Correlation between the glass-forming ability and activation energy of crystallization for Zr75−x Ni25Al x metallic glasses

The thermal stability and the kinetics of glass transition and crystallization for Zr_75?x Ni₂₅Al _x (x = 8–15) metallic glasses were investigated using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) under continuous heating conditions. The apparent activation energy of glass transition rises monotonously with the Al content increasing; the activation energy of crystallization increases with Al changing from 8at% to 15at%, and then decreases with Al further up to 24at%, which exhibits a good correlation to the thermal stability and the glass-forming ability (GFA). The Zr₆₀Ni₂₅Al₁₅ metallic glass with the largest supercooled liquid region and GFA possesses the highest activation energy of crystallization. The relation between the thermal stability, GFA and activation energy of crystallization was discussed in terms of the primary precipitated phases.     

Spatially asymmetric reorganization of inhibition establishes a motion-sensitive circuit

Spatial asymmetries in neural connectivity have an important role in creating basic building blocks of neuronal processing. A key circuit module of directionally selective (DS) retinal ganglion cells is a spatially asymmetric inhibitory input from starburst amacrine cells. It is not known how and when this circuit asymmetry is established during development. Here we photostimulate mouse starburst cells targeted with channelrhodopsin-2 (refs 6-8) while recording from a single genetically labelled type of DS cell. We follow the spatial distribution of synaptic strengths between starburst and DS cells during early postnatal development before these neurons can respond to a physiological light stimulus, and confirm connectivity by monosynaptically restricted trans-synaptic rabies viral tracing. We show that asymmetry develops rapidly over a 2-day period through an intermediate state in which random or symmetric synaptic connections have been established. The development of asymmetry involves the spatially selective reorganization of inhibitory synaptic inputs. Intriguingly, the spatial distribution of excitatory synaptic inputs from starburst cells is significantly more symmetric than that of the inhibitory inputs at the end of this developmental period. Our work demonstrates a rapid developmental switch from a symmetric to asymmetric input distribution for inhibition in the neural circuit of a principal cell.     

Structures of the multidrug exporter AcrB reveal a proximal multisite drug-binding pocket

AcrB and its homologues are the principal multidrug transporters in Gram-negative bacteria and are important in antibiotic drug tolerance. AcrB is a homotrimer that acts as a tripartite complex with the outer membrane channel TolC and the membrane fusion protein AcrA. Minocycline and doxorubicin have been shown to bind to the phenylalanine cluster region of the binding monomer. Here we report the crystal structures of AcrB bound to the high-molecular-mass drugs rifampicin and erythromycin. These drugs bind to the access monomer, and the binding sites are located in the proximal multisite binding pocket, which is separated from the phenylalanine cluster region (distal pocket) by the Phe-617 loop. Our structures indicate that there are two discrete multisite binding pockets along the intramolecular channel. High-molecular-mass drugs first bind to the proximal pocket in the access state and are then forced into the distal pocket in the binding state by a peristaltic mechanism involving subdomain movements that include a shift of the Phe-617 loop. By contrast, low-molecular-mass drugs, such as minocycline and doxorubicin, travel through the proximal pocket without specific binding and immediately bind to the distal pocket. The presence of two discrete, high-volume multisite binding pockets contributes to the remarkably broad substrate recognition of AcrB.     

De novo mutations in the gene encoding STXBP1 (MUNC18-1) cause early infantile epileptic encephalopathy

Early infantile epileptic encephalopathy with suppression-burst (EIEE), also known as Ohtahara syndrome, is one of the most severe and earliest forms of epilepsy. Using array-based comparative genomic hybridization, we found a de novo 2.0-Mb microdeletion at 9q33.3-q34.11 in a girl with EIEE. Mutation analysis of candidate genes mapped to the deletion revealed that four unrelated individuals with EIEE had heterozygous missense mutations in the gene encoding syntaxin binding protein 1 (STXBP1). STXBP1 (also known as MUNC18-1) is an evolutionally conserved neuronal Sec1/Munc-18 (SM) protein that is essential in synaptic vesicle release in several species. Circular dichroism melting experiments revealed that a mutant form of the protein was significantly thermolabile compared to wild type. Furthermore, binding of the mutant protein to syntaxin was impaired. These findings suggest that haploinsufficiency of STXBP1 causes EIEE.     

Function and evolution of nodulation genes in legumes

Root nodule (RN) symbiosis has a unique feature in which symbiotic bacteria fix atmospheric nitrogen. The symbiosis is established with a limited species of land plants, including legumes. How RN symbiosis evolved is still a mystery, but recent findings on legumes genes that are necessary for RN symbiosis may give us a clue.     

A rat mutant unable to synthesize vitamin C

Summary A colony of Wistar rats with a hereditary defect in L-ascorbic acid-synthesizing ability was established. This rat, like primates and guinea pigs, lacks L-gulonolactone oxidase (EC 1.1.3.8) which catalyzes the last step of L-ascorbic acid biosynthesis. When L-ascorbic acid was added to their drinking water, the rats grew almost normally and were fertile. These mutant rats should be useful not only for nutritional and parmacological studies on vitamin C but also for genetic studies on the lack of this enzyme.Acknowledgments. We are indebted to K. Katagiri, the previous director of Aburahi Laboratories, for his encouragement during the experiment. We are also grateful to H. Nishimura, Professor Emeritus of Kyoto University, and Y. Hasegawa of our laboratory for their helpful suggestions.     

Notes on the cytological feature of male sterility in the mule

Zusammenfassung Untersuchungen der Spermatogenese beim Pferd und Esel haben die diploide Chromosomenzahl 66 und die haploide Zahl 33 eindeutig ergeben. Die gleiche Zahl 66 kann beim Maulesel festgesetzt werden. Der Hoden des Maulesels enthält keine Spermatozytenteilung, trotzdem Spermatogonienteilung vorhanden ist. Unfruchtbarkeit beim Maulesel wegen Mangels beider Reifeteilungen hat sich mit Sicherheit feststellen lassen.

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Contribution No. 326 from the Zoological Institute, Faculty of Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan. With a financial aid from the Scientific Research Fund of the Ministry of Education.     

5-Hydroxylation of kynurenine in animals

Zusammenfassung 5-Oxykynuramin (Vorläufer von Mausamin aus Maushirn) wurde aus Urin von Huhn und Maus nach Verabreichung von Kynurenin durch Kombination der Ionen-Austausch-Chromatographie mit Papier-Chromatographie isoliert. Durch Vergleich mit dem synthetischen Präparat wurde es papierchromatographisch und durch Spaltung mittels Mäuseleberhomogenat in 4,6-Dioxychinolin und 6-Oxykynurensäure identifiziert.

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The authors thank Dr. K.Murakami for his help in this study.     

循环荷载下低屈服点钢材LYP225的力学性能

为了研究低屈服点钢材LYP225的循环本构关系,对18个试件进行单调加载和循环加载,研究其单调曲线、滞回特点、破坏形态等.基于Ramberg-Osgood模型拟合了对称逐级加载下的循环骨架曲线,通过试验滞回数据标定了基于Chaboche模型的等向强化和随动强化参数,并将其输入到Abaqus软件的混合强化模型中,对强化参数的准确性进行验证.结果表明:LYP225钢材的应力-应变关系与加载历史相关;在不同加载制度下LYP225钢材均表现出良好的延性特征;采用Ramberg-Osgood模型能较好地模拟LYP225钢材在循环对称逐级加载下的骨架曲线;将标定的混合强化参数输入到Abaqus软件中,所得结果能准确模拟LYP225钢材的滞回曲线.因此,LYP225钢材在循环荷载下的性能不同于单调荷载,通过试验数据拟合的强化参数可用于整体结构中的地震反应分析.