Inhibitory CD161 receptor identified in glioma-infiltrating T cells by single-cell analysis

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An efficient enzymatic preparation of 4(S)-hydroxy-1 (R)-acetoxy-cyclopent-2-ene by using new yeast isolate

Summary The Enzymatic enantioselective hydrolysis of prochiral 1,4-cyclopent-2-ene diacetate (3) was carried out using yeast and fungal cultures from inhouse culture collection. Of all the cultures tested, the yeast sp. NCIM 3574 gave 4 (S)-hydroxy-1 (R)- acetoxy-cyclopent-2-ene (4b) in high optical yields (99% ee).     

Preliminary evaluation of anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic activity of S. lappa, A. speciosa and A. aspera.

Saussurea lappa, Argyreia speciosa and Achyranthes aspera are well known Indian medicinal plants used in the indigenous systems of medicine for the treatment of inflammatory conditions. The ethanolic extracts of the plants at the doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg, p.o. were screened for their effect on acute and chronic inflammation induced in mice and rats. S. lappa and A. speciosa were found to significantly inhibit paw edema induced by carrageenan and Freund's complete adjuvant and to prevent accumulation of inflammatory cells in carrageenan-induced peritonitis at doses of 50-200 mg/kg. A. aspera inhibited these inflammatory responses at doses of 100-200 mg/kg. The studies reveal that the ethanolic extracts of S. lappa, A. speciosa and A. aspera possess anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic activity and support the rationale behind the traditional use of these plants in inflammatory conditions.     

Comparative genomic assessment of Multi-Locus Sequence Typing: rapid accumulation of genomic heterogeneity among clonal isolates of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Campylobacter jejuni</Emphasis>

Background  

Multi-Locus Sequence Typing (MLST) has emerged as a leading molecular typing method owing to its high ability to discriminate among bacterial isolates, the relative ease with which data acquisition and analysis can be standardized, and the high portability of the resulting sequence data. While MLST has been successfully applied to the study of the population structure for a number of different bacterial species, it has also provided compelling evidence for high rates of recombination in some species. We have analyzed a set of Campylobacter jejuni strains using MLST and Comparative Genomic Hybridization (CGH) on a full-genome microarray in order to determine whether recombination and high levels of genomic mosaicism adversely affect the inference of strain relationships based on the analysis of a restricted number of genetic loci.     

Pan-genome sequence analysis using Panseq: an online tool for the rapid analysis of core and accessory genomic regions

Background  

The pan-genome of a bacterial species consists of a core and an accessory gene pool. The accessory genome is thought to be an important source of genetic variability in bacterial populations and is gained through lateral gene transfer, allowing subpopulations of bacteria to better adapt to specific niches. Low-cost and high-throughput sequencing platforms have created an exponential increase in genome sequence data and an opportunity to study the pan-genomes of many bacterial species. In this study, we describe a new online pan-genome sequence analysis program, Panseq.     

Metalloantimalarials: synthesis, X-ray crystal structure of potent antimalarial copper (II) complex of arylazo-4-hydroxy-1,2-naphthoquinone

The crystal structure of copper (II) complex of 3-arylazo-4-hydroxy-1,2-naphthoquinone is reported. The in vitro antimalarial activity of analogous compounds against Plasmodium falciparum 3D7 strain reveals correlation with metal redox couple, suggesting component of parasitic electron transport chain as a possible target.     

Role of linkers in communication between protein modules

Multidomain proteins are common in a variety of cellular processes. Their domains are interconnected through short stretches of amino acid residues referred to as linkers. Recent studies on many systems have provided compelling evidence that linkers are more than simple covalent connectors. They also perform the important task of establishing communication between the different functional modules that exist within such proteins.     

Regulation of ciliary motility: conserved protein kinases and phosphatases are targeted and anchored in the ciliary axoneme

Recent evidence has revealed that the dynein motors and highly conserved signaling proteins are localized within the ciliary 9 + 2 axoneme. One key mechanism for regulation of motility is phosphorylation. Here, we review diverse evidence, from multiple experimental organisms, that ciliary motility is regulated by phosphorylation/dephosphorylation of the dynein arms through kinases and phosphatases that are anchored immediately adjacent to their axonemal substrates.     

Receptor-dependent compartmentalization of PPIP5K1, a kinase with a cryptic polyphosphoinositide binding domain

Amyloid-related diseases are a group of illnesses in which an abnormal accumulation of proteins into fibrillar structures is evident. Results from a wide range of studies, ranging from identification of amyloid-β dimers in the brain to biophysical characterization of the interactions between amyloidogenic peptides and lipid membranes during fibril growth shed light on the initial events which take place during amyloid aggregation. Accounts of fibril disaggregation and formation of globular aggregates due to interactions with lipids or fatty acids further demonstrate the complexity of the aggregation process and the difficulty to treat amyloid-related diseases. There is an inherent difficulty in generalizing from studies of aggregation in vitro, but the involvement of too many cellular components limits the ability to follow amyloid aggregation in a cellular (or extracellular) context. Fortunately, the development of experimental methods to generate stable globular aggregates suggests new means of studying the molecular events associated with amyloid aggregation. Furthermore, simulation studies enable deeper understanding of the experimental results and provide useful predictions that can be tested in the laboratory. Computer simulations can nowadays provide molecular or even atomistic details that are experimentally not available or very difficult to obtain. In the present review, recent developments on modelling and experiments of amyloid aggregation are reviewed, and an integrative account on how isolated interactions (as observed in vitro and in silico) combine during the course of amyloid-related diseases is presented. Finally, it is argued that an integrative approach is necessary to get a better understanding of the protein aggregation process.