Computational Analysis Reveals a Critical Point Mutation in the N-Terminal Region of the Signaling Lymphocytic Activation Molecule Responsible for the Cross-Species Infection with Canine Distemper Virus

Infection of hosts by morbilliviruses is facilitated by the interaction between viral hemagglutinin (H-protein) and the signaling lymphocytic activation molecule (SLAM). Recently, the functional importance of the n-terminal region of human SLAM as a measles virus receptor was demonstrated. However, the functional roles of this region in the infection process by other morbilliviruses and host range determination remain unknown, partly because this region is highly flexible, which has hampered accurate structure determination of this region by X-ray crystallography. In this study, we analyzed the interaction between the H-protein from canine distemper virus (CDV-H) and SLAMs by a computational chemistry approach. Molecular dynamics simulations and fragment molecular orbital analysis demonstrated that the unique His28 in the N-terminal region of SLAM from Macaca is a key determinant that enables the formation of a stable interaction with CDV-H, providing a basis for CDV infection in Macaca. The computational chemistry approach presented should enable the determination of molecular interactions involving regions of proteins that are difficult to predict from crystal structures because of their high flexibility.     

Joint detection of a given number of reference fragments in a quasi-periodic sequence and its partition into segments containing series of identical fragments

The problem of joint a posteriori detection of reference fragments in a quasi-periodic sequence and its partition into segments containing series of recurring fragments from the reference tuple is solved. It is assumed that (i) an ordered reference tuple of sequences to be detected is given, (ii) the number of desired fragments is known, (iii) the index of the sequence term corresponding to the beginning of a fragment is a deterministic (not random) value, and (iv) a sequence distorted by an additive uncorrelated Gaussian noise is available for observation. It is established that the problem consists in testing a set of hypotheses about the mean of a random Gaussian vector. The cardinality of the set grows exponentially as the vector dimension (i.e., the sequence length) increases. An efficient a posteriori algorithm producing a maximum-likelihood optimal solution to the problem is substantiated. Time and space complexity bounds related to the parameters of the problem are derived. The results of numerical simulation are presented.     

Recent radiochemical studies of the fission process

This article summarizes the recent radiochemical investigations on mass, charge kinetic energy and fragment angular distributions in low energy fission of actinides.     

A New Modal Lindström Theorem

We prove new Lindstr?m theorems for the basic modal propositional language, and for some related fragments of first-order logic. We find difficulties with such results for modal languages without a finite-depth property, high-lighting the difference between abstract model theory for fragments and for extensions of first-order logic. In addition we discuss new connections with interpolation properties, and the modal invariance theorem. Mathematics Subject Classification (2000): Primary 03B45; Secondary 03C95     

牛血清白蛋白的压电免疫测定及电极的洗脱

在镀银石英晶片上用压电免疫方法测定了０．５～５０ｍｇ／Ｌ范围内的牛血清白蛋白的浓度，得到线性响应；并较全面地研究了压电晶片的回复性使用问题，以０．２ｍｏｌ／Ｌ甘氨酸－盐酸（ｐＨ＝２．０）溶液洗脱时效果较好     

α—氨基酸的快原子轰击质谱

本文研究了１８种α－氨基酸的快原子轰击质谱，发现添加三氟乙酸溶液能显著提高灵敏度，改善谱图。特征碎片主要有中性丢失ＣＯ２Ｈ２，Ｈ２Ｏ，ＮＨ３的离子以及Ｒ＾＋离子。侧链的性质决定了碎片的产生和离子的强弱。     

Ab initio calculations on large molecules using molecular fragments. Characterization of the zwitterion of glycine

The ab initio molecular fragment approach is applied to a characterization study of the ground state of the zwitterion of glycine. Included among the properties studied are the — conformational energy surface, the electronic structure, and the magnitude and direction of the dipole moment. The results of the present study are compared to the results of other theoretical and experimental studies.This work was supported in part by the National Science Foundation, the University of Kansas, and the Upjohn Company, Kalamazoo, Michigan 49001.NSF Trainee (1969-1972).Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellow (1971–1973).     

Preparation of Polyclonal Antibodies Against Testis-specific Protease 50 and Characterization of Antibody Specificity

Introduction TheTSP50genehasbeenidentifiedasoneofthe testis specificoncogenes,whichisexpressedathigh levelsinapproximately92%ofhumanbreastcancer samples,makingitanattractivemolecularmarkerand apotentialtargetfordiagnosisandtherapy[1].Itisho mologoustomany…     

Tumor cell detection method using complement-mediated cytolytic reaction and imaging sensor system

A novel tumor-detection system consisting of complementmediated cytolytic reaction and an image processing system was developed for the simple and rapid determination of tumor cells. The present system consists of a CCD image sensor, image memory board, personal computer, and microscope. When monoclonal antibody 3C4, which is specific to the guinea pig hepatoma L-10, was added to cell suspension, only L-10 cytolysis occurred. Cytolysis caused a decrease in brightness of the cells observed by phase-contrast microscopy. The phase contrast image of the cells before cytolysis was converted to a digitalized signal and stored in computer memory. After cytolysis, a brightness threshold above that of lysed cells was subtracted from the digitalized signal and compared to the signal stored before reaction. L-10 cells in mixed cell suspension were determined specifically by the system. Measurement time was only 2 sec and overall time, including reaction time, was approximately 30 min. Since this method does not require a cell washing process, automation of the whole system is possible.     

Sol-gel entrapment of monoclonal anti-atrazine antibodies

We report the successful doping of a sol-gel matrix with an antibody, retaining its ability to bind free antigen from an aqueous solution. The particular system described is monoclonal anti-atrazine mouse antibody which was entrapped in SiO₂ sol-gel matrices, prepared from tetramethoxysilane by several methods. Atrazine was selected as a model compound for this study, within the framework of the development of immunochemical-based methods for monitoring pesticide residues and other organo-synthetic environmental contaminants. Nanogram quantities of atrazine were applied on SiO₂ sol-gel columns doped with this antibody, and the amount of eluted antigen was determined by Enzyme Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay (ELISA). Under appropriate sol-gel-forming conditions, high amounts of atrazine were bound to the sol-gels, ranging between 60% and 91% of the amount applied to the column. The combination of the properties of the sol-gel matrix (e.g., stability, inertness, high porosity, high surface area and optical clarity), together with the selectivity and sensitivity of the antibodies, enable extension of this feasibility study to development of a novel group of immunosensors which could be used for purification, concentration and monitoring of a variety of residues from different sources.Contribution from the Agricultural Research Organization (ARO), Bet Dagan, Israel. No., 1697-E, 1995 series.