An easy way to include weak alignment constraints into NMR structure calculations

We have recently shown that an energy penalty for the incorporation of residual tensorial constraints into molecular structure calculations can be formulated without the explicit knowledge of the Saupe orientation tensor (Moltke and Grzesiek, J. Biomol. NMR, 1999, 15, 77–82). Here we report the implementation of such an algorithm into the program X-PLOR. The new algorithm is easy to use and has good convergence properties. The algorithm is used for the structure refinement of the HIV-1 Nef protein using 252 dipolar coupling restraints. The approach is compared to the conventional penalty function with explicit knowledge of the orientation tensor's amplitude and rhombicity. No significant differences are found with respect to speed, Ramachandran core quality or coordinate precision.     

An easy diagnostic approach to primary aldosteronism.

The infusion of 40 mEq potassium (aspartate) in 250 ml isotonic 1-fructose at a rate of 20 mEq/h into 5 patients (34-56 years old) with aldosteronoma and 2 patients with bilateral primary aldosteronism consistently raised their mean arterial pressure by 15-20 mmHg. Their pressure values returned to the baseline levels 4-5 h after the infusion. In contrast, in controls (10 patients with idiopathic arterial hypertension, matched for age, sex, and magnitude of the untreated hypertension, and 7 patients with inactive adrenal nodules as incidental findings on upper abdomen ultrasound or computerized tomography) the same procedure caused negligible arterial pressure changes. The cause of the rise in blood pressure observed uniquely in patients with primary aldosteronism after infusion of potassium (aspartate) cannot be accounted for by an increase in plasma aldosterone, blood volume, or plasma angiotensin II. The cause of this response thus remains obscure; nonetheless, this simple procedure may prove useful in differentiating primary aldosteronism from idiopathic hypertension, in excluding the adrenal disorder, and in revealing even its mildest forms.     

Unusual routes of protein secretion: the easy way out

Increasing numbers of polypeptides are being discovered that lack a cleavable hydrophobic signal sequence and are released from cells without passing through the classical secretory pathway. This article reviews the current knowledge of these alternative secretion pathways in prokaryotes and eukaryotes and discusses whether the mechanisms described in bacteria and yeast can be used as paradigms to explain unusual secretory phenomena in animal cells.     

The pEAQ vector series: the easy and quick way to produce recombinant proteins in plants

Promoter regions of six sugarcane Loading Stem Gene (ScLSG) alleles were analyzed using bioinformatic and transgenic approaches. Stable transgene expression analyses, on multiple independent lines per construct, revealed differences between ScLSG promoters in absolute levels and in tissue-selectivity of luciferase reporter activity. Four promoters drove peak expression in the sucrose-loading zone and maintained substantial expression throughout mature stems. One drove a pattern of gradual increase along the stem maturation profile. In general, stem: root expression ratio increased with plant age. The ScLSG5 promoter had the fewest light-enhanced and root-expression motifs in bioinformatic analysis, and drove the highest level and specificity of transgene expression in stems. This indicates the potential to further improve the stem specificity of ScLSG promoter sequences by eliminating enhancers of expression in other tissues. An intron in the 5′UTR was important for expression strength. The ScLSG promoters will be useful for research and biotechnology in sugarcane, where the tailored expression of transgenes in stems is important for enhanced accumulation of sugar or value-added products, and for development as a bioenergy feedstock.     

Micro-cells coverage for mobile telephony: an alternative way to reduce EMF exposures

The aim of this article is to describe networks that are constituted of micro-cell Based Transceiver Stations (BTS), substituting for the conventional networks that are based on the employment of usual macro plants. Specifically, we present a micro-cells network designed to substitute for a conventional BTS network, in the Don Sturzo Park in the city of Venice, Italy. The lower environmental and healthy impact due to a micro-cells network compared to a conventional network is discussed.     

An Ezh way to turn off Nanog

Comment on: Villasante A, et al. Cell Cycle 2011; 10:1488-98.     

Arbuscular mycorrhizas reduce nitrogen loss via leaching

The capacity of mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal root systems to reduce nitrate (NO₃ ⁻) and ammonium (NH₄ ⁺) loss from soils via leaching was investigated in a microcosm-based study. A mycorrhiza defective tomato mutant and its mycorrhizal wildtype progenitor were used in this experiment in order to avoid the indirect effects of establishing non-mycorrhizal control treatments on soil nitrogen cycling and the wider soil biota. Mycorrhizal root systems dramatically reduced nitrate loss (almost 40 times less) via leaching, compared to their non-mycorrhizal counterparts, following a pulse application of ammonium nitrate to experimental microcosms. The capacity of AM to reduce nutrient loss via leaching has received relatively little attention, but as demonstrated here, can be significant. Taken together, these data highlight the need to consider the potential benefits of AM beyond improvements in plant nutrition alone.