Exploring drought stress-regulated genes in senna (Cassia angustifolia Vahl.): a transcriptomic approach

Functional & Integrative Genomics - De novo assembly of reads produced by next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies offers a rapid approach to obtain expressed gene sequences for non-model...     

Biophysical Evaluation of Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Field Effects on Male Reproductive Pattern

There are possible hazardous health effects of exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic radiations emitted from mobile phone on the human reproductive pattern. It is more effective while keeping mobile phones in pocket or near testicular organs. Present review examines the possible concern on radio frequency radiation interaction and biological effects such as enzyme induction, and toxicological effects, including genotoxicity and carcinogenicity, testicular cancer, and reproductive outcomes. Testicular infertility or testicular cancer due to mobile phone or microwave radiations suggests an increased level of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Though generation of ROS in testis has been responsible for possible toxic effects on physiology of reproduction, the reviews of last few decades have well established that these radiations are very harmful and cause mutagenic changes in reproductive pattern and leads to infertility. The debate will be focused on bio-interaction mechanism between mobile phone and testicular cancer due to ROS formation. This causes the biological damage and leads to several changes like decreased sperm count, enzymatic and hormonal changes, DNA damage, and apoptosis formation. In the present review, physics of mobile phone including future research on various aspects has been discussed.     

Multidrug resistance protein 1 is not associated to detergent-resistant membranes

Multidrug resistance protein 1 (MRP1) is a member of the ATP-binding cassette superfamily. Using the energy provided by ATP hydrolysis, it transports a broad spectrum of substrates across the plasma membrane, including hormones, leukotriene C(4), bile salts, and anti-cancer drugs. Recent works have suggested that P-glycoprotein is associated to cholesterol and sphingolipid-rich membrane microdomains and that cholesterol upregulates its ATPase and drug transport activities. Confocal microscopy experiments and Triton X-100 extraction of detergent-resistant membranes provide evidence that MRP1 is not located in raft-like structures and that its activity is downregulated by cholesterol. The data are discussed in terms of cholesterol-protein interaction and topology.     

Ribosomal protein S19 and S24 insufficiency cause distinct cell cycle defects in Diamond–Blackfan anemia

Diamond–Blackfan anemia (DBA) is a severe congenital anemia characterized by a specific decrease of erythroid precursors. The disease is also associated with growth retardation, congenital malformations, a predisposition for malignant disease and heterozygous mutations in either of the ribosomal protein (RP) genes RPS7, RPS17, RPS19, RPS24, RPL5, RPL11 and RPL35a. We show herein that primary fibroblasts from DBA patients with truncating mutations in RPS19 or in RPS24 have a marked reduction in proliferative capacity. Mutant fibroblasts are associated with extended cell cycles and normal levels of p53 when compared to w.t. cells. RPS19 mutant fibroblasts accumulate in the G1 phase, whereas the RPS24 mutant cells show an altered progression in the S phase resulting in reduced levels in the G2/M phase. RPS19 deficient cells exhibit reduced levels of Cyclin-E, CDK2 and retinoblastoma (Rb) protein supporting a cell cycle arrest in the G1 phase. In contrast, RPS24 deficient cells show increased levels of the cell cycle inhibitor p21 and a seemingly opposing increase in Cyclin-E, CDK4 and CDK6. In combination, our results show that RPS19 and RPS24 insufficient fibroblasts have an impaired growth caused by distinct blockages in the cell cycle. We suggest this proliferative constraint to be an important contributing mechanism for the complex extra-hematological features observed in DBA.     

The N-terminus region of Drp1, a Rint1 family protein is essential for cell survival and its interaction with Rad50 protein in fission yeast S.pombe

BackgroundDefects in DNA repair pathway can lead to double-strand breaks leading to genomic instability. Earlier we have shown that S.pombe Drp1, a Rint1/Tip1 family protein is required for the recovery from DNA damage.MethodsVarious truncations of Drp1 protein were constructed and their role in DNA damage response and interaction with Rad50 protein has been studied by co-immunoprecipitation and pull-down assays.ResultsThe structural and functional analysis of Drp1 protein revealed that the N-terminus region of Drp1 is indispensable for the survival. The C-terminus truncation mutants, drp1C1Δ and drp1C2Δ exhibit temperature sensitive phenotype and are hypersensitive against DNA damaging agents with elevated level of Rad52-YFP foci at non-permissive temperature indicating the impairment for DNA damage repair pathway. The essential N-terminus region of Drp1 interacts with the C-terminus region of Rad50 and might be involved in influencing the MRN/X function. Small-angle X-ray (SAXS) analysis revealed three-domain like shapes in Drp1 protein while the C-terminus region of Rad50 exhibit unusual bulges. Computational docking studies revealed the amino acid residues at the C-terminus region of Rad50 that are involved in the interaction with the residues present at the N-terminal region of Drp1 indicating the importance of the N-terminal region of Drp1 protein.ConclusionsWe have identified the region of Drp1 and Rad50 proteins that are involved in the interaction and their role in the DNA damage response pathway has been analyzed.General significanceThe functional and structural aspects of fission yeast Drp1 protein and its interaction with Rad50 have been elucidated.     

Regenerated silica-based RNA purification columns to address the short supply of RNA purification kits for COVID-19 diagnosis

Molecular Biology Reports - RT-qPCR technique is the current world-wide method used for the early detection of SARS-CoV2 RNA in the suspected clinical samples. Viral RNA extraction is the key...     

Modulation of brain protein phosphorylation by the S-100 protein

The effects of the nervous system specific protein, S-100, on protein phosphorylation in rat brain is examined. The S-100 protein inhibits the phosphorylation of several soluble brain proteins in a calcium dependent fashion. The most potent effect exhibited by S-100 was on the phosphorylation of a protein having a molecular weight of 73,000. The data suggest that the calcium binding S-100 protein, for which a function has not yet been assigned, may modulate calcium dependent phosphorylation of selected brain proteins.     

Transprotection of silyl ethers of nucleosides in FeCl3 based ionic liquids

Ionic liquid mediated deprotection of tert-butyldimethyl silyl (TBDMS) ethers derived from various primary and secondary alcohols have been studied and the reaction conditions optimized. Deprotection of the silyl ethers in FeCl3 based ionic liquids in presence of acetic anhydride yielded the acetate esters of the corresponding alcohols in good yields. The transprotection methodology was extended to the silyl ethers of nucleosides to yield the corresponding acetylated products.     

Synthesis and evaluation of thiomannosides,potent and orally active FimH inhibitors

FimH is a type I fimbrial lectin located at the tip of type-1 pili of Gram-negative uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) guiding its ability to adhere and infect urothelial cells. Accordingly, blocking FimH with small molecule inhibitor is considered as a promising new therapeutic alternative to treat urinary tract infections caused by UPEC. Herein, we report that compounds having the S-glycosidic bond (thiomannosides) had improved metabolic stability and plasma exposures when dosed orally. Especially compound 5h showed the potential to inhibit biofilm formation and also to disrupt the preformed biofilm. And compound 5h showed prophylactic effect in UTI model in mice.