Bioinformatics Insights on the Physicochemical Properties of SCN5A Mutant Proteins Associated with the Brugada Syndrome.

Background: The Brugada syndrome (BrS) is a heart rhythm condition that is commonly associated with a strong predisposition for sudden cardiac death. Malignant ventricular arrhythmias could occur secondary to the dysfunction of the cardiac sodium voltage-gated Na(v)1.5 channel (SCN5A).

Bioinformatics-based Characterization of the Sequence Variability of Zika Virus Polyprotein and Envelope Protein (E).

Background: Zika virus, which is widely spread and infects humans through the bites of and female mosquitoes, represents a serious global health issue.

Objective: The objective of the present study is to computationally characterize Zika virus polyproteins (UniProt Name: PRO_0000443018 [residues 1-3423], PRO_0000445659 [residues 1-3423] and PRO_0000435828 [residues 1-3419]) and their envelope proteins using their physico-chemical properties.

Methods: To achieve this, the Polarity Index Method (PIM) profile and the Protein Intrinsic Disorder Predisposition (PIDP) profile of 3 main groups of proteins were evaluated: structural proteins extracted from specific Databases, Zika virus polyproteins, and their envelope proteins (E) extracted from UniProt Database.

Bioinformatics characterisation of the (mutated) proteins related to Andersen-Tawil syndrome.

In the last two decades, a group of proteins whose mutations are associated with a disease manifested by episodes of muscle weakness (periodic paralysis), changes in heart rhythm (arrhythmia), and developmental abnormalities has been under constant study. This malady is known as Andersen-Tawil syndrome, with ~60% of cases of this syndrome being caused by 16 mutations in the KCNJ2 gene [UniProt ID: P63252-01-P63252-17]. In this work, we present a computational study designed to obtain a fingerprint of Andersen-Tawil mutated proteins and differentiate them from mutated proteins associated with Brugada syndrome and from functional groups of proteins belonging to APD3, UniProt, and CPPsite databases.

Molecular cloning and characterization of the crustacean hyperglycemic hormone cDNA from Litopenaeus schmitti. Functional analysis by double-stranded RNA interference technique.

The crustacean hyperglycemic hormone (CHH) plays an important role in the regulation of hemolymph glucose levels, but it is also involved in other functions such as growth, molting and reproduction. In the present study we describe the first CHH family gene isolated from the Atlantic Ocean shrimp Litopenaeus schmitti. Sequence analysis of the amplified cDNA fragment revealed a high nucleotide sequence identity with other CHHs.

Induction of brain glucose uptake by a factor secreted into cerebrospinal fluid.

It is well established that the carotid body receptors (CBR), at the bifurcation of the carotid artery, inform the brain of changes in the concentration of CO(2) and O(2) in arterial blood. More recent work suggests that these receptors are also extremely sensitive to blood glucose levels suggesting that they may play an important role as sensors of blood components important for brain energy metabolism. Much less is known about changes in brain glucose metabolism in response to CBR activation.