Structural and Functional Characterization of a Putative CitMHS Protein from Bacillus anthracis

The growing number of strains of antibiotic-resistant bacteria poses a new threat to human health. The development of innovative strategies to treat bacterial infections is essential. The recent discovery of a new class of membrane transporters, CitMHS, unique to bacteria, presents a potential new target for antibacterial therapeutics. CitMHS is a class of secondary metal citrate membrane transporters, with only five members characterized to date (2,3,5,6,7). No crystal structures have been reported. Detailed structural and functional studies of CitMHS are essential to the understanding of infection pathways and, consequently, the ability to block such pathways. CitBa is a CitMHS transporter postulated in the Gram-positive bacterium, Bacillus anthracis, which is the causative agent of anthrax. Heterologous expression of CitBa in Lactococcus lactis following functional flux assays may reveal its metal citrate transport capability. Additionally, protein purification may enable antibody production, which may then be used as a vaccine or vaccine component for anthrax

The geometric mean is a Bernstein function

In the paper, the authors establish, by using Cauchy integral formula in the theory of complex functions, an integral representation for the geometric mean of $n$ positive numbers. From this integral representation, the geometric mean is proved to be a Bernstein function and a new proof of the well known AG inequality is provided.Comment: 10 page

Construction of spirocarbocycles via gold-catalyzed intramolecular dearomatization of naphthols.

A highly efficient, gold-catalyzed intramolecular dearomatization reaction of naphthols via 5-endo-dig cyclization is described. This facile and direct approach furnishes spirocarbocycles in excellent yields under mild conditions