BackgroundBed bugs (Cimex lectularius) are hematophagous nocturnal parasites of humans that have attained high impact status due to their worldwide resurgence. The sudden and rampant resurgence of C. lectularius has been attributed to numerous factors including frequent international travel, narrower pest management practices, and insecticide resistance.ResultsWe performed a next-generation RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) experiment to find differentially expressed genes between pesticide-resistant (PR) and pesticide-susceptible (PS) strains of C. lectularius. A reference transcriptome database of 51,492 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) was created by combining the databases derived from de novo assembled mRNA-Seq tags (30,404 ESTs) and our previous 454 pyrosequenced database (21,088 ESTs). The two-way GLMseq analysis revealed ~15,000 highly significant differentially expressed ESTs between the PR and PS strains. Among the top 5,000 differentially expressed ESTs, 109 putative defense genes (cuticular proteins, cytochrome P450s, antioxidant genes, ABC transporters, glutathione S-transferases, carboxylesterases and acetyl cholinesterase) involved in penetration resistance and metabolic resistance were identified. Tissue and development-specific expression of P450 CYP3 clan members showed high mRNA levels in the cuticle, Malpighian tubules, and midgut; and in early instar nymphs, respectively. Lastly, molecular modeling and docking of a candidate cytochrome P450 (CYP397A1V2) revealed the flexibility of the deduced protein to metabolize a broad range of insecticide substrates including DDT, deltamethrin, permethrin, and imidacloprid.ConclusionsWe developed significant molecular resources for C. lectularius putatively involved in metabolic resistance as well as those participating in other modes of insecticide resistance. RNA-Seq profiles of PR strains combined with tissue-specific profiles and molecular docking revealed multi-level insecticide resistance in C. lectularius. Future research that is targeted towards RNA interference (RNAi) on the identified metabolic targets such as cytochrome P450s and cuticular proteins could lay the foundation for a better understanding of the genetic basis of insecticide resistance in C. lectularius.

N-trans-p-coumaroyltyramine (CT) isolated from Physalis minima is a phenolic substance exhibiting many pharmacological activities like potent inhibition of acetyl cholinesterase, cell proliferation, platelet aggregation, and also antioxidant activity. Here, we have studied the binding of CT with HSA at physiological pH 7.2 by using fluorescence, circular dichroism spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and molecular docking methods. From the fluorescence emission studies, the number of binding sites and binding constant were calculated to be 2 and (4.5 +/- 0.01) x 10(5) M(-1), respectively. The free energy change was calculated as -7.6 kcal M(-1) at 25 degrees C, which indicates the hydrophobic interactions of CT with HSA and is in well agreement with the computational calculations and molecular docking studies. The changes in the secondary structure of HSA after its complexation with the ligand were studied with CD spectroscopy, which indicated that the protein became partially unfolded. Also, temperature did not affect the HSA-CT complexes. The binding of CT with HSA was detected as 2 molecules bound to HSA was determined using micro TOF-Q mass spectrometry. Further, molecular docking studies revealed that CT was binding at subdomain IIA with hydrophobic interactions and also by hydrogen-bond interactions between the hydroxyl (OH) group of carbon-16 and carbon-2 of CT and Arg222, Ala291, Val293, and Met298 of HSA, with hydrogen-bond distances of 2.488, 2.811, 2.678, and 2.586 A, respectively.

Beta-sitosterol is a naturally occurring phytosterol that is widely used to cure atherosclerosis, diabetes, cancer, and inflammation and is also an antioxidant. Here, we studied the interaction of beta-sitosterol, isolated from the aerial roots of Ficus bengalensis, with human serum albumin (HSA) at physiological pH 7.2 by using fluorescence, circular dichroism (CD), molecular docking, and molecular dynamics simulation methods. The experimental results show that the intrinsic fluorescence of HSA is quenched by addition of beta-sitosterol through a static quenching mechanism. The binding constant of the compound to HSA, calculated from fluorescence data, was found to be K(beta-sitosterol) = 4.6 +/- 0.01 x 10(3) M(-1), which corresponds to -5.0 kcal M(-1) of free energy. Upon binding of beta-sitosterol to HSA, the protein secondary structure was partially unfolded. Specifically, the molecular dynamics study makes an important contribution to understanding the effect of the binding of beta-sitosterol on conformational changes of HSA and the stability of a protein-drug complex system in aqueous solution. Molecular docking studies revealed that the beta-sitosterol can bind in the large hydrophobic cavity of subdomain IIA, mainly by the hydrophobic interaction but also by hydrogen bond interactions between the hydroxyl (OH) group of carbon-3 of beta-sitosterol to Arg(257), Ser(287), and Ala(261) of HSA, with hydrogen bond distances of 1.9, 2.4, and 2.2 A, respectively.