Insights into the biochemical and functional characterization of sortase E transpeptidase of Corynebacterium glutamicum.

Most Gram-positive bacteria contain a membrane-bound transpeptidase known as sortase which covalently incorporates the surface proteins on to the cell wall. The sortase-displayed protein structures are involved in cell attachment, nutrient uptake and aerial hyphae formation. Among the six classes of sortase (A-F), sortase A of S.

Nanosheets and 2D-nanonetworks by mutually assisted self-assembly of fullerene clusters and DNA three-way junctions.

Programmable construction of two dimensional (2D) nanoarchitectures using short DNA strands is of utmost interest in the context of DNA nanotechnology. Previously, we have demonstrated fullerene-cluster assisted self-assembly of short oligonucleotide duplexes into micrometer long, semiconducting nanowires. This report demonstrates the construction of micrometer-sized nanosheets and 2D-nanonetworks from the mutual self-assembly of fullerene nanoclusters with three way junction DNA (3WJ-DNA) and 3WJ-DNA with a 12-mer overhang (3WJ-OH), respectively.

Anticorrosive Performance of L. Leaf Extract-Based Hybrid Coating on Steel.

Ecological awareness brought adequate innovations in the corrosion prevention technology in the last decade. Plant extracts are an interesting category among them, being the rich source of phytochemicals explored as corrosion inhibitors in various electrolytic media instead of toxic synthetic materials. Herein, the most ample tropical plant L.

Room-Temperature Ferromagnetic SrYCoO and Carbon Black-Reinforced Polyvinylidenefluoride Composites toward High-Performance Electromagnetic Interference Shielding.

In this study, we fabricated composites of conducting carbon black (CB), room-temperature ferromagnetic SrYCoO (SYCO) and polyvinylidenefluoride (PVDF) by the solution mixing and coagulation method for the first time. During the nucleation process of PVDF, the presence of SYCO and CB individually facilitates the crystallization of polar β and semipolar γ phases along with the nonpolar α phase in PVDF. The dc electrical conductivity of PVDF raised from 1.

Synthesis of 1,2,4-Trisubstituted-(1)-imidazoles through Cu(OTf)-/I-Catalyzed C-C Bond Cleavage of Chalcones and Benzylamines.

1,2,4-Trisubstituted-(1)-imidazoles have been synthesized by the Cu(OTf)- and I-catalyzed unusual C-C bond cleavage of chalcones and benzylamines. After the α,β-unsaturated C-C bond cleavage, the β-portion is eliminated from the reaction. Various aryl- and heteroaryl-substituted chalcones and benzylamines were well tolerated in this unusual transformation to yield the trisubstituted-(1)-imidazoles.

Valorization of lignocellulosic residues from the olive oil industry by production of lignin, glucose and functional sugars.

Spent olive pomace from the two-phase extraction system of virgin olive oil and olive pomace oil, is a major agro-industrial residue. Present study aimed at the valorization of residual olive pomace and stones (seeds) by hydrothermal treatment and enzymatic hydrolysis of glucans. Both residues contain lignin (31.

Detecting the structural assembly pathway of human antimicrobial peptide pores at single-channel level.

The pore-forming structures of an anionic human antimicrobial peptide dermcidin (DCD) in a membrane environment has not been demonstrated previously. Using single-channel electrical recordings, we characterized the structural and functional properties of the DCD peptide channel in lipid membranes. We show that a 48-residue, 8 nm long anionic DCD-1L peptide is folded in the right conformation in sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) that spontaneously inserts into lipid bilayers to form well-defined channels.

Preferential Face-on and Edge-on Orientation of Thiophene Oligomers by Rational Molecular Design.

Precise control over the supramolecular organization of organic semiconducting materials guiding to exclusive face-on or edge-on orientation is a challenging task. In the present work, we study the preferential packing of thiophene oligomers induced through rational molecular designing and self-assembly. The acceptor-donor-acceptor-type oligomers having 2-(1,1-dicyano-methylene)rhodanine as acceptor (OT1) favored a face-on packing, whereas that of functionalized with N-octyl rhodanine (OT2) preferred an edge-on packing as evident from 2D-grazing incidence angle X-ray diffraction, tapping-mode atomic force microscopy (AFM) and Raman spectroscopy analyses.

High glucose induced calcium overload via impairment of SERCA/PLN pathway and mitochondrial dysfunction leads to oxidative stress in H9c2 cells and amelioration with ferulic acid.

Oxidative stress and associated complications are the major pathological concerns of diabetic cardiomyopathy (DC). We aim to elucidate the mechanisms by which high glucose (HG) induced alteration in calcium homeostasis and evaluation of the beneficial effect of two concentrations (10 and 25 μm) of ferulic acid (FA). HG was induced in H9c2 cardiomyoblast by treating with glucose (33 mm) for 48 h, and FA was co-treated.

Water-Chloroform Interface Assisted Microstructure Tuning of Polypyrrole-Silver Sheets.

The liquid-liquid interface of two immiscible solvents remarkably controls the morphology of polymeric nanostructures as compared to the polymerization in single solvent systems. The polymerization of pyrrole in the water-chloroform medium using silver nitrate (AgNO) as oxidant yields polypyrrole/silver (PPy/Ag) sheets. The water-chloroform interface acts as a template for the growth of PPy/Ag hybrids into sheets by preventing the secondary growth of silver associated pyrrole oligomers in a three-dimensional (3-D) manner.

Apoptosis in angiotensin II-stimulated hypertrophic cardiac cells -modulation by phenolics rich extract of Boerhavia diffusa L.

Herein, we investigated the effects of B. diffusa (BDE), a well-known cardiotonic edible medicinal plant against apoptosis in Angiotensin II (Ang II)-stimulated hypertrophic cardiac cells (H9c2). The cells were analyzed for viability, markers of hypertrophy, apoptosis, and the expression of various proteins related to apoptosis.

Synthesis of symmetrical and unsymmetrical triarylpyrylium ions via an inverse electron demand Diels-Alder reaction.

BF·OEt mediated inverse electron demand Diels-Alder (IEDDA) reaction of chalcones with aryl acetylenes is reported for the synthesis of symmetrical and unsymmetrical 2,4,6-triarylpyrylium ions. The protocol provides an effective one-pot method for the utilization of readily available simple substrates under mild reaction conditions leading to a diverse array of pyrylium ions in moderately good yield.

Exploitation of Eu red luminescence through order-disorder structural transitions in lanthanide stannate pyrochlores for warm white LED applications.

Eu ions epitomize excellent structural probes for the detection of disorder induced by structural variations in stannate pyrochlores due to their relatively simple energy level structure. In this context, we have synthesized a series of Eu doped LnYSnNbO:0.15Eu (Ln = La, Gd, Y, and Lu) red phosphors via a high temperature solid state reaction method to explore the influence of phase evolution on the luminescence properties.

Glucotoxicity results in apoptosis in H9c2 cells via alteration in redox homeostasis linked mitochondrial dynamics and polyol pathway and possible reversal with cinnamic acid.

Several mechanisms have been proposed for the heart dysfunction during hyperglycemia. The aim of the present in vitro study is to elucidate the role of alterations in redox homeostasis in the induction of apoptosis during hyperglycemia in H9c2 cells via dysfunction in mitochondria and polyol pathway and evaluation of the beneficial effect of cinnamic acid against the same. The H9c2 cells were incubated with 33 mM glucose for 48 h to simulate the diabetic condition.

Rapid, Acid-Free Synthesis of High-Quality Graphene Quantum Dots for Aggregation Induced Sensing of Metal Ions and Bioimaging.

Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) are zero-dimensional materials that exhibit characteristics of both graphene and quantum dots. Herein, we report a rapid, relatively green, one-pot synthesis of size-tunable GQDs from graphene oxide (GO) by a sonochemical method with intermittent microwave heating, keeping the reaction temperature constant at 90 °C. The GQDs were synthesized by oxidative cutting of GO using KMnO as an oxidizing agent within a short span of time (30 min) in an acid-free condition.

Structural and magnetic study of undoped and cobalt doped TiO nanoparticles.

The present study investigates the influence of cobalt doping on the structural and magnetic properties of TiO nanoparticles prepared by a simple wet chemical method. The single phase anatase structure of Co-doped TiO nanoparticles was confirmed by X-ray powder diffraction. A morphological study using scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy indicates the formation of TiO nanoparticles of sizes 6-10 nm.

Significance of mitochondria on cardiometabolic syndromes.

Metabolic syndromes (MS) are a cluster of disorders such as obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetes. Cardiometabolic syndrome (CMS), a branch of MS, is a group of diseases affecting cardiovascular, renal, metabolic, prothrombotic, and inflammatory abnormalities due to defects in energy metabolism. Since the emergence of molecular biology and the discovery of pathogenic mitochondrial DNA defect in the 1980s, research advances have revealed a number of common human diseases involving mitochondrial dysfunction.

Effect of Differential Self-Assembly on Mechanochromic Luminescence of Fluorene-Benzothiadiazole-Based Fluorophores.

Supramolecular self-assembly is an excellent tool for controlling the optical and electronic properties of chromophore-based molecular systems. Herein, we demonstrate how differential self-assembly affects mechanoresponsive luminescence of fluorene-benzothiadiazole-based fluorophores. We have synthesized two donor-acceptor-donor-type conjugated oligomers consisting of fluorene as the donor and benzothiadiazole as the acceptor.

BF·OEt-Mediated Tandem Annulation: A Strategy To Construct Functionalized Chromeno- and Pyrano-Fused Pyridines.

A simple and efficient one-pot annulation of arylidenones, alkynes, and nitriles in the presence of BF·OEt is described. A highly functionalized variety of N-substituted pyridine-fused chromeno and pyrano derivatives were obtained with satisfactory yields under mild reaction conditions. The method was proven to be valid for the synthesis of a diverse library of chromeno[3,4-c]pyridines, thiochromeno[3,4-c]pyridines, pyrano[3,4-c]pyridines, and thiopyrano[3,4-c]pyridine derivatives from readily accessible substrates.

Insulin resistance in 3T3-L1 adipocytes by TNF-α is improved by punicic acid through upregulation of insulin signalling pathway and endocrine function, and downregulation of proinflammatory cytokines.

Insulin resistance (IR) has become a major threat to public health due to its role in metabolic syndrome. Inflammation associated with IR is an interesting area of biomedical research in recent years and is expected to affect insulin signalling pathway via downregulating glucose transporters. In the present study, we evaluate the potential of punicic acid (PA), a nutraceutical found in pomegranate seed oil, against TNF-α induced alteration in 3T3-L1 adipocytes on glucose metabolism, endocrine function and inflammation.

Allicin functionalized locust bean gum nanoparticles for improved therapeutic efficacy: An in silico, in vitro and in vivo approach.

The field of nanotechnology has overgrown over the past few years and has even ventured into the field of medicine. The aim of the present study is to develop a novel allicin functionalized locust bean gum nanoparticle using the nanoprecipitation technique. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by dynamic light scattering, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy.

Selenium incorporated guar gum nanoparticles safeguard mitochondrial bioenergetics during ischemia reperfusion injury in H9c2 cardiac cells.

The application of nanotechnology has created high impact in diagnosis and prognosis of various disorders including cardiovascular diseases. In the present study, we investigated the beneficial effect of selenium incorporated guar gum nanoparticles (SGG) compared to nascent selenium (Se) and guar gum nanoparticles (GGN) against ischemiareperfusion (IR) induced alterations in oxidative phosphorylation and energy metabolism in H9c2 cardiac cells. Ischemia and reperfusion were induced for 1h.

An overview of benzo[b]thiophene-based medicinal chemistry.

Among sulfur containing heterocycles, benzothiophene and its derivatives are at the focus as these candidates have structural similarities with active compounds to develop new potent lead molecules in drug design. Benzo[b]thiophene scaffold is one of the privileged structures in drug discovery as this core exhibits various biological activities allowing them to act as anti-microbial, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-tubercular, anti-diabetic, anti-convulsant agents and many more. Further, numerous benzothiophene-based compounds as clinical drugs have been extensively used to treat various types of diseases with high therapeutic potency, which has led to their extensive developments.

Influence of local structure on photoluminescence properties of Eu doped CeO red phosphors through induced oxygen vacancies by contrasting rare earth substitutions.

A new family of red phosphors, CeREO:0.1Eu (RE = Y and La; x = 0, 0.20, 0.

Molecular advances in microbial aminopeptidases.

Aminopeptidases are exopeptidases that catalyze the hydrolysis of amino acid residues from the N terminus of peptides and proteins. They are widely and diversely used for protein hydrolysis in industrial and research applications. They form a large enzyme family in microorganisms and most of the sequenced microbial genomes contain several aminopeptidase coding genes.