pH might play a role in regulating the function of paired amphipathic helices domains of human Sin3B by altering structure and thermodynamic stability.

Human Sin3B (hSin3B), a transcription regulator, is a scaffold protein that binds to different transcription factors and regulates transcription. It consists of six conserved domains that include four paired amphipathic helices (PAH 1-4), histone deacetylase interaction domain (HID), and highly conserved region (HCR). Interestingly, the PAH domains of hSin3B are significantly homologous to each other, yet each one interacts with a specific set of unique transcription factors. Though various partners interacting with hSin3B PAH domains have been characterized, there is no structural information available on the individual PAH domains of hSin3B. Here we characterize the structure and stability of different PAH domains of hSin3B at both nuclear and physiological pH values by using different optical probes. We found that the native state structure and stability of different PAH domains are different at nuclear pH where hSin3B performs its biological function. We also found that PAH2 and PAH3 behave differently at both nuclear and physiological pH in terms of native state structure and thermodynamic stability, while the structural identity of PAH1 remains unaltered at both pH values. The study indicates that the structural heterogeneity of different PAH domains might be responsible for having a unique set of interacting transcription factors.

Disturbed homocysteine metabolism is associated with cancer.

Hyperhomocysteinemia/Homocysteinuria is characterized by an increased level of toxic homocysteine in the plasma. The plasma concentration of homocysteine is 5-15 µmol/L in healthy individuals, while in hyperhomocysteinemic patients, it can be as high as 500 µmol/L. While increased homocysteine levels can cause symptoms such as osteoporosis and eye lens dislocation, high homocysteine levels are most closely associated with cardiovascular complications. Recent advances have shown that increased plasma Hcy is also a fundamental cause of neurodegenerative diseases (including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and dementia), diabetes, Down syndrome, and megaloblastic anemia, among others. In recent years, increased plasma homocysteine has also been shown to be closely related to cancer. In this review, we discuss the relation between elevated plasma Hcy levels and cancer, and we conclude that disturbed homocysteine metabolism is associated with cancer. Future clinical perspectives are also discussed.

Osmolytes in vaccine production, flocculation and storage: a critical review.

Small molecule osmolytes, responsible for protecting stresses have long been known to rescue proteins and enzymes from loss of function. In addition to protecting macromolecules integrity, many osmolytes also act as potential antioxidant and also help to prevent protein aggregation, amyloid formation or misfolding, and therefore are considered promising molecules for neurodegenerative and many other genetic diseases. Osmolytes are also known to be involved in the regulation of several key immunological processes. In the present review we discuss in detail the effect of these compounds on important aspects of vaccines i.e., increasing the efficiency, production and purification steps. The present review therefore will help researchers to make a better strategy in vaccine production to formulation by incorporating specific and appropriate osmolytes in the processes.