Insulin rapidly stimulates l-arginine transport in human aortic endothelial cells via Akt

Insulin stimulates endothelial NO synthesis, at least in part mediated by phosphorylation and activation of endothelial NO synthase at Ser1177 and Ser615 by Akt. We have previously demonstrated that insulin-stimulated NO synthesis is inhibited under high culture glucose conditions, without altering Ca²⁺-stimulated NO synthesis or insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of eNOS. This indicates that stimulation of endothelial NO synthase phosphorylation may be required, yet not sufficient, for insulin-stimulated nitric oxide synthesis. In the current study we investigated the role of supply of the eNOS substrate, l-arginine as a candidate parallel mechanism underlying insulin-stimulated NO synthesis in cultured human aortic endothelial cells. Insulin rapidly stimulated l-arginine transport, an effect abrogated by incubation with inhibitors of phosphatidylinositol-3′-kinase or infection with adenoviruses expressing a dominant negative mutant Akt. Furthermore, supplementation of endothelial cells with extracellular l-arginine enhanced insulin-stimulated NO synthesis, an effect reversed by co-incubation with the l-arginine transport inhibitor, l-lysine. Basal l-arginine transport was significantly increased under high glucose culture conditions, yet insulin-stimulated l-arginine transport remained unaltered. The increase in l-arginine transport elicited by high glucose was independent of the expression of the cationic amino acid transporters, hCAT1 and hCAT2 and not associated with any changes in the activity of ERK1/2, Akt or protein kinase C (PKC). We propose that rapid stimulation of L-arginine transport contributes to insulin-stimulated NO synthesis in human endothelial cells, yet attenuation of this is unlikely to underlie the inhibition of insulin-stimulated NO synthesis under high glucose conditions.     

Effect of alar and CCC on induction and germination of bulbils in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Curculigo orchioides</Emphasis> grown in shake flask cultures

Bulbil formation in Curculigo orchioides is followed by asynchronous germination. The effect of alar and CCC incorporated in Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium has been studied on bulbil induction from leaf explants and subsequent germination of bulbils. MS medium contained 1 mg/l BA and 0.1 mg/l morphactin for bulbil induction while germination medium contained 1 mg/l gibberrelic acid and both the media contained alar or CCC (0.5–5.0 mg/l). Growth retardants markedly reduces the bulbil formation, yield and fresh weight of bulbils. Incorporation of retardants resulted in 60% germination inhibition, thereby prolonging the storage conditions.     

Suppression of colitis in mice by Cl-amidine: a novel peptidylarginine deiminase inhibitor

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), mainly Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, are dynamic, chronic inflammatory conditions that are associated with an increased colon cancer risk. Inflammatory cell apoptosis is a key mechanism for regulating IBD. Peptidylarginine deiminases (PADs) catalyze the posttranslational conversion of peptidylarginine to peptidylcitrulline in a calcium-dependent, irreversible reaction and mediate the effects of proinflammatory cytokines. Because PAD levels are elevated in mouse and human colitis, we hypothesized that a novel small-molecule inhibitor of the PADs, i.e., chloramidine (Cl-amidine), could suppress colitis in a dextran sulfate sodium mouse model. Results are consistent with this hypothesis, as demonstrated by the finding that Cl-amidine treatment, both prophylactic and after the onset of disease, reduced the clinical signs and symptoms of colitis, without any indication of toxic side effects. Interestingly, Cl-amidine drives apoptosis of inflammatory cells in vitro and in vivo, providing a mechanism by which Cl-amidine suppresses colitis. In total, these data help validate the PADs as therapeutic targets for the treatment of IBD and further suggest Cl-amidine as a candidate therapy for this disease.     

New palladium(II) complexes of 5-nitrothiophene-2-carboxaldehyde thiosemicarbazones. synthesis,spectral studies and in vitro anti-amoebic activity

Thiosemicarbazones (1-7) and their palladium(II) complexes (1a-7a) of the type [Pd(TSCN)Cl(2)] (where TSCN=thiosemicarbazone) were prepared from 5-nitro thiophene-2-carboxaldehyde and [Pd(DMSO)(2)Cl(2)], respectively. Coordination via the thionic sulphur and the azomethine nitrogen atom of the thiosemicarbazones to the metal ion were confirmed by spectral data. These compounds were screened in vitro against (HK-9) strain of Entamoeba histolytica possess amoebicidal properties. Enhancement of antiamoebic activity resulted due to the introduction of palladium metal in the thiosemicarbazone moiety. The most promising of the group tested are [Pd(5-N-2-TCA-COTSCN)Cl(2)] and [Pd(5-N-2-TCA-AdmTSCN)Cl(2)] comparable to that of metronidazole.     

Cloning,characterization, expression analysis and inhibition studies of a novel gene encoding Bowman–Birk type protease inhibitor from rice bean

This paper presents the first study describing the isolation, cloning and characterization of a full length gene encoding Bowman–Birk protease inhibitor (RbTI) from rice bean (Vigna umbellata). A full-length protease inhibitor gene with complete open reading frame of 327 bp encoding 109 amino acids was cloned from rice bean seeds using degenerate primer set. BlastP search revealed that the RbTI encoded amino acid of approx 13.0 kDa and shared 99% homology each with BBI from Phaseolus parvulus, Vigna trilobata and Vigna vexilata. Phylogenetic tree also showed close relationship of RbTI with BBI from other members of Leguminaceae family. RbTI gene was further confirmed as intronless (GenBank accession no. KJ159908). The secondary and 3D-structural models for the RbTI were predicted with homology modeling. qRT-PCR studies revealed the highest RbTI expression in the seeds nearing maturity, whereas the low expression of the gene was noticed in young leaves. The isolated RbTI was successfully expressed in Escherichiacoli and the highest expression was recorded after 5.5 h of induction. Study on the inhibitory activity of expressed protein against the gut proteases of Hessian fly larvae revealed 87% inhibition. The novel RbTI gene will further broaden the pool of plant defense genes and could be an ideal choice for developing transgenic crops resistant to insect pests with high economic value. In addition, it has the potential to be used as a probe for selection of insect- and pathogen-resistant genotypes.