Antimicrobial and antioxidant chlorinated azaphilones from mangrove Diaporthe perseae sp. isolated from the stem of Chinese mangrove Pongamia pinnata.

Many plants remain unexplored for their endophytic fungi that may possess potentially important phytochemicals. Consequently, we have focused to discover new natural products from endophytic fungus Diaporthe perseae sp. isolated from the stem of the Chinese mangrove Pongamia pinnata (L.) Pierre plant that led to the isolation of one new chlorinated isochromophilone G (1) along with six known azaphilones (2-7). The structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated by UV, NMR and Mass spectroscopic analysis. All the isolated compounds were screened for their antimicrobial and anti-oxidant activities.

Investigating the Impact of Various Parameters On the Activity of Acid Phosphatases from Seedlings of Coronopus didymus.

The thermal stability of purified acid phosphatase from the germinating seedlings of Coronopus didymus (Jangli halon) was investigated by studying the impact of various thermodynamic parameters [t1/2, Ed, ΔH° (enthalpy change), ΔG° (free energy change), and ΔS° (entropy change)] of heat treatment in the temperature range of 55-75 °C. The thermal denaturation of acid phosphatase, assessed by loss in activity, was evidently followed by first-order kinetics, which varies with time and yield during the process of denaturation. The half-life of the enzyme was 693 min at 55 °C. The Ed (activation energy of denaturation) was calculated by the Arrhenius plot (30 kcal mol-1), and the Z-value was 17.3 °C. The various thermodynamic parameters studied were as follows: ΔH°, the change in enthalpy of inactivation, was 121.93 kJ mol-1 at 55 °C; ΔG°, the change in free energy of inactivation, was 110.65 kJ mol-1 at 55 °C; and ΔS°, the change in entropy of inactivation, was 34.39 J mol-1 k-1 at 55 °C. This suggests that acid phosphatase activity is thermostable to long heat treatment up to 60 °C.

Isolation and biochemical characterization of novel acid phosphatase and zinc-dependent acid phosphatase from the chicken's brain.

The AcPase exhibits a specific activity of 31.32 U/mg of protein with a 728-fold purification, and the yield of the enzyme is raised to 3.15 %. The Zn2+-dependent AcPase showed a purification factor of 1.34 specific activity of 14 U/mg of proteins and a total recovery of 5.14. The SDS-PAGE showed a single band corresponding to a molecular weight of 18 kDa of AcPase and 29 kDa of Zn2+-dependent AcPase. The AcPase enzyme has shown a wide range of substrate specificity for p-NPP, phenyl phosphate and FMN, while in the case of ZnAcPase α and ß-Naphthyl phosphate and p-NPP were proved to be superior substrates. The divalent metal ions like Mg2+, Mn2+, and Ca2+ increased the activity, while other substrates decreased the enzyme activity. The Km (0.14 mM) and Vmax (21 µmol/min/mg) values of AcPase were higher than those of Zn2+-AcPase (Km = 0.5 mM; Vmax = 9.7 µmol/min/mg). The Zn2+ ions activate the Zn2+-AcPase while Fe3+, Al3+, Pb2+, and Hg2+ showed inhibition on enzyme activity. Molybdate, vanadate and phosphate were found to be competitive inhibitors of AcPase with Ki values 316 µM, 185 µM, and 1.6 mM, while in Zn2+-AcPase tartrate and phosphate also showed competitive inhibition with Ki values 3 mM and 0.5 mM respectively.

Structural and Functional Characterization of Novel Phosphotyrosine Phosphatase Protein from Drosophila melanogaster (Pupal Retina).

A novel pair of protein tyrosine phosphatases in Drosophila melanogaster (pupal retina) has been identified. Phosphotyrosyl protein phosphatases (PTPs) are structurally diverse enzymes increasingly recognized as having a fundamental role in cellular processes including effects on metabolism, cell proliferation, and differentiation. This study presents identification of novel sequences of PTPs and their comparative homology modeling from Drosophila melanogaster (Dr-PTPs) and complexation with the potent inhibitor HEPES. The 3D structure was predicted based on sequence homology with bovine heart low molecular weight PTPs (Bh-PTPs). The sequence homologies are approximately 50% identical to each other and to low molecular weight protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) in other species. Comparison of the 3D structures of Bh-PTPs and Dr-PTPs (primo-2) reveals a remarkable similarity having a four stranded central parallel ß sheet with flanking α helices on both sides, showing two right handed ß-α-ß motifs. The inhibitor shows similar binding features as seen in other PTPs. The study also highlights the key catalytic residues important for target recognition and PTPs' activation. The structure guided studies of both proteins clearly reveal a common mechanism of action and inhibitor binding at the active site and will be expected to contribute toward the basic understanding of functional association of this enzyme with other molecules.

A novel homozygous truncating variant in PPFIBP1 further delineates PPFIBP1-associated neurodevelopmental disorder.

Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) are classified as a group of disorders affecting function and development of the brain and having wide clinical variability. Herein, we describe two affected individuals segregating a recessive NDD. The affected individuals exhibited phenotypes such as global developmental delay (GDD), intellectual disability (ID), microcephaly and speech delay. Whole-exome sequencing (WES) followed by bidirectional Sanger sequencing techniques identified a homozygous nonsense variant (c.466C > T; p.Gln156*) in the PPFIBP1 gene (NM_003622.4) that segregated with the disease phenotype. Further, to elucidate the effect of the variant on protein structure, 3D protein modelling was performed for the mutant and normal protein that suggested substantial reduction of the mutant protein. Our data support the evidence that PPFIBP1 has a pivotal role in neurodevelopment in humans, and loss-of-function variants cause clinically variable neurodevelopmental phenotypes.

Regulation of Host Immune Response against Enterobacter cloacae Proteins via Computational mRNA Vaccine Design through Transcriptional Modification.

Enterobacter cloacae is mainly responsible for sepsis, urethritis, and respiratory tract infections. These bacteria may affect the transcription of the host and particularly their immune system by producing changes in their epigenetics. In the present study, four proteins of Enterobacter cloacae were used to predict the epitopes for the construction of an mRNA vaccine against Enterobacter cloacae infections. In order to generate cellular and humoral responses, various immunoinformatic-based approaches were used for developing the vaccine. The molecular docking analysis was performed for predicting the interaction among the chosen epitopes and corresponding MHC alleles. The vaccine was developed by combining epitopes (thirty-three total), which include the adjuvant Toll-like receptor-4 (TLR4). The constructed vaccine was analyzed and predicted to cover 99.2% of the global population. Additionally, in silico immunological modeling of the vaccination was also carried out. When it enters the cytoplasm of the human (host), the codon is optimized to generate the translated mRNA efficiently. Moreover, the peptide structures were analyzed and docked with TLR-3 and TLR-4. A dynamic simulation predicted the stability of the binding complex. The assumed construct was considered to be a potential candidate for a vaccine against Enterobacter cloacae infections. Hence, the proposed construct is suitable for in vitro analyses to validate its effectiveness.

Kinetic and thermodynamic studies of novel acid phosphates extracted from Cichorium intybus seedlings.

Herein for the first time a novel acid phosphatase from the seedlings of Cichorium intybus was purified to homogeneity by using various chromatographic techniques (salt precipitation, ion exchange, size exclusion and affinity chromatography) and thermodynamically characterized. The molecular mass of purified enzyme (66 kDa) was determined by SDS-PAGE under denaturing and non-denaturing conditions and by gel-filtration confirmed as dimer of molecular mass 130 kDa. The Michaelis-Menten (Km) constant for -p-NPP (0.3 mM) and (7.6 µmol/min/mg) Vmax. The enzyme was competitively inhibited by phosphate, molybdate and vanadate. Phenyl phosphate, ɑ and ß-glycero-phosphate and-p-NPP were found to be good substrate. When temperature increased from (55 °C to 75 °C), the deactivation rate constant (kd) was increased (0.1 to 4.6 min-1) and half- life was decreased from 630 min to 15 min. Various thermal denaturation parameters; change in enthalpy (ΔH°), change in entropy (ΔS°) and change in free energy (ΔG°) were found 121.93 KJ·mol-1, 72.45 KJ·mol-1 and 98.08 KJ·mol-1 respectively, confirming that acid phosphatase undergoes a significant process of unfolding during deactivation. The biochemical properties of acid phosphatase from C. intybus on the behalf of biological activity and its relationship to pH variations, thermal deactivation and kinetics parameters provide an insight into its novel features.

Investigating the thermodynamic and kinetics properties of acid phosphatase extracted and purified from seedlings of Chenopodium murale.

Herein acid phosphatase isoenzyme was extracted from the C. murale seedlings. The purification was accomplished by chromatographic techniques and passing through DEAE-cellulose and Sephadex G-100 column. The specific activity of acid phosphatase 5.75 U/mg of protein was obtained with 66 purification fold 15.8% yield and molecular mass was 29 kDa with very faint bands corresponding to 18 kDa and 14 kDa. The maximal activity at pH 5.0 and 50 °C best illustrated by first order kinetics. When temperature was raised (55 °C to 75 °C), the deactivation rate constant was increased from 0.001 to 0.014 min-1, while half-life was decreased from 693 to 49 min-1. The results of activity collected at different temperature were then used to estimate, activation energy of hydrolysis reaction (Ea = 47.59 kJmol-1). A high Z-value (18.86 °C min-1) was obtained indicating a less sensitivity towards temperatures. The residual activity examinations were carried out from 55 °C to 75 °C and assessing the Deactivation Energy (Ed 116.39 kJmol-1), Enthalpy change (ΔH° 113.55kJmol-1), Entropy change (ΔS° 110.33kJmol-1) and change in Gibbs free energy (ΔG° 10.02 kJmol-1). Taken together, thermodynamic parameters confirm the high stability of enzyme and show potential commercial applicability.

An 18 kDa acid phosphatase from chicken heart possesses phosphotransferase activity.

A low molecular weight acid phosphatase was purified to homogeneity from chicken heart with a specific activity of 42 U/mg and a recovery of about 1%. Nearly 800 fold purification was achieved. The molecular weight was estimated to be 18 kDa by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Para-nitrophenyl phosphate, phenyl phosphate and flavin mononucleotide were efficiently hydrolysed by the enzyme and found to be good substrates. Fluoride and tartrate had no inhibitory effect while phosphate, vanadate and molybdate strongly inhibited the enzyme. The acid phosphatase was stimulated in the presence of glycerol, ethylene glycol, methanol, ethanol and acetone, which reflected the phosphotransferase activity. When phosphate acceptors such as ethylene glycol concentrations were increased, the ratio of phosphate transfer to hydrolysis was also increased, demonstrating the presence of a transphosphorylation reaction where an acceptor can compete with water in the rate limiting step involving hydrolysis of a covalent phospho enzyme intermediate. Partition experiments carried out with two substrates, para-nitrophenyl phosphate and phenyl phosphate, revealed a constant product ratio of 1.7 for phosphotransfer to ethylene glycol versus hydrolysis, strongly supporting the existence of common covalent phospho enzyme intermediate. A constant ratio of K (cat)/K (m), 4.3 x 10(4), found at different ethylene glycol concentrations, also supported the idea that the rate limiting step was the hydrolysis of the phospho enzyme intermediate.

Visible light photo catalytic inactivation of bacteria and photo degradation of methylene blue with Ag/TiO2 nanocomposite prepared by a novel method.

Water purification is one of the worldwide problem and most of the conventional methods are associated with a number of drawbacks. Therefore it is the need of the day to develop new methods and materials to overcome the problem of water purification. In this research work we present a simple and green approach to synthesize silver decorated titanium dioxide (Ag/TiO2) nanocomposite with an efficient photo catalytic activities. Phytochemicals of the Cestrum nocturnum leaf extract were used to synthesize silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), Titanium dioxide (TiO2) and Ag/TiO2 nanocomposite. To confirm the formation, crystal structure, particle size and shape of green synthesized nanoparticles and nanocomposite, they were characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy (UV-vis), X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The AgNPs, TiO2 and Ag/TiO2 were evaluated for photo degradation of methylene blue (MB) and photo inhibition of Bacteria. The bio-synthesized Ag/TiO2 nanocomposite was observed to have strong catalytic activities for photo reduction of MB and photo inactivation of bacteria as compared to bare AgNPs and TiO2. In the presence of Ag/TiO2, 90% of MB was degraded only in 40min of irradiation. Alternatively the bare AgNPs and TiO2 degraded less than 30% and 80% respectively of MB even in more than 100min of irradiation. Similarly the Ag/TiO2 has very strong photo inhibition efficiency towards Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The zone of inhibition of irradiated Ag/TiO2 nanocomposites against E. coli and P. aeruginosa was 19mm and 17mm respectively which was two times higher than in dark. These promising photocatalytic activities of nanocomposite may be due to the highly decorated AgNPs over the surface of TiO2.

Comparison of unfractionated heparin vs low molecular weight heparin in the treatment of acute deep vein thrombosis.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the results of unfractionated heparin (UFH) with low molecular weight heparin in the treatment of acute deep vein thrombosis of lower limb. DESIGN: Randomized control trial. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Bolan Medical Complex Hospital, Quetta from January 2002 to July 2003. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty patients who presented with acute deep vein thrombosis of lower limb, confirmed by either Doppler ultrasonography or venography, were selected for the study. Patients were divided randomly into two groups for treatment. Group 1 was started with unfractionated heparin while group 2 with low molecular weight heparin. Comparison of two treatments to determine the efficacy was done by certain criteria like pain improvement, reduction in swelling, alteration in bleeding profile, complications of therapy, recurrence, morbidity and mortality. RESULTS: The age of the patients ranged from 16-82 years. There were 15 females (50.00%) and 15 males (50.00%). Pain and swelling were present in all patients (100%), while temperature and superficial vein dilation in 43.3% and 30% respectively. The distribution of DVT in left lower limb was in 13 patients (43.33%), right lower limb involvement in 12 patients (40.00%) and both limbs involvement in 5 patients (16.67%). In group 1 improvement in pain occurred after 4th day in 13 patients, while in group 2 before 4th day in 8 patients (p-value = 0.068). Improvement in swelling was observed after 6th day in 11 patients (group 1), while before 6th day in 8 patients (group 2) (p-value = 0.171). Bleeding time was prolonged in 5 patients in group 1 and statistically found significant (p-value = 0.014), while in group 2 it was normal. Thromboembolism in 3 patients and major bleeding was observed in 2 patients in group 1, while in group 2 it was normal. Recurrence was reported in 2 patients in group 1 and 1 patient in group 2 (p-value 0.0815). The hospital stay was more than 10 days in group 1 (12 patients), and less than 10 days in group 2 (13 patients). It was found statistically significant (p-value = 0.001). Three patients died in group 1, while no mortality was observed in group 2. CONCLUSION: Treatment with low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) has good patient compliance and is easy to administer. LMWH has an advantage over UFH due to its normal bleeding profile and significantly less hospital stay.

Diagnostic yield of color Doppler ultrasonography in deep vein thrombosis.

OBJECTIVE: To see the diagnostic yield of color Doppler ultrasonography in patients who presented with clinical symptoms and signs of acute deep vein thrombosis of lower limb. DESIGN: Descriptive study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: The study was carried out in Bolan Medical Complex Hospital, Quetta from January 2002 to December 2002. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Twenty five patients, who presented with clinical symptoms and signs of acute deep venous thrombosis of lower limb, were selected. In all patients color Doppler ultrasound and venography was performed to compare the results. RESULTS: The age of the patients ranged from 16-82 +/- 20.33 years. The mean was 49.16, median 50.00 and mode 60.00 There were 15 females (60.00%) and 10 males (40.00%). Left lower limb involvement was seen in 12 patients (48.00% +/- 0.51), right lower limb involvement in 10 patients (40.00% +/- 0.50) and both limbs involvement in 3.0 patients (12.00% +/- 0.33). Color Doppler ultrasound was positive in 16 patients (64.00% +/- 0.48) while venography was positive in 21 patients (84.00% +/- 0.37%). Doppler ultrasonography and venography showed that 11 patients (52.38%) had distal DVT, while 10 patients (47.62%) had distal as well as proximal DVT. Ten patients (100.00%) of proximal as well as distal DVT were diagnosed by CDU and later confirmed by venography. Eleven patients (100.00%) of distal DVT only in whom 6 patients (54.54%) were diagnosed by CDU, while 5 patients (45.46%) had inconclusive findings, which were confirmed by venography. Doppler ultrasonography compared venography showed sensitivity 76.1%, specificity 100%, positive predictive value 100%, negative predictive value 44.45% and accuracy 80.00%. CONCLUSION: Color Doppler ultrasonography is a non-invasive, safe, efficient and cost-effective method in diagnosing acute deep venous thrombosis of lower limb but still it has not 100% accuracy. It is better for diagnosing proximal DVT than distal DVT. 7.

Antibacterial, antifungal, antispasmodic and Ca++ antagonist effects of Caesalpinia bonducella.

Caesalpinia bonducella F. (Leguminosae) has been used as a folk medicine for a variety of ailments. The crude extract of C. bonducella and its fractions were studied for antibacterial, antifungal, antispasmodic and Ca++ antagonistic properties. The strongest antibacterial effect was displayed by the n-butanol (72%) and ethyl acetate (80%) fractions, followed by the crude extract (46% and 42%), against Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis, respectively. The plant extract and its fractions showed mild to excellent activity in antifungal bioassays, with maximum antifungal activity against Candida glaberata (80%) and Aspergillus flavus (70%) by the n-butanol and chloroform fractions, followed by the crude extract (70% and 65%). Caesalpinia bonducella extract caused concentration-dependent inhibition of spontaneous and high K+ (80 mM)-induced contractions of isolated rabbit jejunum preparations, similar to that caused by Verapamil. These results indicate that C. bonducella exhibits antibacterial, antifungal, spasmolytic and Ca++ channel blocking actions.

Purification and biochemical characterization of alkaline serine protease from Caesalpinia bonducella.

A high molecular weight serine protease has been purified to electrophoretic homogeneity from the seeds of Caesalpinia bonducella Flem. (Caesalpiniaceae) by the combination of size exclusion and ion exchange chromatography. About 524 fold purification was achieved with an overall recovery of 6.8%. The specific activity was found to be 86 U/mg/min at pH 8.0. The calculated K(m) and V(max) were 1.66 mg/mL and 496.68 units/min per mg of protein, respectively. The molecular mass was estimated to be about 63 kDa by sodium dodecyl sulfate PAGE. The enzyme showed optimum activity at pH 8.0 and exhibited its highest activity at 40 degrees C. The enzyme was strongly inhibited by 2mM phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF), suggesting the presence of a serine residue at the active site. PMSF showed a pure competitive type of inhibition with the serine protease enzyme. It was observed that enzyme activity was enhanced in the presence of dications and was active against a variety of modified substrates and natural proteins.

Acid phosphatases from the liver of Labeo rohita: purification and characterization.

Low molecular weight acid phosphatase (LM-ACP) peak 2 (the isoenzyme corresponding to isoform 2, IF-2) from the liver of fish Rahu (Labeo rohita) was purified to homogeneity. 900 times purification resulted with specific activity of 35 U/mg of protein and recovery of 0.2%. The enzyme was found homogeneous on sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Molecular weight of 18 killo Daltons (kDa) was obtained. The peak 1 isoenzyme corresponding to isoform1 (IF-1) was partially purified about 160 times with specific activity of 7 U/mg of protein. Major protein band corresponding to 18 kDa was seen along with other protein faint bands. High molecular weight acid phosphatase (HM-ACP) was also partially purified. The molecular weight was estimated to be a 100 kDa by gel filtration on Sephadex G-100. LM-ACP isoenzymes and HM-ACP enzyme were studied for their substrate specificity, sensitivity to inhibitors or activators and other kinetic parameters. LM-ACP isoenzymes were not inhibited by tartrate and fluoride but were inhibited by sulfhydryl reagent whereas high molecular weight enzyme was strongly inhibited by fluoride and tartrate. Phosphate vanadate and molybdate inhibited both types of enzymes competitively, but their action was more pronounced in HM-ACP enzyme. LM-ACP was effectively activated by purine compounds whereas HM-ACP was not. LM-ACP showed strict substrate specificity while HM-ACP showed broad substrate specificity. The two types of acid phosphatases also differed in their rate of hydrolysis of alpha-naphthyl phosphate and beta-glyerophosphate.