Functional consequences of the oligomeric assembly of proteorhodopsin.

The plasma membrane is the crucial interface between the cell and its exterior, packed with embedded proteins experiencing simultaneous protein-protein and protein-membrane interactions. A prominent example of cell membrane complexity is the assembly of transmembrane proteins into oligomeric structures, with potential functional consequences that are not well understood. From the study of proteorhodopsin (PR), a prototypical seven-transmembrane light-driven bacterial proton pump, we find evidence that the inter-protein interaction modulated by self-association yields functional changes observable from the protein interior. We also demonstrate that the oligomer is likely a physiologically relevant form of PR, as crosslinking of recombinantly expressed PR reveals an oligomeric population within the Escherichia coli membrane (putatively hexameric). Upon chromatographic isolation of oligomeric and monomeric PR in surfactant micelles, the oligomer exhibits distinctly different optical absorption properties from monomeric PR, as reflected in a prominent decrease in the pKa of the primary proton acceptor residue (D97) and slowing of the light-driven conformational change. These functional effects are predominantly determined by specific PR-PR contacts over nonspecific surfactant interactions. Interestingly, varying the surfactant type alters the population of oligomeric states and the proximity of proteins within an oligomer, as determined by sparse electron paramagnetic resonance distance measurements. Nevertheless, the dynamic surfactant environment retains the key function-tuning property exerted by oligomeric contacts. A potentially general design principle for transmembrane protein function emerges from this work, one that hinges on specific oligomeric contacts that can be modulated by protein expression or membrane composition

Senti-Lexicon and Analysis for Restaurant Reviews of Myanmar Text

Social media has just become as an influential with the rapidly growing popularity of online customers reviews available in social sites by using informal languages and emoticons. These reviews are very helpful for new customers and for decision making process. Sentiment analysis is to state the feelings, opinions about people\u27s reviews together with sentiment. Most of researchers applied sentiment analysis for English Language. There is no research efforts have sought to provide sentiment analysis of Myanmar text. To tackle this problem, we propose the resource of Myanmar Language for mining food and restaurants\u27 reviews. This paper aims to build language resource to overcome the language specific problem and opinion word extraction for Myanmar text reviews of consumers. We address dictionary based approach of lexicon-based sentiment analysis for analysis of opinion word extraction in food and restaurants domain. This research assesses the challenges and problem faced in sentiment analysis of Myanmar Language area for future

(OC-6-35)-(2,2′-Bipyridine-κ2 N,N′)dimeth­yl(3-sulfido­propionato-κ2 S,O)platinum(IV)

The title complex, [Pt(CH3)2(SCH2CH2CO2)(C10H8N2)], is formed by the unusual oxidative addition of the disulfide, R 2S2 (R = CH2CH2CO2H), to (2,2′-bipyridine)­dimethyl­platin­um(II) with elimination of RSH. The product contains an unusual six-membered thiol­ate–carboxyl­ate chelate ring. This slightly distorted octa­hedral complex exhibits cis angles ranging from 77.55 (11) to 97.30 (8)° due to the presence of the thiol­ate–carboxyl­ate chelate ring and the constrained bipyridine group. The crystal packing appears to be controlled by a combination of π-stacking [centroid–centroid distance = 3.611 (2) Å] and C—H⋯O inter­actions

Genome sequences of 15 Gardnerella vaginalis strains isolated from the vaginas of women with and without bacterial vaginosis

Gardnerella vaginalis is a predominant species in bacterial vaginosis, a dysbiosis of the vagina that is associated with adverse health outcomes, including preterm birth. Here, we present the draft genome sequences of 15 Gardnerella vaginalis strains (now available through BEI Resources) isolated from women with and without bacterial vaginosis

Effect of soy on bone turn-over markers in men with type 2 diabetes and hypogonadism – a randomised controlled study

Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is associated with increased risk of fractures. Soy supplementation has been shown to have a beneficial effect on bone turnover markers (BTM) in postmenopausal women. However, the effect of soy supplementation on BTM in T2DM and particularly in men is unclear. We performed an analysis of a randomized double blind parallel study of 200 men with T2DM treated with soy, either with or without isoflavones. Outcome measures were type I collagen crosslinked beta C-telopeptide (βCTX), and type 1 procollagen-N-propeptide (P1NP). The men, with a total testosterone <12 nmol/L, were treated with 15 g soy protein containing 66 mg of isoflavones (SPI) or 15 g soy protein alone without isoflavones (SP) daily for three months. There was a 15% reduction in βCTX after three months of SPI compared to SP supplementation. There was no significant difference in P1NP with either SPI or SP supplementation. There was a significant linear correlation between the reduction in βCTX in the SPI group with the reduction in HbA1c (r2 = 0.42; p = 0.04) and HOMA-IR (r2 = 0.54; p = 0.02). Our study indicates that there was a significant reduction in bone resorption following 3 months of SPI supplementation that correlated with an improvement of glycemic control in men with T2DM

Wdr1 and cofilin are necessary mediators of immune-cell-specific apoptosis triggered by Tecfidera.

Despite the emerging importance of reactive electrophilic drugs, deconvolution of their principal targets remains difficult. The lack of genetic tractability/interventions and reliance on secondary validation using other non-specific compounds frequently complicate the earmarking of individual binders as functionally- or phenotypically-sufficient pathway regulators. Using a redox-targeting approach to interrogate how on-target binding of pleiotropic electrophiles translates to a phenotypic output in vivo, we here systematically track the molecular components attributable to innate immune cell toxicity of the electrophilic-drug dimethyl fumarate (Tecfidera®). In a process largely independent of canonical Keap1/Nrf2-signaling, Keap1-specific modification triggers mitochondrial-targeted neutrophil/macrophage apoptosis. On-target Keap1-ligand-engagement is accompanied by dissociation of Wdr1 from Keap1 and subsequent coordination with cofilin, intercepting Bax. This phagocytic-specific cell-killing program is recapitulated by whole-animal administration of dimethyl fumarate, where individual depletions of the players identified above robustly suppress apoptosis

Genome sequences of 12 bacterial isolates obtained from the urine of pregnant women

The presence of bacteria in urine can pose significant risks during pregnancy. However, there are few reference genome strains for many common urinary bacteria. We isolated 12 urinary strains of Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, Citrobacter, Gardnerella, and Lactobacillus. These strains and their genomes are now available to the research community

Optimization of Phosphorus Fertilizer in Supplemental Feed‐Fed Based Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) Ponds

An experiment was conducted in earthen ponds at the Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand to determine different phosphorus fertilizer dose effects on Nile tilapia production, water quality variables, nutrient utilization and cost‐benefit under supplemental feeding. Five phosphorus fertilization rates were used as treatments e.g. 100%, 75%, 50%, 25% and 0% of 7 kg P ha week−1. Nitrogen fertilization rate was fixed at 28 kg N ha week−1 for all the treatments. Sex‐reversed Nile tilapia were stocked at 3 fish m−2, and 30% CP floating feed fed at 50% satiation feeding rate. Nutrient budget showed higher phosphorus fertilizer input resulted in higher phosphorus sink in the sediment. Mean weight, mean weight gain, daily weight gain and net yield were not significantly different among treatments (P > 0.05). Total Kjeldahl nitrogen, total phosphorus and soluble reactive phosphorus were significantly different among treatments. Economic analysis showed phosphorus fertilization resulted in positive net returns. Though the gross income was not affected by different fertilization rates, significantly lowest cost was found in the treatment using 25% phosphorus fertilizer. It can be concluded from the research that 25% phosphorus fertilization might be used as an alternative strategy of Nile tilapia pond culture in terms of economic return and nutrient loss in sediment.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/115936/1/are12444.pd

Genome sequences of 11 human vaginal Actinobacteria strains

The composition of the vaginal microbiota is an important health determinant. Several members of the phylum Actinobacteria have been implicated in bacterial vaginosis, a condition associated with many negative health outcomes. Here, we present 11 strains of vaginal Actinobacteria (now available through BEI Resources) along with draft genome sequences

Efficacy and effectiveness of dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine versus artesunate-mefloquine in falciparum malaria: an open-label randomised comparison.

BACKGROUND: Artemisinin-based combinations are judged the best treatments for multidrug-resistant Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Artesunate-mefloquine is widely recommended in southeast Asia, but its high cost and tolerability profile remain obstacles to widespread deployment. To assess whether dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine is a suitable alternative to artesunate-mefloquine, we compared the safety, tolerability, efficacy, and effectiveness of the two regimens for the treatment of uncomplicated falciparum in western Myanmar (Burma). METHODS: We did an open randomised comparison of 3-day regimens of artesunate-mefloquine (12/25 mg/kg) versus dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (6.3/50 mg/kg) for the treatment of children aged 1 year or older and in adults with uncomplicated falciparum malaria in Rakhine State, western Myanmar. Within each group, patients were randomly assigned supervised or non-supervised treatment. The primary endpoint was the PCR-confirmed parasitological failure rate by day 42. Failure rates at day 42 were estimated by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. This study is registered as an International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial, number ISRCTN27914471. FINDINGS: Of 652 patients enrolled, 327 were assigned dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (156 supervised and 171 not supervised), and 325 artesunate-mefloquine (162 and 163, respectively). 16 patients were lost to follow-up, and one patient died 22 days after receiving dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine. Recrudescent parasitaemias were confirmed in only two patients; the day 42 failure rate was 0.6% (95% CI 0.2-2.5) for dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine and 0 (0-1.2) for artesunate-mefloquine. Whole-blood piperaquine concentrations at day 7 were similar for patients with observed and non-observed dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine treatment. Gametocytaemia developed more frequently in patients who had received dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine than in those on artesunate-mefloquine: day 7, 18 (10%) of 188 versus five (2%) of 218; relative risk 4.2 (1.6-11.0) p=0.011. INTERPRETATION: Dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine is a highly efficacious and inexpensive treatment of multidrug-resistant falciparum malaria and is well tolerated by all age groups. The effectiveness of the unsupervised treatment, as in the usual context of use, equalled its supervised efficacy, indicating good adherence without supervision. Dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine is a good alternative to artesunate-mefloquine