In silico comparative genomics analysis of Plasmodium falciparum for the identification of putative essential genes and therapeutic candidates.

A sequence of computational methods was used for predicting novel drug targets against drug resistant malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. Comparative genomics, orthologous protein analysis among same and other malaria parasites and protein-protein interaction study provide us new insights into determining the essential genes and novel therapeutic candidates. Among the predicted list of 21 essential proteins from unique pathways, 11 proteins were prioritized as anti-malarial drug targets. As a case study, we built homology models of two uncharacterized proteins using MODELLER v9.13 software from possible templates. Functional annotation of these proteins was done by the InterPro databases and from ProBiS server by comparison of predicted binding site residues. The model has been subjected to in silico docking study with screened potent lead compounds from the ZINC database by Dock Blaster software using AutoDock 4. Results from this study facilitate the selection of proteins and putative inhibitors for entry into drug design production pipelines

Regulating levels of the neuromodulator D-serine in human brain: structural insight into pLG72 and D-amino acid oxidase interaction

The human flavoenzyme D-amino acid oxidase (hDAAO) degrades the NMDA-receptor modulator D-serine in the brain. Whereas hDAAO has been extensively characterized, little is known about its main modulator pLG72, a small protein encoded by the primate-specific gene G72 that has been associated with schizophrenia susceptibility. pLG72 interacts with neosynthesized hDAAO, promoting its inactivation and degradation. In this work we used low-resolution techniques to characterize the surface topology of the hDAAO-pLG72 complex. By using limited proteolysis coupled to mass spectrometry we could map the exposed regions in the two proteins after complex formation and highlighted an increased sensitivity to proteolysis of hDAAO in complex with pLG72. Cross-linking experiments by using bis(sulfosuccinimidyl)suberate identified the single covalent bond between T182 in hDAAO and K62 in pLG72. In order to validate the designed mode of interaction, three pLG72 variants incrementally truncated at the C-terminus, in addition to a form lacking the 71 N-terminal residues, were produced. All variants were dimeric, folded, and interacted with hDAAO. The strongest decrease in affinity for hDAAO (as well as for the hydrophobic drug chlorpromazine) was apparent for the N-terminally deleted pLG7272-153 form, which lacked K62. On the other hand, eliminating the disordered C-terminal tail yielded a more stable pLG72 protein, improved the binding to hDAAO, although giving lower enzyme inhibition. Elucidation of the mode of hDAAO-pLG72 interaction now makes it possible to design novel molecules that, by targeting the protein complex, can be therapeutically advantageous for diseases related to impairment in D-serine metabolism. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved

Nutritive value of dried beet pulp, Station Bulletin, no.477

The Bulletin is a publication of the New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station, College of Life Sciences and Agriculture, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire

The relative orientation of the TM3 and TM4 domains varies between α1 and α3 glycine receptors

Glycine receptors (GlyRs) are anion-conducting members of the pentameric ligand-gated ion channel family. We previously showed that the dramatic difference in glycine efficacies of α1 and α3 GlyRs is largely attributable to their nonconserved TM4 domains. Because mutation of individual nonconserved TM4 residues had little effect, we concluded that the efficacy difference was a distributed effect of all nonconserved TM4 residues. We therefore hypothesized that the TM4 domains of α1 and α3 GlyRs differ in structure, membrane orientation, and/or molecular dynamic properties. Here we employed voltage-clamp fluorometry to test whether their TM4 domains interact differently with their respective TM3 domains. We found a rhodamine fluorophore covalently attached to a homologous TM4 residue in each receptor interacts differentially with a conserved TM3 residue. We conclude that the α1 and α3 GlyR TM4 domains are orientated differently relative to their TM3 domains. This may underlie their differential ability to influence glycine efficacy

The effect of rate of nitrogen ferlilizalion and date of harvest on yield, persistency and nutritive value of Bromegrass hay, Station Bulletin, no.472

The Bulletin is a publication of the New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station, College of Life Sciences and Agriculture, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire

The effect of rate of nitrogen fertilization, geographic location, and date of harvest on yield, acceptability, and nutritive value of timothy hay, Station Bulletin, no.486

The Bulletin is a publication of the New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station, College of Life Sciences and Agriculture, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire

The nutritive value of dried citrus pulp for dairy cattle, Station Bulletin, no.438

The Bulletin is a publication of the New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station, College of Life Sciences and Agriculture, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire

The effect of texture on the nutritive value of concentrates for dairy cattle, Station Bulletin, no.419

The Bulletin is a publication of the New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station, College of Life Sciences and Agriculture, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire

Nutritive value of redtop hay cut at different stages of maturity, Station Bulletin, no.488

The Bulletin is a publication of the New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station, College of Life Sciences and Agriculture, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire

A novel transport mechanism for MOMP in Chlamydophila pneumoniae and its putative role in immune-therapy

Major outer membrane proteins (MOMPs) of Gram negative bacteria are one of the most intensively studied membrane proteins. MOMPs are essential for maintaining the structural integrity of bacterial outer membranes and in adaptation of parasites to their hosts. There is evidence to suggest a role for purified MOMP from Chlamydophila pneumoniae and corresponding MOMP-derived peptides in immune-modulation, leading to a reduced atherosclerotic phenotype in apoE−/− mice via a characteristic dampening of MHC class II activity. The work reported herein tests this hypothesis by employing a combination of homology modelling and docking to examine the detailed molecular interactions that may be responsible. A three-dimensional homology model of the C. pneumoniae MOMP was constructed based on the 14 transmembrane β-barrel crystal structure of the fatty acid transporter from Escherichia coli, which provides a plausible transport mechanism for MOMP. Ligand docking experiments were used to provide details of the possible molecular interactions driving the binding of MOMP-derived peptides to MHC class II alleles known to be strongly associated with inflammation. The docking experiments were corroborated by predictions from conventional immuno-informatic algorithms. This work supports further the use of MOMP in C. pneumoniae as a possible vaccine target and the role of MOMP-derived peptides as vaccine candidates for immune-therapy in chronic inflammation that can result in cardiovascular events