Structure and function in the isolated reaction center complex of Photosystem II: energy and charge transfer dynamics and mechanism

The dynamics of energy and charge transfer in the Photosystem II reaction center complex is an area of great interest today. These processes occur on a time scale ranging from femtoseconds to tens of picoseconds or longer. Steady-state and ultrafast spectroscopy techniques have provided a great deal of quantitative and qualitative data that have led to varied interpretations and phenomenological models. More recently, microscopic models that identify specific charge separated states have been introduced, and offer more insight into the charge transfer mechanism. The structure and energetics of PS II reaction centers are reviewed, emphasizing the effects on the dynamics of the initial charge transfer.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/43542/1/11120_2004_Article_406692.pd

Identification of human and mouse hematopoietic stem cell populations expressing high levels of mRNA encoding retrovirus receptors

One obstacle to retrovirus-mediated gene therapy for human hematopoietic disorders is the low efficiency of gene transfer into pluripotent hematopoietic stem cells (HSC). We have previously shown a direct correlation between retrovirus receptor mRNA levels in mouse HSC and the efficiency with which they are transduced. In the present study, we assayed retrovirus receptor mRNA levels in a variety of mouse and human HSC populations to identify HSC which may be more competent for retrovirus transduction. The highest levels of amphotropic retrovirus receptor (amphoR) mRNA were found in cryopreserved human cord blood HSC. The level of amphoR mRNA in Lin- CD34+ CD38- cells isolated from frozen cord blood was 12-fold higher than the level in fresh cord blood Lin- CD34+ CD38- cells. In mice, the level of amphoR mRNA in HSC from the bone marrow (BM) of mice treated with stem cell factor and granulocyte-colony stimulating factor was 2.8- to 7.8-fold higher than in HSC from the BM of untreated mice. These findings suggest that HSC from frozen cord blood and cytokine-mobilized BM may be superior targets for amphotropic retrovirus transduction compared with HSC from untreated adult BM

ZENK activation in the nidopallium of black-capped chickadees in response to both conspecific and heterospecific calls

Neuronal populations in the songbird nidopallium increase in activity the most to conspecific vocalizations relative to heterospecific songbird vocalizations or artificial stimuli such as tones. Here, we tested whether the difference in neural activity between conspecific and heterospecific vocalizations is due to acoustic differences or to the degree of phylogenetic relatedness of the species producing the vocalizations. To compare differences in neural responses of black-capped chickadees, Poecile atricapillus, to playback conditions we used a known marker for neural activity, ZENK, in the caudal medial nidopallium and caudomedial mesopallium. We used the acoustically complex ‘dee’ notes from chick-a-dee calls, and vocalizations from other heterospecific species similar in duration and spectral features. We tested the vocalizations from three heterospecific species (chestnut-backed chickadees, tufted titmice, and zebra finches), the vocalizations from conspecific individuals (black-capped chickadees), and reversed versions of the latter. There were no significant differences in the amount of expression between any of the groups except in the control condition, which resulted in significantly less neuronal activation. Our results suggest that, in certain cases, neuronal activity is not higher in response to conspecific than in response to heterospecific vocalizations for songbirds, but rather is sensitive to the acoustic features of the signal. Both acoustic features of the calls and the phylogenetic relationship between of the signaler and the receiver interact in the response of the nidopallium.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Virological Outcome after Structured Interruption of Antiretroviral Therapy for Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection Is Associated with the Functional Profile of Virus-Specific CD8+ T Cells▿

A clear understanding of the antiviral effects of CD8+ T cells in the context of chronic human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is critical for the development of prophylactic vaccines and therapeutics designed to support T-cell-mediated immunity. However, defining the potential correlates of effective CD8+ T-cell immunity has proven difficult; notably, comprehensive analyses have demonstrated that the size and shape of the CD8+ T-cell response are not necessarily indicative of efficacy determined by measures of plasma viral load. Here, we conducted a detailed quantitative and qualitative analysis of CD8+ T-cell responses to autologous virus in a cohort of six HIV-infected individuals with a history of structured interruption of antiretroviral therapy (ART) (SIT). The magnitude and breadth of the HIV-specific response did not, by themselves, explain the changes observed in plasma virus levels after the cessation of ART. Furthermore, mutational escape from targeted epitopes could not account for the differential virological outcomes in this cohort. However, the functionality of HIV-specific CD8+ T-cell populations upon antigen encounter, determined by the simultaneous and independent measurement of five CD8+ T-cell functions (degranulation and gamma interferon, macrophage inflammatory protein 1β, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and interleukin-2 levels) reflected the emergent level of plasma virus, with multiple functions being elicited in those individuals with lower levels of viremia after SIT. These data show that the quality of the HIV-specific CD8+ T-cell response, rather than the quantity, is associated with the dynamics of viral replication in the absence of ART and suggest that the effects of SIT can be assessed by measuring the functional profile of HIV-specific CD8+ T cells

Comparative and population mitogenomic analyses of Madagascar's extinct, giant ‘subfossil’ lemurs

Humans first arrived on Madagascar only a few thousand years ago. Subsequent habitat destruction and hunting activities have had significant impacts on the island's biodiversity, including the extinction of megafauna. For example, we know of 17 recently extinct ‘subfossil’ lemur species, all of which were substantially larger (body mass ∼11–160 kg) than any living population of the ∼100 extant lemur species (largest body mass ∼6.8 kg). We used ancient DNA and genomic methods to study subfossil lemur extinction biology and update our understanding of extant lemur conservation risk factors by i) reconstructing a comprehensive phylogeny of extinct and extant lemurs, and ii) testing whether low genetic diversity is associated with body size and extinction risk. We recovered complete or near-complete mitochondrial genomes from five subfossil lemur taxa, and generated sequence data from population samples of two extinct and eight extant lemur species. Phylogenetic comparisons resolved prior taxonomic uncertainties and confirmed that the extinct subfossil species did not comprise a single clade. Genetic diversity estimates for the two sampled extinct species were relatively low, suggesting small historical population sizes. Low genetic diversity and small population sizes are both risk factors that would have rendered giant lemurs especially susceptible to extinction. Surprisingly, among the extant lemurs, we did not observe a relationship between body size and genetic diversity. The decoupling of these variables suggests that risk factors other than body size may have as much or more meaning for establishing future lemur conservation priorities