A nucleosome assembly protein-like polypeptide binds to chloroplast group II intron RNA in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

In the unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, the chloroplast-encoded tscA RNA is part of a tripartite group IIB intron, which is involved in trans-splicing of precursor mRNAs. We have used the yeast three-hybrid system to identify chloroplast group II intron RNA-binding proteins, capable of interacting with the tscA RNA. Of 14 candidate cDNAs, 13 encode identical polypeptides with significant homology to members of the nuclear nucleosome assembly protein (NAP) family. The RNA-binding property of the identified polypeptide was demonstrated by electrophoretic mobility shift assays using different domains of the tripartite group II intron as well as further chloroplast transcripts. Because of its binding to chloroplast RNA it was designated as NAP-like (cNAPL). In silico analysis revealed that the derived polypeptide carries a 46 amino acid chloroplast leader peptide, in contrast to nuclear NAPs. The chloroplast localization of cNAPL was demonstrated by laser scanning confocal fluorescence microscopy using different chimeric cGFP fusion proteins. Phylogenetic analysis shows that no homologues of cNAPL and its related nuclear counterparts are present in prokaryotic genomes. These data indicate that the chloroplast protein described here is a novel member of the NAP family and most probably has not been acquired from a prokaryotic endosymbiont

A nucleosome assembly protein-like polypeptide binds to chloroplast group II intron RNA in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

In the unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, the chloroplast-encoded tscA RNA is part of a tripartite group IIB intron, which is involved in trans-splicing of precursor mRNAs. We have used the yeast three-hybrid system to identify chloroplast group II intron RNA-binding proteins, capable of interacting with the tscA RNA. Of 14 candidate cDNAs, 13 encode identical polypeptides with significant homology to members of the nuclear nucleosome assembly protein (NAP) family. The RNA-binding property of the identified polypeptide was demonstrated by electrophoretic mobility shift assays using different domains of the tripartite group II intron as well as further chloroplast transcripts. Because of its binding to chloroplast RNA it was designated as NAP-like (cNAPL). In silico analysis revealed that the derived polypeptide carries a 46 amino acid chloroplast leader peptide, in contrast to nuclear NAPs. The chloroplast localization of cNAPL was demonstrated by laser scanning confocal fluorescence microscopy using different chimeric cGFP fusion proteins. Phylogenetic analysis shows that no homologues of cNAPL and its related nuclear counterparts are present in prokaryotic genomes. These data indicate that the chloroplast protein described here is a novel member of the NAP family and most probably has not been acquired from a prokaryotic endosymbiont

The comorbidity and co-medication profile of patients with progressive supranuclear palsy

BackgroundProgressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is usually diagnosed in elderly. Currently, little is known about comorbidities and the co-medication in these patients.ObjectivesTo explore the pattern of comorbidities and co-medication in PSP patients according to the known different phenotypes and in comparison with patients without neurodegenerative disease.MethodsCross-sectional data of PSP and patients without neurodegenerative diseases (non-ND) were collected from three German multicenter observational studies (DescribePSP, ProPSP and DANCER). The prevalence of comorbidities according to WHO ICD-10 classification and the prevalence of drugs administered according to WHO ATC system were analyzed. Potential drug-drug interactions were evaluated using AiDKlinik (R).ResultsIn total, 335 PSP and 275 non-ND patients were included in this analysis. The prevalence of diseases of the circulatory and the nervous system was higher in PSP at first level of ICD-10. Dorsopathies, diabetes mellitus, other nutritional deficiencies and polyneuropathies were more frequent in PSP at second level of ICD-10. In particular, the summed prevalence of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases was higher in PSP patients. More drugs were administered in the PSP group leading to a greater percentage of patients with polypharmacy. Accordingly, the prevalence of potential drug-drug interactions was higher in PSP patients, especially severe and moderate interactions.ConclusionsPSP patients possess a characteristic profile of comorbidities, particularly diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. The eminent burden of comorbidities and resulting polypharmacy should be carefully considered when treating PSP patients

Printed electrodes for energy storage systems

The 4th industrial revolution will stimulate a rising demand on printed electrode multilayer systems. Besides machine communication, new systems for human machine communications, flexible printed energy storage devices need to be developed. In order to circumvent the use of rare resources such as gold or silver, our working group has focused our effort on synthetic nanomaterials such as Active carbon (AK), Carbon Nanohorns (CNH), Graphene-Nano-Platlets or Graphene. To make the electrodes screen printing, bar coating and spray coating is used. These are highly automated technologies that can be employed to process high viscous rubber materials, metal and foam substrates which are required for energy storage applications. During the talk some examples of research and development activities of the department “Functional materials” will be given

Superkondensatoren als Puffersysteme zur Speicherung von elektrischer Energie in Automobilanwendungen - SkiPper: Abschlussbericht

Aufgabenstellung und Projektziel war die Entwicklung und der Aufbau von Nanokohlenstoffbasierten Superkondensatoren für den Einsatz in Dualspeichersystemen von Elektrofahrzeugen. Die Synthese und Funktionalisierung von Aktivmaterialien, die zugehörige Fertigungstechnik, die Verarbeitung von Materialien zu Komponenten, Zellen und Modulen und die Untersuchung und Kategorisierung der jeweiligen Funktionen und Eigenschaften standen im Fokus des Projekts

Machbarkeitsuntersuchung zur Erforschung neuartiger Hochleistungs- und Hochenergiespeicherzellen und deren Fertigungsmethodik als Basis für eine spätere Großserienfertigung in Baden-Württemberg: Projektvorstellung

Für die Entwicklung von „PowerCaps, einem“ Hybridprodukt aus Superkondensator und Batterie wurden im Projekt FastStorageBW hochpräzise und skalierbare Fertigungsprozesse für neue Materialkombinationen und Zell-Designs in vorwettbewerblichen Versuchsserien entwickelt. Im Fokus stehen dabei diverse Anwendungen (Fahrerloseses Transportsystem, Regalbediengeräte, Pedelec) für die auch Modul Demonstratoren hergestellt wurden. Ziel ist die Umsetzung der Fertigungsmethodik von PowerCaps in späterer industrieller Massenfertigung am Standort Baden-Württemberg

Einfluss von rheologischen Eigenschaften auf die Qualität der Beschichtung

Der Vortrag gibt einen Überblick über den Zusammenhang zwischen rheologischen Eigenschaften von funktionalen Pasten und den Prozessparametern von Druck- und Beschichtungsverfahren. Zu Beginn werden verschiedene strukturierende und flächige Verfahren vorgestellt und jeweils deren Funktionsprinzip erläutert. Für die Verfahren Siebdruck, Tiefdruck und Flexodruck werden die Einflüsse der Viskosität der funktionalen Pasten in verschiedenen Prozessschritten genauer beleuchtet. Anhand einzelner Anwendungsbeispiele werden zudem die Forschungsarbeiten des Fraunhofer IPA auf diesem Gebiet vorgestellt. Zuletzt wird der Reifegrad mehrerer Druck- und Beschichtungsverfahren für ausgewählte Nanokohlenwerkstoffe vorgestellt

Printed functional layers for the use in connected car applications

Printed functional layers for the use in car connect applications - Printing of structured layers on car-body - Differences of Application inside vs. outside - Design of multilayer based on properties of primer and varnish - Evaluation of sensor signals and encapsulation - Outline: Transfer to other application

Fully screen printed, stretchable proximity sensors based on carbon nanotube - silicone rubber compounds: Presentation held at Stuttgart NanoDays Workshop, September 13th - 15th, 2017, Munich

The 4th industrial revolution will stimulate a rising demand on novel sensor and actuator systems. Besides machine communication, new systems for human machine communications need to be developed. These technologies are called Human Machine Interface technologies (HMI) and can be basically distinguished by tactile and non-tactile sensors. In order to circumvent the use of rare resources such as gold or silver, many groups have focused their efforts on synthetic nanomaterials such as Carbon Nanotubes (CNT) or Graphene. Within this research CNT silicone rubber compounds are used as an electrode material for screen printed proximity sensors on silicon rubber substrates. The working principle of this sensors is based on capacitive sensing, where the distance of the object is measured by changes in the electrical field that is applied on the CNT silicon rubber electrode when a conductive object approaches (see Figure 1). To make the sensors screen printing is used. It is a highly automated technology that can be employed to process high viscous rubber materials, which are required for this sensor configuration. In addition, this method is used due to its high productivity and reproducibility as well as realizing thick and robust multilayer coatings. Materials such as CNTs are difficult to process with solution processing methods, because of their high aspect ratio that might lead to clogging of nozzles of inkjet printers or dispensers. The high volume of material that is transferred onto the substrate with screen printing makes it possible to process a wide range of material sizes ranging from nano- to micro-particles, including CNTs. As presented by Wei and co-workers, the maximum sensing distance of the proximity sensors based on silver are strongly influences by the layer coverage of the electrode material [1]. By adjusting these parameters, personalized and adjustable sensors, for specific applications can be established. For this reason, the influence of the variation of geometrical and electrical properties of the electrode on the sensing performance will be examined within this work. Thereby, the CNT silicone rubber electrode will be varied in its layer thickness and its area coverage. To characterize the maximum sensing distance, the “Touch Board” supplied by Bare Conductive is used

Smarte Materialien & Oberflächen - Raumkonditionierung der Zukunft: Vortrag gehalten auf der Veranstaltung Leichtbau im urbanen System. Architektur, Engineering, Forschung. 18. Juli 2018, Stuttgart

Der Vortrag "Smarte Materialien und Oberflächen - Raumkonditionierung der Zukunft" behandelt folgende Themen: - Was sind "smarte Oberflächen"? - Motivation - Smart Buildings - Idee: Künstliche Muskeln - Sensorische Funktionen für Gebäudeoberflächen - Materialien & Beschichtungstechnik - Weitere Anwendunge