Phonon interpretation of the 'boson peak' in supercooled liquids

Glasses are amorphous solids, in the sense that they display elastic behaviour. In crystalline solids, elasticity is associated with phonons, which are quantized vibrational excitations. Phonon-like excitations also exist in glasses at very high (terahertz; 10(12) Hz) frequencies; surprisingly, these persist in the supercooled liquids. A universal feature of such amorphous systems is the boson peak: the vibrational density of states has an excess compared to the Debye squared-frequency law. Here we investigate the origin of this feature by studying the spectra of inherent structures (local minima of the potential energy) in a realistic glass model. We claim that the peak is the signature of a phase transition in the space of the stationary points of the energy, from a minima-dominated phase (with phonons) at low energy to a saddle-point-dominated phase (without phonons). The boson peak moves to lower frequencies on approaching the phonon-saddle transition, and its height diverges at the critical point. Our numerical results agree with the predictions of euclidean random matrix theory on the existence of a sharp phase transition between an amorphous elastic phase and a phonon-free one.     

A large-cavity zeolite with wide pore windows and potential as an oil refining catalyst

Crude oil is an important feedstock for the petrochemical industry and the dominant energy source driving the world economy, but known oil reserves will cover demand for no more than 50 years at the current rate of consumption. This situation calls for more efficient strategies for converting crude oil into fuel and petrochemical products. At present, more than 40% of oil conversion is achieved using catalysts based on faujasite; this zeolite requires extensive post-synthesis treatment to produce an ultrastable form, and has a large cavity accessible through four 0.74-nm-wide windows and thus limits the access of oil molecules to the catalytically active sites. The use of zeolites with better accessibility to their active sites should result in improved catalyst efficiency. To date, two zeolites with effective pore diameters exceeding that of faujasite have been reported, but their one-dimensional pore topology excludes use in oil refining. Similarly, zeolites with large pores and a three-dimensional pore topology have been reported, but in all these materials the pore openings are smaller than in faujasite. Here we report the synthesis of ITQ-21, a zeolite with a three-dimensional pore network containing 1.18-nm-wide cavities, each of which is accessible through six circular and 0.74-nm-wide windows. As expected for a zeolite with this structure, ITQ-21 exhibits high catalytic activity and selectivity for valuable products in preliminary oil refining tests.     

A re-examination of proximodistal patterning during vertebrate limb development

The 'progress zone' model provides a framework for understanding progressive development of the vertebrate limb. This model holds that undifferentiated cells in a zone of fixed size at the distal tip of the limb bud (the progress zone) undergo a progressive change in positional information such that their specification is altered from more proximal to more distal fates. This positional change is thought to be driven by an internal clock that is kept active as long as the cells remain in the progress zone. However, owing to cell division, the most proximal of these cells are continually pushed outside the confines of the zone. As they exit, clock function ceases and cells become fixed with the positional value last attained while within the zone. In contrast to this model, our data suggest that the various limb segments are 'specified' early in limb development as distinct domains, with subsequent development involving expansion of these progenitor populations before differentiation. We also find, however, that the distal limb mesenchyme becomes progressively 'determined', that is, irreversibly fixed, to a progressively limited range of potential proximodistal fates.     

Paired gill slits in a fossil with a calcite skeleton

The chordates, hemichordates (such as acorn worms) and echinoderms (such as starfish) comprise the group Deuterostomia, well established as monophyletic. Among extant deuterostomes, a skeleton in which each plate has the crystallographic structure of a single crystal of calcite is characteristic of echinoderms and is always associated with radial symmetry and never with gill slits. Among fossils, however, such a skeleton sometimes occurs without radial symmetry. This is true of Jaekelocarpus oklahomensis, from the Upper Carboniferous of Oklahoma, USA, which, being externally almost bilaterally symmetrical, is traditionally placed in the group Mitrata (Ordovician to Carboniferous periods, 530-280 million years ago), by contrast with the bizarrely asymmetrical Cornuta (Cambrian to Ordovician periods, 540 to 440 million years ago). Using computer X-ray microtomography, we describe the anatomy of Jaekelocarpus in greater detail than formerly possible, reveal evidence of paired gill slits internally and interpret its functional anatomy. On this basis we suggest its phylogenetic position within the deuterostomes.     

An ACF1-ISWI chromatin-remodeling complex is required for DNA replication through heterochromatin

The mechanism by which the eukaryotic DNA-replication machinery penetrates condensed chromatin structures to replicate the underlying DNA is poorly understood. Here we provide evidence that an ACF1-ISWI chromatin-remodeling complex is required for replication through heterochromatin in mammalian cells. ACF1 (ATP-utilizing chromatin assembly and remodeling factor 1) and an ISWI isoform, SNF2H (sucrose nonfermenting-2 homolog), become specifically enriched in replicating pericentromeric heterochromatin. RNAi-mediated depletion of ACF1 specifically impairs the replication of pericentromeric heterochromatin. Accordingly, depletion of ACF1 causes a delay in cell-cycle progression through the late stages of S phase. In vivo depletion of SNF2H slows the progression of DNA replication throughout S phase, indicating a functional overlap with ACF1. Decondensing the heterochromatin with 5-aza-2-deoxycytidine reverses the effects of ACF1 and SNF2H depletion. Expression of an ACF1 mutant that cannot interact with SNF2H also interferes with replication of condensed chromatin. Our data suggest that an ACF1-SNF2H complex is part of a dedicated mechanism that enables DNA replication through highly condensed regions of chromatin.     

Lateral relocation of auxin efflux regulator PIN3 mediates tropism in Arabidopsis

Long-standing models propose that plant growth responses to light or gravity are mediated by asymmetric distribution of the phytohormone auxin. Physiological studies implicated a specific transport system that relocates auxin laterally, thereby effecting differential growth; however, neither the molecular components of this system nor the cellular mechanism of auxin redistribution on light or gravity perception have been identified. Here, we show that auxin accumulates asymmetrically during differential growth in an efflux-dependent manner. Mutations in the Arabidopsis gene PIN3, a regulator of auxin efflux, alter differential growth. PIN3 is expressed in gravity-sensing tissues, with PIN3 protein accumulating predominantly at the lateral cell surface. PIN3 localizes to the plasma membrane and to vesicles that cycle in an actin-dependent manner. In the root columella, PIN3 is positioned symmetrically at the plasma membrane but rapidly relocalizes laterally on gravity stimulation. Our data indicate that PIN3 is a component of the lateral auxin transport system regulating tropic growth. In addition, actin-dependent relocalization of PIN3 in response to gravity provides a mechanism for redirecting auxin flux to trigger asymmetric growth.     

Arylsulfatase in coelomocytes of Holothuria polii

Holothuria polii coelomocytes possess arylsulfatase enzymes. Two pH optima were found for arylsulfatase activity in cell lysate preparations, one at pH 5.0 and the other at pH 5.8. Both increased after injection of zymosan particles or formalinized sheep red blood cells (fSR-BC), indicating an active role of the enzymes during phagocytosis of particulate substances. Under a light microscope, the acid hydrolase arylsulfatase were localized in the granules of spherula cells, and therefore considered lysosomal in nature.     

Synthesis of O1.5-(beta-D-galactopyranosyl) [DMet2, Hyp5] enkephalin amide, a new highly potent analgesic enkephalin-related glycosyl peptide

A new series of O-glycosyl enkephalins has been prepared, following a convergent strategy, with high chemical yields. The galactosyl analogue, O1.5-(beta-D-galactopyranosyl) [DMet2, Hyp5] enkephalin amide proved to be one of the most potent in vivo opioid agonists synthesized up to now.     

New low-molecular inhibitors of pancreatic elastase with possible in vivo application: alkylamides of N-acylated tripeptides

Out of a series of alkylamides of N-acylated tripeptides, Glt-(Ala)2-Pro-NH-Et and Glt-(Ala)3-NH-Pr were found to be potent inhibitors of porcine and human pancreatic elastase, and because they are free of toxic groups they might be considered for in vivo application.