Sesamol-mediated targeting of EPHA2 sensitises cervical cancer for cisplatin treatment by regulating mitochondrial dynamics, autophagy, and mitophagy.

Background: Cervical cancer ranks as the fourth most prevalent cancer among women globally, presenting a significant therapeutic challenge due to its resistance to cisplatin. Ephrin type-A receptor 2 (EPHA2) is prominently overexpressed in cervical cancer and plays a vital role in cisplatin resistance, although the underlying mechanisms remain incompletely elucidated. Mitochondrial dynamics, autophagy, and mitophagy are critical in mediating cisplatin resistance.

Isolation, purification, and physio-chemical characterization of melanin pigment from nigerseed hulls ().

Plant melanin, a natural pigment, has gained significant attention recently due to its potential therapeutic and industrial applications. In this study, melanin pigments were extracted from Nigerseed hulls (NH) alkali and acid extraction methods, followed by acid hydrolysis, organic solvent treatment, and repeated precipitation. The solubility of NH melanin was assessed, revealing solubility in alkali and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) but insolubility in other common organic solvents.

Citrus nutraceutical eriocitrin and its metabolites are partial agonists of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ): a molecular docking and molecular dynamics study.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) agonists are potent insulin sensitizers in treating type 2 diabetes. Despite being very effective in the fight against diabetes-mediated complications, PPARγ agonists are accompanied by severe side effects leading to complicated health problems, making the discovery of novel safe ligands highly pertinent. A significant intense research effort is in progress to explore the PPARγ activating potential of a wide range of natural compounds.

Aspartic protease-pepstatin A interactions: Structural insights on the thermal inactivation mechanism.

Aspartic proteases are the targets for structure-based drug design for their role in physiological processes and pharmaceutical applications. Structural insights into the thermal inactivation mechanism of an aspartic protease in presence and absence of bound pepstatin A have been obtained by kinetics of thermal inactivation, CD, fluorescence spectroscopy and molecular dynamic simulations. The irreversible thermal inactivation of the aspartic protease comprised of loss of tertiary and secondary structures succeeded by the loss of activity, autolysis and aggregation The enthalpy and entropy of thermal inactivation of the enzyme in presence of pepstatin A increased from 81.

Preparation of horsegram protein concentrate with improved protein quality, in vitro digestibility and available lysine.

Horsegram ( or ), an inexpensive pulse crop with high lysine and iron contents, is underutilized due to the presence of antinutrients like lectin and trypsin inhibitors, which limit protein digestibility and availability. Horsegram protein concentrate (HGPC) was prepared, which had 80.4 ± 3.

Anti-hyperglycemic activity of myricetin, through inhibition of DPP-4 and enhanced GLP-1 levels, is attenuated by co-ingestion with lectin-rich protein.

Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) is a proteolytic enzyme responsible for the rapid degradation of Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) that is required for the secretion of insulin. DPP-4 also influences activation of node like receptor family, pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome under diabetic conditions. Although several polyphenols are reported for various bioactivities, they are consumed as part of the food matrix and not in isolation.

Purification, characterization and specificity of a new GH family 35 galactosidase from Aspergillus awamori.

Galactosidases, ubiquitous in nature, are complex carbohydrate-active enzymes and find extensive applications in food, pharma, and biotechnology industries. The present study deals with the production of galactosidases from fungi by solid-state fermentation. Fifteen fungi were screened and Aspergillus awamori (MTCC 548), exhibited the highest α and β-galactosidase activities of 75.

Differential Interaction of Metal Ions with Gold Nanoclusters and Application in Detection of Cobalt and Cadmium.

Interest in biosensing platforms using protein fluorescent gold nanoclusters (FGNCs) has grown significantly in the past due to the unique optical properties they offer. This study investigates the interaction of metal ions with FGNCs, and the structural modifications brought about by the interaction resulting in fluorescence changes of the cluster and its successful application in the detection of two heavy metals, cobalt and cadmium. The binding of cobalt and cadmium to FGNCs synthesized from BSA significantly altered the secondary structure of the protein, causing a change in its hydrophobicity.

Aspartic protease from Aspergillus niger: Molecular characterization and interaction with pepstatin A.

In the pursuit of industrial aspartic proteases, aspergillopepsin A-like endopeptidase from the fungi Aspergillus niger, was identified and cultured by solid state fermentation. Conventional chromatographic techniques were employed to purify the extracellular aspartic protease to apparent homogeneity. The enzyme was found to have single polypeptide chain with a molecular mass of 50 ± 0.

Production of highly active fungal milk-clotting enzyme by solid-state fermentation.

Cheese production is projected to reach 20 million metric tons by 2020, of which 33% is being produced using calf rennet (EC 3.4.23.

Effect of arginine:lysine and glycine:methionine intake ratios on dyslipidemia and selected biomarkers implicated in cardiovascular disease: A study with hypercholesterolemic rats.

The effect of intake ratios of arginine (Arg): lysine (Lys) and glycine (Gly): methionine (Met) on lipid profile and selected cardiovascular disease markers, was studied, in rats maintained on a hypercholesterolemic diet. The rise in blood cholesterol was countered by 32%, 24%, and 49%, respectively, through increased oral supplementation of Arg, Gly, and Arg+Gly; a corresponding increase in plasma phospholipids at the end of the 8-week study was observed. The elevated plasma cholesterol to phospholipids ratio was countered by 27, 40, and 57%, respectively, through oral supplementation of Arg, Gly, and Arg+Gly.

In vivo modulation of LPS induced leukotrienes generation and oxidative stress by sesame lignans.

The role of inflammation and oxidative stress is critical during onset of metabolic disorders and this has been sufficiently established in literature. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of sesamol and sesamin, two important bioactive molecules present in sesame oil, on the generation of inflammatory and oxidative stress factors in LPS injected rats. Sesamol and sesamin lowered LPS induced expression of cPLA (61 and 56%), 5-LOX (44 and 51%), BLT-1(32 and 35%) and LTC synthase (49 and 50%), respectively, in liver homogenate.

Escherichia coli Braun Lipoprotein (BLP) exhibits endotoxemia - like pathology in Swiss albino mice.

The endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS) promotes sepsis, but bacterial peptides also promote inflammation leading to sepsis. We found, intraperitoneal administration of live or heat inactivated E. coli JE5505 lacking the abundant outer membrane protein, Braun lipoprotein (BLP), was less toxic than E.

Bioactive lignans from sesame (Sesamum indicum L.): evaluation of their antioxidant and antibacterial effects for food applications.

Antioxidants protect the body from various disease conditions through their ability to neutralize the effects of free radicals. Synthetic antioxidants are extensively used in processed foods for prevention of oxidation and retention of sensory quality. Consumer awareness and preference has led to a vigorous interest in the search for natural antioxidants.

Interaction of curcumin with β-lactoglobulin-stability, spectroscopic analysis, and molecular modeling of the complex.

Curcumin (diferuloyl methane) is the physiologically and pharmacologically active component of turmeric (Curcuma longa L.). Solubility and stability of curcumin are the limiting factors for realizing its therapeutic potential.

Acid protease production by solid-state fermentation using Aspergillus oryzae MTCC 5341: optimization of process parameters.

Aspergillus oryzae MTCC 5341, when grown on wheat bran as substrate, produces several extracellular acid proteases. Production of the major acid protease (constituting 34% of the total) by solid-state fermentation is optimized. Optimum operating conditions obtained are determined as pH 5, temperature of incubation of 30 degrees C, defatted soy flour addition of 4%, and fermentation time of 120 h, resulting in acid protease production of 8.

Interaction of alphaS1-casein with curcumin and its biological implications.

alpha(S1)-Casein is one of the major protein components of the casein fraction of milk. Curcumin (diferuloyl methane), the major curcuminoid, constituting about 2-5% of turmeric (Curcuma longa ) is the active ingredient with many physiological, biochemical, and pharmacological properties. On the basis of spectroscopic measurements, it is inferred that curcumin binds to alpha(S1)-casein at pH 7.

Production and characterization of a milk-clotting enzyme from Aspergillus oryzae MTCC 5341.

Microbial milk-clotting enzymes are valued as calf rennet substitutes in the cheese industry. Aspergillus oryzae MTCC 5341 was identified to produce the highest milk-clotting activity during screening of 16 fungal strains. Solid state fermentation using wheat bran along with 4% defatted soy flour and 2% skim milk powder as substrate was optimal for growth of A.

Effect of infrared heating on the formation of sesamol and quality of defatted flours from Sesamum indicum L.

Infrared (IR) heating offers several advantages over conventional heating in terms of heat transfer efficiency, compactness of equipment, and quality of the products. Roasting of sesame seeds degrades the lignan sesamolin to sesamol, which increases the oxidative stability of sesame oil synergistically with tocopherols. IR (near infrared, 1.

Conformational stability of alpha-amylase from malted sorghum (Sorghum bicolor): reversible unfolding by denaturants.

Alpha-amylase from Sorghum bicolor, is reversibly unfolded by chemical denaturants at pH 7.0 in 50mM Hepes containing 13.6mM calcium and 15 mM DTT.

Inhibition of lipoxygenase by soy isoflavones: evidence of isoflavones as redox inhibitors.

Hydroperoxides, the products of lipoxygenase mediated pathways, play a major role in the manifestation of chronic inflammatory diseases. Soy isoflavones act as antioxidants due to their ability to scavenge free radicals. Isoflavones inhibit the activity of soy lipoxygenase-1 and 5-lipoxygenase, from human polymorph nuclear lymphocyte in a concentration dependent manner.

Dual-function protein in plant defence: seed lectin from Dolichos biflorus (horse gram) exhibits lipoxygenase activity.

Plant-pathogen interactions play a vital role in developing resistance to pests. Dolichos biflorus (horse gram), a leguminous pulse crop of the subtropics, exhibits amazing defence against attack by pests/pathogens. Investigations to locate the possible source of the indomitable pest resistance of D.

The contribution of ionic interactions to the conformational stability and function of polygalacturonase from A. niger.

Aspergillus niger produces multiple forms of polygalacturonases with molecular masses ranging from 30 to 60 kDa. The high molecular weight polygalacturonase (61+/-2 kDa) from A. niger possesses a pH optimum of 4.

Thermal stability of alpha-amylase from malted jowar (Sorghum bicolor).

Malted cereals are rich sources of alpha-amylase, which catalyzes the random hydrolysis of internal alpha-(1-4)-glycosidic bonds of starch, leading to liquefaction. Amylases play a role in the predigestion of starch, leading to a reduction in the water absorption capacity of the cereal. Among the three cereal amylases (barley, ragi, and jowar), jowar amylase is found to be the most thermostable.

Thermal inactivation of glucose oxidase. Mechanism and stabilization using additives.

Thermal inactivation of glucose oxidase (GOD; beta-d-glucose: oxygen oxidoreductase), from Aspergillus niger, followed first order kinetics both in the absence and presence of additives. Additives such as lysozyme, NaCl, and K2SO4 increased the half-life of the enzyme by 3.5-, 33.