Protocol for Relative Hydrodynamic Assessment of Tri-leaflet Polymer Valves

Limitations of currently available prosthetic valves, xenografts, and homografts have prompted a recent resurgence of developments in the area of tri-leaflet polymer valve prostheses. However, identification of a protocol for initial assessment of polymer valve hydrodynamic functionality is paramount during the early stages of the design process. Traditional in vitro pulse duplicator systems are not configured to accommodate flexible tri-leaflet materials; in addition, assessment of polymer valve functionality needs to be made in a relative context to native and prosthetic heart valves under identical test conditions so that variability in measurements from different instruments can be avoided. Accordingly, we conducted hydrodynamic assessment of i) native (n = 4, mean diameter, D = 20 mm), ii) bi-leaflet mechanical (n= 2, D = 23 mm) and iii) polymer valves (n = 5, D = 22 mm) via the use of a commercially available pulse duplicator system (ViVitro Labs Inc, Victoria, BC) that was modified to accommodate tri-leaflet valve geometries. Tri-leaflet silicone valves developed at the University of Florida comprised the polymer valve group. A mixture in the ratio of 35:65 glycerin to water was used to mimic blood physical properties. Instantaneous flow rate was measured at the interface of the left ventricle and aortic units while pressure was recorded at the ventricular and aortic positions. Bi-leaflet and native valve data from the literature was used to validate flow and pressure readings. The following hydrodynamic metrics were reported: forward flow pressure drop, aortic root mean square forward flow rate, aortic closing, leakage and regurgitant volume, transaortic closing, leakage, and total energy losses. Representative results indicated that hydrodynamic metrics from the three valve groups could be successfully obtained by incorporating a custom-built assembly into a commercially available pulse duplicator system and subsequently, objectively compared to provide insights on functional aspects of polymer valve design.     

Comparison of fungal 80 S ribosomes by cryo-EM reveals diversity in structure and conformation of rRNA expansion segments

Compared to the prokaryotic 70 S ribosome, the eukaryotic 80 S ribosome contains additional ribosomal proteins and extra segments of rRNA, referred to as rRNA expansion segments (ES). These eukaryotic-specific rRNA ES are mainly on the periphery of the 80 S ribosome, as revealed by cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) studies, but their precise function is not known. To address the question of whether the rRNA ES are structurally conserved among 80 S ribosomes of different fungi we performed cryo-electron microscopy on 80 S ribosomes from the thermophilic fungus Thermomyces lanuginosus and compared it to the Saccharomyces cerevisiae 80 S ribosome. Our analysis reveals general structural conservation of the rRNA expansion segments but also changes in ES27 and ES7/39, as well as the absence of a tertiary interaction between ES3 and ES6 in T. lanuginosus. The differences provide a hint on the role of rRNA ES in regulating translation. Furthermore, we show that the stalk region and interactions with elongation factor 2 (eEF2) are different in T. lanuginosus, exhibiting a more extensive contact with domain I of eEF2.     

The Hd0053 gene of Haemophilus ducreyi encodes an alpha2,3-sialyltransferase

Haemophilus ducreyi is a Gram-negative bacterium that causes chancroid, a sexually transmitted genital ulcer disease. Different lipooligosaccharide (LOS) structures have been identified from H. ducreyi strain 35000, including those sialylated glycoforms. Surface LOS of H. ducreyi is considered an important virulence factor that is involved in ulcer formation, cell adhesion, and invasion of host tissue. Gene Hd0686 of H. ducreyi, designated lst (for lipooligosaccharide sialyltransferase), was identified to encode an alpha2,3-sialyltransferase that is important for the formation of sialylated LOS. Here, we show that Hd0053 of H. ducreyi genomic strain 35000HP, the third member of the glycosyltransferase family 80 (GT80), also encodes an alpha2,3-sialyltransferase that may be important for LOS sialylation.     

Correlation of the structure and conformational changes of selected fragments of plant small ribosomal RNA within the steps of polypeptide chain elongation

The interaction and conformational relationships between rRNAs and ribosomal proteins are responsible for ribosome activity. We tested seven different deoxyoligonucleotides complementary to the selected, highly conserved sequences of 18S rRNAs important in protein biosynthesis. We carried out a reaction of binding Phe-tRNA to A site on the ribosomes converted either to pre- or to post-translocational states (with or without pre-hybridized oligonucleotides). We found a correlation between the level of oligomer hybridization and the inhibition of AA-tRNA binding. We observed well-defined structural changes of ribosome's conformation during different steps of the elongation cycle of protein biosynthesis.     

Effect of Surfactant Tween 80 on the Anaerobic Degradation and Desorption of HCHs and DDX in Aged Soil under Saturated Condition with Low Liquid/Solid Ratio

The application of surfactant Tween 80 was investigated to accelerate the anaerobic degradation of HCHs (α-, β-, γ- and δ-hexachlorocyclohexane) and DDX (p,p′-DDT, o,p′-DDT, p,p′-DDE and p,p′-DDD) in aged soil from a former organochlorine pesticide manufacturing plant under saturated condition with low liquid/solid ratio (liquid/solid ratio = 0.50). The surfactant Tween 80 did not facilitate the degradation of HCHs and DDX in the soil used in this experiment. Subsequent desorption experiment results also showed that the surfactant Tween 80 did not increase the pollutant desorption from the soil. The results in this study are not in accordance with the results reported in previous literature. This difference might be due to the fact that the soils used in this experiment were polluted by HCHs and DDX for more than 20 years, and soil aging reduced the desorption of HCHs and DDX in soil. Furthermore, the surfactants might be adsorbed by soils in low liquid/solid ratio condition.     

DNA-PK: A dynamic enzyme in a versatile DSB repair pathway

DNA double stranded breaks (DSBs) are the most cytoxic DNA lesion as the inability to properly repair them can lead to genomic instability and tumorigenesis. The prominent DSB repair pathway in humans is non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ). In the simplest sense, NHEJ mediates the direct re-ligation of the broken DNA molecule. However, NHEJ is a complex and versatile process that can repair DSBs with a variety of damages and ends via the utilization of a significant number of proteins. In this review we will describe the important factors and mechanisms modulating NHEJ with emphasis given to the versatility of this repair process and the DNA-PK complex.     

Array CGH analysis of a cohort of Russian patients with intellectual disability

The use of array comparative genomic hybridization (array CGH) as a diagnostic tool in molecular genetics has facilitated the identification of many new microdeletion/microduplication syndromes (MMSs). Furthermore, this method has allowed for the identification of copy number variations (CNVs) whose pathogenic role has yet to be uncovered. Here, we report on our application of array CGH for the identification of pathogenic CNVs in 79 Russian children with intellectual disability (ID). Twenty-six pathogenic or likely pathogenic changes in copy number were detected in 22 patients (28%): 8 CNVs corresponded to known MMSs, and 17 were not associated with previously described syndromes. In this report, we describe our findings and comment on genes potentially associated with ID that are located within the CNV regions.     

不同小麦基因型对γ射线辐照敏感性的分子解析

本研究以63份小麦品种(系)的风干种子为材料,分别利用0 Gy、100 Gy、150 Gy和250 Gy剂量的60Coγ射线辐照,通过种子发芽试验和基因表达等方法,探讨不同小麦基因型间辐射敏感性差异及辐射敏感性相关基因的表达模式。结果表明:根据苗高损伤效应,将63份不同小麦基因型分为敏感型(核优1号、中优206和太原703等)、较敏感型(旱选10号、济麦20和中麦175等)、较钝感型(德抗961、豫麦68和淮麦20等)和钝感型(衡观136、邯6172和偃展4110等)4类。所选材料γ射线辐照后,敏感型基因型中Ta Ku70和Ta Ku80基因诱导表达明显,钝感型基因型中Ta Ku70和Ta Ku80基因诱导表达不明显。本研究表明不同小麦基因型间辐射敏感性差异明显且与Ta Ku70和Ta Ku80基因表达模式有关。