384 research outputs found
U7 snRNP-specific Lsm11 protein: dual binding contacts with the 100 kDa zinc finger processing factor (ZFP100) and a ZFP100-independent function in histone RNA 3′ end processing
The 3′ cleavage generating non-polyadenylated animal histone mRNAs depends on the base pairing between U7 snRNA and a conserved histone pre-mRNA downstream element. This interaction is enhanced by a 100 kDa zinc finger protein (ZFP100) that forms a bridge between an RNA hairpin element upstream of the processing site and the U7 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (snRNP). The N-terminus of Lsm11, a U7-specific Sm-like protein, was shown to be crucial for histone RNA processing and to bind ZFP100. By further analysing these two functions of Lsm11, we find that Lsm11 and ZFP100 can undergo two interactions, i.e. between the Lsm11 N-terminus and the zinc finger repeats of ZFP100, and between the N-terminus of ZFP100 and the Sm domain of Lsm11, respectively. Both interactions are not specific for the two proteins in vitro, but the second interaction is sufficient for a specific recognition of the U7 snRNP by ZFP100 in cell extracts. Furthermore, clustered point mutations in three phylogenetically conserved regions of the Lsm11 N-terminus impair or abolish histone RNA processing. As these mutations have no effect on the two interactions with ZFP100, these protein regions must play other roles in histone RNA processing, e.g. by contacting the pre-mRNA or additional processing factors
U7 snRNP-specific Lsm11 protein: dual binding contacts with the 100 kDa zinc finger processing factor (ZFP100) and a ZFP100-independent function in histone RNA 3′ end processing
The 3′ cleavage generating non-polyadenylated animal histone mRNAs depends on the base pairing between U7 snRNA and a conserved histone pre-mRNA downstream element. This interaction is enhanced by a 100 kDa zinc finger protein (ZFP100) that forms a bridge between an RNA hairpin element upstream of the processing site and the U7 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (snRNP). The N-terminus of Lsm11, a U7-specific Sm-like protein, was shown to be crucial for histone RNA processing and to bind ZFP100. By further analysing these two functions of Lsm11, we find that Lsm11 and ZFP100 can undergo two interactions, i.e. between the Lsm11 N-terminus and the zinc finger repeats of ZFP100, and between the N-terminus of ZFP100 and the Sm domain of Lsm11, respectively. Both interactions are not specific for the two proteins in vitro, but the second interaction is sufficient for a specific recognition of the U7 snRNP by ZFP100 in cell extracts. Furthermore, clustered point mutations in three phylogenetically conserved regions of the Lsm11 N-terminus impair or abolish histone RNA processing. As these mutations have no effect on the two interactions with ZFP100, these protein regions must play other roles in histone RNA processing, e.g. by contacting the pre-mRNA or additional processing factor
Levitated droplet dye laser
We present the first observation, to our knowledge, of lasing from a
levitated, dye droplet. The levitated droplets are created by computer
controlled pico-liter dispensing into one of the nodes of a standing ultrasonic
wave (100 kHz), where the droplet is trapped. The free hanging droplet forms a
high quality optical resonator. Our 750 nL lasing droplets consist of Rhodamine
6G dissolved in ethylene glycol, at a concentration of 0.02 M. The droplets are
optically pumped at 532 nm light from a pulsed, frequency doubled Nd:YAG laser,
and the dye laser emission is analyzed by a fixed grating spectrometer. With
this setup we have achieved reproducible lasing spectra in the visible
wavelength range from 610 nm to 650 nm. The levitated droplet technique has
previously successfully been applied for a variety of bio-analytical
applications at single cell level. In combination with the lasing droplets, the
capability of this high precision setup has potential applications within
highly sensitive intra-cavity absorbance detection.Comment: 6 pages including 3 figure
Mean-field theory of the spin-Peierls systems: Application to CuGeO3
A mean-field theory of the spin Peierls systems based on the two dimensional
dimerized Heisenberg model is proposed by introducing an alternating bond order
parameter. Improvements with respect to previous mean-field results are found
in the one-dimensional limit for the ground state and the gap energies. In two
dimensions, the analysis of the competition between antiferromagnetic long
range order and the spin-Peierls ordering is given as a function of the
coupling constants. We show that the lowest energy gap to be observed does not
have a singlet-triplet character in agreement with the low temperature
thermodynamic properties of CuGeO3.Comment: 3 Revtex pages. Submitted to Rapid Comm. Figures available upon
reques
Quantum Criticality in Dimerized Spin Ladders
We analyze a possibility of quantum criticality (gaplessness) in dimerized
antiferromagnetic two- and three-leg spin-1/2 ladders. Contrary to earlier
studies of these models, we examine different dimerization patterns in the
ladder. We find that ladders with the columnar dimerization order have lower
zero-temperature energies and they are always gapped. For the staggered
dimerization order, we find the quantum critical lines, in agreement with
earlier analyses. The bond mean-field theory we apply, demonstrates its
quantitative accuracy and agrees with available numerical results. We conclude
that unless some mechanism for locking dimerization into the energetically less
favorable staggered configuration is provided, the dimerized ladders do not
order into the phase where the quantum criticality occurs.Comment: 7 pages, 9 figure
Complete and long-term rescue of lesioned adult motoneurons by lentiviral-mediated expression of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor in the facial nucleus.
To date, delivery of neurotrophic factors has only allowed to transiently protect axotomized facial motoneurons against cell death. In the present report, long-term protection of these neurons was evaluated by continuously expressing the neurotrophic factor glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) within the facial nucleus using a lentiviral vector system. The viral vector was injected unilaterally into the facial nucleus of 4-month-old Balb/C mice. In contrast to axotomy in other adult rodents, facial nerve lesion in these animals leads to a progressive and sustained loss and/or atrophy of >50% of the motoneurons. This model thus represents an attractive model to evaluate potential protective effects of neurotrophic factors for adult-onset motoneuron diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. One month after unilateral lentiviral vector injection, the facial nerve was sectioned, and the animals were killed 3 months later. Viral delivery of the GDNF gene led to long-term expression and extensive diffusion of GDNF within the brainstem. In addition, axotomized motoneurons were completely protected against cell death, because 95% of the motoneurons were present as demonstrated by both Nissl staining and choline acetyltransferase immunoreactivity. Furthermore, GDNF prevented lesion-induced neuronal atrophy and maintained proximal motoneuron axons, despite the absence of target cell reinnervation. This is the first evidence that viral-mediated delivery of GDNF close to the motoneuron cell bodies of the facial nucleus of adult mice can lead to complete and long-term protection against lesion-induced cell death
Synthesis of diverse glycosylphosphatidylinositol glycans from toxoplasma gondii and their application as vaccines and diagnostics
The present invention relates to the synthesis of GPI-related surface antigens of the parasite Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) and the resulting products obtained. These synthetic compounds are suitable for diagnosis of toxoplasmosis, as well as vaccine against toxoplasmosis, a diseases caused by infection with T. gondii
Anisotropic two-dimensional Heisenberg model by Schwinger-boson Gutzwiller projected method
Two-dimensional Heisenberg model with anisotropic couplings in the and
directions () is considered. The model is first solved in the
Schwinger-boson mean-field approximation. Then the solution is Gutzwiller
projected to satisfy the local constraint that there is only one boson at each
site. The energy and spin-spin correlation of the obtained wavefunction are
calculated for systems with up to sites by means of the
variational Monte Carlo simulation. It is shown that the antiferromagnetic
long-range order remains down to the one-dimensional limit.Comment: 15 pages RevTex3.0, 4 figures, available upon request, GWRVB8-9
Spin-Peierls transition in an anisotropic two-dimensional XY model
The two-dimensional Jordan-Wigner transformation is used to investigate the
zero temperature spin-Peierls transition for an anisotropic two-dimensional XY
model in adiabatic limit. The phase diagram between the dimerized (D) state and
uniform (U) state is shown in the parameter space of dimensionless interchain
coupling and spin-lattice coupling . It is found
that the spin-lattice coupling must exceed some critical value
in order to reach the D phase for any finite . The dependence of on
is given by for and the transition between U and D
phase is of first-order for at least .Comment: 2 eps figures, considerable revisions were mad
The 68 kDa subunit of mammalian cleavage factor I interacts with the U7 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein and participates in 3′-end processing of animal histone mRNAs
Metazoan replication-dependent histone pre-mRNAs undergo a unique 3′-cleavage reaction which does not result in mRNA polyadenylation. Although the cleavage site is defined by histone-specific factors (hairpin binding protein, a 100-kDa zinc-finger protein and the U7 snRNP), a large complex consisting of cleavage/polyadenylation specificity factor, two subunits of cleavage stimulation factor and symplekin acts as the effector of RNA cleavage. Here, we report that yet another protein involved in cleavage/polyadenylation, mammalian cleavage factor I 68-kDa subunit (CF Im68), participates in histone RNA 3′-end processing. CF Im68 was found in a highly purified U7 snRNP preparation. Its interaction with the U7 snRNP depends on the N-terminus of the U7 snRNP protein Lsm11, known to be important for histone RNA processing. In vivo, both depletion and overexpression of CF Im68 cause significant decreases in processing efficiency. In vitro 3′-end processing is slightly stimulated by the addition of low amounts of CF Im68, but inhibited by high amounts or by anti-CF Im68 antibody. Finally, immunoprecipitation of CF Im68 results in a strong enrichment of histone pre-mRNAs. In contrast, the small CF Im subunit, CF Im25, does not appear to be involved in histone RNA processin
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