Gating-by-tilt of mechanosensitive membrane channels

We propose an alternative mechanism for the gating of biological membrane channels in response to membrane tension that involves a change in the slope of the membrane near the channel. Under biological membrane tensions we show that the energy difference between the closed (tilted) and open (untilted) states can far exceed kBT and is comparable to what is available under simple ilational gating. Recent experiments demonstrate that membrane leaflet asymmetries (spontaneous curvature) can strong effect the gating of some channels. Such a phenomenon would be more easy to explain under gating-by-tilt, given its novel intrinsic sensitivity to such asymmetry.Comment: 10 pages, 2 figure

Vibrational Spectra of a Mechanosensitive Channel

We report the simulated vibrational spectra of a mechanosensitive membrane channel in different gating states. Our results show that while linear absorption is insensitive to structural differences, linear dichroism and sum-frequency generation spectroscopies are sensitive to the orientation of the transmembrane helices, which is changing during the opening process. Linear dichroism cannot distinguish an intermediate structure from the closed structure, but sum-frequency generation can. In addition, we find that two-dimensional infrared spectroscopy can be used to distinguish all three investigated gating states of the mechanosensitive membrane channel.

Measurement of J/ψ→γηcJ/\psi\to\gamma\eta_{\rm c} decay rate and ηc\eta_{\rm c} parameters at KEDR

Using the inclusive photon spectrum based on a data sample collected at the $J/\psi$ peak with the KEDR detector at the VEPP-4M $e^+e^-$ collider, we measured the rate of the radiative decay $J/\psi\to\gamma\eta_{\rm c}$ as well as $\eta_{\rm c}$ mass and width. Taking into account an asymmetric photon lineshape we obtained $\Gamma^0_{\gamma\eta_{\rm c}}=2.98\pm0.18 \phantom{|}^{+0.15}_{-0.33}$ keV, $M_{\eta_{\rm c}} = 2983.5 \pm 1.4 \phantom{|}^{+1.6}_{-3.6}$ MeV/$c^2$, $\Gamma_{\eta_{\rm c}} = 27.2 \pm 3.1 \phantom{|}^{+5.4}_{-2.6}$ MeV.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figure

Measurement of J/psi to eta_c gamma at KEDR

We present a study of the inclusive photon spectra from 5.9 million J/psi decays collected with the KEDR detector at the VEPP-4M e+e- collider. We measure the branching fraction of radiative decay J/psi to eta_c gamma, eta_c width and mass. Our preliminary results are: M(eta_c) = 2979.4+-1.5+-1.9 MeV, G(eta_c) = 27.8+-5.1+-3.3 MeV, B(J/psi to eta_c gamma) = (2.34+-0.15+-0.40)%.Comment: To be published in Proceedings of the PhiPsi09, Oct. 13-16, 2009, Beijing, Chin

Measurement of B(J/psi->eta_c gamma) at KEDR

We present a study of the inclusive photon spectrum from 6.3 million J/psi decays collected with the KEDR detector at the VEPP-4M e+e- collider. We measure the branching fraction of the radiative decay J/psi -> eta_c gamma, eta_c width and mass. Taking into account an asymmetric photon line shape we obtain: M(eta_c) = (2978.1 +- 1.4 +- 2.0) MeV/c^2, Gamma(eta_c) = (43.5 +- 5.4 +- 15.8) MeV, B(J/psi->eta_c gamma) = (2.59 +- 0.16 +- 0.31)%$.Comment: 6 pages, 1 figure. To be published in the proceedings of the 4th International Workshop on Charm Physics (Charm2010), October 21-24, 2010, IHEP, Beijin

Precise measurement of RudsR_{\text{uds}} and RR between 1.84 and 3.72 GeV at the KEDR detector

The present work continues a series of the KEDR measurements of the $R$ value that started in 2010 at the VEPP-4M $e^+e^-$ collider. By combining new data with our previous results in this energy range we measured the values of $R_{\text{uds}}$ and $R$ at nine center-of-mass energies between 3.08 and 3.72 GeV. The total accuracy is about or better than $2.6\%$ at most of energy points with a systematic uncertainty of about $1.9\%$. Together with the previous precise $R$ measurement at KEDR in the energy range 1.84-3.05 GeV, it constitutes the most detailed high-precision $R$ measurement near the charmonium production threshold.Comment: arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1610.02827 and substantial text overlap with arXiv:1510.0266

MscS-like mechanosensitive channels in plants and microbes

The challenge of osmotic stress is something all living organisms must face as a result of environmental dynamics. Over the past three decades, innovative research and cooperation across disciplines have irrefutably established that cells utilize mechanically gated ion channels to release osmolytes and prevent cell lysis during hypoosmotic stress. Early electrophysiological analysis of the inner membrane of Escherichia coli identified the presence of three distinct mechanosensitive activities. The subsequent discoveries of the genes responsible for two of these activities, the mechanosensitive channels of large (MscL) and small (MscS) conductance, led to the identification of two diverse families of mechanosensitive channels. The latter of these two families, the MscS family, consists of members from bacteria, archaea, fungi, and plants. Genetic and electrophysiological analysis of these family members has provided insight into how organisms use mechanosensitive channels for osmotic regulation in response to changing environmental and developmental circumstances. Furthermore, determining the crystal structure of E. coli MscS and several homologues in several conformational states has contributed to our understanding of the gating mechanisms of these channels. Here we summarize our current knowledge of MscS homologues from all three domains of life and address their structure, proposed physiological functions, electrophysiological behaviors, and topological diversity

Туффизитовые алмазы на Енисейском кряже

First complete mineralogical and geochemical studies were conducted for diamonds and tuffisites-like source rocks identified at the Eniseyskiy Ridge. Studied diamonds are characterized by green color, cubo-octahedral morphology, moderate nitrogen content, and unaggregated nitrogen structural defects. The xenomineral film on the surface of diamond consist of a variety of native metal, carbide, sulfide and sulfate, halosulfide and oxide phases. The main micro-impurities are presented by Ni, Fe, Mn. The individual crystals as well as the diamonds in whole vary significantly in the isotopic composition of carbon. The results confirm the widespread dissemination of the diamonds on the Siberian Platform and their polygenesis.Впервые проведены комплексные минералого-геохимические исследования алмазов и туффизитоподобных алмазоносных пород, выявленных на Енисейском кряже. Исследованные алмазы характеризуются зеленым цветом, кубоктаэдрическим габитусом, умеренной азотностью, неагрегированным состоянием азотных структурных дефектов. На поверхности алмазов установлены ксеноминеральные пленки, в состав которых входят разнообразные самородно-металлические, карбидные, сульфидные и галогенсульфидные, сульфатные и оксидные фазы. В качестве основных микроэлементов-примесей выступают Ni, Fе, Mn. Весьма неоднородны по изотопному составу углерода как алмазы-индивиды, так и алмазы изученной популяции в целом. Полученные результаты подтверждают выводы о повсеместной зараженности Сибирской платформы алмазами и их полигенности

Measurement of Γee(J/ψ)\Gamma_{ee}(J/\psi) with KEDR detector

The product of the electronic width of the $J/\psi$ meson and the branching fractions of its decay to hadrons and electrons has been measured using the KEDR detector at the VEPP-4M $e^+e^-$ collider. The obtained values are: $\Gamma_{ee}(J/\psi) = 5.550 \pm 0.056 \pm 0.089 \, \text{keV},$ $\Gamma_{ee}(J/\psi) \cdot \mathcal{B}_\text{hadrons}(J/\psi) = 4.884 \pm 0.048 \pm 0.078 \, \text{keV},$ $\Gamma_{ee}(J/\psi) \cdot \mathcal{B}_{ee}(J/\psi) = 0.3331 \pm 0.0066 \pm 0.0040 \, \text{keV}.$ The uncertainties shown are statistical and systematic, respectively. Using the result presented and the world-average value of the electronic branching fraction, one obtains the total width of the $J/\psi$ meson: $\Gamma = 92.94 \pm 1.83 \, \text{keV}.$ These results are consistent with the previous experiments.Comment: 19 pages, 13 figure