A Fluorescence-Based Assay for N -Carboxyaminoimidazole Ribonucleotide Mutase.

The enzyme N -carboxylaminoinidazole ribonucleotide (N -CAIR) mutase is found in microbial de novo purine biosynthesis but is absent in humans making it an attractive antimicrobial target. N -CAIR mutase catalyzes the synthesis of carboxyaminoimidazole ribonucleotide (CAIR) from N -CAIR which is itself prepared from aminoimidazole ribonucleotide (AIR) by the enzyme N -CAIR synthetase. During our research on identifying inhibitors of N -CAIR mutase, we developed an innovative, fluorescence-based assay to measure the activity of this enzyme.

Window to His World: Using a Patient's YouTube Channel to Help Diagnose Chronic Mania.

Although chronic mania has been investigated, with several case reports and systematic retrospective cohort studies in the literature, it not a widely recognized entity. No specific definition for chronic mania is provided in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). Furthermore, it is challenging to identify patients with chronic mania unless they come to the attention of the legal or medical system.

Isatins Inhibit N-CAIR Synthetase by a Substrate Depletion Mechanism.

The continued rise of antibiotic-resistant infections coupled with the limited pipeline of new antimicrobials highlights the pressing need for the development of new antibacterial agents. One potential pathway for new agents is de novo purine biosynthesis as studies have shown that bacteria and lower eukaryotes synthesize purines differently than humans. Microorganisms utilize two enzymes, N-CAIR synthetase and N-CAIR mutase, to convert 5-aminoimidazole ribonucleotide (AIR) into 4-carboxy-5-aminoimidazole ribonucleotide (CAIR) through the intermediate N-carboxy-5-aminoimidazole ribonucleotide (N-CAIR).

Functional analysis of the CpsA protein of Streptococcus agalactiae.

Streptococcal pathogens, such as the group B streptococcus (GBS) Streptococcus agalactiae, are an important cause of systemic disease, which is facilitated in part by the presence of a polysaccharide capsule. The CpsA protein is a putative transcriptional regulator of the capsule locus, but its exact contribution to regulation is unknown. To address the role of CpsA in regulation, full-length GBS CpsA and two truncated forms of the protein were purified and analyzed for DNA-binding ability.

C/EBPβ mediates growth hormone-regulated expression of multiple target genes.

Regulation of c-Fos transcription by GH is mediated by CCAAT/enhancer binding protein β (C/EBPβ). This study examines the role of C/EBPβ in mediating GH activation of other early response genes, including Cyr61, Btg2, Socs3, Zfp36, and Socs1. C/EBPβ depletion using short hairpin RNA impaired responsiveness of these genes to GH, as seen for c-Fos.

Restriction of rift valley Fever virus virulence in mosquito cells.

Arboviruses are maintained in a natural cycle that requires blood-sucking arthropod and vertebrate hosts. Arboviruses are believed to persistently infect their arthropod host without overt pathology and cause acute infection with viremia in their vertebrate host. We have focused on elucidating how a specific arbovirus, Rift Valley fever (RVF) virus, causes cytopathic effect in cells derived from vertebrates and non-cytopathic infection in cells derived from arthropods.