Perturbed Synaptosomal Calcium Homeostasis and Behavioral Deficits Following Carbofuran Exposure: Neuroprotection by <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-Acetylcysteine

The protective effects of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on carbofuran-induced alterations in calcium homeostasis and neurobehavioral functions were investigated in rats. Rats were exposed to carbofuran at a dose of 1 mg/kg body weight, orally for a period of 28 days. A significant decrease in Ca²⁺ATPase activity was observed following carbofuran exposure with a concomitant increase in K⁺-induced ⁴⁵Ca²⁺ uptake through voltage operated calcium channels. This was accompanied with a marked accumulation of intracellular free calcium in synaptosomes. The increase in intracellular calcium levels were associated with an increased lipid peroxidation and decreased glutathione content in carbofuran exposed animals. NAC administration (200 mg/kg body weight, orally) to the carbofuran exposed animals had a beneficial effect on carbofuran-induced alterations in calcium homeostasis and resulted in repletion in glutathione levels and resulted in lowering the extent of lipid peroxidation. Marked impairment in the motor functions were seen following carbofuran exposure, which were evident by the significant decrease in the locomotor activity and reduction in the retention time of the rats on rotating rods. Cognitive deficits were also seen as indicated by the significant decrease in active and passive avoidance response. NAC treatment, on the other hand, protected the animals against carbofuran-induced neurobehavioral deficits. The results support the hypothesis that carbofuran exerts its toxic effects by disrupting calcium homeostasis, which may have serious consequences on neuronal functioning, and clearly show the potential beneficial effects of N-acetylcysteine on carbofuran induced alterations in synaptosomal calcium homeostasis.     

ATGs: Scaffolds for MAPK/ERK signaling

Autophagy maintains cellular homeostasis by sequestering unwanted material within autophagosomes and transferring these to lysosomes for degradation. Several signaling cascades activate or suppress autophagy in response to diverse environmental cues. However, whether autophagic structures per se regulate cell signaling was not known. The MAPK/ERK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) pathway controls several functions in the cell, and studies have identified the importance of scaffold proteins in modulating MAPK signaling through the spatial coordination of the RAF1-MAP2K/MEK-MAPK cascade. Growth factors increase the nuclear localization and activity of MAPK, and since the nucleus has been reported to contain LC3, an autophagy-related protein, we asked whether autophagic structures could serve as cytosolic and nuclear scaffolds for growth factor-induced MAPK phosphorylation.     

Draft Genome Comparison of Representatives of the Three Dominant Genotype Groups of Dairy Bacillus licheniformis Strains

The spore-forming bacterium Bacillus licheniformis is a common contaminant of milk and milk products. Strains of this species isolated from dairy products can be differentiated into three major groups, namely, G, F1, and F2, using random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis; however, little is known about the genomic differences between these groups and the identity of the fragments that make up their RAPD profiles. In this work we obtained high-quality draft genomes of representative strains from each of the three RAPD groups (designated strain G-1, strain F1-1, and strain F2-1) and compared them to each other and to B. licheniformis ATCC 14580 and Bacillus subtilis 168. Whole-genome comparison and multilocus sequence typing revealed that strain G-1 contains significant sequence variability and belongs to a lineage distinct from the group F strains. Strain G-1 was found to contain genes coding for a type I restriction modification system, urease production, and bacitracin synthesis, as well as the 8-kbp plasmid pFL7, and these genes were not present in strains F1-1 and F2-1. In agreement with this, all isolates of group G, but no group F isolates, were found to possess urease activity and antimicrobial activity against Micrococcus. Identification of RAPD band sequences revealed that differences in the RAPD profiles were due to differences in gene lengths, 3′ ends of predicted primer binding sites, or gene presence or absence. This work provides a greater understanding of the phylogenetic and phenotypic differences observed within the B. licheniformis species.     

tRNAs: Cellular barcodes for amino acids

The role of tRNA in translating the genetic code has received considerable attention over the last 50 years, and we now know in great detail how particular amino acids are specifically selected and brought to the ribosome in response to the corresponding mRNA codon. Over the same period, it has also become increasingly clear that the ribosome is not the only destination to which tRNAs deliver amino acids, with processes ranging from lipid modification to antibiotic biosynthesis all using aminoacyl-tRNAs as substrates. Here we review examples of alternative functions for tRNA beyond translation, which together suggest that the role of tRNA is to deliver amino acids for a variety of processes that includes, but is not limited to, protein synthesis.     

D-Shaped Photonic Crystal Fiber–Based Surface Plasmon Resonance Biosensors with Spatially Distributed Bimetallic Layers

This paper deals with the development and analysis of D-Shaped photonic crystal fiber (PCF) biosensors using surface plasmon resonance (SPR). A thin metal layer is deposited on the outer flat surface of the PCF that behaves as the plasmonic material. Analyte is filled in the outermost peripheral region of metal layer. Finite element method (FEM) with perfectly matched layer (PML) is applied to analyze the proposed sensors. Mode analysis is performed on the proposed structures to evaluate various parameters of SPR-based PCF sensors. Three D-shaped PCF structures have been proposed with silver (Ag), gold (Au) and two-half layers of both (Ag-Au) on its flat surface. The first two structures are analyzed to the range of wavelength where the SPR will occur to facilitate understanding of the third structure. It is observed that the structures with one metal have only one sensitive plasmonic peak whereas the structure with two metal layers has two sensitive plasmonic peaks, making it suitable candidate for two-molecule sensing present in a sample analyte. Good sensitivities and resolutions are achieved for both plasmonic peaks.

     

Thermally stable Sm3+-doped alkali zinc alumino borosilicate (AZABS) glass for warm white light generation and w-LED applications

Samarium ion (Sm³⁺)-doped alkali zinc alumino borosilicate (AZABS) glass was synthesized via quick melt quench technique. Various spectroscopic studies like optical absorption, photoluminescence (PL) emission, PL excitation, temperature-dependent PL and PL decay kinetics were performed on the as prepared glass system. Under 402 nm excitation, three sharp bands at wavelengths 563, 599 and 645 nm corresponding to transitions ⁴G_5/2 → ⁶H_5/2, ⁶H_7/2 and ⁶H_9/2, respectively, can be seen in the PL emission spectra. The 0.25 mol% Sm³⁺ glass has the highest intensity for these emissions. The lanthanide interaction in the glass matrix is dipole–dipole in nature as was proven from Dexter's analysis. The direct bandgap of 0.25 mol% Sm³⁺-doped AZABS glass was calculated to be 2.88 eV. The lifetimes of the as prepared glass range from 1.93 ms for the lowest concentration of Sm³⁺ to 0.75 ms for the highest. From temperature dependent PL studies, the activation energy for 0.25 mol% Sm³⁺-doped AZABS glass was found to be 0.19 eV which shows high thermal stability of this glass. We propose to utilize these Sm³⁺-doped AZABS glasses for white-light emitting diodes (w-LEDs) and solid-state lighting (SSL) applications.     

Optimizing secretory expression of recombinant human interferon gamma from Kluyveromyces lactis

Biosimilar/biotherapeutic production is becoming a major area of focus for a big chunk of biotechnology industry. Easy licensing and already approved status for clinical use have given it a boost. In the present study, recombinant human interferon gamma (IFNG) was expressed for the first time in Kluyveromyces lactis expression system and its expression was optimized by varying growth parameters and carbon source concentration with the aim of increasing recombinant protein production level. Human IFNG gene was cloned in the genomic DNA of K. lactis by homologous recombination and under unoptimized conditions in shake flask, IFNγ protein was secreted in the fermentation medium at a level of 175?µg/L quantified by ELISA assay. After the optimization of expression conditions using one-variable-at-a-time technique, expression level was enhanced by 2.2-folds. Substrate inhibition studies revealed that up to 80?g/L of lactose is well tolerated by K. lactis cells for its growth but more than 80?g/L of lactose causes remarkable reduction in biomass production.