Biophysical study of the SH2 domain of human tensin

Cell migration is a key characteristic of embryogenesis, inflammation, wound healing, tumor cell metastasis and a broad range of other normal and pathological processes. Accumulating evidence suggests that the protein tensin provides a physical link between transmembrane receptors, proteins commonly associated with signal transduction, and the actin cytoskeleton. Adhesion involves three broad classes of macromolecules: ExtraCellular Matrix (ECM) molecules, transmembrane adhesion receptors, and intracellular adhesion plaque proteins. Tensin is particularly enriched in Fibrillar Adhesions (FA\u27s), though it is also present to a modest extent in Focal Contacts (FC\u27s). Src Homology 2 (SH2) domains function in the transmission of molecular signals that start at the cell surface, pass through the plasma membrane, and engage the inner workings of the cell. SH2 domains carry out their function by binding with high affinity to phosphotyrosine-containing protein targets in a sequence-specific and largely phosphorylation-dependent manner. In this work, SH2 domain of protein tensin, a component of cell-substrate contacts with close connections to cancer is used as an investigative tool, to view the scientific problem from the perspective of a biophysicist. Recombinant DNA technology was used to clone the SH2 gene and overexpress the recombinant SH2 domain. Molecular biology techniques like Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate-Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), immunblot analysis were used to identify and characterize the protein molecular mass. Circular Dichroism (CD) spectroscopy was used to determine the secondary structure of the protein and to demonstrate that the SH2 domain folds into a compact, stable molecule. Chemical denaturation and heat denaturation studies were done using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) to determine the thermostability of the SH2 domain. These studies reveal that the tensin-SH2 domain is highly stable as compared with some other known SH2 domains. Detailed knowledge of the structure and function of tensin will accelerate acquisition of more detailed knowledge of other focal adhesion components, advancing the development of molecular models of cell attachment and migration. Such knowledge is of interest to basic science as well as medicine. Moreover, it could also provide a model for nanotechnology development, providing inspiration for the design of novel types of molecular recognition and functionality, and materials design and fabrication

Aiming for work-centred education: introduction to basic technology (IBT) program in secondary schools in, Maharashtra

The students of Class 9 decided to conduct an energy audit of their school and hostel building. They brainstormed on the various ways to reduce electricity consumption. Their teachers had already introduced them to energy audit forms and how to fill it. Students divided themselves into the groups and recorded energy consumed at each place. They noted that electricity can be saved by switching off lights in toilets and bathrooms in the hostels at night. They shortlisted ideas such as installing automatic circuits which can be switched on and off the light simply by clapping hand. They made the circuit and installed it. Another group made a circuit and installed light sensor for street light which would switch on and off depending on the intensity of solar light. Students used a Do-It-Yourself (D-I-Y) manual and made the circuit by using tools available in the school with guidance from their electrical instructor and as part of the project, costed the work

Neuroprotective Effect of Cardamom Oil Against Aluminum Induced Neurotoxicity in Rats

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is an enzyme involved in the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Cardamom oil (CO) has been reported to have acetylcholinesterase inhibitory, antioxidant and anti-anxiety effects. Hence, we studied the effect of cardamom oil in aluminum chloride induced neurotoxicity in rats. AD like symptoms were induced in Wistar rats with aluminum chloride (100 mg/kg, p.o.). Cardamom oil was administered concomitantly by oral route at doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg for 42 days. Behavioral parameters like Morris water maze, elevated plus maze, passive avoidance test and locomotor activity were evaluated on day 21 and 42. AChE activity, oxidative stress parameters, histopathological studies and immunohistochemistry studies were carried out in hippocampus and cortex. Cardamom oil treatment showed significant improvement in behavioral parameters, inhibition of AChE activity (p < 0.001) and reduction in oxidative stress in the brain. Histopathological studies of hippocampus and cortex by hematoxylin & eosin (H. & E.) and congo red stain showed inhibition of neuronal damage and amyloid β plaque formation with cardamom oil treatment. Immunohistochemistry showed, CO treatment inhibited amyloid β expression and upregulated brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). The present study showed that, cardamom oil has neuroprotective effect in aluminum chloride induced neurotoxicity linked with inhibition of AChE activity and reduction in oxidative damage. This effect of cardamom oil may be useful in management of Alzheimer's disease

TREATMENT OF MOUTH ULCER BY CURCUMIN LOADED THERMOREVERSIBLE MUCOADHESIVE GEL: A TECHNICAL NOTE

Objective: Mouth ulcer is one of the commonest disorders caused due to a variety of etiological factors. Although many formulations like solution, suspension and ointments are commercially available, no therapy can be said completely useful for the treatment of mouth ulcers. The efficacy of the therapy can be improved by the approach of bio adhesion. The phenomenon of sol to gel conversion can be useful due to its ease of administration compared to gel formulations. Curcumin is known to have wound healing, anti-carcinogenic and anti-bacterial activities can be effective in treatment of mouth ulcers.Methods: Hence, the present study was aimed to formulate Thermo reversible Mucoadhesive Gel (TMG) containing Curcumin for treatment of mouth ulcer. Formulations were prepared by using Pluronic F68 and Pluronic F127 as thermo reversible agent along with carbomers and Xanthan gum as bioadhesive polymers. The formulations were characterized for gelation temperature, pH, gel strength, spreadability, in vitro muco adhesion and in vitro drug release.Results: Increase in the concentration of mucoadhesive agent enhanced the mucoadhesive force significantly. All batches were found to be satisfactory results for gelation temperature, Gel strength, Muco adhesion studies, Spreadability, gelling capacity, In-vitro drug release etc. The formulations delivered drug for about 4 h.Conclusion: The obtained results show that the residence time as well as the contact area of curcumin at the ulcer can be enhanced along with a sustained release. It can be concluded that TMG of Curcumin can be ideal candidate for mouth ulcer.Â

Formulating Midsurface using Shape Transformations of Form Features

Abstract Shapes modelled using Computer Aided Design (CAD) applications are used in downstream applications like, manufacturing (Computer Aided Manufacturing, CAM), Analysis (Computer AidedEngineering, CAE) etc. Use of form features is prevalent in the CAD applications, but their leveraging in the downstream applications is not very common, especially in the CAE applications. The initial phase of design demands for quick analysis of the model. Here, CAD models are oftensimplified by removing the irrelevant features (de-featuring) and by idealizing solids to surfaces or curves(dimension reduction), so that the CAE analysis gets performed with lesser resources and time. MidsurfaceExtraction is one of the ways of dimension reduction where thin-walled portions of a solid areidealized to surfaces lying midway. This paper presents a novel representation scheme (called ABLE) for CAD entities and operators including formfeatures which is then leveraged to define the algorithm for extracting Midsurface

Emergent PT symmetry in a double-quantum-dot circuit QED setup

Open classical and quantum systems with effective parity-time ( PT ) symmetry, over the past five years, have shown tremendous promise for advances in lasers, sensing, and nonreciprocal devices. And yet, how such effective PT -symmetric non-Hermitian models emerge out of Hermitian quantum mechanics is not well understood. Here, starting from a fully Hermitian microscopic Hamiltonian description, we show that a non-Hermitian Hamiltonian emerges naturally in a double-quantum-dot (DQD) circuit-QED setup, which can be controllably tuned to the PT -symmetric point. This effective Hamiltonian governs the dynamics of two coupled circuit-QED cavities with a voltage-biased DQD in one of them. Our analysis also reveals the effect of quantum fluctuations on the PT -symmetric system. The PT transition is, then, observed both in the dynamics of cavity observables as well as via an input-output experiment. As a simple application of the PT transition in this setup, we show that loss-induced enhancement of amplification and lasing can be observed in the coupled cavities. By comparing our results with two conventional local Lindblad equations, we demonstrate the utility and limitations of the latter. Our results pave the way for an on-chip realization of a potentially scalable non-Hermitian system with a gain medium in the quantum regime, as well as its potential applications for quantum technology

Chemoresistance of Lung Cancer Cells: 2D and 3D In Vitro Models for Anticancer Drug Screening

Chemoresistance of lung cancer cells is a key factor that limits the treatment of lung cancer patients. Patients may initially respond to standard chemotherapy, but this is often followed by rapid development of drug resistance and disease progression. Tumor heterogeneity and the presence of putative cancer stem-like cells (CS-LCs) provide a viable explanation for the chemoresistance of several types of tumors. In this book chapter, we will first describe the current knowledge of the role of both tumor heterogeneity and CS-LCs in lung cancer chemoresistance, tumor progression and metastasis. Next, we will discuss ongoing strategies at the in vitro level to screen for more effective anticancer drugs. We will specifically focus in three-dimensional (3D) culture systems (Spheroids and tumorspheres) and their application in anticancer drug discovery for lung cancer