Protein analysis of laser capture micro-dissected tissues revealed cell-type specific biological functions in developing barley grains

Both the nucellar projection (NP) and endosperm transfer cells (ETC) of the developing barley grain (harvested 8 days after flowering) were isolated by laser capture micro-dissection combined with pressure catapulting. Protein extracts were analyzed by nanoUPLC separation combined with ESI-Q-TOF mass spectrometry. The majority of the ～160 proteins identified were involved in translation, protein synthesis, or protein destination. The NP proteome was enriched for stress defense molecules, while proteins involved in assimilate transport and the mobilization of nutrients were common to both the NP and the ETC. The combined qualitative and quantitative protein profiling allowed for the identification of several proteins showing tissue specificity in their expression, which underlines the distinct biological functions of these two tissues within the developing barley grain.     

Eine Gehaltsbestimmung des k?uflichen Jodkaliums

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Numerical Integration of Differential Algebraic Systems and Invariant Manifolds

The dynamics of a differential algebraic equation takes place on a lower dimensional manifold in phase space. Applying a numerical integration scheme, it is natural to ask if and how this geometric property is preserved by the discrete dynamical system. In the index-1 case answers to this question are obtained from the singularly perturbed case treated by Nipp and Stoffer, Numer. Math. 70 (1995), 245–257, for Runge-Kutta methods and in K. Nipp and D. Stoffer, Numer. Math. 74 (1996), 305–323, for linear multistep methods. As main result of this paper it is shown that also for Runge-Kutta methods and linear multistep methods applied to a index-2 problem of Hessenberg form there is a (attractive) invariant manifold for the discrete dynamical system and this manifold is close to the manifold of the differential algebraic equation.     

Quantum K-theory. II. Homotopy invariance of the Chern character

We prove that the Chern character of quantum algebras is invariant under a class of deformations of the Dirac operator. We also extend the definition of the Chern character to include certain unbounded operators.     

Metabolite extraction from adherently growing mammalian cells for metabolomics studies: optimization of harvesting and extraction protocols

Trypsin/ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) treatment and cell scraping in a buffer solution were compared for harvesting adherently growing mammalian SW480 cells for metabolomics studies. In addition, direct scraping with a solvent was tested. Trypsinated and scraped cell pellets were extracted using seven different extraction protocols including pure methanol, methanol/water, pure acetone, acetone/water, methanol/chloroform/water, methanol/isopropanol/water, and acid–base methanol. The extracts were analyzed by GC-MS after methoximation/silylation and derivatization with propyl chloroformate, respectively. The metabolic fingerprints were compared and 25 selected metabolites including amino acids and intermediates of energy metabolism were quantitatively determined. Moreover, the influence of freeze/thaw cycles, ultrasonication and homogenization using ceramic beads on extraction yield was tested. Pure acetone yielded the lowest extraction efficiency while methanol, methanol/water, methanol/isopropanol/water, and acid–base methanol recovered similar metabolite amounts with good reproducibility. Based on overall performance, methanol/water was chosen as a suitable extraction solvent. Repeated freeze/thaw cycles, ultrasonication and homogenization did not improve overall metabolite yield of the methanol/water extraction. Trypsin/EDTA treatment caused substantial metabolite leakage proving it inadequate for metabolomics studies. Gentle scraping of the cells in a buffer solution and subsequent extraction with methanol/water resulted on average in a sevenfold lower recovery of quantified metabolites compared with direct scraping using methanol/water, making the latter one the method of choice to harvest and extract metabolites from adherently growing mammalian SW480 cells.     

Buchbesprechungen

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Isomerisation,déshydration et réduction du méthyl-4 dioxa-1,6 spiro[4,5]decanol-4. Obtention de précurseurs ou d'isomères de phéromones de guêpe

The Lewis acid isomerisation of a dioxaspirodecanol mixture, obtained by photochemical means, preferentially gives the cis isomer while acetylation mainly leads to the trans isomer. The theromolysis of the acetates 2 or the xanthates 5 yields a furan compound 4, enventual precursor of a dioxaspirolactone. 6. The xanthate reduction provides an easy access to th e methyl-4 dioxaspirodecane isomers of wasp pheromones.