Head and Neck Medicine by Alexandros G.Sfakianakis: 06/03/16

Παρασκευή 3 Ιουνίου 2016

OtoRhinoLaryngology & Medicine,New Articles,June 3rd,2016,a

Prediction of Change in Protein Unfolding Rates upon Point Mutations in Two State Proteins2016-06-03 14:41:03 PM

Publication date: Available online 2 June 2016
Source:Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) – Proteins and Proteomics
Author(s): Priyashree Chaudhary, Athi N. Naganathan, M. Michael Gromiha
AbstractStudies on protein unfolding rates are limited and challenging due to the complexity of unfolding mechanism and the larger dynamic range of the experimental data. Though attempts have been made to predict unfolding rates using protein sequence-structure information there is no available method for predicting the unfolding rates of proteins upon specific point mutations. In this work, we have systematically analyzed a set of 790 single mutants and developed a robust method for predicting protein unfolding rates upon mutations (Δlnku) in two-state proteins by combining amino acid properties and knowledge-based classification of mutants with multiple linear regression technique. We obtain a mean absolute error (MAE) of 0.79/s and a Pearson correlation coefficient (PCC) of 0.71 between predicted unfolding rates and experimental observations using jack-knife test. We have developed a web server for predicting protein unfolding rates upon mutation and it is freely available athttp://ift.tt/1TN38J2. Prominent features that determine unfolding kinetics as well as plausible reasons for the observed outliers are also discussed.

from #ORL-AlexandrosSfakianakis via simeraentaxei on Inoreader http://ift.tt/1Y68ww7
via IFTTT Medicine by Alexandros G.Sfakianakis,Anapafseos 5 Agios Nikolaos,Crete 72100,Greece,tel :00302841026182 & 00306932607174

Read more Add star Mark as unread Top
Endophytic and rhizosphere bacteria associated with the roots of the halophyte Salicornia europaea L. – commun ity structure and metabolic potential2016-06-03 14:41:01 PM

Publication date: Available online 3 June 2016
Source:Microbiological Research
Author(s): Sonia Szymańska, Tomasz Płociniczak, Zofia Piotrowska-Seget, Katarzyna Hrynkiewicz
The main objective of our study was to assess density and diversity of rhizosphere (R) and endophytic (E) microorganisms associated with the halophyte S. europaea. Microorganisms were isolated from two saline sites (S1: 55dSm−1, anthropogenic origin; S2: 112dSm−1, natural salinity) located in central Poland and compared with microbial populations in the soil (S) using culture-independent (phospholipid fatty acids analysis, PLFA) and culture-dependent techniques. The endophytic and rhizosphere bacteria were identified and screened for nifH and acdS genes, and their metabolic properties were assessed. Strains with the potential to promote plant growth were selected for further study. PLFA analysis revealed that Gram-negative bacteria were dominant at both saline test sites; the total microbial biomass depended on the site (S1<S2) and the zone of isolation (R>E>S). In contrast, culture-dependent techniques revealed that Gram-positive bacteria (Actinobacteria and Firmicutes) were dominant (S1: E-77.3%, R-86.3% and S2: E-59.1%, R-87.5%). Proteobacteria were observed in the rhizosphere at the lowest frequency (S1: 13.7% and S2: 12.5%). Greater salinity decreased the range and specificity of metabolic activity among the endophytes. These conditions also resulted in a broader spectrum of metabolic abilities in rhizobacteria; however, these metabolic processes were present at lower levels.

from #ORL-AlexandrosSfakianakis via simeraentaxei on Inoreader http://ift.tt/1Ulnzfr
via IFTTT Medicine by Alexandros G.Sfakianakis,Anapafseos 5 Agios Nikolaos,Crete 72100,Greece,tel :00302841026182 & 00306932607174

Read more Add star Mark as unread Top
Adenylyl cyclase is required for cAMP production, growth, conidial germination, and virulence in the citrus green mold pathogen Penicillium digitatum2016-06-03 14:41:00 PM

Publication date: Available online 3 June 2016
Source:Microbiological Research
Author(s): Weili Wang, Mingshuang Wang, Jiye Wang, Congyi Zhu, Kuang-Ren Chung, Hongye Li
Penicillium digitatum is the causative agent of green mold decay on citrus fruit. The cAMP-mediated signaling pathway plays an important role in the transduction of extracellular signals and has been shown to regulate a wide range of developmental processes and pathogenicity in fungal pathogens. We cloned and characterized a Pdac1 gene of P. digitatum, which encodes a polypeptide similar to fungal adenylyl cyclases. Using a loss-of-function mutation in the Pdac1 gene we demonstrated a critical requirement for hyphal growth and conidial germination. Deletion of Pdac1 resulted in decreased accumulation of cAMP and down-regulation of genes encoding a G protein α subunit, both catalytic and regulatory subunits of PKA, and two transcriptional regulators StuA and Som1. Fungal mutants lacking Pdac1 produced abundant conidia, which failed to germinate effectively and displayed an elevated sensitivity to heat treatment. Pdac1 mutant failed to utilize carbohydrates effectively and thus displayed severe growth retardation on rich and synthetic media. Slow growth seen in the Pdac1 mutants could be due to a defect in nutrient sensing and acquisition. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis revealed that Pdac1 was primarily expressed at the early stage of infection. Fungal pathogenicity assayed on citrus fruit revealed that P. digitatum strains impaired for Pdac1 delayed lesion formation. Our results highlight important regulatory roles of adenylyl cyclase-mediated cAMP production in P. digitatum and provide insights into the critical role of cAMP in fungal growth, development and virulence.

from #ORL-AlexandrosSfakianakis via simeraentaxei on Inoreader http://ift.tt/25EmiLT
via IFTTT Medicine by Alexandros G.Sfakianakis,Anapafseos 5 Agios Nikolaos,Crete 72100,Greece,tel :00302841026182 & 00306932607174

Read more Add star Mark as unread Top

Lenvatinib Significant for Thyroid Cancer, But More Novel Treatments Needed – Targeted Oncology2016-06-03 14:40:56 PM

images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSnh-ak7u3frUJg1ppBTOWonW363GRmzF2Lqtp9P_1QczrpbcaYawLytPqWBwpQkf4QzYqn8YZ-

Lenvatinib Significant for Thyroid Cancer, But More Novel Treatments Needed
Targeted Oncology
In February 2015, the FDA approved lenvatinib (Lenvima) for the treatment of patients with progressive, radioactive iodine (RAI)–refractory differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) based on the phase III SELECT trial. The study demonstrated that lenvatinib …

from #ORL-AlexandrosSfakianakis via simeraentaxei on Inoreader http://ift.tt/1ZiX4M3
via IFTTT Medicine by Alexandros G.Sfakianakis,Anapafseos 5 Agios Nikolaos,Crete 72100,Greece,tel :00302841026182 & 00306932607174