Physiological role for S-nitrosylation of RyR1 in skeletal muscle function and development.

Excitation-contraction coupling in skeletal muscle myofibers depends upon Ca release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum through the ryanodine receptor/Ca-release channel RyR1. The RyR1 contains ∼100 Cys thiols of which ∼30 comprise an allosteric network subject to posttranslational modification by S-nitrosylation, S-palmitoylation and S-oxidation. However, the role and function of these modifications is not understood.

A Rare Case of Cystic Artery Pseudoaneurysm because of Cholecystitis Managed with Non-invasive Technique.

Cystic artery pseudoaneurysm due to acute on chronic cholecystitis is very rare in spite of the high incidence of cholecystitis, and very few cases have been reported in the literature. Most of the pseudoaneurysms are symptomatic at the time of diagnosis due to rupture. Very few cases of unruptured cystic artery pseudoaneurysm caused by cholecystitis have been reported in the literature.

Kisspeptin modulation of nonapeptide and cytochrome P450 aromatase mRNA expression in the brain and ovary of the catfish Heteropneustes fossilis: in vivo and in vitro studies.

In Heteropneustes fossilis, kisspeptins (Kiss) and nonapeptides (NPs; vasotocin, Vt; isotocin, Itb; Val8-isotocin, Ita) stimulate the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis, and estrogen feedback modulates the expression of these systems. In this study, functional interactions among these regulatory systems were demonstrated in the brain and ovary at the mRNA expression level. Human KISS1 (hKISS1) and H.

Bioinspired fabrication of zinc hydroxide-based nanostructure from lignocellulosic biomass Litchi chinensis leaves and its efficacy evaluation on antibacterial, antioxidant, and anticancer activity.

Zinc-based nanostructures are known for their numerous potential biomedical applications. In this context, the biosynthesis of nanostructures using plant extracts has become a more sustainable and promising alternative to effectively replace conventional chemical methods while avoiding their toxic impact. In this study, following a low-temperature calcination process, a green synthesis of Zn-hydroxide-based nanostructure has been performed using an aqueous extract derived from the leaves of Litchi chinensis, which is employed as a lignocellulose waste biomass known to possess a variety of phytocompounds.

Mining Chemogenomic Spaces for Prediction of Drug-Target Interactions.

The pipeline of drug discovery consists of a number of processes; drug-target interaction determination is one of the salient steps among them. Computational prediction of drug-target interactions can facilitate in reducing the search space of experimental wet lab-based verifications steps, thus considerably reducing time and other resources dedicated to the drug discovery pipeline. While machine learning-based methods are more widespread for drug-target interaction prediction, network-centric methods are also evolving.

Regulation of steroid production and key genes in catfish Heteropneustes fossilis using recombinant gonadotropins.

The two gonadotropins, FSH and LH, stimulate growth and development of the gonads through gonadal biosynthesis of steroid hormones and growth factors. To date, cDNA sequences encoding gonadotropin subunits have been isolated and characterized from a large number of fish species. Recently, we successfully cloned and characterized gonadotropins (LHβ, FSHβ, and GPα) from the pituitary glands of the catfish, Heteropneustes fossilis.

Catecholamines modulate differentially nonapeptide precursor mRNA expression in the preoptic area and ovary of the catfish Heteropneustes fossilis: An in vitro study.

In the catfish Heteropneustes fossilis, three nonapeptide hormone genes were identified in the brain preoptic area (POA) and ovary: a pro-vasotocin (pro-vt) and two isotocin gene paralogs viz., a novel pro-ita and conventional pro-itb. In the present study, the regulatory role of catecholamines [CA: dopamine (DA), noradrenaline (NA), adrenaline (AD)] on the expression of these genes were investigated in vitro.

Reproductive roles of the vasopressin/oxytocin neuropeptide family in teleost fishes.

The vertebrate nonapeptide families arginine vasopressin (AVP) and oxytocin (OXT) are considered to have evolved from a single vasopressin-like peptide present in invertebrates and termed arginine vasotocin in early vertebrate evolution. Unprecedented genome sequence availability has more recently allowed new insight into the evolution of nonapeptides and especially their receptor families in the context of whole genome duplications. In bony fish, nonapeptide homologues of AVP termed arginine vasotocin (Avp) and an OXT family peptide (Oxt) originally termed isotocin have been characterized.

Elevated Circulatory Proline to Glutamine Ratio (PQR) in Endometriosis and Its Potential as a Diagnostic Biomarker.

Endometriosis (EM) is a hormone-dependent gynecological disease associated with chronic pelvic pain and altered immuno-inflammatory processes. It shares some cancer-like characteristics such as increased proline biosynthesis and activated glutaminolysis. Both proline and glutamine are interconvertible metabolically, and studies have shown their roles in cancer cell metabolic reprogramming, redox homeostasis, occurrence/development of endometrial carcinoma, and its further progression toward the malignant state.

Air sac and gill vasotocin receptor gene expression in the air-breathing catfish Heteropneustes fossilis exposed to water and air deprivation conditions.

Heteropneustes fossilis is a facultative air-breathing freshwater catfish and inhabits ponds, ditches, swamps, marshes and rivers that dry up in summers. It possesses a pair of unique tubular accessory respiratory organ (air sac), which is a modification of the gill chamber and enables it to live in water-air transition zones. In the catfish, three vasotocin (Vt) receptor gene paralogs viz.

screening of (PTY-2) for targeting COVID-19 by countering dual targets M and TMPRSS2.

COVID-19 pandemic was started in Wuhan city of China in December 2019; immensely affected global population. Herein, an effort was made to identify potential inhibitors from active phytochemicals of (PTY-2) via molecular docking study. Our study showed five potential inhibitors (Robinin, Genistin, Daidzin, Hydroxytuberosone, Tuberostan) against M and five inhibitors (Robinin, Anhydrotuberosin, Daidzin, Hydroxytuberosone, Stigmasterol) against TMPRSS2.

Vaccine against SARS-CoV-2: Challenges and considerations.

It is essential to consider challenges previously faced and addressed while developing a vaccine against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Considering the severity of the health crisis that SARS-CoV-2 has caused worldwide, and with so little known about the virus, our focus should be drawn towards approaches that can bring better development outcomes in a relatively short period of time. This commentary discusses the use of nucleic acid (deoxyribonucleic acid and ribonucleic acid) vaccines against viral infections and pandemic-like settings.

Vasotocin stimulates maturation-inducing hormone, oocyte maturation and ovulation in the catfish Heteropneustes fossilis: Evidence for a preferential calcium involvement.

Arginine vasotocin (VT) is the basic neurohypophysial nonapeptide hormone in teleosts. VT is also distributed in the ovary of the catfish Heteropneustes fossilis and induces final oocyte maturation (FOM) and ovulation by stimulating the maturation-inducing hormone (MIH). The present study reports the effects of cAMP (0.

Cloning and characterization of estrogen hydroxylase (cyp1a1 and cyp1b1) genes in the stinging catfish Heteropneustes fossilis and induction of mRNA expression during final oocyte maturation.

Estrogen hydroxylases (EHs) are cytochrome P450 Family 1 (Cyp1, Clan 2) proteins involved in estrogen hydroxylations at 2-, 4- or 16- carbon positions to form catecholestrogens. EHs are encoded by CYP1A1, CYP1A2 and CYP1B1 in mammals. In the catfish Heteropneustes fossilis, cyp1a1 and cyp1b1 cDNAs were cloned and characterized from liver and ovary.

Expression profile of kisspeptin2 and gonadotropin-releasing hormone2 mRNA during photo-thermal and melatonin treatments in the female air-breathing catfish Heteropneustes fossilis.

In seasonally breeding vertebrates, extrinsic factors like photoperiod and temperature are major determinants, controlling the annual reproductive cycle. In teleosts, kisspeptin, which occurs in two molecular forms: kisspeptin1 (Kiss1) and kisspetin2 (Kiss2), has been reported to alter gonadotropin (Lh and Fsh) secretion but its effect on gonadotropin-releasing hormone (Gnrh) secretion is not unequivocally proved. In the catfish Heteropneustes fossilis, we isolated and characterized kiss2 and gnrh2 cDNAs and the present work reports effects of altered photo-thermal conditions and melatonin (MT, a pineal hormone) on their expressions in the brain.

Targeting COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) main protease through active phytochemicals of ayurvedic medicinal plants - (Ashwagandha), (Giloy) and (Tulsi) - a molecular docking study.

COVID-19 (Coronavirus disease 2019) is a transmissible disease initiated and propagated through a new virus strain SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2) since 31 December 2019 in Wuhan city of China and the infection has outspread globally influencing millions of people. Here, an attempt was made to recognize natural phytochemicals from medicinal plants, in order to reutilize them against COVID-19 by the virtue of molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation study. Molecular docking study showed six probable inhibitors against SARS-CoV-2 M (Main protease), two from (Ashwagandha) (Withanoside V [10.

Identification of kisspeptin2 cDNA in the catfish Heteropneustes fossilis: Expression profile, in situ localization and steroid modulation.

Kisspeptin (Kiss) is considered an upstream regulator of gonadotropin-releasing hormone in mammals but its role in non-mammalian vertebrates is not unequivocally established. In the catfish Heteropneustes fossilis, a 605 bp long cDNA was identified from the brain by cloning as well as by retrieving from the catfish transcriptome database. The open reading frame (ORF, 93-405 bp) codes for a 113 amino acids long precursor protein.

Molecular cloning and characterization of a gonadotropin-releasing hormone 2 precursor cDNA in the catfish Heteropneustes fossilis: Expression profile and regulation by ovarian steroids.

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone 2 (Gnrh2) is one of the three classes of Gnrh distributed in vertebrates and is highly conserved. In the present study, the cDNA encoding Gnrh2 was isolated and characterized in the ostariophysan catfish Heteropneustes fossilis (hf). The cDNA is 611 bp long with an open reading frame (ORF) of 261 bp that encodes a highly conserved protein of 86 amino acids.

Dysglycemia and the Density of the Coronary Vasa Vasorum.

Objective: This study was conducted to determine the relationship between dysglycemia and the coronary artery vasa vasorum density.

Research Design And Methods: The left anterior descending coronary artery was removed from 57 deceased individuals during autopsy, and the capillaries in the vessel wall were identified using fluorescent immunohistochemical staining. HbA was determined in postmortem whole blood for each individual.

Molecular cloning and characterization of secretogranin II in the catfish Heteropneustes fossilis: Sex and seasonal brain regional variations and its gonadotropin regulation.

Secretoneurin (SN) is a novel functional peptide derived from secretogranin II, a protein belonging to the class of chromogranins. Catfish Heteropneustes fossilis is an economically important species of the Asian subcontinent and holds an important place in reproductive physiology study. In the present study, the full-length cDNA encoding secretogranin IIb (SgIIb) was cloned from the brain of catfish H.

In situ localization of vasotocin receptor gene transcripts in the brain-pituitary-gonadal axis of the catfish Heteropneustes fossilis: a morpho-functional study.

In the catfish Heteropneustes fossilis, three vasotocin (VT) receptor subtype genes, v1a1, v1a2, and v2a, were cloned and characterized previously. In the present study, using RNA probes, we localized the distribution of the gene transcripts in the brain-pituitary-gonadal (BPG) axis. The V1a-type receptor, v1a1 and v1a2, genes showed similar and overlapping distribution in the brain.

Molecular cloning and characterisation of an isotocin paralogue ([V8] isotocin) in catfishes (superorder Ostariophysi): Origin traced likely to the fish-specific whole genome duplication.

The present study reports the molecular cloning of a previously uncharacterised neurohypophyseal nonapeptide precursor cDNA in two catfish species: Heteropneustes fossilis and Clarias batrachus. The deduced nonapeptide is CYISNCPVG ([V8] isotocin), which has not been reported in any vertebrate till date. Phylogenetic and conserved synteny analyses showed the gene to have originated from the isotocin precursor (pro-it) gene by fish-specific whole genome duplication (3R).

Reproductive hormones modulate differentially brain and ovarian vasotocin receptor gene expression in early and late recrudescent catfish, Heteropneustes fossilis.

Investigations on the role of the reproductive hormones on VT receptor gene expression are lacking in teleosts. Previously we reported that gonadotropin and steroid hormones modulate the secretion and gene expression of brain and ovarian vasotocin (VT) in the catfish Heteropneustes fossilis. In continuation, in the present study we investigated the role of estradiol-17β (E), the maturation-inducing steroid (MIS) 17α, 20β-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (17, 20β-DP), and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) on the expression of VT receptor genes (v1a1, v1a2 and v2a) in the brain and ovary of the catfish in early (previtellogenic, preparatory) and late (post vitellogenic, prespawning) phases of the ovarian cycle.

Prediction of Human Drug Targets and Their Interactions Using Machine Learning Methods: Current and Future Perspectives.

Identification of drug targets and drug target interactions are important steps in the drug-discovery pipeline. Successful computational prediction methods can reduce the cost and time demanded by the experimental methods. Knowledge of putative drug targets and their interactions can be very useful for drug repurposing.