Inter-domain interactions influence the stability and catalytic activity of the bi-domain protein tyrosine phosphatase PTP99A

The two protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) domains in bi-domain PTPs share high sequence and structural similarity. However, only one of the two PIP domains is catalytically active. Here we describe biochemical studies on the two tandem PTP domains of the bi-domain PTP, PTP99A. Phosphatase activity, monitored using small molecule as well as peptide substrates, revealed that the inactive (D2) domain activates the catalytic (D1) domain. Thermodynamic measurements suggest that the inactive D2 domain stabilizes the bi-domain (D1-D2) protein. The mechanism by which the D2 domain activates and stabilizes the bi-domain protein is governed by few interactions at the inter-domain interface. In particular, mutating Lys990 at the interface attenuates inter-domain communication. This residue is located at a structurally equivalent location to the so-called allosteric site of the canonical single domain PIP, PTP1B. These observations suggest functional optimization in bi-domain PTPs whereby the inactive PTP domain modulates the catalytic activity of the bi-domain enzyme. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Dual Role of Acetate as a Nucleophile and as an Internal Base in Cycloplatination Reaction of sym-N,N `,N `'-Triarylguanidines

Reaction of cis-Cl2Pt(S(O)Me-2)(2)] with 1 equiv of sym-N,N',N `'-triarylguanidines, ArN=C(NHAr)(2) (sym = symmetrical; Ar = 2-MeC6H4 (LH22-tolyl), 2-(MeO)C6H4 (LH22-anisyl), 4-MeC6H4 (LH24-tolyl), 2,5-Me2C6H3 (LH22,5-xylyl), and 2,6-Me2C6H3 (LH22,6-xylyl)) in toluene under reflux condition for 3 h afforded cis- or trans-Cl2Pt(S(O)Me-2)(ArN=C(NHAr)(2))] (Ar = 2-MeC6H4 (1), 2-(MeO)C6H4 (2), 4-MeC6H4 (3), 2,5-h Me2C6H3 (4), and 2,6-Me2C6H3 (5), respectively) in 83-96% yield. Reaction of cis-Cl2Pt(S(O)Me-2)(2)] with 1 equiv of LH22-tolyl and LH24-tolyl in the presence of 1 equiv of NaOAc in methanol under reflux condition for 3 h afforded acetate-substituted products, cis-(AcO)ClPt(S(O)Me-2)(ArN=C(NHAr)(2))] (Ar = 2-MeC6H4 (6) and 4-MeC6H4 (7)) in 83% and 84% yields, respectively. Reaction of cis-Cl2Pt(S(O)Me-2)(2)] with 1 equiv of LH22-anisyl and LH22-tolyl in the presence of 1 equiv of NaOAc in methanol under reflux condition for 3 and 12 h afforded six-membered C,N] platinacycles, Pt{kappa(2)(C,N)-C6H3R-3(NHC(NHAr)(=NAr))-2}Cl(S(O)Me-2)] (Ar = 2-RC6H4; R = OMe (8) and Me (9)), in 92% and 79% yields, respectively. The new complexes have been characterized by analytical and spectroscopic techniques, and further the molecular structures of 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, and 8 have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The platinum atom in 1, 4, and 5 exhibited the trans configuration, while that in 2, 6, and 8 exhibited the cis configuration. Complex 6 is shown to be the precursor for 9, and the former is suggested to transform to the latter possibly via an intramolecular C-H activation followed by elimination of AcOH. The solution behavior of new complexes has been studied by multinuclear NMR (H-1, Pt-195, and C-13) spectroscopy. The new complexes exist exclusively as a single isomer (trans (1 and 5) and cis (6 and 7)), a mixture of cis and trans isomers with the former isomer being predominant in the case of 2 and the latter isomer being predominant in the case of 3. Complex 5 in the trans form revealed the presence of one isomer at 0.007 mM concentration and two isomers in about 1.00:0.12 ratio at 0.154 mM concentration as revealed by H-1 NMR spectroscopy, and this has been ascribed to the restricted Pt-S bond rotation at higher concentration. Platinacycle 8 exists as one isomer, while 9 exists as a mixture of seven isomers in solution. The influence of steric factor, pi-acceptor property of the guanidine, subtle solid-state packing forces upon the configuration of the platinum atom, and the number of isomers in solution have been outlined. Factors that accelerate or slow down the cycloplatination reaction, the role of NaOAc, and a plausible mechanism of this reaction have been discussed.

Aptamers as Theranostic Agents: Modifications, Serum Stability and Functionalisation

Aptamers, and the selection process known as Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential Enrichment (SELEX) used to generate them, were first described more than twenty years ago. Since then, there have been numerous modifications to the selection procedures. This review discusses the use of modified bases as a means of enhancing serum stability and producing effective therapeutic tools, as well as functionalising these nucleic acids to be used as potential diagnostic agents.

12 V / kilo-Farad Range Lead-Carbon Hybrid Ultracapacitors and Their Envisaged Applications

12 V / kilo-Farad (kF) range substrate-integrated lead-carbon hybrid ultracapacitors (HUCs) wherein the conventional positive plates of lead-acid batteries are replaced with substrate-integrated PbO2 positive plates and the negative plates are replaced with carbon-coated graphitic electrodes, providing totally non-faradaic and corrosion-free electrodes, are developed and performance tested. Constant-current discharge data at varying load-currents, constant-power discharge data at varying power values, and the capacitance data at different temperature for a 12 V / kF range substrate-integrated lead-carbon HUC are described along with its resistance, leakage current, self-discharge and cycle-life characteristics.

Demodulation of Narrowband Speech Spectrograms Using the Riesz Transform

We propose a two-dimensional (2-D) multicomponent amplitude-modulation, frequency-modulation (AM-FM) model for a spectrogram patch corresponding to voiced speech, and develop a new demodulation algorithm to effectively separate the AM, which is related to the vocal tract response, and the carrier, which is related to the excitation. The demodulation algorithm is based on the Riesz transform and is developed along the lines of Hilbert-transform-based demodulation for 1-D AM-FM signals. We compare the performance of the Riesz transform technique with that of the sinusoidal demodulation technique on real speech data. Experimental results show that the Riesz-transform-based demodulation technique represents spectrogram patches accurately. The spectrograms reconstructed from the demodulated AM and carrier are inverted and the corresponding speech signal is synthesized. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the reconstructed speech signal, with respect to clean speech, was found to be 2 to 4 dB higher in case of the Riesz transform technique than the sinusoidal demodulation technique.

Virulent Salmonella enterica infections can be exacerbated by concomitant infection of the host with a live attenuated S. enterica vaccine via Toll-like receptor 4-dependent interleukin-10 production with the involvement of both TRIF and MyD88.

During systemic disease in mice, Salmonella enterica grows intracellularly within discrete foci of infection in the spleen and liver. In concomitant infections, foci containing different S. enterica strains are spatially separated. We have investigated whether functional interactions between bacterial populations within the same host can occur despite the known spatial separation of the foci and independence of growth of salmonellae residing in different foci. In this study we have demonstrated that bacterial numbers of virulent S. enterica serovar Typhimurium C5 strain in mouse tissues can be increased by the presence of the attenuated aroA S. Typhimurium SL3261 vaccine strain in the same tissue. Disease exacerbation does not require simultaneous coinjection of the attenuated bacteria. SL3261 can be administered up to 48 hr after or 24 hr before the administration of C5 and still determine higher tissue numbers of the virulent bacteria. This indicates that intravenous administration of a S. enterica vaccine strain could potentially exacerbate an established infection with wild-type bacteria. These data also suggest that the severity of an infection with a virulent S. enterica strain can be increased by the prior administration of a live attenuated vaccine strain if infection occurs within 48 hr of vaccination. Exacerbation of the growth of C5 requires Toll-like receptor 4-dependent interleukin-10 production with the involvement of both Toll/interleukin-1 receptor-domain-containing adaptor inducing interferon-beta and myeloid differentiation factor 88.

Mode I and Mode II Crack Tip Asymptotic Fields with Strain Gradient Effects

The strain gradient effect becomes significant when the size of fracture process zone around a crack tip is comparable to the intrinsic material length l, typically of the order of microns. Using the new strain gradient deformation theory given by Chen and Wang, the asymptotic fields near a crack tip in an elastic-plastic material with strain gradient effects are investigated. It is established that the dominant strain field is irrotational. For mode I plane stress crack tip asymptotic field, the stress asymptotic field and the couple stress asymptotic field can not exist simultaneously. In the stress dominated asymptotic field, the angular distributions of stresses are consistent with the classical plane stress HRR field; In the couple stress dominated asymptotic field, the angular distributions of couple stresses are consistent with that obtained by Huang et al. For mode II plane stress and plane strain crack tip asymptotic fields, only the stress-dominated asymptotic fields exist. The couple stress asymptotic field is less singular than the stress asymptotic fields. The stress asymptotic fields are the same as mode II plane stress and plane strain HRR fields, respectively. The increase in stresses is not observed in strain gradient plasticity for mode I and mode II, because the present theory is based only on the rotational gradient of deformation and the crack tip asymptotic fields are irrotational and dominated by the stretching gradient.

Experimental Study of Surface Deformation and Flow Pattern on Buoyant-Thermocapillary Convection

Free surface deformation is one of the most important physical phenomena in fluids with free surface. In the present paper, convection and surface deformation caused by thermocapillary effect in a rectangular cavity were investigated. In ground experiments, the convection was also affected by gravity. The cavity has a horizontal cross section of 52mm×42mm and the thikkness of the liquid layer is 4mm. Temperature difference between two sides of the liquid layer was increased gradually, and the flow in liquid layer will develop from steady to unstable convection. An optical diagnostic system consisting of a revised Michelson interferometer with image processor was developed to study fluid surface deformation in convection, and the displacements of free surface oscillation were determined. PIV technique was adopted to observe the evolution of flow pattern, and the velocity fields were obtained quantitatively. The present experiments demonstrate that surface deformation is quite distinct in buoyant-thermocapillary convection. in order to understand the mechanism of buoyant-thermocapillary convection, not only the hydrothermal wave instability but also the surface wave instability should be discussed.

Evaluación de la variabilidad fenotípica de catorce materiales genéticos de frijol común (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) en la localidad de San Marcos, Carazo

El presente trabajo se realizó en época de postrera 2000 en la estación experimental "La Compañía", San Marcos, Carazo con los objetivos de evaluar el comportamiento agronómico de catorce poblaciones de frijol común, determinar si existen diferencias significativas entre poblaciones para diferentes caracteres cuantitativos, determinar si existen diferencias significativas entre poblaciones locales clasificadas por color de semilla y entre materiales genéticos dentro del grupo de granos rojos. Las poblaciones objeto de estudio fueron colectadas en diferentes regiones del país, el diseño consistió en un experimento bifactorial jerárquico en un diseño de bloques completos al azar con cuatro repeticiones. Se observó gran variabilidad genética en las poblaciones estudiada, para los caracteres días a floración y madurez fisiológica, sobresalen con mayor precocidad las poblaciones de color rosado y crema suave. Se observó diferencias significativas para la mayoría de las variables cuantitativas estudiadas entre las poblaciones evaluadas, para la variable de mayor interés que es el rendimiento se encontró diferencia estadística sobresaliendo los materiales de color rosado, crema suave y V-16 y V-26 del grupo de variedades locales de grano rojo. También se encontró algunas limitantes como lo es la alta susceptibilidad a enfermedades.

Periodos criticos de competencia de malezas en algodon (Gossypium hirsutum L.)

Este estudio fue realizado en el Centro experimental de Algodón (C.E.A), Nicaragua; con el propósito de determinar el periodo crítico de competencia en algodón (Gossypium hirsutum L.) y las malezas. Dos experimentos fueron sembrados en agosto de 1991. En el experimento 1 (períodos libres de malezas) los tratamientos, 7 en total, consistieron en mantener parcelas libres de malezas desde la siembra hasta 14, 28, 42, 56, 70 días después de la siembra. Un tratamiento fue dejado enmalezado durante todo el ciclo y otro fue dejado libre de maleza. En el experimento 2 (períodos con competencia) a las malezas les fue permitido competir por diferentes períodos comenzando los controles a los 14, 28, 42, 56 y 70 días después de la siembra. un tratamiento fue dejado enmalezado durante todo el ciclo y otro fue dejado libre de maleza. Los resultados obtenidos muestran que bajo las condiciones experimentales, el algodón necesita 70 días libres de malezas para obtener buenos rendimientos y es capaz de soportar 42 días de competencia sin ver mermado sus rendimientos de manera significativa. El período crítico de competencia encuentra entre 42 y 70 días después de la siembra. El mejor resultado fue obtenido cuando las malezas fueron controladas en dos ocasiones, la primera 42 días después de la siembra y la segunda 70 días después de la siembra.

Teología, 1965, Tomo II/2 nº 5 (número completo)

Los pobres en la Iglesia / Norman Horacio Pipo -- La ordenación final del hombre a la gloria en el comentario a las Sentencias de Santo Tomás de Aquino / Juan C De Zan -- Exposición de la doctrina de la fe en el Nuevo Mundo / Eduardo Pérez Bravo -- Boletín de teología de la historia / Pedro Geltman -- Se suprime en Buenos Aires (1824) el nombre del Papa en la liturgia / Américo Tonda -- Crónica de la Facultad -- Índice del Tomo II (1964)

Ecos de la obra de José Manuel Estrada en el constitucionalismo brasileño de la Primeira República (1889-1930)

Tras la caída del emperador Pedro II, el modelo constitucional argentino inspirado en el pensamiento alberdiano ejerció una fuerte influencia sobre los próceres republicanos brasileños… y doctrinarios argentinos de ese momento, como José Manuel Estrada, fueron apreciados como autoridades intelectuales por los operadores jurídicos...

Petróleo

Coletânea sobre os antecedentes da Política Nacional do Petróleo e das atribuições do Conselho Nacional do Petróleo; incluindo legislação, discursos parlamentares, estudos especializados, memoriais, investigações oficiosas e particulares que permitem uma visão da história econômica do petróleo brasileiro. Reúne projetos, requerimentos e outros documentos parlamentares, do período de 1824 a 1957, que precederam ao projeto da Petrobrás, da tramitação na Câmara dos Deputados e no Senado Federal até à reunião do Congresso para decidir sobre o veto. Inclui inquéritos da comissão especializada sobre a Petrobrás em atividade.

Presidentes da Câmara dos Deputados : 16º - Honório Monteiro

Apresenta biografia do décimo sexto presidente da Câmara dos Deputados. O biografado revelou-se um admirável "condutor de assembléias" demonstrando ser não apenas um professor competente, mas um incansável trabalhador.