Conformational aspects of beta-trypsin interactions with substrates and pancreatic trypsin inhibitor. II. Structure of tetrahedral adducts and acylenzyme

Theoretical conformational analysis of the tetrahedral complexes of trypsin with the N-acetyl-L-lysine methyl amide, which are formed at the acylation and the deacylation stages of the catalytical act has been carried out. The lowest energy conformations are shown to be productive ones. All favorable structures of N-acetyl-L-lysyl-trypsin and N-acetyl-L-arginyl-trypsin acylenzymes have been analysed. The global conformations of both complexes are found to be very similar with the structures providing for a transition to the second tetrahedral state. Conformations of the nonbonded, tetrahedral and acyl complexes with N-acetyl-L-lysine methyl amide are compared and the differences in orientation of atomic groups participating in the catalysis are revealed. All changes of optimal structures of the complexes indispensable for the catalytical process are shown to proceed in a spontaneous way without introduction of any intramolecular strain.     

Cloning and expression analysis of two distinct HIF-alpha isoforms – gcHIF-1alpha and gcHIF-4alpha – from the hypoxia-tolerant grass carp,Ctenopharyngodon idellus

Background  

Hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) are involved in adaptive and survival responses to hypoxic stress in mammals. In fish, very little is known about the functions of HIFs.     

Monoclonal Antibodies to PRAME Protein Slow the Development of PRAME-Expressing Tumor

Doklady Biochemistry and Biophysics - Two monoclonal antibodies recognizing non-overlapping epitopes of the PRAME protein were injected into immunocompetent mice to study their influence on the...     

Solid-state NMR studies of collagen-based parchments and gelatin

Historical collagen-based parchments have been studied by solid-state NMR. In addition, new parchment (produced according to traditional methods) and gelatin from bovine skin were also studied. Wideline 1H and MAS 13C measurements were carried out directly on intact parchments. A simple approach is proposed for evaluation of the extent of parchment degradation based on the linewidth changes in the 13C CPMAS spectra relative to new parchment and gelatin. Structural (bound) water content was estimated from wideline 1H NMR lineshape and relaxation time measurements. It was found that the relative water content in parchments correlates linearly with 13C MAS linewidths. Its decrease on parchment degradation indicates that structural water molecules are of primary importance in stabilizing higher order collagen structures. Backbone and side chain dynamics of collagen in parchments were compared to those of gelatin based on the 13C dipolar-dephased experiments. Carbonyl 13C chemical shift anisotropies were measured to deduce the geometry of the collagen backbone motion. Unlike previous studies, we found that the collagen backbone motion is similar to that found in other proteins and occurs primarily via small-angle librations about internal bond directions.     

Fractionation of fragments of skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum according to their sensitivity to caffeine

Sarcoplasmic reticulum fragments were fractionated according to the ability of caffeine to selectively block Ca2+ uptake in the population of caffeine-sensitive membranes. The membrane suspension was loaded with calcium in the presence of oxalate, Mg-ATP and caffeine, after which the Ca2+-loaded caffeine-sensitive fragments were separated by sucrose density gradient centrifugation. In Ca2+-unloaded fragments of the supernatant, the sensitivity to caffeine estimated by its ability to diminish the rate of Ca2+ uptake, Ca/ATP ratio and Ca-oxalate capacity amounted to 91-93%. The terms of protein composition, the caffeine-sensitive fragments were identified with terminal cystern membranes, while the caffeine-insensitive ones with the SR canalicular membranes. The sensitivity to caffeine may serve as a reliable criterion for estimating the relative content of terminal cystern fragments in different microsomal preparations.     

Modeling of the influence of gap-junction coupling on synchronization of central and peripheral sinoatrial node cells

Mathematical modeling of the electric activity of pairs of true (central) and latent (peripheral) sinoatrial pacemaker cells coupled through gap junctions revealed that attenuation of coupling conductance increases the beat phase shift; below a critical conductance there is no synchronization. The phase difference also depends on the type of interacting cells, being maximal for a “central”-“peripheral” cell pair.     

Biomarkers in osteoarthritis

Biomarkers aid the study of osteoarthritis (OA) in a number of different ways. In this article we summarise briefly their multiple uses and reflect on how the study reported in a previous edition of Arthritis Research & Therapy should promote further investigation of cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP). COMP is foremost among hitherto investigated biomarkers and is most consistently shown to predict knee OA progression. Precisely what role it plays in OA pathogenesis remains unclear and elucidating this may be key to defining, and then targeting, the cellular pathways involved in OA.     

DETECTING DESERTIFICATION PROCESSES USING TM AND ETM+ DATA, NORTH OF ISFAHAN, IRAN

 Aims Desertification results in ecological and biological diminution of the earth, and can happen naturally or cause by anthropogenic activities. This process especially affects arid and semi-arid regions, such as the Isfahan region, where the spread of desertification is reaching critical proportions. The aim of this study is to use remotely sensed data to review the trend of desertification in the northern of Isfahan, Iran. Methods Multi-temporal images were employed to evaluate the trend of desertification, specifically the TM and ETM+ data of September, 1990 and September, 2001. Geometric and radiometric corrections were applied to each image prior to image processing and supervised classification, and vegetation indices were applied to produce a land use map of each image in nine classes. The land use classification s in the two map images were compared and changes between land use classes were detected over the 11 year period using a fuzzy and post-classification technique. Important findings The maps and their comparison with false color composite images showed the differences efficiently. With the fuzzy and post-classification method the land use changes were sited on the map. Fuzzy confirmed 53% changed area and 47% unchanged areas in the study region. The results verify the desertification expansion in the study areas. Because of poor land management, agricultural lands converted to desert and abandoned areas, and some marginal pasture lands had to be changed to agricultural land which are desertification spreading according to United Nations Conference on Desertification (UNCOD). Also farmland and pastures have been converted to urban and industrial areas, and the rangelands have been spoiled due to opencast mine excavations. With the mine margins eroding as well as their debris accumulating on the pasture lands, desertification has become worse. Three areas of less-elevated mountains have remained unchanged. This study confirmed that the anthropogenic activities accelerated the desertification process and severely endangered the remaining areas.