Lipid metabolic perturbation is an early-onset phenotype in adult spinster mutants: a Drosophila model for lysosomal storage disorders

Intracellular accumulation of lipids and swollen dysfunctional lysosomes are linked to several neurodegenerative diseases, including lysosomal storage disorders (LSD). Detailed characterization of lipid metabolic changes in relation to the onset and progression of neurodegeneration is currently missing. We systematically analyzed lipid perturbations in spinster (spin) mutants, a Drosophila model of LSD-like neurodegeneration. Our results highlight an imbalance in brain ceramide and sphingosine in the early stages of neurodegeneration, preceding the accumulation of endomembranous structures, manifestation of altered behavior, and buildup of lipofuscin. Manipulating levels of ceramidase and altering these lipids in spin mutants allowed us to conclude that ceramide homeostasis is the driving force in disease progression and is integral to spin function in the adult nervous system. We identified 29 novel physical interaction partners of Spin and focused on the lipid carrier protein, Lipophorin (Lpp). A subset of Lpp and Spin colocalize in the brain and within organs specialized for lipid metabolism (fat bodies and oenocytes). Reduced Lpp protein was observed in spin mutant tissues. Finally, increased levels of lipid metabolites produced by oenocytes in spin mutants allude to a functional interaction between Spin and Lpp, underscoring the systemic nature of lipid perturbation in LSD

ChemInform Abstract: L-Proline Catalyzed Multicomponent Reactions

Review: 115 refs

Stability Analyses of pearl Millet Genotypes (Pennisetum glaucum) and its Related Traits Using the Freeman and Perkins Model

In the present study, twenty-nine genotypes were carried out to determine the stability of morphological characters viz., dry fodder yield, Days to 50% flowering, and Days to maturity of pearl millet in eight different environments viz., ARS Mandor, Bikaner, RARI Jaipur, Jamnagar, Hisar, Gwalior, Ranchi and Jammu Kashmir using Freeman and Perkins model. Data was collected from ICAR- All India Coordinated Research Projects (AICRP) of pearl millet, Agricultural University, Mandor, Rajasthan, India for one year (2019). The combined analysis of variance showed significant differences among genotypes, environments and Genotype by Environment (G x E) interaction for all morphological characters under study. Mean, regression coefficient and deviation from regression were used as stability measures. Genotype G23 exhibited stability across all studied traits, while G10 and G29 demonstrated stability specifically for dry fodder yield and days to 50% flowering. Furthermore, genotype G22 displayed stability for dry fodder yield and days to maturity in all environments

ChemInform Abstract: Deep Eutectic Solvents (DESs) as Eco‐Friendly and Sustainable Solvent/Catalyst Systems in Organic Transformations

Review: 382 refs

Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) as eco-friendly and sustainable solvent/catalyst systems in organic transformations

The development of efficient and environmentally benign synthetic protocols has attracted increasing interest in modern organic syntheses in view of the growing concern over the environment. As part of this green concept, eutectic solvents (DESs) have emerged as an interesting type of ionic liquid and have shown their usefulness as environmentally benign sustainable alternative to the conventional organic solvents in synthetic chemistry to increase efficiency of organic transformations. The synthetic methodology with the use of DES as green solvent and inexpensive, biodegradable, recyclable catalyst and with its experimental simplicity and maximum synthetic efficiency will be attractive for academic and industrial research looking forward for simple catalytic organic transformations to synthesize drug like small molecules with structural diversity and molecular complexity. The present review focuses on the use of environmentally benign and inexpensive DES as solvent and catalyst in the field of organic chemistry. •Deep eutectic solvents (DES) have emerged as inexpensive environmentally benign sustainable alternative to the conventional organic solvents in organic syntheses.•The synthesis of deep eutectic mixtures is energy efficient and can be synthesized simply by mixing and heating the components without the need of ion-exchange chromatography and purification.•The DES are efficiently able to function as recyclable and reusable organocatalysts to facilitate the organic transformations.•Deep eutectic solvents with their tailor-made properties can be designed according to the requirement of the synthetic protocol.•Deep eutectic solvents with their dual role will be attractive not only for academic and medicinal research but also for industrial research looking forward for simple catalytic organic transformations

An efficient one pot three-component nanocatalyzed synthesis of spiroheterocycles using TiO2 nanoparticles as a heterogeneous catalyst

An efficient and environmentally benign isocyanide based domino protocol has been presented for the synthesis of structurally diverse spiroheterocycles, spiroannulated with imidazothiazole and imidazothiadiazole, involving the three component reaction of 2-aminobenzothiazole/2-amino-1,3,4-thiadiazole, cyclohexyl/tert-butyl isocyanides and isatines/cyclic carbonyl compounds catalyzed by recyclable and reusable nanocrystalline TiO2