Investigating the Roles of Coat Protein and Triple Gene Block Proteins of Potato Mop-Top Virus Using a Heterologous Expression System.

Potato mop-top virus (PMTV) is an emerging viral pathogen that causes tuber necrosis in potatoes. PMTV is composed of three single-stranded RNA segments: RNA1 encodes RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, RNA2 contains the coat protein (CP), and RNA3 harbors a triple gene block (TGB 1, TGB2, and TGB3). CP plays a role in viral transmission, while TGB is known to facilitate cell-to-cell and long-distance systemic movement. The role of CP in symptom development, specifically in the presence of TGB genes, was investigated using potato virus X (PVX) as a delivery vehicle to express PMTV genes in the model plant Nicotiana benthamiana. Plants expressing individual genes showed mild symptoms that included leaf curling and crumpling. Interestingly, symptom severity varied among plants infected with three different combinations: CP with TGB1, CP with TGB2, and CP with TGB3. Notably, the combination of CP and TGB3 induced a hypersensitive response, accompanied by stunted growth and downward curling and crumpling. These results suggest the potential role of TGB co-expressed with CP in symptom development during PMTV infection. Additionally, this study demonstrates the use of the PVX-based expression system as a valuable platform for assessing the role of unknown genes in viral pathogenicity.

Molecular cloning, gene expression analysis, and in silico characterization of UDP-N-acetylglucosamine pyrophosphorylase from Bombyx mori.

The present study was aimed to explore the molecular and structural features of UDP-N-acetylglucosamine pyrophosphorylase of Bombyx mori (BmUAP), an essential enzyme for chitin synthesis in insects. The BmUAP cDNA sequence was cloned and expression profiles were monitored during the molting and feeding stages of silkworm larvae. The effect of 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) on BmUAP expression, and on silkworm molting was studied, which revealed that 20E regulates its expression. Multiple sequence alignment of various pyrophosphorylases revealed that the residues N223, G290, N327, and K407 of human UAP (PDB ID: 1JV1) were found to be highly conserved in BmUAP and all other eukaryotic UAPs considered for the study. Phylogenetic analysis inferred that the UAPs possess discrete variations in primary structure among different insect Orders while sharing good identity between species of the Order. The structure of BmUAP was predicted and its interactions with uridine triphosphate, N-acetylglucosamine-1-phosphate, and UDP-N-acetylglucosamine were analyzed. Virtual screening with a library of natural compounds resulted in five potential hits with good binding affinities. On further analysis, these five hits were found to be mimicking substrate and product, in inducing conformational changes in the active site. This work provides crucial information on molecular interactions and structural dynamics of insect UAPs.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of flavone-8-acrylamide derivatives as potential multi-target-directed anti Alzheimer agents and investigation of binding mechanism with acetylcholinesterase.

In a search for novel multifunctional anti-Alzheimer agents, a congeneric set of seventeen flavone-8-acrylamide derivatives (8a─q) were synthesized and evaluated for their cholinesterase inhibitory, antioxidant, neuroprotective and modulation of Aß aggregation activities. The target compounds showed effective and selective inhibitory activity against the AChE over BuChE. In addition, the target compounds also showed moderate anti-oxidant activity and strong neuroprotective capacities, and accelerated dosage-dependently the Aß aggregation. Also, we presented here a complete study on the interaction of 8a, 8d, 8e, 8h and 8i with AChE. Through fluorescence emission studies, the binding sites number found to be 1, binding constants were calculated as 2.04 × 104, 2.22 × 104, 1.18 × 104, 9.8 × 103 and 3.2 × 104 M-1 and free energy change as -5.83, -5.91, -5.51, -5.41 and -6.12 kcal M-1 at 25 °C which were well agreed with the computational calculations indicating a strong binding affinity of flavones and AChE. Furthermore, the CD studies revealed that the secondary structure of AChE became partly unfolded upon binding with 8a, 8d, 8e, 8h and 8i.

Purification and characterization of lipoxygenase from mung bean (Vigna radiata L.) germinating seedlings.

This study reports purification and characterization of lipoxygenase protein from mung bean germinating seedlings. Lipoxygenases (LOXs) are key enzymes in seed germination. The purified mung bean LOX has resolved into two peaks by chromatofocusing, one has highest LOX activity with an isoelectric point of 5.84 and the other has lowest LOX activity with an isoelectric point of 5.52. The purified LOX has molecular mass of approximately 97 kDa and showed high activity with linoleic acid than linolenic acid and arachidonic acid. The optimal activity of LOX was observed at pH 6.5 and temperature 35 °C. Far-UV circular dichroism (CD) studies revealed that the purified mung bean LOX possess secondary structural elements with significant α-helix and ß-strands. Further, the secondary structure of mung bean LOX was stable up to 60 °C at pH 6.5. Biophysical and chemical properties of the mung bean LOX are similar to the other legume LOXs and may be considered as type-1 LOX.

Synthesis, pharmacological assessment, molecular modeling and in silico studies of fused tricyclic coumarin derivatives as a new family of multifunctional anti-Alzheimer agents.

A series of fused tricyclic coumarin derivatives bearing iminopyran ring connected to various amido moieties were developed as potential multifunctional anti-Alzheimer agents for their cholinesterase inhibitory and radical scavenging activities. In vitro studies revealed that most of these compounds exhibited high inhibitory activity on acetylcholinesterase (AChE), with IC50 values ranging from 0.003 to 0.357 µM which is 2-220 folds more potent than the positive control, galantamine. Their inhibition selectivity against AChE over butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) has increased about 194 fold compared with galantamine. The developed compounds also showed potent ABTS radical scavenging activity (IC50 7.98-15.99 µM). Specifically, the most potent AChE inhibitor 6n (IC50 0.003 ± 0.0007 µM) has an excellent antioxidant profile as determined by the ABTS method (IC50 7.98 ± 0.77 µM). Moreover, cell viability studies in SK N SH cells showed that the compounds 6m-q have significant neuroprotective effects against H2O2-induced cell death, and are not neurotoxic at all concentrations except 6n and 6q. The kinetic analysis of compound 6n proved that it is a mixed-type inhibitor for EeAChE (Ki1 0.0103 µM and Ki2 0.0193 µM). Accordingly, the molecular modeling study demonstrated that 6m-q with substituted benzyl amido moiety possessed an optimal docking pose with interactions at catalytic active site (CAS) and peripheral anionic site (PAS) of AChE simultaneously and thereby they might prevent aggregation of Aß induced by AChE. Furthermore, in silico ADMET prediction studies indicated that these compounds satisfied all the characteristics of CNS acting drugs. Most active inhibitor 6n is permeable to BBB as determined in the in vivo brain AChE activity. To sum up, the multipotent therapuetic profile of these novel tricyclic coumarins makes them promising leads for developing anti-Alzheimer agents.