Interaction of the spliced Oskar localization element of Oskar mRNA with the protein PYM

mRNAs and the process of mRNA localization are the fundamental and pivotal parts of cellular functions. mRNA localization encompasses an important role in cellular differentiation and site-specific cellular functions, from the basic cellular biochemical mechanism to advanced abdomen formation. The study of mRNA, its localization mechanism along its binding partners have always been the main focus of study for several years. As they define life, in terms of cellular and sub-cellular mechanisms. Our study also involves one of the binding partners of the localization complex, which is Pym protein. Pym protein and exon junction complex are the common localization binding partners to many mRNA localization and Oskar mRNA is one of them. Pym being one of the recycling factors of the Exon Junction Complex shows binding interactions with many components, such as RNAs, Exon junction Complex, and Ribosomes. Our results show interesting structural and binding features of the protein Pym. NMR studies reveal that Pym160, the shorter construct of Pym is structurally unfolded, with the general characteristic of an intrinsically disordered protein. It has the long helical structural element in the middle part of the protein, while both N-terminal and C-terminal ends remain highly flexible with the structurally unfolded regions. The C-terminal part of the protein is not showing any direct involvement in the interaction with the SOLE RNA. However, it is structurally a very important part of the protein, as it stabilizes the ionic and hydrophobic interactions of the protein, so that protein could able to be a stable soluble protein. We have studied the binding motifs of the protein Pym160 with SOLE RNA and its isomers. Pym160 has binding motifs in the N-terminal region and in the middle helical region. Studies have confirmed that the N-terminal part of the protein binds to the Y14-Mago heterodimer, which is an essential part of the exon junction complex. In the absence of an Exon Junction Complex, the N-terminal part of the protein binds to the RNA. So, the study of the protein Pym160 is very much interesting and essential as it is a common protein for the wide range of mRNA localization mechanisms. Our studies explain the widespread binding nature of the Pym160, which might be due to its functional significance of being a structurally unfolded protein

Entangling capabilities of Symmetric two qubit gates

Our work addresses the problem of generating maximally entangled two spin-1/2 (qubit) symmetric states using NMR, NQR, Lipkin-Meshkov-Glick Hamiltonians. Time evolution of such Hamiltonians provides various logic gates which can be used for quantum processing tasks. Pairs of spin-1/2's have modeled a wide range of problems in physics. Here we are interested in two spin-1/2 symmetric states which belong to a subspace spanned by the angular momentum basis {|j = 1, {\mu}>; {\mu} = +1, 0,-1}. Our technique relies on the decomposition of a Hamiltonian in terms of SU(3) generators. In this context, we define a set of linearly independent, traceless, Hermitian operators which provides an alternate set of SU(n) generators. These matrices are constructed out of angular momentum operators Jx,Jy,Jz. We construct and study the properties of perfect entanglers acting on a symmetric subspace i.e., spin-1 operators that can generate maximally entangled states from some suitably chosen initial separable states in terms of their entangling power.Comment: 12 page

The EJC disassembly factor PYM is an intrinsically disordered protein and forms a fuzzy complex with RNA

The discovery of several functional interactions where one or even both partners remain disordered has demonstrated that specific interactions do not necessarily require well-defined intermolecular interfaces. Here we describe a fuzzy protein–RNA complex formed by the intrinsically unfolded protein PYM and RNA. PYM is a cytosolic protein, which has been reported to bind the exon junction complex (EJC). In the process of oskar mRNA localization in Drosophila melanogaster, removal of the first intron and deposition of the EJC are essential, while PYM is required to recycle the EJC components after localization has been accomplished. Here we demonstrate that the first 160 amino acids of PYM (PYM1–160) are intrinsically disordered. PYM1–160 binds RNA independently of its nucleotide sequence, forming a fuzzy protein–RNA complex that is incompatible with PYM’s function as an EJC recycling factor. We propose that the role of RNA binding consists in down-regulating PYM activity by blocking the EJC interaction surface of PYM until localization has been accomplished. We suggest that the largely unstructured character of PYM may act to enable binding to a variety of diverse interaction partners, such as multiple RNA sequences and the EJC proteins Y14 and Mago

What predicts mental health literacy among school teachers?

Objectives: The present study aimed at assessing high school teachers’ mental health literacy (MHL) and predictors related to study outcomes.Design: Cross-sectional studyMethods: We employed 460 high school teachers who engaged with adolescents for at least six hours per week with a minimum of five years of teaching experience in southern India. Semi-structured questionnaires were used to assess their MHL. Descriptive analysis and backward logistic regression analysis were performed. A p-value < 0.05 was set as significant.Results: Teachers’ MHL on depression was less than desirable; however, they identified 288 (62.6%) adolescents with mental health problems during their career, and 172(59.72%) were referred to mental health professionals. On logistic regression analysis, teachers’ educational status, their marital status, teaching a class with an average strength of 31-60 students per class, previous mental health training and having self-efficacy concerning seeking informationon mental health, perceived ability to spread awareness and to provide referrals were found to predict MHL among teachers.Conclusion: Sociodemographic factors including teachers’ educational status, average class strength and having had previous mental health training were predictors for MHL among high school teachers. Establishing training programs and referral networks may be key in early intervention among adolescents

COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF EFFICACY OF GINGIVAL RETRACTION USING CHEMICAL AND MECHANICAL METHODS: AN IN VIVO STUDY

 Objective: The purpose of this in vivo study was to compare and evaluate the clinical efficacy of two gingival retraction systems; Ultrapak and Traxodent, on the basis of the amount of gingival retraction achieved in vertical and horizontal direction and their hemorrhage control. Methods: A total of 60 subjects were selected requiring fixed prosthesis. The two gingival retraction systems were used on the prepared abutments randomly. The vertical gingival retraction was measured before and after retraction using flexible measuring strip with 0.5 mm grading. The horizontal retraction was measured on the casts poured in polysilicone impressions made before the retraction and after retraction. Results: Statistically significant difference (p<0.05) was found between the amount of the retraction (vertical and horizontal) achieved by Ultrapak as compared to Traxodent. However, in achieving hemostasis Traxodent showed better efficiency than Ultrapak (p<0.05). Conclusion: The mean retraction width and depth achieved with retraction cord (Ultrapak) was significantly greater when compared with retraction paste. Although retraction paste (Traxodent) showed bleeding index significantly less when compared to that of retraction cord (Ultrapak)

Synergetic effect of size and morphology of cobalt ferrite nanoparticles on proton relaxivity

Cobalt ferrite nanoparticles with average sizes of 14, 9 and 6 nm were synthesised by the chemical co-precipitation technique. Average particle sizes were varied by changing the chitosan surfactant to precursor molar ratio in the reaction mixture. Transmission electron microscopy images revealed a faceted and irregular morphology for the as-synthesised nanoparticles. Magnetic measurements revealed a ferromagnetic nature for the 14 and 9 nm particles and a superparamagnetic nature for the 6 nm particles. An increase in saturation magnetisation with increasing particle size was noted. Relaxivity measurements were carried out to determine T-2 value as a function of particle size using nuclear magnetic resonance measurements. The relaxivity coefficient increased with decrease in particle size and decrease in the saturation magnetisation value. The observed trend in the change of relaxivity value with particle size was attributed to the faceted nature of as-synthesised nanoparticles. Faceted morphology results in the creation of high gradient of magnetic field in the regions adjacent to the facet edges increasing the relaxivity value. The effect of edges in increasing the relaxivity value increases with decrease in the particle size because of an increase in the total number of edges per particle dispersion