The primary structure of mitochondrial aspartate aminotrasferase from human heart

The complete amino acid sequence of the mitochondrial asparate aminotransferase (L-aspartate:2-oxoglutarate aminotransferase, EC 2.6.1.1) from human heart has been determined based mainly on analysis of peptides obtained by digestion with trypsin and by chemical cleavage with cyanogen bromide. Comparison of the sequence with those of the isotopic isoenzymes from pig, rat and chicken showed 27, 29 and 55 differences, respectively, out of a total of 401 amino acid residues. Evidence for structural microheterogeneity at position 317 has also been obtained

Two-dimensional amine and hydroxy functionalized fused aromatic covalent organic framework

Ordered two-dimensional covalent organic frameworks (COFs) have generally been synthesized using reversible reactions. It has been difficult to synthesize a similar degree of ordered COFs using irreversible reactions. Developing COFs with a fused aromatic ring system via an irreversible reaction is highly desirable but has remained a significant challenge. Here we demonstrate a COF that can be synthesized from organic building blocks via irreversible condensation (aromatization). The as-synthesized robust fused aromatic COF (F-COF) exhibits high crystallinity. Its lattice structure is characterized by scanning tunneling microscopy and X-ray diffraction pattern. Because of its fused aromatic ring system, the F-COF structure possesses high physiochemical stability, due to the absence of hydrolysable weak covalent bonds

An Acoustic Survey of Orange Roughy Aggregations to the West and North of the Porcupine Bank

The survey was carried out over a 14 day period from the 5th – 20th February 2005 onboard the 65m RV Celtic Explorer. The main focus of this pilot survey was to acoustically survey orange roughy (Hoplostethus atlanticus) spawning aggregations.Funder: Marine Institut

Continuous-flow synthesis of ZIF-8 biocomposites with tunable particle size

Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework (ZIF) biocomposites show the capacity to protect and deliver bio-therapeutics. To date, the progress in this research area is based on laboratory batch methods. To further explore the potential of ZIF-biocomposites for application to biomedicine and biotechnology, the continuous production of ZIF-biocomposites of specific particle size is desirable. Here we report the first continuous flow synthetic method for the encapsulation of a model protein (bovine serum albumin, BSA) and a clinical therapeutic (α1-antitrypsin, AAT) in ZIF-8. We studied the in situ kinetics of nucleation, growth and crystallization of BSA@ZIF-8 by small angle X-ray scattering. By controlling the injection time of ethanol, we could quench the particle growth via ethanol-induced crystallization from amorphous particles to ZIF-8 crystals. The particle size of the biocomposite was tuned in the 40-100 nm range by varying residence time prior to introduction of ethanol. As a proof-of-concept, we used this protocol for the encapsulation of AAT in ZIF-8. Upon release of the bio therapeutic from the composite, the trypsin inhibitor function of AAT was preserved.Francesco Carraro, Jason D. Williams, Mercedes Linares‐Moreau, Chiara Parise ... Christian Doonan ... Paolo Falcaro ... et al

Development and Validation of a Canine-Specific Profiling Array to Examine Expression of Pro-Apoptotic and Pro-Survival Genes in Retinal Degenerative Diseases

We developed an expression profiling array to examine pro-apoptotic and pro-survival genes in dog retinal degeneration models. Gene-specific canine TaqMan assays were developed and included in a custom real-time quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (qRT-PCR) array. Of the 96 selected genes, 93 belonged to known relevant pro-apoptotic and pro-survival pathways, and/or were positive controls expressed in retina, while three were housekeeping genes. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) showed that the selected genes belonged to expected biological functions (cell death, cell-mediated immune response, cellular development, function, and maintenance) and pathways (death receptor signaling, apoptosis, TNFR1 signaling, and induction of apoptosis by HIV1). Validation of the profiling array was performed with RNA extracted from cultured MDCK cells in the presence or absence of treatment with 10 μM staurosporin for 5 or 10 h. The vast majority of the genes showed positive amplifications, and a number of them also had fold change (FC) differences \u3e ±3 between control and staurosporin-treated cells. To conclude, we established a profiling array that will be used to identify differentially expressed genes associated with photoreceptor death or survival in canine models of retinal degenerative diseases with mutations in genes that cause human inherited blindness with comparable phenotypes

Self-assembly of oriented antibody-decorated metal–organic framework nanocrystals for active-targeting applications

Vol. 34(21) pp 2106607-1 - 2106607-7Antibody (Ab)-targeted nanoparticles are becoming increasingly important for precision medicine. By controlling the Ab orientation, targeting properties can be enhanced; however, to afford such an ordered configuration, cumbersome chemical functionalization protocols are usually required. This aspect limits the progress of Abs-nanoparticles toward nanomedicine translation. Herein, a novel one-step synthesis of oriented monoclonal Ab-decorated metal-organic framework (MOF) nanocrystals is presented. The crystallization of a zinc-based MOF, Zn₂(mIM₂(CO₃), from a solution of Zn²⁺ and 2-methylimidazole (mIM), is triggered by the fragment crystallizable (Fc) region of the Ab. This selective growth yields biocomposites with oriented Abs on the MOF nanocrystals (MOF*Ab): the Fc regions are partially inserted within the MOF surface and the antibody-binding regions protrude from the MOF surface toward the target. This ordered configuration imparts antibody-antigen recognition properties to the biocomposite and shows preserved target binding when compared to the parental antibodies. Next, the biosensing performance of the system is tested by loading MOF*Ab with luminescent quantum dots (QD). The targeting efficiency of the QD-containing MOF*Ab is again, fully preserved. The present work represents a simple self-assembly approach for the fabrication of antibody-decorated MOF nanocrystals with broad potential for sensing, diagnostic imaging, and targeted drug delivery.Karen Alt, Francesco Carraro, Edwina Jap, Mercedes Linares-Moreau, Raffaele Riccò, Marcello Righetto, Marco Bogar, Heinz Amenitsch, Rania A. Hashad, Christian Doonan, Christoph E. Hagemeyer, and Paolo Falcar