Monovalent cation transporters at the plasma membrane in yeasts

Maintenance of proper intracellular concentrations of monovalent cations, mainly sodium and potassium, is a requirement for survival of any cell. In the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, monovalent cation homeostasis is determined by the active extrusion of protons through the Pma1 H⁺-ATPase (reviewed in another chapter of this issue), the influx and efflux of these cations through the plasma membrane transporters (reviewed in this chapter), and the sequestration of toxic cations into the vacuoles. Here, we will describe the structure, function, and regulation of the plasma membrane transporters Trk1, Trk2, Tok1, Nha1, and Ena1, which play a key role in maintaining physiological intracellular concentrations of Na⁺, K⁺, and H⁺, both under normal growth conditions and in response to stress.     

Ergodic optimization of stochastic differential systems in wireless networks

Multidimensional Systems and Signal Processing - The present work is the second article in a couple of intertwined papers. They form complementary items on the same subject. They both address the...     

基于IFS确定性迭代算法的麦粒分形组织设计法

针对L系统在绘制织物分形组织图方面存在的局限,运用IFS的确定性迭代算法生成规则,结合计算机图形方法,提出了一种分形组织图的纹织效果设计方法。该设计方法以复杂变化组织中的麦粒组织为基础组织,基于IFS生成具有自相似结构的分形组织图,然后选择不同形式的组织为填充组织,从而获得具有特殊纹理效果的分形织物组织图。结合纺织CAD技术,借助电子提花机进行了相应的组织织造实验,对设计形成风格新奇的织物组织的新方法进行了初步的探讨。     

The influence of monoacylglycerol and L‐glutamic acid on the viscoelastic properties of wheat flour dough and sensory characteristics of French loaf product

BACKGROUND: The influence of monoacylglycerol Rimulsoft Super(V) and L ‐glutamic acid added to wheat flour dough was studied. Properties of the doughs were evaluated on the basis of chemical analysis and rheological measurements on a farinograph. Bakery products made from these doughs were subsequently subjected to sensory analyses. RESULTS: It was found that L ‐glutamic acid influenced the water absorption in dough more (50.0 g kg^?1; water absorption 56.6%) than monoacylglycerol Rimulsoft Super(V) (50.0 g kg^?1; water absorption 55.0%). Farinograph measurements showed that doughs with the addition of L ‐glutamic acid resembled flour containing high‐quality gluten, but dough with the addition of monoacylglycerol Rimulsoft Super(V) corresponded to ‘weak’ flour. Sensory analyses revealed that, in comparison with the control sample of French loaf, the saliva‐absorbing capacity increased in the French loaf with the highest addition of L ‐glutamic acid (30.0 g kg^?1). Deterioration in quality and texture in French loaf with addition of L ‐glutamic acid (8.0 g kg^?1, 30.0 g kg^?1) was noted. No other statistically significant differences were found. CONCLUSION: It is acceptable to add both additives to dough in order to modify its rheological properties. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

Preparation of spherical macroporous silica in an aerosol phase

Macroporous silica (MS) and macro/mesoporous silica (MMS) were prepared by spray drying a polystyrene (PS) latex sol containing a silica source, followed by calcination. As a silica source, 3-aminopropyl triethoxysilane (APS) was used for MS while either silica sol (SS) or tetraethoxyothosilicate using P123 templating (P123-TEOS) was used for MMS. Spray drying and calcination could also take place in a once-through aerosol reactor. The transformation of the silicon alkoxides to silica and decomposition of PS occurred at similar temperatures. Therefore, for APS-originated MS, the metal additives such as silver and nickel were required to accelerate the former. In addition, the nickel was well dispersed in the silica matrix during calcination even at 800 °C, in turn to thermally stabilize the porous structures. The wall-preforming additives were unnecessary for PS/SS and PS/P123-TEOS, since the SS drying and P123 templating, respectively, took place at lower temperature than PS decomposition. The porosities of all the porous silica prepared ranged from 0.54 to 0.57, which were close to the volume fraction of PS in the PS-alkoxides mixture solidified right after spray drying.     

Cancer Cell Response to Anthracyclines Effects: Mysteries of the Hidden Proteins Associated with These Drugs

A comprehensive proteome map of T-lymphoblastic leukemia cells and its alterations after daunorubicin, doxorubicin and mitoxantrone treatments was monitored and evaluated either by paired comparison with relevant untreated control and using multivariate classification of treated and untreated samples. With the main focus on early time intervals when the influence of apoptosis is minimized, we found significantly different levels of proteins, which corresponded to 1%–2% of the total amount of protein spots detected. According to Gene Ontology classification of biological processes, the highest representation of identified proteins for all three drugs belong to metabolic processes of proteins and nucleic acids and cellular processes, mainly cytoskeleton organisation and ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. Importantly, we observed significant proportion of changes in proteins involved in the generation of precursor metabolites and energy typical for daunorubicin, transport proteins participating in response to doxorubicin and a group of proteins of immune system characterising response to mitoxantrone. Both a paired comparison and the multivariate evaluation of quantitative data revealed daunorubicin as a distinct member of the group of anthracycline/anthracenedione drugs. A combination of identified drug specific protein changes, which may help to explain anti-cancer activity, together with the benefit of blocking activation of adaptive cancer pathways, presents important approaches to improving treatment outcomes in cancer.     

Structural Study of the Partially Disordered Full‐Length δ Subunit of RNA Polymerase from Bacillus subtilis

The partially disordered δ subunit of RNA polymerase was studied by various NMR techniques. The structure of the well‐folded N‐terminal domain was determined based on inter‐proton distances in NOESY spectra. The obtained structural model was compared to the previously determined structure of a truncated construct (lacking the C‐terminal domain). Only marginal differences were identified, thus indicating that the first structural model was not significantly compromised by the absence of the C‐terminal domain. Various ¹⁵N relaxation experiments were employed to describe the flexibility of both domains. The relaxation data revealed that the C‐terminal domain is more flexible, but its flexibility is not uniform. By using paramagnetic labels, transient contacts of the C‐terminal tail with the N‐terminal domain and with itself were identified. A propensity of the C‐terminal domain to form β‐type structures was obtained by chemical shift analysis. Comparison with the paramagnetic relaxation enhancement indicated a well‐balanced interplay of repulsive and attractive electrostatic interactions governing the conformational behavior of the C‐terminal domain. The results showed that the δ subunit consists of a well‐ordered N‐terminal domain and a flexible C‐terminal domain that exhibits a complex hierarchy of partial ordering.     

Protein encapsulated in electrospun nanofibrous scaffolds for tissue engineering applications

The main purpose of tissue engineering is the preparation of fibrous scaffolds with similar structural and biochemical cues to the extracellular matrix in order to provide a substrate to support the cells. Controlled release of bioactive agents such as growth factors from the fibrous scaffolds improves cell behavior on the scaffolds and accelerates tissue regeneration. In this study, nanofibrous scaffolds were fabricated from biocompatible and biodegradable poly(lactic‐co‐glycolic acid) through the electrospinning technique. Nanofibers with a core–sheath structure encapsulating bovine serum albumin (BSA) as a model protein for hydrophilic bioactive agents were prepared through emulsion electrospinning. The morphology of the nanofibers was evaluated by field‐emission scanning electron microscopy and the core–sheath structure of the emulsion electrospun nanofibers was observed by transmission electron microscopy. The results of the mechanical properties and X‐ray diffraction are reported. The scaffolds demonstrated a sustained release profile of BSA. Biocompatibility of the scaffolds was evaluated using the MTT (3(4,5‐ dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay for NIH‐3T3 fibroblast cells. The results indicated desirable biocompatibility of the scaffolds with the capability of encapsulation and controlled release of the protein, which can serve as tissue engineering scaffolds. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry