The status of the terminal regions of α-synuclein in different forms of aggregates during fibrillization.

The α-synuclein (αSN) amyloid fibrillization process is known to be a crucial phenomenon associated with neuronal loss in various neurodegenerative diseases, most famously Parkinson's disease. The process involves different aggregated species and ultimately leads to formation of β-sheet rich fibrillar structures. Despite the essential role of αSN aggregation in the pathoetiology of various neurological disorders, the characteristics of various assemblies are not fully understood.

Characterization of a farnesyl diphosphate synthase gene from Penicillium brevicompactum MUCL 19011.

Objectives: Farnesyl diphosphate synthase is a critical enzyme in the isoprenoids biosynthesis pathway responsible for ergosterol and secondary metabolites biosynthesis in fungi.

Results: Characterization of fds from Penicillium brevicompactum (Pbfds) was performed using TAIL-PCR and RT-PCR followed by complementation tests in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and determination of its expression profile by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. Promoter analysis suggests some binding sites for transcription factors some of which are involved in fungal growth and response to environmental stress.

Cloning, expression, purification, and characterization of lipase 3646 from thermophilic indigenous Cohnella sp. A01.

Lipases form one of the most important groups of biocatalysts used in biotechnology. We studied the lipase from the bacterium Cohnella sp. A01 due to the versatility of thermophilic lipases in industry.