Computational Biology and Chemistry

The use of computers and software tools in biochemistry (biology) has led to a deep revolution in basic sciences and medicine. Bioinformatics and systems biology are the direct results of this revolution. With the involvement of computers, software tools, and internet services in scientific disciplines comprising biology and chemistry, new terms, technologies, and methodologies appeared and established. Bioinformatic software tools, versatile databases, and easy internet access resulted in the occurrence of computational biology and chemistry. Today, we have new types of surveys and laboratories including “in silico studies” and “dry labs” in which bioinformaticians conduct their investigations to gain invaluable outcomes. These features have led to 3-dimensioned illustrations of different molecules and complexes to get a better understanding of nature

LABRAD : Vol 47, Issue 1 - June 2022

Content From the Editor’s Desk LABRAD Star Contributors for the Year 2021 Clinical Relevance of Measuring Thyroid Stimulating Hormone Receptor Antibodies in Pregnancy and Newborns Aromatic l-amino Acid Decarboxylase (AADC) Deficiency- An Ultra-rare and Underdiagnosed Neurometabolic Disorder Role of Flowcytometry & Kleihauer - Betke Test in Detection and Quantification of Fetomaternal Hemorrhage Gestational Trophoblastic Diseases: An Overview Acrania-Exencephaly-Anencephaly Sequence/ Spectrum: Radiological Features on Antenatal Screening Minimally Invasive Tissue Sampling (MITS) A New Way to Investigate Cause of Death In Resource-constrained Countries Laboratory Guideline for Detection, Interpretation and Reporting of Maternal Cell Contamination (MCC) in Prenatal Analysis Molecular Analysis of Alpha Thalassemia by MLPA Study of DMD Gene for Exon/s Deletion/ Duplications by Multiplex Ligation-Dependent Probe Amplification in Prenatal Samples Best of the Recent Past New Tests in Clinical Laboratoryhttps://ecommons.aku.edu/labrad/1037/thumbnail.jp

Quantitative Proteomics Analysis of Differentially Expressed Proteins in Aβ(17-42) Treated Synaptosomes

Oxidative stress has been associated in the pathogenesis of numerous diseases such as neurodegenerative disorders, ischemia, and cancer. The brain is susceptible to oxidative stress due to its high content of peroxidizable unsaturated fatty acids, high consumption of oxygen per unit weight, high levels of free radicals, and comparatively low levels of antioxidant defense systems. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) can react with biomolecules such as proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, DNA, and RNA, which can lead to oxidative damage, cellular dysfunction, and can ultimately cause cell death. Down syndrome (DS) is the most common form of chromosomal abnormality found in live-born infants. DS patients have an extensive deposition of Aβ(17-42) peptide, which could contribute to their increased rate of developing Alzheimer\u27s disease (AD). Since AD cannot be properly diagnosed until autopsy, development of a novel Down syndrome model using Aβ(17-42) could be beneficial in determining oxidative stress levels and their relationship to mild cognitive impairment (MCI), the earliest form of AD in order to possibly be used as a diagnostic tool for AD. We have found a significant difference between oxidative stress levels in Aβ(17-42) treated synaptosomes and control. By using proteomics, we have also identified several biomarkers including aldehyde dehydrogenase, aldolase, α-enolase, heat shock cognate 71, peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase, and ATP synthase α chain. Our present findings, suggest the role of Aβ(17-42) as one of the contributing factors in mediating oxidative stress in DS, and AD brain leading to neurodegeneration

Through the looking-glass: microscopy techniques for studying mitochondria

Mitochondria are essential organelles of eukaryotic animal cells, representing the powerhouses fueling all cellular processes. Despite their fundamental importance for eukaryotic life, some aspects of their physiology remain obscure or poorly studied, partially due to technological limitations. For example: 1) transcellular degradation of mitochondria from one cell by another cell, transmitophagy, which has been observed in neurons and that is hypothesized to add to the known mechanisms of mitochondrial degradation, apoptosis and intracellular mitophagy; 2) the spatial association between Twinkle helicase, a protein indispensable for mitochondrial DNA replication, and mitochondrial-associated membrane structures, fatty-rich dynamic structures implicated in contact points with endoplasmic reticulum. In this thesis, I collected more than 150 transmission electron microscopy images and established experimental parameters for fluorescence microscopy section of correlative light electron microscopy to study transmitophagy. Moreover, I established experimental parameters on sample preparation and staining when using fluorescence microscopy and immuno transmission electron microscopy with silver - nano gold coating to study mitochondrial DNA replication. Thus, this work aided in establishing experimental setups for available imaging techniques, which have added to the existing repertoire of tools to study mitochondria