タンパク質-共溶質間の相互作用を利用した溶液製剤の安定化

筑波大学 (University of Tsukuba)201

Visualization of alternating triangular domains of charge density waves in 2H-NbSe2_2 by scanning tunneling microscopy

The charge density wave (CDW) state of 2H-NbSe$_2$ features commensurate domains separated by domain boundaries accompanied by phase slips known as discommensurations. We have unambiguously visualized the structure of CDW domains using a displacement-field measurement algorithm on a scanning tunneling microscopy image. Each CDW domain is delimited by three vertices and three edges of discommensurations and is designated by a triplet of integers whose sum identifies the types of commensurate structure. The observed structure is consistent with the alternating triangular tiling pattern predicted by a phenomenological Landau theory. The domain shape is affected by crystal defects and also by topological defects in the CDW phase factor. Our results provide a foundation for a complete understanding of the CDW state and its relation to the superconducting state.Comment: main text (6 pages, 4 figures) + supplemental material (8 pages, 11 figures

Topological surface states hybridized with bulk states of Bi-doped PbSb2Te4 revealed in quasiparticle interference

Topological surface states of Bi-doped PbSb2Te4 [Pb(Bi0.20Sb0.80)2Te4] are investigated through analyses of quasiparticle interference (QPI) patterns observed by scanning tunneling microscopy. Interpretation of the experimental QPI patterns in the reciprocal space is achieved by numerical QPI simulations using two types of surface density of states produced by density functional theory calculations or a kp surface state model. We found that the Dirac point (DP) of the surface state appears in the bulk band gap of this material and, with the energy being away from the DP, the isoenergy contour of the surface state is substantially deformed or separated into segments due to hybridization with bulk electronic states. These findings provide a more accurate picture of topological surface states, especially at energies away from the DP, providing valuable insight into the electronic properties of topological insulators.Comment: 7+8 pages, 4+5 figure

Thermal aggregation of human immunoglobulin G in arginine solutions: Contrasting effects of stabilizers and destabilizers

Arginine is widely used as aggregation suppressor of proteins in biotechnology and pharmaceutics. However, why the effect of arginine depends on the types of proteins and stresses, including monoclonal antibodies, is still unclear. Here we investigated the precise processes of the thermal aggregation of human immunoglobulin G (IgG) in the presence of additives. As expected, arginine was the best additive to suppress the formation of insoluble aggregates during heat treatment, though it was unable to preserve the monomer content. A systematic analysis of the additives showed that sugars and kosmotropic ion inhibit the formation of soluble oligomers. These behaviors indicate that the thermal aggregation of IgG occurs by (i) the formation of soluble oligomers, which is triggered by the unfolding process that can be stabilized by typical osmolytes, and (ii) the formation of insoluble aggregates through weak cluster–cluster interactions, which can be suppressed by arginine. Understanding the detailed mechanism of arginine will provide useful information for the rational formulation design of antibodies

タンパク質-共溶質間の相互作用を利用した溶液製剤の安定化

筑波大学 (University of Tsukuba)201