Exploring biological classification: The unique organism project

The unique organism project was designed as a culminating assessment for a biological classification unit in a middle school setting. Students developed a model to represent their unique organism. Using the model, students were required to demonstrate how their unique organism interacts with its environment, and how its internal and external structure and organization allowed it to carry out those interactions. The NGSS Cross Cutting Concepts of structure and function, systems, and system models along with the Science & Engineering Practice of constructing models were integrated and emphasized throughout the unit.     

Differential encoding in prefrontal cortex projection neuron classes across cognitive tasks

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Interaction of 125I-labeled Ca2+-dependent regulator protein with cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase and its inhibitory protein.

The Ca2+-dependent regulator protein of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase was labeled with 125I to the extent of 1 mol of monoiodotyrosine per mol. The iodinated protein showed a small decrease in affinity for phosphodiesterase but gave the same maximal level of activation of the enzyme as did the unmodified regulator protein. Iodinated regulator protein formed complexes with both highly purified cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase and phosphodiesterase inhibitory protein in the presence but not in the absence of Ca2+ as demonstrated by ultracentrifugation in glycerol gradients. Cross-linking experiments indicate that the Ca2+-dependent regulator protein interacts with the large subunit of the inhibitory protein.     

Synthesis and Anti-HIV Activity of 6-Substituted Purine 2′-Deoxy-2′-fluororibosides

Abstract

3′,5′-Di-O-protected 6-chloropurine arabinoside 4b was treated with diethylaminosulfur trifluoride (DAST) and subsequently deprotected with pyridinium p-toluenesulfonate to give 6-chloropurine 2′-deoxy-2′-fluororiboside 6a. The displacement with nucleophile afforded the 6-substituted congener 6b-e. Treatment of 5′-O-protected 6-chloropurine arabinoside 3c with DAST gave lyxoepoxide 7.     

Tmem26 is dynamically expressed during palate and limb development but is not required for embryonic survival

The Tmem26 gene encodes a novel protein that we have previously shown to be regulated by hedgehog signalling in the mouse limb. We now report that Tmem26 expression is spatially and temporally restricted in other regions of the mouse embryo, most notably the facial primordia. In particular, Tmem26 expression in the mesenchyme of the maxillary and nasal prominences is coincident with fusion of the primary palate. In the secondary palate, Tmem26 is expressed in the palatal shelves during their growth and fusion but is downregulated once fusion is complete. Expression was also detected at the midline of the expanding mandible and at the tips of the eyelids as they migrate across the cornea. Given the spatio-temporally restricted expression of Tmem26, we sought to uncover a functional role in embryonic development through targeted gene inactivation in the mouse. However, ubiquitous inactivation of Tmem26 led to no overt phenotype in the resulting embryos or adult mice, suggesting that TMEM26 function is dispensable for embryonic survival.     

HIV-1 Clade B pol Evolution following Primary Infection

Objective

Characterize intra-individual HIV-1 subtype B pol evolution in antiretroviral naive individuals.

Design

Longitudinal cohort study of individuals enrolled during primary infection.

Methods

Eligible individuals were antiretroviral naïve participants enrolled in the cohort from December 1997-December 2005 and having at least two blood samples available with the first one collected within a year of their estimated date of infection. Population-based pol sequences were generated from collected blood samples and analyzed for genetic divergence over time in respect to dual infection status, HLA, CD4 count and viral load.

Results

93 participants were observed for a median of 1.8 years (Mean = 2.2 years, SD = 1.9 years). All participants classified as mono-infected had less than 0.7% divergence between any two of their pol sequences using the Tamura-Nei model (TN93), while individuals with dual infection had up to 7.0% divergence. The global substitution rates (substitutions/nucleotide/year) for mono and dually infected individuals were significantly different (p<0.001); however, substitution rates were not associated with HLA haplotype, CD4 or viral load.

Conclusions

Even after a maximum of almost 9 years of follow-up, all mono-infected participants had less than 1% divergence between baseline and longitudinal sequences, while participants with dual infection had 10 times greater divergence. These data support the use of HIV-1 pol sequence data to evaluate transmission events, networks and HIV-1 dual infection.