The telomere-associated MAL3 locus of Saccharomyces is a tandem array of repeated genes.

Saccharomyces strains capable of fermenting maltose contain any one of five telomere-associated MAL loci. Each MAL locus is a complex of three genes encoding the three functions required to ferment maltose: maltose permease (GENE 1), maltase (GENE 2) and the MAL trans-activator (GENE 3). All five loci have been cloned and all are highly sequence homologous over at least a 9.0 kbp region containing these GENEs (Charron et al., Genetics 122, 307-331, 1989). Our initial studies of strains carrying the MAL3 locus indicated the presence of linked, repeated MAL-homologous sequences (Michels and Needleman, Mol. Gen. Genet. 191, 225-230, 1983). Here we report our analysis of the centromere-proximal MAL3-linked sequences and show that the complete MAL3 locus spans approximately 40 kbp and consists of tandemly arrayed, partial repeats of the three GENE sequences described above. In addition, the structure of the MAL3 locus is compared to that of three partially functional alleles of MAL3. These alleles were shown to contain only MAL31 and MAL32 and their structure suggests that they resulted from MAL3 deletions removing the sequences centromere-proximal to MAL31. The amplification and rearrangement of the telomere-linked MAL3 sequences are discussed in the context of studies on other telemere-associated sequences from yeast and other species.     

Generalized inverse spectral problem for pseudo-Jacobi matrices with mixed eigendata

In this paper, we investigate a generalized inverse eigenproblem for pseudo-Jacobi matrices with mixed eigendata. These matrices appear in non-Hermitian Quantum Mechanics and extend the well-known concept of Jacobi matrices. It is shown that a unique pseudo-Jacobi matrix may be recovered from certain prescribed mixed eigendata, i.e. its leading principal submatrix, two distinct real eigenvalues, and part of the corresponding eigenvectors. An algorithm is provided for the reconstruction of such a matrix, and illustrative numerical experiments are presented to test the algorithm. The recurrence relation involving leading principal minors is crucial for the problem solution.     

High‐Throughput Topographic,Mechanical, and Biological Screening of Multilayer Films Containing Mussel‐Inspired Biopolymers

A high‐content screening method to characterize multifunctional multilayer films that combine mechanical adhesion and favorable biological response is reported. Distinct combinations of nanostructured films are produced using layer‐by‐layer methodology and their morphological, physicochemical, and biological properties are analyzed in a single microarray chip. Inspired by the composition of the adhesive proteins in mussels, thin films containing dopamine‐modified hyaluronic acid are studied. Flat biomimetic superhydrophobic patterned chips produced by a bench‐top methodology are used for the build‐up of arrays of multilayer films. The wettability contrasts imprinted onto the chips are allowed to produce individual, position controlled, multilayer films in the wettable regions. The flat configuration of the chip permits to perform a series of nondestructive measurements directly on the individual spots. In situ adhesion properties are directly measured in each spot, showing that nanostructured films richer in dopamine promote the adhesion. In vitro tests show an enhanced cell adhesion for the films with more catechol groups. The advantages presented by this platform include ability to control the uniformity and size of the multilayers films, its suitability to be used as a new low cost toolbox and for high‐content cellular screening, and capability for monitoring in situ a variety of distinct material properties.     

Controlled auxotonic twitch in papillary muscle: a new computer-based control approach.

Based on new advancements in digital technology, we developed a PC- and DSP-based measurement and control system for isolated papillary muscle experiments. High flexibility was obtained through a three level control. Length or force was controlled real-time with a sample frequency of 5000 Hz. Muscle length and up to three segment lengths were measured simultaneously and each of these lengths could be chosen as feedback variable. Individual algorithms were implemented for different twitch types. Batches of twitches were organized in experiment protocols. The system included a new twitch type, namely a controlled auxotonic twitch. In this twitch, the muscle acted against a virtual ideal spring, giving a proportional change in developed force and shortening. The value of the virtual spring constant could be set on-line or defined in the experiment protocol. An increasing virtual spring constant represented a smooth transition from isotonic to isometric conditions.     

Determination of Essential Fatty Acids in Captured and Farmed Matrinxã (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Brycon cephalus</Emphasis>) from the Brazilian Amazonian Area

The aim of this research was to quantify the methyl esters of linoleic (LA), α-linolenic (LNA), arachidonic (AA), eicosapentaenoic (EPA), and docosahexaenoic (DHA) acids in the muscular tissue and orbital cavity of farmed Matrinxã (Brycon cephalus) and in those caught in the Brazilian Amazonian Area during two periods. For the farmed fish, the amounts (mg/g of fat) of LA, LNA, AA, EPA, and DHA found in the muscle were 197.6, 75.7, 165.0, 4.1, and 30.0 mg/g of fat, respectively. The amounts of these FA in the orbital cavity were 152.6, 9.1, 249.4, 3.6, and 22.3 mg/g of fat for LA, LNA, AA, EPA, and DHA, respectively. For the fish caught during the wet period, the LA, LNA, AA, EPA, and DHA found in the muscle were 438.2, 118.3, 42.7, 5.2, and 10.3 mg/g of fat, in the orbital cavity were found 489.1, 18.6, 18.1, 6.2, and 18.7 mg/g of fat, respectively. In the dry season, the amounts (mg/g of fat) of LA, LNA, AA, EPA, and DHA in the muscle were 193.1, 40.0, 43.4, 8.1, and 61.3, while the found in the orbital cavity were 152.9, 28.4, 5.1, 4.9, 19.6 mg/g of fat. According to their contents of EPA, and DHA, matrinxã captured in the dry season can be considered as a rich source of EFA.     

Stimuli‐Responsive Thin Coatings Using Elastin‐Like Polymers for Biomedical Applications

Smart thin coatings using a recombinant elastin‐like polymer (ELP) containing the cell attachment sequence arginine–glycine–(aspartic acid) (RGD) are fabricated for the first time through simple deposition of the ELP dissolved in aqueous‐based solutions. The biopolymer is produced and characterized using electrophoresis and mass spectroscopy. The temperature and pH responsiveness are assessed by aggregate size measurements and differential scanning calorimetry. The deposition of the studied ELP onto chitosan is followed in situ with a quartz‐crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM‐D). Contact angle measurements are performed at room temperature and at 50 °C, showing reversible changes from a moderate hydrophobic behavior to an extremely wettable surface. AFM analysis performed at room temperature reveals a smooth surface and no organized structure. At 50 °C, the surface presents spherical nanometer‐sized structures of collapsed biopolymer chains. Such results suggest that the ELP chains, when collapsed, aggregate into micelle‐like structures at the surface of the substrate, increasing its water affinity. Cell adhesion tests on the developed coatings are conducted using a SaOS‐2 cell line. Enhanced cell adhesion could be observed in the H‐RGD6‐coated surfaces, as compared with the original chitosan monolayer. An intermediate behavior is found in chitosan coated with the corresponding ELP without the RGD sequence. Therefore, the developed films have great potential as biomimetic coatings of biomaterials for different biomedical applications, including tissue engineering and controlled delivery of bioactive agents. Their thermo‐responsive behavior can also be exploited for tunable cell adhesion and controlled protein adsorption.