Model peptide studies of Ag+ binding sites from the silver resistance protein SilE

Using model peptides, each of the nine MX2H or HXnM (n = 1, 2) motifs of the silver resistance protein SilE has been shown to coordinate to one Ag+ ion by its histidine and methionine residues with Kd in the μM range. This suggests an Ag+ buffering role for SilE in the case of high Ag+ overload

Alpha-helical folding of SilE models upon Ag(His)(Met) motif formation

The SilE protein is suspected to have a prominent role in Ag+ detoxification of silver resistant bacteria. Using model peptides, we elucidated both qualitative and quantitative aspects of the Ag+-induced α-helical structuring role of His- and Met-rich sequences of SilE, improving our understanding of its function within the Sil system

Evolution des pratiques en filière boulangerie et conséquence sur la santé

Le blé est une céréale vitale sur laquelle repose en partie l’économie mondiale. Elle est également au centre des régimes alimentaires et participe à l’équilibre alimentaire. L’industrialisation de l’agriculture a cependant conduit à des changements de pratiques visant à augmenter les rendements et la teneur en protéine. Il en résulte une diminution drastique de la diversité des blés cultivés ainsi qu’une diminution de sa densité nutritionnelle. Les changements de pratiques, de sa culture à sa transformation, ont également engendré une augmentation des allergies alimentaires mais également des déficits nutritionnels (hausse de l’index glycémique, carence en micronutriments). Pour améliorer la qualité nutritionnelle du pain, un premier levier mobilisable est l’agriculture biologique. L’emploi de pesticides y est prohibé, ce qui permet d’utiliser une plus grande partie du grain, l’enveloppe, où sont concentrés la majorité des minéraux, oligo-éléments,vitamines. Cependant les variétés issues de la sélection moderne ne semblent pas répondre aux nombreux critères de l’AB. Les blés populations, ou variétés anciennes, semblent remplir un grand nombre de ces critères. Leur diversité génétique permet une adaptation continue aux conditions climatiques fluctuantes. Elles représentent, de plus, un réservoir génétique pour de potentielles améliorations sur la densité nutritionnelle. Enfin, le dernier levier mobilisable est celui de la transformation : l’allongement du temps de fermentation, la pratique d’un pétrissage modéré ou encore l’utilisation du levain sont autant de paramètres à ajuster pour optimiser la qualité nutritionnelle du pain

Towards cardiolite-inspired carbon monoxide releasing molecules – Reactivity of d4, d5 rhenium and d6 manganese carb­onyl complexes with isocyanide ligands

Carbon monoxide releasing molecules (CORMs) are investigated widely in synthetic and medicinal chemistry owing to the potential therapeutic applications of the CO gas. Organometallic carbonyl complexes are best suited to play the role of CO carriers as they allow the exogenous release of CO under controlled conditions, and the toxicity of the gas can be overcome. With the long-term goal of developing CORMs with similar properties to those of the sesta-methoxyisobutylisonitrile (sesta-mibi) 99mTc complex (Cardiolite), we have studied the reactivity of isocyanide ligands towards 16- and 17-electron cis-[Re(CO)₂Br₄]–/2– species and the [Mn(CO)₅Br] complex. Six different isocyanide ancillary ligands (CNR), including mibi, were selected for this study. Their reactions with cis-dicarbonyl ReIII and ReII complexes were accompanied by two- and one-electron reduction of the metal center and resulted in the formation of stable cis-mer-[Re(CO)₂(CNR)₃Br] species, whereas the same reactions with [Mn(CO)₅Br] gave fac-[Mn(CO)₃(CNR)₂Br] compounds. All of the complexes were fully characterized, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction structure determinations were performed for selected species. In addition, unique monocarbonyl complexes were obtained from the reactions of cis-[Re(CO)₂Br₄]⁻ (1) with tert-butyl isocyanide and cis-[Re(CO)₂Br₄]²⁻ (2) with mibi. The species, a heptacoordinate ReIII and a hexacoordinate ReII complex, respectively, were also characterized structurally. The CO-releasing profiles, the cytotoxic effects against 3T3 fibroblast cells, and the antibacterial properties of the compounds were also investigated

WRINKLED1 and ACYL‐COA:DIACYLGLYCEROL ACYLTRANSFERASE1 regulate tocochromanol metabolism in Arabidopsis

Photosynthetic organisms such as plants, algae and some cyanobacteria synthesize tocochromanols, a group of compounds that encompasses tocopherols and tocotrienols and that exhibits vitamin E activity in animals. While most vitamin E biosynthetic genes have been identified in plant genomes, regulatory genes controlling tocopherol accumulation are currently unknown.We isolated by forward genetics Arabidopsis enhanced vitamin E (eve) mutants that overaccumulate the classic tocopherols and plastochromanol-8, and a tocochromanol unknown in this species. We mapped eve1 and eve4, and identified the unknown Arabidopsis tocochromanol by using a combination of analytical tools. In addition, we determined its biosynthetic pathway with a series of tocochromanol biosynthetic mutants and transgenic lines.eve1 and eve4 are two seed lipid mutants affecting the WRINKLED1 (WRI1) and ACYL-COA:DIACYLGLYCEROL ACYLTRANSFERASE1 (DGAT1) genes, respectively. The unknown tocochromanol is 11′-12′ γ-tocomonoenol, whose biosynthesis is VITAMIN E 1 (VTE1) - and VTE2-dependent and is initiated by the condensation of homogentisate (HGA) and tetrahydrogeranylgeranyl pyrophosphate.This study identifies the first two regulatory genes, WRI1 and DGAT1, that control the synthesis of all tocochromanol forms in seeds, and shows the existence of a metabolic trade-off between lipid and tocochromanol metabolisms. Moreover, it shows that Arabidopsis possesses a tocomonoenol biosynthetic pathway that competes with tocopherol synthesis

Sequential multiple-target sensor: In3+, Fe2+, and Fe3+ discrimination by an anthracene-based probe

Indium is a nonphysiological toxic metal widely used in industry. While misunderstood, its toxicity is proposed to be linked to a perturbation of Fe3+ homeostasis through the binding of In3+ ions to essential iron metalloproteins such as transferrins. Therefore, the monitoring of In3+ and Fe3+ in biological environments is of prime interest for both basic research and diagnosis. Here we report the design of a salen-type anthracene- based probe able to selectively sense and discriminate In3+ and Fe2+/3+ ions by fluoro-colorimetry

Differential cross section measurements for the production of a W boson in association with jets in proton–proton collisions at √s = 7 TeV

Measurements are reported of differential cross sections for the production of a W boson, which decays into a muon and a neutrino, in association with jets, as a function of several variables, including the transverse momenta (pT) and pseudorapidities of the four leading jets, the scalar sum of jet transverse momenta (HT), and the difference in azimuthal angle between the directions of each jet and the muon. The data sample of pp collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 7 TeV was collected with the CMS detector at the LHC and corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 5.0 fb[superscript −1]. The measured cross sections are compared to predictions from Monte Carlo generators, MadGraph + pythia and sherpa, and to next-to-leading-order calculations from BlackHat + sherpa. The differential cross sections are found to be in agreement with the predictions, apart from the pT distributions of the leading jets at high pT values, the distributions of the HT at high-HT and low jet multiplicity, and the distribution of the difference in azimuthal angle between the leading jet and the muon at low values.United States. Dept. of EnergyNational Science Foundation (U.S.)Alfred P. Sloan Foundatio

Optimasi Portofolio Resiko Menggunakan Model Markowitz MVO Dikaitkan dengan Keterbatasan Manusia dalam Memprediksi Masa Depan dalam Perspektif Al-Qur`an

Risk portfolio on modern finance has become increasingly technical, requiring the use of sophisticated mathematical tools in both research and practice. Since companies cannot insure themselves completely against risk, as human incompetence in predicting the future precisely that written in Al-Quran surah Luqman verse 34, they have to manage it to yield an optimal portfolio. The objective here is to minimize the variance among all portfolios, or alternatively, to maximize expected return among all portfolios that has at least a certain expected return. Furthermore, this study focuses on optimizing risk portfolio so called Markowitz MVO (Mean-Variance Optimization). Some theoretical frameworks for analysis are arithmetic mean, geometric mean, variance, covariance, linear programming, and quadratic programming. Moreover, finding a minimum variance portfolio produces a convex quadratic programming, that is minimizing the objective function ðð¥with constraintsð ð 𥠥 ðandð´ð¥ = ð. The outcome of this research is the solution of optimal risk portofolio in some investments that could be finished smoothly using MATLAB R2007b software together with its graphic analysis

Juxtaposing BTE and ATE – on the role of the European insurance industry in funding civil litigation

One of the ways in which legal services are financed, and indeed shaped, is through private insurance arrangement. Two contrasting types of legal expenses insurance contracts (LEI) seem to dominate in Europe: before the event (BTE) and after the event (ATE) legal expenses insurance. Notwithstanding institutional differences between different legal systems, BTE and ATE insurance arrangements may be instrumental if government policy is geared towards strengthening a market-oriented system of financing access to justice for individuals and business. At the same time, emphasizing the role of a private industry as a keeper of the gates to justice raises issues of accountability and transparency, not readily reconcilable with demands of competition. Moreover, multiple actors (clients, lawyers, courts, insurers) are involved, causing behavioural dynamics which are not easily predicted or influenced. Against this background, this paper looks into BTE and ATE arrangements by analysing the particularities of BTE and ATE arrangements currently available in some European jurisdictions and by painting a picture of their respective markets and legal contexts. This allows for some reflection on the performance of BTE and ATE providers as both financiers and keepers. Two issues emerge from the analysis that are worthy of some further reflection. Firstly, there is the problematic long-term sustainability of some ATE products. Secondly, the challenges faced by policymakers that would like to nudge consumers into voluntarily taking out BTE LEI

Penilaian Kinerja Keuangan Koperasi di Kabupaten Pelalawan

This paper describe development and financial performance of cooperative in District Pelalawan among 2007 - 2008. Studies on primary and secondary cooperative in 12 sub-districts. Method in this stady use performance measuring of productivity, efficiency, growth, liquidity, and solvability of cooperative. Productivity of cooperative in Pelalawan was highly but efficiency still low. Profit and income were highly, even liquidity of cooperative very high, and solvability was good