On the superfluidity of classical liquid in nanotubes

In 2001, the author proposed the ultra second quantization method. The ultra second quantization of the Schr\"odinger equation, as well as its ordinary second quantization, is a representation of the N-particle Schr\"odinger equation, and this means that basically the ultra second quantization of the equation is the same as the original N-particle equation: they coincide in 3N-dimensional space. We consider a short action pairwise potential V(x_i -x_j). This means that as the number of particles tends to infinity, $N\to\infty$, interaction is possible for only a finite number of particles. Therefore, the potential depends on N in the following way: $V_N=V((x_i-x_j)N^{1/3})$. If V(y) is finite with support $\Omega_V$, then as $N\to\infty$ the support engulfs a finite number of particles, and this number does not depend on N. As a result, it turns out that the superfluidity occurs for velocities less than $\min(\lambda_{\text{crit}}, \frac{h}{2mR})$, where $\lambda_{\text{crit}}$ is the critical Landau velocity and R is the radius of the nanotube.Comment: Latex, 20p. The text is presented for the International Workshop "Idempotent and tropical mathematics and problems of mathematical physics", Independent University of Moscow, Moscow, August 25--30, 2007 and to be published in the Russian Journal of Mathematical Physics, 2007, vol. 15, #

Conformational rearrangements in the transmembrane domain of CNGA1 channels revealed by single-molecule force spectroscopy

Cyclic nucleotide-gated (CNG) channels are activated by binding of cyclic nucleotides. Although structural studies have identified the channel pore and selectivity filter, conformation changes associated with gating remain poorly understood. Here we combine single-molecule force spectroscopy (SMFS) with mutagenesis, bioinformatics and electrophysiology to study conformational changes associated with gating. By expressing functional channels with SMFS fingerprints in Xenopus laevis oocytes, we were able to investigate gating of CNGA1 in a physiological-like membrane. Force spectra determined that the S4 transmembrane domain is mechanically coupled to S5 in the closed state, but S3 in the open state. We also show there are multiple pathways for the unfolding of the transmembrane domains, probably caused by a different degree of \u3b1-helix folding. This approach demonstrates that CNG transmembrane domains have dynamic structure and establishes SMFS as a tool for probing conformational change in ion channels

Interspecies Correlations between Human and Mouse NR2E3-Associated Recessive Disease

NR2E3-associated recessive disease in humans is historically defined by congenital night blinding retinopathy, characterized by an initial increase in short-wavelength (S)-cone sensitivity and progressive loss of rod and cone function. The retinal degeneration 7 (rd7) murine model, harboring a recessive mutation in the mouse ortholog of NR2E3, has been a well-studied disease model and recently evaluated as a therapeutic model for NR2E3-associated retinal degenerations. This study aims to draw parallels between human and mouse NR2E3-related disease through examination of spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) imaging between different stage of human disease and its murine counterpart. We propose that SD-OCT is a useful non-invasive diagnostic tool to compare human clinical dystrophy presentation with that of the rd7 mouse and make inference that may be of therapeutically relevance. Additionally, a longitudinal assessment of rd7 disease progression, utilizing available clinical data from our patients as well as extensive retrospective analysis of visual acuity data from published cases of human NR2E3-related disease, was curated to identify further valuable correlates between human and mouse Nr2e3 disease. Results of this study validate the slow progression of NR2E3-associated disease in humans and the rd7 mice and identify SD-OCT characteristics in patients at or near the vascular arcades that correlate well with the whorls and rosettes that are seen also in the rd7 mouse and point to imaging features that appear to be associated with better preserved S-cone mediated retinal function. The correlation of histological findings between rd7 mice and human imaging provides a solid foundation for diagnostic use of pathophysiological and prognostic information to further define characteristics and a relevant timeline for therapeutic intervention in the field of NR2E3-associated retinopathies

Microbe sample from Escherichia coli

BioSample: SAMN11037806; Sample name: C41 delta ompF delta acrB; SRA: SRS442251

Improving the purification of membrane proteins from Escherichia coli C41(DE3)

The overexpression and purification of membrane proteins to high purity and homogeneity is a challenging task. Over time, several strains have been developed that decrease the toxic side-effects and thus result in higher bio mass and protein yield. However, two major contaminants have been identified in membrane protein preparations from E. coli: the outer membrane porin OmpF and AcrB, which is part of a tripartite efflux pump. Both proteins crystallise from low concentrations and diverse conditions, which make them a major problem, especially in membrane protein crystallography. In this study, we present a C41(DE3)-derived expression strains that is depleted of these two proteins