891 research outputs found
THE PENETRATION OF REOVIRUS RNA AND INITIATION OF ITS GENETIC FUNCTION IN L-STRAIN FIBROBLASTS
Reovirus type 3 is phagocytized by L cells and rapidly sequestered inside lysosomes. Hydrolases within these organelles are capable of stripping the viral coat proteins, but they fail to degrade the double-stranded RNA genome. These observations support the view that sojourn of reovirus in lysosomes, when the lytic enzymes uncoat its genome, is an obligatory step in the sequence of infection. Although the mechanism for transferring the uncoated RNA out of lysosomes remains to be elucidated, evidence is presented suggesting that progeny genomes are bound to site(s) possessing the fine structure of viral inclusions or factories. It appears that both the synthesis of single- and double-stranded viral RNA and the morphogenesis of progeny virus particles occur in such factories
Optical Identification of He White Dwarfs Orbiting Four Millisecond Pulsars in the Globular Cluster 47 Tucanae
We used ultra-deep UV observations obtained with the Hubble Space Telescope
to search for optical companions to binary millisecond pulsars (MSPs) in the
globular cluster 47 Tucanae. We identified four new counterparts (to MSPs
47TucQ, 47TucS, 47TucT and 47TucY) and confirmed those already known (to MSPs
47TucU and 47TucW). In the color magnitude diagram, the detected companions are
located in a region between the main sequence and the CO white dwarf cooling
sequences, consistent with the cooling tracks of He white dwarfs of mass
between 0.15 Msun and 0.20 Msun. For each identified companion, mass, cooling
age, temperature and pulsar mass (as a function of the inclination angle) have
been derived and discussed. For 47TucU we also found that the past accretion
history likely proceeded in a sub-Eddington rate. The companion to the redback
47TucW is confirmed to be a non degenerate star, with properties particularly
similar to those observed for black widow systems. Two stars have been
identified within the 2-sigma astrometric uncertainty from the radio positions
of 47TucH and 47TucI, but the available data prevent us from firmly assessing
whether they are the true companions of these two MSPs.Comment: 27 pages, 7 figures, Accepted for publication by Ap
Radio Timing and Optical Photometry of the Black Widow System PSR J1953+1846A in the Globular Cluster M71
We report on the determination of the astrometric, spin and orbital
parameters for PSR J1953+1846A, a "black widow" binary millisecond pulsar in
the globular cluster M71. By using the accurate position and orbital parameters
obtained from radio timing, we identified the optical companion in ACS/Hubble
Space Telescope images. It turns out to be a faint (m_F606W>=24, m_F814W>=23)
and variable star located at only ~0.06" from the pulsar timing position. The
light curve shows a maximum at the pulsar inferior conjunction and a minimum at
the pulsar superior conjunction, thus confirming the association with the
system. The shape of the optical modulation suggests that the companion star is
heated, likely by the pulsar wind. The comparison with the X-ray light curve
possibly suggests the presence of an intra-binary shock due to the interaction
between the pulsar wind and the material released by the companion. This is the
second identification (after COM-M5C) of an optical companion to a black widow
pulsar in a globular cluster. Interestingly, the two companions show a similar
light curve and share the same position in the color magnitude diagram.Comment: Accepted for publication by ApJ; 33 Pages, 10 Figures, 3 Table
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