Stereochemical control of peptide folding

Stereochemically constrained amino acid residues that strongly favour specific backbone conformations may be used to nucleate and stabilize specific secondary structures in designed peptides. An overview of the use of αα-dialkyl amino acids in stabilizing helical structures in synthetic peptides is presented, with an emphasis on work carried out in the authors laboratory. α-Aminoisobutyric acid (Aib) and related achiral homologs facilitate stable helix formation in oligopeptides as exemplified by a large number of crystal structure determinations in the solid state. The ability to design conformationally rigid helical modules has been exploited in attempts to design structurally well characterized helix-linker-helix, using potential nonhelical linking segments. β-Hairpin design has been approached by exploiting the tendency of 'prime turns' to nucleate hairpin formation. The use of nucleating DPro-Gly segments has resulted in the generation of several well characterized β-hairpin structures, including the crystallographic observation of β-hairpin in a synthetic apolar octapeptide. Extensions of this approach to three stranded β-sheets and larger structures containing multiple DPro-Gly segments appear readily possible

Quark Propagator and Chiral Symmetry with String Tension

General properties of the light and heavy quark propagators have been investigated in the context of string tension interaction. Confinement, chiral symmetry breaking, spectral properties of the propagator are analytically studied and numerically validated. We show that the propagator is analytic in the infrared region even for massless quarks with a non zero radius of convergence. Emergence of more than one mass scale is exemplified. Massless limit of the quark propagator does exhibit critical behaviour.Comment: 15 pages, 6 eps figures, LaTe

Stereochemistry of linking segments in the design of helix-helix motifs in peptides. Crystallographic comparison of a glycyl- dipropylglycyl-glycyl segment in a tripeptide and a 14-residue peptide

As part of a program to develop synthetic helix–linker–helix peptides the conformational properties of various linking segments are currently being investigated. The propensity of α,α-di-n-propylglycine (Dpg) residues to adopt backbone conformations in the extended region of the Ramachandran map, suggested by theoretical calculations and supported by experimental observations, prompted us to investigate the utility of the Gly-Dpg-Gly segment as a rigid linking motif. The crystal structure of the achiral tripeptide Boc-Gly-Dpg-Gly-OH 1 revealed a fully extended conformation (ϕ = ±178°, ψ = ±171°) at Dpg(2), with Gly(1) adopting a helical conformation (ϕ = +-72 °, ψ = +-32 °). The addition of flanking helical segments in the 14 residue peptide Boc-Val-Val-Ala-Leu-Gly-Dpg-Gly-Val-Ala-Leu-Aib-Val-Ala-Leu-OMe 2 resulted in the crystallographic characterization of a continuous helix over the entire length of the peptide. Peptide 1 crystallized in the centrosymmetric space group P21/c with a = 9.505(2) Å, b = 11.025(2) Å, c = 20.075(4) Å, β = 90.19° and Z = 4. Peptide 2 crystallized in space group P212121 with a = 10.172(1) Å, b = 17.521(4) Å, c = 46.438(12) Å and Z = 4. A comparative analysis of Gly-Dpg-Gly segments from available crystal structures indicates a high conformational variability of this segment. This analysis suggests that context and environment may be strong conformational determinants for the Gly-Dpg-Gly segment

Conformational choice at α,α-di-n-propylglycine residues: helical or fully extended structures?

The conformational analysis of peptides containing a single α,α-di-n-propylglycine (Dpg) residue incorporated into valine-rich sequences has been undertaken in order to delineate the possible role of sequence effects in stabilizing fully extended (C5) or local helical conformations at this residue. The three peptides Boc-Val-Dpg-Val-OMe (3), Boc-Val-Val-Dpg-Val-OMe (4), Boc-Val-Val-Dpg-Val-Val-OMe (5), have been studied by 1H-nmr methods in chloroform (CDCl3) and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) solutions. Even in a relatively poorly solvating medium like CDCl3, all the valine NH groups appear to be solvent-exposed, suggesting an absence of folded -turn conformations. However, in both CDCl3 and DMSO the Dpg NH groups in all the three peptides appear to behave like apparently solvent-inaccessible groups. In fully extended C5 conformations, the proximity of the NH and CO groups of Dpg may preclude effective solvation due to a combination of stereoelectronic factors. Nuclear Overhauser effects provide support for the largely extended backbones. The crystal structure of peptide 3 reveals an extended conformation at Dpg (2) with Φ= -176°, Ψ = 180°. A correlation between the crystallographically observed backbone conformation and solution nmr parameters in DMSO has been attempted using available data. Dpg residues placed in poor helix stabilizing environments may be expected to favor a local C5 conformation

Magnetic properties of Ag(2)VOP(2)O(7): an unexpected spin dimer system

Magnetic properties of the silver vanadium phosphate Ag(2)VOP(2)O(7) are studied by means of magnetic susceptibility measurements and electronic structure calculations. In spite of the layered crystal structure suggesting 1D or 2D magnetic behavior, this compound can be understood as a spin dimer system. The fit of the magnetic susceptibility indicates an intradimer interaction of about 30 K in perfect agreement with the computational results. Our study emphasizes the possible pitfalls in interpreting experimental data on structural basis only and points out the importance of microscopic models for the understanding of the magnetic properties of vanadium phosphates.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures; to appear in PR

Conformation of di-n-propylglycine residues (Dpg) in peptides: Crystal structures of a type I′β-turn forming tetrapeptide and an α-helical tetradecapeptide

The crystal structures of two oligopeptides containing di-n-propylglycine (Dpg) residues, Boc-Gly-Dpg-Gly-Leu-OMe (1) and Boc-Val-Ala-Leu-Dpg-Val-Ala-Leu-Val-Ala-Leu-Dpg-Val-Ala-Leu-OMe (2) are presented. Peptide 1 adopts a type I-turn conformation with Dpg(2)-Gly(3) at the corner positions. The 14-residue peptide 2 crystallizes with two molecules in the asymmetric unit, both of which adopt α-helical conformations stabilized by 11 successive 5 → 1 hydrogen bonds. In addition, a single 4 → 1 hydrogen bond is also observed at the N-terminus. All five Dpg residues adopt backbone torsion angles (φ,ψ) in the helical region of conformational space. Evaluation of the available structural data on Dpg peptides confirm the correlation between backbone bond angle N-Cα-C'(ζ) and the observed backbone φ,ψ, values. For ζ > 106°, helices are observed, while fully extended structures are characterized by ζ < 106°. The mean values for extended and folded conformations for the Dpg residue are 103.6° ± 1.7° and 109.9° ± 2.6°, respectively

Global public policy, transnational policy communities, and their networks

Public policy has been a prisoner of the word "state." Yet, the state is reconfigured by globalization. Through "global public–private partnerships" and "transnational executive networks," new forms of authority are emerging through global and regional policy processes that coexist alongside nation-state policy processes. Accordingly, this article asks what is "global public policy"? The first part of the article identifies new public spaces where global policies occur. These spaces are multiple in character and variety and will be collectively referred to as the "global agora." The second section adapts the conventional policy cycle heuristic by conceptually stretching it to the global and regional levels to reveal the higher degree of pluralization of actors and multiple-authority structures than is the case at national levels. The third section asks: who is involved in the delivery of global public policy? The focus is on transnational policy communities. The global agora is a public space of policymaking and administration, although it is one where authority is more diffuse, decision making is dispersed and sovereignty muddled. Trapped by methodological nationalism and an intellectual agoraphobia of globalization, public policy scholars have yet to examine fully global policy processes and new managerial modes of transnational public administration

Transmission of Methicillin‐Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Infection Through Solid Organ Transplantation: Confirmation Via Whole Genome Sequencing

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/109324/1/ajt12898.pd

Motion frozen 18F-FDG cardiac PET

BackgroundPET reconstruction incorporating spatially variant 3D Point Spread Function (PSF) improves contrast and image resolution. "Cardiac Motion Frozen" (CMF) processing eliminates the influence of cardiac motion in static summed images. We have evaluated the combined use of CMF- and PSF-based reconstruction for high-resolution cardiac PET.MethodsStatic and 16-bin ECG-gated images of 20 patients referred for (18)F-FDG myocardial viability scans were obtained on a Siemens Biograph-64. CMF was applied to the gated images reconstructed with PSF. Myocardium to blood contrast, maximum left ventricle (LV) counts to defect contrast, contrast-to-noise (CNR) and wall thickness with standard reconstruction (2D-AWOSEM), PSF, ED-gated PSF, and CMF-PSF were compared.ResultsThe measured wall thickness was 18.9 ± 5.2 mm for 2D-AWOSEM, 16.6 ± 4.5 mm for PSF, and 13.8 ± 3.9 mm for CMF-PSF reconstructed images (all P < .05). The CMF-PSF myocardium to blood and maximum LV counts to defect contrasts (5.7 ± 2.7, 10.0 ± 5.7) were higher than for 2D-AWOSEM (3.5 ± 1.4, 6.5 ± 3.1) and for PSF (3.9 ± 1.7, 7.7 ± 3.7) (CMF vs all other, P < .05). The CNR for CMF-PSF (26.3 ± 17.5) was comparable to PSF (29.1 ± 18.3), but higher than for ED-gated dataset (13.7 ± 8.8, P < .05).ConclusionCombined CMF-PSF reconstruction increased myocardium to blood contrast, maximum LV counts to defect contrast and maintained equivalent noise when compared to static summed 2D-AWOSEM and PSF reconstruction

Of cattle, sand flies and men : a systematic review of risk factor analyses for South Asian visceral leishmaniasis and implications for elimination

Background: Studies performed over the past decade have identified fairly consistent epidemiological patterns of risk factors for visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in the Indian subcontinent. Methods and Principal Findings: To inform the current regional VL elimination effort and identify key gaps in knowledge, we performed a systematic review of the literature, with a special emphasis on data regarding the role of cattle because primary risk factor studies have yielded apparently contradictory results. Because humans form the sole infection reservoir, clustering of kala-azar cases is a prominent epidemiological feature, both at the household level and on a larger scale. Subclinical infection also tends to show clustering around kala-azar cases. Within villages, areas become saturated over a period of several years; kala-azar incidence then decreases while neighboring areas see increases. More recently, post kalaazar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) cases have followed kala-azar peaks. Mud walls, palpable dampness in houses, and peridomestic vegetation may increase infection risk through enhanced density and prolonged survival of the sand fly vector. Bed net use, sleeping on a cot and indoor residual spraying are generally associated with decreased risk. Poor micronutrient status increases the risk of progression to kala-azar. The presence of cattle is associated with increased risk in some studies and decreased risk in others, reflecting the complexity of the effect of bovines on sand fly abundance, aggregation, feeding behavior and leishmanial infection rates. Poverty is an overarching theme, interacting with individual risk factors on multiple levels. Conclusions: Carefully designed demonstration projects, taking into account the complex web of interconnected risk factors, are needed to provide direct proof of principle for elimination and to identify the most effective maintenance activities to prevent a rapid resurgence when interventions are scaled back. More effective, short-course treatment regimens for PKDL are urgently needed to enable the elimination initiative to succeed