Mapping of possible prion protein self-interaction domains using peptide arrays

Background  

The common event in transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) or prion diseases is the conversion of host-encoded protease sensitive cellular prion protein (PrP^C) into strain dependent isoforms of scrapie associated protease resistant isoform (PrP^Sc) of prion protein (PrP). These processes are determined by similarities as well as strain dependent variations in the PrP structure. Selective self-interaction between PrP molecules is the most probable basis for initiation of these processes, potentially influenced by chaperone molecules, however the mechanisms behind these processes are far from understood. We previously determined that polymorphisms do not affect initial PrP^C to PrP^Sc binding but rather modulate a subsequent step in the conversion process. Determining possible sites of self-interaction could elucidate which amino acid(s) or amino acid sequences contribute to binding and further conversion into other isoforms. To this end, ovine – and bovine PrP peptide-arrays consisting of 15-mer overlapping peptides were probed with recombinant sheep PrP^C fused to maltose binding protein (MBP-PrP).     

Crystal structure of dicyclohexano-18-crown-6 potassium 2-nitrophenoxide

The first crystal structure of a potassium cation complex with dicyclohexano-18-crown-6 is reported. The potassium 2-nitrophenoxide complex ofsyn-cis-syn dicyclohexano-18-crown-6 crystallizes in the triclinic space group P with cell constantsa=8.604(2),b=10.772(4),C=16.123(5)Å, =73.86(3)°,=77.61(3)°, =82.68(3)° andZ=2 forD _c =1.31 g cm^–3. Least-squares refinement based on 2742 observed reflections led to a final conventionalR value of 0.040. Dicyclohexano-18-crown-6 has the shape of a saddle with the potassium cation sitting at the saddlepoint. The structure of the 2-nitrophenoxide anion is dominanted by the quinoid resonance contributor. Because the complex is devoid of significant intercomplex interactions, it is a prototypical 1:1:1 complex. Supplementary Data relating to this article are deposited with the British Library as Supplementary Publication No. SUP 82043 (26 pages).Now Mrs. K. M. Balo.     

Critical parameters and optimization of a magnesium-selective liquid membrane electrode for application to human blood serum

Summary The selectivity of a new magnesium ionophore (ETH 7025) induced in membranes of different compositions is experimentally studied in view of the ion activities in human serum. The required selectivity coefficient against calcium for the application of an ion-selective magnesium electrode to human serum is calculated for the worst case. Other critical parameters for the application of a liquid PVC-based ion-selective membrane to undiluted human serum discussed are: the sensor lifetime which is related to the lipophilicity of the carrier as well as the ruggedness of the membrane against interactions with components of the relatively lipophilic sample.     

Nanosized aerosols from consumer sprays: experimental analysis and exposure modeling for four commercial products

Consumer spray products are already on the market in the cosmetics and household sector, which suggest by their label that they contain engineered nanoparticles (ENP). Sprays are considered critical for human health, because the lungs represent a major route for the uptake of ENP into the human body. To contribute to the exposure assessment of ENP in consumer spray products, we analyzed ENP in four commercially available sprays: one antiperspirant, two shoe impregnation sprays, and one plant-strengthening agent. The spray dispersions were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS) and (scanning-) transmission electron microscopy ((S)TEM). Aerosols were generated by using the original vessels, and analyzed by scanning mobility particle sizer (SMPS) and (S)TEM. On the basis of SMPS results, the nanosized aerosol depositing in the respiratory tract was modeled for female and male consumers. The derived exposure levels reflect a single spray application. We identified ENP in the dispersions of two products (shoe impregnation and plant spray). Nanosized aerosols were observed in three products that contained propellant gas. The aerosol number concentration increased linearly with the sprayed amount, with the highest concentration resulting from the antiperspirant. Modeled aerosol exposure levels were in the range of 10¹⁰ nanosized aerosol components per person and application event for the antiperspirant and the impregnation sprays, with the largest fraction of nanosized aerosol depositing in the alveolar region. Negligible exposure from the application of the plant spray (pump spray) was observed.     

Tunable ultra-fast carrier–light field dynamics of quantum dots

A theory of ultra-fast carrier–light field dynamics of quantum dots is presented. The carrier–light field dynamics is described by Maxwell–Bloch equations. A calculation of the dipole matrix elements requires the determination of the electronic wave functions taking into account their dependence on the degeneracy of the carrier states. The ultra-fast carrier–light field dynamics depends strongly on the external applied electric field. PACS 42.55.Px; 42.60.Rn; 74.78.Fk     

Amplification and wave mixing of induced and spontaneous emission in semiconductor laser amplifiers

We theoretically describe and experimentally investigate the spatio-spectral wave mixing of induced and spontaneous emission in large-area InGaAs-semiconductor laser amplifiers. The dynamic light-matter-coupling is described by a spatially resolved theory based on Maxwell–Bloch–Langevin equations, taking into account many-body-carrier interactions, energy transfer between the carrier and phonon systems and, in particular, the spatio-temporal interplay of stimulated and amplified spontaneous emission and the noise caused by spontaneous emission. Our numerical model reveals the fundamental physical processes which are responsible for the spectral power distribution of the amplified laser light and predicts the emission properties of high-power semiconductor laser amplifiers, such as emission spectra and input power–output power characteristics. Received:30October2002/Revisedversion:21November2002 / Published online: 12 February 2003 RID="*" ID="*"Corresponding author. Fax: +49-711/6862-349, E-mail: Edeltraud.Gehrig@dlr.de RID="**" ID="**"Also at: Institute of Physics, Tampere University of Technology, P.O. Box 692, FIN-33101, Tampere, Finland RID="***" ID="***"Present address: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG, Speyerer Strasse 6, 69115 Heidelberg, Germany RID="****" ID="****"Present address: Lightbit Corporation, 411 Clyde Avenue, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA     

Phosphorylated serine and threonine residues promote site‐specific fragmentation of singly charged,arginine‐containing peptide ions

In order to investigate gas‐phase fragmentation reactions of phosphorylated peptide ions, matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) and electrospray ionization (ESI) tandem mass (MS/MS) spectra were recorded from synthetic phosphopeptides and from phosphopeptides isolated from natural sources. MALDI‐TOF/TOF (TOF: time‐of‐flight) spectra of synthetic arginine‐containing phosphopeptides revealed a significant increase of y ions resulting from bond cleavages on the C‐terminal side of phosphothreonine or phosphoserine. The same effect was found in ESI‐MS/MS spectra recorded from the singly charged but not from the doubly charged ions of these phosphopeptides. ESI‐MS/MS spectra of doubly charged phosphopeptides containing two arginine residues support the following general fragmentation rule: Increased amide bond cleavage on the C‐terminal side of phosphorylated serines or threonines mainly occurs in peptide ions which do not contain mobile protons. In MALDI‐TOF/TOF spectra of phosphopeptides displaying N‐terminal fragment ions, abundant b–H₃PO₄ ions resulting from the enhanced dissociation of the pSer/pThr–X bond were detected (X denotes amino acids). Cleavages at phosphoamino acids were found to be particularly predominant in spectra of phosphopeptides containing pSer/pThr–Pro bonds. A quantitative evaluation of a larger set of MALDI‐TOF/TOF spectra recorded from phosphopeptides indicated that phosphoserine residues in arginine‐containing peptides increase the signal intensities of the respective y ions by almost a factor of 3. A less pronounced cleavage‐enhancing effect was observed in some lysine‐containing phosphopeptides without arginine. The proposed peptide fragmentation pathways involve a nucleophilic attack by phosphate oxygen on the carbon center of the peptide backbone amide, which eventually leads to cleavage of the amide bond. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Studies on photoinduced effects in pulse-electrodeposited Ag/Hg-1212/CdSe hetero-nanostructures

Metal/superconductor/semiconductor (Ag/Hg-1212/CdSe) hetero-nanostructures have been fabricated using pulse-electrodeposition technique and are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), full-width at half-maximum (FWHM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies. The junction capacitance of Ag/Hg-1212, Hg-1212/CdSe and Ag/Hg-1212/CdSe heterojunctions is measured in dark and under laser irradiation at room temperature. The nature of the junction formed and built-in-junction potentials were determined. The increase in carrier concentration across the junction due to photo-irradiation has been observed.     

Effect of laser irradiation of C-V characteristics of electrodeposited Ag/Tl-2223/CdSe hetero-nanostructures

One of the innovative technological directions for the high-temperature superconductors has been persued by fabricating the heteroepitaxial multilayer structures such as superconductor-semiconductor heterostructures. In the present investigation, metal/superconductor/semiconductor (Ag/Tl-2223/CdSe) hetero-nanostructures have successfully been fabricated using dc electrodeposition technique and were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), full-width at half-maximum (FWHM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies. The measurement of junction capacitance as a function of biasing voltage was used for the estimation of junction built-in-potential (V _D) and to study the charge distribution in a heterojunction. The Mott-Schottky plots were measured for each junction in dark and under the photo-irradiation. The effect of laser irradiation on C-V characteristics of hetero-nanostructure has been studied.