Revolving Vernier Mechanism Controls Size of Linear Homomultimer

A new kind of the Vernier mechanism that is able to control the size of linear assembly of DNA origami nanostructures is proposed. The mechanism is realized by mechanical design of DNA origami, which consists of a hollow cylinder and a rotatable shaft in it connected through the same scaffold. This nanostructure stacks with each other by the shape complementarity at its top and bottom surfaces of the cylinder, while the number of stacking is limited by twisting angle of the shaft. Experiments have shown that the size distribution of multimeric assembly of the origami depends on the twisting angle of the shaft; the average lengths of the multimer are decamer, hexamer, and tetramer for 0°, 10°, and 20° twist, respectively. In summary, it is possible to affect the number of polymerization by adjusting the precise shape and movability of a molecular structure.     

Compositional Dependence of Normal Spectral Emissivity of Molten Cu-Fe Alloy

Metallurgical and Materials Transactions B - Normal spectral emissivity of molten Cu-Fe alloy with different compositions was measured at the wavelength of 807 nm using an electromagnetic...     

Molecular characterization of the mutable flaked allele for flower variegation in the common morning glory

Force-velocity data at different temperatures (range, 10-35 degrees C) from intact fibre bundles are analysed to determine the temperature dependence of the maximal mechanical power output of fast and slow rat muscles. At 35 degrees C, the maximal mechanical power was approximately 250 kW m(-3) (=250 microW mm(-3)) in fast (probably an underestimate) and approximately 100 kW m(-3) in slow muscle. Within the more physiological temperature range (25-35 degrees C), the temperature coefficient (Q10) of maximum power was 2-2.5. In both muscles, the maximal power at 10 degrees C was only about 3-5% of that at 35 degrees C, the decrease being particularly pronounced at temperatures below 20 degrees C (Q10 of 5-7).     

Molecular cloning and characterization of the putative ultraviolet-sensitive visual pigment of goldfish

A cDNA full length encoding a putative ultraviolet (UV)-sensitive visual pigment of goldfish was isolated. The deduced amino acid sequence shows 64% identity to those of human blue and chicken violet, and less identity (40-49%) to those of other vertebrate visual pigment. The mRNA is localized in the miniature short single cone cells, which are known to have a sensitivity maximum in the near UV-region.     

The autonomously replicating sequence (ARS) of the yeast Saccharomyces exiguus Yp74L-3

Fragments containing ARSes were cloned from the genomic DNA of the yeast Saccharomyces exiguus Yp74L-3, and the essential regions for ARSes were restricted for these fragments. Mapping studies of ARS-acting sequences in one of these fragments suggested that S. exiguus recognizes a sequence as an ARS that is different from that recognized by Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Two ARS essential regions of S. exiguus were sequenced, and an ARS core consensus sequence of S. exiguus was deduced to be MATTAMWAWWTK. This sequence differs significantly from that of S. cerevisiae in two positions, suggesting that these nucleotide substitutions cause the difference in the ARS-recognition modes between S. exiguus and S. cerevisiae.     

The effect of additional albumin with optimal concentration on the reperfusion after preservation of isolated rat hearts

Glucagon has been demonstrated to stimulate the uptake of bile acid in isolated rat hepatocytes (Am. J. Physiol., 249, G427 (1985)). In the present study, we determined the influence of glucagon on the hepatic transport of a bile acid, taurocholate (TCA), in isolated rat livers. A single-pass perfusion and a rapid-injection, multiple indicator dilution method were employed. The hepatic availability at steady-state was 0.04. With the presence of glucagon in the perfusate (from 10(-9) to 10(-7) M), the bile flow rate was stimulated by 30%, while hepatic availability was decreased from 0.04 to 0.02 with a stepwise increase in glucagon concentration. Thirty min after the infusion of glucagon (300 nM), [3H]TCA and [14C]inulin were injected in a bolus state into the portal vein, and the outflow was collected at 1.0 s intervals over 30 s. Glucagon decreased the instantaneous hepatic availability by 50% compared to the control level, and was thus compatible with the steady-state experiments. In the control experiment, the influx clearance (PSinf) was 20 times higher than the efflux clearance (PSeff). Glucagon (300 nM) in the perfusate enhanced PSinf by 50% of the control, whereas sequestration clearance (CLseq) and the biliary excretion rate constant remained unchanged. PSeff was stimulated to 2 times the control, but still remained much smaller than CLseq. Based on the comparison of PSinf, PSeff and CLseq, the rate-determining process of TCA hepatic elimination was the influx process in both the presence and absence of glucagon. Taken together, the enhancement of the influx process was responsible for the decrease in TCA hepatic availability caused by glucagon.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Modulation of tyrosine kinase activity has multiple actions on insulin release from the pancreatic beta-cell: studies with lavendustin A

The reproductive function of spinal cord injured males is not the primary concern of health professionals responsible for the management of these young adults. However, the fertility of these patients is threatened right from the first days after trauma, as indicated by abnormalities of the sperm count, reflecting the histological alterations observed on testicular biopsy. The factors predisposing to asthenoteratospermia, responsible for impaired fertility, are analysed and discussed. Urinary tract infection is the leading factor. This acute situation must be managed early, by preventing urinary tract infection and by obtaining a semen donation as soon as possible, after improvement of the general status.     

Negative strand of hepatitis C virus RNA in the liver of patients with chronic hepatitis C after interferon treatment

In patients receiving interferon therapy for chronic hepatitis C, serum hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA often reverts from an undetectable to a detectable form after completion of treatment. Detection of the negative strand of HCV-RNA in liver tissue is regarded as an index of viral proliferation. Therefore, we investigated changes in the hepatic negative-strand HCV-RNA following interferon therapy to determine whether this parameter could predict the long-term response to treatment. The subjects of this study were 27 patients with chronic active hepatitis C. Serum positive-strand and hepatic tissue negative-strand HCV-RNA were detected using polymerase chain reaction. At the completion of interferon treatment, serum HCV-RNA was not detected in 21 patients. One year following treatment it remained undetectable in 14 of these patients but it had reverted to a detectable form in seven. The 14 patients in whom hepatic negative-strand RNA was not detected between 2 weeks and 12 months after treatment, had not relapsed after another year. In the 13 remaining patients, negative-strand RNA was found in liver tissue and serum RNA either reverted to a detectable form or remained detectable throughout. From these findings, we conclude that the detection of negative-strand HCV-RNA in liver tissue 2 weeks after the completion of interferon therapy is useful for predicting the long-term effect of therapy.