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1.
Cell Microbiol ; 23(5): e13311, 2021 05.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33486886

RESUMO

The spread of infection is directly determined by the ability of a pathogen to invade and infect host tissues. The process involves adherence due to host-pathogen interactions and traversal into deeper tissues. Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) primarily infects the lung but is unique in its ability to infect almost any other organ of the human host including immune privileged sites such as the central nervous system (CNS). The extreme invasiveness of this bacterium is not fully understood. In the current study, we report that cell surface Mtb glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) functions as a virulence factor by multiple mechanisms. Firstly, it serves as a dual receptor for both plasminogen (Plg) and plasmin (Plm). CRISPRi-mediated silencing of this essential enzyme confirmed its role in the recruitment of Plg/Plm. Our studies further demonstrate that soluble GAPDH can re-associate on Mtb bacilli to promote plasmin(ogen) recruitment. The direct association of plasmin(ogen) via cell surface GAPDH or by the re-association of soluble GAPDH enhanced bacterial adherence to and traversal across lung epithelial cells. Furthermore, the association of GAPDH with host extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins coupled with its ability to recruit plasmin(ogen) may endow cells with the ability of directed proteolytic activity vital for tissue invasion.


Assuntos
Adesinas Bacterianas/metabolismo , Fibrinolisina/metabolismo , Gliceraldeído-3-Fosfato Desidrogenases/metabolismo , Mycobacterium tuberculosis/enzimologia , Mycobacterium tuberculosis/patogenicidade , Plasminogênio/metabolismo , Fatores de Virulência/metabolismo , Células A549 , Adesinas Bacterianas/genética , Aderência Bacteriana , Proteínas de Bactérias/genética , Proteínas de Bactérias/metabolismo , Gliceraldeído-3-Fosfato Desidrogenases/genética , Humanos , Ligação Proteica , Virulência , Fatores de Virulência/genética
2.
J Environ Manage ; 272: 111067, 2020 Oct 15.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32736232

RESUMO

Subsurface denitrification plays a key role in the reduction or 'attenuation' of nitrate contamination of groundwater and surface waters. We investigated subsurface denitrification characteristics in the vadose zone and shallow groundwater at four sites under pastoral farming in the Manawatu River catchment, located in the lower part of North Island, New Zealand. The denitrification potential of the vadose zone was determined by the laboratory incubation assays measuring the denitrifying enzyme activity (DEA) in soil samples collected from different soil horizons (up to 2.1 m below ground surface), whereas denitrification rates in shallow groundwaters were measured in situ by single-well, push-pull tests conducted in piezometers installed at multiple depths at the study sites. Soils and underlying geology, defining hydrogeologic settings, appear to influence the spatial variability of subsurface denitrification characteristics at the study sites. Where the vadose zone is thin and composed of coarse-textured soils, percolation of nitrate was evident in observed high nitrate-nitrogen concentrations (>5 mg L-1) in oxic and young shallow groundwaters, but low nitrate-nitrogen concentrations (<0.05 mg L-1) were observed in the reduced shallow groundwater found underneath the fine textured soils and/or a thick vadose zone. This was confirmed by the push-pull tests measuring denitrification rates from 0.08 to 1.07 mg N L-1 h-1 in the reduced shallow groundwaters (dissolved oxygen or DO < 0.5 mg L-1), while negligible in the oxic groundwaters (DO > 5 mg L-1) found at the study sites. These contrasting subsurface denitrification characteristics determine the ultimate delivery of nitrate losses from agricultural soils to receiving waters, where the fine textured thick vadose zone and reducing groundwater conditions offer nitrate reduction in the subsurface environment.


Assuntos
Água Subterrânea , Poluentes Químicos da Água/análise , Agricultura , Desnitrificação , Monitoramento Ambiental , Nova Zelândia , Nitratos/análise , Nutrientes
3.
Environ Manage ; 62(4): 740-755, 2018 10.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29947967

RESUMO

Altered hydrological, sediment, and nutrient regimes can lead to dramatic increases in periphyton abundance in rivers below impoundments. Flushing flows are a commonly adopted strategy to manage the excess periphyton that can accumulate, but in practice they often prove ineffective. Designing hydrological regimes that include flushing flows may be overlooking key processes in periphyton removal, particularly the role of abrasion and molar action induced by substrate movement. Setting flow targets which aim to initiate substrate movement are likely to improve periphyton removal, but an understanding of the site-specific thresholds for substrate entrainment and periphyton removal is required. Despite decades of entrainment studies accurate and consistent measurement and prediction of substrate entrainment remains elusive, making it challenging to study the relationship between substrate movement and periphyton removal, and to set flow targets. This paper makes a case for using substrate entrainment and transport thresholds as the target metric for flushing flows to manage excess periphyton accrual. This paper critically reviews the determinants of periphyton accrual and associated management methods. This paper also aims to provide a reference for interdisciplinary research on periphyton removal by summarising the geomorphic and hydraulic literature on methods for estimating and measuring substrate entrainment and transport. This will provide a basis for ecologists to identify tools for quantifying entrainment and transport thresholds so they are better placed to explore the direct linkages between phases of sediment transport and periphyton accrual. These linkages need to be identified in order for river managers to set effective flushing flow targets.


Assuntos
Conservação dos Recursos Hídricos/métodos , Monitoramento Ambiental/métodos , Sedimentos Geológicos/química , Perifíton , Rios/química , Movimentos da Água , Hidrologia
4.
Environ Monit Assess ; 190(2): 78, 2018 Jan 11.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29327177

RESUMO

Better management of water quality in streams, rivers and lakes requires precise and accurate estimates of different contaminant loads. We assessed four sampling frequencies (2 days, weekly, fortnightly and monthly) and five load calculation methods (global mean (GM), rating curve (RC), ratio estimator (RE), flow-stratified (FS) and flow-weighted (FW)) to quantify loads of nitrate-nitrogen (NO3--N), soluble inorganic nitrogen (SIN), total nitrogen (TN), dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP), total phosphorus (TP) and total suspended solids (TSS), in the Manawatu River, New Zealand. The estimated annual river loads were compared to the reference 'true' loads, calculated using daily measurements of flow and water quality from May 2010 to April 2011, to quantify bias (i.e. accuracy) and root mean square error 'RMSE' (i.e. accuracy and precision). The GM method resulted into relatively higher RMSE values and a consistent negative bias (i.e. underestimation) in estimates of annual river loads across all sampling frequencies. The RC method resulted in the lowest RMSE for TN, TP and TSS at monthly sampling frequency. Yet, RC highly overestimated the loads for parameters that showed dilution effect such as NO3--N and SIN. The FW and RE methods gave similar results, and there was no essential improvement in using RE over FW. In general, FW and RE performed better than FS in terms of bias, but FS performed slightly better than FW and RE in terms of RMSE for most of the water quality parameters (DRP, TP, TN and TSS) using a monthly sampling frequency. We found no significant decrease in RMSE values for estimates of NO3-N, SIN, TN and DRP loads when the sampling frequency was increased from monthly to fortnightly. The bias and RMSE values in estimates of TP and TSS loads (estimated by FW, RE and FS), however, showed a significant decrease in the case of weekly or 2-day sampling. This suggests potential for a higher sampling frequency during flow peaks for more precise and accurate estimates of annual river loads for TP and TSS, in the study river and other similar conditions.


Assuntos
Monitoramento Ambiental/métodos , Poluentes Químicos da Água/análise , Monitoramento Ambiental/estatística & dados numéricos , Lagos , Nova Zelândia , Nitratos/análise , Nitrogênio/análise , Fósforo/análise , Rios/química , Qualidade da Água/normas
5.
Int J Med Microbiol ; 307(2): 126-138, 2017 Feb.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28161108

RESUMO

Tuberculosis, one of the leading cause of death from infectious diseases, is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The genome of M. tuberculosis has been sequenced and nearly 40% of the whole genome sequence was categorized as hypothetical. Rv0774c was annotated as membrane exported hypothetical protein in TB database. In silico analysis revealed that Rv0774c is a paralog of PE-PGRS multi gene family with 100 aa N-terminal domain similar to PE domain of PE-PGRS proteins. Its C-terminal domain is quite different from PGRS domain, having characteristic lipase signature GXSXG & HG and catalytic residues predicted for lipolytic activity. Therefore, DNA coding for Rv0774c (303 aa), its N-terminal (1-100 aa) and C- terminal domain (100-303 aa) were separately cloned from M. tuberculosis and were over expressed in E. coli. Rv0774c gene and its C-terminal lipolytic domain preferably hydrolyzed short chain esters. Though no enzyme activity was observed in N-terminus PE like domain, it was demonstrated to enhance the thermostability of full length Rv0774c. Tetrahydrolipstatin inhibited the enzyme activity and predicted catalytic residues (Ser-185, Asp-255 and His-281) were confirmed by site directed mutagenesis. Rv0774c was secreted out in culture media by M. tuberculosis and was up-regulated in iron limiting conditions. Treatment of THP-1 cells with rRv0774c resulted in a decline in the LPS induced production of NO and expression of iNOS. rRv0774c treated THP-1 cells also showed an enhanced expression of IL-10 and TLR2. On contrary, it suppressed the LPS induced production of IL-12, chemokines MCP-1 and IL-8. Rv0774c inhibited the LPS induced phosphorylation of p38. These observations suggested that Rv0774c could modulate the pro-inflammatory immune response to support intracellular survival of the mycobacterium.


Assuntos
Proteínas de Bactérias/metabolismo , Citocinas/antagonistas & inibidores , Esterases/metabolismo , Terapia de Imunossupressão , Mycobacterium tuberculosis/enzimologia , Mycobacterium tuberculosis/fisiologia , Receptor 2 Toll-Like/antagonistas & inibidores , Proteínas de Bactérias/química , Proteínas de Bactérias/genética , Domínio Catalítico , Linhagem Celular , Clonagem Molecular , Análise Mutacional de DNA , Estabilidade Enzimática , Escherichia coli/genética , Escherichia coli/metabolismo , Esterases/química , Esterases/genética , Expressão Gênica , Interações Hospedeiro-Patógeno , Humanos , Lipopolissacarídeos/metabolismo , Monócitos/efeitos dos fármacos , Monócitos/imunologia , Mutagênese Sítio-Dirigida , Especificidade por Substrato , Temperatura
6.
Mol Cell Biochem ; 430(1-2): 21-30, 2017 Jun.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28190170

RESUMO

In order to understand the molecular basis of cold adaptation, we have used directed evolution to transform a thermophilic lipase LipR1 into its psychrophilic counterpart. A single round of random mutagenesis followed by screening for improved variants yielded a mutant with single-point mutation LipR1M1 (S130T), with optimum activity at 20 °C. Its activity at 50 °C is only 20% as compared to wild type (100%). It showed catalytic rate constant (k cat) 3 times higher and a catalytic efficiency (k cat/K m) 4 times that of wild type. Circular dichroism and fluorescence studies also supported our observation of mutant structural flexibility. Structure analysis using homology models showed that Threonine 130 is exposed to solvent and has lost H-bond interaction with neighboring amino acid, thereby increasing flexibility of this lipase structure.


Assuntos
Evolução Molecular Direcionada , Lipase/química , Lipase/genética , Mutação Puntual , Estabilidade Enzimática/genética , Temperatura Alta
7.
J Environ Manage ; 197: 476-489, 2017 Jul 15.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28412619

RESUMO

A sound understanding of the effects of hydrogeological factors on loss, transport and transformation of farm nutrients is essential for predicting their impacts on ecosystem health of receiving waters. We assessed the potential of groundwater to attenuate nitrate through denitrification, and the distribution of this potential across the Tararua Groundwater Management Zone (GWMZ) in the Manawatu River catchment, New Zealand. We combined a number of methods in an unprecedented manner to confirm findings and obtain supporting evidence for the features that determine the subsurface denitrification characteristics. Our results showed that the denitrification characteristics of groundwater varied considerably in the Tararua GWMZ. The southern part of the Tararua GWMZ contained mainly oxic groundwater with low potential to denitrify, whereas the middle and northern parts of the Tararua GWMZ contained reduced groundwater with high denitrification potential. The hydrogeological features that influence denitrification potential in groundwater were identified as soil texture and drainage class, and the aquifer material or rock type. Low dissolved oxygen levels and nitrate concentrations were found in groundwater where the combinations of soil and rock types had poor drainage characteristics as opposed to higher concentrations in groundwater under well-drained soils and rocks (e.g. gravels). Intensive pastoral farming over well-drained soils and rocks showed high nitrate concentration in groundwater. This spatial variability in denitrification potential of groundwater offers a targeted management of nutrients runoff and leaching from pastoral lands to reduce their impacts on receiving surface waters.


Assuntos
Desnitrificação , Poluentes Químicos da Água , Monitoramento Ambiental , Água Subterrânea , Nova Zelândia , Nitratos , Rios
8.
Protein Expr Purif ; 127: 22-27, 2016 11.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27389468

RESUMO

Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase [GAPDH, NAD + oxidoreductase (phosphorylating) 1.2.1.12] catalyzes the conversion of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate to 1,3-bisphosphoglycerate coupled with the reduction of NAD(+) to NADH. In addition to its role in glycolysis, this enzyme has numerous alternate functions, in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes. In plants, additional functions have been reported from multiple species including Pisum sativum. A recent study has identified that GAPDH may play an important role in seed ageing and programmed cell death. Despite this the existing purification protocols are almost 40 years old, and only partial characterization of the enzyme has been reported. In the current study, we report a modified method for purification of enzymatically active pea seed GAPDH along with the characterization of the enzyme. Using 2D gel electrophoresis our study also demonstrates that pea seeds contain four isoforms of NAD(+) dependent GAPDH.


Assuntos
Gliceraldeído-3-Fosfato Desidrogenases/química , Gliceraldeído-3-Fosfato Desidrogenases/isolamento & purificação , Pisum sativum/enzimologia , Proteínas de Plantas/química , Proteínas de Plantas/isolamento & purificação , Animais , Galinhas , Coelhos
9.
Malar J ; 15: 67, 2016 Feb 06.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26852118

RESUMO

BACKGROUND: Reactive case detection (RCD) for malaria is a strategy to identify additional malaria infections in areas of low malaria transmission and can complement passive surveillance. This study describes experiences with RCD in two Indian sites, and aimed to synthesize experiences with RCD across endemic countries. METHODS: RCD programmes were piloted in two urban areas of India with a low prevalence of mainly Plasmodium vivax malaria in 2014. Cases were identified in a clinic by microscopy and contacts were screened within 2 weeks; PCR, in addition to microscopy, was used to detect Plasmodium parasites. A systematic review was conducted to identify RCD experiences in the literature. RESULTS: In Chennai, 868 contacts were enrolled for 18 index cases of clinical malaria; in Nadiad, 131 contacts were enrolled for 20 index cases. No new malaria infections were detected in Nadiad among contacts, and four new infections were detected in Chennai (three P. vivax and one Plasmodium falciparum), of which two were among household members of index cases. An additional five studies describing results from an RCD strategy were identified in the literature: four in Africa and one in Thailand. Including the results from India, the average number of contacts screened per index case in a total of seven studies ranged from four to 50, and 126 in a case study in Thailand with one index case. Malaria was detected in 0-45 % of the contacted persons. The average number of index cases needed to be traced to find one new case of malaria ranged from one to five, and could not be assessed in one study in India (no contacts positive for 20 cases). Sharing the household with an index case was associated with a five-fold increased risk of malaria compared to contacts from households without an index case (pooled risk ratio 5.29, 95 % CI 3.31-8.47, I(2) 0 %, four studies). CONCLUSIONS: RCD in areas of low malaria transmission is a labour-intensive strategy, and its benefit is not clear. Studies are needed to assess how RCD can be optimized or into alternatives where interventions are targeted to family members or hotspots.


Assuntos
Malária/prevenção & controle , Adolescente , Adulto , Idoso , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Humanos , Índia , Lactente , Malária/epidemiologia , Malária Vivax/epidemiologia , Malária Vivax/prevenção & controle , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Plasmodium falciparum/fisiologia , Plasmodium vivax/fisiologia , Adulto Jovem
10.
Environ Monit Assess ; 187(11): 697, 2015 Nov.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26490735

RESUMO

There are concerns about the impact of maize cultivation with high applications of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) on water quality in surface waters in Mediterranean Central Chile. This study estimated the contribution of N and P from maize fields to nearby drainage channels and evaluated the effects in water quality. An N and P budget was drawn up for three fields managed with a maize-fallow system, El Maitén (20.7 ha), El Naranjal (14.9 ha) and El Caleuche (4.2 ha), and water quality variables (pH, EC, dissolved oxygen, total solids, turbidity, NO3-N, NH4-N, PO4(3-), COD, total N, total P and sulphate) were monitored in nearby drainage channels. The N and P balances for the three fields indicated a high risk of N and P non-point source pollution, with fertiliser management, soil texture and climate factors determining the temporal variations in water quality parameters. Elevated levels of NH4-N and PO4(3-) in the drainage channels were usually observed during the winter period, while NO3- concentrations did not show a clear tendency. The results suggest that excessive slurry application during winter represents a very high risk of N and P runoff to drainage channels. Overall, great emphasis must be placed on good agronomic management of fields neighbouring drainage channels, including accurately calculating N and P fertiliser rates and establishing mitigation measures.


Assuntos
Irrigação Agrícola , Monitoramento Ambiental , Nitrogênio/análise , Fósforo/análise , Poluentes Químicos da Água/análise , Zea mays/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Chile , Fertilizantes/análise , Água
11.
Biochem Biophys Res Commun ; 447(4): 626-32, 2014 May 16.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-24751523

RESUMO

Thermostable lipases are of high priority for industrial applications. In the present study, targeted improvement of the thermostability of a lipase from metagenomic origin was examined by using a combinatorial protein engineering approach exploring additive effects of single amino acid substitutions. A variant (LipR5) was generated after combination of two thermostabilizing mutations (R214C & N355K). Thermostability of the variant enzyme was analyzed by half-life measurement and circular dichroism (CD). To assess whether catalytic properties were affected by mutation, the optimal reaction conditions were determined. The protein LipR5, displayed optimum activity at 50°C and pH 8.0. It showed two fold enhancement in thermostability (at 60°C) as compared to LipR3 (R214C) and nearly 168 fold enhancement as compared to parent enzyme (LipR1). Circular dichroism and fluorescence study suggest that the protein structure had become more rigid and stable to denaturation. Study of 3D model suggested that Lys355 was involved in formation of a Hydrogen bond with OE1 of Glu284. Lys355 was also making salt bridge with OE2 of Glu284.


Assuntos
Evolução Molecular Direcionada/métodos , Lipase/química , Lipase/genética , Sequência de Aminoácidos , Substituição de Aminoácidos , Estabilidade Enzimática/genética , Concentração de Íons de Hidrogênio , Cinética , Lipase/metabolismo , Metagenoma , Modelos Moleculares , Dados de Sequência Molecular , Mutagênese Sítio-Dirigida , Mutação Puntual , Conformação Proteica , Estrutura Secundária de Proteína , Proteínas Recombinantes/química , Proteínas Recombinantes/genética , Proteínas Recombinantes/metabolismo , Homologia Estrutural de Proteína , Especificidade por Substrato , Temperatura
13.
Mol Cell Biochem ; 373(1-2): 149-59, 2013 Jan.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-23104399

RESUMO

In the present investigation, we used directed evolution approach to engineer a lipase from metagenomic origin. A variant S311C, was generated, characterized in detail and compared with wild type. Wild type and variant lipases were overexpressed and purified to homogeneity. The temperature optima of the purified lipases (Variant and wild type) were almost same, and found to be 45 and 50 °C, respectively. The variant protein was highly thermostable (54 times) as compared with the wild type at 60 °C. The variant displayed very high kinetic efficiency over the wild type protein. Analysis of the homology models of wild type and variant lipase showed that the substitution is on the surface of the protein. This substitution, along with hydrophobic residues in near vicinity may be involved in formation of strong hydrophobic channel leading to active site. This study identifies the role of hydrophobic interactions in protein stability along with enhancement of enzyme activity.


Assuntos
Proteínas de Bactérias/genética , Evolução Molecular Direcionada , Lipase/genética , Metagenoma , Motivos de Aminoácidos , Proteínas de Bactérias/biossíntese , Proteínas de Bactérias/química , Domínio Catalítico , Clonagem Molecular , Estabilidade Enzimática , Escherichia coli , Ligação de Hidrogênio , Concentração de Íons de Hidrogênio , Interações Hidrofóbicas e Hidrofílicas , Cinética , Lipase/biossíntese , Lipase/química , Modelos Moleculares , Microbiologia do Solo , Homologia Estrutural de Proteína
14.
medRxiv ; 2023 Apr 09.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37066213

RESUMO

Background: Tracking the emergence and spread of antimalarial drug resistance has become critical to sustaining progress towards the control and eventual elimination of malaria in South Asia, especially India. Methods: An amplicon sequencing protocol was used for high-throughput molecular surveillance of antimalarial drug resistance in a total of 158 isolates at three sites in India: Chennai, Nadiad and Rourkela. Five genes of the Plasmodium falciparum implicated in antimalarial resistance were investigated here; Pfcrt for chloroquine resistance, Pfdhfr for pyrimethamine resistance, Pfdhps for sulfadoxine resistance, Pfk13 for artemisinin resistance and Pfmdr1 for resistance to multiple antimalarials. Results: Mutations in the propeller domain of PfK13 were observed in two samples only, however these mutations are not validated for artemisinin resistance. A high proportion of parasites from the P. falciparum dominant site Rourkela showed wild-type Pfcrt and Pfdhfr haplotypes, while mutant Pfcrt and Pfdhfr haplotypes were fixed at the P. vivax dominant sites Chennai and Nadiad. The wild-type PfDHPS haplotype was predominant across all study sites. Finally, we observed the largest proportion of suspected multi-clonal infections at Rourkela, which has the highest transmission of P. falciparum among our study sites. Conclusion: This is the first simultaneous high-throughput next generation sequencing of five complete P. falciparum genes from infected patients in India.

15.
Mol Biol Rep ; 39(3): 2795-804, 2012 Mar.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-21678056

RESUMO

A gene encoding extracellular lipase was cloned and characterized from metagenomic DNA extracted from hot spring soil. The recombinant gene was expressed in E. coli and expressed protein was purified to homogeneity using hydrophobic interactions chromatography. The mature polypeptide consists of 388 amino acids with apparent molecular weight of 43 kDa. The enzyme displayed maximum activity at 50 °C and pH 9.0. It showed thermal stability up to 40 °C without any loss of enzyme activity. Nearly 80% enzyme activity was retained at 50 °C even after incubation for 75 min. However above 50 °C the enzyme displayed thermal instability. The half life of the enzyme was determined to be 5 min at 60 °C. Interestingly the CD spectroscopic study carried out in the temperature range of 25-95 °C revealed distortion in solution structure above 35 °C. However the intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence spectroscopic study revealed that even with the loss of secondary structure at 35 °C and above the tertiary structure was retained. With p-nitrophenyl laurate as a substrate, the enzyme exhibited a K ( m ), V ( max ) and K ( cat ) of 0.73 ± 0.18 µM, 239 ± 16 µmol/ml/min and 569 s(-1) respectively. Enzyme activity was strongly inhibited by CuCl(2), HgCl(2) and DEPC but not by PMSF, eserine and SDS. The protein retained significant activity (~70%) with Triton X-100. The enzyme displayed 100% activity in presence of 30% n-Hexane and acetone.


Assuntos
Fontes Termais/química , Lipase/genética , Lipase/metabolismo , Estrutura Secundária de Proteína , Temperatura , Proteínas de Bactérias , Sequência de Bases , Dicroísmo Circular , Clonagem Molecular , Biologia Computacional , Primers do DNA/genética , Meia-Vida , Concentração de Íons de Hidrogênio , Índia , Lipase/análise , Metagenômica , Dados de Sequência Molecular , Análise de Sequência de DNA , Espectrometria de Fluorescência , Especificidade por Substrato
16.
J Biomol Struct Dyn ; 40(15): 6880-6888, 2022 09.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33627036

RESUMO

Aldose reductase (AR) is an NADPH-dependent oxidoreductase that is well-studied for its role in Diabetes Mellitus. Glutathione conjugated aldehydes are efficiently catalysed by AR. We have employed molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the dynamics of a glutathione analog, γ-glutamyl-S-(1,2-di-carboxyethyl)-cysteinyl-glycine (DCEG), into the binding pocket of AR. Study revealed that backbone nitrogens of Ala-299 and Leu-300 form a tiny pocket gated by thiol group of Cys-298. The glycine moiety of DCEG was able to displace the thiol group of Cys-298 to make hydrogen bond interactions with backbone of Ala-299, Leu-300, and Leu-301. This study provides the details of the dynamic interactions of DCEG in the binding pocket of AR, and shall aid in the design/discovery of differential inhibitors against AR.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.


Assuntos
Aldeído Redutase , Glutationa , Aldeído Redutase/química , Aldeídos/química , Aldeídos/metabolismo , Glutationa/metabolismo , Modelos Moleculares , Compostos de Sulfidrila
17.
Mol Biol Rep ; 38(5): 2919-26, 2011 Jun.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-20127521

RESUMO

A lip gene from a Bacillus isolate was cloned and expressed in E. coli. By thermal denaturation analysis, T(1/2) of lipase was observed to be 7 min at 50°C with less than 10% activity after 1 h incubation at 50°C. To expand the functionality of cloned lipase, attempts have been made to create thermostable variants of lip gene. A lipase variant with an isoleucine to threonine amino acid substitution at the protein surface was isolated that demonstrated higher thermostability than its wild type predecessor. To explore the structure-function relationship, the lip gene product of wild type (WT) and mutant was characterized in detail. The mutation enhanced the specific activity of enzyme by 2-folds when compared with WT. The mutant enzyme showed enhanced T(1/2) of 21 min at 50°C. The kinetic parameters of the mutant enzyme were significantly altered. The mutant enzyme displayed higher affinity for substrate (decreased K ( m )) in comparison to the wild type. The k (cat) and catalytic efficiency (k (cat)/K ( m )) of mutant were also enhanced by two and five times, respectively, as compared with the WT. The mutation resides on the part of helix which is exposed to the solvent and away from the catalytic triad. The replacement of a solvent exposed hydrophobic residue (Ile) in WT with a hydrophilic residue (Thr) in mutant might impart thermostability to the protein structure.


Assuntos
Bacillus/enzimologia , Isoleucina/genética , Lipase/genética , Lipase/metabolismo , Treonina/genética , Substituição de Aminoácidos , Animais , Bacillus/genética , Evolução Molecular Direcionada , Estabilidade Enzimática , Lipase/química , Modelos Moleculares , Dados de Sequência Molecular , Mutação , Conformação Proteica , Especificidade por Substrato , Temperatura
18.
Indian J Exp Biol ; 48(3): 314-7, 2010 Mar.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-21046987

RESUMO

Hexane, chloroform and ethyl acetate extracts (100 microg/ml) of Alpinia galanga rhizomes exhibited significant activity in vitro against promastigotes of L. donovani. Twelve compounds namely, methyleugenol (1), p-coumaryl diacetate (2), 1'-acetoxychavicol acetate (3), 1'-acetoxyeugenol acetate (4), trans-p-acetoxycinnamyl alcohol (5), trans-3,4-dimethoxycinnamyl alcohol (6), p-hydroxybenzaldehyde (7), p-hydroxycinnamaldehyde (8), trans-p-coumaryl alcohol (9), galangin (10), trans-p-coumaric acid (11) and galanganol B (12) were isolated from these extracts. Of these, compounds 2, 3, 4 and 5 were found most active in vitro against promastigotes of L. donovani with IC50 values of 39.3, 32.9, 18.9 and 79.9 microM respectively. This is the first report of antileishmanial activity of the extracts and isolated constituents of A. galanga.


Assuntos
Alpinia/química , Antiprotozoários/farmacologia , Leishmania donovani/efeitos dos fármacos , Extratos Vegetais/farmacologia , Acetatos/química , Animais , Antiprotozoários/química , Antiprotozoários/isolamento & purificação , Clorofórmio/química , Ácidos Cumáricos/química , Ácidos Cumáricos/farmacologia , Relação Dose-Resposta a Droga , Eugenol/análogos & derivados , Eugenol/química , Eugenol/farmacologia , Flavonoides/química , Flavonoides/farmacologia , Hexanos/química , Leishmania donovani/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Estrutura Molecular , Extratos Vegetais/química , Extratos Vegetais/isolamento & purificação , Propionatos , Rizoma/química
19.
Ground Water ; 58(4): 622-637, 2020 07.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31605495

RESUMO

Groundwater flow and contaminant transport are strongly influenced by hydrogeological spatial variation. Understanding the textural heterogeneity of aquifer and aquitard units is critical for predicting preferential flow pathways, but is often hindered by sparse hydrogeological data, widely spaced data points, and complex stratigraphy. Here, we demonstrate the application of a relatively new air permeameter technology, providing a cost-effective, rapid alternative for characterizing hydrostratigraphic units in the field. The aim of this research is to (1) characterize the variation of saturated hydraulic conductivity across shallow-marine hydrostratigraphic units of the Whanganui Basin, New Zealand, and (2) assess the variation of saturated hydraulic conductivity within individual hydrostratigraphic units and relate these changes to facies and depositional environments. Results suggest heterogeneity within fine-grained aquitard units is controlled by bioturbation, whereby burrowing, ingestion and defecation results in grain size segregation and differential micrite cementation. Coarse-grained heterolithic aquifer facies display sharp changes in permeability across planar to cross-bedded sets, related to current and wave energy fluctuations within shallow-marine depositional settings. Bedding plane orientation creates high permeability zones that promotes down dip subsurface flow. Down dip gradation of coarse-grained nearshore facies into fine-grained shelf facies along the paleo shoreline-shelf transect is suggested to promote lateral and vertical groundwater flow within the basin fill. Air permeameter techniques have potential for application within groundwater basins around the world, providing datasets that facilitate greater understanding of groundwater systems, informing practices and policies for targeted water quality management.


Assuntos
Água Subterrânea , Condutividade Elétrica , Nova Zelândia , Movimentos da Água , Qualidade da Água
20.
Virulence ; 11(1): 730-738, 2020 01 01.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32490754

RESUMO

The mounting evidence supporting the capacity of Plasmodium vivax to cause severe disease has prompted the need for a better characterization of the resulting clinical complications. India is making progress with reducing malaria, but epidemics of severe vivax malaria in Gujarat, one of the main contributors to the vivax malaria burden in the country, have been reported recently and may be the result of a decrease in transmission and immune development. Over a period of one year, we enrolled severe malaria patients admitted at the Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad, the largest city in Gujarat, to investigate the morbidity of severe vivax malaria compared to severe falciparum malaria. Patients were submitted to standard thorough clinical and laboratory investigations and only PCR-confirmed infections were selected for the present study. Severevivax malaria (30 patients) was more frequent than severe falciparum malaria (8 patients) in our setting, and it predominantly affected adults (median age 32 years, interquartile range 22.5 years). This suggests a potential age shift in anti-malarial immunity, likely to result from the recent decrease in transmission across India. The clinical presentation of severe vivax patients was in line with previous reports, with jaundice as the most common complication. Our findings further support the need for epidemiological studies combining clinical characterization of severe vivax malaria and serological evaluation of exposure markers to monitor the impact of elimination programmes.


Assuntos
Malária Vivax/epidemiologia , Índice de Gravidade de Doença , Adolescente , Adulto , Antimaláricos/uso terapêutico , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Feminino , Humanos , Índia/epidemiologia , Malária Vivax/tratamento farmacológico , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Plasmodium vivax/patogenicidade , Estudos Prospectivos , Adulto Jovem
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