Dissection of a novel molecular determinant mediating Golgi to trans-Golgi network transition

Two major functions of the Golgi apparatus (GA) are formation of complex glycans and sorting of proteins destined for various subcellular compartments or secretion. To fulfill these tasks proper localization of the accessory proteins within the different sub-compartments of the GA is crucial. Here we investigate structural determinants mediating transition of the two glycosyltransferases β-1,4- galactosyltransferase 1 (gal-T1) and the α-1,3-fucosyltransferase 6 (fuc-T6) from the trans-Golgi cisterna to the trans-Golgi network (TGN). Upon treatment with the ionophore monensin both glycosyltransferases are found in TGN-derived swollen vesicles, as determined by confocal fluorescence microscopy and density gradient fractionation. Both enzymes carry a signal consisting of the amino acids E₅P₆ in gal-T1 and D₂P₃ in fuc-T6 necessary for the transition of these glycosyltransferases from the trans-Golgi cisterna to the TGN, but not for their steady state localization in the trans-Golgi cisterna. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. Received 30 July 2008; received after revision 17 September 2008; accepted 29 September 2008     

Membrane traffic in the secretory pathway

It is generally thought that microtubule-associated motors insure long-range movements of the secretory vesicles from the center of the cell to its periphery, while myosins insure short-range movements at the cell periphery. However, several of the myosins that have been reported during the last decade to be involved in the exocytic pathway are not processive, meaning that they do not have the ability to move cargos along actin polymers. We will review here the possible mechanisms by which these myosins could contribute to the traffic of secretory proteins from the Golgi complex to the plasma membrane.     

Microwave assisted synthesis &; properties of nano HA-TCP biphasic calcium phosphate

Biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) nanopowders were synthesized by using microwave and non-microwave irradiation assisted processes. The synthesized powders were pressed under a pressure of 90 MPa, and then were sintered at 1000-1200℃ for 1 h. The mechanical properties of the samples were investigated. The formed phases and microstructures were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results showed that the synthesis time was shorter, along with a more homogeneous microstructure, when the microwave irradiation assisted method was applied. The compression strength and the Young's modulus of the samples synthesized with microwave irradiation were about 60 MPa and 3 GPa, but those of the samples synthesized without microwave irradiation were about 30 MPa and 2 GPa, respectively. XRD patterns of the microwave irradiation assisted and non-microwave irradiation assisted nanopowders showed the coexistence of hydroxyapatite (HA) and tricalcium phosphate (TCP) phases in the system.     

热荷载下梁基频和热屈曲临界变温优化设计

改变梁截面沿轴线的分布可以改变轴向力,提高梁的基频以及梁热屈曲的临界变温.研究在给定材料体积下,以热荷载作用下梁的基频及屈曲临界变温最大化为目标的优化问题.对两端固支梁截面尺寸优化的研究表明,受热荷载时,采用优化设计可以使频率目标值提高更多;随着热荷载的增大,优化的截面积分布形式与最大化屈曲临界荷载的截面积分布形式更相近;最大化临界变温与最大化轴向力的截面积分布形式非常相似;分析了使轴向力最小的截面积分布,验证了上述现象.     

Phylogenetic position of Schnabelia, a genus endemic to China： Evidence from sequences of cpDNA matK gene and nrDNA ITS regions

The chloroplast gene matK and the internal transcribed spacers (ITS) of the nuclear ribosomal DNA from Schnabelia, a genus endemic to China, and 6 genera of Verbenaceae and 13 genera of Lamiaceae were sequenced. The phylogenetic signal and validity outgroups were measured and evaluated by means of the relatively apparent synapomorphy analysis (RASA). Independent and combined phylogenetic analyses for the matK and ITS sequences were performed using the maximum parsimony (MP), neighbor-joining (NJ) and maximum likelihood (ML) methods, indicating that Schnabelia oligophylla and Caryopteris terniflora form a sister-group relationship. The Caryopteris complex is not shown to be a monophyly because Trichostema, C. paniculata and C. forrestii are paraphyletic to the clade containing the remaining members of the complex. A monophyly of Ajugoideae proposed by Cantino et al., including 8 genera in this study, is strongly supported and the closest relatives of Schnabelia are in the Ajugoideae (Lamiaceae), especially near Caryopteris terniflora. The polygenetic analyses also showed that the genera of Lamiaceae and Verbenaceae sampled in this tudy are phylogenetically mixed and the genus Avicennia is distant to other genera of Verbenaceae. RASA and combined analysis can be used as effective approaches to determining the relationships among phylogenetically complex groups.     

Deep levels,transport and THz emission properties of SiGe/Si quantum-well structures

In coal mines in such countries as China and Russia,most of the coal mine methane(CMM) generated during mining is emitted to the atmosphere without any effective usage,because the methane concentration of CMM is relatively low and not allowed to be used as fuel for safety reasons.Methane is one of the greenhouse gases.Therefore,if it becomes possible to concentrate CMM to an acceptable level for use as fuel,this will greatly contribute to reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.With the aim of gaining approva...     

Myosin motor function: the ins and outs of actin-based membrane protrusions

Cells build plasma membrane protrusions supported by parallel bundles of F-actin to enable a wide variety of biological functions, ranging from motility to host defense. Filopodia, microvilli and stereocilia are three such protrusions that have been the focus of intense biological and biophysical investigation in recent years. While it is evident that actin dynamics play a significant role in the formation of these organelles, members of the myosin superfamily have also been implicated as key players in the maintenance of protrusion architecture and function. Based on a simple analysis of the physical forces that control protrusion formation and morphology, as well as our review of available data, we propose that myosins play two general roles within these structures: (1) as cargo transporters to move critical regulatory components toward distal tips and (2) as mediators of membrane-cytoskeleton adhesion.     

Triosephosphate isomerase: a highly evolved biocatalyst

Triosephosphate isomerase (TIM) is a perfectly evolved enzyme which very fast interconverts dihydroxyacetone phosphate and d-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate. Its catalytic site is at the dimer interface, but the four catalytic residues, Asn11, Lys13, His95 and Glu167, are from the same subunit. Glu167 is the catalytic base. An important feature of the TIM active site is the concerted closure of loop-6 and loop-7 on ligand binding, shielding the catalytic site from bulk solvent. The buried active site stabilises the enediolate intermediate. The catalytic residue Glu167 is at the beginning of loop-6. On closure of loop-6, the Glu167 carboxylate moiety moves approximately 2 Å to the substrate. The dynamic properties of the Glu167 side chain in the enzyme substrate complex are a key feature of the proton shuttling mechanism. Two proton shuttling mechanisms, the classical and the criss-cross mechanism, are responsible for the interconversion of the substrates of this enolising enzyme.     

Relaxin family peptide systems and the central nervous system

Since its discovery in the 1920s, relaxin has enjoyed a reputation as a peptide hormone of pregnancy. However, relaxin and other relaxin family peptides are now associated with numerous non-reproductive physiologies and disease states. The new millennium bought with it the sequence of the human genome and subsequently new directions for relaxin research. In 2002, the ancestral relaxin gene RLN3 was identified from genome databases. The relaxin-3 peptide is highly expressed in a small region of the brain and in species from teleost to primates and has both conserved sequence and sites of expression. Combined with the discovery of the relaxin family peptide receptors, interest in the role of the relaxin family peptides in the central nervous system has been reignited. This review explores the relaxin family peptides that are expressed in or act upon the brain, the receptors that mediate their actions, and what is currently known of their functions.