Hydroxylated texaphyrins

A method of using texaphyrins as radiosensitizers. Advantageous properties of texaphyrins for use as a radiosensitizer include i) a low redox potential which allows radiation induced solvated electrons to flow to texaphyrin rather than neutralizing hydroxyl radicals, allowing the hydroxyl radicals to cause cellular damage, ii) a relatively stable texaphyrin radical which, nevertheless, reacts readily to covalently modify neighboring molecules causing further cellular damage, and iii) intrinsic biolocalization and indifference to the presence of O.sub.2 which allow texaphyrin to be particularly effective for treating the hypoxic areas of solid tumors. Sensitizer enhancement ratios of 1.62 and 2.2 were achieved at 20 .mu.M and 80 .mu.M gadolinium-texaphyrin, respectively, with a mouse leukemia cell line. Methods of treatment for an individual having a tumor include the use of a texaphyrin as a radiosensitizer and as an agent for photodynamic tumor therapy, or the use of a texaphyrin for internal and for external ionizing radiation. New water soluble hydroxy-substituted texaphyrins are described.Board of Regents, University of Texas Syste

Method of magnetic resonance image enhancement

Texaphyrins are provided for use as radiation sensitizers. Advantageous properties of texaphyrins for use as a radiation sensitizer include: i) a low redox potential which allows radiation-induced hydrated electrons to flow to texaphyrin rather than neutralizing hydroxyl radicals, allowing hydroxyl radicals to cause cellular damage, ii) a relatively stable texaphyrin radical that reacts readily to covalently modify neighboring molecules causing further cellular damage, iii) intrinsic biolocalization, and iv) indifference to the presence or absence of O.sub.2. These properties allow texaphyrins to be particularly effective for treating the hypoxic areas of solid neoplasms. Methods of treatment for an individual having a neoplasm or atheroma include the use of a texaphyrin as a radiation sensitizer and as an agent for photodynamic tumor therapy, or the use of a texaphyrin for internal and for external ionizing radiation. Novel texaphyrins are provided.Board of Regents, University of Texas Syste

Regional differences in the preferred e-vector orientation of honeybee ocellar photoreceptors

In addition to compound eyes, honeybees (Apis mellifera) possess three single lens eyes called ocelli located on the top of the head. Ocelli are involved in head-attitude control and in some insects have been shown to provide celestial compass information. Anatomical and early electrophysiological studies have suggested that UV and blue-green photoreceptors in ocelli are polarization sensitive. However, their retinal distribution and receptor characteristics have not been documented. Here, we used intracellular electrophysiology to determine the relationship between the spectral and polarization sensitivity of photoreceptors and their position within the visual field of the ocelli. We first determined a photoreceptor’s spectral response through a series of monochromatic flashes (340 - 600 nm). We found UV and Green receptors, with peak sensitivities at 360 nm and 500 nm respectively. We subsequently measured polarization sensitivity at the photoreceptor’s peak sensitivity wavelength by rotating a polarizer with monochromatic flashes. Polarization sensitivity (PS) values were significantly higher in UV receptors (3.8±1.5, N=61) than Green receptors (2.1±0.6, N=60). Interestingly, most receptors with receptive fields below 35° elevation were sensitive to vertically polarized light while the receptors with visual fields above 35° were sensitive to a wide range of polarization angles. These results agree well with anatomical measurements showing differences in rhabdom orientations between dorsal and ventral retinae. We discuss the functional significance of the distribution of polarization sensitivities across the visual field of ocelli by highlighting the information the ocelli are able to extract from the bee’s visual environment.This study was supported by a Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Postdoctoral Fellowship for Research Abroad to Y.O. and an Australian Research Council grant (FT110100528) to J.M.H

Validation of the High Performance Conduction-Cooled Prototype LTS Pulse Coil for UPS-SMES

A conduction-cooled low temperature superconducting (LTS) pulse coil has been developed as a key technology for UPS-SMES. We have been developing a 1 MW, 1 s UPS-SMES for a protection from a momentary voltage drop and an instant power failure. A conduction-cooled LTS pulse coil has excellent characteristics, which are adequate for a short-time uninterruptible power supply (UPS). The LTS coil has better cost performance over the HTS coil at present and the conduction cooling has higher reliability and easier operation than the conventional cooling schemes such as pool boiling with liquid helium or forced flow of supercritical helium. To demonstrate the high performances of the LTS pulse coil, we have fabricated a prototype coil with stored energy of 100 kJ and have conducted cooling and excitation tests. The successful performance test results including current shut-off test with a time constant of 1.3 s and repeated excitation of a triangular waveform with high ramp rate are reporte

Ribose 2′-O-methylation provides a molecular signature for the distinction of self and non-self mRNA dependent on the RNA sensor Mda5

The 5'-cap-structures of higher eukaryote mRNAs are ribose 2'-O-methylated. Likewise, a number of viruses replicating in the cytoplasm of eukayotes have evolved 2'-O-methyltransferases to modify autonomously their mRNAs. However, a defined biological role of mRNA 2'-O-methylation remains elusive. Here we show that viral mRNA 2'-O-methylation is critically involved in subversion of type-I-interferon (IFN-I) induction. We demonstrate that human and murine coronavirus 2'-O-methyltransferase mutants induce increased IFN-I expression, and are highly IFN-I sensitive. Importantly, IFN-I induction by 2'-O-methyltransferase-deficient viruses is dependent on the cytoplasmic RNA sensor melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA5). This link between MDA5-mediated sensing of viral RNA and mRNA 2'-O-methylation suggests that RNA modifications, such as 2'-O-methylation, provide a molecular signature for the discrimination of self and non-self mRNA