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Physico-chemical properties reflect the functional and structural characteristics of a protein. The comparative study of the physicochemical properties is important to know role of a protein in exploring its molecular evolution. A number of online and offline tools are available for calculating the physico-chemical properties of a single protein sequence. However, a tool is not available for a comparative study with graphical visualization of Multi-FASTA sequences. Hence, we describe the development and utility of MFPPI V.1.0 (a web interface developed in JAVA platform) to input each FASTA sequence from Multi-FASTA file into the ProtParam web server for the calculation of physico-chemical properties. MFPPI V.1.0 calculates different physico-chemical properties for a given set of proteins in a single run and saves the data in the MSExcel sheet. Furthermore, it provides a graphical representation of protein physico-chemical properties for analysis and visualization of data in a user-friendly manner. Therefore, the output from the analysis helps to understand compositional changes and functional relationship in evolution among organisms. We have demonstrated the utility of MFPPI V.1.0 using 17 mtATP6 protein sequences from different mammalian species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The anthocyanin-enriched wheat varieties were explored for their health benefits and development of antioxidant-rich biscuits. In the present study, around 35 advanced lines, showcasing different colors (7 white, 9 purple, 11 black, 8 blue), and robust yield potential under local climatic conditions were selected. The wheat lines were screened for yield, grain hardness, protein, dough quality, biscuit baking and sensory quality attributes. The two advanced black wheat lines (black-1 and black-6) showed low grain hardness indices (49.8 and 32.4) and protein content (9.1 and 8.2%). The dough obtained from these wheat lines exhibited excellent parameters including low hardness and high springiness. The black-1 (soft texture) and black-6 (very soft texture) lines exhibited superior biscuit-making quality with a high spread ratio (13.2 and 14), mirroring the positive controls {white-6 (vs)-15}, and surpassing the average (8.9) and negative controls {white-C3 (7.7) and white-C4 (8.4)}. Despite a reduction in anthocyanin content during baking, both lines demonstrated a 1.3-fold higher antioxidant activity compared to the control. These black wheat lines present significant potential for commercialization, offering an avenue to enhance the quality and nutritional profile of biscuits in the food industry. [Display omitted] • Textural diversity in wheat germplasm development. • Comprehensive material evaluation: 35 germplasms and 4 commercial checks. • Identification of two high-quality black wheat lines for biscuit production. • 1.3-fold higher antioxidant activity in biscuits from selected lines. • Augmentation: First report of anthocyanin-rich black wheat for biscuit production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background : Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is associated with insulin resistance, hyperglycemia, and hyperlipidemia. Anthocyanins, which are natural antioxidants, have been reported to manage T2DM-related complications. However, the potential of anthocyanin-rich black wheat as a functional food for managing diabetes remains unexplored. Aim : This study aimed to investigate the effects of anthocyanin-rich black wheat on glucose metabolism, insulin sensitivity, lipid profile, oxidative stress, inflammation, and organ protection in high fat diet-streptozotocin (HFD-STZ) induced T2DM rats. Methods : T2DM was induced in rats using HFD-STZ. The rats were fed with either white wheat or anthocyanin-rich black wheat chapatti. Glucose metabolism, insulin sensitivity, lipid profile, antioxidant enzymes, inflammatory markers, and glucose transporters were assessed. Histopathological analysis of the liver, kidneys, and spleen was performed. Results : Compared to white wheat chapatti, black wheat chapatti exhibited higher α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities. Black wheat chapatti consumption significantly reduced blood glucose and HbA1c levels, and improved insulin sensitivity, oral glucose tolerance, and insulin tolerance. Antioxidant enzyme (superoxide dismutase and catalase) activities were enhanced. Atherogenic dyslipidemia was attenuated, with improved high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. Inflammatory markers (TNF-α, IL-1β, leptin, resistin and cortisol) were reduced, while adiponectin (Acrp-30) levels increased. Black wheat chapatti activated adiponectin-AMPK and PI3K-AKT pathways, upregulating glucose transporters (GLUT-2 and GLUT-4). Histopathology revealed protective effects on the liver, kidneys, and spleen. Conclusions : Anthocyanin-rich black wheat chapatti ameliorates insulin resistance and associated complications in HFD-STZ-induced T2DM rats. It modulates key signaling pathways and glucose transporters, demonstrating its potential as a functional food for managing T2DM and its complications.

Oculogyric crisis (OGC) is a form of acute dystonia with involuntary conjugated ocular gaze in a fixed position. Common causes include metabolic disorders and medications, primarily typical antipsychotics. A 24-year-old male with a history of persistent depressive disorder and possible bipolar disorder was admitted to the psychiatric unit due to suicidal ideation. He was started on aripiprazole 5 mg and subsequently increased to 10 mg due to uncontrolled mood disorder. The patient subsequently developed OGC, which resolved with benztropine and diphenhydramine. This case report highlights aripiprazole-induced OGC and prompt management with benztropine and first-generation antihistamines., Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Malik et al.)

Finger millet is a calcium-rich cereal crop of the grass family. The transcriptome data for finger millet is available at NCBI. It is of interest to annotate and characterize starch synthase enzyme from finger millet transcriptome data. Starch synthase plays an important role in the elongation of glucan chains during the formation of starch. The starch synthase enzyme is characterized using three domains (Glyco_transf_5, Glycos_transf_1 and Glyco_trans_1_4). Binding sites for GLC (alpha-d-glucose), PLP (Pyridoxal-5'- phosphate), AMP (Adenosine monophosphate) and GOL (Glycerol) are found. The phylogenetic analysis showed that the finger millet starch synthase is similar to the granule-bound starch synthase of Oryza sativa and Concrete amaricanus. We report the sequence (GenBank accession number KY648917) and the structural model of finger millet starch synthase (PMDB ID: PM0081600).

Phytoalexins are small antimicrobial molecules synthesized and accumulated by plants upon exposure to pathogens. Camalexin is an indole-derived phytoalexin, which is accumulated in plants including Arabidopsis thaliana, and other Brassicaceae, which plays a major role in disease resistance against fungal pathogens. The productivity of Brassica crops is adversely affected by Alternaria blight disease, which is caused by Alternaria brassicae. In Arabidopsis thaliana, MAP kinase signalling cascade is known to be involved in synthesis of camalexin, which contributes to disease resistance against a necrtrophic fungal pathogen, Botrytis cinerea. In the present study, MAPK signalling cascade leading to biosynthesis of camalexin that triggers defense responses in B. rapa upon exposure to the most devastating nectrophic fungus, Alternaria brassicae has been elucidated with the help of previously reported MAPK cascade in Arabidopsis thaliana, Molecular modelling, docking, and protein-protein interaction analysis of MAP kinases retrieved from Brassica rapa genome have been carried out to reveal the above cascade. The tertiary structure prediction of MAPKs obtained through molecular modelling revealed that all the protein models fulfil the criteria of being the stable structures. The molecular docking of predicted models for elucidating potential partners of MAPKs revealed strong interactions between MKK1, MKK4, MKK5, MAPK3 and MAPK6 with MKK9. The MAPK signalling cascade also shows different genes that express and play major role in camalexin biosynthesis in B. rapa during defense response to A. brassicae. The understanding of MAPK defense signaling pathway in B. rapa against devastating fungal pathogen Alternaria brassicae would help in devising strategies to develop disease resistance in Brassica crops.

Starch-branching enzymes (SBEs) are one of the four major enzyme classes involved in starch biosynthesis in plants and play an important role in determining the structure and physical properties of starch granules. Multiple SBEs are involved in starch biosynthesis in plants. Finger millet is calcium rich important serial crop belongs to grass family and the transcriptome data of developing spikes is available on NCBI. In this study it was try to find out the gene sequence of starch branching enzyme and annotate the sequence and submit the sequence for further use. Rice SBE sequence was taken as reference and for characterization of the sequence different in silico tools were used. Four domains were found in the finger millet Starch branching enzyme like alpha amylase catalytic domain from 925 to2172 with E value 0, N-terminal Early set domain from 634 to 915 with E value 1.62 e-42, Alpha amylase, C-terminal all-beta domain from 2224 to 2511 with E value 5.80e-24 and 1,4-alpha-glucan-branching enzyme from 421 to 2517 with E value 0. Major binding interactions with the GLC (alpha-d-glucose), CA (calcium ion), GOL (glycerol), TRS (2-amino-2-hydroxymethylpropane- 1, 3-diol), MG (magnesium ion) and FLC (citrate anion) are fond with different residues. It was found in the phylogenetic study of the finger millet SBE with the 6 species of grass family that two clusters were form A and B. In cluster A, finger millet showed closeness with Oryzasativa and Setariaitalica, Sorghum bicolour and Zea mays while cluster B was formed with Triticumaestivum and Brachypodium distachyon. The nucleotide sequence of Finger millet SBE was submitted to NCBI with the accession no KY648913 and protein structure of SBE of finger millet was also submitted in PMDB with the PMDB id - PM0080938. This research presents a comparative overview of Finger millet SBE and includes their properties, structural and functional characteristics, and recent developments on their post-translational regulation.

Lipoxygenase-1 (LOX-1) protein provides defense against pests and pathogens and its presence have been positively correlated with plant resistance against pathogens. Linoleate is a known substrate of lipoxygenase and it induces necrosis leading to the accumulation of isoflavonoid phytoalexins in plant leaves. Therefore, it is of interest to study the structural features of LOX-1 from Finger millet. However, the structure ofLOX-1 from Finger millet is not yet known. A homology model of LOX-1 from Finger millet is described. Domain architecture study suggested the presence of two domains namely PLAT (Phospho Lipid Acyl Transferase) and lipoxygenase. Molecular docking models of linoleate with lipoxygenase from finger millet, rice and sorghum are reported. The features of docked models showed that finger millet have higher pathogen resistance in comparison to other cereal crops. This data is useful for the molecular cloning of fulllength LOX-1 gene for validating its role in improving plant defense against pathogen infection and for various other biological processes.

Physico-chemical properties reflect the functional and structural characteristics of a protein. The comparative study of the physicochemical properties is important to know role of a protein in exploring its molecular evolution. A number of online and offline tools are available for calculating the physico-chemical properties of a single protein sequence. However, a tool is not available for a comparative study with graphical visualization of Multi-FASTA sequences. Hence, we describe the development and utility of MFPPI V.1.0 (a web interface developed in JAVA platform) to input each FASTA sequence from Multi-FASTA file into the ProtParam web server for the calculation of physico-chemical properties. MFPPI V.1.0 calculates different physico-chemical properties for a given set of proteins in a single run and saves the data in the MSExcel sheet. Furthermore, it provides a graphical representation of protein physico-chemical properties for analysis and visualization of data in a user-friendly manner. Therefore, the output from the analysis helps to understand compositional changes and functional relationship in evolution among organisms. We have demonstrated the utility of MFPPI V.1.0 using 17 mtATP6 protein sequences from different mammalian species. It is available for free at http://insilicogenomics.in/mfpcalc/mfppi.html.