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Attractive System (attractive + system)
Selected AbstractsBinding of the volatile general anesthetics halothane and isoflurane to a mammalian ,-barrel proteinFEBS JOURNAL, Issue 2 2005Jonas S. Johansson A molecular understanding of volatile anesthetic mechanisms of action will require structural descriptions of anesthetic,protein complexes. Porcine odorant binding protein is a 157 residue member of the lipocalin family that features a large ,-barrel internal cavity (515 ± 30 Å3) lined predominantly by aromatic and aliphatic residues. Halothane binding to the ,-barrel cavity was determined using fluorescence quenching of Trp16, and a competitive binding assay with 1-aminoanthracene. In addition, the binding of halothane and isoflurane were characterized thermodynamically using isothermal titration calorimetry. Hydrogen exchange was used to evaluate the effects of bound halothane and isoflurane on global protein dynamics. Halothane bound to the cavity in the ,-barrel of porcine odorant binding protein with dissociation constants of 0.46 ± 0.10 mm and 0.43 ± 0.12 mm determined using fluorescence quenching and competitive binding with 1-aminoanthracene, respectively. Isothermal titration calorimetry revealed that halothane and isoflurane bound with Kd values of 80 ± 10 µm and 100 ± 10 µm, respectively. Halothane and isoflurane binding resulted in an overall stabilization of the folded conformation of the protein by ,0.9 ± 0.1 kcal·mol,1. In addition to indicating specific binding to the native protein conformation, such stabilization may represent a fundamental mechanism whereby anesthetics reversibly alter protein function. Because porcine odorant binding protein has been successfully analyzed by X-ray diffraction to 2.25 Å resolution [1], this represents an attractive system for atomic-level structural studies in the presence of bound anesthetic. Such studies will provide much needed insight into how volatile anesthetics interact with biological macromolecules. [source] Pharmacokinetic characterization of 14C-vascular endothelial growth factor controlled release microspheres using a rat modelJOURNAL OF PHARMACY AND PHARMACOLOGY: AN INTERNATI ONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCE, Issue 7 2002Tae-Kyoung Kim The objectives of this study were to characterize the pharmacokinetics of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA) microspheres using a rat model, and to develop a pharmacokinetic model for this controlled release formulation. 14C-VEGF was encapsulated using a solid-in-oil-in-water emulsification method. The microspheres were administered subcutaneously to rats and the pharmacokinetic parameters were compared with those of protein solutions. Intravenous administration of protein solutions resulted in short half-lives and subcutaneous administration resulted in rapid clearance from the subcutaneous tissue, with high plasma concentrations as expressed by rapid absorption and elimination. The subcutaneous administration of the VEGF microspheres produced low plasma concentrations and high subcutaneous concentrations over a period of 7 weeks. The area under the curve (AUC), the time required to achieve the maximum concentration (tmax), the maximum concentration (Cmax) in blood samples and the elimination rate constant (kel) values at the subcutaneous tissue site were selected to compare the pharmacokinetic characterization of VEGF microspheres with that of protein solutions. The in-vivo release profiles of the proteins were slower than the in-vitro release profiles and they followed the same trend as the in-vitro and in-vivo PLGA degradation rates. The PLGA microsphere degradation was the determinant step for VEGF release from the microspheres and its absorption at the subcutaneous site. Microspheres appear to be an attractive system for the localized rate-controlled delivery of VEGF. 14C-Methylation via reductive alkylation of VEGF did not affect its mitogenic activity, however approximately 25% activity was lost following release from PLGA microspheres. This loss of activity may be due to degradation in an acidic environment as a result of PLGA degradation. [source] Self-organized growth of InN-nanocolumns on p-Si(111) by MBEPHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI (C) - CURRENT TOPICS IN SOLID STATE PHYSICS, Issue 6 2008Christian Denker Abstract InN-nanocolumns are an attractive system for light harvesting applications. To understand the mechanism of self organized growth of nanocolumns in plasma assisted MBE, InN samples were produced under various conditions on p-Si(111). Depending on the growth parameters different growth regimes for nanocolumns were identified according to their final shape. High-resolution TEM pictures show a very good crystal quality. This is also confirmed by Raman and PL measurements. Nanocolumns with diameters of 20-200 nm and lengths of up to 2 mm were produced. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] The Nature of Exocytosis in the Yolk Trophoblastic Layer of Silver Arowana (Osteoglossum bicirrhosum) Juvenile, the Representative of Ancient Teleost FishesTHE ANATOMICAL RECORD : ADVANCES IN INTEGRATIVE ANATOMY AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY, Issue 11 2009Marta Jaroszewska Abstract We have chosen the silver arowana (Osteoglossum bicirrhosum), a representative of the most ancient teleost family Osteoglossidae, to address the question of yolk nutrients utilization. Silver arowana have particularly large eggs (1,1.5 cm of diameter) and a unique morphology of the yolk. We present evidence that the yolk cytoplasmic zone (ycz) in the "yolksac juveniles" is a very complex structure involved in sequential processes of yolk hydrolysis, lipoprotein particles synthesis, their transport, and exocytosis. Vacuoles filled with yolk granules in different stages of digestion move from the vitellolysis zone through the ycz to be emptied into the microvillar interspace in the process of exocytosis. The area of the ycz with the abundance of the mitochondria must play an important role in providing energy for both the transport of vacuoles and the release of their contents. Therefore, we postulate that the function of yolk syncytial layer (ysl) as the "early embryonic patterning center" transforms in fish larvae or yolksac juveniles into a predominantly specialized role as the yolk trophoblastic layer (ytl) involved in yolk nutrients utilization. In addition to discovering the mechanism of transformation of the ysl function into ytl function, we suggest that the machinery involved in nutrient mobilization and exocytosis in yolk of arowana yolksac juveniles can be very attractive system for studies of regulatory processes in almost all secretory pathways in animal cells. Anat Rec, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Global Gene Expression Differences Associated with Changes in Glycolytic Flux and Growth Rate in Escherichia coli during the Fermentation of Glucose and XyloseBIOTECHNOLOGY PROGRESS, Issue 1 2002Ramon Gonzalez The simplicity of the fermentation process (anaerobic with pH, temperature, and agitation control) in ethanologenic Escherichia coli KO11 and LY01 makes this an attractive system to investigate the utility of gene arrays for biotechnology applications. By using this system, gene expression, glycolytic flux, and growth rate have been compared in glucose-grown and xylose-grown cells. Although the initial metabolic steps differ, ethanol yields from both sugars were essentially identical on a weight basis, and little carbon was diverted to biosynthesis. Expression of only 27 genes changed by more than 2-fold in both strains. These included induction of xylose-specific operons ( xylE, xylFGHR, and xylAB) regulated by XylR and the cyclic AMP,CRP system and repression of Mlc-regulated genes encoding glucose uptake ( ptsHIcrr, ptsG) and mannose uptake ( manXYZ) during growth on xylose. However, expression of genes encoding central carbon metabolism and biosynthesis differed by less than 2-fold. Simple statistical methods were used to investigate these more subtle changes. The reproducibility (coefficient of variation of 12%) of expression measurements (mRNA as cDNA) was found to be similar to that typically observed for in vitro measurements of enzyme activities. Using Studentapos;s t test, many smaller but significant sugar-dependent changes were identified ( p < 0.05 in both strains). A total of 276 genes were more highly expressed during growth on xylose; 307 genes were more highly expressed with glucose. Slower growth (lower ATP yield) on xylose was accompanied by decreased expression of 62 genes concerned with the biosynthesis of small molecules (amino acids, nucleotides, cofactors, and lipids), transcription, and translation; 5 such genes were expressed at a higher level. In xylose-grown cells, 90 genes associated with the transport, catabolism, and regulation of pathways for alternative carbon sources were expressed at higher levels than in glucose-grown cells, consistent with a relaxation of control by the cyclic AMP,CRP regulatory system. Changes in expression of genes encoding the Embden,Meyerhof,Parnas (EMP) pathway were in excellent agreement with calculated changes in flux for individual metabolites. Flux through all but one step, pyruvate kinase, was predicted to be higher during glucose fermentation. Expression levels (glucose/xylose) were higher in glucose-grown cells for all EMP genes except the isoenzymes encoding pyruvate kinase ( pykA and pykF). Expression of both isoenzymes was generally higher during xylose fermentation but statistically higher in both strains only for pykF encoding the isoenzyme activated by fructose-6-phosphate, a key metabolite connecting pentose metabolism to the EMP pathway. The coordinated changes in expression of genes encoding the EMP pathway suggest the presence of a common regulatory system and that flux control within the EMP pathway may be broadly distributed. In contrast, expression levels for genes encoding the Pentose,Phosphate pathway did not differ significantly between glucose-grown and xylose-grown cells. [source] Strategies for DNA interstrand crosslink repair: Insights from worms, flies, frogs, and slime moldsENVIRONMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MUTAGENESIS, Issue 6 2010Mitch McVey Abstract DNA interstrand crosslinks (ICLs) are complex lesions that covalently link both strands of the DNA double helix and impede essential cellular processes such as DNA replication and transcription. Recent studies suggest that multiple repair pathways are involved in their removal. Elegant genetic analysis has demonstrated that at least three distinct sets of pathways cooperate in the repair and/or bypass of ICLs in budding yeast. Although the mechanisms of ICL repair in mammals appear similar to those in yeast, important differences have been documented. In addition, mammalian crosslink repair requires other repair factors, such as the Fanconi anemia proteins, whose functions are poorly understood. Because many of these proteins are conserved in simpler metazoans, nonmammalian models have become attractive systems for studying the function(s) of key crosslink repair factors. This review discusses the contributions that various model organisms have made to the field of ICL repair. Specifically, it highlights how studies performed with C. elegans, Drosophila, Xenopus, and the social amoeba Dictyostelium serve to complement those from bacteria, yeast, and mammals. Together, these investigations have revealed that although the underlying themes of ICL repair are largely conserved, the complement of DNA repair proteins utilized and the ways in which each of the proteins is used can vary substantially between different organisms. Environ. Mol. Mutagen., 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Transition Metal-Catalysed, Direct and Site-Selective N1-, C2- or C3-Arylation of the Indole Nucleus: 20 Years of ImprovementsADVANCED SYNTHESIS & CATALYSIS (PREVIOUSLY: JOURNAL FUER PRAKTISCHE CHEMIE), Issue 5 2009Lionel Joucla Abstract The direct and site-selective transition metal-catalysed N1-, C2- or C3-arylations of indoles have been the subject of almost continuous improvements since their discovery in early 1980s. This research area is mainly motivated by the biological relevance of this class of compounds in order to propose catalytic alternative syntheses to the well known methodologies involving the formation of the indole ring like the Fischer, Larock, Cacchi, Lautens etc. reactions. Since the late 1990s it has experienced new impulses related to the intensive development of catalytic CH activation. Today, through the intensive studies of Buchwald and Hartwig, the N1-arylation of indoles has reached sufficient maturity for both academic and industrial applications. On the other hand, the selective C2- or C3-arylation of indoles, initiated by Ohta in the middle 1980s, has become a hot research area these last years following the reports of Sames. Surprisingly, only few reports concern the use of heterogeneous catalysts; however, the application of these emerging methodologies seems to be related to the discovery of industrially attractive systems. [source] | |||||||||||||