56 research outputs found
Funktionelle Charakterisierung und Positionierung von Drosophila Cenp-C im Zentromer/Kinetochor-Komplex
Breaking Down the Problem: Optical Transitions, Electronic Structure, and Photoconductivity in Conjugated Polymer PCDTBT and in Its Separate Building Blocks
Conjugated polymers with alternating electron-withdrawing and electron-donating groups along their backbone (donorâacceptor copolymers) have recently attracted attention due to high power conversion efficiency in bulk heterojunction solar cells. In an effort to understand how the bandgap in a typical donorâacceptor copolymer is reduced by internal charge transfer character and what the implications of this charge transfer are, we have synthesized the isolated repeat unit (CDTBT) of the photovoltaically highly successful PCDTBT polymer. We compare here the spectroscopic and electrochemical properties of the polymer, the repeat unit, and the separate carbazole donor and dithienylbenzothiadiazole acceptor moieties (CB and dTBT, respectively) in the solid state and in solutions of various polarity. The results are interpreted with the help of time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) calculations. We identify the dominant electronic transitions responsible for the first two absorption bands in the âcamel backâ spectrum of PCDTBT as partial charge transfer transitions with significant delocalization in the directly excited states. The low bandgap, overall shape, and partial charge transfer character of the PCDTBT absorption spectrum originate from transitions in the dTBT unit. The attached CB moiety extends the conjugation length in CDTBT, rather than acting as a localized donor. Further electronic delocalization, leading to a relatively small reduction in bandgap, occurs upon polymerization. We use our finding of higher delocalization following excitation in the second absorption band to explain the increased yield of photogenerated charges from this band in PCDTBT solid thin films. Moreover, we point out the importance of initial delocalization in the functioning of bulk heterojunction solar cells. The results presented here are therefore not only highly important for a better understanding of donorâacceptor copolymers in general but can also potentially guide the strategic development of future photovoltaic materials
Excitons in one-dimensional Mott insulators
We employ dynamical density-matrix renormalization group (DDMRG) and
field-theory methods to determine the frequency-dependent optical conductivity
in one-dimensional extended, half-filled Hubbard models. The field-theory
approach is applicable to the regime of `small' Mott gaps which is the most
difficult to access by DDMRG. For very large Mott gaps the DDMRG recovers
analytical results obtained previously by means of strong-coupling techniques.
We focus on exciton formation at energies below the onset of the absorption
continuum. As a consequence of spin-charge separation, these Mott-Hubbard
excitons are bound states of spinless, charged excitations (`holon-antiholon'
pairs). We also determine exciton binding energies and sizes. In contrast to
simple band insulators, we observe that excitons exist in the Mott-insulating
phase only for a sufficiently strong intersite Coulomb repulsion. Furthermore,
our results show that the exciton binding energy and size are not related in a
simple way to the strength of the Coulomb interaction.Comment: 15 pages, 6 eps figures, corrected typos in labels of figures 4,5,
and
Cell-Cycle Regulation of Dynamic Chromosome Association of the Condensin Complex
Summary: Eukaryotic cells inherit their genomes in the form of chromosomes, which are formed from the compaction of interphase chromatin by the condensin complex. Condensin is a member of the structural maintenance of chromosomes (SMC) family of ATPases, large ring-shaped protein assemblies that entrap DNA to establish chromosomal interactions. Here, we use the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae to dissect the role of the condensin ATPase and its relationship with cell-cycle-regulated chromosome binding dynamics. ATP hydrolysis-deficient condensin binds to chromosomes but is defective in chromosome condensation and segregation. By modulating the ATPase, we demonstrate that it controls condensinâs dynamic turnover on chromosomes. Mitosis-specific phosphorylation of condensinâs Smc4 subunit reduces the turnover rate. However, reducing turnover by itself is insufficient to compact chromosomes. We propose that condensation requires fine-tuned dynamic condensin interactions with more than one DNA. These results enhance our molecular understanding of condensin function during chromosome condensation. : The condensin complex is a key determinant of mitotic chromosome formation. Thadani et al. study the dynamic binding of condensin to chromosomes. They reveal how condensin turnover is regulated by its ATPase and by cell-cycle phosphorylation. Chromosome condensation in mitosis requires fine-tuning of this dynamic behavior. Keywords: chromosome condensation, mitosis, cell cycle, phosphorylation, condensin, ABC ATPase, Saccharomyces cerevisia
Genetic interactions of separase regulatory subunits reveal the diverged Drosophila Cenp-C homolog
Faithful transmission of genetic information during mitotic divisions depends on bipolar attachment of sister kinetochores to the mitotic spindle and on complete resolution of sister-chromatid cohesion immediately before the metaphase-to-anaphase transition. Separase is thought to be responsible for sister-chromatid separation, but its regulation is not completely understood. Therefore, we have screened for genetic loci that modify the aberrant phenotypes caused by overexpression of the regulatory separase complex subunits Pimples/securin and Three rows in Drosophila. An interacting gene was found to encode a constitutive centromere protein. Characterization of its centromere localization domain revealed the presence of a diverged CENPC motif. While direct evidence for an involvement of this Drosophila Cenp-C homolog in separase activation at centromeres could not be obtained, in vivo imaging clearly demonstrated that it is required for normal attachment of kinetochores to the spindle
Quadratic electro-optic non-linearity of a conjugated porphyrin polymer measured in the Q-band one-photon resonance region
Data from: A simple biophysical model emulates budding yeast chromosome condensation
Mitotic chromosomes were one of the first cell biological structures to be described, yet their molecular architecture remains poorly understood. We have devised a simple biophysical model of a 300 kb-long nucleosome chain, the size of a budding yeast chromosome, constrained by interactions between binding sites of the chromosomal condensin complex, a key component of interphase and mitotic chromosomes. Comparisons of computational and experimental (4C) interaction maps, and other biophysical features, allow us to predict a mode of condensin action. Stochastic condensin-mediated pairwise interactions along the nucleosome chain generate native-like chromosome features and recapitulate chromosome compaction and individualization during mitotic condensation. Higher order interactions between condensin binding sites explain the data less well. Our results suggest that basic assumptions about chromatin behavior go a long way to explain chromosome architecture and are able to generate a molecular model of what the inside of a chromosome is likely to look like
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