Pantothenate kinase (PanK) is an ubiquitous and essential enzyme that catalyzes the first step in the universal Coenzyme (CoA) biosynthesis pathway. In this step, pantothenate (Vitamin B5) is converted to 4′-phosphopantothenate, ...

Low intensity and low frequency ultrasound has been shown to modulate ion channel currents, membrane capacitive currents, and as a result, neuronal activity. Ultrasound has been used as a non-invasive way to modulate ...

Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRSs) are at the center of the question of the origin of life and are essential proteins found in all living organisms. AARSs arose early in evolution to interpret genetic code and are believed ...

This thesis describes studies directed towards understanding structure-function relationships of triosephosphate isomerase (TIM), from a protozoan parasite Plasmodium falciparum and a thermophilic archaea Methanocaldococcus ...

Pyridoxal 5’-phosphate (PLP), the active form of vitamin B6, is a cofactor for many enzymes involved in the metabolism of amino acids, amino acid derived metabolites and some amino sugars. PLP is one of the most versatile ...

The first chapter will provide an introduction to the physiology, pathogenesis and biology of mycobacteria. Host-pathogen interactions, different modes of resistance of the bacteria, adaptations for survival under nutrient ...

The numerous toxic peptides, called conotoxins (Olivera et al 1990, 1991), that marine cone snails produce and use for capturing prey, deterring predators and presumably for other biotic interactions, are known to target ...

Mycobacterium tuberculosis has one ribosomal RNA operon. The survival of this bacillus thus depends on a transcription mechanism that can effectively couple gene expression to changes in the environment. σ factors are ...

The Dps (DNA-Binding Protein from Starved Cells) proteins are a class of stress-specific proteins with a major role in protecting DNA during the stationary phase of bacterial growth, through direct physical binding as well ...