Calreticulin Transacetylase Mediates the Acetylation of Nitric Oxide Synthase by Polyphenolic Acetate

Our earlier investigations identified acetoxy drug: protein transacetylase (TAase), a unique enzyme in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) catalyzing the transfer of acetyl groups from polyphenolic acetates (PA) to certain functional proteins. Recently we have established the identity of TAase with ER protein calreticulin (CR) and subsequently transacetylase function of CR was termed calreticulin transacetylase (CRTAase). CRTAase was purified and characterized from human placenta. CRTAase catalyzed the acetylation of a receptor protein nNOS, by a model PA 7, 8-diacetoxy-4-methylcoumarin (DAMC), which was visually confirmed by using antiacetyl lysine. The aim of this report was to provide tacit proof by providing mass spectrometry evidence for CRTAase catalyzed acetylation of purified nNOS by DAMC. For this purpose, purified nNOS was incubated with DAMC and CRTAase, the modified nNOS was analyzed by nanoscale LC-MS/MS, which recorded 11 distinct peptides with a significant score as acetylated on lysine residues. The distribution was in order: lysines-24, -33, -38, -131, and -229 of the PDZ domain, Lys-245 of the oxygenase domain, Lys-754 and -856 of FMN binding domain, Lys-989 of connecting domain and Lys-1300, -1321, and -1371 of the NADPH-binding domain were acetylated. The results documented in this paper highlighted for the first time modification of nNOS by way of acetylation. Our earlier work recorded the profound activation of platelet NADPH cytochrome P-450 reductase and the acetylation of the reductase protein by DAMC, which also remarkably enhanced intracellular levels of nitric oxide. The results reported here coupled with the aforementioned previous observations strongly implicate the possible role of the acetylation of the reductase domain of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in the NOS activation. In addition, the acetylation of nNOS can be expected to potentiate the interaction with CR, eventually leading to the augmented catalytic activity of NOS and expression of the related biological effects.     

Determination of the limit of absolute thermodynamic stability of liquid using external electric fields as perturbation

A relationship between the pressure and temperature of superheated liquid n-hexane and the critical electrostatic field required for inducing nucleation in it is obtained experimentally. This relation is used for the determination of the limit of stability of the liquid.     

Control of Multidrug-Resistant Gene Flow in the Environment Through Bacteriophage Intervention

The spread of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria is an emerging threat to the environment and public wellness. Inappropriate use and indiscriminate release of antibiotics in the environment through un-metabolized form create a scenario for the emergence of virulent pathogens and MDR bugs in the surroundings. Mechanisms underlying the spread of resistance include horizontal and vertical gene transfers causing the transmittance of MDR genes packed in different host, which pass across different food webs. Several controlling agents have been used for combating pathogens; however, the use of lytic bacteriophages proves to be one of the most eco-friendly due to their specificity, killing only target bacteria without damaging the indigenous beneficial flora of the habitat. Phages are part of the natural microflora present in different environmental niches and are remarkably stable in the environment. Diverse range of phage products, such as phage enzymes, phage peptides having antimicrobial properties, and phage cocktails also have been used to eradicate pathogens along with whole phages. Recently, the ability of phages to control pathogens has extended from the different areas of medicine, agriculture, aquaculture, food industry, and into the environment. To avoid the arrival of pre-antibiotic epoch, phage intervention proves to be a potential option to eradicate harmful pathogens generated by the MDR gene flow which are uneasy to cure by conventional treatments.     

Gas flow-field induced director alignment in polymer dispersed liquid crystal microdroplets deposited on a glass substrate

Abstract

Polymer dispersed liquid crystal thin films have been deposited on glass substrates by the processes of polymerization and solvent evaporation induced phase separation. The electron and the optical polarization microscopies of the films reveal that PDLC microdroplets formed during the process of phase separation near the top surface of the film remain exposed and respond to shear stress due to air or gas flow on the surface. Optical response of the film to an air flow-induced shear stress input on the free surface has been measured. Director orientation in the droplets changes with the applied shear stress leading to time varying transmitted light intensity. Director dynamics of the droplet for an applied step shear stress has been discussed from free energy considerations. Results on the measurement of light transmission as a function of the gas flow parameter unambiguously demonstrate the potential of these systems for use as boundary layer and gas flow sensors.     

Some Novel Oxadiazolyl/Azetidinyl Benzimidazole Derivatives: Synthesis and in Vitro Biological Evaluation

In a wide search program for new and efficient antimicrobial agents, a series of oxadiazole/azetidinone-incorporated benzimidazoles have been synthesized and evaluated against different Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Derivatives having long alkyl chain on the oxadiazole/azetidinone moiety with three or more carbon atoms have shown less antibacterial activity.     

Development and validation of rapid HPLC method for determination of doxofylline in bulk drug and pharmaceutical dosage forms

A simple, selective, rapid, and economical reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography(RP-HPLC) method for the determination of doxofylline in the commercial dosage form has been developed and validated. The separation and quantification were achieved on an HiQ Sil C 18 W column using a mobile phase of acetonitrile: buffer (50: 50), pH 3, at a flow rate of 1 mL/min with detection of analyte at 272 nm. The separation was achieved within 3.1 ± 0.3 min for doxofylline sample. The method showed good linearity in the range of 10–80 μg/mL. The intra and inter day RSD ranged from 0.37–0.53%. The recovery (mean ± S.D.) of low, middle and high concentrations were 100.04 ± 0.80, 100.01 ± 0.20, 100.07 ± 0.30 respectively. Limit of detection and limit of quantification were 0.03 and 0.1 μg/mL, respectively.     

Nanocomposites of TiO 2 and Siloxane Copolymers as Environmentally Safe Flame-Retardant Materials †

Composites of titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanoparticles and biocatalytically synthesized dimethylsiloxane copolyamides were prepared, and their thermal and flame-retardant properties were investigated. The flammability properties such as heat release capacity and total heat release were measured from microscale cumbustion calorimetry (MCC). The thermal degradation temperatures, char yields, and the heat-release capacities of these nanocomposites were significantly improved over the pure polymers. The heat-release capacities of the siloxane copolymer nanocomposites with 20wt% of TiO₂ were found to be 167 and 129 J/g K, which is a 35% less than the pure polymers (260 and 194 J/g K, respectively). The SEM/EDAX surface-analysis studies on nanocomposite films and their char revealed that nanocrystalline-TiO₂ plays an important role in forming carbonaceous silicate char on the surface as a protective layer.     

Synthesis,spectroscopic, and antimicrobial studies of the bivalent zinc and mercury complexes of thiosemicarbazide

A series of metal complexes of Zn(II) and Hg(II) having the general composition [ML₂]X₂ with thiosemicarbazide have been prepared and characterized by elemental chemical analysis, molar conductance, and spectral (IR and mass) studies. The IR spectral data suggest the involvement of sulfur and terminal amino nitrogen in coordination to central metal ion. On the basis of spectral studies, a tetrahedral geometry has been assigned for the Zn(II) and Hg(II) complexes. Thiosemicarbazide and its metal complexes have been tested in vitro against a number of microorganisms in order to assess their antimicrobial properties. The article is published in the original.