Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Matrix Bands”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 829 records · Page 46Linked to original sources

New chemically modified polymeric resin for solid-phase extraction of pesticides and phenolic compounds from water.

A new chemically modified polymeric resin, with an o-carboxybenzoyl moiety, is developed to be used in the on-line solid-phase extraction (SPE) of some pesticides and phenolic compounds from aqueous samples, in order to obtain better breakthrough volumes than other commercial sorbents. The chemical introduction of this moiety improves the efficiency of SPE by providing better surface contact with aqueous samples. This synthesized sorbent enables higher volumes of sample to be concentrated for determining polar compounds. When analyzing real samples, tap and river waters, different quantities of sulphite were added to decrease the initial band due to fulvic and humic acids. The matrix peaks decreased and there were no losses in the studied compounds observed when 500 and 1000 microliters of 10% Na2SO3 solution for every 100 ml of sample were added to tap and river water, respectively.

Fresh Water↗

Microfibrillar composition of umbilical cord matrix: characterization of fibrillin, collagen VI and intact collagen V.

Ultrastructural studies made on human umbilical cord revealed that the striated collagen fibrils of the Wharton's jelly matrix are mixed with many microfibrillar structures. Microfibrils were found with a tubular cross-section of 10-12 nm diameter and were organized as beaded filaments characteristic of fibrillin-rich microfibrils. Beads had an average diameter of 25 nm and were spaced at about 50-80 nm. This ultrastructural observation was confirmed by indirect immunofluorescent staining of the jelly matrix using monoclonal antibody to fibrillin. Another constituent of the microfibrillar network was present as typical 100-nm periodic filaments of type VI collagen. Indirect immunofluorescent staining using antibodies to collagen VI showed for the first time that this collagen appeared to be distributed largely in the jelly matrix. In addition, other microfibrils with no specific banding pattern were observed. These microfibrils may constitute an organization of type V collagen different from the one which is generally assembled in heterotypic fibrils with collagen I. Among the latter heterotypic fibrils, type V collagen was studied using an anti-peptide antibody to the most N-terminal non-collagenous region of its alpha 2(V) chain. This antibody recognized a filamentous mesh decorating the bundles of collagen fibrils by immunofluorescent staining. This indicates that at least this part of alpha 2(V) chain may be accessible to the antibody at the surface of the fibrils.

Actin Cytoskeleton↗

Longitudinal, transverse, and diffuse nail hyperpigmentation induced by hydroxyurea.

Hydroxyurea is a cytostatic agent used in patients with myeloproliferative disorders that may produce nail hyperpigmentation, most frequently longitudinal melanonychia. We present a patient treated with hydroxyurea whose nails showed several patterns of nail hyperpigmentation, including longitudinal and transverse bands, and a diffuse darkening of the nail matrix.

Aged↗

A decrease in size and number of basal forebrain cholinergic neurons is paralleled by diminished hippocampal cholinergic innervation in mice lacking leukocyte common antigen-related protein tyrosine phosphatase activity.

The leukocyte common antigen-related (LAR) receptor, composed of an extracellular region with three immunoglobulin-like and eight fibronectin type III-like domains, and a cytoplasmic region containing two protein tyrosine phosphatase domains, is thought to play a role in axonal outgrowth and guidance during neural development. LAR mutant mice were generated completely lacking the two cytoplasmic protein tyrosine phosphatase domains, resulting in the loss of ability to bind intracellular associating proteins, but (may be) still containing the ability to perform extracellular functions. A reduction in size of basal forebrain cholinergic neurons and diminished hippocampal innervation reported for knockout mice that contain a leaky gene trap inserted into the 5' part of the LAR gene [Yeo T. T. et al. (1997) J. Neurosci. Res. 47, 348-360] warranted a computer-assisted quantitative image analysis throughout the basal forebrain and hippocampus of our LAR mutant mice. The total number, longest diameter and cell body area were calculated for the choline acetyltransferase-positive neurons in the medial septum and vertical diagonal band, and optical density measurements were performed to determine the extent of acetyl cholinesterase-positive fibre innervation of the different layers in the dentate gyrus. In LAR mutant mice, the number of cholinergic cells was significantly reduced (approximately 25%) in the vertical diagonal band. Also, the cross-sectional area of the cholinergic neurons in the medial septum and vertical diagonal band was reduced (5%). These findings were paralleled by a diminished cholinergic innervation of the supragranular (18%) and molecular (4%) layers of the dentate gyrus. Thus, LAR protein tyrosine phosphatase activity appears crucial for size, number and target projection of basal forebrain cholinergic neurons, further strengthening a role for LAR in CNS development.

Acetylcholine↗

Polyproline II helix is a key structural motif of the elastic PEVK segment of titin.

Titin is a family of giant elastic proteins that constitute an elastic sarcomere matrix in striated muscle. In the I-band region of the sarcomere, where titin extends and develops passive force upon stretch, titin is composed of tandem repeats of approximately 100 residue immunoglobin domains and approximately 28-residue PEVK modules. We have performed 2D NMR and circular dichroism (CD) studies of the conformations of one representative 28-mer PEVK module from human fetal titin (PEPPKEVVPEKKAPVAPPKKPEVPPVKV). NMR data of synthetic peptides of this module as well as three constituent peptides of 9 to 12 residues in aqueous solutions reveal distinguishing features for left-handed three-residue per turn PPII helices: the lack of NOE NN(i, i+1), very large NOE alphaN(i, i+1)/NN(i, i+1), no medium range NOE alphaN(i, i+2), and dihedral angles phi and psi values of -78 and 146, respectively. Structural determinations indicate the presence of three short stretches of PPII helices of 4, 5, and 6 residues that are interposed with an unordered, and presumably flexible, spacer region to give one "polyproline II helix-coil" or "PhC" motif for roughly every 10 residues. These peptides also display the characteristic PPII CD spectra: positive peak or negative shoulder band at 223 nm, negative CD band near 200 nm, and biphasic thermal titration curves that reflect varied stability of these PPII helices. We propose that this PhC motif is a fundamental feature and that the number, length, stability, and distribution of PPII is important in the understanding of the elasticity and protein interactions of the PEVK region of titin.

Amino Acid Motifs↗

Polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis and Alcian Blue staining of sulphated glycosaminoglycan oligosaccharides.

Oligosaccharide fragments of glycosaminoglycans may be separated for rapid analysis by electrophoresis through a 10% polyacrylamide matrix. An extensive ladder-like set of bands is observed for partial testicular hyaluronidase digests of chondroitin 4- or 6-sulphate, and for dermatan sulphate. Co-electrophoresis of purified oligosaccharides has established that the major bands of these patterns represent fragments differing in chain length by one disaccharide unit, with the smallest fragments having the greatest mobility. Additional minor bands, representing heterogeneity in the repeating unit structure, are also observed. There are slight differences in the mobilities of oligosaccharides derived from the three major types of sulphated glycosaminoglycans. Alcian Blue is employed for visualization of the digest fragments. Sample loads of 5-10 micrograms per band appear optimum. The smallest oligosaccharide which may be stained by this method is the hexasaccharide. After consideration of this effect, a good correlation is found to exist between densitometric scans of the gel-electrophoretic patterns and gel-filtration chromatographic profiles based on uronic acid concentration.

Alcian Blue↗

Infrared spectra of the CF3I dimer: a concurrent application of matrix-isolation spectroscopy and cavity ring-down spectroscopy.

We have observed infrared spectra of the CF(3)I dimer produced in a supersonic jet by matrix-isolation Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and infrared cavity ring-down (IR-CRD) spectroscopy. In the matrix-isolation experiments, the dimer was isolated in an Ar matrix by the pulse-deposition method. The recorded spectral range covers the symmetric (nu(1)) and doubly degenerate (nu(4)) C-F stretching regions. From the concentration dependence of the matrix-isolation spectra we have assigned one dimer band for each fundamental region. It was not easy to identify the dimer band for the nu(4) band because of the multiplet feature of the monomeric nu(4) band caused by the site symmetry breaking. The spectra of (CF(3)I)(2) in the nu(4) band region were thus also measured in the gas phase by IR-CRD spectroscopy, where we detected two dimer bands. Comparing the observed band positions with the results of quantum chemical calculations, we have assigned the observed dimer bands to the head-to-head isomer. The structure of (CF(3)I)(2) and its photochemical implications are discussed, in comparison with methyl iodide dimer reported previously [Ito et al., Chem. Phys. Lett. 343, 185 (2001)].

Journal Article↗

In vitro differentiation and calcification in a new clonal osteogenic cell line derived from newborn mouse calvaria.

We investigated the capacity of a clonal osteogenic cell line MC3T3-E1, established from newborn mouse calvaria and selected on the basis of high alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity in the confluent state, to differentiate into osteoblasts and mineralize in vitro. The cells in the growing state showed a fibroblastic morphology and grew to form multiple layers. On day 21, clusters of cells exhibiting typical osteoblastic morphology were found in osmiophilic nodular regions. Such nodules increased in number and size with incubation time and became easily identifiable with the naked eye by day 40-50. In the central part of well-developed nodules, osteocytes were embedded in heavily mineralized bone matrix. Osteoblasts were arranged at the periphery of the bone spicules and were surrounded by lysosome-rich cells and a fibroblastic cell layer. Numerous matrix vesicles were scattered around the osteoblasts and young osteocytes. Matrix vesicles and plasma membranes of osteoblasts, young osteocytes, and lysosome-rich cells showed strong reaction to cytochemical stainings for ALP activity and calcium ions. Minerals were initially localized in the matrix vesicles and then deposited on well-banded collagen fibrils. Deposited minerals consisted exclusively of calcium and phosphorus, and some of the crystals had matured into hydroxyapatite crystals. These results indicate that MC3T3-E1 cells have the capacity to differentiate into osteoblasts and osteocytes and to form calcified bone tissue in vitro.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

ELBAMAP: software for management of electrophoresis banding patterns.

ELBAMAP (Electrophoresis Band Management Package) is a 41-kbyte program written in Borland Turbo Pascal, which will run on IBM PC compatible machines. The program consists of 16 procedures involved in data entry, calculation, comparison and graphic representation of banding patterns. These procedures are selected interactively in response to a main menu and a series of prompts. Database files may be stored for subsequent analysis or addition of data. Pairwise comparisons of banding patterns may be stored as a similarity matrix suitable for use by other packages which will carry out multivariate or cluster analysis. The system has been used successfully for storage and comparison of plasmid DNA digest patterns analysed by agarose gel electrophoresis and seed promoter profiles analysed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.

Algorithms↗

Nanosecond dynamics of the near-infrared photoluminescence of Er-doped SiO2 sensitized with Si nanocrystals.

We report on an observation of a fast 1.5 microm photoluminescence band from Er3+ ions embedded in an SiO2 matrix doped with Si nanocrystals, which appears and decays within the first microsecond after the laser excitation pulse. We argue that the fast excitation and quenching are facilitated by Auger processes related to transitions of confined electrons or holes between the space-quantized levels of Si nanocrystals dispersed in SiO2. We show that a great part--about 50%--of all Er dopants is involved in these fast processes and contributes to the submicrosecond emission.

Journal Article↗

Statistical comparison of Fourier transform infrared spectra.

Spectroscopic assessment of whether a biological sample has changed as a result of processing or degradation is generally carried out by qualitative comparison of spectra, without statistical analysis, resulting in a subjective evaluation of sample stability. Here, we present a formalism for quantitative statistical comparison of signal-averaged Fourier transform infrared spectra, commonly used to assess molecular properties of biological samples. Expressions are derived permitting the comparison of 1. single beam spectra; 2. transmittance spectra obtained by calculating the ratio of single beam spectra of a sample and background; and 3. absorbance spectra derived from transmittance spectra. An application of these results to the degradation of cartilage is presented. Two absorbance spectra of a cartilage sample taken in succession are found to be statistically identical with respect to the ratio of the amplitude of the amide I band to the amplitude of the amide II band. However, a spectrum of the same sample acquired after a 24-h degradation period, while similar to the spectrum of the fresh sample, is found to have an altered ratio of these spectral band amplitudes, consistent with degradation of the cartilage matrix.

Algorithms↗

Three layers of the medial capsular and supporting structures of the knee: MR imaging-anatomic correlation.

The authors used a three-layer approach to correlate the appearance of the capsule and ligaments of the medial side of the knee on magnetic resonance (MR) images with corresponding anatomic slices. MR images of six fresh cadaveric specimens were obtained by using a proton-density-weighted fast spin-echo sequence with a 256 x 512 matrix. Specimens were frozen and sliced with a band saw into 3. 0-mm-thick sections that corresponded to the MR images. Three layers were depicted on both anatomic slices and MR images. Layer 1 consisted of the deep crural fascia; layer 2, the superficial portion of the medial collateral ligament (MCL); and layer 3, the capsule, the deep portion of the MCL, the meniscofemoral and meniscotibial extensions of the deep portion of the MCL, and the patellomeniscal ligament. Along the anterior aspect of the medial side of the knee, layer 1 was fused with layer 2; along the posterior aspect of the knee, layer 2 was fused with layer 3.

Aged↗

Genomic relations among 31 species of Mammillaria haworth (Cactaceae) using random amplified polymorphic DNA.

Thirty-one species of Mammillaria were selected to study the molecular phylogeny using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. High amount of mucilage (gelling polysaccharides) present in Mammillaria was a major obstacle in isolating good quality genomic DNA. The CTAB (cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide) method was modified to obtain good quality genomic DNA. Twenty-two random decamer primers resulted in 621 bands, all of which were polymorphic. The similarity matrix value varied from 0.109 to 0.622 indicating wide variability among the studied species. The dendrogram obtained from the unweighted pair group method using arithmetic averages (UPGMA) analysis revealed that some of the species did not follow the conventional classification. The present work shows the usefulness of RAPD markers for genetic characterization to establish phylogenetic relations among Mammillaria species.

Cactaceae↗

Epidemiologic study of results of pulsed-field gel electrophoresis of isolates of Rhodococcus equi obtained from horses and horse farms.

OBJECTIVE: To compare isolates of Rhodococcus equi on the basis of geographic source and virulence status by use of pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). SAMPLE POPULATION: 290 isolates of R equi (218 virulent isolates from foals and 72 avirulent isolates from feces, soil, and respiratory tract samples) obtained between 1985 and 2000 from horses and horse farms from 4 countries. PROCEDURE: DNA from isolates was digested with the restriction enzyme Asel and tested by use of PFGE. Products were analyzed for similarities in banding patterns by use of dendrograms. A similarity matrix was constructed for isolates, and the matrix was tested for nonrandom distributions of similarity values with respect to groupings of interest. RESULTS: There was little grouping of isolates on the basis of country, virulence status, or region within Texas. Isolates of R equi were generally < 80% similar, as determined by use of PFGE. Isolates from the same farm generally were rarely of the same strain. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Considerable chromosomal variability exists among isolates of R equiobtained from the same farm, sites withinTexas, or among countries from various continents. Only rarely will it be possible to link infections to a given site or region on the basis of analysis of isolates by use of PFGE of chromosomal DNA.

Actinomycetales Infections↗

PLAG1 fusion oncogenes in lipoblastoma.

Lipoblastomas are pediatric neoplasms resulting from transformation of adipocytes. These benign tumors are typically composed of adipose cells in different stages of maturation within a variably myxoid matrix, and they contain clonal rearrangements of chromosome band 8q12. Because lipoblastomas resemble embryonic adipose tissue, characterization of their transforming mechanisms might reveal biological pathways in physiological adipogenesis. Herein, we demonstrate that lipoblastoma chromosome 8q12 rearrangements bring about promoter-swapping events in the PLAG1 oncqgene. We show that the hyaluronic acid synthase 2 (HAS2) or collagen 1 alpha 2 (COL1A2) gene promoter regions are fused to the entire PLAG1 coding sequence in each of four lipoblastomas. PLAG1 is a developmentally regulated zinc finger gene whose tumorigenic function has been shown previously only in epithelial salivary gland cells. Our findings reveal that PLAG1 activation, presumably resulting from transcriptional up-regulation, is a central oncogenic event in lipoblastoma.

Adipose Tissue↗

Cytochemical localization of lysosomal enzyme activity in normal and ischemic dog myocardium.

The effect of ischemia on the integrity of myocardial lysosomes was observed 3 1/2 and 24 hours after the production of infarcts in 20 anesthetized closed-chest dogs by electrically induced thrombosis of the left anterior descending coronary artery. Biopsies from normal, marginal and infarcted areas were fixed and incubated to localize the lysosomal enzymes acid phosphatase and aryl sulphatase. Reaction product in normal cells was localized in small circular or oblong profiles between bundles of myofilaments and adjacent to mitochondria. In addition, curvilinear, membrane-bound profiles containing reaction product were found in close apposition to transverse tubules and near the free margins of the myocardial cells. Thus the distribution of elements of the sarcoplasmic reticulum. Additional reaction product was also seen in residual bodies, on myelin figures, and in the few conventional appearing spherical lysosomes. Little or no acid phosphatase or aryl sulphatase reaction product was seen in the sarcoplasmic reticulum of infarcted myocardium. The degree of cellular degeneration correlated with disappearance of enzyme activity from the sarcoplasmic reticulum and included disruption of membranes and loss of mitochondrial matrix and erosion of I but not A bands. Marginal areas showed variable amounts of cellular degeneration. Separation of myofilament bundles and loss of glycogen correlated with the localized disappearance of acid phosphatase and aryl sulphatase activity in marginal tissue. Disruption of mitochondrial and erosion of I bands correlated with extensive loss of these enzymes. The data suggest that degeneration of myocardial cells following ischemic injury is associated with release of endogenous lysosomal enzymes from the sarcoplasmic reticulum.

Acid Phosphatase↗

Characterization of the deoxyribonuclease and ADP-ribosyltransferase activities of CRM45, a truncated homologue of diphtheria toxin.

CRM45 is a mutant form of diphtheria toxin (DTx) that lacks a 17-kDa carboxyl-terminal segment of the receptor-binding B subunit (DTB). The missing segment is a discrete structural domain of DTB that normally rests against the NAD binding pocket of the enzymically-active A subunit (DTA). Proteolytic cleavage and disulfide bridge reduction in the DTA-DTB linker region of DTx are required for optimal ADP-ribosylation of elongation factor 2 (EF-2). Here, we show that cleaved and uncleaved preparations of X-ray crystal grade CRM45 both exhibit an ADP-ribosyltransferase activity similar to that of cleaved DTx. Crystal-grade preparations of CRM45 also display a potent deoxyribonuclease activity. However, as observed with DTx, cleavage and reduction of CRM45 are not required for expression of this nuclease activity. After SDS-PAGE in a gel that contains DNA embedded in the matrix, renaturable Ca++/Mg(++)-dependent nuclease-active bands co-migrate with intact CRM45 (45 kDa) as well as with the DTA subunit (24 kDa) of CRM45. Because the 45-kDa nuclease-active band is unique to the CRM45 form of DTx, it offers direct proof that this activity is intrinsic to the DTA domain of DTx and its homologues.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Intervertebral disc tissue engineering I: characterization of the nucleus pulposus.

The characteristics of the nucleus pulposus cells from adult rabbits maintained in in vitro cultures were described in another study. Herein, the authors provide a parallel profile of adult rabbit nucleus pulposus in situ, therefore allowing direct comparisons between in vitro and in situ investigations. Nucleus pulposus specimens from adult rabbits were evaluated using biochemical and immunohistochemical morphologic techniques. The nucleus pulposus from adult rabbits contained cell clusters embedded in proteoglycan-collagen matrix. The cells exhibited a well-defined Golgi system, an extensive endoplasmic reticulum, and a complex vesicular system filled with beaded structures (proteoglycans). Neither necrotic nor apoptotic cells were evident. There was a lack of mitochondria. The extensive extracellular matrix contained amorphous, beaded, and fibrillar components. The fibrillar banding was indicative of Type VI collagen. The nucleus pulposus of adult rabbits expressed aggrecan, collagen Type I and Type II, and CD44, but not collagen Type X and displayed low alkaline phosphatase activity.

Animals↗