Redefining the Structure of Tip Links in Hair Cells.

Tip links are seen under microscopes as double-helical tetrameric complexes of long nonclassical cadherins, cadherin-23 and protocadherin-15. The twisted filamentous structure enables tip links to regulate mechanotransduction in hearing and balance. While the molecular details of the double-helical protocadherin-15 dimers have been deciphered, a similar conformation of cadherin-23 is still elusive.

Polyprotein synthesis: a journey from the traditional pre-translational method to modern post-translational approaches for single-molecule force spectroscopy.

Polyproteins, an array of protein units of similar or differential functions in tandem, have been extensively utilized by organisms, unicellular or multicellular, as concentrators of the myriad of molecular activities. Most eukaryotic proteins, two-thirds in unicellular organisms, and more than 80% in metazoans, are polyproteins. Although the use of polyproteins continues to evolve in nature, our understanding of the structure-function-property of polyproteins is still limited.

Transient interactions drive the lateral clustering of cadherin-23 on membrane.

Cis and trans-interactions among cadherins secure multicellularity. While the molecular structure of trans-interactions of cadherins is well understood, work to identify the molecular cues that spread the cis-interactions two-dimensionally is still ongoing. Here, we report that transient, weak, yet multivalent, and spatially distributed hydrophobic interactions that are involved in liquid-liquid phase separations of biomolecules in solution, alone can drive the lateral-clustering of cadherin-23 on a membrane.

Instantaneous splicing and excision of inteins to synthesize polyproteins on a substrate with tunable linkers.

Nature has adapted chimeric polyproteins to achieve superior and multiplexed functionality in a single protein. However, the hurdles in synthesis have restricted the biomimicry of and subsequent fundamental studies on the structure-function relationship of polyproteins. Recombinant expression of polyproteins and the synthesis of polyproteins the enzyme-mediated repetitive digestion and ligation of individual protein domains have been widely practiced.

Local ferroelectric polarization switching driven by nanoscale distortions in thermoelectric [Formula: see text].

A remarkable decrease in the lattice thermal conductivity and enhancement of thermoelectric figure of merit were recently observed in rock-salt cubic SnTe, when doped with germanium (Ge). Primarily, based on theoretical analysis, the decrease in lattice thermal conductivity was attributed to local ferroelectric fluctuations induced softening of the optical phonons which may strongly scatter the heat carrying acoustic phonons. Although the previous structural analysis indicated that the local ferroelectric transition temperature would be near room temperature in [Formula: see text], a direct evidence of local ferroelectricity remained elusive.

Development and characterization of pellets for targeted delivery of 5-fluorouracil and phytic acid for treatment of colon cancer in Wistar rat.

The present study was designed to investigate the therapeutic efficacy of metal chelator and anticancer drug in the treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC). Pellets containing Phytic acid, 5- Fluorouracil (5-FU), Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) PH 101, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose (HPMC) and Barium sulfate were prepared by using extrusion spheronization technique. Prepared pellets were coated with Eudragit S100 to achieve colon-specific drug delivery.

Development and characterization of polymer lipid hybrid nanoparticles for oral delivery of LMWH.

The present study aimed to develop an improved oral delivery system for low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH), novel polymer lipid hybrid nanoparticles were developed. LMWH loaded chitosan polymer lipid hybrid nanoparticles (LMWH-CS-PLNs) were developed using double emulsification and solvent evaporation method. The performance of developed formulations was evaluated by using in vitro and in vivo behavior, such as drug release studies, in vitro permeation study, in vivo venous thrombolytic study, in vitro uptake studies by using intestinal epithelium resembling Caco-2 cell lines.

Microparticles as controlled drug delivery carrier for the treatment of ulcerative colitis: A brief review.

Ulcerative colitis is the chronic relapsing multifactorial gastrointestinal inflammatory bowel disease, which is characterized by bloody or mucus diarrhea, tenesmus, bowel dystension, anemia. The annual incidence of ulcerative colitis in Asia, North America and Europe was found to be 6.3, 19.

Lipid polymer hybrid as emerging tool in nanocarriers for oral drug delivery.

The oral route for drug delivery is a widely accepted route. For that reason, many researchers are currently working to develop efficient oral drug delivery systems. Use of polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) and lipid carrier systems, including liposomes, solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) and nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC), has limitations such as drug leakage and high water content of dispersions.

The critical role of bisphosphonates to target bone cancer metastasis: an overview.

Cancer becomes the leading cause of deaths worldwide, including breast cancer, prostate cancer and lung cancer that preferentially metastasize to bone and bone marrow. Bisphosphonates (BPs) have been used successfully for many years to reduce the skeletal complications related with the benign and malignant bone diseases that are characterized by enhanced osteoclastic bone resorption. Nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates (N-BPs) have also been demonstrated to exhibit direct anti-tumour effects.