Purification,characterization and cloning of an endo-1,4-B-glucanase fromRuminococcus sp.

Endoglucanase ofRuminococcus sp. is composed of seven active protein components when chromatographed on an ion exchange column (Q-Sepharose). Component I (endoglucanase A) did not bind to the column and was purified to homogeneity by molecular sieve chromatography. It had a mol. wt. of 22 000. Component II was fractionated into two active protein peaks (endoglucanase B and C) having mol. wt. of 225 000 and 10 000. The endoglucanase A had high affinity for CMC (Km 8 mg/ml). The temperature optimum of all three endoglucanase was between 40–45°C. The gene encoding for endolucanase activity was cloned inE. coli HB101 with pBR322. A 4.3 kilobaseBamH1 fragment encoding endoglucanase was hybridized toRuminococcus chromosomal DNA.     

Using electron balances and molecular techniques to assess trichoroethene-induced shifts to a dechlorinating microbial community

This study demonstrated the utility in correlating performance and community structure of a trichloroethene (TCE)-dechlorinating microbial consortium; specifically dechlorinators, fermenters, homoacetogens, and methanogens. Two complementary approaches were applied: predicting trends in the microbial community structure based on an electron balance analysis and experimentally assessing the community structure via pyrosequencing and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Fill-and-draw reactors inoculated with the DehaloR^2 consortium were operated at five TCE-pulsing rates between 14 and 168 μmol/10-day-SRT, amended with TCE every 2 days to give peak concentrations between 0.047 and 0.56 mM (6-74 ppm) and supplied lactate and methanol as sources of e(-) donor and carbon. The complementary approaches demonstrated the same trends: increasing abundance of Dehalococcoides and Geobacter and decreasing abundance of Firmicutes with increasing TCE pulsing rate, except for the highest pulsing rate. Based on qPCR, the abundance of Geobacter and Dehalococcoides decreased for the highest TCE pulsing rate, and pyrosequencing showed this same trend for the latter. This deviation suggested decoupling of Dehalococcoides growth from dechlorination. At pseudo steady-state, methanogenesis was minimal for all TCE pulsing rates. Pyrosequencing and qPCR showed suppression of the homoacetogenic genera Acetobacterium at the two highest pulsing rates, and it was corroborated by a decreased production of acetate from lactate fermentation and increased propionate production. Suppression of Acetobacterium, which can provide growth factors to Dehalococcoides, may have contributed to the decoupling for the highest TCE-pulsing rate.     

Endophytic aquatic hyphomycetes in roots of riparian tree species of two Western Ghat streams

Bubble chamber incubation of surface sterilized segments of root bark and xylem of 10 riparian tree species of the Sampaje (475–500 m asl) and V?Badaga (765–800 m asl) stream reaches of the Western Ghats yielded 20 species of endophytic aquatic hyphomycetes. Anguillospora crassa, A. longissima and Cylindrocarpon sp. were among the top five species in streams. A two-way ANOVA showed significantly higher species richness and counts of conidium in the tree species of Sampaje compared to V?Badaga (p < 0.001), while two variables were not significantly different between bark and xylem. The total number of species recovered was slightly higher in bark than in xylem (14–19 vs. 13–17 spp.) and the average species richness between tissues did not differ significantly except for one tree species (Madhuca neriifolia: p < 0.05). The release of conidia from bark of only three tree species was significantly higher than from xylem (M. neriifolia and Canarium strictum: p < 0.05; Vateria indica: p < 0.01). Sørensen’s similarity index for bark as well as xylem between tree species was higher in Sampaje stream than in V?Badaga stream (0.45–0.78 vs. 0.25–0.61). The diversity of aquatic hyphomycetes in bark and xylem was higher in the trees of Sampaje than V?Badaga (3.1–3.3 vs. 2.7). A cluster analysis of aquatic hyphomycetes in bark and xylem resulted in two groups coinciding with the two streams. The results of this study revealed that assemblage and diversity of endophytic aquatic hyphomycetes in riparian tree roots are high in the mid-altitude Sampaje stream as previously documented for saprotrophic aquatic hyphomycetes.     

Comparative modeling of the phosphatase and kinase domains of protein tyrosine phosphatase and insulin receptor kinase from Drosophila melanogaster (DPTP61fm), and a computational study of their mutual interactions.

The components and functions of the insulin receptor kinase signaling pathway have been conserved in a broad range of Metazoa ranging from mammals to insects and nematodes. There is a high degree of sequence homology and functional similarity between the human insulin receptor kinase (IRK) and the drosophila (Drosophila melanogaster) form (DIRK) of this enzyme. Similarly, a high degree of homology exists between human protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) (which directly regulates IRK) and its drosophila counterpart DPTP61F (DPTP). However, genetic and biochemical studies have yet to demonstrate that DPTP61F acts in the DIRK pathway. Comparative structural modeling techniques using the known structures of human IRK and PTP1B as templates have yielded structures for the drosophila enzymes. The derived structures confirm that there is a high level of structural conservation at the tertiary level. Association of the DIRK and DPTP enzymes with each other was then investigated with a view to ascertaining whether DIRK might be a substrate of the DPTP. Evaluation of the interaction surfaces, including hydrophobic patch, shape, hydrogen bonding, and electrostatic compatibility, strongly suggested that the drosophila insulin receptor is a substrate of the DPTP. The interaction surfaces of the human and drosophila enzymes are structurally similar, although changes in critical residues modify possible electrostatic and hydrogen-bonding interactions. This suggests that in the mixed systems, DPTP-IRK or PTP1B-DIRK, the kinase domain will be a comparatively poor substrate for phosphatase activity when compared with the native systems.     

Evolution of Stronger SARS-CoV-2 Variants as Revealed Through the Lens of Molecular Dynamics Simulations

The Protein Journal - Using molecular dynamics simulations, the protein–protein interactions of the receptor-binding domain of the wild-type and seven variants of the severe acute respiratory...     

Synthesis and anti-HIV activity of alkylated quinoline 2,4-diols

Naturally occurring quinolone alkaloids, buchapine (1) and compound 2 were synthesized as reported in literature and evaluated for anti-HIV potential in human CD4+ T cell line CEM-GFP, infected with HIV-1_NL4.3 virus by p24 antigen capture ELISA assay. The compounds 1 and 2 showed potent inhibitory activity with IC₅₀ value of 2.99 and 3.80 μM, respectively. Further, 45 alkylated derivatives of quinoline 2,4-diol were synthesized and tested for anti-HIV potential in human CD4+ T cell line CEM-GFP. Among these, 13 derivatives have shown more than 60% inhibition. We have identified three most potent inhibitors 6, 9 and 23; compound 6 was found to be more potent than lead molecule 1 with IC₅₀ value of 2.35 μM and had better therapeutic index (26.64) as compared to AZT (23.07). Five derivatives 7, 19a, 19d, 21 and 24 have displayed good noticeable anti-HIV activity. All active compounds showed higher CC₅₀ values which indicate that they have better therapeutic indices.