623 research outputs found
Star-Crossed Lovers DI Tau A and B: Orbit Characterization and Physical Properties Determination
The stellar companion to the weak-line T Tauri star DI Tau A was first
discovered by the lunar occultation technique in 1989 and was subsequently
confirmed by a speckle imaging observation in 1991. It has not been detected
since, despite being targeted by five different studies that used a variety of
methods and spanned more than 20 years. Here, we report the serendipitous
rediscovery of DI Tau B during our Young Exoplanets Spectroscopic Survey
(YESS). Using radial velocity data from YESS spanning 17 years, new adaptive
optics observations from Keck II, and a variety of other data from the
literature, we derive a preliminary orbital solution for the system that
effectively explains the detection and (almost all of the) non-detection
history of DI Tau B. We estimate the dynamical masses of both components,
finding that the large mass difference (q 0.17) and long orbital period
(35 years) make DI Tau system a noteworthy and valuable addition to
studies of stellar evolution and pre-main-sequence models. With a long orbital
period and a small flux ratio (f2/f1) between DI Tau A and B, additional
measurements are needed for a better comparison between these observational
results and pre-main-sequence models. Finally, we report an average surface
magnetic field strength () for DI Tau A, of 0.55 kG, which is
unusually low in the context of young active stars.Comment: 21 pages, 10 figures. Accepted to Ap
Orbital characterization of GJ1108A system, and comparison of dynamical mass with model-derived mass for resolved binaries
We report an orbital characterization of GJ1108Aab that is a low-mass binary
system in pre-main-sequence phase. Via the combination of astrometry using
adaptive optics and radial velocity measurements, an eccentric orbital solution
of =0.63 is obtained, which might be induced by the Kozai-Lidov mechanism
with a widely separated GJ1108B system. Combined with several observed
properties, we confirm the system is indeed young. Columba is the most probable
moving group, to which the GJ1108A system belongs, although its membership to
the group has not been established. If the age of Columba is assumed for
GJ1108A, the dynamical masses of both GJ1108Aa and GJ1108Ab ( and ) are more massive than what an
evolutionary model predicts based on the age and luminosities. We consider the
discrepancy in mass comparison can attribute to an age uncertainty; the system
is likely older than stars in Columba, and effects that are not implemented in
classical models such as accretion history and magnetic activity are not
preferred to explain the mass discrepancy. We also discuss the performance of
the evolutionary model by compiling similar low-mass objects in evolutionary
state based on the literature. Consequently, it is suggested that the current
model on average reproduces the mass of resolved low-mass binaries without any
significant offsets.Comment: Accepted in Ap
Mitotic phosphorylation activates hepatoma-derived growth factor as a mitogen
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Hepatoma-derived growth factor (HDGF) is a nuclear protein that is a mitogen for a wide variety of cells. Mass spectrometry based methods have identified HDGF as a phosphoprotein without validation or a functional consequence of this post-translational modification.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We found that HDGF in primary mouse aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) was phosphorylated. Wild type HDGF was phosphorylated in asynchronous cells and substitution of S103, S165 and S202 to alanine each demonstrated a decrease in HDGF phosphorylation. A phospho-S103 HDGF specific antibody was developed and demonstrated mitosis-specific phosphorylation. HDGF-S103A was not mitogenic and FACS analysis demonstrated a G2/M arrest in HDGF-S103A expressing cells, whereas cells expressing HDGF-S103D showed cell cycle progression. Nocodazole arrest increased S103 phosphorylation from 1.6% to 29% (P = 0.037).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Thus, HDGF is a phosphoprotein and phosphorylation of S103 is mitosis related and required for its function as a mitogen. We speculate that cell cycle regulated phosphorylation of HDGF may play an important role in vascular cell proliferation.</p
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