Reconstruction and crosstalk of protein-protein interaction networks of Wnt and Hedgehog signaling in Drosophila melanogaster

In the last few years, researchers have an intense interest in the evolutionarily conserved signaling pathways which have crucial roles during embryonic development. The most intriguing factor of this interest is that malfunctioning of these signaling pathways (Hedgehog, Notch, Wnt etc.) leads to several human diseases, especially to cancer. This study deals with the β-catenin dependent branch of Wnt signaling and the Hedgehog signaling pathways which offer potential targeting points for cancer drug development. The identification of all proteins functioning in these signaling networks is crucial for the efforts of preventing tumor formation. Here, through integration of protein-protein interaction data and Gene Ontology annotations, Wnt/β-catenin and Hedgehog signaling networks consisting of proteins that have statistically high probability of being biologically related to these signaling pathways were reconstructed in Drosophila melanogaster. Next, by the structural network analyses, the crucial components functioning in these pathways were identified. The proteins Arm, Frizzled receptors (Fz and Fz2), Arr, Apc, Axn, Ci and Ptc were detected as the key proteins in these networks. Futhermore, the hub protein Mer having tumor suppressor function may be proposed as a putative drug target for cancer and deserves further investigation via experimental methods. Finally, the crosstalk analysis between the reconstructed networks reveals that these two signaling networks crosstalk to each other.     

Sufficient Condition for the Existence of an Even [a, b]-Factor in Graph

Let a, b, be two even integers. In this paper, we get a sufficient condition which involves the stability number, the minimum degree of the graph for the existence of an even [a, b]-factor.     

Functional analysis of repositioned anilide derivatives as anticancer compounds

Off the different types cancers 40% of the population have been observed to be affected by leukemia. Contemporary therapeutics is focusing on generation of new synthetic analogues that can exert maximum positive physiological effect with minimum dosage and negligible deleterious side effects. New generation pharmacists are focusing on such promising effects of Imatinib (a potential anti-cancer drug molecule), Dasatinib, Pelitinib and Nilotinib. The present research study focuses on novel synthesized anilides derivative against BCR-ABL kinase as potential anti-leukemic agent. Validation of the compounds by molecular docking with specific BCR-ABL kinase confirmed their activity. Toxicity prediction of these compounds helped to identify sustainability as therapeutic molecules. The IC₅₀ values were calculated (211 ug, 175 ug, 272ug for compounds A, B, C resp.) and the mode of cell death was gauged by DNA laddering assay. The cells were observed to be induced for programmed cell death. By validating and in-vivo testing of three synthesized compounds, the compound B was observed to be more stable thermodynamically with a potentially vital active site and appears to be a promising anti-leukemic factor. The present research thus lays a preliminary platform in world of pharmaceutics, where these new analogues appear to be efficient, target specific and less toxic molecules.     

Comparative evaluation of various total antioxidant capacity assays applied to phenolic compounds with the CUPRAC assay

It would be desirable to establish and standardize methods that can measure the total antioxidant capacity level directly from vegetable extracts containing phenolics. Antioxidant capacity assays may be broadly classified as electron transfer (ET)- and hydrogen atom transfer (HAT)-based assays. The majority of HAT assays are kinetics-based, and involve a competitive reaction scheme in which antioxidant and substrate compete for peroxyl radicals thermally generated through the decomposition of azo compounds. ET-based assays measure the capacity of an antioxidant in the reduction of an oxidant, which changes colour when reduced. ET assays include the ABTS/TEAC, CUPRAC, DPPH, Folin-Ciocalteu and FRAP methods, each using different chromogenic redox reagents with different standard potentials. This review intends to offer a critical evaluation of existing antioxidant assays applied to phenolics, and reports the development by our research group of a simple and low-cost antioxidant capacity assay for dietary polyphenols, vitamins C and E, and human serum antioxidants, utilizing the copper(II)-neocuproine reagent as the chromogenic oxidizing agent, which we haved named the CUPRAC (cupric ion reducing antioxidant capacity) method. This method offers distinct advantages over other ET-based assays, namely the selection of working pH at physiological pH (as opposed to the Folin and FRAP methods, which work at alkaline and acidic pHs, respectively), applicability to both hydrophilic and lipophilic antioxidants (unlike Folin and DPPH), completion of the redox reactions for most common flavonoids (unlike FRAP), selective oxidation of antioxidant compounds without affecting sugars and citric acid commonly contained in foodstuffs and the capability to assay -SH bearing antioxidants (unlike FRAP). Other similar ET-based antioxidant assays that we have developed or modified for phenolics are the Fe(III)- and Ce(IV)-reducing capacity methods.     

Effects of In, Al and Sn dopants on the structural and optical properties of ZnO thin films

Effect of In, Al and Sn dopants on the optical and structural properties of ZnO thin films have been investigated by X-ray diffraction technique and optical characterization method. X-ray diffraction patterns confirm that the films have polycrystalline nature. The thin films have (002) as the preferred orientation. This (002) preferred orientation is due to the minimal surface energy which the hexagonal structure, c-plane to the ZnO crystallites, corresponds to the densest packed plane. The grain size values of the films are found to be 29.0, 35.2 and 39.5 nm for In, Al and Sn doped ZnO thin films, respectively. The optical band gaps of the films were calculated. The absorption edge shifts to the lower wavelengths with In, Al and Sn dopants. The inclusion of dopant into films expands also width of localized states as E(UIn)>E(UAl)>E(USn). The refractive index dispersion curves obey the single oscillator model. The dispersion parameters and optical constants of the films were determined. These parameters changed with In, Al and Sn dopants.     

Unusual products in the reactions of hexachlorocyclotriphosphazatriene with sodium aryloxides

Reactions of hexachlorocyclotriphosphazatriene, N₃P₃Cl₆ 1 , with sodium aryloxides have been studied. Compound 1 was found to react by the nucleophilic substitution pathway to yield monocyclophosphazenes [N₃P₃Cl₆(OC₆H₂Bu¹₃-2,4,6) 5 and N₃P₃Cl₄(OC₆H₂Me-4-Bu¹₂-2,6)₂ 6 ] and bi(cyclophosphazenes) ([Cl₅N₃P₃-P₃N₃Cl₄(OC₆H₃Bu¹₂-2,6)] 7 and [N₃P₃(OC₆H₃Bu¹₂-2,6)₅]₂ 8 ). The unusual bi(cyclophosphazenes) 7 and 8 are the first examples of two cyclotriphosphazene rings linked by a P(SINGLE BOND)P bond [2.193 (2) Å], which have been obtained by reacting 1 with ArONa. The structures of compounds 5–8 are ascertained by elemental analyses, ¹H-, ³¹P-¹³C-NMR, IR, and MS spectra. The molecular structure of monocyclic-phosphazene 5 was determined by X-ray diffraction techniques for further structural assignment. It crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁/m with a = 6.144(2), b = 17.079(9), c = 13.181(9) Å, β = 92.79(7), and Z = 2, R = 0.074. Compound 5 is on a crystallographic mirror plane, and there is only a half molecule in the asymmetric unit. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Crystalline structure and morphological properties of undoped and Sn doped ZnO thin films

Undoped and tin (Sn) doped ZnO thin films have been prepared by spray pyrolysis method. Effect of Sn dopant on the crystalline structure and morphological properties of ZnO thin films has been investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) method. XRD patterns confirm that the films have polycrystalline nature. While undoped ZnO film has (101) as the preferred orientation, Sn doped ZnO thin films have (002) as the preferred orientation. Grain sizes, lattice parameters and texture coefficient values of the films were determined. Microstructure was analyzed by SEM and the influence of the doping concentration in the microstructure of the films is investigated.     

Phase Transition Behavior of a New Monotropic Liquid Crystal by Inverse GC

A new monotropic liquid crystal with crown ether substituent called Substance M was synthetized and characterized by several methods: ¹H NMR, hot stage polarizing microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and inverse gas chromatography. Annealing experiments with inverse gas chromatography confirmed the monotropic behavior of the compound. Isothermally in the nematic state, solute probes chosen were chromatographed after different heating times. The changes of the corresponding retention times were studied.     

Deposition of MgF2 thin films for antireflection coating by using thermionic vacuum arc (TVA)

In this study, optical and surface properties of MgF₂ thin films produced by thermionic vacuum arc (TVA) technique have been investigated. By means of this technique the MgF₂ thin film produced by condensing the plasma of anode material generated by using TVA under high vacuum conditions on the glass. The optical properties have been investigated by using Filmetrics F20 and UV/VIS spectrometer. For surface properties of produced thin films EDS, SEM and AFM have been used. Our analysis shows that MgF₂ thin films produced by using TVA are proper single and multi layer anti-reflective (AR) coating and TVA technique brings very important advantages for ophthalmic glass coating and industrial applications' optical purposes.