The high‐energy transition state of the glutamate transporter homologue GltPh

Membrane transporters mediate cellular uptake of nutrients, signaling molecules, and drugs. Their overall mechanisms are often well understood, but the structural features setting their rates are mostly unknown. Earlier single‐molecule fluorescence imaging of the archaeal model glutamate transporter homologue Glt_Ph from Pyrococcus horikoshii suggested that the slow conformational transition from the outward‐ to the inward‐facing state, when the bound substrate is translocated from the extracellular to the cytoplasmic side of the membrane, is rate limiting to transport. Here, we provide insight into the structure of the high‐energy transition state of Glt_Ph that limits the rate of the substrate translocation process. Using bioinformatics, we identified Glt_Ph gain‐of‐function mutations in the flexible helical hairpin domain HP2 and applied linear free energy relationship analysis to infer that the transition state structurally resembles the inward‐facing conformation. Based on these analyses, we propose an approach to search for allosteric modulators for transporters.     

New light on phosphate transfer from triesters

The reactivity of triesters is discussed in the general context of phosphate transfer, as usually studied for the reactions of mono- and diesters. Systematic work has typically concentrated on the Linear Free Energy Relationships measuring the dependence of reactivity on the nucleophile and the leaving group, but new results indicate that it can depend equally strongly on the two non-leaving (sometimes known as spectator) groups. This conclusion is supported by first results from theoretical calculations: which also predict that a two-step mechanism can be favored over a concerted S_N2(P) mechanism even for reactions involving leaving groups as good as p-nitrophenolate. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Chemistry and mechanism of phosphatases, diesterases and triesterases.     

Diversity of digger wasps in Kasnak Oak Forest Nature Reserve,Isparta, Turkey,with records of eight species new to Turkey (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae,Crabronidae and Ampulicidae)

Three stations selected for altitude and habitat types within the Kasnak Oak Forest Nature Reserve (Isparta, Turkey) were studied comparatively for species composition, richness and abundance of the Hymenoptera families Ampulicidae, Crabronidae, and Sphecidae. A total of 56 species was recorded, 1 from the family Ampulicidae, 43 from the family Crabronidae and 12 from the family Sphecidae. 8 species are new records for Turkey.     

A review of the impact of environmental factors and pollutants on covid-19 transmission

Aerobiologia - The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused an unprecedented loss of life with colossal social and economic fallout over 237 countries and territories worldwide. Environmental...     

Shielding Property of Natural Biomass Against Gamma Rays

This article has been retracted.     

ADAMTS9 activation by interleukin 1β via NFATc1 in OUMS-27 chondrosarcoma cells and in human chondrocytes

ADAMTS9 is a member of the disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs (ADAMTS) genes, with aggrecan-degrading activity. It has also been characterized to be reactive and highly activated ADAMTS by IL-1β in both chondrosarcoma cells and human chondrocytes (Demircan et al. Arthritis Rheum 52:1451–1460, 2005). In order to understand the regulation of ADAMTS9 gene expression a functional 3.0 kb human ADAMTS9 promoter has been cloned and characterized. A sequence analysis of the promoter revealed the presence of putative binding sites for Nuclear Factor of Activated T cells (NFAT), which is commonly found in the ADAMTS4 and ADAMTS5 promoters. NFATc1 was up-regulated in an activated form by IL-1β in human chondrocytes. The IL-1β inducible ADAMTS9 expression was inhibited by NFAT inhibitors, FK506 and 11Arg (11R)-VIVIT. Furthermore, direct binding of NFATc1 on distal and proximal promoters of ADAMTS9 was demonstrated by a chromatin immunoprecipitation assay. Promoter-reporter assays supported those results. These findings may provide a better understanding of the regulation of ADAMTS9 expression induced by inflammatory cytokines.     

More polymorphic microsatellite markers in the European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.)

We provide details of five microsatellite loci screened in 163 individual sea bass. Large numbers of alleles were observed at three loci (20–25) and heterozygosities ranged from 0.52 to 0.86. These loci should prove useful for population genetic studies and for the pedigree analysis and genetic management of this species in aquaculture.