Trypsiligase-Catalyzed Labeling of Proteins on Living Cells

Fluorescent fusion proteins are powerful tools for studying biological processes in living cells, but universal application is limited due to the voluminous size of those tags, which might have an impact on the folding, localization or even the biological function of the target protein. The designed biocatalyst trypsiligase enables site-directed linkage of small-sized fluorescence dyes on the N terminus of integral target proteins located in the outer membrane of living cells through a stable native peptide bond. The function of the approach was tested by using the examples of covalent derivatization of the transmembrane proteins CD147 as well as the EGF receptor, both presented on human HeLa cells. Specific trypsiligase recognition of the site of linkage was mediated by the dipeptide sequence Arg-His added to the proteins’ native N termini, pointing outside the cell membrane. The labeling procedure takes only about 5 minutes, as demonstrated for couplings of the fluorescence dye tetramethyl rhodamine and the affinity label biotin as well.     

Deliberately Losing Control of C−H Activation Processes in the Design of Small-Molecule-Fragment Arrays Targeting Peroxisomal Metabolism

Combined photochemical arylation, “nuisance effect” (S_NAr) reaction sequences have been employed in the design of small arrays for immediate deployment in medium-throughput X-ray protein–ligand structure determination. Reactions were deliberately allowed to run “out of control” in terms of selectivity; for example the ortho-arylation of 2-phenylpyridine gave five products resulting from mono- and bisarylations combined with S_NAr processes. As a result, a number of crystallographic hits against NUDT7, a key peroxisomal CoA ester hydrolase, have been identified.     

Agility through discipline: a debate

While Beck asserts that agility is only possible through greater discipline on the part of everyone involved, Boehm counters that you don't broaden the definition of "discipline" by rejecting parts of it. Yet, from inside extreme programming, it seems that the only way to achieve the desired results is to view the world in 'both-and" terms instead of "either-or" terms.     

Anesthetic considerations in the child with Gaucher disease

Alpidem, an imidazopyridine that acts at the gamma-aminobutyric acid/benzodiazepine receptor complex, has been reported to be an effective anxiolytic with a more favorable side effect profile than benzodiazepines. The effect of alpidem was investigated in an 8-week, open, clinical trial in 13 patients with panic disorder, with or without agoraphobia. Three patients were responders (much improved or very much improved), five patients were nonresponders, and five patients dropped out after less than 6 weeks of treatment. Significant improvement was seen in the sample as a whole for spontaneous panic attacks, phobic avoidance, and anticipatory anxiety. Most improvement occurred during the first 4 weeks of treatment, and responders had milder panic disorder at baseline. Adverse effects were generally mild. After 8 weeks of treatment, taper of medication over 2 weeks occurred without significant worsening of panic disorder symptoms. The efficacy of alpidem in the treatment of panic disorder remains uncertain and requires assessment in a controlled trial.     

Dynamic thermographic imaging for estimation of regional perfusion in the tuberculin reaction in healthy adults

A sensitive method for measurement of the volume of blood flow through the skin, based on the kinetics of reheating after localised cooling, is described in this paper. This method has been used to study the tuberculin reaction as a model of cutaneous delayed-type hypersensitivity (DHS) in man. Over the positive reaction there is accelerated reheating similar in kinetics and extent to that seen after maximal hyperaemia induced by intradermal injection of histamine or prostaglandin E2. The earlier phase of reheating (10-100 s) is more dependent on blood flow, whereas the later phase (100-300 s) is apparently more dependent on non-perfusion heat exchange mechanisms, including conduction. The reheat kinetic method is largely dependent on blood flow in the deep dermal vessels (diameter > 50 microns), whereas the alternative approach of measurement of the velocity of flow of erythrocytes in the microcirculation by laser Doppler (LD) flowmetry gives results biased towards the most superficial dermal circulation. Previous studies with LD flowmetry have shown that the blood velocity is greatest at the centre of weak and strong reactions, while in the most intense reactions it is raised at the centre but maximal at the periphery (central relative slowing, CRS) raising the possibility of central ischaemia. The reheat kinetics approach has now indicated that the deep dermal circulation is not impaired in CRS reactions. It is concluded that there must be partial obstruction of the parts of the microcirculation communicating between the deep and superficial dermal plexuses, presumably from the accumulation of exudate oedema in the most intense tuberculin reactions.     

CMOS on FZ-high resistivity substrate for monolithic integration ofSiGe-RF-circuitry and readout electronics

The choice of a highly resistive substrate for silicon millimeter-wave integrated circuits (SIMMWIC) imposed by the requirement of low RF-substrate losses requires the adaptation of a CMOS process on float zone silicon (FZ). A comparison of n- and p-channel devices realized on high resistivity substrate (p-type, 5000 Ω·cm) and standard CMOS substrates (CZ, n-type, 4-6 Ω·cm) is given. Using careful process design, we obtained device characteristics on FZ-substrates that are closely similar to those on standard material, thus allowing direct transfer of existing circuit designs     

Purification and characterization of an endopeptidase from Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus B14

An intracellular endopeptidase was purified from cell-free extracts of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus B14 by anion exchange chromatography on DEAE-Sepharose, hydroxyapatite chromatography, second anion exchange chromatography on Mono-Q, and metal-chelating affinity chromatography. The endopeptidase was a monomer with a molecular mass of approximately 70 kDa determined by SDS-PAGE and gel filtration. Various oligopeptides (e.g. Met-enkephalin, bradykinin) were hydrolysed by the endopeptidase. Exopeptidase activity and cleavage of dipeptides or tripeptides was not observed. The K_M value for the cleavage of Metenkephalin was 1.2 mM. Temperature and pH optima were 47 °C and pH 7.7, respectively. The endopeptidase was inhibited by the classical agents for metal-dependent (EDTA) and serine (DFP) enzymes. Activity was increased by Co²⁺ and Mg²⁺, no effect was observed with Ca²⁺. After inhibition with EDTA, enzyme activity could be restored fully by Co²⁺. Activity was inhibited by Zn²⁺, Mn²⁺, Fe²⁺, Cu²⁺, Cd²⁺ and Hg²⁺. The N-terminal sequence of the endopeptidase was determined as: H₂N-Val-Arg-Gly-Gly-Ser-Gly-Asp-Thr-Thr-Val-0H.