Regulation and function of CMTR1-dependent mRNA cap methylation

mRNA is modified co-transcriptionally at the 5' end by the addition of an inverted guanosine cap structure which can be methylated at several positions. The mRNA cap recruits proteins involved in gene expression and identifies the transcript as being cellular or "self" in the innate immune response. Methylation of the first transcribed nucleotide on the ribose 2'-O position is a prevalent cap modification which has roles in splicing, translation and provides protection against the innate immune response. In this review we discuss the regulation and function of CMTR1, the first transcribed nucleotide ribose 2'-O methyltransferase, and the molecular interactions which mediate methylated 2'-O ribose function

Unified mechanisms for self-RNA recognition by RIG-I Singleton-Merten syndrome variants

The innate immune sensor retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I) detects cytosolic viral RNA and requires a conformational change caused by both ATP and RNA binding to induce an active signaling state and to trigger an immune response. Previously, we showed that ATP hydrolysis removes RIG-I from lower-affinity self-RNAs (Lassig et al., 2015), revealing how ATP turnover helps RIG-I distinguish viral from self-RNA and explaining why a mutation in a motif that slows down ATP hydrolysis causes the autoimmune disease Singleton-Merten syndrome (SMS). Here we show that a different, mechanistically unexplained SMS variant, C268F, which is localized in the ATP-binding P-loop, can signal independently of ATP but is still dependent on RNA. The structure of RIG-I C268F in complex with double-stranded RNA reveals that C268F helps induce a structural conformation in RIG-I that is similar to that induced by ATP. Our results uncover an unexpected mechanism to explain how a mutation in a P-loop ATPase can induce a gain-of-function ATP state in the absence of ATP

Pharmacological and Preliminary Phytochemical Studies in Solanum torvum Swartz.

Solanum torvum Swartz. is one of most important ethnomedicinal plant used by the Korku of Melghat. Plant powder or ash given with honey to cure asthma and cough by Korku tribe but elsewhere it is used for other health elements by few researchers. The present paper deals with detailed morphological, anatomical and phytochemical screening of Solanum torvum Swartz. with pharmacognostical approach. In this paper, macro- &amp; micro- morphological and anatomical studies are presented along with illustrations which give better picture of anatomical peculiarities of Solanum torvum Swartz.</jats:p

RIG-I uses an ATPase-powered translocation-throttling mechanism for kinetic proofreading of RNAs and oligomerization. Devarkar et al

Biotin-Streptavidin displacement Assays and EMSA Gel Scan

RIG-I uses an ATPase-powered translocation-throttling mechanism for kinetic proofreading of RNAs and oligomerization. Devarkar et al

Biotin-Streptavidin displacement Assays and EMSA Gel Scan

In vitro Micropropagation and Pharmacognostical studies in Datura inoxia Mill.

Datura inoxia  (Family- Solanaceae) is a non-traditional medicinal plant. Datura inoxia has many medicinal properties like anodyne, antispasmodic, hallucinogenic, hypnotic and narcotic etc. Datura inoxia used in the treatment of insanity, fevers with catarrh, diarrhoea, scabies, piles, ulcers, colds, asthma, Cardiac disorders, Impotency, Antispasmodic, Malaria, Baldness and skin diseases. The plant contains several alkaloids, the most active of which is scopolamine. It is also useful in respiratory ailments, rheumatism, elephantiasis, insanity, earache and eye diseases. During the efforts of the present investigation have been made to establish a protocol for in vitro propagation and Pharmacognostic screening of this important medicinal plant.&#x0D;  </jats:p