810 research outputs found
Expression and purification of an adenylation domain from a eukaryotic nonribosomal peptide synthetase: Using structural genomics tools for a challenging target
Nonribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs) are large multimodular and multidomain enzymes that are involved in synthesising an array of molecules that are important in human and animal health. NRPSs are found in both bacteria and fungi but most of the research to date has focused on the bacterial enzymes. This is largely due to the technical challenges in producing active fungal NRPSs, which stem from their large size and multidomain nature. In order to target fungal NRPS domains for biochemical and structural characterisation, we tackled this challenge by using the cloning and expression tools of structural genomics to screen the many variables that can influence the expression and purification of proteins. Using these tools we have screened 32 constructs containing 16 different fungal NRPS domains or domain combinations for expression and solubility. Two of these yielded soluble protein with one, the third adenylation domain of the SidN NRPS (SidNA3) from the grass endophyte Neotyphodium lolii, being tractable for purification using Ni-affinity resin. The initial purified protein exhibited poor solution behaviour but optimisation of the expression construct and the buffer conditions used for purification, resulted in stable recombinant protein suitable for biochemical characterisation, crystallisation and structure determination
Mechanical properties of cancellous bone
Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/76183/1/AIAA-1971-111-853.pd
Quantum simulation of multiple-exciton generation in a nanocrystal by a single photon
We have shown theoretically that efficient multiple exciton generation (MEG)
by a single photon can be observed in small nanocrystals (NCs). Our quantum
simulations that include hundreds of thousands of exciton and multi-exciton
states demonstrate that the complex time-dependent dynamics of these states in
a closed electronic system yields a saturated MEG effect on a picosecond
timescale. Including phonon relaxation confirms that efficient MEG requires the
exciton--biexciton coupling time to be faster than exciton relaxation time
1974 Preliminary Report of Kentucky Small Grain Variety Trials at Bowling Green and Lexington
Each year the small grain variety trials are conducted at Princeton, Murray, Bowling Green and Lexington. In 1974, the plots at Princeton and Murray were severely infected with a complex of diseases including Barley Yellow Dwarf, Septoria glume blotch, wheat scab and an unidentified disease in the wheat. As a result of the intensity of these diseases, the data obtained from these plots was very erratic and the results were not considered to be experimentally valid. The data obtained at Bowling Green and Lexington were quite valid and representative of the general situation in Kentucky
Particle dynamics of a cartoon dune
The spatio-temporal evolution of a downsized model for a desert dune is
observed experimentally in a narrow water flow channel. A particle tracking
method reveals that the migration speed of the model dune is one order of
magnitude smaller than that of individual grains. In particular, the erosion
rate consists of comparable contributions from creeping (low energy) and
saltating (high energy) particles. The saltation flow rate is slightly larger,
whereas the number of saltating particles is one order of magnitude lower than
that of the creeping ones. The velocity field of the saltating particles is
comparable to the velocity field of the driving fluid. It can be observed that
the spatial profile of the shear stress reaches its maximum value upstream of
the crest, while its minimum lies at the downstream foot of the dune. The
particle tracking method reveals that the deposition of entrained particles
occurs primarily in the region between these two extrema of the shear stress.
Moreover, it is demonstrated that the initial triangular heap evolves to a
steady state with constant mass, shape, velocity, and packing fraction after
one turnover time has elapsed. Within that time the mean distance between
particles initially in contact reaches a value of approximately one quarter of
the dune basis length
The Space Interferometry Mission Astrometric Grid Giant-Star Survey. I. Stellar Parameters and Radial Velocity Variability
We present results from a campaign of multiple epoch echelle spectroscopy of
relatively faint (V = 9.5-13.5 mag) red giants observed as potential
astrometric grid stars for the Space Interferometry Mission (SIM PlanetQuest).
Data are analyzed for 775 stars selected from the Grid Giant Star Survey
spanning a wide range of effective temperatures (Teff), gravities and
metallicities. The spectra are used to determine these stellar parameters and
to monitor radial velocity (RV) variability at the 100 m/s level. The degree of
RV variation measured for 489 stars observed two or more times is explored as a
function of the inferred stellar parameters. The percentage of radial velocity
unstable stars is found to be very high -- about 2/3 of our sample. It is found
that the fraction of RV-stable red giants (at the 100 m/s level) is higher
among stars with Teff \sim 4500 K, corresponding to the calibration-independent
range of infrared colors 0.59 < (J-K_s)_0 < 0.73. A higher percentage of
RV-stable stars is found if the additional constraints of surface gravity and
metallicity ranges 2.3< log g < 3.2 and -0.5 < [Fe/H] < -0.1, respectively, are
applied. Selection of stars based on only photometric values of effective
temperature (4300 K < Teff < 4700 K) is a simple and effective way to increase
the fraction of RV-stable stars. The optimal selection of RV-stable stars,
especially in the case when the Washington photometry is unavailable, can rely
effectively on 2MASS colors constraint 0.59 < (J-K_s)_0 < 0.73. These results
have important ramifications for the use of giant stars as astrometric
references for the SIM PlanetQuest.Comment: Astronomical Journal, in press, 22 pages, 11 Postscript figures, uses
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