The repertoire of G protein-coupled receptors in the sea squirt Ciona intestinalis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) constitute a large family of integral transmembrane receptor proteins that play a central role in signal transduction in eukaryotes. The genome of the protochordate <it>Ciona intestinalis </it>has a compact size with an ancestral complement of many diversified gene families of vertebrates and is a good model system for studying protochordate to vertebrate diversification. An analysis of the <it>Ciona </it>repertoire of GPCRs from a comparative genomic perspective provides insight into the evolutionary origins of the GPCR signalling system in vertebrates.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We have identified 169 gene products in the <it>Ciona </it>genome that code for putative GPCRs. Phylogenetic analyses reveal that <it>Ciona </it>GPCRs have homologous representatives from the five major GRAFS (<it>Glutamate, Rhodopsin, Adhesion, Frizzled </it>and <it>Secretin</it>) families concomitant with other vertebrate GPCR repertoires. Nearly 39% of <it>Ciona </it>GPCRs have unambiguous orthologs of vertebrate GPCR families, as defined for the human, mouse, puffer fish and chicken genomes. The <it>Rhodopsin </it>family accounts for ~68% of the <it>Ciona </it>GPCR repertoire wherein the LGR-like subfamily exhibits a lineage specific gene expansion of a group of receptors that possess a novel domain organisation hitherto unobserved in metazoan genomes.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Comparison of GPCRs in <it>Ciona </it>to that in human reveals a high level of orthology of a protochordate repertoire with that of vertebrate GPCRs. Our studies suggest that the ascidians contain the basic ancestral complement of vertebrate GPCR genes. This is evident at the subfamily level comparisons since <it>Ciona </it>GPCR sequences are significantly analogous to vertebrate GPCR subfamilies even while exhibiting <it>Ciona </it>specific genes. Our analysis provides a framework to perform future experimental and comparative studies to understand the roles of the ancestral chordate versions of GPCRs that predated the divergence of the urochordates and the vertebrates.</p

Properties of Ruthenium Oxide Coatings

Ruthenium oxide coatings have been deposited on titanium substrates using a flood coating process. These films were heat treated for varying times and temperatures. The resulting films subsequently were characterized by performing resistivity and SEM analyses. Resistivity of the ruthenium oxide coating was found to be extremely dependent upon the firing temperature. Effect of the process conditions and formulations of the coatings on the morphology with respect to their electrical characteristics is presented. Capacitors were fabricated using plates coated with ruthenium oxide coatings. Capacitance versus heat treatment temperatures are discussed and at one firing temperature (480\u27C), the capacitance was 50 times the control capacitor value

Molecular Docking Studies for the Assessment of Wound Healing Activity of Phytoconstituents in Heliotropium Indicum

One of the most crucial and complex processes is the skin's multi-stage process of healing after an injury. Heliotropium indicum is a potent antibiotic, anti- inflammatory, anti-neoplastic, anti-oxidant, and wound- healing agent. Heliotropium indicum Linn is the source of the chemical compound in question, which is abundant in sterols, ammines, volatile oils, and the pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Molecular docking studies were conducted on Heliotropium indicum using Argus lab 4.0.1 and Autodock 1.5.7. The proteins PDB ID:1YXO, 3V18, and 4G8R were selected because of their role in wound healing. The pieces work together with the protein responsible for mending wounds. The binding affinities of mupirocin and nitrofurazone are higher than those of the components stigmasterol, eugenol, borneol, and campesterol. In order to better customize Heliotropium indicum to our requirements, we now have a better knowledge of the components of the molecule that interact with their receptors in the wound healing process

Detailed Bathymetric Surveys in the Central Indian Basin

Over 420,000 line kilometers of echo-sounding data was collected in the Central Indian Basin. This data was digitized, merged with navigation data and a detailed bathymetric map of the Basin was prepared. The Basin can be broadly classified into three regions as high relief area, medium relief area and plain area represented by western, eastern and central portions of the Basin, respectively. The bathymetric map prepared from this survey is the first of its kind for this region and will in the future be used as a base by navigators and researchers

Sistema Solar: Planetas Clássicos

O conhecimento curricular de Astronomia para surdos, não pode ser empobrecido, subtraído, fragmentado, mas sim formulado para corresponder a sua identidade de cognição, sem distanciar-se, porém, do direito inalienável a tudo que devem conhecer. Métodos de ensino não podem ser únicos para todos e, um sistema educacional que não revela estas diferenças está fadado em provocar a exclusão destes educandos por considerá-los inaptos, intelectualmente. Sendo assim, ao organizar o conteúdo que será trabalhado em sala de aula, o professor terá sempre em mente o tema Sistema Solar /Planetas Clássicos. Este tema está diretamente ligado a outros temas, permitindo ao aluno surdo fazer parte desse todo tão complexo que é o Universo em que vivemo

Assessment on performance and emission characteristics of the CRDI engine fueled with ethanol/diesel blends in addition to EGR

In this research, the CRDI engine characteristics were analyzed with the aid of exhaust gas recirculation rate (EGR) adoption fueled with ethanol blends. The test fuels were the various blends with ethanol, such as (10% of ethanol + 90% of diesel) E10D90 (20% of ethanol + 80% of diesel), E20D80, and (30% of ethanol + 70% of diesel) E30D70. From the results, it was revealed that performance characteristics were reduced when using a higher concentration of the alcohols mixed with diesel fuel. The blend E30D70 showed that brake thermal efficiency (BTE) without EGR drops by 3.8%, increased by 9.14% of BSFC, a 9.25% decrease in oxides of nitrogen emissions, and slightly decreased CO and HC emissions compared to baseline diesel operation at 60% load condition. The blend E10D90 with 20% EGR shows the highest BTE of 8.87% when compared with base fuel, due to proper fuel mixture taking place in the inlet manifold. The results indicate that the engine runs smoothly, and E30D70 has chosen an optimum blend. A further experiment was performed using E30D70 with different rates of exhaust gas recirculation system. The addition of exhaust gas recirculation with E30D70 in the common rail diesel engine exhibits oxides of nitrogen emission, but in contrast, it was noticed to have inferior performance characteristics and drastically decreased HC and CO emissions. The hydrocarbon emission decreased E10D90, E20D80, and E30D70 at 60% load condition by 21.42%, 37.38%, and 48.76%, respectively. The blends E10D90, E20D80, and E30D70 decreased carbon dioxide by 7.9%, 30.08%, and 31.98%, respectively. The maximum reduction of NOx emission was observed at about 51.06% at an EGR rate of 20% with E30D70.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijceam2023Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineerin

Disruption of APOL1-miR193a Axis Induces Disorganization of Podocyte Actin Cytoskeleton

Abstract APOL1-miR193a axis participates in the preservation of molecular phenotype of differentiated podocytes (DPDs). We examined the hypothesis that APOL1 (G0) preserves, but APOL1 risk alleles (G1 and G2) disrupt APOL1-miR193a axis in DPDs. DPDG0s displayed down-regulation of miR193a, but upregulation of nephrin expression. DPDG1s/G2s exhibited an increase in miR193a and down-regulation of the expression of adherens complex’s constituents (CD2AP, nephrin, and dendrin). DPDG0s showed decreased Cathepsin L, enhanced dynamin expressions, and the intact actin cytoskeleton. On the contrary, DPDG1s/G2s displayed an increase in Cathepsin L, but down-regulation of dynamin expressions and disorganization of the actin cytoskeleton. APOL1 silencing enhanced miR193a and Cathepsin L, but down-regulated dynamin expressions. DPDG1s/G2s displayed nuclear import of dendrin, indicating an occurrence of destabilization of adherens complexes in APOL1 risk milieu. These findings suggest that DPDG1s and DPDG2s developed disorganized actin cytoskeleton as a consequence of disrupted APOL1-miR193a axis. Interestingly, docking and co-labeling studies suggested an interaction between APOL1 and CD2AP. APOL1 G1/G1 and APOL1 G1/G2 transgenic mice displayed nuclear import of dendrin indicating destabilization of adherens complexes in podocytes; moreover, these mice showed a four-fold increase in urinary albumin to creatinine ratio and development of focal segmental glomerular lesions

The Repertoire of Heterotrimeric G Proteins and RGS Proteins in Ciona intestinalis

BACKGROUND:Heterotrimeric G proteins and regulators of G protein signaling (RGS) proteins are key downstream interacting partners in the G protein coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling pathway. The highly versatile GPCR transmembrane signaling system is a consequence of the coupling of a diverse set of receptors to downstream partners that include multiple subforms of G proteins and regulatory proteins including RGS proteins, among others. While the GPCR repertoire of Ciona intestinalis, representing the basal chordate is known, the repertoire of the heterotrimeric G proteins and RGS proteins is unknown. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS:In the present study, we performed an in-silico genome-wide search of C. intestinalis for its complement of G proteins and RGS proteins. The identification of several one-to-one orthologs of human G proteins at the levels of families, subfamilies and types and of homologs of the human RGS proteins suggests an evolutionarily conserved structure function relationship of the GPCR signaling mechanism in the chordates. CONCLUSIONS:The C. intestinalis genome encodes a highly conserved, albeit, limited repertoire of the heterotrimeric G protein complexes with the size of subunit types comparable with that in lower eukaryotes

The Origin of GPCRs: Identification of Mammalian like Rhodopsin, Adhesion, Glutamate and Frizzled GPCRs in Fungi

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) in humans are classified into the five main families named Glutamate, Rhodopsin, Adhesion, Frizzled and Secretin according to the GRAFS classification. Previous results show that these mammalian GRAFS families are well represented in the Metazoan lineages, but they have not been shown to be present in Fungi. Here, we systematically mined 79 fungal genomes and provide the first evidence that four of the five main mammalian families of GPCRs, namely Rhodopsin, Adhesion, Glutamate and Frizzled, are present in Fungi and found 142 novel sequences between them. Significantly, we provide strong evidence that the Rhodopsin family emerged from the cAMP receptor family in an event close to the split of Opisthokonts and not in Placozoa, as earlier assumed. The Rhodopsin family then expanded greatly in Metazoans while the cAMP receptor family is found in 3 invertebrate species and lost in the vertebrates. We estimate that the Adhesion and Frizzled families evolved before the split of Unikonts from a common ancestor of all major eukaryotic lineages. Also, the study highlights that the fungal Adhesion receptors do not have N-terminal domains whereas the fungal Glutamate receptors have a broad repertoire of mammalian-like N-terminal domains. Further, mining of the close unicellular relatives of the Metazoan lineage, Salpingoeca rosetta and Capsaspora owczarzaki, obtained a rich group of both the Adhesion and Glutamate families, which in particular provided insight to the early emergence of the N-terminal domains of the Adhesion family. We identified 619 Fungi specific GPCRs across 79 genomes and revealed that Blastocladiomycota and Chytridiomycota phylum have Metazoan-like GPCRs rather than the GPCRs specific for Fungi. Overall, this study provides the first evidence of the presence of four of the five main GRAFS families in Fungi and clarifies the early evolutionary history of the GPCR superfamily