a higher activity than the free enzyme. Further investigations using FT-IR, circular dichroism (CD), and probe 1-anilino-8-naphthalene sulfonate (ANS) fluorescence intensity measurements indicated that the structure of the enzyme did not change upon binding to the mesoporous silica, and that immobilized SOD was also less affected by higher temperatures. The melting temperatures of the free and immobilized enzymes were measured by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), which showed that a fraction of immobilized enzyme was more stable and revealed that immobilized enzyme was partly reversible.     

Imbalanced serum levels of resolvin E1 (RvE1) and leukotriene B4 (LTB4) in patients with allergic rhinitis

Molecular Biology Reports - Timely and successful resolution of acute inflammation plays a crucial role in preventing the development of chronic airway inflammation in allergic rhinitis (AR). This...     

In Silico Study of Different Signal Peptides to Express Recombinant Glutamate Decarboxylase in the Outer Membrane of Escherichia coli

International Journal of Peptide Research and Therapeutics - Gamma amino butyric acid (GABA) is used as drugs, food ingredients, and dietary supplements. l-glutamate is converted to GABA by the...     

Contribution of the residue at position 4 within classical nuclear localization signals to modulating interaction with importins and nuclear targeting

Nuclear import involves the recognition by importin (IMP) superfamily members of nuclear localization signals (NLSs) within protein cargoes destined for the nucleus, the best understood being recognition of classical NLSs (cNLSs) by the IMPα/β1 heterodimer. Although the cNLS consensus [K-(K/R)-X-(K/R) for positions P2–P5] is generally accepted, recent studies indicated that the contribution made by different residues at the P4 position can vary. Here, we apply a combination of microscopy, molecular dynamics, crystallography, in vitro binding, and bioinformatics approaches to show that the nature of residues at P4 indeed modulates cNLS function in the context of a prototypical Simian Virus 40 large tumor antigen-derived cNLS (KKRK, P2–5). Indeed, all hydrophobic substitutions in place of R impaired binding to IMPα and nuclear targeting, with the largest effect exerted by a G residue at P4. Substitution of R with neutral hydrophobic residues caused the loss of electrostatic and van der Waals interactions between the P4 residue side chains and IMPα. Detailed bioinformatics analysis confirmed the importance of the P4 residue for cNLS function across the human proteome, with specific residues such as G being associated with low activity. Furthermore, we validate our findings for two additional cNLSs from human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) DNA polymerase catalytic subunit UL54 and processivity factor UL44, where a G residue at P4 results in a 2–3-fold decrease in NLS activity. Our results thus showed that the P4 residue makes a hitherto poorly appreciated contribution to nuclear import efficiency, which is essential to determining the precise nuclear levels of cargoes.     

Changes in the role of the CD45 protein tyrosine phosphatase in regulating Lck tyrosine phosphorylation during thymic development

CD45-dependent dephosphorylation of the negative regulatory C-terminal tyrosine of the Src family kinase Lck, promotes efficient TCR signal transduction. However, despite the role of CD45 in positively regulating Lck activity, the distinct phenotypes of CD45 and Lck/Fyn-deficient mice suggest that the role of CD45 in promoting Lck activity may be differentially regulated during thymocyte development. In this study, we have found that the C-terminal tyrosine of Lck (Y505) is markedly hyperphosphorylated in total thymocytes from CD45-deficient mice compared with control animals. In contrast, regulation of the Lck Y505 phosphorylation in purified, double-negative thymocytes is relatively unaffected in CD45-deficient cells. These changes in the role of CD45 in regulating Lck phosphorylation during thymocyte development correlate with changes in coreceptor expression and the presence of coreceptor-associated Lck. Biochemical analysis of coreceptor-associated and nonassociated Lck in thymocytes, and in cell lines varying in CD4 and CD45 expression, indicate that CD45-dependent regulation of Lck Y505 phosphorylation is most evident within the fraction of Lck that is coreceptor associated. In contrast, Lck Y505 phosphorylation that is not coreceptor associated is less affected by the absence of CD45. These data define distinct pools of Lck that are differentially regulated by CD45 during T cell development.     

Genus Pseudonocardia: What we know about its biological properties,abilities and current application in biotechnology

The genus Pseudonocardia belongs to a group of Actinomycetes, and is a member of the family Pseudonocardiacea. The members of this genus are aerobic, Gram-positive, non-motile bacteria that are commonly found in soil, plant and environment. Although this genus has a low clinical significance; however, it has an important role in biotechnology due to the production of secondary metabolites, some of which have anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-tumour effects. The use of phenotypic tests, such as gelatinase activity, starch hydrolysis, catalase and oxidase tests, as well as molecular methods, such as polymerase chain reaction, are necessary for Pseudonocardia identification at the genus and species levels.     

Differential effect of activin on mouse embryonic stem cell differentiation in insulin-secreting cells under nestin-positive selection and spontaneous differentiation protocols

Parallel to the importance of the development of cell therapies to treat diabetes is the production of sufficient numbers of pancreatic endocrine cells that function like primary islets. To increase the efficiency of endocrine pancreatic-like cell differentiation from mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs), we applied activin-B to nestin-positive selection (protocol 1) and spontaneous differentiation (protocol 2) in different groups including: [A] activin-B, or [B] basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), and/or [C] activin-B+bFGF. The differentiated cells expressed most pancreatic-related genes. The number of insulin- and C peptide-positive cells, as well as dithizone-positive clusters in group A of protocol 1 was higher than in the other groups. Significant insulin concentrations in protocol 1 were produced when glucose was added to the medium, in comparison with protocol 2. Moreover, insulin release was increased significantly in group A of protocol 1 even with lower glucose. In conclusion, Addition of activin-B in a nestin-positive selection protocol increased the insulin-secreting cells in comparison with the same protocol with bFGF and/or spontaneous differentiation in presence of bFGF and/or activin-B alone. However, improvements of the current method are required to generate a sufficient source of true beta-cells for the treatment of diabetes mellitus.     

Neem oil nanoemulsions: characterisation and antioxidant activity

The aim of the present work is to develop nanoemulsions (NEs), nanosized emulsions, manufactured for improving the delivery of active pharmaceutical ingredients. In particular, nanoemulsions composed of Neem seed oil, contain rich bioactive components, and Tween 20 as nonionic surfactant were prepared. A mean droplet size ranging from 10 to 100?nm was obtained by modulating the oil/surfactant ratio. Physicochemical characterisation was carried out evaluating size, ζ-potential, microviscosity, polarity and turbidity of the external shell and morphology, along with stability in simulated cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), activity of Neem oil alone and in NEs, HEp-2 cell interaction and cytotoxicity studies. This study confirms the formation of NEs by Tween 20 and Neem oil at different weight ratios with small and homogenous dimensions. The antioxidant activity of Neem oil alone and in NEs was comparable, whereas its cytotoxicity was strongly reduced when loaded in NEs after interaction with HEp-2 cells.