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Calibration of the Amersham Ferritin RIA kit using the WHO human liver ferritin international standard 80/602.

A commercial ferritin kit (Amersham Ferritin RIA (A)) was calibrated using the WHO human liver ferritin international standard 80/602 (W). The reconstituted WHO freeze-dried standard was diluted to obtain five concentration levels ranging from 10-800 micrograms/l. Logarithmic transformation of the values was performed in order to stabilize the variance, yielding the regression equation: logA = 0.0235 + 1.0022 logW. The slope of the regression line (being very close to, and not significantly different from, one) was set to one, and the relation between the untransformed values then became a proportionality: A = 1.067 x W. A WHO standard ferritin value of 15 micrograms/l (often used as cut-off value for absent iron reserves) and of 30 mu/l (often used as threshold value for the presence of stainable marrow haemosiderin iron) yielded calculated Amersham Ferritin RIA values of 16.0 micrograms/l and 32.0 micrograms/l.

Calibration↗

Enhancement by chloride ions of photoactivation of oxygen evolution in manganese-depleted photosystem II membranes.

The Mn cluster that catalyzes photosynthetic oxygen evolution was removed from the photosystem II (PSII) complex by treating PSII membranes with 1.0 mM NH2OH with concomitant inactivation of oxygen evolution. The cluster was reconstituted by incubating the treated membranes with 1.0 mM Mn2+, 20 mM Ca2+, 10 microM 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol, and Cl- under illumination with continuous or flashing light to restore the oxygen-evolving capacity. This light-dependent activation (photoactivation) of oxygen evolution did not occur to a significant extent at 3 mM Cl-, but markedly accelerated at higher Cl- concentrations without showing a saturation phenomenon even at 1 M Cl-. At 10 mM Cl- only about 10% of the oxygen-evolving activity before NH2OH treatment was restored by 5-min illumination with continuous light, whereas at 600 mM Cl- about 60% of the original activity was recovered. This acceleration resulted from at least two different actions of Cl-: (1) stabilization of the intermediate state involved in the photoactivation process and (2) increase in the quantum yield of photoactivation. The stabilization of the intermediate was saturated at about 150 mM Cl-, whereas the increase in yield did not show saturation. The Cl(-)-induced increase in quantum yield did not involve any changes in the affinity of either Mn2+ binding or Ca2+ binding for photoactivation, but was rather ascribed to a protective effect of Cl- against inhibition of photoactivation by high concentrations of Mn2+. We also found that removal of the extrinsic 33-kDa protein from the PSII complex increased the Cl- requirement for photoactivation.

Binding Sites↗

Comparative effects of cryosolvents on tubulin association, thermal stability, and binding of microtubule-associated proteins.

Organic cryosolvents essential for cryopreservation of living cells have a colligative effect on water properties, but also affect cellular structures such as the membrane, actin, or tubulin cytoskeleton. The effects of cryosolvents on actin and its binding proteins are starting to be well investigated. In parallel, tubulin assembly characteristics were investigated comparatively, with 0-30% 1,2-propanediol, dimethyl sulfoxide, or glycerol, and with or without microtubule-associated proteins, at 37 or 4 degrees C. Tubulin association was monitored by spectrometry and sedimentation, providing the concentration in free protein, cold-depolymerizable microtubules, and cold-resistant associations. At 37 degrees C, 1,2-propanediol and dimethyl sulfoxide induce a similar association level and cold stability of the assemblies. Glycerol yields a lower level of tubulin association. Cold stability of the assemblies requires the presence of solvent, the amount of which is modulated by microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs): 15% 1,2-propanediol or dimethyl sulfoxide, decreasing down to 10% with MAPs, or 10% glycerol with MAPs only. At 4 degrees C, some cold-stable association is promoted by 1,2-propanediol or dimethyl sulfoxide above 10-15%, in the presence or absence of MAPs, but not with glycerol. In addition, protein content of the various fractions obtained with MAPs and 30% solvent was examined by densitometry of electrophoresis gels. Cold-labile associations obtained at 37 degrees C with 1,2-propanediol or dimethyl sulfoxide are lacking in tubulin and enriched in tau proteins relative to control or glycerol. Associations formed at 37 degrees C and stable to subsequent cold treatment, or at 4 degrees C, regardless of the solvent, present a large tubulin content, as well as few tau proteins and high-molecular-weight MAPs.

Animals↗

Contribution of stream channel erosion to sediment yield from an urbanizing watershed

Stream channel erosion has long been suspected as the major contributor to long-term sediment yield from urbanizing watersheds. For San Diego Creek in southern California, measurements from 1983 to 1993 showed that stream channel erosion furnished 10(5) megagrams per year of sediment, or about two-thirds of the total sediment yield. Thus, because channel erosion can be a major source of sediment yield from urbanizing areas, channel stabilization should be a priority in managing sediment yield.

Journal Article↗

Comparison of chitin and Amberlite IRA-938 for alpha-galactosidase immobilization.

Watermelon alpha-galactosidase (EC 3.2.1.22) was immobilized on a natural (chitin) and a synthetic anion-exchange (Amberlite IRA-938) support by covalent coupling methods. The procedure entails the activation of supports with 1,1'-carbonyldiimidazole (CDI), followed by immobilization of the enzyme on to these supports without and with a spacer arm; gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Optimization of activation was performed by changing the CDI concentrations and coupling efficiencies. The comparison of two immobilization techniques for both chitin and Amberlite IRA-938 was made by comparing different enzyme concentrations against enzyme activity yield. Furthermore, the storage stability of the immobilized enzymes was also investigated and chitin immobilized alpha-galactosidase was found to be better. Although the activity yield of immobilized enzymes were the same for both supports, the short storage stability of immobilized enzyme on Amberlite IRA-938 is currently a drawback to its applications.

Anion Exchange Resins↗

Alteration of hepatic glucocorticoid receptor stability and nuclear binding in vitro by citrate.

Citrate greatly stabilized rat hepatic unbound glucocorticoid receptors in cell-free conditions at 4 degrees C with optimal effectiveness at 5-15 mM. Control receptors were inactivated at 4 degrees C with a half-life of less than 12 h. However, in the presence of 10 mM-citrate, unbound receptors were almost completely stabilized for 48 h at 4 degrees C. Citrate at a concentration of 1-2 mM yielded half-maximal stabilization. The stabilizing effect of citrate was rather specific, as succinate, alpha-oxoglutarate, oxaloacetate, malate and pyruvate had no apparent stabilizing action. Citrate stabilized receptors over a wide range of H+ concentrations, with complete protection between pH 6.5 and 8.5. In addition, citrate appeared to have a significant effect on glucocorticoid-receptor complex activation into a nuclear binding form. Thus 5-10 mM-citrate enhanced nuclear binding, with optimal activation achieved at 10 mM concentration. As analysed by sucrose-density-gradient centrifugation and DEAE-cellulose chromatography, no apparent change was observed in the physical characteristics of the glucocorticoid receptor in the presence of citrate.

Animals↗

Synthesis and evaluation of a monoreactive DOTA derivative for indium-111-based residualizing label to estimate protein pharmacokinetics.

The purpose of this study was to develop an indium-111 (111In)-based residualizing label for estimating the pharmacokinetics of proteins. 1,4,7,10-Tetraazacyclododecane-N,N',N'',N'''-tetraacetic acid (DOTA), which produced a highly stable and hydrophilic 111In chelate, was selected as the chelating site, and the monoreactive DOTA derivative with a tetrafluorophenyl group as the protein binding site (mDOTA) was designed to avoid cross-linkings of proteins. mDOTA was synthesized with an overall yield of 11%. The stability in murine plasma, the radioactivity retention in the catabolic sites of proteins and the radiochemical yields of 111In-labelled proteins via mDOTA were investigated using human serum albumin (HSA), galactosyl-neoglycoalbumin (NGA) and cytochrome c (cyt c) as model proteins. 111In-labelled HSA via mDOTA was highly stable for 5 days after incubation in murine plasma. Long retention of radioactivity in the catabolic sites was observed after injection of 111In-DOTA-NGA in mice, due to the slow elimination of the radiometabolite from the lysosome. At a chelator concentration of 42.2 microM, 111In-DOTA-cyt c was produced with over 91% radiochemical yield. On the other hand, 111In-DOTA-lysine and 111In-DOTA were obtained with high radiochemical yields at lower chelator concentrations. These findings indicated that mDOTA would be an appropriate 111In-labelling agent for estimating protein pharmacokinetics. These findings also suggested that the introduction of a protein binding site at a position distal from the unmodified DOTA structure would be preferable to preparing 111In-DOTA-labelled proteins with higher specific activity.

Animals↗

Running on water: Three-dimensional force generation by basilisk lizards.

Water provides a unique challenge for legged locomotion because it readily yields to any applied force. Previous studies have shown that static stability during locomotion is possible only when the center of mass remains within a theoretical region of stability. Running across a highly yielding surface could move the center of mass beyond the edges of the region of stability, potentially leading to tripping or falling. Yet basilisk lizards are proficient water runners, regularly dashing across bodies of water to evade predators. We present here direct measurements of time-averaged force produced by juvenile plumed basilisk lizards (Basiliscus plumifrons) while running across water. By using digital particle image velocimetry to visualize fluid flow induced by foot movement, we show that sufficient support force is generated for a lizard to run across water and that novel strategies are also required to run across a highly yielding surface. Juvenile basilisk lizards produce greatest support and propulsive forces during the first half of the step, when the foot moves primarily vertically downwards into the water; they also produce large transverse reaction forces that change from medial (79% body weight) to lateral (37% body weight) throughout the step. These forces may act to dynamically stabilize the lizards during water running. Our results give insight into the mechanics of how basilisk lizards run across water and, on a broader scale, provide a conceptual basis for how locomotor surface properties can challenge established rules for the mechanics of legged locomotion.

Animals↗

Stability of cognitive performance of children with developmental delays.

A prospective longitudinal study of the development of children with delays of unknown etiology yielded data on the stability of cognitive performance over a 6-year period. Mean age at entry was 34.2 months; mean age at exit, 109.7 months. Data reported in the present article were based on assessments using the Gesell Developmental Schedules and the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale. For the group as a whole, the means of the test scores over time were remarkably stable. The stability of test scores appeared to be related to the level of functioning at entry, with those children with the highest development quotients at entry making the most progress over time.

Cognition↗

Effect of osmotic pressure on the production of retroviral vectors: Enhancement in vector stability.

The use of Moloney murine leukaemia virus (MoMLV) derived retroviral vectors in gene therapy requires the production of high titer preparations. However, obtaining high titers of infective MoMLV retroviral vectors is difficult due to the vector inherent instability. In this work the effect of the cell culture medium osmotic pressure upon the virus stability was studied. The osmolality of standard medium was raised from 335 up to 500 mOsm/kg using either ionic (sodium chloride) or non-ionic osmotic agents (sorbitol and fructose). It was observed that, independently of the osmotic agent used, the infectious vector inactivation rate was inversely correlated with the osmolality used in the production media; therefore, the use of high medium osmolalities enhanced vector stability. For production purposes a balance must be struck between cell yield, cell productivity and retroviral stability. From the conditions tested herein sorbitol addition, ensuring osmolalities between 410 and 450 mOsm/kg, yields the best production conditions; NaCl hampered the viral infectious production while fructose originates lower cell yields. Lipid extractions were performed for cholesterol and phospholipid analyses showing that more stable viral vectors had a 10% reduction in the cholesterol content. A similar reduction in cholesterol was observed in the producer cells. A detailed analysis of the major phospholipids composition, type and fatty acid content, by mass spectrometry did not show significant changes, confirming the decrease in the cholesterol to phospholipids ratio in the viral membrane as the major reason for the increased vector stability.

Cell Line↗

Covalent stabilization of coiled coils of the HIV gp41 N region yields extremely potent and broad inhibitors of viral infection.

Peptides from the N-heptad repeat region of the HIV gp41 protein can inhibit viral fusion, but their potency is limited by a low tendency to form a trimeric coiled-coil. Accordingly, stabilization of N peptides by fusion with the stable coiled-coil IZ yields nanomolar inhibitors [Eckert, D. M. & Kim, P. S. (2001) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 98, 11187-11192]. Because the antiviral potency of IZN17 is limited by self-association equilibrium, we covalently stabilized the peptide by using interchain disulfide bonds. The resulting covalent trimer, (CCIZN17)3, has an extraordinary thermodynamic stability that translates into unprecedented antiviral potency: (CCIZN17)3 (i) inhibits fusion in a cell-cell fusion assay (IC50 = 260 pM); (ii) is the most potent fusion inhibitor described to date (IC50 = 40-380 pM) in a single-cycle infectivity assay against HIV(HXB2), HIV(NL4-3), and HIV(MN-1); (iii) efficiently neutralizes acute viral infection in peripheral blood mononuclear cells; and (iv) displays a broad antiviral profile, being able to neutralize 100% of a large panel of HIV isolates, including R5, X4, and R5/X4 strains. In all of these assays, the potency of N-peptide inhibitor (CCIZN17)3 was equal to or more than the C-peptide inhibitor in clinical use, DP178 (also known as Enfuvirtide and Fuzeon). More importantly, we show that the two inhibitors, which have different targets in gp41, synergize when used in combination. These features make (CCIZN17)3 an attractive lead to develop as an antiviral drug, alone or in combination with DP178, as well as a promising immunogen to elicit a fusion-blocking neutralizing antibody response.

Anti-HIV Agents↗

Effects of pH, temperature, and chemical structure on the stability of S-(purin-6-yl)-L-cysteine: evidence for a novel molecular rearrangement mechanism to yield N-(purin-6-yl)-L-cysteine.

The stability of S-(purin-6-yl)-L-cysteine (SPC), a kidney-selective prodrug of 6-mercaptopurine and a putative metabolite of 6-chloropurine, was investigated under various pH and temperature conditions. At room temperature, the half-life (t 1/2) of SPC at either highly acidic (pH 3.6) or basic conditions (pH 9.6) was longer than at neutral or slightly acidic or basic conditions (pH 5.7-8.75). The primary degradation product, N-(purin-6-yl)-L-cysteine (NPC), was isolated using Sephadex LH-20 chromatography and characterized by 1H NMR and FAB/MS after derivatization with 2-iodoacetic acid. These results reveal novel stability requirements and implicate the cysteinyl amino group and the purinyl N-1 nitrogen in the mechanism of SPC rearrangement to NPC. Further evidence for this hypothesis was provided by the findings that the stability of SPC in phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) at 37 degrees C was similar to that of S-(guanin-6-yl)-L-cysteine, whereas S-(purin-6-yl)-N-acetyl-L-cysteine and S-(purin-6-yl)glutathione which have their cysteine amino groups blocked were much more stable than SPC. S-(Purin-6-yl)-L-homocysteine (SPHC) was also more stable than SPC, possibly because the formation of a 6-membered ring transition state as would be expected with SPHC is kinetically less favored than the formation of a 5-membered ring transition state as would be expected with SPC. These results may explain previous in vivo metabolism results of SPC and its analogs and may contribute to a better understanding of stability of structurally related cysteine S-conjugates.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗

The conjugation stabilization of 1,3-butadiyne is zero.

[reaction: see text] In contrast to 1,3-butadiene, the textbook example of "conjugation stabilization", G3(MP2) calculations yielding the enthalpy of hydrogenation Delta(hyd)H(298) of 1,3-butadiyne indicate that it is not stabilized by the conjugated configuration of its triple bonds. Differences between ethylenic and acetylenic pi bonds are examined in the light of CAS-MCSCF calculations on 1,3-butadiene and 1,3-butadiyne.

Journal Article↗

Detailed study of sequence-specific DNA cleavage of triplex-forming oligonucleotides linked to 1,10-phenanthroline.

We introduced eight bases, including four base analogs, into 15-mer triplex-forming oligonucleotides (TFOs) [d-psTTTCTTTNTTTTCTT; ps = thiophosphate; N = A, G, C, T, 2'-deoxyinosine (I), 2'-deoxyxanthosine (X), 5-methyl-2'-deoxycytidine (m5C), or 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine(br5U)] to investigate the Hoogsteen-like hydrogen bonding to the base in the target 34-mer strand (d-TGAGTGAGTAAAGAAARAAAAGAATGAGTGCCAA.d-TTGGCACTCATTCTTTTYTTTCT TTACTCACTCA; RY = AT, GC, TA, or CG). We examined the thermal stability of 15-mer triplexes in buffer containing 100 mM sodium acetate and 1 M NaCl at pH 5.0. The triplexes with typical triplets of T.AT (51.3 degrees C), br5U.AT (52.4 degrees C), C+.GC (66.7 degrees C), and m5C+.GC (66.8 degrees C) at the central position showed relatively higher Tm values, as expected. The relatively high stability of the X.AT triplex (39.8 degrees C) was observed. Among the N.TA triplets, G.TA (44.8 degrees C) was thermally the most stable, and moreover, the data showed that the N.TA triplet was also stabilized by I in the N position (40.7 degrees C). Furthermore, the TFOs were converted to DNA-cleaving molecules by introducing a newly synthesized 1,10-phenanthroline (OP) derivative on the thiophosphate group at the 5' end. Cleavage reactions of the 32P-labeled DNA (34-mer) were carried out. The cleavage efficiencies were compared to the Tm values of triplexes with or without an OP derivative. Results showed that the increased cleavage yields reflect the higher thermal stability of the triplex formed in most cases, but a few exceptional cases existed. Especially, the G-containing TFO did not show the above correlation between thermal stability and cleavage yield.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

3-Mercaptopropionic Acid↗

[Biomechanical studies on two thoracolumbar implants in cadaveric spine].

The aim of these studies was to evaluate the biomechanical characteristics of two devices and provide information for clinical choice. In vitro cadaveric spine testing which consisted of the stability test and the yield strength test was performed. In hemicorpectomy model, the AF was stiffer than the Kaneda in flexion, extension and left lateral bending (P < 0.01). In total corpectomy model, the AF was stiffer than the Kaneda in flexion, left lateral bending and axial rotation (P < 0.01). The average values of yield strength(M) for the Kaneda, the AF and the intact were 477.3 kg, 544.4 kg and 493.6 kg resectively. The stability of the AF is superior to that of the Kaneda. In total corpectomy, the Kaneda is significantly unstable in axial rotation. Both devices restore effectively load carrying capacity of the spine.

Adult↗

Stress responses in two genotypes of mulberry (Morus alba L.) under NaCl salinity.

Changes in biomass yield rates, cell membrane stability (CMS), malondialdehyde (MDA) content and in the levels of physiological stress markers such as proline and glycine betaine in two high yielding genotypes (S1 and ATP, salt tolerant and salt sensitive, respectively) of mulberry under NaCl salinity were studied. Biomass yield rates and CMS were significantly decreased in both the genotypes under stress conditions. Per cent of decrease in biomass yield rate and CMS was relatively less in S1 than in ATP. Salt stress results a significant increase in the accumulation of proline, by 6-fold in S1 and 4-fold in ATP. Glycine betaine content was also increased significantly in stressed plants. However, the per cent increase was more in S1 than in ATP. The level of lipid peroxidation as indicated by MDA formation was greater in ATP than in S1. These results clearly support the better salt tolerant nature of S1 compared to ATP genotype.

Betaine↗

Low temperature and glucose enhanced T7 RNA polymerase-based plasmid stability for increasing expression of glucagon-like peptide-2 in Escherichia coli.

The high activity of T7 RNA polymerase has made the T7 RNA polymerase-based expression system very powerful for high-level expression of recombinant protein. However, the overactivity of T7 RNA polymerase would also bring about negative effects on plasmid stability and protein production, especially when expressing a toxic protein. If the latter role is dominant, it is necessary to adopt some measures to attenuate the activity or the amount of T7 RNA polymerase in the cells. Apart from the stringent regulation by inserting some genes reducing the amount or the activity of T7 RNA polymerase into plasmids, optimizing the culture conditions would be another way. In this work, we have studied the effects of various culture conditions on the plasmid stability and the target protein yield including selective pressure, culture temperature, toxicity of the target protein and the catabolite repression caused by glucose. The results have indicated that adding antibiotic after induction has little effect in increasing plasmid stability, but inducing expression at low temperature and adding glucose to the medium improved the plasmid stability and the protein yield to a large extent.

Biochemistry↗

Relationship between self-association of insulin and its secretion efficiency in yeast.

The folding stability of insulin is positively correlated with the expression yield of the precursor expressed in yeast. Insulin assembles into dimers and hexamers in a concentration-dependent manner and amino acid substitutions that impair the ability of insulin to associate into dimers concomitantly decrease the expression yield (excluding substitutions that enhance folding stability). In contrast, introduction of an amino substitution that enhances the self-association of insulin improved the yeast expression yield. In the monomeric state the majority of the non-polar residues of insulin are exposed to the solvent and assembly into dimers and hexamers shields these from contact with the solvent. It is proposed that self-association enhances the flux of insulin through the secretory pathway by increasing the hydrophilicity, decreasing the surface area as well as decreasing the molar concentration in the secretory pathway.

Amino Acids↗