Displaying publications 441 - 460 of 4087 in total

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  1. Role of Stem Cells in the Pathogenesis and Malignant Transformation of Oral Submucous Fibrosis
    Kizhakkoottu S, Ramani P, Tilakaratne WM
    Stem Cell Rev Rep, 2024 Aug;20(6):1512-1520.
    PMID: 38837114 DOI: 10.1007/s12015-024-10744-0
    BACKGROUND: Pathogenesis and malignant potential of Oral submucous fibrosis(OSMF) have always been a topic of interest among the researchers. Despite OSMF being a collagen metabolic disorder, the alterations occurring in the connective tissue stroma affects the atrophic surface epithelium in later stages and progresses to malignant phenotypes. The present review aims to summarize the role of stem cells in the pathogenesis and malignant transformation of oral submucous fibrosis.

    MATERIALS AND METHODS: A literature search was carried out using data banks like Medline and Embase, google scholar and manual method with no time frame, pertinent to the role of mucosal stem cells in OSMF and its malignisation. The relevant literature was reviewed, critically appraised by all the authors and compiled in this narrative review.

    RESULTS: Critical appraisal and evaluation of the data extracted from the selected articles were compiled in this review. The collated results highlighted the upregulation and downregulation of various stem cell markers during the progression and malignisation of OSMF were depicted in a descriptive and detail manner in the present review.

    CONCLUSION: We highlight the potential of mucosal stem cells in the regulation and malignisation of OSMF. However, future large-scale clinical studies will be needed to support whether manipulation of this stem cells at molecular level will be sufficient for the treatment and preventing the malignant transformation of OSMF.

    Matched MeSH terms: Proteins/genetics
  2. Fulltext Phylogenomics and the rise of the angiosperms
    Zuntini AR, Carruthers T, Maurin O, Bailey PC, Leempoel K, Brewer GE, et al.
    Nature, 2024 May;629(8013):843-850.
    PMID: 38658746 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07324-0
    Angiosperms are the cornerstone of most terrestrial ecosystems and human livelihoods1,2. A robust understanding of angiosperm evolution is required to explain their rise to ecological dominance. So far, the angiosperm tree of life has been determined primarily by means of analyses of the plastid genome3,4. Many studies have drawn on this foundational work, such as classification and first insights into angiosperm diversification since their Mesozoic origins5-7. However, the limited and biased sampling of both taxa and genomes undermines confidence in the tree and its implications. Here, we build the tree of life for almost 8,000 (about 60%) angiosperm genera using a standardized set of 353 nuclear genes8. This 15-fold increase in genus-level sampling relative to comparable nuclear studies9 provides a critical test of earlier results and brings notable change to key groups, especially in rosids, while substantiating many previously predicted relationships. Scaling this tree to time using 200 fossils, we discovered that early angiosperm evolution was characterized by high gene tree conflict and explosive diversification, giving rise to more than 80% of extant angiosperm orders. Steady diversification ensued through the remaining Mesozoic Era until rates resurged in the Cenozoic Era, concurrent with decreasing global temperatures and tightly linked with gene tree conflict. Taken together, our extensive sampling combined with advanced phylogenomic methods shows the deep history and full complexity in the evolution of a megadiverse clade.
    Matched MeSH terms: Nuclear Proteins/genetics
  3. New anticoagulant protein from medicinal leech
    Manuvera VA, Kharlampieva DD, Bobrovsky PA, Grafskaia EN, Brovina KA, Lazarev VN
    Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 2024 Feb 12;696:149473.
    PMID: 38241814 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2024.149473
    The saliva of the medicinal leech contains various anticoagulants. Some of them, such as hirudin, are well known. However, it is reasonable to believe that not all anticoagulant proteins from medicinal leech saliva have been identified. We previously performed a comprehensive study of the transcriptome, genome, and proteome of leech salivary gland cells, which led to the discovery of several previously unknown hypothetical proteins that may have anticoagulant properties. Subsequently, we obtained a series of recombinant proteins and investigated their impact on coagulation in in vitro assays. We identified a previously undescribed protein that exhibited a high ability to suppress coagulation. The His-tagged recombinant protein was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified using metal chelate chromatography. To determine its activity, commonly used coagulation methods were used: activated partial thromboplastin time, prothrombin time, and thrombin inhibition clotting assay. Clotting and chromogenic assays for factor Xa inhibition were performed to evaluate anti-Xa activity. We used recombinant hirudin as a control anticoagulant protein in all experiments. The new protein showed significantly greater inhibition of coagulation than hirudin at the same molar concentrations in the activated partial thrombin time assay. However, hirudin demonstrated better results in the direct thrombin inhibition test, although the tested protein also exhibited the ability to inhibit thrombin. The chromogenic analysis of factor Xa inhibition revealed no activity, whereas the clotting test for factor Xa showed the opposite result. Thus, a new powerful anticoagulant protein has been discovered in the medicinal leech. This protein is homologous to antistatin, with 28 % identical amino acid residues. The recombinant protein was expressed in E. coli. This protein is capable of directly inhibiting thrombin, and based on indirect evidence, other proteases of the blood coagulation cascade have been identified.
    Matched MeSH terms: Recombinant Proteins/metabolism
  4. Construction and characterization of recombinant single-chain variable fragment antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii MIC2 protein
    Hoe LN, Wan KL, Nathan S
    Parasitology, 2005 Dec;131(Pt 6):759-68.
    PMID: 16336729
    The protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii produces a family of microneme proteins that are thought to play diverse roles in aiding the parasite's intracellular existence. Among these, TgMIC2 has a putative function in parasite adhesion to the host cell to initiate the invasion process. The invasion process may be localized and inhibited by monoclonal antibodies against the protein(s) involved. Here we report on the construction of a phage-displayed single-chain variable fragment (scFv) library from mice immunized with whole T. gondii parasites. The library was subsequently panned against recombinant TgMIC2 (rpTgMIC2) and 2 different groups of antibody clones were obtained, based on fingerprinting and sequencing data. The expressed recombinant scFv antibody was able to recognize rpTgMIC2 in a Western blot detection experiment. These results show that the phage display technology allows quick and effective production of monoclonal antibodies against parasite antigens. By panning the scFv-displayed library, we should be able to obtain a plethora of multi-functional scFv antibodies towards T. gondii proteins.
    Matched MeSH terms: Membrane Proteins/biosynthesis; Membrane Proteins/immunology*; Membrane Proteins/isolation & purification; Recombinant Proteins/genetics; Recombinant Proteins/immunology; Protozoan Proteins/biosynthesis; Protozoan Proteins/immunology*; Protozoan Proteins/isolation & purification
  5. Chimeric Newcastle disease virus nucleocapsid with parts of viral hemagglutinin-neuraminidase and fusion proteins
    Rabu A, Tan WS, Kho CL, Omar AR, Yusoff K
    Acta Virol., 2002;46(4):211-7.
    PMID: 12693857
    The nucleocapsid (NP) protein of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) self-assembled in Escherichia coli as ring-like and herringbone-like particles. Several chimeric NP proteins were constructed in which the antigenic regions of the hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) and fusion (F) proteins of NDV, myc epitope, and six histidines (a hexa-His tag) were linked to the C-terminus of the NP monomer. These chimeric proteins were expressed efficiently in soluble form in E. coli as detected by Western blot analysis. Electron microscopy of the purified products revealed that they self-assembled into ring-like particles. These chimeric particles exhibited antigenicity of the myc epitope, suggesting that the foreign sequences were exposed on the surface of the particles. Chickens inoculated with the chimeric particles mounted an immune response against NDV, suggesting the possibility of use of the ring-like particle as a carrier of immunogens in subunit vaccines and immunological reagents.
    Matched MeSH terms: Recombinant Fusion Proteins/immunology; Recombinant Fusion Proteins/metabolism; Viral Fusion Proteins/genetics; Viral Fusion Proteins/immunology*; Viral Fusion Proteins/metabolism; Viral Proteins/genetics; Viral Proteins/immunology*; Viral Proteins/metabolism
  6. Tricistronic expression of MOAP-1, Bax and RASSF1A in cancer cells enhances chemo-sensitization that requires BH3L domain of MOAP-1
    Lee YH, Pang SW, Revai Lechtich E, Shah K, Simon SE, Ponnusamy S, et al.
    J Cancer Res Clin Oncol, 2020 Jul;146(7):1751-1764.
    PMID: 32377840 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-020-03231-9
    PURPOSE: Although important for apoptosis, the signaling pathway involving MOAP-1(Modulator of Apoptosis 1), RASSF1A (RAS association domain family 1A), and Bax (Bcl-2 associated X protein) is likely to be dysfunctional in many types of human cancers due to mechanisms associated with gene mutation and DNA hyper-methylation. The purpose of the present study was to assess the potential impact of generating physiologically relevant signaling pathway mediated by MOAP-1, Bax, and RASSF1A (MBR) in cancer cells and chemo-drug resistant cancer cells.

    METHODS: The tricistronic expression construct that encodes MOAP-1, Bax, and RASSF1A (MBR) or its mutant, MOAP-1∆BH3L, Bax and RASSF1A (MBRX) was expressed from an IRES (Internal Ribosome Entry Site)-based tricistronic expression vector in human breast cancer cells, including MCF-7, MCF-7-CR (cisplatin resistant) and triple negative breast cancer cells, BMET05, for functional characterization through in vitro and in vivo models.

    RESULTS: Transient expression of MBR potently promoted dose-dependent apoptotic signaling and chemo-sensitization in the cancer cells, as evidenced by loss of cell viability, nuclei condensation and Annexin-V positive staining while stable expression of MBR in MCF-7 cells significantly reduced the number of MBR stable clone by 86% and the stable clone exhibited robust chemo-drug sensitivity. In contrast, MBRX stable clone exhibited chemo-drug resistance while transiently over-expressed MOAP-1ΔBH3L inhibited the apoptotic activity of MBR. Moreover, the spheroids derived from the MBR stable clone displayed enhanced chemo-sensitivity and apoptotic activity. In mouse xenograft model, the tumors derived from MBR stable clone showed relatively high level of tumor growth retardation associated with the increase in apoptotic activity, leading to the decreases in both tumor weight and volume.

    CONCLUSIONS: Expression of MBR in cancer cells induces apoptotic cell death with enhanced chemo-sensitization requiring the BH3L domain of MOAP-1. In animal model, the expression of MBR significantly reduces the growth of tumors, suggesting that MBR is a potent apoptotic sensitizer with potential therapeutic benefits for cancer treatment.

    Matched MeSH terms: Tumor Suppressor Proteins/genetics*; Tumor Suppressor Proteins/metabolism; Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing/genetics*; Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing/metabolism; Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing/chemistry; Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins/genetics*; Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins/metabolism; Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins/chemistry
  7. Fulltext WDR5, ASH2L, and RBBP5 control the efficiency of FOS transcript processing
    Teoh PL, Sharrocks AD
    Cell Mol Biol Lett, 2014 Jun;19(2):215-32.
    PMID: 24715476 DOI: 10.2478/s11658-014-0190-8
    H3K4 trimethylation is strongly associated with active transcription. The deposition of this mark is catalyzed by SET-domain methyltransferases, which consist of a subcomplex containing WDR5, ASH2L, and RBBP5 (the WAR subcomplex); a catalytic SET-domain protein; and additional complexspecific subunits. The ERK MAPK pathway also plays an important role in gene regulation via phosphorylation of transcription factors, co-regulators, or histone modifier complexes. However, the potential interactions between these two pathways remain largely unexplored. We investigated their potential interplay in terms of the regulation of the immediate early gene (IEG) regulatory network. We found that depletion of components of the WAR subcomplex led to increased levels of unspliced transcripts of IEGs that did not necessarily reflect changes in their mature transcripts. This occurs in a manner independent from changes in the H3K4me3 levels at the promoter region. We focused on FOS and found that the depletion of WAR subcomplex components affected the efficiency of FOS transcript processing. Our findings show a new aspect of WAR subcomplex function in coordinating active transcription with efficient pre-mRNA processing.
    Matched MeSH terms: DNA-Binding Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors; DNA-Binding Proteins/genetics; DNA-Binding Proteins/metabolism*; Nuclear Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors; Nuclear Proteins/genetics; Nuclear Proteins/metabolism*; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos/genetics; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos/metabolism*
  8. Proteasomal degradation of p130 facilitate cell cycle deregulation and impairment of cellular differentiation in high-risk Human Papillomavirus 16 and 18 E7 transfected cells
    Gandhi S, Nor Rashid N, Mohamad Razif MF, Othman S
    Mol Biol Rep, 2021 Jun;48(6):5121-5133.
    PMID: 34169395 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-021-06509-4
    The High-Risk Human Papillomaviruses (HR-HPVs) 16 and 18 are known to cause cervical cancer, which is primarily attributed to E6 and E7 oncoproteins. In addition, recent studies have focused on the vital role of the p130 pocket protein as an oncosuppressor to limit the expression of E2F transcription factors required for cell cycle progression. In view of this, the current study was conducted to investigate the mechanism by which transfection with HPV16/18 E7 leads to the deregulation of the host cell cycle, altering the localisation of p130, and expression of differentiation genes in Human Keratinocytes (HaCaT) cells. Co-immunoprecipitation, Western blot analysis, immunofluorescence microscopy, flow cytometry, quantitative-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR), and the inhibition of p130 by MG132 inhibitor were employed to investigate the loss of p130 and its disruption in HPV 16/18 E7-transfected HaCaT cells. The HPV16- and HPV18-transformed cells, known as CaSki and HeLa, respectively, were also used to complement the ectopic expressions of E7 in HaCaT cells. Normal keratinocytes displayed higher level of p130 expression than HPV-transformed cells. In addition, the immunofluorescence analysis revealed that both HPV 16/18 E7-transfected HaCaT and HPV-transformed cells exhibited higher level of cytoplasmic p130 compared to nuclear p130. A significant increase in the number of S/G2 phase cells in HPV-transformed cells was also recorded since E7 has been shown to stimulate proliferation through the deactivation of Retinoblastoma Protein (pRB)-dependent G1/S checkpoint. Furthermore, the findings recorded the down-regulation of keratinocyte differentiation markers, namely p130, keratin10, and involucrin. The proteasomal degradation of the exported p130 confirmed the cellular localisation pattern of p130, which was commonly observed in cancerous cells. The findings provide strong evidence that the localisation of nuclear p130 nuclear was disrupted by HPV16/18 E7 led to the deregulation of the cell cycle and the impairment of cellular differentiation ultimately lead to cellular transformation.
    Matched MeSH terms: DNA-Binding Proteins/genetics; DNA-Binding Proteins/metabolism*; Oncogene Proteins, Viral/genetics; Oncogene Proteins, Viral/metabolism*; Repressor Proteins/genetics; Papillomavirus E7 Proteins/genetics; Papillomavirus E7 Proteins/metabolism*
  9. Fulltext Potential inhibitors for isocitrate lyase of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and non-M. tuberculosis: a summary
    Lee YV, Wahab HA, Choong YS
    Biomed Res Int, 2015;2015:895453.
    PMID: 25649791 DOI: 10.1155/2015/895453
    Isocitrate lyase (ICL) is the first enzyme involved in glyoxylate cycle. Many plants and microorganisms are relying on glyoxylate cycle enzymes to survive upon downregulation of tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA cycle), especially Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB). In fact, ICL is a potential drug target for MTB in dormancy. With the urge for new antitubercular drug to overcome tuberculosis treat such as multidrug resistant strain and HIV-coinfection, the pace of drug discovery has to be increased. There are many approaches to discovering potential inhibitor for MTB ICL and we hereby review the updated list of them. The potential inhibitors can be either a natural compound or synthetic compound. Moreover, these compounds are not necessary to be discovered only from MTB ICL, as it can also be discovered by a non-MTB ICL. Our review is categorized into four sections, namely, (a) MTB ICL with natural compounds; (b) MTB ICL with synthetic compounds; (c) non-MTB ICL with natural compounds; and (d) non-MTB ICL with synthetic compounds. Each of the approaches is capable of overcoming different challenges of inhibitor discovery. We hope that this paper will benefit the discovery of better inhibitor for ICL.
    Matched MeSH terms: Bacterial Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors*; Bacterial Proteins/metabolism; Bacterial Proteins/chemistry
  10. Environmental temperature and stocking density effects on acute phase proteins, heat shock protein 70, circulating corticosterone and performance in broiler chickens
    Najafi P, Zulkifli I, Jajuli NA, Farjam AS, Ramiah SK, Amir AA, et al.
    Int J Biometeorol, 2015 Nov;59(11):1577-83.
    PMID: 25649005 DOI: 10.1007/s00484-015-0964-3
    An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of different stocking densities on serum corticosterone (CORT), ovotransferrin (OVT), α1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) and ceruloplasmin (CP) concentrations, brain heat shock protein (HSP) 70 expression and performance in broiler chickens exposed to unheated and heated conditions. Day-old chicks were stocked at 0.100 m(2)/bird (low density (LD)) or 0.063 m(2)/bird (high density (HD)), in battery cages and housed in environmentally controlled rooms. From 21 to 35 days of age, birds from each stocking density group were exposed to either 24 or 32 °C. Growth performance was recorded during the heat treatment period, and blood and brain samples were collected to determine CORT, OVT, AGP, CP and HSP 70 levels on day 35. Heat treatment but not stocking density was detrimental to growth performance. There were significant temperature × density interactions for CORT, CP and OVT on day 35. Although HD elevated CORT, CP and OVT when compared to LD, the effects of the former were more obvious under heated condition. Both temperature and density had significant effect on AGP and HSP 70. In conclusion, irrespective of temperature, high stocking density was physiologically stressful to broiler chickens, as indicated by CORT, AGP, CP, OVT and HSP 70, but not detrimental to growth performance and survivability. As it was shown in the present study, AGP, CP and OVT could be useful biomarkers to determine the effect of overcrowding and high temperature on the welfare of broiler chickens.
    Matched MeSH terms: Acute-Phase Proteins/analysis*; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins/metabolism*
  11. Fulltext Full-length sequence analysis of chloroquine resistance transporter gene in Plasmodium falciparum isolates from Sabah, Malaysia
    Tan LL, Lau TY, Timothy W, Prabakaran D
    ScientificWorldJournal, 2014;2014:935846.
    PMID: 25574497 DOI: 10.1155/2014/935846
    Chloroquine resistance (CQR) in falciparum malaria was identified to be associated with several mutations in the chloroquine resistance transporter gene (pfcrt) that encodes the transmembrane transporter in digestive vacuole membrane of the parasite. This study aimed to investigate the point mutations across the full-length pfcrt in Plasmodium falciparum isolates in Sabah, Malaysia. A total of 31 P. falciparum positive samples collected from Keningau, Kota Kinabalu, and Kudat, Sabah, were analyzed. pfcrt was PCR amplified and cloned prior to sequence analysis. This study showed that all the previously described 10 point mutations associated with CQR at codons 72, 74, 75, 76, 97, 220, 271, 326, 356, and 371 were found with different prevalence. Besides, two novel point mutations, I166V and H273N, were identified with 22.5% and 19.3%, respectively. Three haplotypes, namely, CVMNK (29%), CVIET (3.2%), and SVMNT (67.7%), were identified. High prevalence of SVMNT among P. falciparum isolates from Sabah showed that these isolates are closer to the P. falciparum isolates from Papua New Guinea rather than to the more proximal Southeast Asian CVIET haplotype. Full-length analysis of pfcrt showed that chloroquine resistant P. falciparum in Sabah is still prevalent despite the withdrawal of chloroquine usage since 1979.
    Matched MeSH terms: Protozoan Proteins/genetics*; Membrane Transport Proteins/genetics*
  12. Microscopic analysis of a native Bacillus thuringiensis strain from Malaysia that produces exosporium-enclosed parasporal inclusion
    Chai PF, Rathinam X, Solayappan M, Ahmad Ghazali AH, Subramaniam S
    Microscopy (Oxf), 2014 Oct;63(5):371-5.
    PMID: 24943903 DOI: 10.1093/jmicro/dfu022
    The current study focused on the microscopic studies of a native Bacillus thuringiensis strain isolated from Malaysia, Bt-S84-13a, that produced an unusual crystal type. Primary detection of parasporal inclusions using a phase contrast microscope presented one to two small crystal proteins in the sporulating cells of Bt-S84-13a. Compound light microscopic examination of autolysed Bt-S84-13a cells stained with 0.133% Coomassie Brilliant Blue showed two types of crystal morphology: small crystals independent of spores and spore-associated crystals. Surface structure analysis with a scanning electron microscope revealed spherical-like, coarse and wrinkled-looking crystal in Bt-S84-13a. A close-up observation of the crystal morphology using a transmission electron microscope also demonstrated two parasporal inclusions in Bt-S84-13a. One inclusion was deposited against the forespore and was in a shape of incomplete rectangular. Another smaller inclusion was developed within the exosporium and was rectangular in shape. However, the latter inclusion was found lack in another bacterial cell which was still in the early stages of sporulation. This unique crystal morphology may imply some biological potential in Bt-S84-13a.
    Matched MeSH terms: Bacterial Proteins/ultrastructure; Hemolysin Proteins/ultrastructure
  13. Fulltext Modeling and docking studies on novel mutants (K71L and T204V) of the ATPase domain of human heat shock 70 kDa protein 1
    Elengoe A, Naser MA, Hamdan S
    Int J Mol Sci, 2014;15(4):6797-814.
    PMID: 24758925 DOI: 10.3390/ijms15046797
    The purpose of exploring protein interactions between human adenovirus and heat shock protein 70 is to exploit a potentially synergistic interaction to enhance anti-tumoral efficacy and decrease toxicity in cancer treatment. However, the protein interaction of Hsp70 with E1A32 kDa of human adenovirus serotype 5 remains to be elucidated. In this study, two residues of ATPase domain of human heat shock 70 kDa protein 1 (PDB: 1 HJO) were mutated. 3D mutant models (K71L and T204V) using PyMol software were then constructed. The structures were evaluated by PROCHECK, ProQ, ERRAT, Verify 3D and ProSA modules. All evidence suggests that all protein models are acceptable and of good quality. The E1A32 kDa motif was retrieved from UniProt (P03255), as well as subjected to docking interaction with NBD, K71L and T204V, using the Autodock 4.2 program. The best lowest binding energy value of -9.09 kcal/mol was selected for novel T204V. Moreover, the protein-ligand complex structures were validated by RMSD, RMSF, hydrogen bonds and salt bridge analysis. This revealed that the T204V-E1A32 kDa motif complex was the most stable among all three complex structures. This study provides information about the interaction between Hsp70 and the E1A32 kDa motif, which emphasizes future perspectives to design rational drugs and vaccines in cancer therapy.
    Matched MeSH terms: HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins/genetics; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins/metabolism; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins/chemistry*
  14. A comprehensive review of milk fouling on heated surfaces
    Sadeghinezhad E, Kazi SN, Dahari M, Safaei MR, Sadri R, Badarudin A
    Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr, 2015;55(12):1724-43.
    PMID: 24731003 DOI: 10.1080/10408398.2012.752343
    Heat exchanger performance degrades rapidly during operation due to formation of deposits on heat transfer surfaces which ultimately reduces service life of the equipment. Due to scaling, product deteriorates which causes lack of proper heating. Chemistry of milk scaling is qualitatively understood and the mathematical models for fouling at low temperatures have been produced but the behavior of systems at ultra high temperature processing has to be studied further to understand in depth. In diversified field, the effect of whey protein fouling along with pressure drop in heat exchangers were conducted by many researchers. Adding additives, treatment of heat exchanger surfaces and changing of heat exchanger configurations are notable areas of investigation in milk fouling. The present review highlighted information about previous work on fouling, influencing parameters of fouling and its mitigation approach and ends up with recommendations for retardation of milk fouling and necessary measures to perform the task.
    Matched MeSH terms: Whey Proteins/chemistry; Milk Proteins/chemistry
  15. Proteomic analysis of heat treated bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L. var. Hong Kong Green) using 2D-DIGE
    Ng ZX, Chua KH, Kuppusamy UR
    Food Chem, 2014 Apr 1;148:155-61.
    PMID: 24262540 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2013.10.025
    This study aimed to investigate the changes in the proteome of bitter gourd prior to and after subjecting to boiling and microwaving. A comparative analysis of the proteome profiles of raw and thermally treated bitter gourds was performed using 2D-DIGE. The protein content and number of protein spots in raw sample was higher when compared to the cooked samples. Qualitative analysis revealed that 103 (boiled sample) and 110 (microwaved sample) protein spots were up regulated whereas 120 (boiled sample) and 107 (microwaved sample) protein spots were down regulated. Ten protein spots with the highest significant fold change in the cooked samples were involved in carbohydrate/energy metabolisms and stress responses. Small heat shock proteins, superoxide dismutase, quinone oxidoreductase, UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase and phosphoglycerate kinase play a role in heat-stress-mediated protection of bitter gourd. This study suggests that appropriate heat treatment (cooking methods) can lead to induction of selected proteins in bitter gourd.
    Matched MeSH terms: Plant Proteins/genetics; Plant Proteins/metabolism; Plant Proteins/chemistry*
  16. Fulltext Revisiting the single cell protein application of Cupriavidus necator H16 and recovering bioplastic granules simultaneously
    Kunasundari B, Murugaiyah V, Kaur G, Maurer FH, Sudesh K
    PLoS One, 2013;8(10):e78528.
    PMID: 24205250 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0078528
    Cupriavidus necator H16 (formerly known as Hydrogenomonas eutropha) was famous as a potential single cell protein (SCP) in the 1970s. The drawback however was the undesirably efficient accumulation of non-nutritive polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) storage compound in the cytoplasm of this bacterium. Eventually, competition from soy-based protein resulted in SCP not receiving much attention. Nevertheless, C. necator H16 remained in the limelight as a producer of PHB, which is a material that resembles commodity plastics such as polypropylene. PHB is a 100% biobased and biodegradable polyester. Although tremendous achievements have been attained in the past 3 decades in the efficient production of PHB, this bioplastic is still costly. One of the main problems has been the recovery of PHB from the cell cytoplasm. In this study, we showed for the first time that kilogram quantities of PHB can be easily recovered in the laboratory without the use of any solvents and chemicals, just by using the cells as SCP. In addition, the present study also demonstrated the safety and tolerability of animal model used, Sprague Dawley given lyophilized cells of C. necator H16. The test animals readily produced fecal pellets that were whitish in color, as would be expected of PHB granules. The pellets were determined to contain about 82-97 wt% PHB and possessed molecular mass of around 930 kg/mol. The PHB granules recovered biologically possessed similar molecular mass compared to chloroform extracted PHB [950 kg/mol]. This method now allows the production and purification of substantial quantities of PHB for various experimental trials. The method reported here is easy, does not require expensive instrumentation, scalable and does not involve extensive use of solvents and strong chemicals.
    Matched MeSH terms: Bacterial Proteins/metabolism; Dietary Proteins/metabolism*
  17. Escherichia coli bactofection using Lipofectamine
    Narayanan K, Lee CW, Radu A, Sim EU
    Anal Biochem, 2013 Aug 15;439(2):142-4.
    PMID: 23608053 DOI: 10.1016/j.ab.2013.04.010
    Successful gene delivery into mammalian cells using bactofection requires entry of the bacterial vector via cell surface integrin receptors followed by release of plasmid DNA into the cellular environment. We show, for the first time, that addition of the DNA transfection reagent Lipofectamine improves entry of invasive Escherichia coli into HeLa cells and enhances up to 2.8-fold green fluorescent protein (GFP) expression from a reporter plasmid. The addition of Lipofectamine may be applicable to other bacterial vectors to increase their DNA delivery efficiency into mammalian cells.
    Matched MeSH terms: Green Fluorescent Proteins/genetics; Green Fluorescent Proteins/metabolism*; Green Fluorescent Proteins/chemistry
  18. Fulltext SPRITE and ASSAM: web servers for side chain 3D-motif searching in protein structures
    Nadzirin N, Gardiner EJ, Willett P, Artymiuk PJ, Firdaus-Raih M
    Nucleic Acids Res, 2012 Jul;40(Web Server issue):W380-6.
    PMID: 22573174 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gks401
    Similarities in the 3D patterns of amino acid side chains can provide insights into their function despite the absence of any detectable sequence or fold similarities. Search for protein sites (SPRITE) and amino acid pattern search for substructures and motifs (ASSAM) are graph theoretical programs that can search for 3D amino side chain matches in protein structures, by representing the amino acid side chains as pseudo-atoms. The geometric relationship of the pseudo-atoms to each other as a pattern can be represented as a labeled graph where the pseudo-atoms are the graph's nodes while the edges are the inter-pseudo-atomic distances. Both programs require the input file to be in the PDB format. The objective of using SPRITE is to identify matches of side chains in a query structure to patterns with characterized function. In contrast, a 3D pattern of interest can be searched for existing occurrences in available PDB structures using ASSAM. Both programs are freely accessible without any login requirement. SPRITE is available at http://mfrlab.org/grafss/sprite/ while ASSAM can be accessed at http://mfrlab.org/grafss/assam/.
    Matched MeSH terms: Bacterial Proteins/chemistry; Archaeal Proteins/chemistry
  19. Fulltext Effect of some biopolymers on the rheological behavior of surimi gel
    Sarker ZI, Elgadir MA, Ferdosh S, Akanda JH, Manap MY, Noda T
    Molecules, 2012;17(5):5733-44.
    PMID: 22628045 DOI: 10.3390/molecules17055733
    The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of selected biopolymers on the rheological properties of surimi. In our paper, we highlight the functional properties and rheological aspects of some starch mixtures used in surimi. However, the influence of some other ingredients, such as cryoprotectants, mannans, and hydroxylpropylmethylcellulose (HPMC), on the rheological properties of surimi is also described. The outcome reveals that storage modulus increased with the addition of higher levels of starch. Moreover, the increasing starch level increased the breaking force, deformation, and gel strength of surimi as a result of the absorption of water by starch granules in the mixture to make the surimi more rigid. On the other hand, the addition of cryoprotectants, mannans, and HPMC improved the rheological properties of surimi. The data obtained in this paper could be beneficial particularly to the scientists who deal with food processing field.
    Matched MeSH terms: Muscle Proteins/chemistry*; Fish Proteins/chemistry*
  20. Fulltext Dialysis catheter fibrin sheath stripping: a useful technique after failed catheter exchange
    Mohamad Ali A, Uhwut E, Liew S
    Biomed Imaging Interv J, 2012 Jan;8(1):e8.
    PMID: 22970064 MyJurnal DOI: 10.2349/biij.8.1.e8
    Fibrin sheath formation around long-term haemodialysis catheter is a common cause of failed dialysis access. Treatment options include pharmacological and mechanical methods. This paper reports a case of failed dialysis access due to fibrin sheath encasement. Pharmacologic thrombolysis, mechanical disruption using guide wire and catheter exchange had failed to address the issue. Eventually, fibrin sheath stripping using the loop snare technique was able to successfully restore the catheter function.
    Matched MeSH terms: SNARE Proteins
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