196 research outputs found
D-branes at multicritical points
The moduli space of c=1 conformal field theories in two dimensions has a
multicritical point, where a circle theory is equivalent to an orbifold theory.
We analyse all the conformal branes in both descriptions of this theory, and
find convincing evidence that the full brane spectrum coincides. This shows
that the equivalence of the two descriptions at this multicritical point
extends to the boundary sector. We also perform the analogous analysis for one
of the multicritical points of the N=1 superconformal field theories at c=3/2.
Again the brane spectra are identical for both descriptions, however the
identification is more subtle.Comment: 32 pages, 2 figure
Two Antagonistic MALT1 Auto-Cleavage Mechanisms Reveal a Role for TRAF6 to Unleash MALT1 Activation.
The paracaspase MALT1 has arginine-directed proteolytic activity triggered by engagement of immune receptors. Recruitment of MALT1 into activation complexes is required for MALT1 proteolytic function. Here, co-expression of MALT1 in HEK293 cells, either with activated CARD11 and BCL10 or with TRAF6, was used to explore the mechanism of MALT1 activation at the molecular level. This work identified a prominent self-cleavage site of MALT1 isoform A (MALT1A) at R781 (R770 in MALT1B) and revealed that TRAF6 can activate MALT1 independently of the CBM. Intramolecular cleavage at R781/R770 removes a C-terminal TRAF6-binding site in both MALT1 isoforms, leaving MALT1B devoid of the two key interaction sites with TRAF6. A previously identified auto-proteolysis site of MALT1 at R149 leads to deletion of the death-domain, thereby abolishing interaction with BCL10. By using MALT1 isoforms and cleaved fragments thereof, as well as TRAF6 WT and mutant forms, this work shows that TRAF6 induces N-terminal auto-proteolytic cleavage of MALT1 at R149 and accelerates MALT1 protein turnover. The MALT1 fragment generated by N-terminal self-cleavage at R149 was labile and displayed enhanced signaling properties that required an intact K644 residue, previously shown to be a site for mono-ubiquitination of MALT1. Conversely, C-terminal self-cleavage at R781/R770 hampered the ability for self-cleavage at R149 and stabilized MALT1 by hindering interaction with TRAF6. C-terminal self-cleavage had limited impact on MALT1A but severely reduced MALT1B proteolytic and signaling functions. It also abrogated NF-κB activation by N-terminally cleaved MALT1A. Altogether, this study provides further insights into mechanisms that regulate the scaffolding and activation cycle of MALT1. It also emphasizes the reduced functional capacity of MALT1B as compared to MALT1A
Orientifolds in N=2 Liouville Theory and its Mirror
We consider unoriented strings in the supersymmetric SL(2,R)/U(1) coset,
which describes the two-dimensional Euclidean black hole, and its mirror dual
N=2 Liouville theory. We analyze the orientifolds of these theories from
several complementary points of view: the parity symmetries of the worldsheet
actions, descent from known AdS_3 parities, and the modular bootstrap method
(in some cases we can also check our results against known constraints coming
from the conformal bootstrap method). Our analysis extends previous work on
orientifolds in Liouville theory, the AdS_3 and SU(2) WZW models and minimal
models. Compared to these cases, we find that the orientifolds of the two
dimensional Euclidean black hole exhibit new intriguing features. Our results
are relevant for the study of orientifolds in the neighborhood of NS5-branes
and for the engineering of four-dimensional chiral gauge theories and gauge
theories with SO and Sp gauge groups with suitable configurations of D-branes
and orientifolds. As an illustration, we discuss an example related to a
configuration of D4-branes and O4-planes in the presence of two parallel
fivebranes.Comment: 47 pages, 2 figures; v2 typos fixed, refs added, improved discussion
of Hanany-Witten setup
Superstrings on NS5 backgrounds, deformed AdS3 and holography
We study a non-standard decoupling limit of the D1/D5-brane system, which
interpolates between the near-horizon geometry of the D1/D5 background and the
near-horizon limit of the pure D5-brane geometry. The S-dual description of
this background is actually an exactly solvable two-dimensional (worldsheet)
conformal field theory: {null-deformed SL(2,R)} x SU(2) x T^4 or K3. This model
is free of strong-coupling singularities. By a careful treatment of the
SL(2,R), based on the better-understood SL(2,R) / U(1) coset, we obtain the
full partition function for superstrings on SL(2,R) x SU(2) x K3. This allows
us to compute the partition functions for the J^3 and J^2 current-current
deformations, as well as the full line of supersymmetric null deformations,
which links the SL(2,R) conformal field theory with linear dilaton theory. The
holographic interpretation of this setup is a renormalization-group flow
between the decoupled NS5-brane world-volume theory in the ultraviolet (Little
String Theory), and the low-energy dynamics of super Yang--Mills string-like
instantons in six dimensions.Comment: JHEP style, 59 pages, 1 figure; v2: minor changes, to appear in JHE
String Theory on Warped AdS_3 and Virasoro Resonances
We investigate aspects of holographic duals to time-like warped AdS_3
space-times--which include G\"odel's universe--in string theory. Using
worldsheet techniques similar to those that have been applied to AdS_3
backgrounds, we are able to identify space-time symmetry algebras that act on
the dual boundary theory. In particular, we always find at least one Virasoro
algebra with computable central charge. Interestingly, there exists a dense set
of points in the moduli space of these models in which there is actually a
second commuting Virasoro algebra, typically with different central charge than
the first. We analyze the supersymmetry of the backgrounds, finding related
enhancements, and comment on possible interpretations of these results. We also
perform an asymptotic symmetry analysis at the level of supergravity, providing
additional support for the worldsheet analysis.Comment: 24 pages + appendice
Complex organic matter in Titan's atmospheric aerosols from in situ pyrolysis and analysis
Aerosols in Titan's atmosphere play an important role in determining its thermal structure(1-3). They also serve as sinks for organic vapours(4) and can act as condensation nuclei for the formation of clouds(5,6), where the condensation efficiency will depend on the chemical composition of the aerosols(5,7). So far, however, no direct information has been available on the chemical composition of these particles. Here we report an in situ chemical analysis of Titan's aerosols by pyrolysis at 600 degrees C. Ammonia (NH3) and hydrogen cyanide (HCN) have been identified as the main pyrolysis products. This clearly shows that the aerosol particles include a solid organic refractory core. NH3 and HCN are gaseous chemical fingerprints of the complex organics that constitute this core, and their presence demonstrates that carbon and nitrogen are in the aerosols.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/62786/1/nature04349.pd
Protandim, a Fundamentally New Antioxidant Approach in Chemoprevention Using Mouse Two-Stage Skin Carcinogenesis as a Model
Oxidative stress is an important contributor to cancer development. Consistent with that, antioxidant enzymes have been demonstrated to suppress tumorigenesis when being elevated both in vitro and in vivo, making induction of these enzymes a more potent approach for cancer prevention. Protandim, a well-defined combination of widely studied medicinal plants, has been shown to induce superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase activities and reduce superoxide generation and lipid peroxidation in healthy human subjects. To investigate whether Protandim can suppress tumor formation by a dietary approach, a two-stage mouse skin carcinogenesis study was performed. At the end of the study, the mice on a Protandim-containing basal diet had similar body weight compared with those on the basal diet, which indicated no overt toxicity by Protandim. After three weeks on the diets, there was a significant increase in the expression levels of SOD and catalase, in addition to the increases in SOD activities. Importantly, at the end of the carcinogenesis study, both skin tumor incidence and multiplicity were reduced in the mice on the Protandim diet by 33% and 57% respectively, compared with those on basal diet. Biochemical and histological studies revealed that the Protandim diet suppressed tumor promoter-induced oxidative stress (evidenced by reduction of protein carbonyl levels), cell proliferation (evidenced by reduction of skin hyperplasia and suppression of PKC/JNK/Jun pathway), and inflammation (evidenced by reduction of ICAM-1/VCAM-1 expression, NF-κB binding activity, and nuclear p65/p50 levels). Overall, induction of antioxidant enzymes by Protandim may serve as a practical and potent approach for cancer prevention
NRP/Optineurin Cooperates with TAX1BP1 to Potentiate the Activation of NF-κB by Human T-Lymphotropic Virus Type 1 Tax Protein
Nuclear factor (NF)-κB is a major survival pathway engaged by the Human T-Lymphotropic Virus type 1 (HTLV-1) Tax protein. Tax1 activation of NF-κB occurs predominantly in the cytoplasm, where Tax1 binds NF-κB Essential Modulator (NEMO/IKKγ) and triggers the activation of IκB kinases. Several independent studies have shown that Tax1-mediated NF-κB activation is dependent on Tax1 ubiquitination. Here, we identify by co-immunoprecipitation assays NEMO-Related Protein (NRP/Optineurin) as a binding partner for Tax1 in HTLV-1 infected and Tax1/NRP co-expressing cells. Immunofluorescence studies reveal that Tax1, NRP and NEMO colocalize in Golgi-associated structures. The interaction between Tax1 and NRP requires the ubiquitin-binding activity of NRP and the ubiquitination sites of Tax1. In addition, we observe that NRP increases the ubiquitination of Tax1 along with Tax1-dependent NF-κB signaling. Surprisingly, we find that in addition to Tax1, NRP interacts cooperatively with the Tax1 binding protein TAX1BP1, and that NRP and TAX1BP1 cooperate to modulate Tax1 ubiquitination and NF-κB activation. Our data strongly suggest for the first time that NRP is a critical adaptor that regulates the assembly of TAX1BP1 and post-translationally modified forms of Tax1, leading to sustained NF-κB activation
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