Molecular characterization of <Emphasis Type="Italic">tlyA</Emphasis> gene product,Rv1694 of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mycobacterium tuberculosis</Emphasis>: A non-conventional hemolysin and a ribosomal RNA methyl transferase

Background  

Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a virulent bacillus causing tuberculosis, a disease responsible for million deaths each year worldwide. In order to understand its mechanism of pathogenesis in humans and to help control tuberculosis, functions of numerous Mycobacterium tuberculosis genes are being characterized. In this study we report the dual functionality of tlyA gene product of Mycobacterium tuberculosis annotated as Rv1694, a 268 amino acid long basic protein.     

Dictyostelium cells bind a secreted autocrine factor that represses cell proliferation

Background  

Mycobacterium tuberculosis, an intracellular pathogen encounters redox stress throughout its life inside the host. In order to protect itself from the redox onslaughts of host immune system, M. tuberculosis appears to have developed accessory thioredoxin-like proteins which are represented by ORFs encoding WhiB-like proteins. We have earlier reported that WhiB1/Rv3219 is a thioredoxin like protein of M. tuberculosis and functions as a protein disulfide reductase. Generally thioredoxins have many substrate proteins. The current study aims to identify the substrate protein(s) of M. tuberculosis WhiB1.     

Design,Synthesis, and In Vitro Anti‐mycobacterial Evaluation 1H‐1,2,3‐triazole‐tethered Ciprofloxacin and Isatin Conjugates

Eight novel 1H‐1,2,3‐triazole‐tethered ciprofloxacin (CPFX) isatin conjugates 5a – h with greater lipophilicity compared with CPFX were designed, synthesized, and evaluated for their in vitro anti‐mycobacterial activity against Mycobacterium smegmatis and Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) H₃₇Rv. The preliminary results showed that all hybrids (MIC: 12.5–100 μg/mL) exhibited considerable activity against M. smegmatis , but less active than the parent CPFX (MIC: 6.25 μg/mL) and the reference INH (MIC: 0.78 μg/mL). Against MTB H₃₇Rv, all hybrids displayed excellent inhibitory activity with MICs ranging from 1.56 to 25 μg/mL, particularly, 5h (MIC: 1.56 μg/mL) was twofold more active CPFX (MIC: 3.12 μg/mL), warrant further investigations.     

Isatin‐(thio)semicarbazide/oxime‐1H‐1,2,3‐triazole‐coumarin Hybrids: Design,Synthesis, and in vitro Anti‐mycobacterial Evaluation

Isatin and coumarin derivatives with potential anti‐tubercular activity, while (thio)semicarbazide/oxime and 1H‐1,2,3‐triazole moieties exhibited favorable properties such as hydrogen bonding and/or metal chelation capability, so integration of the four pharmacophores into one molecule may provide more effective anti‐tubercular candidates. Based on the consideration earlier, 12 isatin‐(thio)semicarbazide/oxime‐1H‐1,2,3‐triazole‐coumarin hybrids 8a–l were designed, synthesized, and evaluated for their in vitro anti‐mycobacterial activities against M. tuberculosis (MTB) H₃₇Rv and MDR‐TB. The results showed that all the hybrids (MIC: 50–>200 μg/mL) exhibited weak to moderate inhibitory activity against MTB H₃₇Rv and MDR‐TB, which were far less potent than the references isoniazid (MIC: 0.05 μg/mL) and rifampicin (MIC: 0.39 μg/mL) against MTB H₃₇Rv. The most active hybrid 8h (MIC: 50 μg/mL) was comparable with rifampicin (MIC: 32 μg/mL) and more active than isoniazid (MIC: >128 μg/mL) against MDR‐TB, could be act as a lead for further optimization. Moreover, the enriched structure–activity relationship paved the way to the further rational development of this kind of hybrids.     

Design,Synthesis, and in vitro Anti‐mycobacterial Evaluation of Propylene‐1H‐1,2,3‐triazole‐4‐methylene‐tethered (Thio)semicarbazone‐isatin‐moxifloxacin Hybrids

A new class of propylene‐1H‐1,2,3‐triazole‐4‐methylene‐tethered (thio)semicarbazone‐isatin‐moxifloxacin hybrids 6a – h was designed, synthesized, and screened for their in vitro anti‐mycobacterial activities against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) H₃₇Rv and MDR‐TB as well as cytotoxicity in VERO cell line. All the synthesized hybrids (MIC: 0.05–2.0 μg/mL) exhibited excellent activities against M. tuberculosis H₃₇Rv and MDR‐TB; in particular, conjugate 6c (MIC: 0.05 and 0.12 μg/mL) was no inferior to the three references MXFX (MIC: 0.10 and 0.12 μg/mL), RIF (MIC: 0.39 and 32 μg/mL), and INH (MIC: 0.05 and >128 μg/mL) against the tested two strains. All hybrids (CC₅₀: 2–8 μg/mL) were much more cytotoxic than the parent MXFX (CC₅₀: 128 μg/mL) should be further optimized.     

Specific fibre composition and metabolism of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">rectus abdominis</Emphasis> muscle of bovine Charolais cattle

Background  

An important variability of contractile and metabolic properties between muscles has been highlighted. In the literature, the majority of studies on beef sensorial quality concerns M. longissimus thoracis. M. rectus abdominis (RA) is easy to sample without huge carcass depreciation and may appear as an alternative to M. longissimus thoracis for fast and routine physicochemical analysis. It was considered interesting to assess the muscle fibres of M. rectus abdominis in comparison with M. longissimus thoracis (LT) and M. triceps brachii (TB) on the basis of metabolic and contractile properties, area and myosin heavy chain isoforms (MyHC) proportions. Immuno-histochemical, histochemical, histological and enzymological techniques were used. This research concerned two populations of Charolais cattle: RA was compared to TB in a population of 19 steers while RA was compared to LT in a population of 153 heifers.     

1H‐1,2,3‐triazole‐tethered 8‐OMe Ciprofloxacin and Isatin Hybrids: Design,Synthesis and in vitro Anti‐mycobacterial Activities

A new class of 1H ‐1,2,3‐triazole‐tethered 8‐OMe ciprofloxacin (8‐OMe CPFX) isatin hybrids 5a–l was designed, synthesized and screened for their in vitro anti‐mycobacterial activities against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H₃₇Rv and multi‐drug‐resistant tuberculosis (MDR‐TB). All targets (minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC): 0.20–8.0 μg/mL) exhibited promising inhibitory activity against MTB H₃₇Rv and MDR‐TB. Among them, conjugate 5h (MIC: 0.20 μg/mL), was 2–16 times more potent in vitro than the references CPFX (MIC: 3.12 μg/mL), 8‐OMe CPFX (MIC: 1.56 μg/mL) and RIF (MIC: 0.39 μg/mL) against MTB H₃₇Rv. The most potent hybrid 5l (MIC: 0.25 μg/mL) was 8–256 times more active than the three references (MIC: 2.0–64 μg/mL) against MDR‐TB. Both of them warrant further investigations.     

Comparison of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mycobacterium tuberculosis</Emphasis> isocitrate dehydrogenases (ICD-1 and ICD-2) reveals differences in coenzyme affinity,oligomeric state,pH tolerance and phylogenetic affiliation

Background  

M.tb icd-1 and M.tb icd-2, have been identified in the Mycobacterium tuberculosis genome as probable isocitrate dehydrogenase (ICD) genes. Earlier we demonstrated that the two isoforms can elicit B cell response in TB patients and significantly differentiate TB infected population from healthy, BCG-vaccinated controls. Even though immunoassays suggest that these proteins are closely related in terms of antigenic determinants, we now show that M.tb icd-1 and M.tb icd-2 code for functional energy cycle enzymes and document the differences in their biochemical properties, oligomeric assembly and phylogenetic affiliation.     

2‐(3,4‐Dichlorophenylimino)‐5‐((3‐(p‐substitutedphenyl)‐1‐phenyl‐1H‐pyrazol‐4‐yl)methylene)thiazolidin‐4‐one as an Antibacterial,Antifungal and Antimycobacterial Agent

2‐(3,4‐Dichlorophenylimino)‐5‐((3‐(p‐substitutedphenyl)‐1‐phenyl‐1H‐pyrazol‐4‐yl)methylene) thiazolidin‐4‐one has been selected as a target bio‐active molecules. Newly synthesized compounds were screened with Eschericha coli (MTCC 443), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MTCC 1688), Staphylococcus aureus (MTCC 96), Streptococcus pyogenes (MTCC 442) for antibacterial, Candida albicans (MTCC 227), Aspergillus niger (MTCC 282), Aspergillus clavatus (MTCC 1323) for antifungal activity and H ₃₇ Rv for antimycobacterial activity. Compounds 3a , 3c , 3d , 3e , and 3h are potentially active against Staphylococcus aureus , while 3h is active against C. albicans . Compounds 3d and 3f are active against H ₃₇Rv for mycobacterium tuberculosis. Other possesses moderate to good activity. The structures of synthesized compounds were firmly established by well‐defined elemental analyses (C, H, N, S/O) and spectral analysis technique likes, IR, ¹H NMR and GC–MS.     

Design,Synthesis and In Vitro Anti‐mycobacterial Activities of 8‐OMe Ciprofloxacin‐1H‐1,2,3‐triazole‐isatin‐(thio) Semicarbazide/Oxime Hybrids

A series of novel 8‐OMe ciprofloxacin (8‐OMe CPFX)‐1H‐1,2,3‐triazole‐isatin‐(thio) semicarbazide/oxime hybrids 6a – l with the capacity to form hydrogen bond were designed, synthesized, and evaluated for their in vitro anti‐mycobacterial activities against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) H₃₇Rv and MDR‐TB as well as cytotoxicity. All the synthesized hybrids (MIC: 0.39–16 μg/mL) exhibited excellent activities against MTB H₃₇Rv and MDR‐TB, and the majority of them were more potent than the parent 8‐OMe CPFX (MIC: 1.56 and 2.0 μg/mL, respectively). In particular, the most active conjugate 6h (MIC: 0.39 and 1.0 μg/mL, respectively) was two to eight times more potent in vitro than the references CPFX (MIC: 3.12 and 4.0 μg/mL, respectively) and 8‐OMe CPFX against the tested strains and was comparable with or 64‐folds more potent than RIF (MIC: 0.39 and 64 μg/mL, respectively) against MTB H₃₇Rv and MDR‐TB, respectively. In addition, all conjugates (CC₅₀: 16–64 μg/mL) showed acceptable cytotoxicity, although most of them were more toxic than the parent (CC₅₀: 64 μg/mL) in VERO cell line.     

Thermophile-specific proteins: the gene product of <Emphasis Type="Italic">aq_1292</Emphasis> from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aquifex aeolicus</Emphasis> is an NTPase

Background  

To identify thermophile-specific proteins, we performed phylogenetic patterns searches of 66 completely sequenced microbial genomes. This analysis revealed a cluster of orthologous groups (COG1618) which contains a protein from every thermophile and no sequence from 52 out of 53 mesophilic genomes. Thus, COG1618 proteins belong to the group of thermophile-specific proteins (THEPs) and therefore we here designate COG1618 proteins as THEP1s. Since no THEP1 had been analyzed biochemically thus far, we characterized the gene product of aq_1292 which is THEP1 from the hyperthermophilic bacterium Aquifex aeolicus (aaTHEP1).     

Ciprofloxacin‐isatin‐1H‐1,2,3‐triazole Hybrids: Design,Synthesis, and in vitro Anti‐tubercular Activity against M. tuberculosis

A new set of ciprofloxacin (CPFX)‐isatin‐1H‐1,2,3‐triazole hybrids 6a – l with greater lipophilicity compared with the parent CPFX was designed, synthesized, and assessed for their in vitro anti‐mycobacterial activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) H₃₇Rv as well as cytotoxicity in VERO cell line. The preliminary results showed that all hybrids (MIC: 0.39–50 μg/mL) exhibited promising activities against MTB H₃₇Rv, and six of them (MIC: 0.39–1.56 μg/mL) were more active than the parent CPFX (MIC: 3.12 μg/mL). In particular, the most active conjugate 6h (MIC: 0.39 μg/mL) was comparable with RIF (MIC: 0.39 μg/mL), and eight times more potent than CPFX. All conjugates (CC₅₀: 4–64 μg/mL) were more toxic than the parent (CC₅₀: 128 μg/mL) in VERO cell lines, and the most active hybrids, which also displayed the highest cytotoxicity, should be further optimized.     

Design,Synthesis, and in vitro Anti‐mycobacterial Activities of Propylene‐tethered Heteronuclear Bis‐isatin Derivatives

A series of novel propylene‐tethered heteronuclear bis‐isatin derivatives were designed, synthesized, and assessed for their in vitro and anti‐mycobacterial activities. All hybrids exhibited considerable antibacterial and anti‐mycobacterial activities against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv and multi‐drug‐resistant tuberculosis (MDR‐TB) with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ranging from 16 to 256 μg/mL. In particular, the heteronuclear bis‐isatin 4i (MIC: 25 and 16 μg/mL) was most active against M. tuberculosis H₃₇Rv and MDR‐TB strains, which was fourfold and greater than eightfold more potent than the first‐line anti‐tubercular agents rifampicin (MIC: 64 μg/mL) and isoniazid (MIC: >128 μg/mL) against MDR‐TB, could act as a lead for further optimization.     

Design,Synthesis, and In Vitro Anti‐mycobacterial Activities of Propylene‐Tethered Gatifloxacin‐Isatin Hybrids

A series of propylene‐tethered mono‐/bis‐isatin‐gatifloxacin hybrids 3a–f and 4a–f were designed, synthesized, and evaluated for their in vitro anti‐mycobacterial activities against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) H37Rv and multidrug‐resistant tuberculosis (MDR‐TB) as well as cytotoxicity against VERO cell line. The results indicated that all hybrids exhibited promising anti‐mycobacterial activities against MTB H37Rv and MDR‐TB with MIC ranging from 0.25 to 16 μg/mL. In particular, the mono‐isatin‐gatifloxacin hybrid 3e (MIC: 0.25 and 0.25 μg/mL) was found to be most active against MTB H₃₇Rv and MDR‐TB strains, which was twofold more active than the parent gatifloxacin (MIC: 0.5 μg/mL) and comparable with rifampicin ( RIF ) (MIC: 0.25 μg/mL) against MTB H₃₇Rv, and 4‐ > 512 times more potent than the three references gatifloxacin (MIC: 1.0 μg/mL), RIF (MIC: 64 μg/mL), and isoniazid (>128 μg/mL) against MDR‐TB, could act as a starting point for further optimization.     

Synthesis and biological evaluation of new 4‐(4‐(1‐benzyl‐1H‐1,2,3‐triazol‐4‐yl)phenyl)‐2‐phenylthiazole derivatives

A novel series of 4‐(4‐(1‐benzyl‐1H‐1,2,3‐triazol‐4‐yl)phenyl)‐2‐substitutedthiazole derivatives ( 8a‐l) have been synthesized by [3 + 2] cycloaddition reaction of 4‐(4‐ethynylphenyl)‐2‐substitutedthiazole with substituted benzyl azide in aqueous DMF. Starting compounds 4‐(4‐ethynylphenyl)‐2‐substitutedthiazole ( 6a‐d ) were synthesized by reaction of 4‐(2‐substitutedthiazol‐4‐yl)benzaldehyde with Ohira‐Bestmann reagent in methanol. The structures of these novel triazole‐thiazole clubbed derivatives were confirmed by the spectral analysis. The title compounds ( 8a‐l ) were tested for antimycobacterial activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Ra active and dormant (MTB, ATCC 25177) and antimicrobial activity against standard Gram‐positive bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus (NCIM 2602) and Bacillus subtilis (NCIM 2162), and Gram‐negative bacteria, Escherichia coli (NCIM 2576) and Pseudomonas flurescence (NCIM 2059). Compounds 8a , 8b , 8c , and 8h reported good activity against B subtilis, compounds 8a , 8b , and 8c showed good activity against S aureus, and compound 8b showed good activity against dormant M tuberculosis H37Rv strain. Compounds 8b and 8c found more potent against Gram positive and dormant M tuberculosis H37Rv strains. These novel triazole‐thiazole clubbed analogues found to be a capable leads for further optimization and development.     

The yeast <Emphasis Type="Italic">ISN1</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">YOR155c</Emphasis>) gene encodes a new type of IMP-specific 5'-nucleotidase

Background  

The purine salvage enzyme inosine 5'-monophosphate (IMP)-specific 5'-nucleotidase catalyzes degradation of IMP to inosine. Although this enzymatic activity has been purified and characterized in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the gene encoding IMP 5'-nucleotidase had not been identified.     

Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase is largely unresponsive to low regulatory levels of hydrogen peroxide in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Saccharomyces cerevisiae</Emphasis>

Background  

The reversible oxidation of protein SH groups has been considered to be the basis of redox regulation by which changes in hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) concentrations may control protein function. Several proteins become S-glutathionylated following exposure to H₂O₂ in a variety of cellular systems. In yeast, when using a high initial H₂O₂ dose, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) was identified as the major target of S-glutathionylation which leads to reversible inactivation of the enzyme. GAPDH inactivation by H₂O₂ functions to reroute carbohydrate flux to produce NADPH. Here we report the effect of low regulatory H₂O₂ doses on GAPDH activity and expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.     

Electrochemical study of gallium(III) with <Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">l</Emphasis>-glutamine at the dropping mercury electrode

Abstract  

Gallium complexes of l-glutamine have been studied polarographically in aqueous media. The reduction was found to be irreversible and diffusion controlled in the presence of 0.1 M KNO₃ and 0.002% Triton-x-100. The values of kinetic parameters, transfer coefficient (α _n), and formal rate constant ( k_{\textf,\texth}⁰ k_{{{\text{f}},{\text{h}}}}^{0} ) of the electrode reactions were calculated by Koutecky's method. The stability constants and composition of the gallium(III)-l-glutamine complexes were evaluated with the help of the Deford-Hume method. The values of stability constants of 1:1, 1:2, and 1:3 gallium(III)-l-glutamine complexes are 1.35, 6.5, and 1,350 at 30 °C, respectively. The values of thermodynamic parameters, the free energy of activation, the enthalpy of activation, and the entropy of activation have been determined at 30 °C. The formation of the metal complexes has been found to be non-spontaneous, endothermic in nature, and entropically favorable at higher temperature.     

Design,Synthesis, and Antimycobacterial Activities of Diethylene Glycol Tethered Moxifloxacin–Isatin Hybrids

A new class of diethylene glycol tethered moxifloxacin–isatin hybrids 5a–l was designed, synthesized, and evaluated for their in vitro antimycobacterial activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) H37Rv and multidrug‐resistant tuberculosis (MDR‐TB) strains. Our results showed that all hybrids with higher lipophilicity than the parent moxifloxacin exhibited promising activity against the tested strains with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) in a range of 0.2–16 μg/mL. In particular, hybrid 5h (MIC: 0.20 and 0.5 μg/mL), which was found to be most active against MTB H37Rv and MDR‐TB, was twofold more potent than isoniazid (MIC: 0.39 μg/mL) against MTB H37Rv and ≥64‐fold more active than isoniazid and rifampicin (MIC: >128 and 32 μg/mL, respectively) against MDR‐TB.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">glpX</Emphasis> Gene of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mycobacterium tuberculosis</Emphasis>: Heterologous Expression,Purification, and Enzymatic Characterization of the Encoded Fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase II

The glpX gene (Rv1099c) of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) encodes Fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase II (FBPase II; EC 3.1.3.11); a key gluconeogenic enzyme. Mtb possesses glpX homologue as the major known FBPase. This study explored the expression, purification and enzymatic characterization of functionally active FBPase II from Mtb. The glpX gene was cloned, expressed and purified using a two step purification strategy including affinity and size exclusion chromatography. The specific activity of Mtb FBPase II is 1.3 U/mg. The enzyme is oligomeric, followed Michaelis–Menten kinetics with an apparent km = 44 μM. Enzyme activity is dependent on bivalent metal ions and is inhibited by lithium and inorganic phosphate. The pH optimum and thermostability of the enzyme have been determined. The robust expression, purification and assay protocols ensure sufficient production of this protein for structural biology and screening of inhibitors against this enzyme.