Coeliac activity of the gliadin peptides CT-1 and CT-2

Summary The coeliac active peptide B 3142, which has been isolated from a peptic-tryptic digest of gliadin [1] and which consists of 53 amino-acid sequences [2], was partially hydrolyzed with -chymotrypsin. The two fragment peptides CT-1 (positions 1–22 of B 3142) and CT-2 (positions 23–53) were separated by high-performance liquid chromatography on octadecyl silica gel and purified by gel filtration on Biogel P2. The examination in the organ-culture test including 18 coeliac patients on normal diet and 7 control persons have shown that the toxicity is preserved after the chymotryptic treatment and that the peptides B 3142, CT-1 and CT-2 do not significantly differ from one another according to their coeliac-specific effect.

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Coeliakieaktivitat der Gliadinpeptide CT-1 und CT-2

Zusammenfassung Das coeliakieaktive Peptid B 3142, das aus einem peptisch-tryptischen Partialhydrolysat von Gliadin gewonnen wurde [1] und aus einer Sequenz von 53 Aminosäureresten besteht [2], wurde mit -Chymotrypsin partiell hydrolysiert. Die beiden Fragment-peptide CT-1 (Positionen 1–22 von B 3142) und CT-2 (Positionen 23–53) wurden durch Hochdruckflüssig-keitschromatographie an Octadecyl-Kieselgel aufgetrennt und an Biogel P2 gereinigt. Die Prüfung im Organkultur-Test unter Einbeziehung von 18 Coeliakie-patienten unter Normalkost und von 7 Kontrollpersonen zeigte, daß die Toxizität nach chymotryptischer Spaltung erhalten bleibt, und daß sich die Peptide B 3142, CT-1 und CT-2 in ihrer coeliakiespezifischen Wirkung nicht wesentlich unterscheiden.

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Supported by a grant from Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft. We gratefully acknowledge the excellent assistance given by Mrs. U. Schützler and Ms. B. Mosler     

A realistic theory for the “normal state” and pairing mechanism in the high-tc cuprates

The electronic structure of the high-T _c cuprates is studied on the basis of large-U and smallU orbitals. Two types of charge carriers are predicted: (i) spinless polarons with a very small bandwidth; (ii) anomalous carriers of both charge and spin. The results are consistent with many anomalous properties of the cuprates. The spinless polarons undergo a CDW transition, and transitions between pair states of the two types of carriers provide the pairing mechanism.The author acknowledges stimulating discussions with participants of the workshop. Some numerical work was performed at the Florida State University Computing Center.     

Toxicity of different wheat gliadins in coeliac disease

Summary To determine the toxic effect of different gliadins on coeliac patients, which has been variably assessed in the literature, wheat prolamines (gliadin) were separated into the main fractions-, -, -, and-gliadins by chromatography on Sulfopropyl Sephadex C-50. The chemical compositions of the gliands were characterized by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, amino-acid analysis, determination of amide nitrogen and peptide maps.The peptide fractions B2 and B3 were isolated from the gliadins by a peptic tryptic digestion, ultrafiltration and gel filtration on Sephadex G-50.The gliadins and the peptide fractions were examined for coeliac activity by immunological tests (LIF tests) and by organ-culture tests.The results show that the peptide fractions are generally more active than their respective gliadins. The peptide fractions of all gliadins have a coeliac-specific toxic effect; their activities correlate with the chemical composition of the gliadins.

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Untersuchungen von Gliadinfraktionen des Weizens auf Cöliakieaktivität

Zusammenfassung Zur Überprufung der teilweise widersprüchlichen Angaben in der Literatur über die cöliakieauslösende Wirkung einzelner Gliadinfraktionen wird Weizenprolamin (Gliadin) durch Ionenaustauschchromatographie an Sulfopropyl-Sephadex C-50 in die Hauptfraktionen-, -, - und-Gliadin aufgetrennt. Die Gliadine werden durch PAG-Elektrophorese, Aminosäureanalyse, Amid-N-Bestimmung und über die nach partieller enzymatischer Hydrolyse erhaltenen Peptidmuster in ihrer chemischen Zusammensetzung charakterisiert. Durch peptisch-tryptische Partialhydrolyse, Ultrafiltration und Gelchromatographie an Sephadex G-50 werden aus den einzelnen Gliadinen die Peptidfraktionen 132 und 133 gewonnen. Die Protein- und Peptidfraktionen werden in einem immunologischen Test (LIF-Test) bzw. in einem Organkultur-Test auf Cöliakieaktivität untersucht.Die Ergebnisse zeigen, daß die Peptidfraktionen durchweg größere Aktivität haben als die entsprechenden Proteine, und daß von den Peptidfraktionen aller Gliadine eine cöliakiespezifische Wirkung ausgeht, wobei die Aktivität mit der chemischen Zusammensetzung der Gliadine korreliert ist.

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Supported by a grant from Stiftung Volkswagenwerk     

The design of two-dimensional gradient estimators based onone-dimensional operators

Two-dimensional (2-D) gradient estimators are some of the most useful tools in image processing. A computational procedure for the extension of one-dimensional (1-D) gradient estimators to two dimensions (2-D) is presented. The procedure is equivalent to the surface fitting method. It is, however, simpler in design, as the design is 1-D rather than 2-D. Higher order derivative estimators can also be constructed by the same procedure.     

A note on fracture criteria for interface fracture

Several criteria for interface fracture are examined and compared to test results obtained from glass/epoxy specimens. These include two energy release rate criteria, a critical hoop stress criterion and a critical shear stress criterion. In addition, approximate plastic zone size and shape within the epoxy are determined for these tests.     

Coeliac activity of the gliadin peptides CT-1 and CT-2

The coeliac active peptide B 3142, which has been isolated from a peptic-tryptic digest of gliadin and which consists of 53 amino-acid sequences, was partially hydrolyzed with alpha-chymotrypsin. The two fragment peptides CT-1 (positions 1-22 of B 3142) and CT-2 (positions 23-53) were separated by high-performance liquid chromatography on octadecyl silica gel and purified by gel filtration on Biogel P2. The examination in the organ-culture test including 18 coeliac patients on normal diet and 7 control persons have shown that the toxicity is preserved after the chymotryptic treatment and that the peptides B 3142, CT-1 and CT-2 do not significantly differ from one another according to their coeliac-specific effect.     

A Methodology for Accurately Measuring Mechanical Properties on the Micro‐Scale

Abstract: A methodology has been developed for accurately measuring the mechanical properties of materials used on the micro‐scale. The direct tension test method using a dog bone‐type specimen has been employed, as it is the most effective and straightforward method to obtain results including a full stress–strain curve. The goal of this investigation was to develop a universal, yet simple and reliable, methodology to be used for accurate characterisation of mechanical properties for a wide variety of materials. Specimens from single crystal silicon were fabricated using photolithography by means of deep reactive ion etching. This material was chosen as it is expected that on both the micro‐ and macro‐scales, Young's modulus will have the same value. Hence, the accuracy of the methodology may be unambiguously examined. The test set‐up includes a small test machine containing a load cell whose maximum capacity is 5 N and is capable of direct gripping and displacement control. The specimens were found to have a trapezoidal cross‐section that was accurately measured using a scanning electron microscope. The strains were obtained by means of digital image correlation using images obtained via optical microscopy. The quantities measured include Young's modulus E, the fracture strength σ_f and the fracture strain ε_f. The average value of E obtained in the micro‐tests agrees well with the reference value obtained on the macro‐scale.     

Genomic amplification of a decoy receptor for Fas ligand in lung and colon cancer

Fas ligand (FasL) is produced by activated T cells and natural killer cells and it induces apoptosis (programmed cell death) in target cells through the death receptor Fas/Apol/CD95. One important role of FasL and Fas is to mediate immune-cytotoxic killing of cells that are potentially harmful to the organism, such as virus-infected or tumour cells. Here we report the discovery of a soluble decoy receptor, termed decoy receptor 3 (DcR3), that binds to FasL and inhibits FasL-induced apoptosis. The DcR3 gene was amplified in about half of 35 primary lung and colon tumours studied, and DcR3 messenger RNA was expressed in malignant tissue. Thus, certain tumours may escape FasL-dependent immune-cytotoxic attack by expressing a decoy receptor that blocks FasL.     

Thermoelectric power measurements of YBa2Cu3O7−δ up to 950°C and their application to test the band structure near EF

Four-probe resistivity (ρ) and thermoelectric power (TEP) measurements were carried out on samples of YBa₂Cu₃O_7?δ up to 950°C, in air and in flowing oxygen at 1 bar. Below 700 K the TEP is small and increases rapidly above it, reaching, at 1200 K, +140μV/K in air and +120μV/K in oxygen. At the changeover temperature (700 K) the slope of logρ vs.T changes abruptly. These results are interpreted in terms of a model of transport of carriers in a narrow band, which is full forδ = 1 and half-filled forδ = 0. Possible origins for such a narrow band are discussed in detail.