On $$A_1^2$$ A 1 2 restrictions of Weyl arrangements

Journal of Algebraic Combinatorics - Let $$\mathcal {A}$$ be a Weyl arrangement in an $$\ell $$ -dimensional Euclidean space. The freeness of restrictions of $$\mathcal {A}$$ was first settled by a...     

Biosynthesis of the Structurally Unique Polycyclopropanated Polyketide–Nucleoside Hybrid Jawsamycin (FR‐900848)

The biosynthetic gene cluster of antifungal agent jawsamycin (FR‐900848) has been identified by heterologous expression. A series of gene inactivations and in vitro and in vivo analysis of key enzymes in the biosynthetic pathway established their functions. A novel mechanism involving a radical S‐adenosyl methionine (SAM) cyclopropanase collaborating with an iterative polyketide synthase is proposed for the construction of the unique polycyclopropanated backbone. Our reconstitution system sets the stage for studying the catalytic mechanism of this intriguing contiguous cyclopropanation.     

Tests for independence of two multivariate regression equations with different design matrices

In this paper, the authors considered various procedures for testing for the independence of two multivariate regression equations with different design matrices. Asymptotic null distributions as well as nonnull distributions under local alternatives of the test statistics associated with the above procedures are also derived.     

Coordination structures of the silver ion: infrared photodissociation spectroscopy of Ag(+)(NH(3))(n) (n = 3-8)

Infrared (IR) spectra are measured for Ag(+)(NH(3))(n) with n = 3-8 in the NH-stretch region using photodissociation spectroscopy. The spectra of n = 3 and 4 exhibit absorption features only near the frequencies of the isolated NH(3), indicating that every NH(3) molecule is coordinated individually to Ag(+). For n >or= 5, the occupation of the second shell is evidenced by lower-frequency features characteristic of hydrogen bonding between NH(3) molecules. Density functional theory and MP2 calculations are carried out in support of the experiments. A detailed comparison of the experimental and theoretical IR spectra reveals the preference for a tetrahedral coordination in the n = 5 and 6 ions. Likewise, most of the features observed in the spectra of n = 7 and 8 can be assigned to isomers containing a tetrahedrally coordinated inner shell as the basic structural motif. These results signify that the ammonia-solvated Ag(+) ion has a propensity toward a coordination number of four and the resulting tetrahedral Ag(+)(NH(3))(4) complex forms the central core of further solvation process.     

Metrological effectiveness of an analytical method for volatile organic compounds standard materials using post-column reaction GC/FID system

The metrological effectiveness of an analytical method using the post-column reaction GC/FID system was evaluated. The SI-traceable certified reference material (CRM), the eight ester phthalates mixture standard solution, was used as a sample. We assigned specific value to n-eicosane and it was used as an internal standard. A known quantity of n-eicosane was added to the CRM, and the mixture was measured with the post-column reaction GC/FID system. Six phthalate esters were chromatographically separated and determined. The assigned values by our system are in good agreement with the certified values of the CRM, and the combined uncertainties of the measurements by the present system were better than those of the CRM. Our method is classified as a primary ratio method and the specific values of many organic compounds can be assigned very precisely by using a small number of reference materials. Also, the method can make it possible to avoid the purity determination of raw materials and directly to assign their specific values after the preparation of the standard mixture. Conclusively, this post-column reaction GC/FID system is very effective for the chemical metrology.     

Authentication and chemical study of isodonis herba and isodonis extracts

Isodonis Herba is used as a Japanese dietary supplement and folk medicine. The extract of the herb (Isodonis extract) is also used as a food additive whose major compound is enmein (1). Here we compared internal transcribed spacer sequences of nuclear ribosomal DNA from Isodonis Herba available on the Japanese and Chinese crude drug markets, and found that the former derived from Isodon japonicus and Isodon trichocarpus, while the latter derived from distinct species such as Isodon eriocalyx. The liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry profiles of Isodonis Herba were classified into four chemotypes (A to D) according to the ratio of the major constituents. Types B and C contained 1 and oridonin (2) as major components, respectively. An intermediate (or mixed) form of types B and C in various ratios was designed type A. Type D contained eriocalyxin B (3) as its major component. Japanese herba were types A-C, while Chinese herba were types C and D. The commercial Isodonis extract products tested were classified as type D, suggesting that they originated from Chinese Herba. Understanding the relationship between extract constituents and DNA profiles is important for the official specification of dietary supplements and food additives of plant origin.     

Mass-tag technology responding to intracellular signals as a novel assay system for the diagnosis of tumor

A novel mass spectrometry-based assay system for determining protein kinase activity employing mass-tagged substrate peptide probes was used for the diagnosis of tumors. Two peptide probes (H-type and D-type) were synthesized containing the same substrate peptide sequence for protein kinase C (PKC). The molecular weights of the two probes differ because of the incorporation of deuterium into the acetyl groups of the D-type probe. The lysates of the normal and tumor tissue were prepared and reacted with the H- and D-type peptide probes, respectively. The PKC activities of the normal and tumor tissues can be compared simply and directly by calculating the phosphorylated ratio to each peptide probe, obtained from the peak intensity of the mass spectrum after mixing of the two reaction solutions. The phosphorylation ratio for the reaction of the H-type peptide probe with the tumor tissue lysate (B16 melanoma) was more than three times higher than that of the D type peptide probe with the normal skin tissue lysate. These results show that the novel assay system for detecting protein kinase activity using mass-tag technology can be a simple and useful means to profile protein kinase activity for cell or tissue lysate samples, and can be applied to the diagnosis of tumors.     

Effect of the addition of diammonium citrate to <Emphasis Type="Italic">α</Emphasis>-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid (CHCA) matrix for the detection of phosphorylated peptide in phosphorylation reactions using cell and tissue lysates

The ionization of phosphorylated peptides is usually suppressed by non-phosphorylated peptides when alpha-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid (CHCA) is used as a matrix for matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time-of-Flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry analysis. In the present study, we examined the effect of diammonium citrate addition to the CHCA matrix on the detection of phosphorylated peptides. Substrates for protein kinase C (PKC) and c-Src were synthesized and phosphorylated by reaction with cell and tissue lysate samples. The addition of diammonium citrate to the CHCA matrix increased the sensitivity for distinguishing phosphorylated peptides from background noise. However, the effect depended on substrate concentration.     

All 4-Edge-Connected HHD-Free Graphs are {\mathbb{Z}_3}-Connected

An undirected graph G = (V, E) is called \mathbbZ₃{\mathbb{Z}_3}-connected if for all b: V ? \mathbbZ₃{b: V \rightarrow \mathbb{Z}_3} with ?_{v ? V}b(v)=0{\sum_{v \in V}b(v)=0}, an orientation D = (V, A) of G has a \mathbbZ₃{\mathbb{Z}_3}-valued nowhere-zero flow f: A? \mathbbZ₃-{0}{f: A\rightarrow \mathbb{Z}_3-\{0\}} such that ?_{e ? d⁺(v)}f(e)-?_{e ? d^-(v)}f(e)=b(v){\sum_{e \in \delta^+(v)}f(e)-\sum_{e \in \delta^-(v)}f(e)=b(v)} for all v ? V{v \in V}. We show that all 4-edge-connected HHD-free graphs are \mathbbZ₃{\mathbb{Z}_3}-connected. This extends the result due to Lai (Graphs Comb 16:165–176, 2000), which proves the \mathbbZ₃{\mathbb{Z}_3}-connectivity for 4-edge-connected chordal graphs.     

Improved method for immunostaining of mucin separated by supported molecular matrix electrophoresis by optimizing the matrix composition and fixation procedure

Mucins are a family of heavily glycosylated high molecular mass proteins that have great potential as novel clinical biomarkers for the diagnosis of various malignant tumors. Supported molecular matrix electrophoresis (SMME) is a new type of membrane electrophoresis that can be used to characterize mucins. In SMME, mucins migrate in a molecular matrix supported by membrane materials. Here, we have developed an immunostaining method for the identification of SMME-separated mucins. The novel method involves stably fixing the mucins onto the SMME membrane and optimizing the molecular matrix for the fixation process. We applied this technique for the detection of MUC1 produced from three cancer cell lines (T47D, HPAF-II and BxPC3) and also analyzed their O-linked glycans by mass spectrometry. Our results revealed that properties of the MUC1 molecules from the three cell lines are different in terms of migrating position in SMME and glycan profile. The present method allows simple and rapid characterization of mucins in terms of both glycans and core proteins. The method will be a useful tool for the exploration of mucin alterations associated with various diseases such as cancer.