In silico modulation of apoptotic Bcl-2 proteins by mistletoe lectin-1: functional consequences of protein modifications

The mistletoe lectin-1 (ML-1) modulates tumor cell apoptosis by triggering signaling cascades through the complex interplay of phosphorylation and O-linked N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) modification in pro- and anti-apoptotic proteins. In particular, ML-1 is predicted to induce dephosphorylation of Bcl-2-family proteins and their alternative O-GlcNAc modification at specific, conserved Ser/Thr residues. The sites for phosphorylation and glycosylation were predicted and analyzed using Netphos 2.0 and YinOYang 1.2. The involvement of modified Ser/Thr, and among them the potential Yin Yang sites that may undergo both types of posttranslational modification, is proposed to mediate apoptosis modulation by ML-1.     

Synthesis and biological evaluation of 4beta-[(4-substituted)-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl]podophyllotoxins as potential anticancer agents

A series of novel 4beta-[(4-substituted)-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl]podophyllotoxin derivatives were synthesized by employing Cu(I)-catalyzed click chemistry and evaluated for their anticancer activity against a panel of seven human cancer cell lines (HT-29, HCT-15, 502713, HOP-62, A-549, MCF-7, and SF-295). The compounds 9b, 9c, 9e, 9f, and 9h showed significant cytotoxic activities especially against HT-29, HCT-15, 502713 cell lines.     

MAPRes: Mining association patterns among preferred amino acid residues in the vicinity of amino acids targeted for post-translational modifications

Post-translational modification (PTM) of a protein is an important event in regulating cellular functions. An algorithm, MAPRes, has been developed for mining associations among PTM sites and the preferred amino acids in their vicinity. The algorithm has been implemented to O-glycosylation and O-phosphorylation data (phosphorylated/glycosylated Ser/Thr/Tyr). The association patterns mined by MAPRes demonstrate significant correlations and the results are in conformity with the existing methods. These association rules/patterns will be helpful in predicting the sequences/motifs involved for specific PTMs in proteins.     

Suppressors of RNA silencing encoded by the components of the cotton leaf curl begomovirus-betasatellite complex

Begomoviruses (family Geminiviridae) are single-stranded DNA viruses transmitted by the whitefly Bemisia tabaci. Many economically important diseases in crops are caused by begomoviruses, particularly in tropical and subtropical environments. These include the betasatellite-associated begomoviruses causing cotton leaf curl disease (CLCuD) that causes significant losses to a mainstay of the economy of Pakistan, cotton. RNA interference (RNAi) or gene silencing is a natural defense response of plants against invading viruses. In counter-defense, viruses encode suppressors of gene silencing that allow them to effectively invade plants. Here, we have analyzed the ability of the begomovirus Cotton leaf curl Multan virus (CLCuMV) and its associated betasatellite, Cotton leaf curl Multan β-satellite (CLCuMB) which, together, cause CLCuD, and the nonessential alphasatellite (Cotton leaf curl Multan alphasatellite [CLCuMA]) for their ability to suppress gene silencing in Nicotiana benthamiana. The results showed that CLCuMV by itself was unable to efficiently block silencing. However, in the presence of the betasatellite, gene silencing was entirely suppressed. Silencing was not affected in any way when infections included CLCuMA, although the alphasatellite was, for the first time, shown to be a target of RNA silencing, inducing the production in planta of specific small interfering RNAs, the effectors of silencing. Subsequently, using a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction assay and Northern blot analysis, the ability of all proteins encoded by CLCuMV and CLCuMB were assessed for their ability to suppress RNAi and the relative strengths of their suppression activity were compared. The analysis showed that the V2, C2, C4, and βC1 proteins exhibited suppressor activity, with the V2 showing the strongest activity. In addition, V2, C4, and βC1 were examined for their ability to bind RNA and shown to have distinct specificities. Although each of these proteins has, for other begomoviruses or betasatellites, been previously shown to have suppressor activity, this is the first time all proteins encoded by a geminiviruses (or begomovirus-betasatellite complex) have been examined and also the first for which four separate suppressors have been identified.     

Physical Characterization of Plasmid pMQV10 from a Steroid Biotransforming Strain of Micrococcus

The presence of a single plasmid 8.5 kb in size has been demonstrated in a cholesterol biotransforming strain of Micrococcus. A detailed physical map of the plasmid has been constructed using various restriction enzymes. Streptomycin resistance has been localized on a 1.8-kb fragment of pMQV10.     

Pridentigenin E,a triterpenoid sapogenin from Primula denticulata

The triterpenoid sapogenin pridentigenin E, isolated from Primula denticulata, has been identified as dihydrocyclamiretin D.     

Growth and survival of protozoa isolated from a tannery effluent

Industrial effluent from a tannery was used for the growth of algae in a medium containing various inorganic salts. Growth of algal cells became visible after 7 d. Two species of protozoa were observed to proliferate in the algal culture containing no organic supplement in the medium. The culture was kept bacteria-free by the use of antibiotics and was perpetuated for at least 150 d with no decline in the protozoan population. Efficient growth of protozoa in a culture of algae elucidated new modes of nutrition in protozoa. Cr(VI) was added to the medium to check the resistance of algae and protozoa against this heavy metal. Protozoa showed different degrees of resistance. The results indicate the importance of algae and protozoa in the process of bioremediation.     

Solid-phase Parallel Synthesis of 4-β-D-Ribofuranosylpyrazolo[4,3-d]pyrimidine Nucleosides

The synthesis of pyrazolo[4,3-d]pyrimidine nucleoside library using solid-phase parallel synthesis methodology is described. Glycosylation of the trimethylsilyl (TMS) derivative of 1- and 2-(methyl)-1H and 2H-pyrazolo[4,3-d]pyrimidine-5,7-(4H,6H)-dione (5) with 1-O-acetyl-2,3,5-tri-O-benzoyl-D-ribofuranose in the presence of TMS triflate provided two novel protected nucleosides 6 and 7. The structures of 6 and 7 were assigned by 1H and 2D NMR experiments. Nucleosides 6 and 7 were then transformed to the key intermediates 12 and 15 respectively. Reaction of 12 and 15 with MMTCl resin in the presence of 2,6-lutidine afforded the necessary scaffolds B and C. Different amines (96) were introduced selectively by nucleophilic substitution on scaffolds B and C using solid-phase parallel semi-automated synthesizer. Cleavage of the products from the solid support with 30% HFIP in a parallel fashion yielded nucleoside libraries simultaneously, and they were analyzed and characterized by high-throughput LC-MS.     

Comparative Molecular Docking Studies with ABCC1 and Aquaporin 9 in the Arsenite Complex Efflux

Arsenic is the most toxic metalloid present in the natural environment in both organic and inorganic arsenic forms. Inorganic arsenic is often more hazardous than the organic form. Arsenite and arsenate compounds are the major inorganic forms which are toxic causing severe human health dysfunction including cancer. Excretion of arsenic from the system is found elusive. Therefore, it is of interest to screen channel proteins with the arsenic complex in the different combination of arsenic, GSH (glutathione) and arsenic, selenium using docking methods. The mode of arsenic removal. The complex structure revealed the mode of arsenic binding efficiency with the receptor aquaporine 9 and ABCC1 channel protein. This provides insights to understand the mechanism of arsenic efflux. These inferences find application in the design, identification and development of novel nutracetucal or any other formulation useful in the balance of arsenic efflux.