Interaction of cytochrome c with tRNA and other polynucleotides.

Interaction between tRNA and other polynucleotides with cytochrome c was studied by visible spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy and gel mobility shift assay in view of the recently reported important regulatory role of tRNA in cytochrome c mediated apoptotic pathway. Visible spectroscopy showed perturbation in the heme binding environment in cytochrome c with tRNA binding. Fluorescence titrations indicated that cytochrome c binds to different polynucleotides with differing affinities.

Isolation of two strong poly (U) binding proteins from moderate halophile Halomonas eurihalina and their identification as cold shock proteins.

Cold shock proteins (Csp) are known to be expressed in response to sudden decrease in temperature. They are thought to be involved in a number of cellular processes viz., RNA chaperone activity, translation, transcription, nucleoid condensation.

Studies on structural stability of thermophilic Sulfolobus acidocaldarius ribosomes.

Structural stability of thermophilic archaeon Sulfolobus acidocaldarius ribosomes, with respect their susceptibility to pancreatic RNase A and stability to temperature (deltaTm), on treatment with various stabilizing (polyamines) and destabilizing (sulfhydryl and intercalating) agents were studied and compared with mesophilic E. coli ribosomes, to understand the structural differences between thermophilic and mesophilic ribosomes. Thermophilic archaeal ribosomes and their subunits were 10-times less susceptible to pancreatic RNase A, compared to mesophilic ribosomes, showing the presence of strong and compact structural organization in them.

Biochemical characterization and helix stabilizing properties of HSNP-C' from the thermoacidophilic archaeon Sulfolobus acidocaldarius.

Helix stabilizing nucleoid protein HSNP-C' from the thermophilic archaeon Sulfolobus acidocaldarius has been characterized with respect to its interactions with nucleic acids by gel retardation assay, affinities to immobilized matrices, electron microscopy, and fluorescence titration. The amino acids implicated in the DNA binding site of the protein have been shown by selectively modifying specific amino acyl functional groups and looking at their effects on the DNA binding properties of the protein. Lysine, arginine, tryptophan, and tyrosine residues of the protein HSNP-C' were modified with pyridoxal-5-phosphate; 2,3-butanedione; BNPS-skatole; and tetranitromethane, respectively.

Immunoprotective effect of IM-133.

We studied the immunoprotective effect of IM-133, a poly-herbal formulation, against E. coli-induced intra-abdominal sepsis. Treatment with IM-133 afforded protection against the septic shock induced mortality.