Zain Akram | Griffith University (original) (raw)

Papers by Zain Akram

Brazilian Journal of Biology, 2024

Due to the severe side effects revealed by most of the currently used antidiabetic medicines, sea... more Due to the severe side effects revealed by most of the currently used antidiabetic medicines, search for finding new and safe drugs to manage diabetes is continued. Naphthoquinones possessing strong antioxidant properties have been employed as candidates for diabetes therapy. Present study is aimed at finding the antioxidant and hypoglycaemic potential of some novel derivatives of 2-phenylamino-1,4-naphthoquinones (PAN) including chloro, nitro, methyl and bromo (5a-d) derivatives synthesized by single pot experiment. Product crystals were purified by TLC and characterized by FT-IR. The antioxidant potential of the compounds was assayed through DPPH radical scavenging and reducing power activities noted as UV-vis. absorbance. The DPPH assay has showed the powerful antioxidant activity of nitro and bromo derivatives, while the nitro derivative showed the significant reduction potential towards FRAP assay. Hypoglycaemic potential of the compounds was studied in rat animal model. All sy...

Electronic Journal of Biology, 2016

The in vitro measurement of glucose is of great importance in clinical diagnosis of diabetes mell... more The in vitro measurement of glucose is of great importance in clinical diagnosis of diabetes mellitus. Purification and Immobilization carried out for the localization of biosynthesized enzyme with retention of its activity, stabilization, improvement of enzyme performance and continuous use of enzyme in several reactions. Glucose oxidase was produced from corn steep liquor as substrate and Aspergillus niger as organism, afterwards purification was conceded by ammonium sulphate precipitation, ion exchange chromatography and gel filtration chromatographic techniques. The specific activity of crude and desalted enzyme was found 3.45 U.mg-1 and 16.52 U.mg-1 respectively. For further purification, sample subjected to ion exchange chromatography and gel filtration chromatography to achieve 37.04 U.mg-1 and 58.45 U mg-1 specific activities. Purified glucose oxidase had been used to immobilize on a solid support for the determination of glucose levels and compared with the commercially ava...

Molecules, 2021

In humans, various sites like cannabinoid receptors (CBR) having a binding affinity with cannabin... more In humans, various sites like cannabinoid receptors (CBR) having a binding affinity with cannabinoids are distributed on the surface of different cell types, where endocannabinoids (ECs) and derivatives of fatty acid can bind. The binding of these substance(s) triggers the activation of specific receptors required for various physiological functions, including pain sensation, memory, and appetite. The ECs and CBR perform multiple functions via the cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1); cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2), having a key effect in restraining neurotransmitters and the arrangement of cytokines. The role of cannabinoids in the immune system is illustrated because of their immunosuppressive characteristics. These characteristics include inhibition of leucocyte proliferation, T cells apoptosis, and induction of macrophages along with reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines secretion. The review seeks to discuss the functional relationship between the endocannabinoid system (ECS) and anti-tumor...

International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2019

ESCRT (Endosomal sorting complex required for transport) machinery drives different cellular proc... more ESCRT (Endosomal sorting complex required for transport) machinery drives different cellular processes such as endosomal sorting, organelle biogenesis, vesicular trafficking, maintenance of plasma membrane integrity, membrane fission during cytokinesis and enveloped virus budding. The normal cycle of assembly and disassembly of some ESCRT complexes at the membrane requires the AAA-ATPase vacuolar protein sorting 4 (Vps4p). A number of ESCRT proteins are hijacked by clinically significant enveloped viruses including Ebola, and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) to enable enveloped virus budding and Vps4p provides energy for the disassembly/recycling of these ESCRT proteins. Several years ago, the failure of the terminal budding process of HIV following Vps4 protein inhibition was published; although at that time a detailed understanding of the molecular players was missing. However, later it was acknowledged that the ESCRT machinery has a role in enveloped virus budding from cells due to its role in the multivesicular body (MVB) sorting pathway. The MVB sorting pathway facilitates several cellular activities in uninfected cells, such as the down-regulation of signaling through cell surface receptors as well as the process of viral budding from infected host cells. In this review, we focus on summarising the functional organisation of ESCRT proteins at the membrane and the role of ESCRT machinery and Vps4p during MVB sorting and enveloped viral budding.

Chemosensors, 2018

A micro-level technique so-called “microfluidic technology or simply microfluidic” has gained a s... more A micro-level technique so-called “microfluidic technology or simply microfluidic” has gained a special place as a powerful tool in bioengineering and biomedical engineering research due to its core advantages in modern science and engineering. Microfluidic technology has played a substantial role in numerous applications with special reference to bioscience, biomedical and biotechnological research. It has facilitated noteworthy development in various sectors of bio-research and upsurges the efficacy of research at the molecular level, in recent years. Microfluidic technology can manipulate sample volumes with precise control outside cellular microenvironment, at micro-level. Thus, enable the reduction of discrepancies between in vivo and in vitro environments and reduce the overall reaction time and cost. In this review, we discuss various integrations of microfluidic technologies into biotechnology and its paradigmatic significance in bio-research, supporting mechanical and chemi...

Arabian Journal for Science and Engineering, 2017

In recent years, microfluidics engineering has gained increasing research interests in assimilati... more In recent years, microfluidics engineering has gained increasing research interests in assimilation and designing novel constructs for various applications in bioand non-bio sectors of the modern world. Soft and photolithographic fabricated devices have a potential to control the diffusion and flow of liquids in channels. The fabricated microfluidic devices of unique geometry facilitate excellent control over extracellular microenvironment and soluble factor interactions. The current devices do not only replace the in vitro approaches but also provide a new understanding of biomolecules separation and flow in the network of microchannels. The appropriate physiological responses of cells in biological studies or drug screening analysis require engineering of active cells outside the body to enhance their maximum potential for best cellular therapy. This review work mainly focuses on the current methodologies involved in the fabrication process and limitations of cell array technology. The information is given on considerable advantages of microfluidic devices. Toward the end, potential applications covering microfluidic-based in vitro drug analysis and analytical-based separation/detachment are discussed with potential future viewpoints.

Journal of Radiation Research and Applied Sciences, 2016

Cells, 2020

The budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae has an actin cytoskeleton that comprises a set of prot... more The budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae has an actin cytoskeleton that comprises a set of protein components analogous to those found in the actin cytoskeletons of higher eukaryotes. Furthermore, the actin cytoskeletons of S. cerevisiae and of higher eukaryotes have some similar physiological roles. The genetic tractability of budding yeast and the availability of a stable haploid cell type facilitates the application of molecular genetic approaches to assign functions to the various actin cytoskeleton components. This has provided information that is in general complementary to that provided by studies of the equivalent proteins of higher eukaryotes and hence has enabled a more complete view of the role of these proteins. Several human functional homologues of yeast actin effectors are implicated in diseases. A better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underpinning the functions of these proteins is critical to develop improved therapeutic strategies. In this article we c...