Resistin, a cysteine-rich adipocytokine, proposed as a link between obesity and diabetes in mice, was shown as a proinflammatory molecule in humans. We earlier reported that human resistin (hRes), a trimer, was resistant to heat and urea denaturation, existed in an oligomeric polydispersed state, and showed a concentrationdependent conformational change. These properties and an intimate correlation of hRes expression with cellular stress prompted us to investigate hRes as a possible chaperone. Here, we show that recombinant human resistin was able to protect the heat-labile enzymes citrate synthase and Nde1 from thermal aggregation and inactivation and was able to refold and restore their enzymatic activities after heat/guanidinium chloride denaturation. Furthermore, recombinant human resistin could bind misfolded proteins only. Molecular dynamics-based association-dissociation kinetics of hRes subunits pointed to resistin being a molecular chaperone. Bis-ANS, which blocks surface hydrophobicity, abrogated the chaperone activity of hRes, establishing the importance of surface hydrophobicity for chaperone activity. Replacement of Phe49 with Tyr (F49YhRes), a critical residue within the hydrophobic patch of hRes, although it could prevent thermal aggregation of citrate synthase and Nde1, was unable to refold and restore their activities. Treatment of U937 cells with tunicamycin/thapsigargin resulted in reduced hRes secretion and concomitant localization in the endoplasmic reticulum. Escherichia coli transformants expressing hRes could be rescued from thermal stress, pointing to hRes's chaperone-like function in vivo. HeLa cells transfected with hRes showed protection from thapsigargin-induced apoptosis. In conclusion, hRes, an inflammatory protein, additionally exhibited chaperone-like properties, suggesting a possible link between inflammation and cellular stress.protein folding | chaperokine R esistin, a small cysteine-rich secreted protein, is predominantly produced in human macrophages (1, 2). Resistin levels in human serum could neither be associated with obesity nor linked with insulin resistance (3), pointing to possible other role(s) for this hormone. We, and later others, showed that human resistin (hRes) is a proinflammatory molecule that stimulates the synthesis and secretion of TNF-α and IL-12 from macrophages through an NF-κB-activated pathway (4, 5). hRes mRNA levels are strongly induced by TNF-α and IL-6 in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (6, 7). Although human and mouse resistin share 64.4 and 59% sequence homology at mRNA and amino acids levels, respectively, they differ considerably in terms of their structural organization (8). We earlier reported, based on extensive biophysical analyses, that recombinant human resistin (rhRes) is a highly stable molecule that exists in oligomeric states as a function of concentration with no major loss in helicity and displays slightly altered tertiary structure with an increase in temperature (9, 10). The variable oligomeric states and poly-dispersity...

Research assessment is the process or a metric which aims to assess the impact of the research study. The assessment may include the process that aims in evaluating the quality or intellect of a researcher given the notion that qualified scientists are more productive and may drive quality research in the process of Scholarly Communications. Over time, we have become used to equating the quality of the research with the quality or performance of the researcher. The emphasis over publications may encourage unethical practices, Which may be extrapolated to the evolution of problems like, Irreproducibility, Scientific fraud.Over the past century, a myriad of activities has been undertaken or are still being taken to improve the ways by which research can be assessed. Beginning with the first evolution of the Impact Factor and more recently other, Citation metrics, Altmetrics, etc. have resulted from this work. In this article, we discuss around the myriad of strategies that may play a significant role in the cultural transition of Science and Scientists that is still ongoing. And also highlight the reasons why we should not only look at research assessment but should also be keen on researcher evaluations and differentiate them from one another. Reflecting this, the title of the article signals how the strategies that researchers may need to consider might impact the way they interact with the Open Data movement.

Research assessment is the process or a metric which aims to assess the impact of the research study. The assessment may include the process that aims in evaluating the quality or intellect of a researcher given the notion that qualified scientists are more productive and may drive quality research in the process of Scholarly Communications. Over time, we have become used to equating the quality of the research with the quality or performance of the researcher. The emphasis over publications may encourage unethical practices, Which may be extrapolated to the evolution of problems like, Irreproducibility, Scientific fraud.Over the past century, a myriad of activities has been undertaken or are still being taken to improve the ways by which research can be assessed. Beginning with the first evolution of the Impact Factor and more recently other, Citation metrics, Altmetrics, etc. have resulted from this work. In this article, we discuss around the myriad of strategies that may play a significant role in the cultural transition of Science and Scientists that is still ongoing. And also highlight the reasons why we should not only look at research assessment but should also be keen on researcher evaluations and differentiate them from one another. Reflecting this, the title of the article signals how the strategies that researchers may need to consider might impact the way they interact with the Open Data movement.