Maximum likelihood equilibria of random games

Game Theory

Structure and substrate selectivity of the 750-kDa α6β6 holoenzyme of geranyl-CoA carboxylase.

Geranyl-CoA carboxylase (GCC) is essential for the growth of Pseudomonas organisms with geranic acid as the sole carbon source. GCC has the same domain organization and shares strong sequence conservation with the related biotin-dependent carboxylases 3-methylcrotonyl-CoA carboxylase (MCC) and propionyl-CoA carboxylase (PCC). Here we report the crystal structure of the 750-kDa α6β6 holoenzyme of GCC, which is similar to MCC but strikingly different from PCC. The structures provide evidence in support of two distinct lineages of biotin-dependent acyl-CoA carboxylases, one carboxylating the α carbon of a saturated organic acid and the other carboxylating the γ carbon of an α-β unsaturated acid. Structural differences in the active site region of GCC and MCC explain their distinct substrate preferences. Especially, a glycine residue in GCC is replaced by phenylalanine in MCC, which blocks access by the larger geranyl-CoA substrate. Mutation of this residue in the two enzymes can change their substrate preferences

Del nom del suís Ixobrichus minutus

The popular name ofLittle Bittern Ixobrichus minutus. An hypothesis based on texts of Mn Alcover is presented that could explain the popular naming of Ixobrichus minutus in Menorca and Mallorca

Comentaris a les llistes d'aus capturades a Mallorca de B. Nadal, període 1970-1982

Comentaris a les llistes d’Aus capturades a Mallorca, període 1970- 1982. El present article és un recull de comentaris i observacions sobre les espècies més interessants que s’anomenen al treball d’en Bartomeu Nadal. Es fa una comparació dels estatus actuals de les espècies de les llistes amb la quantitat d’exemplars capturats i les dates de captura. Per algunes espècies es suggereix un canvi de l’estatus actual.Commentaries on the lists of Birds captured in Mallorca by B. Nadal, during the periods 1970-1982. This article is the recollection of commentaries and observations on the most interesting species mentioned in Tomeu Nadal’s work.We compare the current status of the species on his lists with the quantity and dates of the birds captured. For some of the species a change of status is suggested

ZAP's stress granule localization is correlated with its antiviral activity and induced by virus replication.

Cellular antiviral programs encode molecules capable of targeting multiple steps in the virus lifecycle. Zinc-finger antiviral protein (ZAP) is a central and general regulator of antiviral activity that targets pathogen mRNA stability and translation. ZAP is diffusely cytoplasmic, but upon infection ZAP is targeted to particular cytoplasmic structures, termed stress granules (SGs). However, it remains unclear if ZAP's antiviral activity correlates with SG localization, and what molecular cues are required to induce this localization event. Here, we use Sindbis virus (SINV) as a model infection and find that ZAP's localization to SGs can be transient. Sometimes no apparent viral infection follows ZAP SG localization but ZAP SG localization always precedes accumulation of SINV non-structural protein, suggesting virus replication processes trigger SG formation and ZAP recruitment. Data from single-molecule RNA FISH corroborates this finding as the majority of cells with ZAP localization in SGs contain low levels of viral RNA. Furthermore, ZAP recruitment to SGs occurred in ZAP-expressing cells when co-cultured with cells replicating full-length SINV, but not when co-cultured with cells replicating a SINV replicon. ZAP recruitment to SGs is functionally important as a panel of alanine ZAP mutants indicate that the anti-SINV activity is correlated with ZAP's ability to localize to SGs. As ZAP is a central component of the cellular antiviral programs, these data provide further evidence that SGs are an important cytoplasmic antiviral hub. These findings provide insight into how antiviral components are regulated upon virus infection to inhibit virus spread

FAM-1 Borehole: first results from the scientific drilling of the Alhama de Murcia Fault, Betic Cordillera, Spain

We present the preliminary results of the borehole FAM-1 a 175 m depth scientific drilling of the Alhama de Murcia fault. The borehole was drilled close to La Torrecilla rambla three km SW of Lorca where the fault zone shearing is more concentrated and it is dominated by well-developed clay rich fault gouge. To select the drilling point and to perform a prognosis of it, three trenches were excavated crossing the fault zone that allowed us to determine the detailed 3D structure of the fault zone. We have collected more than 100 m of unaltered high quality fault rock to be studied using mineralogical and microtectonic analysis, and geomechanical testing that will improve the knowledge of the influence of tectonic microfabric and mineralogy in the seismogenic behavior of the AMF. The borehole FAM-1 and the seismic monitoring borehole FamSis-1 constitute the first stage of a future geological-geophysical observatory for monitoring the activity of the AMF.This research is part of the INTERGEO project: CGL2013-47412-C2-1-P.Peer Reviewe