Identification of a proline-binding motif regulating CD2-triggered T lymphocyte activation

An intracellular protein termed CD2 binding protein 2 (CD2BP2), which binds to a site containing two PPPGHR segments within the cytoplasmic region of CD2, was identified. Mutagenesis and NMR analysis demonstrated that the CD2 binding region of CD2BP2 includes a 17-aa motif (GPY[orF]xxxxM[orV]xxWxxx GYF), also found in several yeast and Caenorhabditis elegans proteins of unknown function. In Jurkat T cells, over-expression of the isolated CD2BP2 domain binding to CD2 enhances the production of interleukin 2 on crosslinking of CD2 but not the T cell receptor. Hence, a proline-binding module distinct from SH3 and WW domains regulates protein-protein interactions.     

Green light emissions from GaP-AlxGa1−xP double heterostructures

Green light emissions from GaP-Al_xGa_1−xP single and double heterostructures fabricated by temperature difference method under controlled vapor pressure liquid phase epitaxy, have been studied. When the luminescent layer GaP is very thin, we have observed efficient free exciton emissions from GaP-Al_xGa_1−xP double heterostructures while there is no detection from homostructures. At least ten times and two times stronger luminescence efficiencies were obtained from double heterostructures at 77K and room temperature, respectively. The higher free exciton recombination efficiency is thought to profit from free carrier confinement by potential barrier at the interface of GaP and Al_xGa_1−xP. Also, it is found that shallow impurities enhance the photoluminescence intensities in GaP-Al_xGa_1−xP double heterostructures.     

Raman spectra of GaPAs–GaP heterostructure waveguides

A GaPAs waveguide with GaP cladding layers, has been fabricated in only two steps of LPE growth. One-way optical loss of the fabricated GaPAs–GaP waveguide is 12% mm⁻¹ (α=1.9 cm⁻¹). The free carrier concentration of the GaPAs layer is 1×10¹⁶ cm⁻³ (α=0.05 cm⁻¹). The backward spontaneous Raman spectrum from the GaPAs waveguide shows a GaP-like longitudinal optical (LO) phonon line. The LO band is intensified and shifted to a higher frequency compared to the LO phonon of GaP bulk crystal.     

Immunoassay of the MRSA-related toxic protein, leukocidin, with scanning electrochemical microscopy

Scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) was applied to the immunoassay of leukocidin, which is a toxic protein produced by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), with the intention of developing and early diagnostic for MRSA infection. An antibody-chip for leukocidin was prepared by self-assembling of anti-leukocidin on a protein A-coated glass substrate. A sample solution containing leukocidin was spotted onto the antibody-chip, followed by labeling with horseradish peroxidase (HRP) via a sandwich method. The reduction current of the oxidized form of ferrocenylmethanol generated by the HRP reaction was monitored to view SECM images of the spot of captured leukocidin. The amplitude of reduction current depended on the concentrations of sample solutions used for making spots. This SECM-based immunoassay detects as low as 5.25 pg mL(-1) leukocidin.     

Epitaxial lateral overgrowth of InP by liquid-phase epitaxy on InP (0 0 1), (1 1 1)A,B and (1 1 0) surfaces

The epitaxial lateral overgrowth (ELO) was performed on {0 0 1}, {1 1 1}A,B and {1 1 0} oriented InP by liquid-phase epitaxy at constant growth temperature (450–650°C). According to the observations of cross-sectional shape, the orientation dependence of the vertical growth rate was determined to be {1 1 0}>{1 1 1}A,B>{1 0 0} under the present experimental conditions. The etch pit density in the ELO layer was lower than on openings. In PL mapping observations, PL properties were improved on the ELO layer.     

Correlation between interfacial energy and phase diagram in ceramic-metal systems

Estimates of interfacial energies between ceramics (MX) and liquid metals (A) have been arrived at by employing an improved version of the Becker’s model for interfacial energy calculations at liquid metal-liquid metal interfaces to calculate the total energy of interatomic bonds across an interface. The results of such an approximation yield values that are very close to the experimental values; for instance, the estimated value for Al₂O₃/lFe is 2 J · m⁻², which compares well with the experimental data ranging from 1.9 to 2.3 J · m⁻². It is suggested that interfacial energies depend on two terms: (1) the formation energy of MX and (2) the pairwise interaction energies between M and A atoms and X atoms and vacant interstitial sites. It is also found that the calculated interfacial energies in eutectic systems (carbides-metal, etc.) are generally low, while those in the monotectic systems (oxides-metal, etc.) are generally high.     

Construction of recombinant sake yeast containing a dominant FAS2 mutation without extraneous sequences by a two-step gene replacement protocol

A novel two-step gene replacement protocol was developed to construct a recombinant industrial yeast free of bacterial and drug-resistant marker sequences. A yeast strain exhibiting cerulenin resistance conferred by a dominant mutation of FAS2 was previously shown to produce high levels of a flavor component of Japanese sake. A N- and C-terminally truncated portion of the mutant FAS2 gene was subcloned to an integrating plasmid containing an aureobasidin A-resistant transformation marker and a galactose-inducible growth inhibitory sequence (GAL10p::GIN11). The plasmid was targeted into the chromosomal FAS2 locus of sake yeast Kyokai no. 7, resulting in a tandem repeat of inactive FAS2 sequences surrounding the integrated plasmid sequences. Cells containing the integrated plasmid were unable to grow on galactose medium due to the inhibitory effect of GAL10p::GIN11. This growth inhibition allowed efficient counter-selection for cells that had undergone homologous recombination between the FAS2 repeats by their growth on galactose medium. This recombination event resulted in loss of the integrated plasmid sequences and the resulting strains should contain a single copy of either wild-type or cerulenin-resistant FAS2. The selected cerulenin-resistant strains produced approximately 3.7-fold more ethyl caproate, a flavor component, than the Kyokai no. 7 strain. Southern blot and sequence analyses confirmed the presence of the FAS2 mutation and the absence of integrated plasmid sequences in the genome of the selected strain. This gene replacement method provides a straightforward approach for the construction of recombinant industrial yeasts free of undesirable DNA sequences.     

Electromagnetically coupled coaxial dipole array antenna

A new type of collinear antenna called electromagnetically coupled coaxial dipole array antenna is proposed. The antenna has an advantage of structural simplicity due to a novel use of an electromagnetically coupled feed structure for the radiating element. An analysis of the radiating element is presented and compared with experimental results. Fabrication and measurement of a prototype array antenna are also presented