Cryo-EM structures of cardiac thin filaments reveal the 3D architecture of troponin

Troponin is an essential component of striated muscle and it regulates the sliding of actomyosin system in a calcium-dependent manner. Despite its importance, the structure of troponin has been elusive due to its high structural heterogeneity. In this study, we analyzed the 3D structures of murine cardiac thin filaments using a cryo-electron microscope equipped with a Volta phase plate (VPP). Contrast enhancement by a VPP enabled us to reconstruct the entire repeat of the thin filament. We determined the orientation of troponin relative to F-actin and tropomyosin, and characterized the interactions between troponin and tropomyosin. This study provides a structural basis for understanding the molecular mechanism of actomyosin system.     

玉米液泡膜焦磷酸酶基因ZmVPP1的克隆及逆境下的表达分析

采用同源克隆的方法在玉米中得到一个与拟南芥耐盐基因AVP1类似的基因.BLAST分析表明,该基因编码蛋白属于质子泵焦磷酸酶家族(H_PPase superfamily)中的Ⅰ型VPP,将其命名为ZmVPP1.ZmVPP1包舍一个2301bp的开放阅读框,编码766个氨基酸残基.蛋白比对结果表明,该蛋白在不同植物中相当保守.实时荧光定量PCR检测发现,ZmVPP1基因在成熟叶片中高丰度表达,在生殖器官中表达量较少.脱水、高盐、低温等逆境胁迫条件和ABA处理下的表达分析表明,ZmVPP1基因受逆境的诱导表达,属于不依赖于ABA的途径.由此推断,ZmVPP1可能参与玉米对Na+的隔离,从而起到耐盐的作用.     

Bioelectronics meets nanomedicine for cardiovascular implants: PEDOT-based nanocoatings for tissue regeneration

Background

An exciting direction in nanomedicine would be to analyze how living cells respond to conducting polymers. Their application for tissue regeneration may advance the performance of drug eluting stents by addressing the delayed stent re-endothelialization and late stent thrombosis.

Methods

The suitability of poly (3, 4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) thin films for stents to promote cell adhesion and proliferation is tested in correlation with doping and physicochemical properties. PEDOT doped either with poly (styrenesulfonate) (PSS) or tosylate anion (TOS) was used for films' fabrication by spin coating and vapor phase polymerization respectively. PEGylation of PEDOT: TOS for reduced immunogenicity and biofunctionalization of PEDOT: PSS with RGD peptides for induced cell proliferation was further applied. Atomic Force Microscopy and Spectroscopic Ellipsometry were implemented for nanotopographical, structural, optical and conductivity measurements in parallel with wettability and protein adsorption studies. Direct and extract testing of cell viability and proliferation of L929 fibroblasts on PEDOT samples by MTT assay in line with SEM studies follow.

Results

All PEDOT thin films are cytocompatible and promote human serum albumin adsorption. PEDOT:TOS films were found superior regarding cell adhesion as compared to controls. Their nanotopography and hydrophilicity are significant factors that influence cytocompatibility. PEGylation of PEDOT:TOS increases their conductivity and hydrophilicity with similar results on cell viability with bare PEDOT:TOS. The biofunctionalized PEDOT:PSS thin films show enhanced cell proliferation.

Conclusions

The application of PEDOT polymers has evolved as a new perspective to advance stents.

General significance

In this work, nanomedicine involving nanotools and novel nanomaterials merges with bioelectronics to stimulate tissue regeneration for cardiovascular implants. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Organic Bioelectronics — Novel Applications in Biomedicine.