Synthesis and evaluation of conformationally constrained peptide analogues as the Src SH3 domain binding ligands

Src kinase activity is regulated by the interaction of SH3 domain with protein sequences that are rich in proline residues. Identification of more potent SH3 domain binding ligands that can regulate Src kinase activity is a subject of major interest. Conformationally constrained peptides have been previously used for improving the binding potency of the Src SH2 domain binding peptide ligands and peptide substrates of the substrate-binding site of Src. A series of peptide analogues of Ac-VSLARRPLPPLP (1, Ac-VSL12, K_d = 0.34 μM) were synthesized by introducing conformational constraints to improve the binding affinity towards the Src SH3 domain. Peptides synthesized through cyclization between N-terminal to C-terminal [VSLARRPLPPLP] or N-terminal to side chain flanking residues (i.e., [^βAVS]LARRPLPPLP and [VSLE]RRPLPPLP) exhibited at least 6.4-fold less binding affinity (K_d = 2.19–4.85 μM) when compared to 1. The data suggest upon N-terminal cyclization with C-terminal or flanking residues, the interactions of the amino acids in the core RPLPPLP reduce significantly with the residues within the Src SH3 domain. Conformationally constrained peptide V[SLARRPLPPLP] (5) was synthesized through cyclization of C-terminal to the serine side chain and displayed a comparable binding affinity (K_d = 0.35 μM) towards the Src SH3 domain versus that of 1. Thus, this template may be used to optimize and generate more potent analogues with higher stability.     

Water-splitting manganese complex controls light-induced redox changes of cytochrome <Emphasis Type="Italic">b</Emphasis><Subscript>559</Subscript> in Photosystem II

The effect of water-splitting Mn complex on light-induced redox changes of cytochrome b ₅₅₉ (cyt b ₅₅₉) was studied in spinach photosystem II (PSII) membranes. Photoreduction of the heme iron in the intact PSII membranes was completely suppressed by DCMU, whereas photoreduction and photooxidation of the heme iron in the Mn-depleted PSII membranes were unaffected by DCMU. Interesingly, photoreduction and photooxidation of the heme iron in the Mn-depleted PSII membranes were completely diminished by exogenous superoxide dismutase (SOD), whereas no effect of SOD on photoreduction of the heme iron was observed in the intact PSII membranes. The current work shows that the light-induced redox changes of cyt b ₅₅₉ proceed via a different mechanism in the both types of PSII membranes. In the intact PSII membranes, photoreduction of the heme iron is mediated by plastoquinol. However, in the Mn-depleted PSII membranes, photoreduction and photooxidation of the heme iron are mediated by superoxide anion radical formed in PSII.     

Cloning and characterization of a ribitol dehydrogenase from Zymomonas mobilis

Ribitol dehydrogenase (RDH) catalyzes the conversion of ribitol to d-ribulose. A novel RDH gene was cloned from Zymomonas mobilis subsp. mobilis ZM4 and overexpressed in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3). DNA sequence analysis revealed an open reading frame of 795 bp, capable of encoding a polypeptide of 266 amino acid residues with a calculated molecular mass of 28,426 Da. The gene was overexpressed in E. coli BL21(DE3) and the protein was purified as an active soluble form using glutathione S-transferase affinity chromatography. The molecular mass of the purified enzyme was estimated to be ∼28 kDa by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel and ∼58 KDa with gel filtration chromatography, suggesting that the enzyme is a homodimer. The enzyme had an optimal pH and temperature of 9.5 and 65°C, respectively. Unlike previously characterized RDHs, Z. mobilis RDH (ZmRDH) showed an unusual dual coenzyme specificity, with a k _cat of 4.83 s⁻¹ for NADH (k _cat/K _m = 27.3 s⁻¹ mM⁻¹) and k _cat of 2.79 s⁻¹ for NADPH (k _cat/K _m = 10.8 s⁻¹ mM⁻¹). Homology modeling and docking studies of NAD⁺ and NADP⁺ into the active site of ZmRDH shed light on the dual coenzyme specificity of ZmRDH.     

Synthesis and in vitro antimicrobial studies of some new 3-[phenyldiazenyl] benzaldehyde N-phenyl thiosemicarbazones

The increasing clinical importance of drug resistant microbial pathogens has lent additional urgency to microbiological research and new antimicrobial compound development. For this purpose, a new series of 3-[phenyldiazenyl] benzaldehyde N-phenylthiosemicarbazones were synthesized and evaluated for antifungal and antibacterial activity. The reaction of 2-hydroxy-5-[phenyldiazenyl] benzaldehyde (I) with N-phenylhydrazinecarbothioamide (II) were carried out in DMF. The antimicrobial activity of the synthesized target compounds (III) were evaluated by screening on different human pathogens using the disc diffusion assay. All the compounds exhibited considerable inhibition against the bacteria and fungi tested.     

Development of Triticum turgidum subsp. durum - Aegilops longissima amphiploids with high iron and zinc content through unreduced gamete formation in F1 hybrids

Four different interspecific hybrids involving three different accessions of Aegilops longissima Schweinf. & Muschl. with high grain iron and zinc content and three Triticum turgidum L. subsp. durum (Desf.) Husn. cultivars with low micronutrient content were made for durum wheat biofortification and investigated for chromosome pairing, fertility, putative amphiploidy, and micronutrient content. The chromosome pairing in the 21-chromosome F1 hybrids (ABSl) consisted of 0-6 rod bivalents and occasionally 1 trivalent. All the F1 hybrids, however, unexpectedly showed partial but variable fertility. The detailed meiotic investigation indicated the simultaneous occurrence of two types of aberrant meiotic divisions, namely first-division restitution and single-division meiosis, leading to regular dyads and unreduced gamete formation and fertility. The F2 seeds, being putative amphiploids (AABBSlSl), had nearly double the chromosome number (40-42) and regular meiosis and fertility. The F1 hybrids were intermediate between the two parents for different morphological traits. The putative amphiploids with bold seed size had higher grain ash content and ash iron and zinc content than durum wheat cultivars, suggesting that Ae. longissima possesses a better genetic system(s) for uptake and seed sequestration of iron and zinc, which could be transferred to elite durum and bread wheat cultivars and exploited.     

Evaluation of metal mobility/immobility in fly ash induced by bacterial strains isolated from the rhizospheric zone of Typha latifolia growing on fly ash dumps

In this investigation, 11 bacterial strains were isolated from the rhizospheric zone of Typha latifolia. All the strains were aerobic, showed positive result with indole production and were able to grow in MacConkey agar. However, four strains were gram positive and others gram negative. These strains were inoculated separately in the fly ash with additional source of carbon to test their ability to increase the bioavailability or immobilization of toxic metals like Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd and Mn. It was observed that most of the bacterial strains either enhanced the mobility of Zn, Fe and Mn or immobilized Cu and Cd. However, there were a few exceptions. For example, in contrast to other bacterial strains, NBRFT6 enhanced immobility of Zn and Fe and NBRFT2 of Mn. On the other hand, in place of immobility induced by most of the bacterial strains, NBRFT8 and NBRFT9 enhanced bioavailability of Cu. However, in case of Cd, all the strains without any exception immobilized this metal. The results also indicated that the mobility/immobility of trace metals from the exchangeable fractions was the specific function of bacterial strains depending upon the several edaphic and environmental factors. Based on the extractability of metals from fly ash, a consortium of high performer bacterial strains will be further used to enhance the phytoextraction of metals from fly ash by metal accumulating plants. On the other hand, bacterial strains responsible for immobilization of metals may be used for arresting their leaching to water bodies.     

Reduction in post-prandial hyperglycemic excursion through alpha-glucosidase inhibition by beta-acetamido carbonyl compounds

A series of β-acetamido carbonyl compounds (S₁–S₇) were prepared using Dakin-West reaction from different substituted aldehyde and acetophenone in the presence of lanthanum triflate as a solid catalyst. All the compounds were tested for their α-glucosidase inhibitory potential against rat intestinal α-glucosidase. The most potent rat intestinal α-glucosidase inhibitors S₅ and S₇ were tested for their antihyperglycemic activity following carbohydrate tolerance test. Both the compounds displayed antihyperglycemic activity equivalent to the standard drug acarbose.     

Improved electrostatic properties using combined Mulliken and hybridization-displaced charges for radicals

Effects of explicit consideration of charges displaced from atomic sites due to atomic orbital hybridization called hybridization-displaced charges (HDC) on dipole moments and surface molecular electrostatic potentials of certain radicals and their complexes with closed-shell molecules have been studied. HDC were computed for several radicals and their complexes at the B3LYP/6–31G** level of theory. At this level, HDC consist of three point charges associated with hydrogen atoms and seven point charges associated with heavy atoms belonging to the second row of the periodic table. HDC are so calculated that the contribution of each atom to the component of molecular dipole moment arising due to atomic orbital hybridization is preserved. It is found that dipole moments and electrostatic potentials of the systems studied here can be obtained with a significantly improved accuracy using a combination of Mulliken charges and HDC over that obtained by Mulliken charges only. Figure Surface MEP map of H₂O-HO· radical complex obtained using Mulliken charges combined with HDC