Noise in supercontinuum generated using PM and non-PM tellurite glass all-normal dispersion fibers.

Intensity fluctuations in supercontinuum generation are studied in polarization-maintaining (PM) and non-PM all-normal dispersion tellurite photonic crystal fibers. Dispersive Fourier transformation is used to resolve the shot-to-shot spectra generated using 225-fs pump pulses at 1.55 m, with experimental results well reproduced by vector and scalar numerical simulations.

Tau protein- induced sequestration of the eukaryotic ribosome: Implications in neurodegenerative disease.

The human tau is a microtubule-associated intrinsically unstructured protein that forms intraneuronal cytotoxic deposits in neurodegenerative diseases, like tauopathies. Recent studies indicate that in Alzheimer's disease, ribosomal dysfunction might be a crucial event in the disease pathology. Our earlier studies had demonstrated that amorphous protein aggregation in the presence of ribosome can lead to sequestration of the ribosomal components.

Nested capillary anti-resonant silica fiber with mid-infrared transmission and low bending sensitivity at 4000 nm.

We report a silica glass nested capillary anti-resonant nodeless fiber with transmission and low bending sensitivity in the mid-infrared around 4000 nm. The fiber is characterized in terms of transmission over 1700-4200 nm wavelengths, revealing a mid-infrared 3500-4200 nm transmission window, clearly observable for a 12 m long fiber. Bending loss around 4000 nm is 0.

Withaferin A induced impaired autophagy and unfolded protein response in human breast cancer cell-lines MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231.

The autophagy-lysosome pathway and the ubiquitin-proteasome systems are the two major routes for eukaryotic intracellular protein clearance. Cancerous cells often display elevated protein synthesis and byproduct disposal, thus, inhibition of the protein degradation pathways became an emerging approach for cancer therapy. The present study revealed that withaferin-A (WA), the biologically active withanolide derived from Withania somnifera, initially induced formation of autophagosomes in human breast cancer cell-lines, MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231.

Sequestration of Ribosome during Protein Aggregate Formation: Contribution of ribosomal RNA.

An understanding of the mechanisms underlying protein aggregation and cytotoxicity of the protein aggregates is crucial in the prevention of several diseases in humans. Ribosome, the cellular protein synthesis machine is capable of acting as a protein folding modulator. The peptidyltransferase center residing in the domain V of large ribosomal subunit 23S rRNA is the centre for the protein folding ability of the ribosome and is also the cellular target of several antiprion compounds.

The ribosome can prevent aggregation of partially folded protein intermediates: studies using the Escherichia coli ribosome.

Background: Molecular chaperones that support de novo folding of proteins under non stress condition are classified as chaperone 'foldases' that are distinct from chaperone' holdases' that provide high affinity binding platform for unfolded proteins and prevent their aggregation specifically under stress conditions. Ribosome, the cellular protein synthesis machine can act as a foldase chaperone that can bind unfolded proteins and release them in folding competent state. The peptidyl transferase center (PTC) located in the domain V of the 23S rRNA of Escherichia coli ribosome (bDV RNA) is the chaperoning center of the ribosome.

Hydrogen peroxide induces apoptosis-like death in Entamoeba histolytica trophozoites.

Programmed cell death (PCD) is an essential process in the growth and development of multicellular organisms. However, accumulating evidence indicates that unicellular eukaryotes can also undergo PCD with apoptosis-like features. This study demonstrates that after exposure to 0.

Oxidative stress-induced cell cycle blockage and a protease-independent programmed cell death in microaerophilic Giardia lamblia.

Giardia lamblia is a microaerophilic human gastrointestinal parasite and considered as an early-diverged eukaryote. In vitro oxidative stress generation plays a significant role in cell cycle progression and cell death of this parasite. In the present study hydrogen peroxide, metronidazole, and a modified growth medium without cysteine and ascorbic acid have been chosen as oxidative stress-inducing agents.

Alprazolam intercalates into DNA.

In vitro interaction of a benzodiazepine group of drugs Alprazolam (Alp), a hypnotic and tranquilizer, with DNA was studied by various methods. Absorption spectrophotometric study showed that Alp binds strongly with supercoiled pUC 19 DNA and the calculated binding constant is 8.245x10(3) M(-1) in 10 mM Tris-Cl buffer, pH 7.

Uptake of Pb(2+ )by a cyanobacterium belonging to the genus Synechocystis, isolated from East Kolkata Wetlands.

East Kolkata Wetlands is a conserved wetland utilizing sewage and garbage, generated by Kolkata Municipal Corporation area for cultivation purpose. Cyanobacteria are the photosynthetic prokaryotes having bioremedial capacity. We have isolated a cyanobacterium from the sewage recycling fish-pond of East Kolkata Wetlands.

Role of MMP-2 in inhibiting Na+ dependent Ca2+ uptake by H2O2 in microsomes isolated from pulmonary smooth muscle.

Treatment of microsomes (preferentially enriched with endoplasmic reticulum) isolated from bovine pulmonary artery smooth muscle tissue with H2O2 (1 mM) markedly stimulated matrix metalloproteinase activity and also inhibited Na+ dependent Ca2+ uptake. Electron micrograph revealed that H2O2 (1 mM) does not cause any damage to the microsomes. MMP-2 and TIMP-2 were determined to be the ambient protease and corresponding antiprotease of the microsomes.