Male pheromone protein components activate female vomeronasal neurons in the salamander Plethodon shermani

Background  

The mental gland pheromone of male Plethodon salamanders contains two main protein components: a 22 kDa protein named Plethodon Receptivity Factor (PRF) and a 7 kDa protein named Plethodon Modulating Factor (PMF), respectively. Each protein component individually has opposing effects on female courtship behavior, with PRF shortening and PMF lengthening courtship. In this study, we test the hypothesis that PRF or PMF individually activate vomeronasal neurons. The agmatine-uptake technique was used to visualize chemosensory neurons that were activated by each protein component individually.     

Experimental studies of the Progressing Batch Reactor

The data obtained in the single reactor experiments has shown the use of 1/2-in. chips to produce results that are reliable and repeatable. These data are not sensitive to variations in wood chip packing or prehydrolysis procedures. The latter is important since multireactor studies will try various prehydrolysis strategies while investigating the operational characteristics of a multireactor system. The possible importance of hydrodynamics within the wood chip bed was demonstrated by the data from the 1/4- and 1/8-in. chip experiments. The importance of shrinking wood chip bed was demonstrated by the reactor’s inferior performance in the upflow versus the downflow mode. A hydrodynamic study should be undertaken to investigate these phenomena. This study can proceed concurrently with work on a tworeactor system that can give a preliminary glimpse at the operation and benefits of a multireactor system.     

Dicobaltoctacarbonyl-alkyne complexes as intermediates in the synthesis of bicyclo[3.3.0]octenones for the synthesis of coriolin and hirsutic acid

Treatment of the readily prepared enzymes 12, 21 and 45 with Co₂(CO) at ca 110° results in high yields (80%) of substituted bicyclo[3.3.0]octenones, that are suitable for straightforward elaboration into coriolin and hirsutic acid precursors. A mechanistic hypothesis to explain the observed stereospecificity is presented.     

Identification of novel sesterterpenes by genome mining of phytopathogenic fungi Phoma and Colletotrichum sp.

Two homologous gene clusters for the biosynthesis of sesterterpenes betaestacins were identified from two phytopathogens, Phoma betae and Colletotrichum orbiculare. Heterologous expression of identified oxidation enzymes with previously-characterized PbTS1 (BtcA_Pb) resulted in the production of seven novel sesterterpenes. Although both strains possessed homologous enzymes, oxidation state of corresponding products were different from each other, suggesting that structural diversification of sesterterpene skeletons might be achieved by these homologous enzymes with different functions.     

Quantitative aqueous attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy : Part II. Integrated molar absorptivities of alkyl carboxylates

A quantitative attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FT-IR) spectroscopic method is developed for the analysis of total carboxylate concentration, [COO⁻], in aqueous solution. The short (12–13 μm) and highly reproducible pathlength of the ATR cell permits quantitative subtraction of the water peak at 1640 cm⁻¹. Carboxylate quantitation is based on the area of the asymmetric stretching peak, which is nearly independent of compound structure. The molar absorptivity of alkyl carboxylates in water is 438 ± 58 l mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹, and the integrated molar absorptivity is 2.95 ± 0.08 × 10⁴ l mol⁻¹ cm⁻² (n = 15 compounds, 0.1 M ≤ [COO⁻] ≤ 1.5 M). The [COO⁻] in solutions of mixed carboxylates is measured with a root mean square error of 2.4% and a small (+1.5) positive bias. The accuracy of the method is limited by the assumption that integrated absorbance is constant for all COO⁻ groups.     

Phylogenetics of worldwide human populations as determined by polymorphic Alu insertions

Alu elements, the largest family of interspersed repeats, mobilize throughout the genomes of primates by retroposition. Alu are present in humans in an excess of 500 000 copies per haploid genome. Since some of the insertion alleles have not reached fixation, they remain polymorphic and can be used as biallelic DNA marker systems in investigations of human evolution. In this study, six polymorphic Alu insertional (PAI) loci were used as genetic markers. These markers are thought to be selectively neutral. The presence of these six PAIs was determined by a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based assay in 1646 individuals from 47 populations from around the world. Examination of the populations by plotting the first and second principal components, shows the expected segregation of populations according to geographical vicinity and established ethnic affinities. Centroid analysis demonstrated that sub-Sahara populations have experienced higher than average gene flow and/or represent larger populations as compared to groups in other parts of the globe and especially to known inbreed populations. This is consistent with greater heterogeneity and diversity expected of source groups. In addition, maximum likelihood (ML) analyses were performed with these 47 populations and a hypothetical ancestral group lacking the insertion in all six loci. Analysis of our data supports the Out of Africa hypothesis. African populations and admixed groups of African descent formed a single monophyletic group with a basal placement on the tree, which grouped closest to the hypothetical ancestor.     

Determination of serum aluminum by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry: A comparison between Zeeman and continuum background correction systems

Excessive exposure to aluminum (Al) can produce serious health consequences in people with impaired renal function, especially those undergoing hemodialysis. Al can accumulate in the brain and in bone, causing dialysis-related encephalopathy and renal osteodystrophy. Thus, dialysis patients are routinely monitored for Al overload, through measurement of their serum Al. Electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS) is widely used for serum Al determination. Here, we assess the analytical performances of three ETAAS instruments, equipped with different background correction systems and heating arrangements, for the determination of serum Al. Specifically, we compare (1) a Perkin Elmer (PE) Model 3110 AAS, equipped with a longitudinally (end) heated graphite atomizer (HGA) and continuum-source (deuterium) background correction, with (2) a PE Model 4100ZL AAS equipped with a transversely heated graphite atomizer (THGA) and longitudinal Zeeman background correction, and (3) a PE Model Z5100 AAS equipped with a HGA and transverse Zeeman background correction. We were able to transfer the method for serum Al previously established for the Z5100 and 4100ZL instruments to the 3110, with only minor modifications. As with the Zeeman instruments, matrix-matched calibration was not required for the 3110 and, thus, aqueous calibration standards were used. However, the 309.3-nm line was chosen for analysis on the 3110 due to failure of the continuum background correction system at the 396.2-nm line. A small, seemingly insignificant overcorrection error was observed in the background channel on the 3110 instrument at the 309.3-nm line. On the 4100ZL, signal oscillation was observed in the atomization profile. The sensitivity, or characteristic mass (m₀), for Al at the 309.3-nm line on the 3110 AAS was found to be 12.1 ± 0.6 pg, compared to 16.1 ± 0.7 pg for the Z5100, and 23.3 ± 1.3 pg for the 4100ZL at the 396.2-nm line. However, the instrumental detection limits (3 SD) for Al were very similar: 3.0, 3.2, and 4.1 μg L^− 1 for the Z5100, 4100ZL, and 3110, respectively. Serum Al method detection limits (3 SD) were 9.8, 6.9, and 7.3 μg L^− 1, respectively. Accuracy was assessed using archived serum (and plasma) reference materials from various external quality assessment schemes (EQAS). Values found with all three instruments were within the acceptable EQAS ranges. The data indicate that relatively modest ETAAS instrumentation equipped with continuum background correction is adequate for routine serum Al monitoring.     

Synthesis and circular dichroism of tetraarylporphyrin-oligonucleotide conjugates

The preparation and circular dichroic (CD) studies of self-complimentary 8-mer DNA sequences with a porphyrin at the 3' end are presented. Electronic interaction between the two porphyrins (the interchromophoric distance is in the range of 28-40 A), attached to both ends of the double-stranded helix, gives rise to a long-range exciton-coupled CD in the visible region (400-450 nm). The porphyrin chromophores act as sensitive probes of geometrical changes in the DNA backbone and sensitively reflect the double-strand to single-strand transition. This study demonstrates the possibility of using exciton-coupled porphyrin CDs for conformational studies of DNA.     

Molecular dynamics study of the hydration of lanthanum(III) and europium(III) including many-body effects

Lanthanides complexes are widely used as contrast agents in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and are involved in many fields such as organic synthesis, catalysis, and nuclear waste management. The complexation of the ion by the solvent or an organic ligand and the resulting properties (for example the relaxivity in MRI) are mainly governed by the structure and dynamics of the coordination shells. All of the MD approaches already carried out for the lanthanide(III) hydration failed due to the lack of accurate representation of many-body effects. We present the first molecular dynamics simulation including these effects that accounts for the experimental results from a structural and dynamic (water exchange rate) point of view.     

Dilute sulfuric acid hydrolysis of biomass for ethanol production

A series of pilot plant experiments have been conducted to compare the performance of a system utilizing two percolation reactors in series to a single reactor system. Although theoretically capable of producing higher glucose yields or concentrations, the two-reactor system concentrations were approximately the same and the yields were considerably lower than those from the single reactor study. An associated kinetics study found the glucose degradation kinetics to be accelerated by chromium ions, but this effect was greatly reduced in the presence of wood. The presence of metal surfaces also increased the rate of degradation even without large ion concentrations. The poor performance of the reactor system is proposed to be caused by intraparticle glucose diffusion effects and the catalytic effect on glucose degradation reactions of chromium ions from the corrosion of stainless steel by the acid. Strategies for reducing the effects of these phenomena on PBR performance are presented.