ZIP8 exacerbates collagen-induced arthritis by increasing pathogenic T cell responses

Zinc is a trace element that is essential for immune responses. Therefore, changes in cellular zinc levels in specific immune cells may influence inflammatory autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, the regulation of zinc mobilization in immune cells and its role in the pathogenesis of RA are not fully understood. Thus, we investigated the roles of zinc transporters in RA pathogenesis. We demonstrated that ZIP8 was specifically upregulated in CD4⁺ T cells that infiltrated the inflamed joint and that ZIP8 deficiency in CD4⁺ T cells abrogated collagen-induced arthritis. ZIP8 deficiency dramatically affected zinc influx in effector T cells and profoundly reduced T cell receptor (TCR)-mediated signaling, including NF-κB and MAPK signaling, which are pathways that are involved in T helper (Th) 17 cell differentiation. Taken together, our findings suggest that ZIP8 depletion in CD4⁺ T cells attenuates TCR signaling due to insufficient cellular zinc, thereby reducing the function of effector CD4⁺ T cells, including Th17 cells. Our results also suggest that targeting ZIP8 may be a useful strategy to inhibit RA development and pathogenesis.Subject terms: Autoimmunity, Immunological disorders     

Classification of cultivation area of ginseng by near infrared spectroscopy and ICP-AES

A rapid and nondestructive near infrared (NIR) method using soft independent modeling of class analogy (SIMCA) for the classification of cultivation area (Korea and China) was evaluated and confirmed. Raw, first, and second derivative NIR spectra were compared to develop a robust classification rule. The chemical properties of ginseng samples were also investigated to find out the differences between Korean samples and Chinese samples. These differences make NIR spectroscopic method viable. The average value of each Korean and Chinese ginseng sample for crude fiber, crude protein, starch, and 10 inorganic constituents were measured and compared with F-test and t-test. The inorganic constituents were also measured by induced coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES). It could be found that the amount of starch and ten inorganic elements for example Na, Mg, P, K, Ca, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu and Zn in ginseng samples are considerably different based on cultivation area. SIMCA has been applied to the inorganic data to investigate the possibility of ICP-AES as classification tool. However, it was observed that the result was not equal to than NIR spectra data. The overall results showed the availability of NIR method using SIMCA would be adequate for classification of cultivation of ginseng, since NIR spectra includes useful and various information on chemical properties in spite of broad and overlapped bands.     

Catalytic carbonylation for the synthesis of chemical intermediates

Chemistry related to three catalytic carbonylation reactions is discussed. Synthesis of diphenylurea from nitrobenzene, aniline, and CO gives isolated yields above 98% at 100–120 °C and 15–60 bar of CO in the presence of a palladium (II) complex, PPh₃ and NEt₄Cl. Experimental evidence was provided to prove a new reaction stoichiometry and involvement of a carbamoyl intermediate. In carbonylation of HCHO over ion exchange resin catalysts, reaction temperature, time, pressure, and solvent were important variables to obtain high yields of methyl glycolate. Carbonylation of isobutylphenylethanol at 120°C and 40 bar of CO in the presence of PdCl₂−PPh₃−HCl gives 98% yield of α-(4-isobutylphenyl) propionic acid (ibuprofen). Each catalyst component had a definite role that is indispensable for an efficient overall reaction.     

Radioisotopes of thirteen elements in intertidal coastal and estuarine sediments in the Irish Sea

A survey has been carried out of⁴⁰K,⁶⁰Co,⁹⁹Tc,¹⁰⁶Ru,¹²⁵Sb,¹²⁹I,¹³⁴Cs,¹³⁷Cs,¹⁵⁴Eu,²²⁶Ra,²²⁸Ra,²³⁷Np,²³⁸Pu,^239,240Pu,²⁴¹Pu,²⁴¹Am,²⁴²Cm, and^243,244Cm activities in sediments from the Irish Sea. Several of these radionuclides were measured independently at two separate laboratories to enable the intercomparison of the results produced. The comprehensive data set generated allows the present spatial distributions of these radionuclides in coastal sediments to be examined in relation to sediment textural characteristics and by comparison with earlier survey, enables the temporal trends in their activities to be determined. In general all artificial radionuclides showed lower activities in sediments in response to falling discharges from Sellafield and relationships with either grain size, distance from Sellafield or both. Isotope ratios were similar to cumulative weighted activity ratios rather than present day values due to sediment mixing. Pu levels supplied evidence for the lag in response of sediment deposits with increasing distance from Sellafield due to sediment transport.     

The concerted addition of HBr to aryl alkynes; orthogonal pi bond selectivity

In a weakly acidic solution, the addition of HBr to 1-phenylprop-1-yne produces predominantly the anti-Markovnikov product. In this paper, we consider five possible explanations for this behavior and conclude that the concerted addition is occurring on the acetylenic pi bond orthogonal to the extended aromatic pi system. The electronic effect of the distal methyl group and the steric hindrance of the coplanar phenyl ring combine to promote bromide attack at the beta carbon. Attack on this pi bond is insensitive to the electronic effect of meta and para substituents on the ring but is very (sterically) sensitive toward all ortho substituents.     

Qualitative features of the two-dimensional Raman spectrum in liquids

The theory presented earlier [J. Kim and T. Keyes, Phys. Rev. E 66, 051110 (2002)] is analyzed to determine the information available from the two-dimensional Raman spectrum R((5))(t(2),t(1)) in liquids. The known spectra are well represented by the sum of two products of ordinary time correlations predicted by the theory. The shape of R((5)) is related in general to the values of simple same-time averages and concepts amenable to physical intuition. Using standard models for the time correlations entering the theory, specific analytic expressions for the spectrum are obtained depending on two parameters and a time scale, and the behavior of the spectrum is mapped out in the parameter space.     

The ion product of H2O,dissociation constants of H2CO3 and pitzer parameters in the system Na+/H+/OH−/HCO 3 − /CO 3 2- /ClO 4 − /H2O at 25°C

The ion product of water and the dissociation constants of carbonic acid have been determined in 0.1, 1.0, 3.0, and 5.0M NaClO₄ at 25°C. The ion product of water K _w ^' has been evaluated by emf measurements with a combined glass electrode in NaClO₄ solutions containing 0.001–0.1M HCLO₄ or NaOH. The product K _H ^' K _l ^' K ₂ ^' of the Henry constant for CO₂ and the dissociation constants for H₂CO₃ have been determined by titration of carbonate solutions equilibrated with pCO₂ =10^–3.52 atm, and K ₂ ^' has been evaluated by potentiometric titration and by measuring the H⁺ concentration at fixed HCO ₃ ^– and CO ₃ ^2- concentrations. The ion interaction (Pitzer) equations are applied to describe the constants K _w ^' , K ₂ ^' and K _H ^' H ₁ ^' K ₂ ^' as a function of the NaClO₄ concentration. The experimental data are used to evaluate the mixing parameters _{i/ClO 4} and _{i/ClO 4} ^-/Na⁺ fori = OH ^-,HCO ₃ ^- andCO ₃ ^2-     

Analysis of transient membrane protein interactions by single-molecule diffusional mobility shift assay

Various repertoires of membrane protein interactions determine cellular responses to diverse environments around cells dynamically in space and time. Current assays, however, have limitations in unraveling these interactions in the physiological states in a living cell due to the lack of capability to probe the transient nature of these interactions on the crowded membrane. Here, we present a simple and robust assay that enables the investigation of transient protein interactions in living cells by using the single-molecule diffusional mobility shift assay (smDIMSA). Utilizing smDIMSA, we uncovered the interaction profile of EGFR with various membrane proteins and demonstrated the promiscuity of these interactions depending on the cancer cell line. The transient interaction profile obtained by smDIMSA will provide critical information to comprehend the crosstalk among various receptors on the plasma membrane.Subject terms: Fluorescence imaging, Super-resolution microscopy, Single-molecule biophysics     

Aqua dissociation nature of cesium hydroxide

To understand the mechanism of aqueous base dissociation chemistry, the ionic dissociation of cesium-hydroxide in water clusters is examined using density functional theory and ab initio calculations. In this study, we report hydrated structures, stabilities, thermodynamic quantities, dissociation energies, infrared spectra, and electronic properties of CsOH(H(2)O)(n=0-4). With the addition of water molecules, the Cs-OH bond lengthened significantly from 2.46 A for n=1 to 3.08 A for n=4, which causes redshift in Cs-O stretching frequency. It is found that three water molecules are needed for the dissociation of Cs-OH, in contrast to the case of strong acid dissociation which requires at least four water molecules. However, the dissociation for n=3 could be considered as incomplete because a very weak CS em leader OH stretch mode is still present, while that for n=4 is complete since the Cs em leader OH mode no longer exists. This study can be related with hydration chemistry of cations and anions, and extended into the intra- and intercharge-transfer phenomena.     

Light-directed radial combinatorial chemistry: orthogonal safety-catch protecting groups for the synthesis of small molecule microarrays

We describe the development of photolabile protecting groups based on the 3,4,5-trimethoxyphenacyl group (TMP). Orthogonal safety-catches were created by introducing an acid-activatible dimethyl ketal (AA-TMP) and an oxidatively activatible 1,3-dithiane (OA-TMP) into the photolabile TMP group. We demonstrate the application of these protecting groups in light-directed synthesis of small molecule microarrays with diversity elements radially attached to a hydroxyproline scaffold.