A Single GUV Method for Revealing the Action of Cell-Penetrating Peptides in Biomembranes.

The mechanism of entry of cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) into the cytosol of various cells has been studied by examining the interaction of CPPs with lipid bilayers and their entry into lipid vesicle lumens using various methods. Here we describe a single giant unilamellar vesicle (GUV) method to study CPPs. In this new method, we use GUVs containing small GUVs in the mother GUV lumen or GUVs containing large unilamellar vesicles (LUVs) in the GUV lumen and investigate the interaction of fluorescent probe-labeled CPPs with single GUVs in real time using confocal laser scanning microscopy.

Polymorphic variants INSIG2 rs6726538, HLA-DRB1 rs9272143, and GCNT1P5 rs7780883 contribute to the susceptibility of cervical cancer in the Bangladeshi women.

Objective: Cervical cancer is a gynecological health problem, affecting nearly 500,000 women each year worldwide. Genome-wide association studies have revealed multiple susceptible genes and their polymorphisms for cervical carcinoma risk. We have carried out this case-control study to investigate the association of INSIG2 rs6726538 (A; T), HLA-DRB1 rs9272143 (T; C), and GCNT1P5 rs7780883 (G; A) with cervical cancer.

Effect of membrane potential on pore formation by the antimicrobial peptide magainin 2 in lipid bilayers.

The effect of membrane potential on plasma membrane damage generated by antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) is an important, yet poorly characterized, process. Here, we studied the effect of membrane potential (φ) on pore formation by magainin 2 (Mag) in single giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) composed of dioleoylphosphatidylglycerol (DOPG)/dioleoylphosphatidylcholine (DOPC) membranes. Various membrane potentials in GUVs containing gramicidin A were generated as a result of K concentration gradients.

Detection of the Entry of Nonlabeled Transportan 10 into Single Vesicles.

The entry of cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) into live cells and lipid vesicles has been monitored using probe (e.g., fluorescent dye)-labeled CPPs.

Action of antimicrobial peptides and cell-penetrating peptides on membrane potential revealed by the single GUV method.

Membrane potential plays various key roles in live bacterial and eukaryotic cells. So far, the effects of membrane potential on action of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) have been examined using cells and small lipid vesicles. However, due to the technical drawbacks of these experiments, the effect of membrane potential on the actions of AMPs and CPPs and the elementary processes of interactions of these peptides with cell membranes and vesicle membranes are not well understood.

Role of Membrane Potential on Entry of Cell-Penetrating Peptide Transportan 10 into Single Vesicles.

Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) can translocate across plasma membranes to enter the cytosol of eukaryotic cells without decreasing cell viability. We revealed the mechanism underlying this translocation by examining the effect of membrane potential, φ, on the entry of a CPP, transportan 10 (TP10), into the lumen of single giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs). For this purpose, we used the single GUV method to detect the entry of carboxyfluorescein (CF)-labeled TP10 (CF-TP10) into the lumen of single GUVs.

How the association between obesity and inflammation may lead to insulin resistance and cancer.

Background And Objectives: Obesity is associated with metabolic dysfunction and over nutrition. Increased body mass index and obesity are strongly amalgamated with changes in the physiological function of adipose tissue, leading to altered secretion of adipocytokines, inflammatory mediators release as well as chronic inflammation and insulin resistance. The purposes of this study were to review the evidence of how obesity and inflammation may lead to insulin resistance and cancer.

Membrane potential is vital for rapid permeabilization of plasma membranes and lipid bilayers by the antimicrobial peptide lactoferricin B.

Lactoferricin B (LfcinB) is a cationic antimicrobial peptide, and its capacity to damage the bacterial plasma membrane is suggested to be a main factor in LfcinB's antimicrobial activity. However, the specific processes and mechanisms in LfcinB-induced membrane damage are unclear. In this report, using confocal laser-scanning microscopy, we examined the interaction of LfcinB with single cells and spheroplasts containing the water-soluble fluorescent probe calcein in the cytoplasm.

The role of membrane tension in the action of antimicrobial peptides and cell-penetrating peptides in biomembranes.

For antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) with antimicrobial and bactericidal activities and cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) with activity to permeate through plasma membrane, their interactions with lipid bilayer region in plasma membrane play important roles in these functions. However, the elementary processes and mechanisms of their functions have not been clear. The single giant unilamellar vesicle (GUV) method has revealed the details of elementary processes of interaction of some AMPs and CPPs with lipid vesicles.

Continuous detection of entry of cell-penetrating peptide transportan 10 into single vesicles.

Entry of cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) into living cells by translocating across plasma membranes is an important physiological phenomenon. To elucidate the mechanism of the translocation of CPPs across lipid bilayers, it is essential to reveal its elementary processes. For this purpose, here, we have developed a new method for the continuous, quantitative detection of the entry of CPPs into giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs), where we investigate the interaction of fluorescent probe-labeled CPPs with single GUVs containing large unilamellar vesicles (LUVs) and fluorescent probes in their lumens using confocal microscopy.

Ascertainment of pharmacological activities of Hook and Roxb used in Bangladesh: An in vitro study.

The present study was cherished to investigate in vitro thrombolytic, membrane stabilizing and antibacterial activities of and . Different types methanolic extracts of these two medicinal plants were tested for determining membrane stabilizing activity at a hypotonic solution and heat induce condition by comparing with reference standard acetyl salicylic acid (0.10 mg/mL), where thrombolytic activity assessment was done by employing Streptokinase as standard drug.

Low serum selenium concentration is associated with preeclampsia in pregnant women from Bangladesh.

Objectives: Preeclampsia is a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy which is one of the leading causes of maternal and perinatal mortality and pre-term delivery, especially in low and middle income countries. Selenium is an important constituent of selenoproteins that act as antioxidant and have several metabolic functions. The present study was conducted to determine serum selenium concentration in preeclampsia patients in order to find out the role of selenium in preeclampsia.

Assessment of pharmacological activities of two medicinal plant of Bangladesh: Launaea sarmentosa and Aegialitis rotundifolia roxb in the management of pain, pyrexia and inflammation.

Background: The current study aims at evaluating the analgesic, anti-pyretic and anti-inflammatory properties of methanolic extract of the stem, bark and leaves of Launaea sarmentosa and Aegialitis rotundifolia roxb.

Results: The AELS and AEAR extract presented a significant (***p < 0.001) dose dependent increase in reaction time in writhing method and showed inhibition of 63.

In vivo antipyretic, antiemetic, in vitro membrane stabilization, antimicrobial, and cytotoxic activities of different extracts from Spilanthes paniculata leaves.

Background: The study was conducted to evaluate the in vitro antimicrobial activity, cytotoxic, and membrane stabilization activities, and in vivo antiemetic and antipyretic potentials of ethanolic extract, n-hexane and ethyl acetate soluble fractions of Spilanthes paniculata leaves for the first time widely used in the traditional treatments in Bangladesh.

Results: In antipyretic activity assay, a significant reduction (P < 0.05) was observed in the temperature in the mice tested.

Formulation and quality determination of indapamide matrix tablet: a thiazide type antihypertensive drug.

Purpose: The present study was explored to develop a sustained release matrix tablet of Indapamide, a low-dose thiazide-type diuretic, using hydroxylpropyl methylcellulose (Methocel K15MCR) in various proportions as release controlling factor.

Methods: The tablets were formulated using direct compression method. The powers for tableting were evaluated for angle of response, loose bulk density, tapped bulk density, compressibility index, total porosity and drug content etc.

Evaluation of In vitro Anthelmintic Activity, Total Phenolic Content and Cytotoxic Activity of Crinum latifolium L. (Family: Amaryllidaceae).

Purpose: Crinum latifolium is a widely used plant in Asian folk and traditional medicine.In the present study, we have tried to find out the anthelmintic activity, total phenolic contents and cytotoxicity of the methanolic extract of the target plant.

Methods: Anthelmintic activity was assessed applying five different concentrations of the plant extract and recording the time of paralysis and death.