Human protein-RNA interaction network is highly stable across mammals

Background RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) are crucial in modulating RNA metabolism in eukaryotes thereby controlling an extensive network of RBP-RNA interactions. Although previous studies on the conservation of RBP targets have been carried out in lower eukaryotes such as yeast, relatively little is known about the extent of conservation of the binding sites of RBPs across mammalian species. Results In this study, we employ CLIP-seq datasets for 60 human RBPs and demonstrate that most binding sites for a third of these RBPs are conserved in at least 50% of the studied vertebrate species. Across the studied RBPs, binding sites were found to exhibit a median conservation of 58%, ~ 20% higher than random genomic locations, suggesting a significantly higher preservation of RBP-RNA interaction networks across vertebrates. RBP binding sites were highly conserved across primates with weak conservation profiles in birds and fishes. We also note that phylogenetic relationship between members of an RBP family does not explain the extent of conservation of their binding sites across species. Multivariate analysis to uncover features contributing to differences in the extents of conservation of binding sites across RBPs revealed RBP expression level and number of post-transcriptional targets to be the most prominent factors. Examination of the location of binding sites at the gene level confirmed that binding sites occurring on the 3′ region of a gene are highly conserved across species with 90% of the RBPs exhibiting a significantly higher conservation of binding sites in 3′ regions of a gene than those occurring in the 5′. Gene set enrichment analysis on the extent of conservation of binding sites to identify significantly associated human phenotypes revealed an enrichment for multiple developmental abnormalities. Conclusions Our results suggest that binding sites of human RBPs are highly conserved across primates with weak conservation profiles in lower vertebrates and evolutionary relationship between members of an RBP family does not explain the extent of conservation of their binding sites. Expression level and number of targets of an RBP are important factors contributing to the differences in the extent of conservation of binding sites. RBP binding sites on 3′ ends of a gene are the most conserved across species. Phenotypic analysis on the extent of conservation of binding sites revealed the importance of lineage-specific developmental events in post-transcriptional regulatory network evolution

Exploring anti-malarial potential of FDA approved drugs: an in silico approach

Background: The critically important issue on emergence of drug-resistant malarial parasites is compounded by cross resistance, where resistance to one drug confers resistance to other chemically similar drugs or those that share mode of action. This aspect requires discovery of new anti-malarial compounds or formulation of new combination therapy. The current study attempts to contribute towards accelerating anti-malarial drug development efforts, by exploring the potential of existing FDA-approved drugs to target proteins of Plasmodium falciparum. Methods: Using comparative sequence and structure analyses, FDA-approved drugs, originally developed against other pathogens, were identified as potential repurpose-able candidates against P. falciparum. The rationale behind the undertaken approach is the likeliness of small molecules to bind to homologous targets. Such a study of evolutionary relationships between established targets and P. falciparum proteins aided in identification of approved drug candidates that can be explored for their anti-malarial potential. Results: Seventy-one FDA-approved drugs were identified that could be repurposed against P. falciparum. A total of 89 potential targets were recognized, of which about 70 are known to participate in parasite housekeeping machinery, protein biosynthesis, metabolic pathways and cell growth and differentiation, which can be prioritized for chemotherapeutic interventions. An additional aspect of prioritization of predicted repurpose-able drugs has been explored on the basis of ability of the drugs to permeate cell membranes, i.e., lipophilicity, since the parasite resides within a parasitophorous vacuole, within the erythrocyte, during the blood stages of infection. Based on this consideration, 46 of 71 FDA-approved drugs have been identified as feasible repurpose-able candidates against P. falciparum, and form a first-line for laboratory investigations. At least five of the drugs identified in the current analysis correspond to existing antibacterial agents already under use as repurposed anti-malarial agents. Conclusions: The drug-target associations predicted, primarily by taking advantage of evolutionary information, provide a valuable resource of attractive and feasible candidate drugs that can be readily taken through further stages of anti-malarial drug development pipeline

The Tubulin Superfamily in Apicomplexan Parasites

Microtubules and specialized microtubule-containing structures are assembled from tubulins, an ancient superfamily of essential eukaryotic proteins. Here, we use bioinformatic approaches to analyze features of tubulins in organisms from the phylum Apicomplexa. Apicomplexans are protozoan parasites that cause a variety of human and animal infectious diseases. Individual species harbor one to four genes each for α- and β-tubulin isotypes. These may specify highly similar proteins, suggesting functional redundancy, or exhibit key differences, consistent with specialized roles. Some, but not all apicomplexans harbor genes for δ- and ε-tubulins, which are found in organisms that construct appendage-containing basal bodies. Critical roles for apicomplexan δ- and ε-tubulin are likely to be limited to microgametes, consistent with a restricted requirement for flagella in a single developmental stage. Sequence divergence or the loss of δ- and ε-tubulin genes in other apicomplexans appears to be associated with diminished requirements for centrioles, basal bodies, and axonemes. Finally, because spindle microtubules and flagellar structures have been proposed as targets for anti-parasitic therapies and transmission-blocking strategies, we discuss these ideas in the context of tubulin-based structures and tubulin superfamily properties

Studies in heavy-fermion systems

This article does not have an abstract

N-Terminal myristoylation alters the calcium binding pathways in neuronal calcium sensor-1

Neuronal calcium sensor-1 (NCS-1) interacts with many membranes and cytosolic proteins, both in a Ca2+-dependent and in a Ca2+-independent manner, and its physiological role is governed by its N-terminal myristoylation. To understand the role of myristoylation in altering Ca2+ response and other basic biophysical properties, we have characterized the Ca2+ filling pathways in both myristoylated (myr) and non-myristoylated (non-myr) forms of NCS-1. We have observed that Ca2+ binds simultaneously to all three active EF-hands in non-myr NCS-1, whereas in the case of myr NCS-1, the process is sequential, where the second EF-hand is filled first, followed by the third and fourth EF-hands. In the case of myr NCS-1, the observed sequential Ca2+ binding process becomes more prominent in the presence of Mg2+. Besides, the analysis of 15N-relaxation data reveals that non-myr NCS-1 is more dynamic than myr NCS-1. The overall molecular tumbling correlation time increases by approximately 20% upon myristoylation. Comparing the apo forms of non-myr NCS-1 and myr NCS-1, we found the possibility of existence of some substates, which are structurally closer to the holo form of the protein. There are more such substates in the case of non-myr NCS-1 than in the case of the myr NCS-1, suggesting that the former accesses larger volumes of conformational substates compared with the latter. Further, the study reveals that the possibility of Ca2+ binding simultaneously to different parts of the protein is more favourable in non-myr NCS-1 than in myr NCS-1

Preliminary X-ray crystallographic analysis of the secreted chorismate mutase from Mycobacterium tuberculosis: a tricky crystallization problem solved

A method is presented that allowed the diffraction limit of crystals of the secreted chorismate mutase from M. tuberculosis to be improved from approximately 3.5 to 1.3 Å. To obtain large well diffracting crystals, it was critical to initiate crystallization at higher precipitant concentration and then transfer the drops to lower precipitant concentrations within 5–15 min

Simple and inexpensive <SUP>3</SUP>He insert for an ac susceptometer

The design of a simple and inexpensive 3He insert for the existing ac susceptometer is described. The system uses a home built mutual inductance bridge for the ac susceptibility measurements from 0&#183;4 K to 300 K. Simple and inexpensive design with the top loading facility are the main features of this set up. The insert can also be used as a continuously 3He operating refrigerator down to 0&#183;5 K

A low cost PC based card for heat-capacity measurements at low temperatures

We describe a simple, low cost pc based card for the measurement of heat capacity using adiabatic calorimetry at low temperatures. This card provides the control pulse to the sample heater as well as trigger pulse to the nano-voltmeter which monitors the sensor voltage (Ge sensor, Lake Shore Inc., USA). We have also added a 12 bit DAC on this card and this is used for remote setting of the heater current of an old SHE (now Biomagnetic, Inc., USA, model CCS) analog constant current source. Although this card is used here for heat-capacity measurements, the same can also be used for thermo-power and thermal-conductivity measurements