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Polystyrene Beads (polystyrene + bead)
Selected AbstractsGliding movement in Peranema trichophorum is powered by flagellar surface motilityCYTOSKELETON, Issue 4 2003Akira Saito Abstract A colorless euglenoid flagellate Peranema trichophorum shows unique unidirectional gliding cell locomotion on the substratum at velocities up to 30 ,m/s by an as yet unexplained mechanism. In this study, we found that (1) treatment with NiCl2 inhibited flagellar beating without any effect on gliding movement; (2) water currents applied to a gliding cell from opposite sides caused detachment of the cell body from the substratum. With only the anterior flagellum adhering to the substratum, gliding movement continued along the direction of the anterior flagellum; (3) gentle pipetting induced flagellar severance into various lengths. In these cells, gliding velocity was proportional to the flagellar length; and (4) Polystyrene beads were translocated along the surface of the anterior flagellum. All of these results indicate that a cell surface motility system is present on the anterior flagellum, which is responsible for cell gliding in P. trichophorum. Cell Motil. Cytoskeleton 55:244,253, 2003. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Relationship Between Gastric Ulcer and Helicobacter pylori VacA Detected in Gastric Juice Using Bead-ELISA MethodHELICOBACTER, Issue 5 2002Daisuke Shirasaka Abstract Background. VacA is an important pathogenetic factor produced by Helicobacter pylori. VacA has often been detected in supernatants of liquid cultures or lysates of whole bacterial cells. However, no studies have ever tried to assay VacA produced in the human stomach. We applied a very sensitive and simple method, bead-ELISA, to detect VacA in gastric juice. Materials and Methods. Forty-eight H. pylori -positive patients (16 nonulcer dyspepsia, 16 gastric ulcer, and 16 duodenal ulcer) and four H. pylori -negative nonulcer dyspepsia patients had endoscopy performed and gastric juice were aspirated. Polystyrene beads coated with the antibody to VacA, were used in this bead-ELISA method. The nucleotide sequences of vacA in the signal and middle regions were investigated. Results. Of the 48 samples that were positive for H. pylori, 21 [43.8%] were found to be VacA positive in gastric juice. The average and maximum concentrations of detected VacA in gastric juice were 143.2 ± 216.5 and 840 pg/ml, respectively. The average density of VacA from gastric ulcer patients (227.5 ± 276.7 pg/ml) was higher than that found in nonulcer dyspepsia (51.8 ± 39.8 pg/ml) and duodenal ulcer (49.2 ± 21.5 pg/ml) patients. There was no relationship between VacA in gastric juice and vacA genotype. Conclusions. VacA in gastric juice could be directly detected by bead-ELISA. In this study, the diversity of disease outcome was associated with not the quality but the quantity of VacA. Therefore, not only the quality but also the quantity of VacA is important etiological factors in the pathogenesis of mucosal damage. [source] Modelling, identification, and control of a spherical particle trapped in an optical tweezerINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ROBUST AND NONLINEAR CONTROL, Issue 16 2005A. Ranaweera Abstract We provide an introduction to modelling, identification, and control of a spherical particle trapped in an optical tweezer. The main purpose is to analyse the properties of an optical tweezer from a control systems point of view. By representing the non-inertial dynamics of a trapped particle using a stochastic differential equation, we discuss probability distributions and compute first mean exit times. Within the linear trapping region, experimentally measured mean passage times for a 9.6-µm diameter polystyrene bead show close agreement with theoretical calculations. We apply a recursive least squares method to a trapped 9.6-µm diameter polystyrene bead to study the possibility of obtaining faster calibrations of characteristic frequency. We also compare the performance of proportional control, LQG control, and nonlinear control to reduce fluctuations in particle position due to thermal noise. Assuming a cubic trapping force, we use computer simulations to demonstrate that the nonlinear controller can reduce position variance by a factor of 65 for a 1-µm diameter polystyrene bead under typical conditions. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Prussian Blue Dispersed Sphere Catalytic Labels for Amplified Electronic Detection of DNAELECTROANALYSIS, Issue 3 2008Siriwan Suwansa-ard Abstract A highly sensitive electrochemical DNA hybridization assay using Prussian blue (PB)-modified polymeric spheres as the oligonculeotide labeling tag is described. The sandwich assay relies on a secondary nucleic-acid probe functionalized with polystyrene beads loaded with numerous Prussian blue nanoparticles. The very strong catalytic activity of the captured PB ,artificial peroxidase' tag towards the reduction of hydrogen peroxide, along with the encapsulation of numerous catalytic particles onto polymeric beads, allows amperometric detection of the DNA target down to the 50,fM level (2.5,amol). Imaging and spectroscopic measurements are used to characterize the PB-tagged polystyrene beads. Such coupling of PB catalytic labels with polymeric carrier beads offers great promise for amplified transduction of different biomolecular interactions. [source] A novel microstep device for the size separation of cellsELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 10-11 2004Sarah Vankrunkelsven Abstract We report on a series of preliminary experiments investigating the applicability of a novel method for the size separation of nano- and microsized particles and cells. The working principle is based on the application of a shear-driven flow through stepwise tapered micro- or nanochannels. Size separations of mixtures of 0.5 and 1.0 ,m carboxylated polystyrene beads as well as of binary mixtures of Staphylococcus aureus and Saccharomycescerevisiae cells and of S. cerevisiae and Escherichia coli cells are demonstrated. [source] Contact-dependent aggregation of functional Ca2+ channels, synaptic vesicles and postsynaptic receptors in active zones of a neuromuscular junctionEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, Issue 3 2001David A. DiGregorio Abstract To examine whether Ca2+ channels aggregate in a contact-dependent manner, we characterized the distribution of synaptic vesicles and postsynaptic receptors, and compared it to the location of Ca2+ entry sites, in a Xenopus laevis nerve-muscle coculture preparation using a localized Ca2+ detection method. The majority (75%) of Ca2+ entry sites at spontaneously formed nerve,muscle contacts were associated with enhanced immunofluorescence to the synaptic vesicle protein, SV2. In contrast, only 11% of recorded sites without Ca2+ transients exhibited significant SV2 immunofluorescence. When comparing the spatial distribution of synaptic markers with that of Ca2+ entry sites, we found that the majority of Ca2+ entry sites (61%) were associated with both enhanced SV2 immunofluorescence and R-BTX fluorescence, thereby identifying putative neurotransmitter release sites where Ca2+ channels, synaptic vesicles and postsynaptic receptors are colocalized. Using polystyrene beads coated with a heparin binding protein known to mediate in vitro postsynaptic receptor clustering, we show that the location of Ca2+ domains was associated with enhanced SV2 immunofluorescence at neurite-to-bead contacts. We conclude that the localization of functional Ca2+ channels to putative active zones follows a contact-dependent signalling mechanism similar to that known to mediate vesicle aggregation and AChR clustering. [source] Cationic Polyelectrolyte Amplified Bead Array for DNA Detection with Zeptomole Sensitivity and Single Nucleotide Polymorphism SelectivityADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 16 2010Chun Wang Abstract A highly sensitive strand specific DNA assay, which consists of a peptide nucleic acid (PNA) probe, a cationic conjugated polymer (PFVP), and self-assembled polystyrene beads in microwell arrays on silicon chip, is reported. PFVP, as an efficient signal amplifier and signal reporter, has been specially designed and synthesized to be compatible with commercial confocal microscopes for sensing on solid substrates. The assay operates on the net increase in negative charge at the PNA surface that occurs upon single-stranded DNA hybridization, which subsequently allows complex formation with the positively charged PFVP to favor energy transfer between the polymer and Cy5-labeled target. With maximized surface contact provided by bead arrays and signal amplification provided by PFVP, this assay allows detection of ,300 copies of Cy5-labeled DNA using a commercial confocal microscope. In addition, the same strategy is also extended for label-free DNA detection with a detection sensitivity of 150 attomole. Excellent discrimination against single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) is also demonstrated for both Cy5-labeled and label-free target detection. This study indicates that cationic conjugated polymers have great potential to be incorporated into the widely used microarray technology for simplified process with improved detection sensitivity. [source] Functional reconstitution of the HIV receptors CCR5 and CD4 in liposomesFEBS JOURNAL, Issue 21 2002François Devesa Reconstitution of membrane proteins allows their study in a membrane environment that can be manipulated at will. Because membrane proteins have diverse biophysical properties, reconstitution methods have so far been developed for individual proteins on an ad hoc basis. We developed a postinsertion reconstitution method for CCR5, a G protein coupled receptor, with seven transmembrane ,,helices and small ecto- and endodomains. A His6 -tagged version of CCR5 was expressed in mammalian cells, purified using the detergent N -dodecyl-,- d -maltoside (DDM) and reconstituted into preformed liposomal membranes saturated with DDM, removing the detergent with hydrophobic polystyrene beads. We then attempted to incorporate CD4, a protein with a single transmembrane helix and a large hydrophilic ectodomain into liposomal membranes, together with CCR5. Surprisingly, reconstitution of this protein was also achieved by the method. Both proteins were found to be present together in individual liposomes. The reconstituted CCR5 was recognized by several monoclonal antibodies, recognized its natural ligand, and CD4 bound a soluble form of gp120, a subunit of the HIV fusion protein that uses CD4 as a receptor. Moreover, cells expressing the entire fusion protein of HIV bound to the liposomes, indicating that the proteins were intact and that most of them were oriented right side out. Thus, functional coreconstitution of two widely different proteins can be achieved by this method, suggesting that it might be useful for other proteins. [source] Cover Picture: Closing the Gap Between Self-Assembly and Microsystems Using Self-Assembly, Transfer, and Integration of Particles (Adv. Mater.ADVANCED MATERIALS, Issue 20 200520/2005) Abstract The cover shows 100 ,,m diameter glass spheres covered by a grid of hexagonally packed polystyrene beads. Wolf and co-workers placed the 500,nm diameter polystyrene beads onto the larger spheres using the self-assembly, transfer, and integration (SATI) process that they report on p.,2438. The cover illustrates the capability of SATI to process uneven surfaces in addition to the planar substrates discussed in the article. The carrier that holds the smaller beads deforms during their transfer onto the larger spheres, so that on the larger spheres patterned "caps" are formed. Using this process, which is compatible with standard microfabrication techniques, a variety of particle assemblies can be achieved. [source] New technologies for chemical geneticsJOURNAL OF CELLULAR BIOCHEMISTRY, Issue S37 2001Leslie A. Walling Abstract Chemical genetics, in which small molecules are used in lieu of mutations to study biological processes, requires large and diverse chemical libraries to specifically perturb different biological pathways. Here we describe a suite of technologies that enable chemical libraries prepared by split-pool solid phase synthesis to be screened in a diverse range of chemical genetic assays. Compounds are synthesized on 500 micron high-capacity polystyrene beads, and arrayed into individual wells of 384-well plates using a hand-held bead arrayer. Compounds are cleaved from synthesis beads using a chemically-resistant ceramic dispensing system, producing individual stock solutions of single compounds. Nanoliter volumes of these solutions are then transferred into assay plates using an array of stainless steel pins mounted on a robotic arm. We have designed reusable 1536- and 6144-well assay plates made of silicone rubber that can be cast in the laboratory and filled by hand. This integrated technology platform enables hundreds of biological assays to be performed from the product of a single synthesis bead, enabling the results of different chemical genetic experiments to be directly compared. J. Cell. Biochem. Suppl. 37: 7,12, 2001. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] A fast, reproducible and low-cost method for sequence deconvolution of ,on-bead' peptides via ,on-target' maldi-TOF/TOF mass spectrometryJOURNAL OF MASS SPECTROMETRY (INCORP BIOLOGICAL MASS SPECTROMETRY), Issue 3 2010Giulio A. Amadei Abstract A novel approach to high-throughput sequence deconvolution of on-bead small peptides (MW < 2000 Da) using on-target MALDI-TOF/TOF instrumentation is presented. Short peptides of pentamer and octamer length, covalently attached to TentaGel polystyrene beads through a photolabile linker, were placed onto the MALDI target, apportioned with suitable matrix (2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid) and then hit with the instrument laser (Nd : YAG, 355 nm). This induced easy and highly reproducible photochemical cleavage, desorption (MS mode) and fragmentation (MS/MS mode). Peptide fragments were identified with a mass accuracy of 0.1 Da of the expected values. This technique significantly accelerates the sequence determination of positive peptide hits obtained from random combinatorial libraries when screening against biological targets, paving the way for a rapid and efficient method to identify molecular imaging ligands specific to pathological targets in cancer and other diseases. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Measurements by MRI of the settling and packing of solid particles from aqueous suspensionsAICHE JOURNAL, Issue 6 2009Julio Acosta-Cabronero Abstract This study extends the application of existing magnetic resonance imaging methods to measure the settling of solid particles from aqueous suspensions. The acquisition of one-dimensional multiecho projections allowed the direct measurement of initial magnetizations (M0), from which solid volume fractions along the sedimentation column were inferred. For polystyrene beads, it was found that monoexponential curves accurately fitted the transverse relaxation decays. In contrast, for the other four solids investigated (activated carbon, talc, calcium carbonate, and glass beads), the single exponential model did not suffice and additional terms in the fitting function significantly improved the calculation of solid concentrations. Additional information about particle sizes was obtained by comparing volume fractions with the spin,spin relaxation times of the hydrogen protons as a function of the vertical height through the sedimenting suspensions of activated carbon and polystyrene beads. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2009 [source] Formation of a living anionic oligomer of ethylphenylketene on polystyrene beads and its application to the solid-supported synthesis of poly(methyl methacrylate)JOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE (IN TWO SECTIONS), Issue 20 2002Atsushi Sudo The anionic oligomerization of ethylphenylketene (EPK) by lithium benzyl alkoxide on a polystyrene resin readily afforded the corresponding lithium enolate immobilized on beads through a benzyl ester linker. The lithium enolate so prepared was applied as a solid-supported initiator for the anionic synthesis of poly(methyl methacrylate), which was readily isolated from the resin by selective cleavage of the benzyl ester linker. [source] Glycoprotein Ib,IX-mediated activation of integrin ,IIb,3: effects of receptor clustering and von Willebrand factor adhesionJOURNAL OF THROMBOSIS AND HAEMOSTASIS, Issue 6 2003M. Arya Summary., The interaction between the platelet glycoprotein (GP) Ib,IX complex and von Willebrand factor (VWF) initiates both hemostasis and pathological thrombosis. This interaction is not only the first adhesive event of platelets at sites of vessel injury, but also facilitates fibrinogen binding to ,IIb,3, which subsequently results in platelet aggregation. Since it has been suggested that GP Ib,IX clustering may promote platelet activation, we investigated the effect of such clustering on both VWF,GP Ib,IX and fibrinogen,,IIb,3 bonds using optical tweezers. In our system, fusion of tandem repeats of FK506-binding protein (FKBP) to the cytoplasmic tail of the GP IX subunit of the GP Ib,IX complex allowed subsequent receptor clustering within the plasma membrane by the bivalent, cell-permeant small molecule ligand AP20187. We measured binding forces between polystyrene beads coated with either plasma-derived VWF or the VWF A1 domain and GP Ib,IX(FKBP)2, and those between fibrinogen-coated beads and ,IIb,3 expressed on Chinese hamster ovary cells. The minimal detachment force between GP Ib,IX(FKBP)2 and A1 or plasma-derived VWF doubled after AP20187 was added. The binding force between immobilized fibrinogen and ,IIb,3 was not changed by the clustering agent; however, the strength of single fibrinogen,,IIb,3 bonds increased significantly after ligation of GP Ib,IX(FKBP)2 by A1. These results demonstrate that GP Ib,IX clustering increases the overall strength of its interaction with VWF. Furthermore, signals from GP Ib,IX can activate ,IIb,3, thereby increasing the strength of its interaction with fibrinogen. [source] Fabrication of 2-D nanostructures via metal deposition through a colloidal mask: comparison between thermal evaporation and RF magnetron sputteringPHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI (C) - CURRENT TOPICS IN SOLID STATE PHYSICS, Issue 12 2008Magdalena Ulmeanu Abstract We use spherical polystyrene beads in the size range from 500 nm - 2 ,m to form lithographic masks on surfaces. The masks consist of hexagonally arranged monolayers of these particles formed independently via a self-organized process upon solvent evaporation. With the help of the so called floating technique, the masks can be transferred to almost any arbitrary substrate. They have been utilized e.g. as masks for vacuum deposition, ion etching, or as masters for micro-contact-printing. Current research concentrates on the structure differences when the film deposition was done by thermal evaporation or RF magnetron sputtering. Investigations have been done on different metallic films, with emphasizes on Au thin film. The structures were investigated by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning force microscopy (SEM). The differences in the nanostructures obtained after the removal of the colloidal mask will be evaluated in respect with the thin film deposition technique. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] Catalytic activities of polymer-supported metal complexes in oxidation of phenol and epoxidation of cyclohexenePOLYMERS FOR ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES, Issue 3 2008K. C. Gupta Abstract The metal complexes of N, N,-bis (o -hydroxy acetophenone) propylene diamine (HPPn) Schiff base were supported on cross-linked polystyrene beads. The complexation of iron(III), copper(II), and zinc(II) ions on polymer-anchored HPPn Schiff base was 83.4, 85.7, and 84.5,wt%, respectively, whereas the complexation of these metal ions on unsupported HPPn Schiff base was 82.3, 84.5, and 83.9,wt%. The iron(III) complexes of HPPn Schiff base were octahedral in geometry, whereas copper(II) and zinc(II) ions complexes were square planar and tetrahedral. Complexation of metal ions increased the thermal stability of HPPn Schiff base. Catalytic activity of metal complexes was tested by studying the oxidation of phenol and epoxidation of cyclohexene in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. The polymer-supported HPPn Schiff base complexes of iron(III) ions showed 73.0,wt% conversion of phenol and 90.6,wt% conversion of cyclohexene at a molar ratio of 1:1:1 of substrate to catalyst and hydrogen peroxide, but unsupported complexes of iron(III) ions showed 63.8,wt% conversion for phenol and 83.2,wt% conversion for cyclohexene. The product selectivity for catechol (CTL) and epoxy cyclohexane (ECH) was 93.1 and 98.3,wt%, respectively with supported HPPn Schiff base complexes of iron(III) ions but was lower with HPPn Schiff base complexes of copper(II) and zinc(II) ions. Activation energy for the epoxidation of cyclohexene and phenol conversion with unsupported HPPn Schiff base complexes of iron(III) ions was 16.6,kJ,mol,1 and 21.2,kJ,mol,1, respectively, but was lower with supported complexes of iron(III) ions. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Digestion in the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus), a gummivore,frugivoreAMERICAN JOURNAL OF PRIMATOLOGY, Issue 12 2009Michael L. Power Abstract Wild common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) feed on fruits, insects, and gums, all of which provide different digestive challenges. Much of the ingested mass of fruits consists of seeds. In general, seeds represent indigestible bulk to marmosets and could inhibit feeding if they are not eliminated rapidly. In contrast, gums are ,-linked polysaccharides that require microbial fermentation. Their digestion would benefit from an extended residence time within the gut. Earlier research found that mean retention time (MRT) for a liquid digestive marker (cobalt EDTA) was significantly longer than MRT for a particulate marker (chromium-mordanted fiber), suggesting that common marmosets preferentially retain liquid digesta. We conducted two four-day-long digestion trials on 13 individually housed adult common marmosets fed a single-item, purified diet in order to examine the relations among MRT of cobalt EDTA and chromium-mordanted fiber, food dry matter intake (DMI), and apparent digestibility of dry matter (ADDM). We compared the MRT values with the data from the previous study mentioned above and a study using polystyrene beads. There were no significant correlations among MRT, ADDM, or DMI, although increases in DMI between trials were associated with decreases in MRT. ADDM was consistent within individuals between trials; but the mean values ranged from 75.0 to 83.4% among individuals. We found no difference in MRT between the liquid (17.5±1.6,hr) and particulate (17.9±1.4 hr) markers. Although these values were not significantly different than found previously, the MRT for chromium-mordanted fiber tended to be longer. This probably reflects the relatively small size of the chromium-mordanted fiber particles used in this study. An inverse relationship between particle size and MRT was evident; the mean MRT of polysterene beads, the largest marker, was only 8.3±1.5,hr. Marmosets appear to retain liquids and small particles within the gut longer than large particles. Am. J. Primatol. 71:957,963, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Microplitis demolitor bracovirus inhibits phagocytosis by hemocytes from Pseudoplusia includens,ARCHIVES OF INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY (ELECTRONIC), Issue 3 2006Michael R. Strand Abstract The braconid wasp Microplitis demolitor carries Microplitis demolitor bracovirus (MdBV) and parasitizes the larval stage of several noctuid moths. A key function of MdBV in parasitism is suppression of the host's cellular immune response. Prior studies in the host Pseudoplusia includens indicated that MdBV blocks encapsulation by preventing two types of hemocytes, plasmatocytes and granulocytes, from adhering to foreign targets. The other main immune response mediated by insect hemocytes is phagocytosis. The goal of this study was to determine which hemocyte types were phagocytic in P. includens and to assess whether MdBV infection affects this defense response. Using the bacterium Escherichia coli and inert polystyrene beads as targets, our results indicated that the professional phagocyte in P. includens is granulocytes. The phagocytic responses of granulocytes were very similar to those of High Five cells that prior studies have suggested are a granulocyte-like cell line. MdBV infection dose-dependently disrupted phagocytosis in both cell types by inhibiting adhesion of targets to the cell surface. The MdBV glc1.8 gene encodes a cell surface glycoprotein that had previously been implicated in disruption of adhesion and encapsulation responses by immune cells. Knockdown of glc1.8 expression by RNA interference (RNAi) during the current study rescued the ability of MdBV-infected High Five cells to phagocytize targets. Collectively, these results indicate that glc1.8 is a key virulence determinant in disruption of both adhesion and phagocytosis by insect immune cells. Arch. Insect Biochem. Physiol. 61:134,145, 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||