Structural Analysis of the Complex between Penta-EF-Hand ALG-2 Protein and Sec31A Peptide Reveals a Novel Target Recognition Mechanism of ALG-2

ALG-2, a 22-kDa penta-EF-hand protein, is involved in cell death, signal transduction, membrane trafficking, etc., by interacting with various proteins in mammalian cells in a Ca²⁺-dependent manner. Most known ALG-2-interacting proteins contain proline-rich regions in which either PPYPXnYP (type 1 motif) or PXPGF (type 2 motif) is commonly found. Previous X-ray crystal structural analysis of the complex between ALG-2 and an ALIX peptide revealed that the peptide binds to the two hydrophobic pockets. In the present study, we resolved the crystal structure of the complex between ALG-2 and a peptide of Sec31A (outer shell component of coat complex II, COPII; containing the type 2 motif) and found that the peptide binds to the third hydrophobic pocket (Pocket 3). While amino acid substitution of Phe⁸⁵, a Pocket 3 residue, with Ala abrogated the interaction with Sec31A, it did not affect the interaction with ALIX. On the other hand, amino acid substitution of Tyr¹⁸⁰, a Pocket 1 residue, with Ala caused loss of binding to ALIX, but maintained binding to Sec31A. We conclude that ALG-2 recognizes two types of motifs at different hydrophobic surfaces. Furthermore, based on the results of serial mutational analysis of the ALG-2-binding sites in Sec31A, the type 2 motif was newly defined.     

Method to Estimate Thermal Shrinkage Behavior of Glasses

We present a method to estimate the effect of heat treatment on the shrinkage behavior of glasses. As a pre-requisite, sensitivity of the glass density as a function of glass fictive temperature is measured using the sink–float method and the slope of the relationship is used to determine the linear thermal strain proportionality factor. Evolution of the fictive temperature for different temperature–time history is measured using the infrared spectroscopy method and the results are used to estimate the structural relaxation parameters in the temperature range of interest. The overall shrinkage behavior is predicted using the linear thermal strain factor and estimated change in fictive temperature due to the thermal treatment. The predicted shrinkage behavior is observed to be in good agreement with the independent dimensional change measurements performed on large glass sheets that have undergone similar thermal treatments.     

Electropolymerization kinetic study of 3,3-dimethyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-thieno[3,4-b][1,4]dioxepine and its optical optimization for electrochromic window applications

Poly (3,3-dimethyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-thieno[3,4-b][1,4]dioxepine), PProDOT-Me₂, is one of the most promising conducting polymers in the alkylenedioxythiophene based family for electrochromic window applications. In the electropolymerization kinetic study of 3,3-dimethyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-thieno[3,4-b][1,4]dioxepine (ProDOT-Me₂), microgravimetry and chronoamperometry were used to determine the reaction orders with respect to the electrolyte and monomer, and the corresponding general kinetic equation of electropolymerization. This study presents that monomer concentration has a strong impact on electropolymerization mechanism. The relationship between film thickness and polymerization time was analyzed indicating that saturation of polymerization reduced the increase rate of film thickness with polymerization time. Also, the electropolymerization conditions were optimized to reach high contrast (Δ%T > 70%) with the minimum of transmittance (%T_min < 1) for electrochromic window applications.     

Shearing of a metal plate using underwater shock wave and the mechanism of its deformation process

A shearing process of a metal plate by an impulsive pressure generated by underwater explosion was numerically simulated, and the analytical result was compared with some experimental results. The features of the deformation and the shearing process were discussed by considering the fracture condition.     

Absorption and Fluorescence Spectra of Nitrobenzanthrones

To identify nitrobenzanthrones (NBAs) such as 3-nitro-7 H -benz[ de ]anthracene-7-one (3-NBA) on the basis of their electronic spectral data, we have synthesized 1-, 2-, 3-, 9-, and 10-NBAs and measured their absorption and emission spectra. The first strong absorption band of the NBAs appeared in the region 350-440 nm; the band of 10-NBA was red-shifted by about 20 nm. The molar absorptivities of 3- and 9-NBA were about two times as large as those of the others. The fluorescence spectra of the NBAs varied more largely with the position of the nitro group compared to the absorption spectra. The quantum yields of fluorescence were very small, ranging from ～10 m 2 for 2- and 10-NBA to ～10 m 4 for 1- and 3-NBA. 3-NBA exhibited a characteristic spectrum with two broad bands at 450 and 530 nm. On excitation causing an n ~ * transition in the NBAs, their fluorescence intensities increased by a factor of 10. Phosphorescence was observed at 77 K for all compounds though that of 1-NBA was very weak. These results give the promise of characterizing individual isomers of NBAs on the basis of their spectroscopic data.     

Heat transfer enhancement in duct with blunt body inserted close to its wall

This paper shows the effects of clearance length between a body and a duct wall, and duct height on the heat transfer characteristics and flow behavior at a downstream region of the body when a blunt body was set in a parallel plate duct with some distance separating it from the duct wall as a turbulence promoter. For the ratio of clearance to body height, C/D = 0.05–01, the heat transfer was characterized by the reattachment of shear flow separated from the body. Furthermore, the heat transfer depended on both the reattachment flow and the separation vortex at C/D = 0.15–0.2, and the side vortex induced by Karman vortex at C/D = 0.25–0.275 was also observed. We found the reattachment flow gives a superior effect to enhance heat transfer at a low Reynolds number, but at a larger Reynolds number, the side vortex induced by Karman vortex becomes more effective to heat transfer enhancement. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heat Trans Asian Res, 34(5): 336–349, 2005; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/htj.20067     

Protective effects of galacturonic acid-rich vinegar brewed from Japanese pear in a dextran sodium sulfate-induced acute colitis model

The effects of pear vinegar (PV), which was specially brewed for enhanced galacturonic acid content, on the DSS-induced ulcerative colitis (UC) mouse model were evaluated. PV improved clinical symptoms, colon inflammation, and histological tissue injury in the DSS-induced acute UC mouse model. Moreover, PV suppressed inflammation due to acute UC by suppressing the myeloperoxidase (MPO)-mediated activation of inflammatory cells such as leukocytes and decreasing the serum concentration of IL-6. Our results demonstrated the protective action of PV in the DSS-induced acute UC mouse model. On the other hand, commercial apple vinegar did not show a protective effect in the DSS-induced acute UC mouse model. Our findings indicate that PV may act as a new functional food for inflammatory bowel disease patients.     

Evaluation of three-dimensional effects in short deep beams using a rigid-body-spring-model

Three-dimensional (3-D) effects in short deep beams without stirrups that failed in shear were investigated experimentally and analytically. Two deep beams with a shear span to depth ratio (a/d) of 0.5 and with different beam widths were tested. The effect of beam width on load-carrying capacity, failure mode, crack pattern and 3-D behavior was investigated, and shape effect due to beam width was clarified. In addition, the beams were analyzed by the 3-D rigid-body-spring model (RBSM). RBSM is a discrete form of modeling that presents realistic behavior from cracking to failure, and 3-D RBSM is applicable to simulate 3-D behavior as well as the confinement effect of concrete. Analytical results in terms of load–displacement curves and crack pattern are compared with the experimental results. Three-dimensional deformations, strut widths and cross-sectional stress distribution are investigated analytically and compared with the experimental results to determine 3-D behavior in detail. The 3-D effects in short deep beams are clarified.     

Performances of metal fluoride added carbon anodes with pre-electrolysis for electrolytic synthesis of NF3

Metal fluoride added carbon anodes treated by pre-electrolysis were investigated for electrolytic production of nitrogen trifluoride (NF₃) in molten NH₄F·KF·4HF at 100 °C. The conditions for pre-electrolysis were first optimized using a graphite sheet anode as a model anode. The formation of fluorine-graphite intercalation compounds (fluorine-GICs) with semi-covalent C–F bonds, (C_xF)_n, on the MgF₂ and CaF₂ added carbon anode surface was accelerated by pre-electrolysis at potentials less than 4.0 V. Critical current densities (CCD) on the MgF₂ added carbon anodes pre-electrolyzed under various conditions were determined, and the highest CCD was 290 mA cm⁻² obtained for that pre-electrolyzed at 3.5 V for 500 C cm⁻². This anode was successfully used in the electrolysis at 100 mA cm⁻² for 290 h and the maximum NF₃ current efficiency was 55%. From these results, it was concluded that the metal fluoride added carbon anode treated by pre-electrolysis has a high potential for electrolytic production of NF₃ at higher current density.