Cooperative Gating and Spatial Organization of Membrane Proteins through Elastic Interactions

Biological membranes are elastic media in which the presence of a transmembrane protein leads to local bilayer deformation. The energetics of deformation allow two membrane proteins in close proximity to influence each other's equilibrium conformation via their local deformations, and spatially organize the proteins based on their geometry. We use the mechanosensitive channel of large conductance (MscL) as a case study to examine the implications of bilayer-mediated elastic interactions on protein conformational statistics and clustering. The deformations around MscL cost energy on the order of 10 kT and extend ~3nm from the protein edge, as such elastic forces induce cooperative gating and we propose experiments to measure these effects. Additionally, since elastic interactions are coupled to protein conformation, we find that conformational changes can severely alter the average separation between two proteins. This has important implications for how conformational changes organize membrane proteins into functional groups within membranes.Comment: 12 pages, 6 figures, 63 references, submitted to PLoS Computational Biolog

Strategic Implementation of E-Procurement: A Case Study of an Australian Firm

The rapid development of Internet technology has made inter-organisation connectivity much easier and cheaper than ever before, hereby providing an opportunity for companies, both large and small, to realise the true value of the Internet. Despite the huge investment and complexity of implementing eprocurement, there is little empirical research to provide managerial guidelines for developing effective procurement strategies and for successfully implementing e-procurement. This paper attempts to fill this gap by reporting an Australian case study on the adoption of e-procurement. The findings offer detailed, varied and practical strategic insights into organisational redesign, critical factors, and challenges. The implications are also offered

Boron Nitride Nanosheets Improve Sensitivity and Reusability of Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy

Surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is a useful multidisciplinary analytic technique. However, it is still a challenge to produce SERS substrates that are highly sensitive, reproducible, stable, reusable, and scalable. Here, we demonstrate that atomically thin boron nitride (BN) nanosheets have many unique and desirable properties to help solve this challenge. The synergic effect of the atomic thickness, high flexibility, stronger surface adsorption capability, electrical insulation, impermeability, high thermal and chemical stability of BN nanosheets can increase the Raman sensitivity by up to two orders, and in the meantime attain long-term stability and extraordinary reusability not achievable by other materials. These advances will greatly facilitate the wider use of SERS in many fields

Translational Regulation of the DOUBLETIME/CKIδ/ε Kinase by LARK Contributes to Circadian Period Modulation

The Drosophila homolog of Casein Kinase I δ/ε, DOUBLETIME (DBT), is required for Wnt, Hedgehog, Fat and Hippo signaling as well as circadian clock function. Extensive studies have established a critical role of DBT in circadian period determination. However, how DBT expression is regulated remains largely unexplored. In this study, we show that translation of dbt transcripts are directly regulated by a rhythmic RNA-binding protein (RBP) called LARK (known as RBM4 in mammals). LARK promotes translation of specific alternative dbt transcripts in clock cells, in particular the dbt-RC transcript. Translation of dbt-RC exhibits circadian changes under free-running conditions, indicative of clock regulation. Translation of a newly identified transcript, dbt-RE, is induced by light in a LARK-dependent manner and oscillates under light/dark conditions. Altered LARK abundance affects circadian period length, and this phenotype can be modified by different dbt alleles. Increased LARK delays nuclear degradation of the PERIOD (PER) clock protein at the beginning of subjective day, consistent with the known role of DBT in PER dynamics. Taken together, these data support the idea that LARK influences circadian period and perhaps responses of the clock to light via the regulated translation of DBT. Our study is the first to investigate translational control of the DBT kinase, revealing its regulation by LARK and a novel role of this RBP in Drosophila circadian period modulation

Lights, Camera, Empathy: A Request to Slow the Emergency Medicine Standardized Video Interview Project Study

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/141594/1/aet210062_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/141594/2/aet210062.pd

Today’s advanced is tomorrow’s basic

https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/145431/1/13089_2018_Article_100.pd