Functional characterization of PorB class II porin from Neisseria meningitidis using a tethered bilayer lipid membrane

PorB class II from Neisseria meningitidis is a pore-forming, outer-membrane protein that can translocate to the host-cell membrane during Neisserial infections. This report describes development of tethered bilayer lipid membrane (tBLM) system to measure PorB conductance properties. The tBLM was fabricated by depositing a self-assembled monolayer of 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphothioethanol (DPPTE) tethering lipid on a gold electrode and then using 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC) liposomes to deposit the upper tBLM leaflet. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and cyclic voltammetry (CV) were used to monitor tBLM formation and subsequent PorB incorporation. The highly insulating tBLM exhibited a membrane resistance and capacitance of 2.5MOmegacm(2) and 0.7 microF/cm(2), respectively. PorB was incorporated into the tBLM in an active conformation, as evidenced by its mediation of ion passage and the decrease in membrane impedance. After PorB incorporation, the membrane resistance decreased to 0.6MOmegacm(2). As expected, the PorB channel was found to be non-selective, allowing the transport of both cations and anions. Cyclic voltammetry indicated that ferricyanide ions can also pass through the pores. The PorB-containing biomimetic interface developed in this study could potentially be used to screen for compounds that modulate PorB activity.     

Synthesis, biochemical evaluation and rationalisation of the inhibitory activity of a range of phenyl alkyl imidazole-based compounds as potent inhibitors of the enzyme complex 17alpha-hydroxylase/17,20-lyase (P450(17alpha))

The cytochrome P450 enzyme, 17alpha-hydroxylase/17,20-lyase (P450(17alpha)), is a potential target in hormone-dependent cancers. We report the synthesis, biochemical evaluation and rationalisation of the inhibitory activity of a number of azole-based compounds as inhibitors of the two components of P450(17alpha), i.e., 17alpha-hydroxylase (17alpha-OHase) and 17,20-lyase (lyase). The results suggest that the imidazole-based compounds are highly potent inhibitors of both components, with N-7-phenyl heptyl imidazole (21) (IC(50)=0.32 microM against 17alpha-OHase and IC(50)=0.10 microM against lyase) and N-8-phenyl octyl imidazole (23) (IC(50)=0.25 microM against 17alpha-OHase and IC(50)=0.21 microM against lyase) being the two most potent compounds within the current study, in comparison to ketoconazole (KTZ) (IC(50)=3.76 microM against 17alpha-OHase and IC(50)=1.66 microM against lyase). Furthermore, consideration of the inhibitory activity against the two components show that the compounds tested are less potent towards the 17alpha-OHase component, a desirable property in the development of novel inhibitors of P450(17alpha). Structure-activity relationship determination of the range of compounds synthesised suggests that logP (log of the partition coefficient) is a key physicochemical factor in determining the overall inhibitory activity. In an effort to determine the viability of these compounds becoming potential drug candidates as well as to show specificity of these compounds, we undertook the biochemical evaluation of the synthesised compounds against two isozymes of 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase [namely type 1 (17beta-HSD1) and type 3 (17beta-HSD3)] and 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3beta-HSD). Consideration of the inhibitory activity possessed by the compounds considered within the current study against 3beta-HSD, 17beta-HSD1 and 17beta-HSD3 shows that there is no clear structure-activity relationship and that the compounds appear to possess similar inhibitory activity against both 3beta-HSD and 17beta-HSD3 whilst against 17beta-HSD1, the compounds appear to possess poor inhibitory activity at [I]=100 microM. Indeed, two of the most potent inhibitors of P450(17alpha), (compounds 21 and 23), were found to possess relatively good levels of inhibition against the three enzymes-compound 21 was found to possess approximately 32%, approximately 21% and approximately 37% inhibition whilst compound 23 was found to possess approximately 38%, approximately 30% and approximately 28% inhibition against 3beta-HSD, 17beta-HSD1 and 17beta-HSD3 respectively. We therefore concluded that the azole-based compounds synthesised within the current study are not suitable for further consideration as potential drug candidates due to their lack of specificity.     

Exploring electron transfer between heme proteins of cytochrome C super family in biosensors: a molecular mechanics study

Electron transfer between heme proteins with mediators plays an important role in the fabrication of sensitive bio-nano sensors. Heme protein Cytochrome c (pdb code - 1HRC) was chosen as the mediator with Cytochrome c' (pdb code - 1A7V) as the probe protein for our investigation on the electron transfer process. We used the software GRAMM, HEX, and MACRODOX to build the protein complex with further evaluation by GROMACS potential. After molecular mechanics refinement by GROMACS the protein complexes were evaluated in terms of the following criteria: Hydrophobic packing, proximity of the hemes, hydrogen bonds, enthalpy and entropy of binding. The free energy was calculated for each complex to derive the feasible stable models. The combined electron transport of the chosen geometric models was evaluated to choose the possible models. Electrostatic potential was calculated using the program APBS around the heme in the presence and absence of other proteins. From our studies, we derived multiple feasible models and possible electronic path. These studies helped us to understand the relay mechanism between the two proteins and to design mutant proteins by rational site directed mutagenesis to enhance the redox potential and thereby improving the signal to noise ratio in amperometric bionano sensors.     

Lung delivery of nanoliposomal salbutamol sulfate dry powder inhalation for facilitated asthma therapy

Abstract

The motive behind present work was to discover a solution for overcoming the problems allied with a deprived oral bioavailability of salbutamol sulfate (SS) due to its first pass hepatic metabolism, shorter half-life, and systemic toxicity at high doses. Pulmonary delivery provides an alternative route of administration to avoid hepatic metabolism of SS, moreover facilitated diffusion and prolonged retention can be achieved by incorporation into liposomes. Liposomes were prepared by thin film hydration technique using 3² full factorial design and formulation was optimized based on the vesicle size and percent drug entrapment (PDE) of liposomes. Optimized liposomal formulation exhibited an average size of about 167.2?±?0.170?nm, with 80.68?±?0.74% drug entrapment, and 9.74?±?1.10?mV zeta potential. The liposomal dispersion was then spray dried and further characterized for in-vitro aerosol performance using Andersen Cascade Impactor. Optimized liposomal formulation revealed prolonged in-vitro drug release of more than 90% up to 14?h following Higuchi’s controlled release model. Thus, the proposed new-fangled liposomal formulation would be a propitious alternative to conventional therapy for efficient and methodical treatment of asthma and alike respiratory ailments.     

Induction of apoptosis in human cancer cells by a Bacillus lipopeptide bacillomycin D

A newly isolated and characterized Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain fiply 3A has been found to produce an extracellular cyclic lipopeptide which structurally resembled bacillomycin D, earlier reported to be produced by Bacillus subtilis. The lipopeptide showed a dose dependent killing of three different human cancer cell lines viz. A549 (alveolar adenocarcinoma), A498 (renal carcinoma) and HCT-15 (colon adenocarcinoma), while not affecting the normal cell line L-132 (pulmonary epithelial cells) when analyzed using MTT assay and FACS analysis. Staining the cells with H₂-DCFDA showed an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation in the lipopeptide treated cell population. Hoechst 33342 staining of nuclei further indicated apoptosis as a major mechanism of cell death in lipopeptide treated cells and the typical symptoms of apoptosis including cell shrinkage, nuclear condensation and fragmentation of nuclei were observed. Lipopeptide treatment induced extensive DNA damage in the treated cells, which was indicated by a TUNEL assay. Flow cytometric analysis exhibited lipopeptide concentration dependent apoptosis which was further confirmed during clonogenic assay of the lipopeptide treated cells.     

Insights from the computational analysis of CD271 glycation in mescenchymal stem cells in diabetes mellitus as a predisposition to latent tuberculosis

Diabetes mellitus is considered as a predisposition factor for active tuberculosis and is known to activate the latent form of tuberculosis. However, the causative association of latent tuberculosis with diabetes is not conclusively established. Therefore, it is of interest to relate their predisposition. We describe the glycation pattern of mescenchymal stem cell surface markers as CD271+/CD45-mescenchymal stem cell is known to be associated with latent tuberculosis. We show that the lysine residues important for function of CD271 death domain are predicted to be and glycated. These observations help to discuss the role of CD271 and glycation to modulate the genesis of latent tuberculosis in chronic diabetic mellitus.     

Proteome map of the neural complex of the tunicate Ciona intestinalis,the closest living relative to vertebrates

Ciona intestinalis (the common sea squirt) is the closest living chordate relative to vertebrates with cosmopolitan presence worldwide. It has a relatively simple nervous system and development, making it a widely studied alternative model system in neuroscience and developmental biology. The use of Ciona as a model organism has increased significantly after the draft genome was published. In this study, we describe the first proteome map of the neural complex of C. intestinalis. A total of 544 proteins were identified based on 1DE and 2DE FTMS/ITMSMS analyses. Proteins were annotated against the Ciona database and analyzed to predict their molecular functions, roles in biological processes, and position in constructed network pathways. The identified Ciona neural complex proteome was found to map onto vertebrate nervous system pathways, including cytoskeleton remodeling neurofilaments, cell adhesion through the histamine receptor signaling pathway, γ‐aminobutyric acid‐A receptor life cycle neurophysiological process, glycolysis, and amino acid metabolism. The proteome map of the Ciona neural complex is the first step toward a better understanding of several important processes, including the evolution and regeneration capacity of the Ciona nervous system.