The common event in transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) or prion diseases is the conversion of host-encoded protease
sensitive cellular prion protein (PrPC) into strain dependent isoforms of scrapie associated protease resistant isoform (PrPSc) 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 PrPC to PrPSc 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
PrPC fused to maltose binding protein (MBP-PrP). 相似文献
Biocompatibility, biodegradation, good sorption characteristics, and unique structure of highly oxidized bacterial cellulose (OBC) are of great interest for the development of new drug delivery systems. In this study, OBC with 9.6, 13.0 and 19.5% carboxyl groups for 5, 20, and 48 h of synthesis, respectively, was successfully obtained using the HNO3/H3PO4–NaNO2. The results of morphological analysis showed that with an increase in the number of carboxyl groups, OBC fibers become thicker and rougher. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy showed the formation of carboxyl groups in the OBC after the oxidation reaction. The crystallinity of the samples according to X-Ray diffraction analysis decreased with increasing reaction time. The immobilization of cephalexin in the polymer matrix was studied in detail, it took 120 min to achieve balance in the solution with a concentration of 1 mg/ml, and the maximum amount of a sorbed antibiotic reached 43 mg/g. The drug release in vitro at 37 °C in PBS with pH 7.4 and 2.0 was prolonged. Various models were used to describe the release mechanism, the best of which was Ritger-Peppas with a diffusion exponent value ranging from 0.743 to 0.830, which explains the drug release mainly through non-Fickian diffusional release. The cephalexin-loaded OBC showed high antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli and Gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus. The structure and properties of the resulting highly oxidized cellulose make it an excellent candidate as a drug delivery carrier with prolonged antimicrobial drug release characteristics.
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. 相似文献
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 (VD) 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. 相似文献
The adsorption of amino acids (AA) (glycine, L-alanine, L-proline) on oxidized cellulose (OC) with various carboxyl contents and degrees of crystallinity from aqueous and water/ethanol solutions was studied. It was found that multilayer adsorption occurs in concentrated solutions of AA. It proceeds according to successive mechanisms via adsorption of AA zwitterions onto carboxyls of already adsorbed AA. This leads to formation of chain AA associates in the OC phase. A sharp increase in swelling accompanies multilayer adsorption. It was established that structural characteristics and degree of polymerization of OC are the main factors that affect multilayer adsorption. The distribution of carboxyls in the OC phase also plays an important role. Multilayer adsorption does not proceed in water/ethanol solutions and in the case of the cationic form of AA. 相似文献
Despite the burgeoning interest in the various biological functions and consequent therapeutic potential of the vast number of oligosaccharides found in nature on glycoproteins and cell surfaces, the development of combinatorial carbohydrate chemistry has not progressed as rapidly as expected. The reason for this imbalance is rooted in the difficulty of oligosaccharide assembly and analysis that renders synthesis a rather cumbersome endeavor. Parallel approaches that generate series of analogous compounds rather than real libraries have therefore typically been used. Since generally low affinity is obtained for interactions between carbohydrate receptors and modified oligosaccharides designed as mimetics of natural carbohydrate ligands, glycopeptides have been explored as alternative mimics. Glycopeptides have been proven in many cases to be superior ligands with higher affinity for a receptor than the natural carbohydrate ligand. High-affinity glycopeptide ligands have been found for several types of receptors including the E-, P-, and L-selectins, toxins, glycohydrolases, bacterial adhesins, and the mannose-6-phosphate receptor. Furthermore, the assembly of glycopeptides is considerably more facile than that of oligosaccharides and the process can be adapted to combinatorial synthesis with either glycosylated amino acid building blocks or by direct glycosylation of peptide templates. The application of the split and combine approach using ladder synthesis has allowed the generation of very large numbers of compounds which could be analyzed and screened for binding of receptors on solid phase. This powerful technique can be used generally for the identification and analysis of the complex interaction between the carbohydrates and their receptors. 相似文献
A selective oxygen biosensor based on bilirubin oxidase (BOx) was developed. The sensor was used for determining oxygen profiles in a membraneless, single‐chamber microbial fuel cell (SCMFC), fed with raw wastewater. The linear response of the sensor was optimized by a diffusion layer of silica gel. A computer‐controlled stage was used to obtain accurate and precise measurements. Oxygen concentration in biofilms covering electrodes was measured, showing 3 mg L?1 of O2 in the bulk solution, decreasing to 0 mg L?1 in the cathodic biofilm. The MFC generated power in the range of 0–0.08 mW, associated to the oxygen content. 相似文献