Novel mutant human fibronectin FIII9-10 domain pair with increased conformational stability and biological activity

The ninth and tenth type III domains (FIII9–10) in thecentral cell binding domain of human fibronectin contain integrinreceptor binding sites, including RGD in FIII10 and a synergysite, PHSRN, in FIII9. The specific amino acids that contributeto cell binding have been identified by the use of wild-typeand mutant fragments of human fibronectin containing the FIII9–10domain pair. At high concentrations FIII9–10 mimics, toa large extent, the biological activity of the full-length fibronectinmolecule. However, FIII9 is conformationally unstable, evenin the context of the FIII9–10 pair. Here we report theconstruction of a series of hybrid mouse–human FIII9–10pairs that confer varying degrees of conformational stabilityto FIII9. The conformational stability of the human FIII9 modulewas increased 2–3-fold by substitution of Leu1408 withPro. We demonstrate that the biological activity of this mutantis enhanced. The resulting FIII9–10 mutant has good solutionproperties and will provide a template into which further mutationscan be incorporated in order to probe the structure–functionrelationship of the cell binding module of fibronectin.     

Adaptation of an HPLC system to quantify cholesterol

An HPLC system for separating oxidized components of crude soybean oil was adapted for use in quantifying cholesterol. At 210 nm there was linear integrator repsonse to concentration of cholesterol. The response was linear at four detector ranges, and the relationship remained linear when data were adjusted to one range. Spray-dried egg yolks contained 3,048 mg (± 117) of cholesterol per 100 g, a value similar to literature measures.     

High-Activity Heterogeneous Catalysts Prepared in One Step from the Mesophases of Metallosurfactants

Surfactant Ru(II) complexes have been used to template mesoporous silicates using the true liquid crystal templating method, giving evenly dispersed, nanometer-sized ruthenium particles which show very high catalytic activity and selectivity in the hydrogenation of 1-hexene.     

Passages of psychologists: Career stages of internship directors.

90 predoctoral internship training directors (mean age 43.3 yrs) completed a survey assessing their career stages. Five stages are identified, including entry, identity, doubt, reimmersion, and exit, and the content and time frames associated with each stage are discussed. (12 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)