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Aciculitin
Aciculitins A-C, 400x400px Aciculitins are antifungal cyclic peptides isolated from a marine sponge. There are 3 Aciculitins that are isolated from the Lithistid sponge '' Aciculites orientalis'' that differ by their homologous lipid residues. Aciculitin D is a similar cyclic peptide to Aciculitin A-C. It was isolated from Poecillastra sp. marine sponge that is collected from the deep sea. Based on its molecular formula, Aciculitin D is the most similar to Aciculitin B structure wise since they only differ in one amino acid substitution. The structure of Aciculitin B contains one extra glutamine while the structure of Aciculitin D has one extra L-Threonine. Although the two cyclic peptides contain slightly different amino acids, they still have the same overall charge because both glutamine and L-Threonine are considered neutral amino acids. Cytotoxicity Aciculitin A-C exhibits cytotoxicity Cytotoxicity is the quality of being toxic to cells. Examples of toxic agents are ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Aciculitin A-C
Aciculitins A-C, 400x400px Aciculitins are antifungal cyclic peptides isolated from a marine sponge. There are 3 Aciculitins that are isolated from the Lithistid sponge '' Aciculites orientalis'' that differ by their homologous lipid residues. Aciculitin D is a similar cyclic peptide to Aciculitin A-C. It was isolated from Poecillastra sp. marine sponge that is collected from the deep sea. Based on its molecular formula, Aciculitin D is the most similar to Aciculitin B structure wise since they only differ in one amino acid substitution. The structure of Aciculitin B contains one extra glutamine while the structure of Aciculitin D has one extra L-Threonine. Although the two cyclic peptides contain slightly different amino acids, they still have the same overall charge because both glutamine and L-Threonine are considered neutral amino acids. Cytotoxicity Aciculitin A-C exhibits cytotoxicity Cytotoxicity is the quality of being toxic to cells. Examples of toxic agents are ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cyclic Peptides
Cyclic peptides are polypeptide chains which contain a circular sequence of bonds. This can be through a connection between the amino and carboxyl ends of the peptide, for example in cyclosporin; a connection between the amino end and a side chain, for example in bacitracin; the carboxyl end and a side chain, for example in colistin; or two side chains or more complicated arrangements, for example in amanitin. Many cyclic peptides have been discovered in nature and many others have been synthesized in the laboratory. Their length ranges from just two amino acid residues to hundreds. In nature they are frequently antimicrobial or toxic; in medicine they have various applications, for example as antibiotics and immunosuppressive agents. Thin-Layer Chromatography (TLC) is a convenient method to detect cyclic peptides in crude extract from bio-mass. Classification Cyclic peptides can be classified according to the types of bonds that comprise the ring. *Homodetic cyclic peptides, suc ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Marine Sponge
Sponges, the members of the phylum Porifera (; meaning 'pore bearer'), are a basal animal clade as a sister of the diploblasts. They are multicellular organisms that have bodies full of pores and channels allowing water to circulate through them, consisting of jelly-like mesohyl sandwiched between two thin layers of cells. Sponges have unspecialized cells that can transform into other types and that often migrate between the main cell layers and the mesohyl in the process. Sponges do not have nervous, digestive or circulatory systems. Instead, most rely on maintaining a constant water flow through their bodies to obtain food and oxygen and to remove wastes. Sponges were first to branch off the evolutionary tree from the last common ancestor of all animals, making them the sister group of all other animals. Etymology The term ''sponge'' derives from the Ancient Greek word ( 'sponge'). Overview Sponges are similar to other animals in that they are multicellular, heter ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Homologous Recombination
Homologous recombination is a type of genetic recombination in which genetic information is exchanged between two similar or identical molecules of double-stranded or single-stranded nucleic acids (usually DNA as in cellular organisms but may be also RNA in viruses). Homologous recombination is widely used by cells to accurately DNA repair harmful breaks that occur on both strands of DNA, known as double-strand breaks (DSB), in a process called homologous recombinational repair (HRR). Homologous recombination also produces new combinations of DNA sequences during meiosis, the process by which eukaryotes make gamete cells, like sperm and egg cells in animals. These new combinations of DNA represent genetic variation in offspring, which in turn enables populations to adapt during the course of evolution. Homologous recombination is also used in horizontal gene transfer to exchange genetic material between different strains and species of bacteria and viruses. Horizontal ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cyclic Peptide
Cyclic peptides are polypeptide chains which contain a circular sequence of bonds. This can be through a connection between the amino and carboxyl ends of the peptide, for example in cyclosporin; a connection between the amino end and a side chain, for example in bacitracin; the carboxyl end and a side chain, for example in colistin; or two side chains or more complicated arrangements, for example in amanitin. Many cyclic peptides have been discovered in nature and many others have been synthesized in the laboratory. Their length ranges from just two amino acid residues to hundreds. In nature they are frequently antimicrobial or toxic; in medicine they have various applications, for example as antibiotics and immunosuppressive agents. Thin-Layer Chromatography (TLC) is a convenient method to detect cyclic peptides in crude extract from bio-mass. Classification Cyclic peptides can be classified according to the types of bonds that comprise the ring. *Homodetic cyclic peptides, suc ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Amino Acid Substitution
Amino acid replacement is a change from one amino acid to a different amino acid in a protein due to point mutation in the corresponding DNA sequence. It is caused by nonsynonymous missense mutation which changes the codon sequence to code other amino acid instead of the original. Conservative and radical replacements Not all amino acid replacements have the same effect on function or structure of protein. The magnitude of this process may vary depending on how similar or dissimilar the replaced amino acids are, as well as on their position in the sequence or the structure. Similarity between amino acids can be calculated based on substitution matrices, physico-chemical distance, or simple properties such as amino acid size or charge (see also amino acid chemical properties). Usually amino acids are thus classified into two types: * Conservative replacement - an amino acid is exchanged into another that has similar properties. This type of replacement is expected to rarel ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Glutamine
Glutamine (symbol Gln or Q) is an α-amino acid that is used in the biosynthesis of proteins. Its side chain is similar to that of glutamic acid, except the carboxylic acid group is replaced by an amide. It is classified as a charge-neutral, polar amino acid. It is non-essential and conditionally essential in humans, meaning the body can usually synthesize sufficient amounts of it, but in some instances of stress, the body's demand for glutamine increases, and glutamine must be obtained from the diet. It is encoded by the codons CAA and CAG. In human blood, glutamine is the most abundant free amino acid. The dietary sources of glutamine include especially the protein-rich foods like beef, chicken, fish, dairy products, eggs, vegetables like beans, beets, cabbage, spinach, carrots, parsley, vegetable juices and also in wheat, papaya, Brussels sprouts, celery, kale and fermented foods like miso. Functions Glutamine plays a role in a variety of biochemical functions: * Pr ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
L-threonine
Threonine (symbol Thr or T) is an amino acid that is used in the biosynthesis of proteins. It contains an α-amino group (which is in the protonated −NH form under biological conditions), a carboxyl group (which is in the deprotonated −COO− form under biological conditions), and a side chain containing a hydroxyl group, making it a polar, uncharged amino acid. It is essential in humans, meaning the body cannot synthesize it: it must be obtained from the diet. Threonine is synthesized from aspartate in bacteria such as ''E. coli''. It is encoded by all the codons starting AC (ACU, ACC, ACA, and ACG). Threonine sidechains are often hydrogen bonded; the most common small motifs formed are based on interactions with serine: ST turns, ST motifs (often at the beginning of alpha helices) and ST staples (usually at the middle of alpha helices). Modifications The threonine residue is susceptible to numerous posttranslational modifications. The hydroxyl side-chain can undergo ' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cytotoxicity
Cytotoxicity is the quality of being toxic to cells. Examples of toxic agents are an immune cell or some types of venom, e.g. from the puff adder (''Bitis arietans'') or brown recluse spider (''Loxosceles reclusa''). Cell physiology Treating cells with the cytotoxic compound can result in a variety of cell fates. The cells may undergo necrosis, in which they lose membrane integrity and die rapidly as a result of cell lysis. The cells can stop actively growing and dividing (a decrease in cell viability), or the cells can activate a genetic program of controlled cell death (apoptosis). Cells undergoing necrosis typically exhibit rapid swelling, lose membrane integrity, shut down metabolism, and release their contents into the environment. Cells that undergo rapid necrosis in vitro do not have sufficient time or energy to activate apoptotic machinery and will not express apoptotic markers. Apoptosis is characterized by well defined cytological and molecular events including a change i ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
HCT116 Cells
HCT116 is a human colon cancer cell line used in therapeutic research and drug screenings. Characteristics HCT116 cells have a mutation in codon 13 of the KRAS proto-oncogene, and are suitable transfection targets for gene therapy research. The cells have an epithelial morphology and can metastasize in xenograft models. When transducted with viral vectors carrying the p53 gene, HCT116 cells remain arrested in the G1 phase. The proliferation of HCT116 colonies was found to be inhibited by 5-Fu/P85 copolymer micelles. Furthermore, it was found that the knockout of MARCH2 limited growth of HCT116 cells via stress on the endoplasmic reticulum. Use in research HCT116 cells are used in a variety of biomedical studies involving colon cancer proliferation and corresponding inhibitors. The cell line has been used in tumorigenicity studies, along with other research that has shown that Cyclin D1 holds large importance for the activity of lithocholic acid hydroxyamide. HCT116 cell ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
HeLa
HeLa (; also Hela or hela) is an immortalized cell line used in scientific research. It is the oldest and most commonly used human cell line. The line is derived from cervical cancer cells taken on February 8, 1951, named after Henrietta Lacks, a 31-year-old African-American mother of five, who died of cancer on October 4, 1951. The cell line was found to be remarkably durable and prolific, which allows it to be used extensively in scientific study. The cells from Lacks's cancerous cervical tumor were taken without her knowledge or consent, which was common practice in the United States at the time. Cell biologist George Otto Gey found that they could be kept alive, and developed a cell line. Previously, cells cultured from other human cells would only survive for a few days. Cells from Lacks's tumor behaved differently. History Origin In 1951, a patient named Henrietta Lacks was admitted to the Johns Hopkins Hospital with symptoms of irregular vaginal bleeding, and was s ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
