The Deuterator: software for the determination of backbone amide deuterium levels from H/D exchange MS data

Background  

The combination of mass spectrometry and solution phase amide hydrogen/deuterium exchange (H/D exchange) experiments is an effective method for characterizing protein dynamics, and protein-protein or protein-ligand interactions. Despite methodological advancements and improvements in instrumentation and automation, data analysis and display remains a tedious process. The factors that contribute to this bottleneck are the large number of data points produced in a typical experiment, each requiring manual curation and validation, and then calculation of the level of backbone amide exchange. Tools have become available that address some of these issues, but lack sufficient integration, functionality, and accessibility required to address the needs of the H/D exchange community. To date there is no software for the analysis of H/D exchange data that comprehensively addresses these issues.     

Microtubule assembly dynamics: an attractive target for anticancer drugs

Microtubules, composed of alphabeta tubulin dimers, are dynamic polymers of eukaryotic cells. They play important roles in various cellular functions including mitosis. Microtubules exhibit differential dynamic behaviors during different phases of the cell cycle. Inhibition of the microtubule assembly dynamics causes cell cycle arrest leading to apoptosis; thus, qualifying them as important drug targets for treating several diseases including cancer, neuronal, fungal, and parasitic diseases. Although several microtubule-targeted drugs are successfully being used in cancer chemotherapy, the development of resistance against these drugs and their inherent toxicities warrant the development of new agents with improved efficacy. Several antimicrotubule agents are currently being evaluated for their possible uses in cancer chemotherapy. Benomyl, griseofulvin, and sulfonamides have been used as antifungal and antibacterial drugs. Recent reports have shown that these drugs have potent antitumor potential. These agents are shown to inhibit proliferation of different types of tumor cells and induce apoptosis by targeting microtubule assembly dynamics. However, unlike vincas and taxanes, which inhibit cancer cell proliferation in nanomolar concentration range, these agents act in micromolar range and are considered to have limited toxicities. Here, we suggest that these drugs may have a significant use in cancer chemotherapy when used in combination with other anticancer drugs.     

豆科黄结属模式及其相关种名的考证

长期以来,Ｔermopsis lanceolata R.Br.被误认为是黄华属的模式。根据有关文献考证和国际植物命名法规,作者为认Ｔ.;lanceoltata是一个不合法名,黄华属的合法模式应为Ｔhermopsis Lupinoides(L.)Link.分布于东北亚,花具互生花的黄华长期被误定为Ｔ。lupinoides(L.)Link,应更正为Ｔhermopsis fabacea(Pall)DC.。     

秦渭玫瑰精油研究

采用ISO9842和GB11538-89对在陕西渭南栽培的大马士革玫瑰“卡赞勒克”精油(工业化蒸馏法提取产品)进行了分析,结果表明,精油产品各项指标均符合ISO 9842和保加利亚БДС653标准要求。证明引种国际香型(纯甜型)玫瑰品种在陕西渭南栽培是成功的,所用精油提取工艺是合理的。     

A web accessible resource for investigating cassava phenomics and genomics information: BIOGEN BASE

The goal of our research is to establish a unique portal to bring out the potential outcome of the research in the Casssava crop. The Biogen base for cassava clearly brings out the variations of different traits of the germplasms, maintained at the Tapioca and Castor Research Station, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University. Phenotypic and genotypic variations of the accessions are clearly depicted, for the users to browse and interpret the variations using the microsatellite markers. Database (BIOGEN BASE - CASSAVA) is designed using PHP and MySQL and is equipped with extensive search options. It is more user-friendly and made publicly available, to improve the research and development of cassava by making a wealth of genetics and genomics data available through open, common, and worldwide forum for all individuals interested in the field. AVAILABILITY: The database is available for free at http://www.tnaugenomics.com/biogenbase/casava.php.