Biomedical subjects

Anamika Das

Publications and source records attributed to Anamika Das.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Weak metamagnetic-like 1D manganese(II) complex with a double mu(1,1)-azido bridge: a structure and magnetic study.

The azido-bridged manganese complex of formula [Mn(tptz)(mu(1,1)-N3)2]n [1; tptz = 2,4,6-tris(2-pyridyl)-1,3,5-triazine] has been synthesized and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis and a low-temperature magnetic study. The complex 1 crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pbcn, with a = 17.911(5) A, b = 15.804(5) A, c = 6.6538(18) A, and Z = 4. The Mn atoms are coordinated by three N atoms of the tptz ligands and connected to each other by double end-on (EO) azide ligands, forming a neutral 1D chain. The adjacent 1D chains are connected by face-to-face pi-pi-stacking interactions and C-H...pi interactions of pyridine rings of the tptz ligands, which leads to the formation of a supramolecular 2D sheet structure. Temperature- and field-dependent magnetic analyses reveal dominant intrachain ferromagnetic interactions with EO azide-bridge and weak interchain antiferromagnetic interactions with overall metamagnetic behavior having 3D magnetic ordering at 2.7 K. The critical field is approximately 80 G, at which the interlayer antiferromagnetic ground-state switches to a ferromagnetic state.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2006

Combined use of two transcriptional reporters improves signalling assays for G protein-coupled receptors in fission yeast.

The biochemical and genetic tractability of yeasts make them ideal hosts for the analysis of signalling from G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Selected modifications to the strains allow the introduction of non-yeast components, while signal-dependent expression of reporter genes provides growth selection or enzyme read-out as assays for signalling. One issue with such systems is reporter expression in the absence of stimulation, usually because of spontaneous activation of intracellular signalling components and/or incomplete repression of the signal-dependent promoter. This limits the difference between reporter activity in the presence and absence of stimulation, often referred to as the signal:background ratio. In an effort to extend the applicability of the yeast system, we generated a Schizosaccharomyces pombe strain containing pheromone-dependent reporters for both growth selection and beta-galactosidase production. Simultaneous use of the two reporters provided several advantages over strains expressing only one reporter, particularly when coupled to the use of a competitive inhibitor of the nutritional reporter. For example, the beta-galactosidase signal:background ratio following stimulation with 10(-6) M P-factor increased from 35 for a strain containing a single lacZ reporter to almost 2500 for the double reporter. The sensitivity of the system was also improved, with higher signal:background ratios allowing detection of lower concentrations of P-factor. Although we have used Sz. pombe and focused on GPCR-based induction of beta-galactosidase, the principles described can be applied to other yeasts, different signalling pathways and alternative reporters.

DNA, Fungal↗

PubMed2005

A constitutively active GPCR retains its G protein specificity and the ability to form dimers.

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are cell surface proteins which help to regulate the physiology of all the major organ systems within higher eukaryotes. They are stimulated by multiple ligands and activate a range of effector molecules to bring about changes in cell behaviour. The use of constitutively active mutants (CAMs) of GPCRs has enabled a better understanding of receptor activation as CAMs exhibit ligand-independent signalling negating the use of ligands. Here we introduce the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe as a host for producing CAMs, by describing the isolation and characterization of constitutive mutants of the P-factor receptor (Mam2). One mutant Mam2[P261L] contained a single-amino-acid substitution (Pro261 to Leu) within a region of high homology in GPCRs. Substitution of this proline leads to an 18-fold increase in ligand-independent signalling. We utilized Mam2[P261L] to investigate CAM activity by demonstrating that Mam2[P261L] is efficiently trafficked to the cell surface where it can form fully functional oligomeric complexes with the native receptor. Mam2[P261L] also retains the G protein specificity (RG-profile) of the native receptor and only induces constitutive signalling in the same G proteins. Finally, evidence is provided to indicate that CAM activity results from a reduction in the kinetics of G protein binding. This is the first time that S. pombe has been utilized for isolating and characterizing CAMs and the techniques employed will complement the current systems available for studying these important receptors.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2004

An efficient bipartite PCR technique to introduce specific changes in large plasmids.

Amplifying an entire double-stranded plasmid by an inverse polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using a pair of tail-to-tail primers is a particularly efficient approach for introducing changes into DNA sequences. However, the approach generally works best for plasmids less than 5 Kb and it can be difficult to amplify the large multicomponent vectors that are used for protein expression in various eukaryotic cells. We have therefore adopted an alternative approach in which two smaller PCR products are generated and then ligated to produce the complete plasmid. A mutagenic primer is used to introduce the desired change and each reaction includes one of a pair of tail-to-tail primers from within an antibiotic resistance gene contained on the plasmid so that the two PCR products contain complementing parts of the complete gene. Ligating the two products generates various combinations but only the correctly ligated molecules recreate the antibiotic resistance gene and are able to replicate in Escherichia coli. When combined with methods to minimize the carryover of template plasmid, this can be an efficient way of introducing mutations into large plasmids.

Mutagenesis, Site-Directed↗