The Structure of HLA-DM, the Peptide Exchange Catalyst that Loads Antigen onto Class II MHC Molecules during Antigen Presentation

AbstractThe three-dimensional structure of the soluble ectodomain of HLA-DM has been determined to 2.5 Å resolution by X-ray crystallography. HLA-DM has both peptide exchange activity and acts as a chaperone to peptide-free class II MHC molecules. As predicted, the structure is similar to that of classical class II MHC molecules except that the peptide-binding site is altered to an almost fully closed groove. An unusual cavity is found at the center of the region that binds peptides in class II MHC molecules, and a tryptophan-rich lateral surface is identified that is a candidate both for binding to HLA-DR, to effect catalysis, and to HLA-DO, an inhibitor

Identification of the Lateral Interaction Surfaces of Human Histocompatibility Leukocyte Antigen (HLA)-DM with HLA-DR1 by Formation of Tethered Complexes That Present Enhanced HLA-DM Catalysis

Human histocompatibility leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DM is a major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-like protein that catalyzes exchange of antigenic peptides from MHC class II molecules. To investigate the molecular details of this catalysis we created four covalent complexes between HLA-DM and the MHC class II allele DR1. We introduced a disulfide bond between the naturally occurring cysteine β46 on HLA-DM and an engineered cysteine on the end of a linker attached to either the NH2- or the COOH terminus of an antigenic peptide that is tightly bound on DR1. We find that when DM is attached to the NH2 terminus of the peptide, it can, for all linker lengths tested, catalyze exchange of the peptide with a half-life a few minutes (compared with uncatalyzed t1/2 > 100 h). This rate, which is several orders of magnitude greater than the one we obtain in solution assays using micromolar concentrations of HLA-DM, is dominated by a concentration independent factor, indicating an intramolecular catalytic interaction within the complex. A similar complex formed at the COOH terminus of the peptide shows no sign of DM-specific intramolecular catalysis. Restrictions on the possible interaction sites imposed by the length of the linkers indicate that the face of DR1 that accommodates the NH2 terminus of the antigenic peptide interacts with the lateral face of HLA-DM that contains cysteine β46

Effect of wire diameter on ultrasonic enhancement of subcooled pool boiling

Paper presented at the 9th International Conference on Heat Transfer, Fluid Mechanics and Thermodynamics, Malta, 16-18 July, 2012.New methods for cooling of microelectronic elements have been recently developed, including application of ultrasonic fields. Ultrasonic fields enhance the heat transfer in two-phase cooling. The present work deals with ultrasonic enhancement of heat transfer from wires in sub-cooled pool boiling. The experiments have been carried out using three wires of different diameters: 0.05, 0.09, 0.2mm, submerged into a bath with water. The applied ultrasonic field was of frequency of 40 kHz and intensity of 0.5 W/cm2. The wire wall temperature was measured as a function of wire surface heat flux. When the ultrasonic field was applied, the wall temperature reduced in the range of measured heat fluxes. The temperature difference increased with the heat flux. It also increased with the wire diameter. At the smallest diameter only a small decrease of the wall temperature, about 10-15 degrees, was observed, while at larger diameters the decrease of the wall temperature was about 30 - 35 degrees.dc201

Electron Tunneling through Water Layers: Effect of Polarizability

In a recent wor

Pin fin two-phase micro gap coolers for concentrating photovoltaic arrays

Paper presented to the 3rd Southern African Solar Energy Conference, South Africa, 11-13 May, 2015.Concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) systems are among the most promising renewable power generation options but will require aggressive thermal management to prevent elevated solar cell temperatures and to achieve the conversion efficiency, reliability, and cost needed to compete with alternative techniques. Two-phase, evaporative cooling of CPV modules has been shown to provide significant advantages relative to single-phase cooling but, to date, the available two-phase data has been insufficient for the design and optimization of such CPV systems. This Keynote lecture will begin with a brief review of CPV technology and the solar cell cooling techniques described in the literature. Energy modeling, relating the harvested solar energy to the “parasitic” work expended to provide the requisite cooling, will be used to support the efficacy of twophase cooling for CPV applications. Attention will then turn to the available correlations for pin-finned microgap coolers and the gaps which must be addressed to enable such thermal management for CPV arrays. This will be followed by a detailed description of an experimental study of 3 pin-finned microgap coolers for CPV systems and the derived heat transfer and pressure drop correlations. The data spans a large parametric range, with heat fluxes of 1 - 170 W/cm2, mass fluxes of 10.7 - 1300 kg/m2-s, subcooled (single phase) flow as well as exit qualities up to 90%, and 3 heat transfer fluids (water, HFC-134a, HFE-7200). The lecture will close with a brief case study of two-phase CPV cooling, demonstrating that the application of this thermal management mode can lead to a highly energy efficient CPV system.dc201

Axitinib inhibits retinal and choroidal neovascularization in in vitro and in vivo models

AbstractAge-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of visual impairment and blindness in the elderly in developed countries. Neovascular/exudative (wet) AMD is the aggressive form of AMD and can involve choroidal neovascularization and vascular leakage. Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) medications have significantly improved treatment of wet-AMD. However, only approximately 40% of patients obtain full benefit from anti-VEGF therapy and the medications are given by intravitreal injection. Axitinib, a small molecule multi-receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor used for the treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma, is taken orally and inhibits VEGF activity by blocking VEGF receptors. Axitinib also has the advantage of blocking platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) receptors which play a role in neovascularization. Using in vitro human retinal microvascular endothelial cells (HRMVECs), human brain vascular pericytes (HBVRs), 3D co-culture vessel sprout assay, and in vivo laser induced rat choroidal neovascularization (CNV) models, the effect of axitinib on neovascularization was evaluated. Axitinib inhibited neovascularization better than anti-VEGF and/or anti-hPDGF-B mAb in the in vitro models demonstrating that combined inhibition of both VEGF and PDGF pathways may be synergistic in treating wet-AMD. Additionally, axitinib showed good efficacy at a low dose (0.875 mg/day) in laser-induced CNV model in rats. In conclusion our data shows that axitinib, an inhibitor of VEGF and PDGF-B pathways may be useful in ameliorating wet-AMD therapy

A Novel Genome-Wide Association Study Approach Using Genotyping by Exome Sequencing Leads to the Identification of a Primary Open Angle Glaucoma Associated Inversion Disrupting ADAMTS17

Closed breeding populations in the dog in conjunction with advances in gene mapping and sequencing techniques facilitate mapping of autosomal recessive diseases and identification of novel disease-causing variants, often using unorthodox experimental designs. In our investigation we demonstrate successful mapping of the locus for primary open angle glaucoma in the Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen dog breed with 12 cases and 12 controls, using a novel genotyping by exome sequencing approach. The resulting genome-wide association signal was followed up by genome sequencing of an individual case, leading to the identification of an inversion with a breakpoint disrupting the ADAMTS17 gene. Genotyping of additional controls and expression analysis provide strong evidence that the inversion is disease causing. Evidence of cryptic splicing resulting in novel exon transcription as a consequence of the inversion in ADAMTS17 is identified through RNAseq experiments. This investigation demonstrates how a novel genotyping by exome sequencing approach can be used to map an autosomal recessive disorder in the dog, with the use of genome sequencing to facilitate identification of a disease-associated variant

Structural basis for cell surface patterning through NetrinG-NGL interactions

Brain wiring depends on cells making highly localized and selective connections through surface protein-protein interactions, including those between NetrinGs and NetrinG ligands (NGLs). The NetrinGs are members of the structurally uncharacterized netrin family. We present a comprehensive crystallographic analysis comprising NetrinG1-NGL1 and NetrinG2-NGL2 complexes, unliganded NetrinG2 and NGL3. Cognate NetrinG-NGL interactions depend on three specificity-conferring NetrinG loops, clasped tightly by matching NGL surfaces. We engineered these NGL surfaces to implant custom-made affinities for NetrinG1 and NetrinG2. In a cellular patterning assay, we demonstrate that NetrinG-binding selectivity can direct the sorting of a mixed population of NGLs into discrete cell surface subdomains. These results provide a molecular model for selectivity-based patterning in a neuronal recognition system, dysregulation of which is associated with severe neuropsychological disorders

The ADAMTS (A Disintegrin and Metalloproteinase with Thrombospondin motifs) family

The ADAMTS (A Disintegrin and Metalloproteinase with Thrombospondin motifs) enzymes are secreted, multi-domain matrix-associated zinc metalloendopeptidases that have diverse roles in tissue morphogenesis and patho-physiological remodeling, in inflammation and in vascular biology. The human family includes 19 members that can be sub-grouped on the basis of their known substrates, namely the aggrecanases or proteoglycanases (ADAMTS1, 4, 5, 8, 9, 15 and 20), the procollagen N-propeptidases (ADAMTS2, 3 and 14), the cartilage oligomeric matrix protein-cleaving enzymes (ADAMTS7 and 12), the von-Willebrand Factor proteinase (ADAMTS13) and a group of orphan enzymes (ADAMTS6, 10, 16, 17, 18 and 19). Control of the structure and function of the extracellular matrix (ECM) is a central theme of the biology of the ADAMTS, as exemplified by the actions of the procollagen-N-propeptidases in collagen fibril assembly and of the aggrecanases in the cleavage or modification of ECM proteoglycans. Defects in certain family members give rise to inherited genetic disorders, while the aberrant expression or function of others is associated with arthritis, cancer and cardiovascular disease. In particular, ADAMTS4 and 5 have emerged as therapeutic targets in arthritis. Multiple ADAMTSs from different sub-groupings exert either positive or negative effects on tumorigenesis and metastasis, with both metalloproteinase-dependent and -independent actions known to occur. The basic ADAMTS structure comprises a metalloproteinase catalytic domain and a carboxy-terminal ancillary domain, the latter determining substrate specificity and the localization of the protease and its interaction partners; ancillary domains probably also have independent biological functions. Focusing primarily on the aggrecanases and proteoglycanases, this review provides a perspective on the evolution of the ADAMTS family, their links with developmental and disease mechanisms, and key questions for the future