Na+ binding to meizothrombin desF1

Meizothrombin is the physiologically active intermediate generated by a single cleavage of prothrombin at R320 to separate the A and B chains. Recent evidence has suggested that meizothrombin, like thrombin, is a Na(+)-activated enzyme. In this study we present the first X-ray crystal structure of human meizothrombin desF1 solved in the presence of the active site inhibitor PPACK at 2.1 A resolution. The structure reveals a Na(+) binding site whose architecture is practically identical to that of human thrombin. Stopped-flow measurements of Na(+) binding to meizothrombin desF1 document a slow phase of fluorescence change with a k(obs) decreasing hyperbolically with increasing [Na(+)], consistent with the existence of three conformations in equilibrium, E*, E and E:Na(+), as for human thrombin. Evidence that meizothrombin exists in multiple conformations provides valuable new information for studies of the mechanism of prothrombin activation.     

Zinc binding to peptide analogs of the structural zinc site in alcohol dehydrogenase: Implications for an entatic state

Zinc binding to the peptide replica and analogs to residues 93–115 of horse liver alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) was examined by competition of the peptides and the chromophoric chelator 4-(2- pyridylazo)resorcinol for zinc and X-ray absorption fine structure analysis of the zinc ligands. In the enzyme, zinc is coordinated by four Cys residues. In the peptide replica, zinc is bound to three Cys and one His residue. A four-Cys zinc coordination is observed only when His is removed, leading to increased zinc stability. ADH crystal structures reveal that the ε-amino group of the conserved residue Lys323 is within H-bond distance of the backbone amide oxygens of residues 103, 105 and 108, likely stabilizing the zinc coordination in the enzyme. The peptide data thus indicate structural strain and increased energy in the zinc-binding site in the protein, characteristic of an entatic state, implying a functional nature for this zinc site. Received 3 July 2008; received after revision 11 August 2008; accepted 1 September 2008     

Cardiolipin, the heart of mitochondrial metabolism

Cardiolipin is a unique phospholipid, which is almost exclusively localized in the mitochondrial inner membrane where it is synthesized from phosphatidylglycerol and cytidinediphosphate-diacylglycerol. After primary synthesis, the mature acyl chain composition of cardiolipin is achieved by at least two remodeling mechanisms. In the mitochondrial membrane cardiolipin plays an important role in energy metabolism, mainly by providing stability for the individual enzymes and enzyme complexes involved in energy production. Moreover, cardiolipin is involved in different stages of the mitochondrial apoptotic process and in mitochondrial membrane dynamics. Cardiolipin alterations have been described in various pathological conditions. Patients suffering from Barth syndrome have an altered cardiolipin homeostasis caused by a primary deficiency in cardiolipin remodeling. Alterations in cardiolipin content or composition have also been reported in more frequent diseases such as diabetes and heart failure. In this review we provide an overview of cardiolipin metabolism, function and its role in different pathological states. Received 16 January 2008; received after revision 26 February 2008; accepted 26 March 2008     

The three-fingered protein domain of the human genome

Extracellular domains of some cellular receptors expressed in the organisms at different levels of development belong to three-fingered protein (TFP) fold. The Homo sapiens genome encodes at least 45 genes containing from one to three TFP domains (TFPDs), namely diverse paralogues of the Ly6 gene, CD59 and the receptors of activins, bone morphogenetic proteins, Mullerian inhibiting substance and transforming growth factor-β. C4.4a and urokinase/plasminogen activatory receptor contain two and three TFPD repeats, respectively. These diverse proteins have a low overall sequence similarity with each other and their hydrophobicity levels vary to a considerable degree. It is suggested that sequence differentiation within the TFPD led to distinct groups of proteins whose attributes were optimized to fit both the physicochemical properties specific to their functional microenvironment and selective targeting of their highly diversified extracellular cofactors. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. Received 7 August 2008; accepted 29 August 2008     

体育馆屋盖的风洞试验研究和数值计算

对一系列不同倾角的体育馆悬挑屋盖进行了风洞试验;模型比例为1:50,在屋盖上下表面安装128对测压管,在同步测压的基础上,我们获得每个测点的风压时程,通过对试验数据的处理,分析平均风压和脉动风压的产生机理.试验表面明,风压分布是受屋盖表面的气流流动分离所影响的.同时,对这种形式屋盖进行计算分析.     

高校体育院系教师对继续教育的认识和需求现状分析

运用文献资料法、问卷调查法、访谈法、数理统计法等研究方法，对河南高校体育院系教师对于继续教育的认识和需求现状进行了调查研究。结果显示：教师对继续教育工程和法规政策缺乏了解，继续教育还未深入每位教师的心中；大多数教师都有较强的继续教育需求。     

钢筋混凝土烟囱筒壁环形悬臂的尺寸计算与构造设计

以某公司钢筋混凝土烟囱在施工中所遇到的实际问题为实例,通过对工程实例的探讨,结合我国现有规范中对牛腿构件的设计要求,对钢筋混凝土烟囱的环形悬臂这一特殊构件的受力情况进行了探讨并对构件的尺寸设计进行了优化分析,最后提出了该设计方法的适用条件和适用范围.     

安徽民办中小学体育教师继续教育现状研究

民办中、小学教育的发展是我国经济社会发展的必然要求.运用文献资料法、专家访谈法、问卷调查法、数理统计法、逻辑分析法等方法,对安徽民办中、小学体育教师继续教育现状进行分析与论证,结论认为:具有初、中级职称的中青年教师是其教育工程培训的主要对象;民办中小学体育教师参加继续教育功利性很强,动力主要是解决学历、职称、提高岗位竞争能力;继续教育选择权是影响民办中小学体育教师继续教育的首要因素.并对其存在问题提出了改革、发展的相应建议.     

不等边跨连续梁桥受力分析

文章以山西平定至阳曲高速公路上目前在建的招山河大桥(33+48+38m一联)连续梁桥设计为例,采用平面杆系的计算方法,从桥梁施工流程划分结构计算阶段,对结构构件进行承载能力、抗裂、挠度和应力验算。     

太阳温度与能源的测算和寿命分析

对太阳表面温度利用多种方法进行测算，并按温度随深度递增规律，分析太阳中心温度，利用太阳中心区物理条件和化学成分研究太阳能量的产生和质量的消耗，并对太阳寿命进行推论分析．