Spider chitin: An Ultrafast Microwave-Assisted Method for Chitin Isolation from Caribena versicolor Spider Molt Cuticle

Chitin, as a fundamental polysaccharide in invertebrate skeletons, continues to be actively investigated, especially with respect to new sources and the development of effective methods for its extraction. Recent attention has been focused on marine crustaceans and sponges; however, the potential of spiders (order Araneae) as an alternative source of tubular chitin has been overlooked. In this work, we focused our attention on chitin from up to 12 cm-large Theraphosidae spiders, popularly known as tarantulas or bird-eating spiders. These organisms “lose” large quantities of cuticles during their molting cycle. Here, we present for the first time a highly effective method for the isolation of chitin from Caribena versicolor spider molt cuticle, as well as its identification and characterization using modern analytical methods. We suggest that the tube-like molt cuticle of this spider can serve as a naturally prefabricated and renewable source of tubular chitin with high potential for application in technology and biomedicine. © 2019 by the authors

Follow-up procedure for gravitational wave searches from isolated neutron stars using the time-domain F\mathcal{F}-statistic method

International audienceAmong promising sources of gravitational waves are long-lived nearly periodic signals produced by rotating, asymmetric neutron stars. Depending on the astrophysical scenario, the sources of asymmetry may have thermal, viscous, elastic and/or magnetic origin. In this work we introduce a follow-up procedure for an all-sky search for gravitational wave signals from rotating neutron stars. The procedure denoted as Followup implements matched-filtering -statistic method. We describe data analysis methods and algorithms used in the procedure. We present tests of the Followup for artificial signals added to white, Gaussian noise. The tests show a good agreement with the theoretical predictions. The Followup will become part of the Time-Domain -statistic pipeline that is routinely used for all-sky searches of LIGO and Virgo detector data

Broken symmetry between RNA enantiomers in a crystal lattice

Explaining the origin of the homochirality of biolog-ical molecules requires a mechanism of disruptingthe natural equilibrium between enantiomers and am-plifying the initial imbalance to significant levels. Au-thors of existing models have sought an explanationin the parity-breaking weak nuclear force, in some se-lectively acting external factor, or in random fluctua-tions that subsequently became amplified by an auto-catalytic process. We have obtained crystals in whichL- and D-enantiomers of short RNA duplexes assem-ble in an asymmetric manner. These enantiomersmake different lattice contacts and have different ex-posures to water and metal ions present in the crys-tal. Apparently, asymmetry between enantiomers canarise upon their mutual interactions and then prop-agate via crystallization. Asymmetric racemic com-pounds are worth considering as possible factors insymmetry breaking and enantioenrichment that tookplace in the early biosphere

Detectability of continuous gravitational waves from isolated neutron stars in the Milky Way

Aims. We estimate the number of pulsars, detectable as continuous gravitational wave sources with the current and future gravitational-wave detectors, assuming a simple phenomenological model of evolving non-axisymmetry of the rotating neutron star. Methods. We employed a numerical model of the Galactic neutron star population, with the properties established by comparison with radio observations of isolated Galactic pulsars. We generated an arbitrarily large synthetic population of neutron stars and evolved their period, magnetic field, and position in space. We used a gravitational wave emission model based on exponentially decaying ellipticity (i.e. non-axisymmetry of the star) with no assumption of the origin of a given ellipticity. We calculated the expected signal in a given detector for a one-year observation, and assumed a detection criterion of the signal-to-noise ratio of 11.4, comparable to a targeted continous wave search. We analysed the detectable population separately in each detector: Advanced LIGO, Advanced Virgo, and the planned Einstein Telescope. In the calculation of the expected signal we neglect the frequency change of the signals due to the source’s spindown and the Earth’s motion with respect to the solar barycentre. Results. With conservative values for the neutron star evolution (a supernova rate of once per 100 years, initial ellipticity ϵ0 ≃ 10−5 with no decay of the ellipticity η = thub ≃ 104 Myr), the expected number of detected neutron stars is 0.15 (based on a simulation of 10 M stars) for the Advanced LIGO detector. A broader study of the parameter space (ϵ0, η) is presented. With the planned sensitivity for the Einstein Telescope, and assuming the same ellipiticity model, the expected detection number is 26.4 pulsars during a one-year observing run

A computationally designed β\beta-amino acid-containing miniprotein

A new miniprotein built from three helices, including one structure based on the ααβαααβ sequence pattern was developed. Its crystal structure revealed a compact conformation with a well-packed hydrophobic core of unprecedented structure. The miniprotein formed dimers that were stabilized by the interaction of their hydrophobic surfaces

Crystal structures of the elusive Rhizobium etli l-asparaginase reveal a peculiar active site

Rhizobium etli, a nitrogen-fixing bacterial symbiont of legume plants, encodes an essential l-asparaginase (ReAV) with no sequence homology to known enzymes with this activity. High-resolution crystal structures of ReAV show indeed a structurally distinct, dimeric enzyme, with some resemblance to glutaminases and β-lactamases. However, ReAV has no glutaminase or lactamase activity, and at pH 9 its allosteric asparaginase activity is relatively high, with K$_m$ for $_l$-Asn at 4.2 mM and k$_{cat}$ of 438 s$^{−1}$. The active site of ReAV, deduced from structural comparisons and confirmed by mutagenesis experiments, contains a highly specific Zn$^{2+}$ binding site without a catalytic role. The extensive active site includes residues with unusual chemical properties. There are two Ser-Lys tandems, all connected through a network of H-bonds to the Zn center, and three tightly bound water molecules near Ser48, which clearly indicate the catalytic nucleophile