Microbial sulfate reduction is associated with characteristic S isotope partitioning, which can aid in determining the rate of this ubiquitous reactive pathway in a wide variety of reducing environments. Here we introduce a new simple yet predictive model that expands the range of environmental ...

A novel high-energy organic potassium salt, 3-(dinitromethylene)-4-nitro-2,3-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-5-amine potassium salt [K(NNMPA)], was first synthesized by an unexpected reaction of 1-amino-1-hydrazino-2,2-dinitroethylene (AHDNE) and KOH in methanol aqueous solution. K(NNMPA) was characterized b...

Thermal stability, kinetics, and dynamics data of the novel energetic material 5-amino-1h-tetrazole (5AT) are of the essence to obtain safety information for safety storage, handling, and even demilitarization. This study will seek to find particle size effects on thermal kinetics and pyrolysis ...

In a modification of the Svensson degradation, otherwise permethylated glycopyranosid-2-uloses bearing 4-O-glycosyl substituents are formed by the Swern oxidation. Base-catalyzed elimination on treatment with triethylamine then gives 4-deoxy-3-O-methylglyc-3-enopyranosid-2-ulose-terminated oligo...

The acidic polysaccharide from the seed-coat mucilage of Hyptis suaveolens is a highly branched l-fuco-4-O-methyl-d-glucurono-d-xylan for which a structure is proposed having a 4-linked β-d-xylan backbone carrying side chains of single 4-O-methyl-α-d-glucuronic acid residues at O-2 and 2-O-l-f...

Conjugation is a fundamental process for the rapid evolution of bacteria, enabling them, for example, to adapt to various environmental conditions or to acquire multi-drug resistance. NikA is one of the relaxosomal proteins that initiate the intercellular transfer of the R64 conjugative plasmid ...

The ampicillin resistance plasmid pCERC7, carrying transposon Tn2 with an IS4 insertion, was detected in the draft genome of a commensal Escherichia coli isolate. The genome data also revealed that this isolate belongs to ST131, clade B. pCERC7 is 9712 bp comprised of a 3319 bp backbone, Tn2::IS...

The ABC-type importer NikABCDE mediates nickel acquisition in Escherichia coli. The periplasmic nickel-binding component NikA has a folding similar to that of the peptide transporter OppA and does not bind free nickel. Instead, we showed that the metal is tetra-coordinated by an organic tri-dent...

Escherichia coli require nickel for the synthesis of [NiFe] hydrogenases under anaerobic growth conditions. Nickel import depends on the specific ABC-transporter NikABCDE encoded by the nik operon, which deletion causes the complete abolition of hydrogenase activity. We have previously postulate...

H. C. Castro-Faria-Neto, M. A. Martins, P. T. Bozza, S. A. C. Perez, A. C. V. Correa-Da-Silva, M. C. R. Lima, H. N. Cruz, R. S. B. Cordeiro, M. V. Sousa and L. Morhy. Pro-inflammatory activity of enterolobin: a haemolytic protein purified from seeds of the Brazilian tree Enterolobium contortisil...

The cytolytic seed protein enterolobin from seeds ofEnterolobium contortisiliquumwas purified by using FPLC on a Mono Q column giving a single peak in capillary electrophoresis. The complete amino acid sequence of the plant cytolysin was determined by an automated method, yielding a molecular ma...

Enterolobin is a plant cytolytic protein similar to the bacterial cytolysin aerolysin. Biochemical and biophysical techniques were used to verify if enterolobin, like aerolysin, adopts a dimeric structure in solution. SDS–PAGE showed bands corresponding to enterolobin monomer, dimer and oligome...

Human vascular connexins (Cx37, Cx40, Cx43, and Cx45) can form various types of gap junction channels to synchronize vasodilation/constriction to control local circulation. Most of our knowledge on heterotypic gap junctions of these vascular connexins was from studies on rodent connexins. In hum...

Gap junctions are membrane channels found in all cells of the human body that are essential to cellular physiology. Gap junctions are formed from connexin proteins and are responsible for transfer of biologically active molecules, metabolites, and salts between neighboring cells or cells and the...

Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness in the working age population. Unfortunately, there is no cure for this devastating ocular complication. The early stage of diabetic retinopathy is characterized by the loss of various cell types in the retina, namely endothelial cells and p...

A common cause of mortality and long-term adult disability, cerebral ischemia or brain ischemia imposes a significant health and financial burden on communities worldwide. Cerebral ischemia is a condition that arises from a sudden loss of blood flow and consequent failure to meet the high metabo...

Mutations in the gap junction protein beta 3 (GJB3) gene encoding Connexin 31 (Cx31) are known to cause autosomal inherited sensorineural deafness, erythrokeratodermia and neuropathy. The role of Cx31 mutations has not been described in familial cases of non-syndromic hearing impairment (NSHI) i...

Lack of effective medication for slowing down progression of Parkinson's disease (PD) as a highly prevalent neurodegenerative disorder requires novel avenues of scientific investigation to elucidate the underlying molecular and cellular mechanisms. Studying connexins, pannexins and their ch...

This chapter reviews the major diseases caused by connexin mutations. Organs affected include central and peripheral nervous system, eyes, ears, heart, skin, teeth, bone, hair, nails, and lymphatic system. Thus far, disease-related mutations have been identified in the following connexins (Cx): ...

Gap junctions are hexagonal arrays of protein molecules in the plasma membrane and were first described in Mauthner cell synapses of goldfish. They form pathways for coupling between cells, allowing passive, electrotonic spread of ions and also passage of larger molecules such as amino acids and...