Properties of a newly characterized protein of the bovine kidney pyruvate dehydrogenase complex

The dihydrolipoyl transacetylase component, which serves as the structural core of mammalian pyruvate dehydrogenase complexes, is acetylated when treated with either pyruvate or with acetyl-CoA in the presence of NADH. Besides the dihydrolipoyl transacetylase component, we have found that another protein, referred to as protein X, is rapidly acetylated at thiol residues. Protein X remains fully bound to the transacetylase core under conditions that remove the pyruvate dehydrogenase and dihydrolipoyl dehydrogenase components. Mapping of 125I-tryptic peptides indicated that the transacetylase subunits and protein X are structurally distinct; however, under the same mapping conditions, there is considerable similarity in the positions of acetylated peptides derived from these subunits. Affinity-purified rabbit immunoglobulin G prepared against the dihydrolipoyl transacetylase core reacted exclusively with the transacetylase and with both its tryptic-derived inner domain and outer lipolyl-bearing domain. Those results further indicate that protein X is not derived from the transacetylase subunit Affinity-purified mouse antibody to protein X reacted selectively with large tryptic polypeptides derived from protein X and did not react with the inner domain of the transacetylase. However, the anti-protein X antibody did react with the intact transacetylase subunit, the lipoyl-bearing domain of the transacetylase, and weakly with the transsuccinylase component of the alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase complex. This cross-reactivity reflected specificity of a portion of the polyclonal antibodies for a related structural region in the transacetylase and protein X (possibly a similar lipoyl-bearing region). Furthermore, a major portion of that polyclonal antibody was shown to react exclusively with protein X. Thus, protein X subunits differ substantially from transacetylase subunits but the two components have a region of structural similarity. We estimate that there are about 5 mol of protein X per mol of the kidney pyruvate dehydrogenase complex. Under a variety of conditions that result in a wide range of levels of acetylation of sites in the complex, about 1 acetyl group is incorporated into protein X per 10 acetyl groups incorporated into the transacetylase subunits per mol of complex. That ratio is close to the ratio of protein X subunits of transacetylase subunits in the complex, indicating that there are efficient mechanisms for acylation and deacylation of protein X.     

Comparative study of three magnetic nano-particles (FeSO4, FeSO4/SiO2, FeSO4/SiO2/TiO2) in plasmid DNA extraction

Recent updates on Magnetic Nano-Particles (MNPs) based separation of nucleic acids have received more attention due to their easy manipulation, simplicity, ease of automation and cost-effectiveness. It has been indicated that DNA molecules absorb on solid surfaces via hydrogen-bonding, and hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions. These properties highly depend on the surface condition of the solid support. Therefore, surface modification of MNPs may enhance their functionality and specification. In the present study, we functionalized Fe₃O₄ nano-particle surface utilizing SiO₂ and TiO₂ layer as Fe₃O₄/SiO₂ and Fe₃O₄/SiO₂/TiO₂ and then compare their functionality in the adsorption of plasmid DNA molecules with the naked Fe₃O₄ nano-particles. The result obtained showed that the purity and amount of DNA extracted by Fe₃O₄ coated by SiO₂ or SiO₂/TiO₂ were higher than the naked Fe₃O₄ nano-particles. Furthermore, we obtained pH 8 and 1.5 M NaCl as an optimal condition for desorption of DNA from MNPs. The result further showed that, 0.2 mg nano-particle and 10 min at 55 °C are the optimal conditions for DNA desorption from nano-particles. In conclusion, we recommended Fe₃O₄/SiO₂/TiO₂ as a new MNP for separation of DNA molecules from biological sources.     

Description of a new species of the genus Laelaspis Berlese (Acari,Mesostigmata, Laelapidae) from Iran

A new species of the genus Laelaspis Berlese, Laelaspis elongatus sp. n. is described based on adult female and male specimens collected in association with Pheidole pallidula (Nylander) (Hym., Formicidae) in Ahwaz, Khuzestan Province, southwestern Iran, and also Acinopus (Acinopus) picipes (Olivier) (Col., Carabidae) in Bam, Kerman Province, southeastern Iran.     

Cloning and sequencing of partial segment of cholesterol oxidase encoding gene fromStreptomyces luridus

Cloning, sequencing and analysis of partial segment of cholesterol oxidase(cho) encoding gene fromStreptomyces luridus using PCR technique is described. The primers used for PCR were designed on the basis of inter-species homology, and the pTZ57R/T vector was used for molecular cloning. The sequencing results lead to identification of the oxidoreductase domain ofcho enzyme with 818 nucleotide length encoding 272 amino acids, which was submitted in NCBI with DQ480365 accession number. The submitted sequence in cludes complete FAD-linked reductase C terminal domain with 170 amino acids size and N-terminal of GMC-oxidoreductase domain ofcho enzyme.     

Targeted delivery of vitamin D3-loaded nanoparticles to C6 glioma cell line increased resistance to doxorubicin,epirubicin, and docetaxel in vitro

In recent years, targeted delivery systems have been used along with combinatorial therapy to decrease drug resistance and increase cancer therapy efficacy. The anti-proliferative effects of vitamin D3 (VD3) on cancerous cells, such as C6 glioma, with active hedgehog pathways raised the question as to whether pre-targeting C6 glioma cells with VD3-loaded nanoparticles (VD3NPs) can enhance the anti-tumor effects of doxorubicin, epirobicin, and docetaxel on this drug-resistant cell line. Here, studying at cellular, nuclear, protein, and gene levels we demonstrated that VD3NP-doxorubicin and VD3NP-epirobicin combinations increased the probability of chemotherapy/radiotherapy resistance and cancer stem cell (CSC) properties in C6 glioma significantly (P < 0.05), compared to doxorubicin and epirobicin alone. However, VD3NP-docetaxel combination may have the potential in sensitizing C6 cells to ionizing irradiation, but this combination also increased the CSC properties and the probability of drug resistance significantly (P < 0.05), compared to docetaxel alone. Although our previous study showed that targeted delivery of VD3 reduced the rate of proliferation significantly (P < 0.05) in C6 glioma cells (a drug-resistant cell line), here we concluded that combinatorial therapy of exogenous VD3 with doxorubicin, epirobicin, and docetaxel not only did not lead to the enhancement of cytotoxic effects of the aforementioned drugs but also increased the cancerous characteristics in C6 glioma, in vitro.     

Initiation of protein synthesis by hepatitis C virus is refractory to reduced eIF2.GTP.Met-tRNA(i)(Met) ternary complex availability

A cornerstone of the antiviral interferon response is phosphorylation of eukaryotic initiation factor (eIF)2alpha. This limits the availability of eIF2.GTP.Met-tRNA(i)(Met) ternary complexes, reduces formation of 43S preinitiation complexes, and blocks viral (and most cellular) mRNA translation. However, many viruses have developed counterstrategies that circumvent this cellular response. Herein, we characterize a novel class of translation initiation inhibitors that block ternary complex formation and prevent the assembly of 43S preinitiation complexes. We find that translation driven by the HCV IRES is refractory to inhibition by these compounds at concentrations that effectively block cap-dependent translation in vitro and in vivo. Analysis of initiation complexes formed on the HCV IRES in the presence of inhibitor indicates that eIF2alpha and Met-tRNA(i)(Met) are present, defining a tactic used by HCV to evade part of the antiviral interferon response.