Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

C N Rao

Publications and source records attributed to C N Rao.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2002

A study of polyaniline-carbon nanotube composites.

Composites of polyaniline (PANI) have been prepared with pristine multiwalled and single-walled nanotubes as well as nanotubes subjected to acid treatment and subsequent reaction with thionyl chloride. The composites have been characterized by various techniques, including X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, as well as infrared and Raman spectroscopy. Electrical resistivities of the PANI-nanotube composites have been measured and compared with those of the nanotubes and PANI.

Aniline Compounds↗
PubMed2002

A Raman study of CdSe and ZnSe nanostructures.

Raman studies have been carried out on CdSe nanotubes and ZnSe nanorods produced by surfactant-assisted synthesis. The Raman spectrum of CdSe nanotubes shows modes at 207.5 and 198 cm-1; the former arises from the longitudinal optic phonon mode red-shifted with respect to the bulk mode because of phonon confinement, and the latter is the l = 1 surface phonon. Analysis based on the phonon confinement model demonstrates that the size of the nanoparticle responsible for the red-shift is about 4 nm, close to the estimate from the blue-shift of the photoluminescence. The Raman spectrum of ZnSe nanorods shows modes at 257 and 213 cm-1, assigned to longitudinal and transverse optic phonons, blue-shifted with respect to the bulk ZnSe modes because of compressive strain. The mode at 237 cm-1 is the surface phonon.

Cadmium Compounds↗
PubMed2001

MoSe2 and WSe2 nanotubes and related structures.

MoSe2 and WSe2 nanotubes are obtained by the reduction of the corresponding triselenides in hydrogen or by the decomposition of the ammonium selenometallates in a hydrogen atmosphere.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2001

A novel function of tissue factor pathway inhibitor-2 (TFPI-2) in human glioma invasion.

Human tissue factor pathway inhibitor-2 (TFPI-2) is a Kunitz-type serine protease inhibitor that inhibits plasmin, trypsin, chymotrypsin, cathepsin G, and plasma kallikrein but not urokinase-type plasminogen activator, tissue plasminogen activator, or thrombin. Preliminary findings in our laboratory suggested that the expression of TFPI-2 is downregulated or lost during tumor progression in human gliomas. To investigate the role of TFPI-2 in the invasiveness of brain tumors, we stably transfected the human high-grade glioma cell line SNB19 and the human low-grade glioma cell line Hs683 with a vector capable of expressing a transcript complementary to the full-length TFPI-2 mRNA in either sense (0.7 kb) or antisense (1 kb) orientations. Parental cells and stably transfected cell lines were analysed for TFPI-2 protein by Western blotting and for TFPI-2 mRNA by Northern blotting. The levels of TFPI-2 protein and mRNA were higher in the sense clones (SNB19) and decreased in the antisense (Hs683) clones than in the corresponding parental and vector controls. In spheroid and matrigel invasion assays, the SNB19 parental cells were highly invasive, but the sense-transfected SNB-19 clones were much less invasive; the antisense-transfected Hs683 clones were more invasive than their parental and vector controls. After intracerebral injection in mice, the sense-transfected SNB19 clones were less able to form tumors than were their parental and vector controls, and the antisense-Hs683 clones but not the parental or vector controls formed small tumors. This is the first study to demonstrate that down- or upregulation of TFPI-2 plays a significant role in the invasive behavior of human gliomas.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Aufbau principle of complex open-framework structures of metal phosphates with different dimensionalities.

Open-framework metal phosphates occur as one-dimensional (1D) chains or ladders, two-dimensional (2D) layers, and complex three-dimensional (3D) structures. Zero-dimensional monomers have also been isolated recently. These materials are traditionally prepared by hydrothermal means, in the presence of organic amines, but the reactions of amine phosphates with metal ions provide a facile route for the synthesis, and also throw some light on the mode of formation of these fascinating architectures. Careful studies of the transformations of monophasic zinc phosphates of well-characterized structures show that the 1D structures transform to 2D and 3D structures, while the 2D structures transform to 3D structures. The zero-dimensional monomers transform to 1D, 2D, and 3D structures. There is reason to believe that the 0D monomers, comprising four-membered rings, are the most basic structural units of the open-framework phosphates and that after an optimal precursor state, such as the ladder structure, is formed, further building may occur spontaneously. Evidence for the occurrence of self-assembly in the formation of complex structures is provided by the presence of the structural features of the one-dimensional starting material in the final products. These observations constitute the beginning of our understanding of the building-up principle of such complex structures.

Models, Molecular↗
PubMed2001

Synthons and design in metal phosphates and oxalates with open architectures.

We briefly describe the structures of open-framework metal phosphates with different dimensionalities, such as the one-dimensional linear-chain and ladder structures, two-dimensional layer structures and three-dimensional structures with channels. We demonstrate the role of the zero-dimensional four-membered ring monomer and of the one-dimensional ladder structure as the starting building units or synthons involved in the formation of the complex architectures. Thus, we show how the one-dimensional ladder structure transforms to two- and three-dimensional structures under mild conditions. The two-dimensional layer structures also transform to three-dimensional structures, while the zero-dimensional monomer transforms to layered and three-dimensional structures under ordinary reaction conditions. These transformations provide an insight into the possible pathways involved in the building up of the complex structures of metal phosphates. The isolation of amine phosphates during the hydrothermal synthesis of metal phosphates and also the facile reactions between amine phosphates and metal ions to yield a variety of open-framework materials have thrown light on the mechanism of formation and design of these structures. The existence of a hierarchy of open-framework metal oxalates and their ready formation by employing amine oxalates as intermediates provides additional support to the observations made earlier with regard to the phosphates.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2001

Mesoscopic assembly of magnetic Pd-Ni nanocrystals into ordered arrays by using alkane thiols.

Two-dimensional arrays of core-shell Pd561 Nin (n = 38, 280, 561, 800, 1500, 3000, 4500) nanocrystals have been prepared by using alkanethiols. The arrays of Pd561 Nin nanocrystals are particularly well ordered; those with high Ni coverage show a tendency to form multilayers or crystallites. Two-dimensional arrays also have been obtained of Pd561 Ni3000 nanocrystals further covered by a Pd layer with a Pd561 Ni3000 Pd1500 composition.

Alkanes↗
PubMed2001

Single crystal GaN nanowires.

Single crystal gallium nitride nanowires have been obtained by heating gallium acetylacetonate in the presence of carbon nanotubes or activated carbon in NH3 vapor at 910 degrees C. GaN nanowires also were obtained when the reaction of gallium acetylacetonate with NH3 was carried out over catalytic Fe/Ni particles dispersed over silica. The former procedure with carbon nanotubes is preferable because it avoids the presence of metal particles in the nanowire bundles.

Ammonia↗
PubMed2001

Expression of tissue factor pathway inhibitor 2 inversely correlates during the progression of human gliomas.

Protease inhibitors regulate a variety of physiological and pathological processes including angiogenesis, embryo implantation, intravascular fibrinolysis, wound healing, and tumor invasion. Tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) 2 is a Mr 32,000 Kunitz-type serine protease inhibitor that inhibits plasmin, trypsin, chymotrypsin, cathepsin G, and plasma kallikrein but not urokinase-type plasminogen activator, tissue plasminogen activator, or thrombin. In this study, we determined the relative amounts of TFPI-2 in low-, intermediate-, and high-grade human glioma cell lines and tumor tissue samples. TFPI-2 protein and mRNA levels (measured by Western and Northern blotting) were highest in low-grade glioma cells (Hs683), lower in anaplastic astrocytoma cells (SW1088 and SW1783), and undetectable in high-grade glioma cells (SNB19). Analysis of TFPI-2 protein in human normal brain and in glioma tumor tissues for TFPI-2 revealed the highest levels in normal brain, lesser amounts in low-grade gliomas and anaplastic astrocytomas, and undetectable amounts in glioblastomas. In situ hybridization of TFPI-2 mRNA with normal brain tissues revealed the greatest positivity in neurons, with moderate positivity in both glial and endothelial cells and moderate, little, or no TFPI-2 mRNA in low-grade glioma, anaplastic astrocytoma, and glioblastoma tumor tissue samples, respectively. We also found that recombinant TFPI-2 inhibited the invasiveness of SNB19 glioblastoma cells in a Matrigel assay in a dose-dependent manner. Collectively, these results suggest that TFPI-2 has a regulatory role in the invasiveness of gliomas in vitro and in vivo.

Astrocytoma↗
PubMed2000

Prokaryotic expression, purification, and reconstitution of biological activities (Antiprotease, antitumor, and heparin-binding) for tissue factor pathway inhibitor-2.

We report the expression of tissue factor pathway inhibitor-2 (TFPI-2) (also known as PP-5, placental protein-5; MSPI, matrix-associated serine protease inhibitor) in E. coli as a 25-kDa nonglycosylated protein with a glycine substituted for aspartic acid at the amino terminus. High-level expression of TFPI-2 was obtained with pRE1 expression vector under the transcriptional and translational controls of the lambdaP(L) promoter and lambdacII ribosome-binding site, respectively, with ATG initiation codon. TFPI-2 was produced as inclusion bodies and accounted for 25-30% of the total E. coli proteins. The inclusion bodies containing TFPI-2 were solubilized with urea, sulfitolyzed, purified, and refolded through a disulfide interchange reaction. The refolded E. coli TFPI-2 inhibited plasmin with an inhibition constant (K(i)) of 5 nM that is similar with the TFPI-2 expressed in a mammalian system. The refolded E. coli TFPI-2 bound heparin and also inhibited plasmin, regardless of whether the enzyme was in the fluid phase or was bound to the membranes of HT-1080 fibrosarcoma cells. In addition, refolded E. coli TFPI-2 inhibited radiolabeled matrix degradation and Matrigel matrix invasion by HT-1080 fibrosarcoma cells and B16-F10 melanoma cells. Together, our results suggest that glycosylation is not essential for antiprotease, antitumor, and matrix-binding activities of TFPI-2. Based on these collective data, we conclude that a biologically active nonglycosylated TFPI-2 can be produced in E. coli and that the protein can be produced in high-enough quantities to conduct in vivo studies for determination of the role of this inhibitor in tumor invasion and metastasis.

Amino Acid Substitution↗
PubMed2000

Formation of one-, two-, and three-dimensional open-framework zinc phosphates in the presence of a tetramine.

Five new open-framework zinc phosphates, encompassing the entire hierarchy of open-framework structures, have been synthesized hydrothermally in the presence of triethylenetetramine. The structures include one-dimensional ladders, two-dimensional layers, and three-dimensional structures as well as a zinc phosphate where the amine acts as a ligand. [C6N4H22]0.5[Zn(HPO4)2] (I): monoclinic, space group P2(1)/c (no. 14), a = 5.2677(1) A, b = 13.3025(1) A, c = 14.7833(1) A, beta = 96.049 degrees, Z = 4. [C6N4H22]0.5[Zn2(HPO4)3] (II): triclinic, space group P1 (no. 2), a = 7.515(1) A, b = 8.2553(1) A, c = 12.911(1) A, alpha = 98.654(1) degrees, beta = 101.274(1) degrees, gamma = 115.791(1) degrees, Z = 2. [C6N4H22]0.5[Zn2P2O8] (III): triclinic, space group P1 (no. 2), a = 8.064(1) A, b = 8.457(1) A, c = 9.023(1) A, alpha = 111.9(1) degrees, beta = 108.0(1) degrees, gamma = 103.6(1) degrees, Z = 2. [C6N4H22]0.5[Zn3(PO4)2(HPO4)] (IV): triclinic, space group P1 (no. 2), a = 5.218(1) A, b = 8.780(1) A, c = 16.081(1) A, alpha = 89.3(1) degrees, beta = 83.5(1) degrees, gamma = 74.3(1) degrees, Z = 2. [C6N4H20]0.5[Zn4P4O16] (V): monoclinic, space group P2(1)/c (no. 14), a = 9.219(1) A, b = 15.239(1) A, c = 10.227(1) A, beta = 105.2(1), Z = 4. The structure of I is composed of ZnO4 and HPO4 tetrahedra, which are edge-shared to form four-membered rings, which, in turn, form a one-dimensional chain (ladder). In II, these ladders are fused into a layer. The structures of III and IV comprise networks of ZnO4 and PO4 tetrahedra forming three-dimensional architectures. In V, the amine molecule coordinates to the Zn and acts as a pillar supporting the zinc phosphate layers, which possess infinite Zn-O-Zn linkages. The 16-membered one-dimensional channel in IV and the ZnO3N pillar, along with infinite Zn-O-Zn linkages in V, are novel features. The structure of the open-framework zinc phosphates is found to depend sensitively on the relative concentrations of the amine and phosphoric acid, with high concentrations of the latter favoring structures with lower dimensions.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

Three-dimensional open-framework cobalt(II) phosphates by novel routes.

Two new three-dimensional open-framework cobalt phosphates, [C2N2H10]2[Co4(PO4)4]H2O, I, and [C4N3H16]3-[Co6(PO4)5(HPO4)3]H2O, II, have been prepared by the reaction of amine phosphates with Co2+ salts. I could also be prepared by the reaction of the cobalt tris amine complex with H3PO4. The crystal data for I and II are as follows: phosphate I, orthorhombic, space group P2(1)2(1)2(1) (no. 19), a = 10.277 (1) A, b = 10.302 (1) A, c = 18.836 (1) A, V = 1994.2 (2) A3, Z = 4; phosphate II, monoclinic, space group P2(1)/c (No. 14), a = 31.950 (1) A, b = 8.360 (1) A, c = 15.920 (1) A, beta = 96.6 (1) degrees V = 4223.4 (2) A3, Z = 4. The structures of both I and II are constructed from alternating CoO4 and PO4 tetrahedra. The connectivity leads to the formation of eight-membered channels in all the crystallographic directions resembling the aluminosilicate zeolite, merlinoite in the case of I and to a rather large, one-dimensional 16-membered channel in II. Strong hydrogen-bond interactions involving the amine and framework oxygen are present in both I and II.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1999

Matrix localization of tissue factor pathway inhibitor-2/matrix-associated serine protease inhibitor (TFPI-2/MSPI) involves arginine-mediated ionic interactions with heparin and dermatan sulfate: heparin accelerates the activity of TFPI-2/MSPI toward plasmin.

Human tissue factor pathway inhibitor-2 (TFPI-2)/matrix-associated serine protease inhibitor (MSPI), a Kunitz-type serine protease inhibitor, inhibits plasmin, trypsin, chymotrypsin, plasma kallikrein, cathepsin G, and factor VIIa-tissue factor complex. The mature protein has a molecular mass of 32-33 kDa, but exists in vivo as two smaller, underglycosylated species of 31 and 27 kDa. TFPI-2/MSPI triplet is synthesized and secreted by a variety of cell types that include epithelial, endothelial, and mesenchymal cells. Because the majority (75-90%) of TFPI-2/MSPI is associated with the extracellular matrix (ECM), we examined which components of the ECM bind TFPI-2/MSPI. We found that TFPI-2/MSPI bound specifically to heparin and dermatan sulfate. Interaction of these two glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) with TFPI-2/MSPI involved one or more common protein domains, as evidenced by cross-competition experiments. However, binding affinity for TFPI-2/MSPI with heparin was 250-300 times greater than that for TFPI-2/MSPI with dermatan sulfate. Binding of TFPI-2/MSPI to GAGs was inhibited by NaCl or arginine but not by glucose, mannose, galactose, 6-aminohexanoic acid, or urea, suggesting that arginine-mediated ionic interactions participate in the GAG binding of TFPI-2/MSPI. This supposition was supported by the observation that only NaCl or arginine could elute the TFPI-2/MSPI protein triplet from an ECM derived from human dermal fibroblasts. Reduced TFPI-2/MSPI did not bind to heparin, suggesting that proper disulfide pairings and conformation are essential for matrix binding. To determine whether heparin modulates the activity of TFPI-2/MSPI, we determined the rate of inhibition of plasmin by the inhibitor with and without heparin and found that TFPI-2/MSPI is more active in the presence of heparin. Collectively, our results demonstrate that conformation-dependent arginine-mediated ionic interactions are responsible for the TFPI-2/MSPI triplet binding to fibroblast ECM, heparin, and dermatan sulfate and that heparin augmented the rate of inhibition of plasmin by TFPI-2/MSPI.

Arginine↗
PubMed1999

Biological significance of the expression of urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptors (uPARs) in brain tumors.

The urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) plays a critical role in the regulation of cell-surface plasminogen activation in several physiological and pathological conditions. Recent evidence suggests that the uPAR is also involved in processes that are not related to plasminogen activation, including cell adhesion and transmission of extracellular signals across the plasma membrane. The uPAR influences cell migration and spreading both in vivo and in vitro through the cell-surface activation of plasminogen. The uPAR can bind to vitronectin, an adhesive extracellular matrix protein that contains the Arg-gly-Asp (RGD) cell adhesion domain and that serves as a ligand for several integrin receptors. uPAR also forms complexes with (1, (2, and (3 integrins, thereby allowing mutual interactions and regulation between cell adhesion and proteolysis. Recently, uPAR has been shown to have strong prognostic value for predicting disease recurrence and overall survival in certain types of cancer. We discuss here the biological significance of uPAR in the glioblastoma invasion process. Strong correlations found between elevated uPAR levels in glioblastoma cells and tumor invasiveness have led to uPAR being selected as a target for therapy in experimental animal models. Using antisense vectors to down regulate uPAR expression at the level of the mRNA and protein in glioblastoma cells, has been shown to inhibit tumor formation in nude mice. These results provide a potential basis from which to develop novel therapeutic strategies to direct the expression of antisense uPAR and to evaluate the efficiency of this technique for cancer gene therapy in patients with brain tumor.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Regulation of ProMMP-1 and ProMMP-3 activation by tissue factor pathway inhibitor-2/matrix-associated serine protease inhibitor.

Tissue factor pathway inhibitor-2 (TFPI-2)/matrix-associated serine protease inhibitor (MSPI), a 32- to 33-kDa Kunitz-type serine protease inhibitor, inhibits plasmin and trypsin. Because plasmin and trypsin are involved in the activation of promatrix metalloproteases proMMP-1 and proMMP-3, we investigated the role of TFPI-2/MSPI in the activation of these proenzymes. Both plasmin and trypsin activated proMMP-1 by converting the 53-kDa proenzyme to the partially active 43-kDa polypeptide; this activity was inhibited by TFPI-2/MSPI. Similarly, TFPI-2/MSPI inhibited the conversion of 66-kDa proMMP-3 to the activated 45- and 30-kDa polypeptides by plasmin and trypsin. Because plasmin is involved in the physiological activation of proMMP-3, we tested whether TFPI-2/MSPI inhibits the activation of proMMP-3 by HT-1080 fibrosarcoma cells and urokinase-charged HeLa cells. We found that the inhibitor inhibited proMMP-3 activation by HT-1080 cells and urokinase-charged HeLa cells. Collectively, our results suggest that TFPI-2/MSPI indirectly regulates MMP-1- and MMP-3-catalyzed matrix proteolysis by regulating the activation of proMMP-1 and proMMP-3.

Collagenases↗
PubMed1998

HT-1080 fibrosarcoma cell matrix degradation and invasion are inhibited by the matrix-associated serine protease inhibitor TFPI-2/33 kDa MSPI.

The urokinase-urokinase receptor system plays a dominant role in the degradation and invasion of extracellular matrix (ECM) by tumor cells. In this system, urokinase bound to its cell receptor converts plasminogen to plasmin, a broad-spectrum serine protease that participates in the degradation and invasion of connective tissues by tumor cells. In this study, we evaluated whether these activities of plasmin are inhibited by a newly characterized human 32 kDa recombinant serine protease inhibitor called trypsin/tissue factor pathway inhibitor-2 (rTFPI-2). We found that rTFPI-2 dose-dependently inhibited fluid-phase plasmin as well as plasmin generated on the ECM and/or the cell surface of HT-1080 fibrosarcoma cells. The degradation of radiolabeled matrix as well as Matrigel invasion by these tumor cells is also inhibited by rTFPI-2 in a dose-dependent fashion. We have reported that rTFPI-2 is identical to 33 kDa extracellular matrix-associated serine protease inhibitor (33 kDa MSPI), whereas the 31 and 27 kDa MSPIs are under-glycosylated forms of the 33 kDa MSPI. We therefore evaluated the ability of MSPIs from the ECM of dermal fibroblasts to inhibit plasmin and found that the plasmin activity was effectively blocked by the MSPIs. We have also evaluated whether the HT-1080 cells synthesize and secrete the MSPIs and found that the synthesis and secretion of the MSPIs was undetectable in these cells. Collectively, our results suggest that rTFPI-2/33 kDa MSPI inhibits plasmin on the tumor cell and ECM surfaces as well as the degradation and invasion of matrix by HT-1080 fibrosarcoma cells.

Antineoplastic Agents↗