Structural analysis of a trimeric assembly of the mitochondrial dynamin-like GTPase Mgm1.

The fusion of inner mitochondrial membranes requires dynamin-like GTPases, Mgm1 in yeast and OPA1 in mammals, but how they mediate membrane fusion is poorly understood. Here, we determined the crystal structure of Saccharomyces cerevisiae short Mgm1 (s-Mgm1) in complex with GDP. It revealed an N-terminal GTPase (G) domain followed by two helix bundles (HB1 and HB2) and a unique C-terminal lipid-interacting stalk (LIS). Dimers can form through antiparallel HB interactions. Head-to-tail trimers are built by intermolecular interactions between the G domain and HB2-LIS. Biochemical and in vivo analyses support the idea that the assembly interfaces observed here are native and critical for Mgm1 function. We also found that s-Mgm1 interacts with negatively charged lipids via both the G domain and LIS. Based on these observations, we propose that membrane targeting via the G domain and LIS facilitates the in cis assembly of Mgm1, potentially generating a highly curved membrane tip to allow inner membrane fusion

Integrated glycomic analysis of ovarian cancer side population cells

Additional file 2. The category of representative lectins for glycan profiling

Catalytic Oxidative/Extractive Desulfurization of Model Oil using Transition Metal Substituted Phosphomolybdates-Based Ionic Liquids

Polyoxometalates based ionic liquids (POM-ILs) exhibit a high catalytic activity in oxidative desulfurization. In this paper, four new POM-IL hybrids based on transition metal mono-substituted Keggin-type phosphomolybdates, [Bmim]5[PMo11M(H2O)O39] (Bmim = 1-butyl 3-methyl imidazolium; M = Co2+, Ni2+, Zn2+, and Mn2+), have been synthesized and used as catalysts for the oxidation/extractive desulfurization of model oil, in which ILs are used as the extraction solvent and H2O2 as an oxidant under very mild conditions. The factors that affected the desulfurization efficiency were studied and the optimal reaction conditions were obtained. The results showed that the [Bmim]5[PMo11Co(H2O)O39] catalyst demonstrated the best catalytic activity, with sulfur-removal of 99.8%, 85%, and 63% for dibenzothiophene (DBT), 4,6-dimethyldibenzothiophene (4,6-DMDBT), and benzothiophene (BT), respectively, in the case of extraction combining with a oxidative desulfurization system under optimal reaction conditions (5 mL model oil (S content 500 ppm), n(catalyst) = 4 μmol, n(H2O2)/n(Substrate) = 5, T = 50 °C for 60 min with [Omim]BF4 (1 mL) as the extractant). The catalyst can be recycled at least 8 times, and still has stability and high catalytic activity for consecutive desulfurization. Probable reaction mechanisms have been proposed for catalytic oxidative/extractive desulfurization

Duck hepatitis a virus: Full-length genome-based phylogenetic and phylogeographic view during 1986–2020

Duck hepatitis A virus (DHAV) is one of key pathogens for duck viral hepatitis, especially in Asian duck industry. Currently, two main genotypes (DHAV-1 and -3) exist. To explore insightfully the evolutionary character, we assessed the available 141 full-length genome sequences of DHAV isolated in 1986–2020 globally and divided DHAV-1 and DHAV-3 into further seven (DHAV-1 a-g) and five (DHAV-3 a-e) sub-clades, respectively. Phylogenetic and phylogeographic network analyses indicated great genetic diversity of DHAV identified in China, where the DHAV-1 cluster and DHAV-3 cluster were linked by virus strain HDHV1-BJ (GenBank ID: FJ157172.1) and Du_CH_LSD_090612 (GenBank ID: JF828995.1) via a long mutational branch and intermediate strains. Several strains previously identified as DHAV-1 according to the partial gene sequences were actually clustered within DHAV-3 in full-length genome-based analysis. Furthermore, we identified 32 recombination events across virus genome with the recombination hotspot at the 5′ end and upstream of the capsid coding region. The highest variability of DHAV polyprotein was shown at the upstream region of the N terminus P-loop region, e.g., amino acids 672–716, followed by the aa 334–359 in the Capsid encoding region. The results presented here provides a robust insight into the genetic exchange patterns of DHAV genomes during the past decades, which may be used to map the evolutionary history and facilitate preventive measures of DHAVs

Diagnostic accuracy of diffusion-weighted imaging with conventional MR imaging for differentiating complex solid and cystic ovarian tumors at 1.5T

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Preoperative characterization of complex solid and cystic adnexal masses is crucial for informing patients about possible surgical strategies. Our study aims to determine the usefulness of apparent diffusion coefficients (ADC) for characterizing complex solid and cystic adnexal masses.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>One-hundred and 91 patients underwent diffusion-weighted (DW) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of 202 ovarian masses. The mean ADC value of the solid components was measured and assessed for each ovarian mass. Differences in ADC between ovarian masses were tested using the Student’s <it>t</it>-test. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) was used to assess the ability of ADC to differentiate between benign and malignant complex adnexal masses.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Eighty-five patients were premenopausal, and 106 were postmenopausal. Seventy-four of the 202 ovarian masses were benign and 128 were malignant. There was a significant difference between the mean ADC values of benign and malignant ovarian masses (p < 0.05). However, there were no significant differences in ADC values between fibrothecomas, Brenner tumors and malignant ovarian masses. The ROC analysis indicated that a cutoff ADC value of 1.20 x10^-3 mm²/s may be the optimal one for differentiating between benign and malignant tumors.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>A high signal intensity within the solid component on T2WI was less frequently in benign than in malignant adnexal masses. The combination of DW imaging with ADC value measurements and T2-weighted signal characteristics of solid components is useful for differentiating between benign and malignant ovarian masses.</p

In-depth comparison of morphology, microstructure, and pathway of char derived from sewage sludge and relevant model compounds

Hydrothermal conversion (HTC) of sewage sludge (SS) and its relevant model compounds such as cellulose, glucose, lignin and soybean protein (substitute for protein) was experimentally conducted at moderate reaction temperature of 260 °C for 60 min. The structural properties, carbon-containing groups, and microstructure of the char were characterised by several techniques. The results revealed that more benzene rings were formed by small clusters and the C[sbnd]O bond on Aryl-alkyl ether decomposed on the surface particles during the HTC process. In addition, the catalyst Zeolite Socony Mobil-5 (ZSM-5, Si/Al: 300) showed an excellent performance on the high graphite degree of the char under moderate reaction temperature of 260 °C. In particular, cellulose has the most dramatic influence on the depolymerisation of C[sbnd](C,H). As evidenced with SEM, the size of the char derived from SS with ZSM-5 catalyst is 10–15 μm, which is smaller than the char without catalyst. A mechanism for derivation of char from individual model compounds is proposed. The end products of lignin are composed of polyaromatic char, while the composition of the char derived from protein suggests that polymerisation may occur during hydrothermal reaction leading to formation of structures with N-containing compounds

A reusable material with high performance for removing NO at room temperature: performance, mechanism and kinetics

Removing NO from the air with a reusable material at room temperature is challenging. In this study, a series of urea–MnOₓ/ACF and urea–x(CeO₂–(1 − x)MnO₂)/ACF materials were prepared and used for removing NO at room temperature. The results showed that 10% urea–8% (0.5CeO₂–0.5MnO₂)/ACF yielded the highest NO conversion, which showed an NO conversion ratio above 90% with 1000 ppm NO in the initial mixed gases. Moreover, the NO conversion exceeded 98% when the NO concentration was 100 ppm in the initial mixed gases. More importantly, 10% urea–8% (0.5CeO2–0.5MnO₂)/ACF was stable even after it was regenerated by reloading with urea, demonstrating that the material could be easily reused and its highperformance was maintained. Finally, the mechanism and kinetics of the NO removal was discussed