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Deshmukh, S. S.

Publications and source records attributed to Deshmukh, S. S..

2 recordsLinked to original sources

The influence of truncating the carboxy-terminal amino acid residues of Streptococcal enolase on its ability to interact with canine plasminogen.

The native octameric structure of streptococcal enolase from Streptococcus pyogenes increasingly dissociates as amino acid residues are removed one by one from the carboxy-terminus. These truncations gradually convert native octameric enolase into monomers and oligomers. In this work, we investigated how these truncations influence the interaction between Streptococcal enolase and canine plasminogen. We used dual polarization interferometry (DPI), localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR), and sedimentation velocity analytical ultracentrifugation (AUC) to study the interaction. The DPI was our first technique, was performed on all the truncations and used one exclusive kind of chip. The LSRP was used to show that the DPI results were not dependent on the type of chip used. The AUC was required to show that our surface results were not the result of selecting a minority population in any given sample; the majority of the protein was responsible for the binding phenomenon we observed. By comparing results from these techniques we identified one detail that is essential for streptococcal enolase to bind plasminogen: In our hands the individual monomers bind plasminogen; dimers, trimers, tetramers may or may not bind, the fully intact, native, octamer does not bind plasminogen. We also evaluated the contribution to the equilibrium constant made by surface binding as well as in solution. On a surface, the association coefficient is about twice that in solution. The difference is probably not significant. Finally, the fully octameric form of the protein that does not contain a hexahis N-terminal peptide does not bind to a silicon oxynitride surface, does not bind to a Au-nanoparticle surface, does not bind to a surface coated with Ni-NTA nor does it bind to a surface coated with DPgn. The likelihood is great that the enolase species on the surface of Streptococcus pyogenes is an x-mer of the native octamer.

biophysics

Inexpensive, scalable camera system for tracking rats in large spaces

AbstractMost studies focused on understanding the neural circuits underlying spatial navigation are restricted to small behavioral arenas ([≤] 1 m2) because of the limits imposed by the cables extending from the animal to the recording system. New wireless recording systems have significantly increased the recording range. However, the size of arena is still constrained by the lack of a video tracking system capable of monitoring the animals movements over large areas integrated with these recording systems. We developed and benchmarked a novel, open-source, scalable multi-camera tracking system based on commercially available and low-cost hardware (Raspberry Pi computers and Raspberry Pi cameras). This Picamera system was used in combination with a wireless recording system for characterizing neural correlates of space in environments of various sizes up to 16.5 m2. Spatial rate maps generated using the Picamera system showed improved accuracy in estimating spatial firing characteristics of neurons compared to a popular commercial system, due to its better temporal accuracy. The system also showed improved accuracy in estimating head direction cell tuning as well as theta phase precession in place cells. This improved temporal accuracy is crucial for accurately aligning videos from multiple cameras in large spaces and characterizing spatially modulated cells in a large environment.

neuroscience