Unveiling the Anticancer and Antibiofilm Potential of Catechin Overlaid Reduced Graphene Oxide/Zinc Oxide Nanocomposites

Journal of Cluster Science - In the present study, catechin was successfully grafted in reduced graphene oxide Zinc oxide (rGO/ZnO) nanocomposite by solvent free hydrothermal method. Absorption...     

Using mass spectrometry to detect buffalo salivary odorant-binding protein and its post-translational modifications

A large number of mammalian odorant-binding proteins, which are lipocalins, have been studied. These proteins participate in peri-receptor events by selecting and carrying odorant molecules. The present study aimed at identifying the buffalo salivary odorant-binding protein (sOBP), and to determine its post-translational modification using mass spectrometry. The buffalo salivary 21 kDa protein was initially separated adopting sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and it was identified as sOBP with high statistical reliability using liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) and SEQUEST, for the first time. Further, the post-translationally modified peptides were screened adopting MS/MS. A total of four post-translational modifications, namely glycation at lysine-(59), hydroxylation at lysine-(134), ubiquitination at lysine-(121), and dihydroxylation in lysine-(108), were recorded. Moreover, these modifications have not been identified in buffalo salivary odorant-binding protein.     

Hybrid recoil mass analyzer at IUAC — First results using gas-filled mode and future plans

Hybrid recoil mass analyzer (HYRA) is a unique, dual-mode spectrometer designed to carry out nuclear reaction and structure studies in heavy and medium-mass nuclei using gas-filled and vacuum modes, respectively and has the potential to address newer domains in nuclear physics accessible using high energy, heavy-ion beams from superconducting LINAC accelerator (being commissioned) and ECR-based high current injector system (planned) at IUAC. The first stage of HYRA is operational and initial experiments have been carried out using gas-filled mode for the detection of heavy evaporation residues and heavy quasielastic recoils in the direction of primary beam. Excellent primary beam rejection and transmission efficiency (comparable with other gas-filled separators) have been achieved using a smaller focal plane detection system. There are plans to couple HYRA to other detector arrays such as Indian national gamma array (INGA) and 4π spin spectrometer for ER tagged spectroscopic/spin distribution studies and for focal plane decay measurements.     

Detection of α2u‐globulin and its bound putative pheromones in the preputial gland of the Indian commensal rat (Rattus rattus) using mass spectrometry

The role of pheromones and pheromone‐binding proteins in the laboratory rat has been extensively investigated. However, we have previously reported that the preputial gland of the Indian commensal rat produces a variety of pheromonal molecules and preputial glands would seem to be the predominant source for pheromonal communication. The presence of pheromone‐binding proteins has not yet been identified in the preputial gland of the Indian commensal rat; therefore, the experiments were designed to unravel the α_2u‐globulin (α2u) and its bound volatiles in the commensal rat. Total preputial glandular proteins were first fractionated by sodium dodecyl sulfate/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS‐PAGE) and subsequently analyzed by mass spectrometry. Further, we purified α2u and screened for the presence of bound pheromonal molecules with the aid of gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). A novel α2u was identified with a high score and this protein has not been previously described as present in the preputial gland of Indian commensal rats. This novel α2u was then characterized by tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). Peptides with m/z values of 969, 1192, 1303 and 1876 were further fragmented with the aid of MS/MS and generated de novo sequences which provided additional evidence for the presence of α2u in the preputial gland. Finally, we identified the presence of farnesol 1 and 2 bound to α2u. The present investigation confirms the presence of α2u (18.54 kDa) in the preputial gland of the Indian commensal rat and identifies farnesol 1 and 2 as probably involved in chemo‐communication by the Indian commensal rat. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.