A new role for PGRP-S (Tag7) in immune defense: lymphocyte migration is induced by a chemoattractant complex of Tag7 with Mts1

PGRP-S (Tag7) is an innate immunity protein involved in the antimicrobial defense systems, both in insects and in mammals. We have previously shown that Tag7 specifically interacts with several proteins, including Hsp70 and the calcium binding protein S100A4 (Mts1), providing a number of novel cellular functions. Here we show that Tag7–Mts1 complex causes chemotactic migration of lymphocytes, with NK cells being a preferred target. Cells of either innate immunity (neutrophils and monocytes) or acquired immunity (CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ lymphocytes) can produce this complex, which confirms the close connection between components of the 2 branches of immune response.     

Distribution of proteins inside polyelectrolyte microcapsules depend on pH of medium

Distribution of bovine serum albumin and ferritin inside polyelectrolyte microcapsules was studied by transmission electron and confocal microscopy at the pH range 2-5. It was estimate that protein's distribution depends on isoelectric point (pI) and first polyelectrolyte used for preparation of capsule shell. So peptide is placed in the bulk of capsule if pH values of medium are lower isoelectric point of protein and polycation was used as a first polyelectrolyte layer. If the first polyelectrolyte was polyanion, the protein is located near internal surface of the shell. The protein is situated near internal surface of the shell for both polyelectrolytes when pH is equal to pI.     

AmylPepPred: Amyloidogenic Peptide Prediction tool

We present an efficient computational architecture designed using supervised machine learning model to predict amyloid fibril forming protein segments, named AmylPepPred. The proposed prediction model is based on bio-physio-chemical properties of primary sequences and auto-correlation function of their amino acid indices. AmylPepPred provides a user friendly web interface for the researchers to easily observe the fibril forming and non-fibril forming hexmers in a given protein sequence. We expect that this stratagem will be highly encouraging in discovering fibril forming regions in proteins thereby benefit in finding therapeutic agents that specifically aim these sequences for the inhibition and cure of amyloid illnesses.

Availability

AmylPepPred is available freely for academic use at www.zoommicro.in/amylpeppred     

The cyclooxygenases

Cyclooxygenases (COXs) catalyze the rate-limiting step in the production of prostaglandins, bioactive compounds involved in processes such as fever and sensitivity to pain, and are the target of aspirin-like drugs. COX genes have been cloned from coral, tunicates and vertebrates, and in all the phyla where they are found, there are two genes encoding two COX isoenzymes; it is unclear whether these genes arose from an early single duplication event or from multiple independent duplications in evolution. The intron-exon arrangement of COX genes is completely conserved in vertebrates and mostly conserved in all species. Exon boundaries largely define the four functional domains of the encoded protein: the amino-terminal hydrophobic signal peptide, the dimerization domain, the membrane-binding domain, and the catalytic domain. The catalytic domain of each enzyme contains distinct peroxidase and cyclooxygenase active sites; COXs are classified as members of the myeloperoxidase family. All COXs are homodimers and monotopic membrane proteins (inserted into only one leaflet of the membrane), and they appear to be targeted to the lumenal membrane of the endoplasmic reticulum, where they are N-glycosylated. In mammals, the two COX genes encode a constitutive isoenzyme (COX-1) and an inducible isoenzyme (COX-2); both are of significant pharmacological importance.     

'Navius' kissing stents for coronary bifurcation stenosis,recreating a new metallic carina: an IVUS-assessed case report

We report a case of implantation of a new design of stent which allows creation of a double-hemispheric lumen for the treatment of a bifurcational stenosis. The unfavourable outcome following the implantation of this stent is described.     

The equivalent conductivity of aqueous salt-free solutions of DNA: Influence of univalent counterions

The equivalent conductivity of salt-free solutions of deoxyribonucleates of alkali metals and ammonium obtained by filtering an isoionic DNA solution through a cation exchanger in the corresponding form has been investigated in the concentrations range of 1 × 10^?4 to 4 × 10^?3M. For all counterions investigated there is a linear dependence of the equivalent conductivity on \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ \sqrt {C_p} $\end{document}, where C_p is the nucleic phosphorus concentration. The limiting equivalent conductivity of deoxyribonucleates increases linearly with the limiting mobility of a counterion. By extrapolation to the zero mobility of the counterion, we have obtained the limiting mobility of a macroion, which is equal to 19 × 10^?4 Sm m² equiv.^?1, which is in good agreement with the literature data for denatured DNA obtained by the method of a moving boundary. It is shown that the degree of binding of counterions calculated from the conductometric data in diluted DTA solutions in independent of the nature of the univalent counterion. The degree of dissociation of H⁺-DNA in the isoionic solution calculated with allowance for the fraction of unprotonated bases practically coincides with this value for salts of DNA. The parameter of Manning's theory calculated from the experimental data corresponds to the distance between phosphates along the chain of the macroion, which is equal to 6.7 Å. We attribute the smaller value of this distance as compared with the theoretical one for denatured DNA to the aggregation of macroions.     

Biosynthesis of chlorophyll P-680 of photosystem II in greening leaves of plants adapted to heat shock

In etiolated pea and maize leaves illuminated after incubation at 38 degreesC, a new dark reaction was shown manifested in the bathochromic shift of spectral bands and accompanied by esterification of the product of protochlorophyllide photochemical reduction--Chld 684/676: Chld 684/676 --> Chl 688/680. After completion of the reaction a rapid (20-30 sec) quenching of the fluorescence of the reaction product (Chl 688/680) was observed. The reaction Chld 684/676 --> Chl 688/680 is inhibited under anaerobic conditions and in the presence of cyanide; the reaction accompanied by Chl 688/680 fluorescence quenching is not observed in pea mutants with impaired function of photosystem II reaction centers. The spectral properties of the formed Chl form with the absorption maximum at 680 nm, fluorescence quenching, and simultaneous synthesis of pheophytin suggest that the reaction is connected with the chlorophyll of photosystem II reaction center--P-680.