secG and temperature modulate expression of azide-resistant and signal sequence suppressor phenotypes of Escherichia coli secA mutants

SecA is a dynamic protein that undergoes ATP-dependent membrane cycling to drive protein translocation across the Escherichia coli inner membrane. To understand more about this process, azide-resistant (azi) and signal sequence suppressor (prlD) alleles of secA were studied. We found that azide resistance is cold sensitive because of a direct effect on protein export, suggesting that SecA-membrane interaction is regulated by an endothermic step that is azide inhibitable. secG function is required for expression of azide-resistant and signal sequence suppressor activities of azi and prlD alleles, and in turn, these alleles suppress cold-sensitive and export-defective phenotypes of a secG null mutant. These remarkable genetic observations support biochemical data indicating that SecG promotes SecA membrane cycling and that this process is dependent on an endothermic change in SecA conformation.     

A comparative cerebral blood flow study in a baboon model with acetazolamide provocation: 99mTc-HMPAO vs 123I(IMP)

Pharmacological interactions are important when nuclear medical procedures are applied to patients under drug therapy, or drug provocation. This study compares in baboon models (regional) cerebral blood flow [(r)CBF] results from 99mTc-HMPAO and 123I-iodoamphetamine [123I(IMP)] each with and without acetazolamide, the latter a suggested drug for testing cerebrovascular reserve. Expected differences in cerebral uptake were observed between the two radio-tracers without acetazolamide. The increase in tracer uptake resulting from acetazolamide is significantly enhanced for 123I(IMP), which could have diagnostic implications.     

A monotone multigrid solver for two body contact problems in biomechanics

The purpose of the paper is to apply monotone multigrid methods to static and dynamic biomechanical contact problems. In space, a finite element method involving a mortar discretization of the contact conditions is used. In time, a new contact-stabilized Newmark scheme is presented. Numerical experiments for a two body Hertzian contact problem and a biomechanical application are reported. This work was supported by the DFG Research Center Matheon.     

Optically amplified first window systems experiments

A diode pumped, commercially packaged, thulium doped fluoride fiber amplifier (TDFFA) operating in the region of 0.8 μm has been characterized. The unit is capable of producing large small signal gains, low noise figures and high saturated output powers. A power amplifier slope efficiency of 62% has been achieved at 810 nm. The same TDFFA unit was used in a series of systems experiments, at data rates of 310 Mb/s and 1.2 Gb/s, in the first telecommunications window. The results of this work indicate that data can be transmitted over ≈10 km lengths of both singlemode and standard transmission fiber, while still allowing significant margin to split the signal to a number of customers. The application of the TDFFA could therefore have significant benefit for future LAN/MAN type systems architectures involving large signal splits to customer's premises     

Identification of elements on GeneX-secA RNA of Escherichia coli required for SecA binding and secA auto-regulation

The protein translocation ATPase of Escherichia coli, SecA protein, auto-regulates its translation by binding to its translation initiation region in geneX-secA mRNA. To analyze this regulation further the secondary structure of this portion of geneX-secA RNA was investigated utilizing structure-specific nucleases and chemical probing approaches. The results of this analysis were consistent with the existence of two adjacent helices, helix I and the lower portion of helix II, whose function in secA activation and repression, respectively, has been demonstrated. Binding of SecA protein to geneX-secA RNA or various mutant derivatives of this RNA was studied by measurement of affinity constants, RNA footprint analysis, and quantitation of auto-repression in vivo. This analysis showed that the SecA-binding site in geneX-secA RNA was remarkably large spanning a region of 96 nucleotides including a 3' portion of helix II, the secA translation initiation region and distal sequences. From the size of the SecA-binding site and the plasticity of its response to mutational alteration, it is suggested that SecA protein contains two distinct RNA-binding sites. Finally, it was shown that SecA binding was not sufficient to promote auto-regulation and that sequences both upstream (helix I) and within the binding site can contribute to auto-regulation without affecting SecA-binding affinity.     

F?deratives Identit?tsmanagement am Beispiel der elektronischen Fallakte

Für Krankenh?user sind Anwendungen für kooperativ angelegte Behandlungsprozesse wesentliche Werkzeuge um einen zeitnahen einrichtungs- und sektorübergreifenden Austausch patientenbezogener medizinischer Daten zu gew?hrleisten.     

Comparison of the resistance of C57BL/6 and C3H/He mice to infection with Mycobacterium paratuberculosis

Susceptibility of C57BL/6 (Bcgs) and C3H/HeN (Bcgr) mice to an intraperitoneal infection with Mycobacterium paratuberculosis strain 19698 was compared (by histopathology and the number of mycobacteria isolated from the spleen). Mycobacterial counts from the spleen of Bcgr mice progressively decreased over the course of infection but remained unchanged in Bcgs mice. Granulomatous lesions and acid-fast bacteria were consistently present in the liver and lymph nodes of Bcgs mice, whereas lesions were transient or absent in Bcgr mice. These results indicate that Bcgr mice are inherently resistant to M. paratuberculosis, whereas Bcgs mice are inherently susceptible. These differences may prove useful in elucidating the mechanisms of resistance and susceptibility to paratuberculosis and other mycobacterial infections.