Binding affinity of fluorochromes and fluorescent proteins to Taxol™ crystals

In silico analysis of selected nutrition rich fruit of Bunch berry (Lantana camara) constituents as human acetylcholinesterase (hAchE), carbonic anhydrase II (hCA-II) and carboxylesterase 1 (hCES-1) inhibitory agents

Background

Bunch berry (Lantana camara) is primarily composed of flavonoids and vitamin C; therefore, it has been shown to possess various medical characteristics, including the ability to relieve fever, inflammation, and urinary tract infections.

Objective

In this study, we intended to assess twenty chosen constituents of Bunch berry as potent inhibitory agents of human acetylcholinesterase (hAchE), carbonic anhydrase II (hCA-II) and carboxylesterase 1 (hCES-1) employing in silico techniques.

Methods

The twenty chosen Bunch berry components were examined about docking behaviour of hAchE, hCA-II and hCES-I by using the Swissdock method. Apart from to docking, Molecular physico-chemical, drug-likeness, ADME (ingesting, dispersing, metabolising, and excreting), and toxicity assessments were also performed utilising the Molinspiration, Swiss ADME, pkCSM, and STITCH web sites, correspondingly.

Results

Eight ligands (40 %) have exhibited strict adherence to Lipinski's rule of five (Ro5), according to molecular physico-chemical study. Drug-likeness property analysis has shown that five ligands (25 %) of Bunch berry predicted to exhibit moderate bioactivity score against all the descriptors. ADME analysis has shown that five ligands (25 %) of Bunch berry are predicted to possess high gastrointestinal absorption property Toxicity analysis has shown that six ligands (30 %) of Bunch berry are predicted to have hERG II (Human ether-a-go-go-related gene) inhibition activity. According to the docking analysis, lantic acid has the lowest atomic binding energy for all three target enzymes, hAchE (-6.23 kcal/mol), hCA-II (-4.46 kcal/mol), and hCES-I (-5.99 kcal/mol), respectively.

Conclusions

Thus the current find provides an advanced understanding the twenty selected ligands of Bunch berry as potent inhibitory agents of human acetylcholinesterase (hAchE), carbonic anhydrase II (hCA-II) and carboxylesterase 1 (hCES-1).

ExoPRIME: Solid-phase immunoisolation and OMICS analysis of surface-marker-specific exosomal subpopulations

Exosomes encapsulate genomic and proteomic biomarkers for non-invasive diagnosis and disease monitoring. However, exosome surface-markers heterogeneity is a major drawback of current isolation methods. Here, we report a direct, one-step exosome sampling technology, ExoPRIME, for selective capture of CD63⁺ exosome subpopulations using an immune-affinity protocol. Microneedles (300μm × 30 mm), functionalized with anti-CD63 antibodies, were incubated under various experimental conditions in conditioned astrocyte medium and astrocyte-derived exosome suspension. The probe's capture efficiency and specificity were validated using FluoroCet assay, immunofluorescent imaging, and OMICS analyses. Significantly higher exosomes were captured by probes incubated for 16 h at 4 ⁰C in enriched exosomal suspension (23 × 10 ⁶ exosomes per probe) vis-à-vis 2 h at 4 0 C (12 × 10 ⁶) and 16 h at 22 ⁰C (3 × 10 ⁶) in conditioned cell media. Our results demonstrate the application of ExoPRIME over a broad dynamic range of temperature and incubation parameters, offering flexibility for any desired application. ExoPRIME permits the use and re-use of minimal sample volumes (≤200 μL), can be multiplexed in arrays, and integrated into a lab-on-a-chip platform to achieve parallel, high-throughput isolation of different exosome classes in a semi-automated workstation. This platform could provide direct exosomal analysis of biological fluids since it can elegantly interface with existing room-temperature, picomolar-range nucleic acid assays to provide a clinical diagnostic tool at the point of care.

In Silico Analysis of Cissus rotundifolia Constituents as Human Neutrophil Elastase (HNE), Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMP 2 and MMP 9), and Tyrosinase Inhibitors

Cissus rotundifolia has been reported to possess various biological activities such as anti-diabetic, anti-fertility, anti-hyperlipidemic, anti-malarial, anti-osteoporotic, and anti-parasitic activities. Therefore in the present study, eleven selected constituents of Cissus rotundifolia which includes aconitic acid, astragalin, acteoside, aliospiroside A, beta amyrin, bergenin, formononetin, gallic acid, isovitexin, isoorientin, and isoquercitrin were studied on the docking behavior of human neutrophil elastase (HNE), matrix metalloproteinases (MMP 2 and MMP 9), and tyrosinase by using PatchDock method. Furthermore, molecular physicochemical, bioactivity score/drug-likeness, ADME (absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion), and toxicity analyses were also carried out using Molinspiration, Swiss ADME, and ProTox-II methods, respectively. The molecular physicochemical investigation showed that three ligands such as acteoside, aliospiroside A, and isoorientin have three violations for Lipinski's rule of five. Similarly, ADME analysis one ligand (formononetin) predicated to have high blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability effect. The docking studies showed that isovitexin exhibited the highest atomic contact energy (-341.61 kcal/mol) for human neutrophil elastase (HNE), more over alliospiroside A has shown maximum atomic contact energy for both matrix metalloproteinases (MMP 2 [-618.00 kcal/mol] and MMP 9 [-634.73 kcal/mol]). Furthermore, isoquercitrin has exhibited the highest atomic contact energy (-145.70 kcal/mol) for tyrosinase. Thus, the present investigation outcome provides new knowledge in understanding eleven Cissus rotundifolia constituents as possible novel inhibitors against HNE, MMP 2, MMP 9, and tyrosinase.

Effect of (2)H and (18)O water isotopes in kinesin-1 gliding assay

We show for the first time the effects of heavy-hydrogen water (²H₂O) and heavy-oxygen water (H₂¹⁸O) on the gliding speed of microtubules on kinesin-1 coated surfaces. Increased fractions of isotopic waters used in the motility solution decreased the gliding speed of microtubules by a maximum of 21% for heavy-hydrogen and 5% for heavy-oxygen water. We also show that gliding microtubule speed returns to its original speed after being treated with heavy-hydrogen water. We discuss possible interpretations of these results and the importance for future studies of water effects on kinesin and microtubules. We also discuss the implication for using heavy waters in biomolecular devices incorporating molecular motors.

Architectural layer-by-layer assembly of drug nanocapsules with PEGylated polyelectrolytes

150-200 nm diameter capsules containing 60-70 wt % of poorly soluble drugs, paclitaxel and camptothecin, were produced by layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly on drug nanocores in a solution containing uncharged stabilizers. Optimization of capsule shell architecture and thickness allowed for concentrated (3-5 mg/mL) colloids that are stable in isotonic salt buffers. Nanoparticle aggregation during the washless LbL-assembly was prevented by using low molecular weight block-copolymers of poly(amino acids) (poly-L-lysine and poly-L-glutamic acid) with polyethylene glycol (PEG) in combination with heparin and bovine serum albumin at every bilayer building step. Minimal amounts of the polyelectrolytes were used to recharge the surface of nanoparticles in this non-washing LbL process. Such PEGylated shells resulted in drug nanocapsules with high colloidal stability in PBS buffer and increased protein adhesion resistance. The washless LbL polyelectrolyte nanocapsule assembly process, colloidal stability and nanoparticle morphology were monitored by dynamic light scattering and electrophoretic mobility measurements, UV-vis spectroscopy, TEM, SEM and laser confocal microscopy imaging.

Effects of surface passivation on gliding motility assays

In this study, we report differences in the observed gliding speed of microtubules dependent on the choice of bovine casein used as a surface passivator. We observed differences in both speed and support of microtubules in each of the assays. Whole casein, comprised of α_s1, α_s2, β, and κ casein, supported motility and averaged speeds of 966±7 nm/s. Alpha casein can be purchased as a combination of α_s1 and α_s2 and supported gliding motility and average speeds of 949±4 nm/s. Beta casein did not support motility very well and averaged speeds of 870±30 nm/s. Kappa casein supported motility very poorly and we were unable to obtain an average speed. Finally, we observed that mixing alpha, beta, and kappa casein with the proportions found in bovine whole casein supported motility and averaged speeds of 966±6 nm/s.