Identification of archaeal proteins that affect the exosome function in vitro

Background  

The archaeal exosome is formed by a hexameric RNase PH ring and three RNA binding subunits and has been shown to bind and degrade RNA in vitro. Despite extensive studies on the eukaryotic exosome and on the proteins interacting with this complex, little information is yet available on the identification and function of archaeal exosome regulatory factors.     

Studying Dynamical Principles of Human Locomotion using Inverse Optimal Control

Human movement, as for example human gait, can be considered as an optimal realization of some given task. However, the criterion for which the naturally performed human motion is optimal, is generally not known. In this article we formulate an inverse optimal control problem to study the relevance of four different optimization criteria in human locomotion. As a walking model we use an actuated three dimensional spring loaded inverted pendulum (3D-SLIP), which is able to mirror the typical shape of the center of mass trajectory in human gait. Using a direct all-at-once approach, the weighting of the optimization criteria and the position of the footsteps are optimized in such a way, that the center of mass trajectory of the resulting optimal state fits real motion capture data as good as possible. Numerical experiments show, that whereas the so called capture point seems to have a great impact on human walking, minimization of the vertical center of mass movement does not show any relevance at all. (© 2014 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Sensitizing effect of bio-based chemicals from urban wastes on the photodegradation of azo-dyes

To promote bio-based products for the industry, six bio-organic substances (cHALi) isolated from yard trimmings (green) and food (humid) urban residues aged under aerobic digestion for 0–60 days were investigated for their potential to perform as sensitizers for azo-dyes photodegradation. Ethylorange (EO) was used as probe molecule at 5 mg L^?1 starting concentration and irradiated in a closed Pyrex^® cell with a Xenon (1500 W) lamp and a cut-off filter for wavelengths below 340 nm or in a cylindrical photochemical reactor equipped with a 125 W medium pressure Hg lamp. The cHALi/EO ratio in the starting EO solution varied in the 0–200 (w/w) range. The % dye abatement was found a function of the irradiation time, of the type of cHALi substance and of the cHALi/EO ratio. The best results were achieved with cHALi isolated after 7 days biomass aerobic digestion. Total dye abatement was achieved within relatively short few hours. A progressive dye mineralization was observed under the same experimental conditions. On the contrary no significant degradation was evident for the cHALi substances within the same irradiation time. Several hydroxylated azo compounds were identified as likely responsible of residual color after total EO abatement. The results, coupled to the previously reported good performance of the same cHALi substances as auxiliaries for textile dyeing, augur well for the development of both efficient and environmentally friendly textile dyeing processes.     

Effects of Ultraviolet Radiation (UVA+UVB) and Copper on the Morphology,Ultrastructural Organization and Physiological Responses of the Red Alga Pterocladiella capillacea

The effect of ultraviolet (UV) radiation and copper (Cu) on apical segments of Pterocladiella capillacea was examined under two different conditions of radiation, PAR (control) and PAR+UVA+UVB (PAR+UVAB), and three copper concentrations, ranging from 0 (control) to 0.62, 1.25 and 2.50 μm . Algae were exposed in vitro to photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) at 70 μmol photons m^?2 s^?1, PAR + UVB at 0.35 W m^?2 and PAR +UVA at 0.70 W m^?2 during a 12‐h photocycle for 3 h each day for 7 days. The effects of radiation and copper on growth rates, content of photosynthetic pigments and photosynthetic performance were analyzed. In addition, samples were processed for light and transmission electron microscopy. The content of photosynthetic pigments decreased after exposure to radiation and Cu. Compared with PAR radiation and copper treatments modified the kinetics patterns of the photosynthesis/irradiance curve. The treatments also caused changes in the ultrastructure of cortical and subcortical cells, including increased cell wall thickness and accumulation of plastoglobuli, as well as changes in the organization of chloroplasts. The results indicate that the synergistic interaction between UV radiation and Cu in P. capillacea, led to the failure of protective mechanisms and causing more drastic changes and cellular imbalances.     

Naked five-coordinate Fe(III)(NO) porphyrin complexes: vibrational and reactivity features

Model ferric heme nitrosyl complexes, [Fe(TPP)(NO)](+) and [Fe(TPFPP)(NO)](+), where TPP is the dianion of 5,10,15,20-tetrakis-phenyl-porphyrin and TPFPP is the dianion of 5,10,15,20-tetrakis-pentafluorophenyl-porphyrin, have been obtained as isolated species by the gas phase reaction of NO with [Fe(III)(TPP)](+) and [Fe(III) (TPFPP)](+) ions delivered in the gas phase by electrospray ionization, respectively. The so-formed nitrosyl complexes have been characterized by vibrational spectroscopy also exploiting (15)N-isotope substitution in the NO ligand. The characteristic NO stretching frequency is observed at 1825 and 1859 cm(-1) for [Fe(III)(TPP)(NO)](+) and [Fe(III)(TPFPP)(NO)](+) ions, respectively, providing reference values for genuine five-coordinate Fe(III)(NO) porphyrin complexes differing only for the presence of either phenyl or pentafluorophenyl substituents on the meso positions of the porphyrin ligand. The vibrational assignment is aided by hybrid density functional theory (DFT) calculations of geometry and electronic structure and frequency analysis which clearly support a singlet spin electronic state for both [Fe(TPP)(NO)](+) and [Fe(TPFPP)(NO)](+) complexes. Both TD-DFT and CASSCF calculations suggest that the singlet ground state is best described as Fe(II)(NO(+)) and that the open-shell AFC bonding scheme contribute for a high-energy excited state. The kinetics of the NO addition reaction in the gas phase are faster for [Fe(III)(TPFPP)](+) ions by a relatively small factor, though highly reliable because of a direct comparative evaluation. The study was aimed at gaining vibrational and reactivity data on five-coordinate Fe(III)(NO) porphyrin complexes, typically transient species in solution, ultimately to provide insights into the nature of the Fe(NO) interaction in heme proteins.     

Antimicrobial graphene polymer (PVK-GO) nanocomposite films

The first report on the fabrication and application of a nanocomposite containing poly-N-vinyl carbazole (PVK) polymer and graphene oxide (GO) as an antimicrobial film was demonstrated. The antimicrobial film was 90% more effective in preventing bacterial colonization relative to the unmodified surface. More importantly, the nanocomposite thin film showed higher bacterial toxicity than pure GO-modified surface.