Partitioning of pyruvate between oxidation and anaplerosis in swine hearts

The goal of this study was to measure flux through pyruvate carboxylation and decarboxylation in the heart in vivo. These rates were measured in the anterior wall of normal anesthetized swine hearts by infusing [U-(13)C(3)]lactate and/or [U-(13)C(3)] pyruvate into the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery. After 1 h, the tissue was freeze-clamped and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for the mass isotopomer distribution of citrate and its oxaloacetate moiety. LAD blood pyruvate and lactate enrichments and concentrations were constant after 15 min of infusion. Under near-normal physiological concentrations of lactate and pyruvate, pyruvate carboxylation and decarboxylation accounted for 4.7 +/- 0.3 and 41.5 +/- 2.0% of citrate formation, respectively. Similar relative fluxes were found when arterial pyruvate was raised from 0.2 to 1.1 mM. Addition of 1 mM octanoate to 1 mM pyruvate inhibited pyruvate decarboxylation by 93% without affecting carboxylation. The absence of M1 and M2 pyruvate demonstrated net irreversible pyruvate carboxylation. Under our experimental conditions we found that pyruvate carboxylation in the in vivo heart accounts for at least 3-6% of the citric acid cycle flux despite considerable variation in the flux through pyruvate decarboxylation.     

An all-atom model of the pore-like structure of hexameric VP40 from Ebola: structural insights into the monomer-hexamer transition

The matrix protein VP40 is an indispensable component of viral assembly and budding by the Ebola virus. VP40 is a monomer in solution, but can fold into hexameric and octameric states, two oligomeric conformations that play central roles in the Ebola viral life cycle. While the X-ray structures of monomeric and octameric VP40 have been determined, the structure of hexameric VP40 has only been solved by three-dimensional electron microscopy (EM) to a resolution of approximately 30 A. In this paper, we present the refinement of the EM reconstruction of truncated hexameric VP40 to approximately 20 A and the construction of an all-atom model (residues 44-212) using the EM model at approximately 20 A and the X-ray structure of monomeric VP40 as templates. The hexamer model suggests that the monomer-hexamer transition involves a conformational change in the N-terminal domain that is not evident during octamerization and therefore, may provide the basis for elucidating the biological function of VP40.     

A novel protocol based on HN(C)N for rapid resonance assignment in ((15)N, (13)C) labeled proteins: implications to structural genomics

A novel protocol, based on the HN(C)N experiment, has been developed for rapid assignment of backbone H(N) and (15)N resonances in ((15)N, (13)C) labeled proteins. The protocol exploits the directly observable (15)N and H(N) sequential correlations and the distinctive peak patterns in the different planes of the HN(C)N spectrum, depending upon the nature of the residues displaying the correlations. Glycines and prolines, which are responsible for the distinctive features, provide many check/start points for the sequential walks. These features enhance the speed of data analysis and render side chain assignments less crucial for the success of the assignments. The application of the protocol has been demonstrated with FK506 binding protein (FKBP, molecular mass 12 kDa).     

Restoration of calcium handling properties of adult cardiac myocytes from hypertrophied hearts

Reductions in cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium-ATPase (Serca2a) levels are thought to underlie the prolonged calcium (Ca(2+)) transients and consequent reduced contractile performance seen in human cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure. In freshly isolated cardiac myocytes from rats with monocrotaline-induced right ventricular hypertrophy we found reduced sarcoplasmic reticulum Serca2a expression and prolonged Ca(2+)transients, characteristic of hypertrophic cardiac disease.Modulation of intracellular Ca(2+)levels, Ca(2+) kinetics or Ca(2+)sensitivity is the focus of many current therapeutic approaches to improve contractile performance in the hypertrophic or failing heart. However, the functional effects of increasing Serca2a expression on Ca(2+) handling properties in myocytes from an animal model of cardiac hypertrophy are largely unknown. Here, we describe enhancement of the deficient Ca(2+) handling properties evident in myocytes from hypertrophied hearts following adenoviral-mediated transfer of the human Serca2a gene to these myocytes.These results highlight the importance of Serca2a deficiencies in the hypertrophic phenotype of cardiac muscle and suggest a simple, effective approach for manipulation of normal cardiac function.     

Phosphatase Inhibitors Function as Novel,Broad Spectrum Botulinum Neurotoxin Antagonists in Mouse and Human Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Motor Neuron-Based Assays

There is an urgent need to develop novel treatments to counter Botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) poisoning. Currently, the majority of BoNT drug development efforts focus on directly inhibiting the proteolytic components of BoNT, i.e. light chains (LC). Although this is a rational approach, previous research has shown that LCs are extremely difficult drug targets and that inhibiting multi-serotype BoNTs with a single LC inhibitor may not be feasible. An alternative approach would target neuronal pathways involved in intoxication/recovery, rather than the LC itself. Phosphorylation-related mechanisms have been implicated in the intoxication pathway(s) of BoNTs. However, the effects of phosphatase inhibitors upon BoNT activity in the physiological target of BoNTs, i.e. motor neurons, have not been investigated. In this study, a small library of phosphatase inhibitors was screened for BoNT antagonism in the context of mouse embryonic stem cell-derived motor neurons (ES-MNs). Four inhibitors were found to function as BoNT/A antagonists. Subsequently, we confirmed that these inhibitors protect against BoNT/A in a dose-dependent manner in human ES-MNs. Additionally, these compounds provide protection when administered in post-intoxication scenario. Importantly, the inhibitors were also effective against BoNT serotypes B and E. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study showing phosphatase inhibitors as broad-spectrum BoNT antagonists.     

PURIFICATION AND BIOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF BACTERIALLY EXPRESSED RECOMBINANT BUFFALO PROLACTIN

Recombinant prolactin (PRL) from water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) has been cloned and expressed in a prokaryotic expression system. The hormone was also successfully refolded into a biologically active form. Total RNA was purified from buffalo pituitaries and the buPRL cDNA was synthesized using primers designed on bovine PRL sequence. This prolactin cDNA was cloned in a pET 28a vector and expressed in Escherichia coli strain BL21(DE3)pLysS. Most of the expressed protein was present as insoluble inclusion bodies. The inclusion bodies were solubilized and buPRL was purified by Ni-NTA column. The purified protein was refolded by gradually decreasing the concentration of denaturant during dialysis. Total yield of the refolded and soluble prolactin was 22 mg/L from 100 mL bacterial culture in LB medium. The recombinant prolactin was as active as native prolactin in stimulating growth of Nb2 lymphoma cells.     

Bactericidal activity of different oxovanadium(IV) complexes with Schiff bases and application of chelation theory

Oxovanadium(IV) complexes have been synthesized and characterized the general composition [VOL(A)], where H₂L = salicylidene-o-aminothiophenol A¹ = bis(benzylidene)ethylenediamine, A² = bis(acetophenone)ethylenediamine, A³ = 2,2′-bipyridylamine, A⁴ = bis(benzylidene) ? 1,8-diaminonaphthalene, A⁵ = thiophene-o-carboxaldeneaniline and A⁶ = thiophene-o-carboxaldene-p-anisidine. Spectral studies indicate that the oxovanadium(IV) complexes assume a six-coordinate octahedral geometry. The antibacterial activities of the complexes against Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli and Serratia mercescens are higher as compared to the free ligands, vanadyl sulphate, and the control (DMSO) but of moderate activity as compared to the standard drug (tetracycline).     

Reactivity of basic amino acid pairs in prohormone processing: model of pro-ocytocin/neurophysin processing domain

Statistical analysis of several potential dibasic cleavage sites reveals differences in the distribution of basic doublets when the in vivo cleaved sites were compared to those which are not cleaved. Analysis of the substrate specificity of protease Kex2 towards the pro-ocytocin/neurophysin processing domain (pro-OT/Np(7-15) with altered basic pairs shows a cleavage efficiency order in accord with the statistical data. Structural analysis of these substrates indicates that each basic pair is associated with a local and specific conformational change. Thus, the in vivo cleavage hierarchy of dibasic sites is encoded by both the nature of basic pairs and the plasticity of proteolytic processing domains.     

Synthesis of new S-derivatives of clubbed triazolyl thiazole as anti-Mycobacterium tuberculosis agents

In the present study, a series of N-{4-[(4-amino-5-sulfanyl-4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)methyl]-1,3-thiazol-2-yl}-2-substituted-amide (1a-d) derivatives were synthesized in good yields and characterized by IR, 1H NMR, mass spectral and elemental analyses. The compounds were evaluated for their preliminary in vitro antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella typhosa and then were screened for antitubercular activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37 Rv strain by broth microdilution assay method. The antibacterial data of the tested compounds indicated that most of the synthesized compounds showed better activity against bacteria compared to reference drugs. The in vitro antitubercular activity reports of tested compounds against M. tuberculosis strain H37 Rv showed moderate to better activity.