Cell-Instructive Surface Gradients of Photoresponsive Amyloid-like Fibrils

[Image: see text] Gradients of bioactive molecules play a crucial role in various biological processes like vascularization, tissue regeneration, or cell migration. To study these complex biological systems, it is necessary to control the concentration of bioactive molecules on their substrates. Here, we created a photochemical strategy to generate gradients using amyloid-like fibrils as scaffolds functionalized with a model epitope, that is, the integrin-binding peptide RGD, to modulate cell adhesion. The self-assembling β-sheet forming peptide (CKFKFQF) was connected to the RGD epitope via a photosensitive nitrobenzyl linker and assembled into photoresponsive nanofibrils. The fibrils were spray-coated on glass substrates and macroscopic gradients were generated by UV-light over a centimeter-scale. We confirmed the gradient formation using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectroscopy imaging (MALDI-MSI), which directly visualizes the molecular species on the surface. The RGD gradient was used to instruct cells. In consequence, A549 adapted their adhesion properties in dependence of the RGD-epitope density

Supramolecular Peptide Nanofibrils with Optimized Sequences and Molecular Structures for Efficient Retroviral Transduction

Funder: German Research Foundation; Id: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100001659Abstract: Amyloid‐like peptide nanofibrils (PNFs) are abundant in nature providing rich bioactivities and playing both functional and pathological roles. The structural features responsible for their unique bioactivities are, however, still elusive. Supramolecular nanostructures are notoriously challenging to optimize, as sequence changes affect self‐assembly, fibril morphologies, and biorecognition. Herein, the first sequence optimization of PNFs, derived from the peptide enhancing factor‐C (EF‐C, QCKIKQIINMWQ), for enhanced retroviral gene transduction via a multiparameter and a multiscale approach is reported. Retroviral gene transfer is the method of choice for the stable delivery of genetic information into cells offering great perspectives for the treatment of genetic disorders. Single fibril imaging, zeta potential, vibrational spectroscopy, and quantitative retroviral transduction assays provide the structure parameters responsible for PNF assembly, fibrils morphology, secondary and quaternary structure, and PNF‐virus‐cell interactions. Optimized peptide sequences such as the 7‐mer, CKFKFQF, have been obtained quantitatively forming supramolecular nanofibrils with high intermolecular β‐sheet content that efficiently bind virions and attach to cellular membranes revealing efficient retroviral gene transfer

Genetic Polymorphisms of alpha-lactalbumin and beta-lactoglobulin in South Anatolian and East Anatolian Red Cattle

The objective of the present study was to determine the genotype and allele frequencies for alpha-lactalbumin (alpha-LA) ve beta-lactoglobulin (beta-LG) that are claimed to be associated with milk production traits in cattle in South Anatolian Red (SAR) and East Anatolian Red (EAR) cattle. In this study, 40 cattle for each of SAR and EAR were used. Genomic DNA samples were isolated by using standard salt-out method. After Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), alpha-LA and beta-LG genes were digested with MspI and RsaI (R5), AvaI (R3), MspI (R1), Sau3A (R2) restriction enzymes, respectively. As a result, SAR and EAR cattle breeds have the lower allel frequencies for alpha-LA and beta-LG gene than high-yielding European dairy cattle breeds. Because of that reason we may claim that applying the selection programs for developing the allels belonging to both genes may contribute to the trials to improve the production parameters in SAR and EAR breed bovines

Experimental determination of solid-solid and solid-liquid interfacial energies of solid epsilon (CuZn5) in the Zn-Cu alloy

WOS: 000272521900027The equilibrated grain boundary groove shapes of solid epsilon; (CuZn5) in equilibrium with Zn-1.75 at.% Cu peritectic liquid and solid epsilon (CuZn5) in equilibrium with solid Zn solution (Zn-2.83 at.% Cu) were observed from a quenched sample. The Gibbs-Thomson coefficient, solid-liquid interfacial energy and grain boundary energy of solid epsilon (CuZn5) in equilibrium with Zn-1.75 at.% Cu peritectic liquid have been determined to be (4.9 +/- 0.3) x 10(-8) K m, (76.0 +/- 9.1) x 10(-3) J m(-2) and (150.3 +/- 19.5) x 10(-3) J m(-2), respectively. For the first time, the equilibrated grain boundary groove shapes of solid epsilon (CuZn5) in equilibrium with solid Zn solution have been observed. The Gibbs-Thomson coefficient, solid-solid interfacial energy and grain boundary energy of solid epsilon (CuZn5) in equilibrium with solid Zn have also been determined to be (4.7 +/- 0.3) x 10(-8) K m, (72.9 +/- 8.7) x 10(-3) J m(-2) and (144.1 +/- 18.7) x 10(-3) J m(-2), respectively from the observed grain boundary groove shapes. The thermal conductivities of solid Zn solution and solid epsilon; (CuZn5) phase (Zn-12 at.% Cu) have been measured with radial heat flow apparatus. The thermal conductivity ratios of the equilibrated liquid phase to solid phase for Zn-1.75 at.% Cu and Zn-12 at.% Cu alloys have also been measured with Bridgman type growth apparatus. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey [107T095]; Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK)This research was financially supported by the Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK under Contract No: 107T095). Authors are grateful to the Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) for their financial supports

Thermal conductivity and interfacial energies of solid Sn in the Sn-Cu alloy

WOS: 000273051800027The equilibrated grain boundary groove shapes of solid Sn in equilibrium with the Sn-Cu eutectic liquid were observed from a quenched sample. The Gibbs-Thomson coefficient, solid-liquid interfacial energy and grain boundary energy of solid Sn have been determined to be (8.7 +/- 0.6) x 10(-8) Km, (113.1 +/- 13.6) x 10(-3) J m(-2) and (222.4 +/- 28.9) x 10(-3) J m(-2), respectively. The thermal conductivity of solid phase and the thermal conductivity ratio of liquid phase to solid phase for Sn-1.3 at.%Cu alloy have also been measured with radial heat flow apparatus and Bridgman type growth apparatus, respectively. (C) 2009 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) [107T095]This research was financially supported by the Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK under Contract No: 107T095). Authors are grateful to the Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) for their financial supports

The contribution of resveratrol to the antiepileptic effects of diazepam and gabapentin

30th Seoul World Congress of the International-College-of-Neuropsychopharmacology (CINP) -- JUL 03-07, 2016 -- Seoul, SOUTH KOREAWOS: 000383917600717…Int Coll Neuropsychopharmaco