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Stra13, a basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor is involved in myriad biological functions including cellular growth arrest, differentiation and senescence. However, the mechanisms by which its transcriptional activity and function are regulated remain unclear. In this study, we provide evidence that post-translational modification of Stra13 by Small Ubiquitin-like Modifier (SUMO) dramatically potentiates its ability to transcriptionally repress cyclin D1 and mediate G1 cell cycle arrest in fibroblast cells. Mutation of SUMO acceptor lysines 159 and 279 located in the C-terminal repression domain has no impact on nuclear localization; however, it abrogates association with the co-repressor histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1), attenuates repression of cyclin D1, and prevents Stra13-mediated growth suppression. HDAC1, which promotes cellular proliferation and cell cycle progression, antagonizes Stra13 sumoylation-dependent growth arrest. Our results uncover an unidentified regulatory axis between Stra13 and HDAC1 in progression through the G1/S phase of the cell cycle, and provide new mechanistic insights into regulation of Stra13-mediated transcriptional repression by sumoylation.

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14-Deoxy-11,12-didehydroandrographolide is a biologically active molecule present in the extract of Andrographis paniculata (Kalmegh), a classic ethnic herbal formula, which has been used for over thousand years as therapeutics to treat numerous infectious diseases like upper respiratory tract infection, urinary tract infection, and many more health issues. The present study is designed to ascertain an inhibitor against biofilm formation from the major metabolites of Andrographis paniculata, because the extract of this herb shows inhibition of bacterial quorum sensing (QS) communication and biofilm development against microorganisms. 14-Deoxy-11,12-didehydroandrographolide at 0.1 mM (sub-MIC dose) with azithromycin (6 μg/mL, sub-MIC) or gentamicin (4 μg/mL, sub-MIC) synergistically inhibits 92% biofilm production by a 48-h treatment against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Further investigation carried out by atomic force microscopy shows promising reduction in roughness and height of biofilm in the presence of 14-deoxy-11,12-didehydroandrographolide compared with the control group. The content of extracellular polymeric substances, level of pyocyanin production, and synthesis of extracellular protease by P. aeruginosa have also been reduced significantly at around 90% in 14-deoxy-11,12-didehydroandrographolide-treated group. In conclusion, 14deoxy-11,12-didehydroandrographolide could be used as a drug molecule against biofilm development by inhibiting QS pathway in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

1. In the last few years, a substantial scientific work is focused to identify the potential toxicity of nanomaterials by studying the cellular pathways under in vitro and in vivo conditions. Owing to high surface area to volume ratio nanoparticles (NPs) can pass through cell membranes which might be responsible for creating adverse interactions in biological systems. Simultaneously, researchers are also interested to assess the fate of NP inside the living system, which may lead to altered protein expression as well as protein corona formation. 2. According to published reports, NP-mediated toxicity involves altered cellular system including cell morphology, cell differentiation, cell metabolism, cell mobility, cellular immunity, which is derived from the side effects of nanoformulation and leading to apoptosis and necrosis. These results indicate the existence of potential toxic effect of these particles to human health. 3. The advent of proteomics with sophisticated technical improvement coupled with advanced bioinformatics has led to identify altered proteins due to nanomaterial exposure that could provide a new avenue to biomarker discovery. 4. This review aims to provide the current status of safe production and use of nanomaterials.

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Silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) are now widely used as antibacterial and antifungal materials in different consumer products. We report here the preparation of Ag NPs by neem leaves extract (Azadirachta) reduction and trisodium citrate-sodium borohydride reduction methods, and study of their phytotoxicity. The nanoparticles were characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy, FTIR, and atomic force microscopy (AFM) techniques. Both neem-coated and citrate-coated Ag NPs exhibit surface plasmon around 400 nm, and their average sizes measured by AFM are about 100 and 20 nm, respectively. Antibacterial and antifungal activities of these nanomaterials have been studied by simple pea seed germination and disk diffusion methods. It has been observed from the growth of root and shoot, citrate-coated Ag NPs significantly affect seedling growth, but neem-coated Ag NPs exhibit somehow mild toxicity toward germination process due to the nutrient supplements from neem. On the other hand, antifungal activity of neem-coated Ag NPs has been found much higher than that of citrate-coated Ag NPs due to the combined effects of antifungal activity of neem and Ag NPs. Present research primarily indicates a possible application of neem-coated Ag NPs as a potential fungicide.