The PREPL A protein, a new member of the prolyl oligopeptidase family, lacking catalytic activity

The PREPL (previously called KIAA0436) gene encodes a putative serine peptidase from the prolyl oligopeptidase family. A chromosomal deletion involving the PREPL gene leads to a severe syndrome with multiple symptoms. Homology with oligopeptidase B suggested that the enzyme cleaves after an arginine or lysine residue. Several PREPL splice variants have been identified, and a 638-residue variant (PREPL A) was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified. Its secondary structure was similar to that of oligopeptidase B, but differential-scanning calorimetry indicated a higher conformational stability. Dimerization may account for the enhanced stability. Unexpectedly, the PREPL A protein did not cleave peptide substrates containing a P1 basic residue, but did slowly hydrolyse an activated ester substrate, and reacted with diisopropyl fluorophosphate. These results indicated that the catalytic serine is a reactive residue. However, the negligible hydrolytic activity suggests that the function of PREPL A is different from that of the other members of the prolyl oligopeptidase family.     

Self-similarity of complex networks

Complex networks have been studied extensively owing to their relevance to many real systems such as the world-wide web, the Internet, energy landscapes and biological and social networks. A large number of real networks are referred to as 'scale-free' because they show a power-law distribution of the number of links per node. However, it is widely believed that complex networks are not invariant or self-similar under a length-scale transformation. This conclusion originates from the 'small-world' property of these networks, which implies that the number of nodes increases exponentially with the 'diameter' of the network, rather than the power-law relation expected for a self-similar structure. Here we analyse a variety of real complex networks and find that, on the contrary, they consist of self-repeating patterns on all length scales. This result is achieved by the application of a renormalization procedure that coarse-grains the system into boxes containing nodes within a given 'size'. We identify a power-law relation between the number of boxes needed to cover the network and the size of the box, defining a finite self-similar exponent. These fundamental properties help to explain the scale-free nature of complex networks and suggest a common self-organization dynamics.     

Anisotropy of Earth's D' layer and stacking faults in the MgSiO3 post-perovskite phase

The post-perovskite phase of (Mg,Fe)SiO3 is believed to be the main mineral phase of the Earth's lowermost mantle (the D' layer). Its properties explain numerous geophysical observations associated with this layer-for example, the D' discontinuity, its topography and seismic anisotropy within the layer. Here we use a novel simulation technique, first-principles metadynamics, to identify a family of low-energy polytypic stacking-fault structures intermediate between the perovskite and post-perovskite phases. Metadynamics trajectories identify plane sliding involving the formation of stacking faults as the most favourable pathway for the phase transition, and as a likely mechanism for plastic deformation of perovskite and post-perovskite. In particular, the predicted slip planes are {010} for perovskite (consistent with experiment) and {110} for post-perovskite (in contrast to the previously expected {010} slip planes). Dominant slip planes define the lattice preferred orientation and elastic anisotropy of the texture. The {110} slip planes in post-perovskite require a much smaller degree of lattice preferred orientation to explain geophysical observations of shear-wave anisotropy in the D' layer.     

Thyroid-catecholamines interrelationships in free fatty acids release from adipose tissue

Zusammenfassung Die Abgabe freier Fettsäuren aus dem mesenterialen Fettgewebe kann durch Phentolamin nicht nur bei hyperthyroeten, sondern auch bei euthyreoten Ratten blockiert werden. Die erhöhte Freisetzung bei Hyperthyreose lässt sich wahrscheinlich durch eine gesteigerte Katecholaminaktivität erklären.     

On the possibility of spontaneous tuberculous infection in the course of long-term trials in mice

Zusammenfassung Virulente Tuberkelbakterien wurden in Lunge und Milz von Mäusen entdeckt, die von intravenös infizierten Müttern geboren wurden und die mehr als 2 Monate in engem Kontakt mit den tuberkulösen Eltern lebten.     

Stimulation of plant development by some uracil analogues

Zusammenfassung Es wurde eine entwicklungsfördernde Wirkung von 5-Bromuracil und 5-Nitrouracil bereits in geringen Mengen auf manche Pflanzen (unter anderem Tomaten, Gurken und Gartenlattich) festgestellt. 5-Bromuracil wird dabei nicht in die Pflanzennukleinsäuren eingebaut, sondern unterliegt einem schnellen Abbau; weiterhin verursacht der Stoff eine Hemmung des Uracilabbaues. Die Möglichkeit einer Beeinflussung der genetischen Eigenschaften wird diskutiert.