Protein–Protein Docking: Past,Present, and Future

The Protein Journal - The biological significance of proteins attracted the scientific community in exploring their characteristics. The studies shed light on the interaction patterns and functions...     

P430: a retrospective, 1971–2001

The spectral species P430 and its spectral and kinetic properties are briefly reviewed. Currently available evidence shows P430 to be the optic-spectral representation of FeS-A/B, the electron acceptor(s) of Photosystem I (PS I). Retired (formerly with the Charles F. Kettering Research Laboratory, Yellow Springs, Ohio, USA). This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Caseoperoxidase,mixed β-casein–SDS–hemin–imidazole complex: a nano artificial enzyme

A novel peroxidase-like artificial enzyme, named “caseoperoxidase”, was biomimetically designed using a nano artificial amino acid apo-protein hydrophobic pocket. This four-component nano artificial enzyme containing heme–imidazole–β-casein–SDS exhibited high activity growth and k_cat performance toward the native horseradish peroxidase demonstrated by the steady state kinetics using UV–vis spectrophotometry. The hydrophobicity and secondary structure of the caseoperoxidase were studied by ANS fluorescence and circular dichroism spectroscopy. Camel β-casein (Cβ-casein) was selected as an appropriate apo-protein for the heme active site because of its innate flexibility and exalted hydrophobicity. This selection was confirmed by homology modeling method. Heme docking into the newly obtained Cβ-casein structure indicated one heme was mainly incorporated with Cβ-casein. The presence of a main electrostatic site for the active site in the Cβ-casein was also confirmed by experimental methods through Wyman binding potential and isothermal titration calorimetry. The existence of Cβ-casein protein in this biocatalyst lowered the suicide inactivation and provided a suitable protective role for the heme active-site. Additional experiments confirmed the retention of caseoperoxidase structure and function as an artificial enzyme.     

The summer flounder chronicles: Science,politics, and litigation, 1975–2000

The summer flounder, or fluke (Paralichthys dentatus)supports the most important commercial and recreational flatfishfisheries of the U.S. Atlantic coast. Thestock and fishery range from Massachusetts toNorth Carolina. Spawning takes place during aprotracted season that can extend fromSeptember to March, during an annual offshoreand southern migration to the outer continentalshelf off Virginia and North Carolina. Thefish are con-centrated in bays and estuariesfrom late spring through early autumn, when thenext offshore migration begins. The assessmentand management of the summer flounder fisheryhas been very contentious since theimplementation of the joint Atlantic StatesMarine Fisheries Commission/Mid-AtlanticFishery Management Council Fishery ManagementPlan (FMP) in 1989, when the poor status of thesummer flounder stock was evident toscientists, managers, and fishermen. Amendment2 to the FMP, approved in 1992, implementedseveral major regulatory provisions includingannual commercial quotas and recreationalharvest limits, and annually adjustable minimumlanded fish sizes, minimum mesh sizes,possession limits, and seasonal closures. By1999, fishing mortality on summer flounder haddeclined to its lowest level since the 1960s,and summer flounder total stock biomass was thehighest since the mid-1970s. Monitoring ofstock status is ongoing to reliably determine``how much fish is enough' to provide forlong-term sustainability. Many changes are madeannually to management measures due todiffering interpretations of stock status bymanagers, and fishery and environmentaladvocacy groups. Attainment of the annualfishing mortality targets remains elusive. Themultiple layers of science, management, andpolitics in place since 1992 continue to sparkmuch controversy and litigation that increasingly places the management of the summer flounder fishery in the hands of the courts.     

Mortality differentials in Canada, 1951–1971: French,British, and Indians

Mortality differentials reflect in part the social and economic conditions of groups in society. In this paper, the relationship between ethnic origin and mortality is investigated from the point of view of convergence and minority group status hypotheses. Multivariate methods are used to study differences among the French, the British and Native Indian (includes Metis and Eskimos) populations of Canada over three census periods from 1951 to 1971. A significant downward trend in the death rates of all three subpopulations is noted, but substantial differences persist, as the pace of mortality decline over time varies across the three ethnic groups. In the twenty-year interval between 1951 and 1971, Native Indians have experienced spectacular reductions in their overall death rates, but in comparative terms, their mortality levels still exceed those of the French (who show intermediate levels) and the British ethnic groups. The multivariate analysis provides strong support for the minority status effect, which is taken to suggest that the roots of inequalities in survival probabilities are partly a result of social and economic disparities. The convergence thesis received some support: over time the general pattern is one of declining mortality with some narrowing of the differences. An examination of four broad causes of death (neoplasms, cardiovascular, accidents-violence, and "other") suggests that Native Indians are characteristic of populations undergoing epidemiologic and demographic transitions. Their elevated risk of accidents-violence reflects social disruption in the process of modernization. Causes of death of the French and British populations are characterized by higher risks of cancer and cardiovascular diseases, typical of advanced societies.     

Cancer Immunotherapy 2005: Mainz, Germany, 12–13 May 2005

Cancer Immunotherapy 2005 was the third international meeting organized by the Association for Immunotherapy of Cancer (AIC). About 200 participants were attracted by the excellent scientific program that consisted of overview lectures from 25 international speakers in the plenary auditorium and four guided poster sessions during both days of the meeting. The first day of the symposium mainly focused on experience with, and new perspectives in, antibody therapy. On the second day of the meeting, organized as a joint conference together with the Combined Research Grant “Mechanisms of Tumor Defense and Therapeutic Intervention” funded by the German Research Council, the participants had the chance to gain deeper insights into the principles of antigen processing and the regulation of immune responses. Further topics that were discussed mainly in the poster sessions and in the special lecture given by M. Nishimura (Chicago, USA), were “cellular therapies” and “vaccination against cancer”. The lectures selected for this report aim to provide an overview of the complete scientific program and give an impression of the lively atmosphere that could be felt from the first until the last session of CIMT 2005. C.M. Britten and C. Gouttefangeas contributed equally to this report.     

Reconstituting the kinetochore–microtubule interface: what, why, and how

The kinetochore is the proteinaceous complex that governs the movement of duplicated chromosomes by interacting with spindle microtubules during mitosis and meiosis. Faithful chromosome segregation requires that kinetochores form robust load-bearing attachments to the tips of dynamic spindle microtubules, correct microtubule attachment errors, and delay the onset of anaphase until all chromosomes have made proper attachments. To understand how this macromolecular machine operates to segregate duplicated chromosomes with exquisite accuracy, it is critical to reconstitute and study kinetochore–microtubule interactions in vitro using defined components. Here, we review the current status of reconstitution as well as recent progress in understanding the microtubule-binding functions of kinetochores in vivo.     

Radiotherapy facilities,equipment, and staffing in Poland: 2005–2011

Background and purpose

To evaluate the current status of radiotherapy facilities, staffing, and equipment, treatment and patients in Poland for the years 2005–2011 following implementation of the National Cancer Programme.

Methods

A survey was sent to the radiotherapy centres in Poland to collect data on available equipment, staffing, and treatments in the years 2005–2011.

Results

In 2011, 76,000 patients were treated with radiotherapy at 32 centres vs. 63,000 patients at 23 centres in 2005. Number of patients increased by 21%. In 2011, there were 453 radiation oncologists – specialists (1 in 168 patients), 325 medical physicists (1 in 215 patients), and 883 radiotherapy technicians (1 in 86 patients) vs. 320, 188, and 652, respectively, in 2005. The number of linear accelerators increased by 60%, from 70 units in 2005 to 112 in 2011. The current linac/patient ratio in Poland is 1 linac per 678 patients. Waiting times from diagnosis to the start of treatment has decreased.

Conclusion

Compared to 2005, there are more treatment facilities, more and better equipment (linacs), and more cancer care specialists. There are still large differences between the 16 Polish provinces in terms of equipment availability and ease of access to treatment. However, radiotherapy services in Poland have improved dramatically since the year 2005.     

In Memoriam: Cyril Andrew Ponnamperuma, 1923–1994

Origins of Life and Evolution of Biospheres -