hShroom1 links a membrane bound protein to the actin cytoskeleton

hShroom1 (hShrm1) is a member of the Apx/Shroom (Shrm) protein family and was identified from a yeast two-hybrid screen as a protein that interacts with the cytoplasmic domain of melanoma cell adhesion molecule (MCAM). The characteristic signature of the Shrm family is the presence of a unique domain, ASD2 (Apx/Shroom domain 2). mRNA analysis suggests that hShrm1 is expressed in brain, heart, skeletal muscle, colon, small intestine, kidney, placenta and lung tissue, as well a variety of melanoma and other cell lines. Co-immunoprecipitation and bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET) experiments indicate that hShrm1 and MCAM interact in vivo and by immunofluorescence microscopy some co-localization of these proteins is observed. hShrm1 partly co-localises with β-actin and is found in the Triton X-100 insoluble fraction of melanoma cell extracts. We propose that hShrm1 is involved in linking MCAM to the cytoskeleton. D. E. Dye, S. Karlen: These authors contributed equally to this work. Received 09 October 2008; received after revision 23 November 2008; accepted 09 December 2008     

Heparan sulfate-protein interactions: therapeutic potential through structure-function insights

Heparin and the related glycosaminoglycan, heparan sulfate, bind a myriad of proteins. The structural diversity of heparin and heparan sulfates is enormous, but differences in the conformational flexibility of the monosaccharide constituents add extra complexity and may influence protein binding. Silencing genes for heparin/ heparan sulfate biosynthetic enzymes profoundly affects mammalian development. Thus, altering the structure of heparan sulfate chains can alter protein binding and embryo development. Different heparan sulfate structures are located in particular tissue sites, and these structures are recognised by different sets of proteins. Regulation of certain heparan sulfate-protein interactions by pH or cations is described. Heparin/heparan sulfate structures are viewed as potential therapeutics for a variety of diseases. An understanding at the molecular and functional levels of the specificity and affinity of heparan sulfate-protein interactions is crucial for designing heparin-inspired drugs. How the development of synthesis techniques is facilitating structure-function analyses and drug development is discussed.Received 6 July 2004; received after revision 16 September 2004; accepted 28 September 2004     

ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES FACING INDIA

INTRODUCTION India is among one of the ten most industrialized nations in the world. Increase in population has raised the urbar industrial, transport and agriculture demands which are major reasons for the degradation of the environmel condition. For India besides land and soil degradation, deforestation, low accessibility of water, ,industrial pollution and urban congestion are the major environmental issues of priority. The industries that generate huge quantities of waste are thermal power station, Iron and Steel Plants, Sugar, Paper and Fertilizer Industries.