The conduction pathway of potassium channels is water free under physiological conditions.

Ion conduction through potassium channels is a fundamental process of life. On the basis of crystallographic data, it was originally proposed that potassium ions and water molecules are transported through the selectivity filter in an alternating arrangement, suggesting a "water-mediated" knock-on mechanism. Later on, this view was challenged by results from molecular dynamics simulations that revealed a "direct" knock-on mechanism where ions are in direct contact. Using solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance techniques tailored to characterize the interaction between water molecules and the ion channel, we show here that the selectivity filter of a potassium channel is free of water under physiological conditions. Our results are fully consistent with the direct knock-on mechanism of ion conduction but contradict the previously proposed water-mediated knock-on mechanism

2-Deoxyglucose selectively inhibits Fc and complement receptor-mediated phagocytosis in mouse peritoneal macrophages II...

Macrophages incubated in 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-dG)-containing medium showed a marked decrease in cellular ATP content, and were unable to ingest IgG- and complement-coated erythrocytes via the corresponding membrane receptors for these ligands. However, the inhibitory effects of 2-dG on Fc- and C3 receptor-mediated phagocytosis were not a consequence of lowered macrophage ATP levels since addition of glucose or mannose to the culture medium restored the capacity of the macrophages to ingest IgG- and C3-coated particles without increasing ATP levels. These results indicate that Fc- and C3 receptor-mediated phagocytosis (opsonin dependent) differs qualitatively from the ingestion of latex and zymosan particles (opsonin independent); they suggest that the same regulatory molecules govern the responses of phagocytic cells to signals initiated by both the Fc and C3 receptors. The possibility that these molecules are regulated by glycosylation is discussed

A rapid and inexpensive RNA-extraction method for high-throughput virus detection in grapevine

The extraction of RNA from grapevine tissue is a crucial step for virus diagnostics via multiplex reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (mRT-PCR). Conventional methods are either time-consuming or expensive when convenient extraction kits are used. Here we present an easy, but reliable extraction method that fulfills the requirements of epidemiological research (high sample throughput with maximum accuracy). A further advantage of the protocol beside the low costs is the absence of harmful chemicals like phenol or chloroform and the possibility to manage 'high-throughput' extractions and analyses

2-Deoxyglucose selectively inhibits Fc and complement receptor-mediated phagocytosis in mouse peritoneal macrophages. I. Description of the inhibitory effect

Incubation of normal or thioglycollate-elicited mouse peritoneal macrophages with 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-dG) inhibits the capacity of these macrophages to phagocytize IgG- or complement-coated particles via their Fc and C3 receptors. 2-dG has no inhibitory effect on the capacity of these macrophages to phagocytize latex or zymosan particles, which are ingested in the absence of specific opsonins, and it does not inhibit binding of IgG- or C3-coated particles to their respective receptors on the macrophage's plasma membrane. 2-dG exerts its inhibitory effect on the macrophage and not on the opsonized particle. The inhibition is independent of particle size, occurs within 15-30 min of addition of this glucose analogue to the medium at 37 degrees C, cannot be overcome by supra-agglutinating amounts of opsonizing antibody, and is completely reversible by substitution of 5.5 mM glucose for 50 mM 2-dG in the medium. Addition of equimolar amounts of glucose or mannose, but not of fructose, galactose, fucose, or glucosamine, to medium containing 50 mM 2-dG results in substantial reversal of the inhibitory effect of 2-dG on Fc and C3 receptor mediated phagocytosis

Modulation of Fc receptors of mononuclear phagocytes by immobilized antigen-antibody complexes. Quantitative analysis of the relationship between ligand number and Fc receptor response

Macrophages plated on surfaces coated with antigen-IgG complexes lose the capacity to bind and ingest IgG-coated particles via their Fc receptors (FcR). Macrophages plated on surfaces containing a similar number of IgG molecules that are not complexed to antigen show little or no decrease in FcR activity. Using a rat monoclonal antibody (2.4G2 IgG) directed against the trypsin-resistant FcR (FcRII) of mouse macrophages we show that the decrease in receptor activity induced by substrate-adherent immune complexes is caused by the physical removal of 60 and 75% of FcRII from the nonadherent membrane surfaces of resident and thioglycollate broth-induced macrophages, respectively. Macrophages maintained on antigen-IgG-coated surfaces for up to 44 h show no recovery in FcRII activity or number, while macrophages on control surfaces exhibit two and threefold increases, respectively, in these parameters. Macrophages maintained for 72 h on antigen-IgG-coated surfaces show a small recovery in FcRII activity, and in the number of FcRII that is accessible to bind 125I-2.4G2 IgG. FcRII modulation, as measured by the binding of 125I-labeled 2.4G2 IgG, is initiated when the number of IgG molecules bound to the substrate is approximately equal to the total number of FcRII on the plasma membranes of all the macrophages on the substrate. FcRII activity and number decrease linearly as the number of substrate-bound IgG molecules increases exponentially, and are maximally reduced when the number of IgG molecules on the substrate is 20-fold greater than the total number of all FcRII on the surfaces of all the macrophages in the culture. Thus there is a stoichiometric relationship between the number of IgG molecules on the substrate and the extent of FcRII modulation

Effects of immobilized immune complexes on Fc- and complement-receptor function in resident and thioglycollate-elicited mouse peritoneal macrophages

We have examined the Fc- and complement-receptor function of resident and thioglycollate-elicited mouse peritoneal macrophages plated on surfaces coated with rabbit antibody-antigen complexes and with complement. We derive four major conclusions from these studies. (a) The trypsin-resistant Fc receptors of resident and thioglycollate-elicited macrophages are completely modulated when these cells are plated on rabbit antibody-antigen complexes. Residual Fc receptor activity is a result of the incomplete modulation of trypsin-sensitive IgG2a receptors. (b) The complement receptors of thioglycollate-elicited macrophages, but not of resident macrophages, are modulated when these cells are plated on complement-coated surfaces. The capacity of the two cell types to modulate their complement receptors is correlated with their ability to ingest complement-coated erythrocytes. (c) The complement and Fc receptors of both types of macrophages move independently of one another. (d) Complement masks the Fc segments of IgG in immune complexes thereby rendering them ineffective as ligands for macrophage Fc receptors

Effects of immobilized immune complexes on Fc- and complement-receptor function in resident and thioglycollate-elicited mouse peritoneal macrophages

We have examined the Fc- and complement-receptor function of resident and thioglycollate-elicited mouse peritoneal macrophages plated on surfaces coated with rabbit antibody-antigen complexes and with complement. We derive four major conclusions from these studies. (a) The trypsin-resistant Fc receptors of resident and thioglycollate-elicited macrophages are completely modulated when these cells are plated on rabbit antibody-antigen complexes. Residual Fc receptor activity is a result of the incomplete modulation of trypsin-sensitive IgG2a receptors. (b) The complement receptors of thioglycollate-elicited macrophages, but not of resident macrophages, are modulated when these cells are plated on complement-coated surfaces. The capacity of the two cell types to modulate their complement receptors is correlated with their ability to ingest complement-coated erythrocytes. (c) The complement and Fc receptors of both types of macrophages move independently of one another. (d) Complement masks the Fc segments of IgG in immune complexes thereby rendering them ineffective as ligands for macrophage Fc receptors

Fifth-order susceptibility unveils growth of thermodynamic amorphous order in glass-formers

Glasses are ubiquitous in daily life and technology. However the microscopic mechanisms generating this state of matter remain subject to debate: Glasses are considered either as merely hyper-viscous liquids or as resulting from a genuine thermodynamic phase transition towards a rigid state. We show that third- and fifth-order susceptibilities provide a definite answer to this longstanding controversy. Performing the corresponding high-precision nonlinear dielectric experiments for supercooled glycerol and propylene carbonate, we find strong support for theories based upon thermodynamic amorphous order. Moreover, when lowering temperature, we find that the growing transient domains are compact - that is their fractal dimension d_f = 3. The glass transition may thus represent a class of critical phenomena different from canonical second-order phase transitions for which d_f < 3.Comment: 9 pages, 3 figure

The first record in Italy of Trichogramma cordubense Vargas & Cabello 1985 (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) emerging from the eggs of Lobesia botrana (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

This study investigated the egg parasitoids of Lobesia botrana (Denis &amp; Schiffermüller, 1775) feeding on Daphne gnidium L. (Malvales, Thymelaeaceae) in the San Rossore-Migliarino-Massaciuccoli Nature Reserve (Tuscany, Italy). Four species of egg parasitoids of the genus Trichogramma spp. were obtained. The parasitization rate gradually increased over the season, reaching its maximum level in September 2015, with a percentage of parasitized eggs close to 55&nbsp;%. Three of the species obtained were already known as L.&nbsp;botrana parasitoids, whereas the finding of Trichogramma cordubense Vargas &amp; Cabello, 1985 represents the first recording in Italy, as well as the first report of this species among the natural enemies of L. botrana