Lignocellulosic biomass is a complex structure composed of mainly cellulose, xylan and lignin. Individual properties and interactions between xylan and lignin contribute to biomass recalcitrance. Therefore, to reduce biomass complexity and study the effect on cell wall properties, we generated Arabidopsis plants with altered lignin composition and reduced xylan acetylation. Our study showed that both high G lignin (fah1-2) and low xylan acetylation (35S:AnAXE1) can improve xylan digestibility (Figure).

The study shows the involvement of Rab7 protein in Ulcerative colitis, a form of Inflammatory bowel disease. Here, for the first time, using a murine model of IBD, human patient samples and appropriate cell culture systems, they demonstrate the involvement of endocytic pathway regulator Rab7 in intestinal inflammation. 

In this study, the authors reported a 2.8 Å resolution cryo-EM structure of M. smegmatis 70S ribosome-RafH complex. The RafH, a dual domain hibernation promotion factor (HPF), is essential for survival under hypoxia stress, the primary stress encountered by the pathogen (M. tuberculosis (Mtb)) in host macrophages.

Confocal micrograph showing MyHC-perinatal depleted C2C12 myofibers at day 5 of differentiation. Red: phalloidin; Blue: DAPI.

Myosin heavy chain-perinatal is one of two myosin proteins expressed during mammalian development in the skeletal muscle; it is not expressed during adult life except during muscle injury and regeneration, when it is transiently expressed. Mutations in myosin heavy chain-perinatal lead to musculoskeletal diseases such as Trismus-pseudocamptodactyly syndrome.

A step towards the label free imaging based diagnostics. We in collaboration with IIT-D have identified an imaging tool which is promising to investigate neurodegenerative disease related protein aggregates inside the cell. We hope this might help us in devising non-invasive tools for an early diagnosis in our future research.