Shyam Perugu

Mitochondrial Control Region Alterations and Breast Cancer Risk: A Study in South Indian Population

Background Mitochondrial displacement loop (D-loop) is the hot spot for mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) alterations which influence the generation of cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). Association of D-loop alterations with breast cancer has been reported in few ethnic groups; however none of the reports were documented from Indian subcontinent. Methodology We screened the entire mitochondrial D-loop region (1124 bp) of breast cancer patients (n = 213) and controls (n = 207) of south Indian origin by PCR-sequencing analysis. Haplotype frequencies for significant loci, the standardized disequilibrium coefficient (D′) for pair-wise linkage disequilibrium (LD) were assessed by Haploview Software. Principal Findings We identified 7 novel mutations and 170 reported polymorphisms in the D-loop region of patients and/or controls. Polymorphisms were predominantly located in hypervariable region I (60%) than in II (30%) of D-loop region. The frequencies of 310‘C’ insertion (P = 0.018), T16189C (P = 0.0019) variants and 310‘C’ins/16189C (P = 0.00019) haplotype were significantly higher in cases than in controls. Furthermore, strong LD was observed between nucleotide position 310 and 16189 in controls (D′ = 0.49) as compared to patients (D′ = 0.14). Conclusions Mitochondrial D-loop alterations may constitute inherent risk factors for breast cancer development. The analysis of genetic alterations in the D-loop region might help to identify patients at high risk for bad progression, thereby helping to refine therapeutic decisions in breast cancer.

Mitochondrial Genome Variations in Advanced Stage Endometriosis: A Study in South Indian Population

Background Endometriosis is a chronic gynecological benign disease that shares several features similar to malignancy. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations have been reported in all most all types of tumors. However, it is not known as to whether mtDNA mutations are associated with endometriosis. Methodology We sequenced the entire mitochondrial genome of analogous ectopic and eutopic endometrial tissues along with blood samples from 32 advanced stage endometriosis patients to analyze the role of somatic and germ-line mtDNA variations in pathogenesis of endometriosis. All ectopic tissues were screened for tumor-specific mtDNA deletions and microsatellite instability (MSI). We also performed mtDNA haplogrouping in 128 patients and 90 controls to identify its possible association with endometriosis risk. Principal Findings We identified 51 somatic (novel: 31; reported: 20) and 583 germ-line mtDNA variations (novel: 53; reported: 530) in endometriosis patients. The A13603G, a novel missense mutation which leads to a substitution from serine to glycine at the codon 423 of ND5 gene showed 100% incidence in ectopic tissues. Interestingly, eutopic endometrium and peripheral leukocytes of all the patients showed heteroplasmy (A/G; 40–80%) at this locus, while their ectopic endometrium showed homoplasmic mutant allele (G/G). Superimposition of native and mutant structures of ND5 generated by homology modeling revealed no structural differences. Tumor-specific deletions and MSI were not observed in any of the ectopic tissues. Haplogrouping analysis showed a significant association between haplogroup M5 and endometriosis risk (P: 0.00069) after bonferroni correction. Conclusions Our findings substantiate the rationale for exploring the mitochondrial genome as a biomarker for the diagnosis of endometriosis.

Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using leaf extract of medicinally potent plant Saraca indica: a novel study

Eco-friendly silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have various applications in modern biotechnology for better outcomes and benefits to the society. In the present study, we report an eco-friendly synthesis of silver nanoparticles using Saraca indica leaf extract. Characterization of S. indica silver nanoparticles (SAgNPs) was carried out by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectrometry, Zeta potential, and transmission electron microscopy. SAgNPs showed antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria.

Rational design and synthesis of novel 2-(substituted-2H-chromen-3-yl)-5-aryl-1H-imidazole derivatives as an anti-angiogenesis and anti-cancer agent

Based on earlier proven pharmacophore analogues of cancer a novel 2-(substituted-2H-chromen-3-yl)-5-aryl-1H-imidazoles (13–16) were rationally designed and synthesized by the reaction of chromene-3-carboxylic acids (10a–d) with substituted acyl bromides in the presence of TEA followed by refluxing with NH4OAc in toluene. Compounds 13–16 were screened in vitro for the inhibition of KRAS/Wnt and their anti-angiogenesis properties. Compound 16f has been identified as a potent anti-angiogenesis molecule, which can be considered as a new lead structure. The molecular docking analysis displayed the higher binding affinity of 16f with KRAS, Wnt and VEGF.

Design, synthesis, biological evaluation and in silico molecular docking studies of novel benzochromeno[2,3-d]thiazolopyrimidine derivatives

A new series of benzochromeno[2,3-d]thiazolopyrimidine derivatives were synthesized by involving 7-phenyl-10-thioxo-7,9,10,11-tetrahydro-8H-benzo[7,8]chromeno[2,3-d]pyrimidin-8-ones with phenacyl bromide in the presence of p-toluenesulfonic acid as catalyst in glacial acetic acid under reflux conditions which furnished good yields. All these synthesized compounds (7a–k) were screened for their in vitro antibacterial activity against two gram positive bacteria such as (Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus pyogenes) and two gram negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and also evaluated for their antifungal activity against four pathogenic fungal strains. All these compounds displayed good antibacterial and antifungal activity compared to reference drugs such as ciprofloxacin and mycostatin. Predominantly 7f, 7e and 7b compounds showed the highest antibacterial and antifungal activities. Moreover, all the synthesized compounds were docked against topoisomerase II DNA gyrase enzyme, which is a crucial drug target in bacteria. Docking results showed that π–π stacking and π-cationic interactions were responsible for binding interactions with the target protein.Graphical Abstract