FLIM-FRET-Based Structural Characterization of a Class-A GPCR Dimer in the Cell Membrane.

Class-A G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are known to homo-dimerize in the membrane. Yet, methods to characterize the structure of GPCR dimer in the native environment are lacking. Accordingly, the molecular basis and functional relevance of the class-A GPCR dimerization remain unclear.

Specific activation of mGlu2 induced IGF-1R transactivation in vitro through FAK phosphorylation.

Metabotropic glutamate receptor 2 (mGlu2) belongs to the group-II metabotropic glutamate (mGlu) receptors and is a neurotransmitter G protein-coupled receptor. The group-II mGlu receptors are promising antipsychotic targets, but the specific role of mGlu2 signaling remains unclear. Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) are also believed to participate in brain pathogenesis.

Study on antitubercular constituents from the seeds of Nigella glandulifera.

Two new compounds with five known compounds have been isolated from EtOH extract of the seeds of Nigella glandulifera. On the basis of their spectroscopic and chemical evidence, the new compounds were elucidated as methoxynigeglanine (1) and 6-methoxythymol-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (4). Compounds 1-4 showed moderate antitubercular activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis strain H37Rv with minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of 32-250 µg/mL.