Search results for "Gel"

Strong Cooperativity and Loose Geometry between CUB Domains Are the Basis for Procollagen C-Proteinase Enhancer Activity

2009

Procollagen C-proteinase enhancers (PCPE-1 and -2) specifically activate bone morphogenetic protein-1 (BMP-1) and other members of the tolloid proteinase family during C-terminal processing of fibrillar collagen precursors. PCPEs consist of two CUB domains (CUB1 and CUB2) and one NTR domain separated by one short and one long linker. It was previously shown that PCPEs can strongly interact with procollagen molecules, but the exact mechanism by which they enhance BMP-1 activity remains largely unknown. Here, we used a series of deletion mutants of PCPE-1 and two chimeric constructs with repetitions of the same CUB domain to study the role of each domain and linker. Out of all the forms teste…

Organoplatinum(II) Complexes Self-Assemble and Recognize AT-Rich Duplex DNA Sequences

2021

The specific recognition of AT-rich DNA sequences opens up the door to promising diagnostic and/or therapeutic strategies against gene-related diseases. Here, we demonstrate that amphiphilic PtII complexes of the type [Pt(dmba)(N∧N)]NO3 (dmba = N,N-dimethylbenzylamine-κN, κC; N∧N = dpq (3), dppz (4), and dppn (5)) recognize AT-rich oligonucleotides over other types of DNA, RNA, and model proteins. The crystal structure of 4 shows the presence of significant π-stacking interactions and a distorted coordination sphere of the d8 PtII atom. Complex 5, containing the largest π-conjugated ligand, forms supramolecular assemblies at high concentrations under aqueous environment. However, its aggreg…

¿Un ministro para la esperanza? / 1

2004

Application of Cell Culture for the Production of Bioactive Compounds from Sponges:  Synthesis of Avarol by Primmorphs from Dysidea avara

2000

Among all metazoan phyla, sponges are known to produce the largest number of bioactive compounds. However, until now, only one compound, arabinofuranosyladenine, has been approved for application in humans. One major obstacle is the limited availability of larger quantities of defined sponge starting material. Recently, we introduced the in vitro culture of primmorphs from Suberites domuncula, which contain proliferating cells. Now we have established the primmorph culture also from the marine sponge Dysidea avara and demonstrate that this special form of sponge cell aggregates produces avarol, a sesquiterpenoid hydroquinone, known to display strong cytostatic activity especially against ma…

Croce und die Zersetzung der Hegelschen Philosophie

2011

Tensioni realistiche nell'interpretazione crociana di Hegel e loro effetti sulle diverse fasi evolutive della filosofia di Croce

Impact of crop species on bacterial community structure during anaerobic co-digestion of crops and cow manure

2008

The bacterial communities in three continuously stirred tank reactors co-digesting cow manure with grass silage, oat straw, and sugar beet tops, respectively, were investigated by 16S rRNA gene-based fingerprints and clone libraries. The analyses revealed both clearly distinct and similar phylotypes in the bacterial communities between the reactors. The major groups represented in the three reactors were Clostridia, unclassified Bacteria, and Bacteroidetes. Phylotypes affiliated with Bacilli or Deltaproteobacteria were unique to the sugar beet and straw reactor, respectively. Unclassified Bacteria dominated in sugar beet reactor while in the straw and grass reactor Clostridia was the domina…

Cell inactivation and membrane damage after long-term treatments at sub-zero temperature in the supercooled and frozen states.

2008

The survival of cells subjected to cooling at sub-zero temperature is of paramount concern in cryobiology. The susceptibility of cells to cryopreservation processes, especially freeze-thawing, stimulated considerable interest in better understanding the mechanisms leading to cell injury and inactivation. In this study, we assessed the viability of cells subjected to cold stress, through long-term supercooling experiments, versus freeze-thawing stress. The viability of Escherichia coli, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and leukemia cells were assessed over time. Supercooled conditions were maintained for 71 days at -10 degrees C, and for 4 h at -15 degrees C, and -20 degrees C, without additives or…

Comparing encapsulation-dehydration and droplet-vitrification for cryopreservation of sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) shoot tips

2011

Abstract In this study, in vitro shoot tips of two sugarcane clones were successfully cryopreserved using encapsulation-dehydration and droplet-vitrification with two vitrification solutions, PVS2 and PVS3. For both clones, encapsulation-dehydration induced significantly higher recovery, reaching 60% for clone H70-144 and 53% for clone CP68-1026, compared with droplet-vitrification in which recovery was 33–37% for clone H70-144 and 20–27% for clone CP68-1026. Optimal conditions included preculture of encapsulated shoot apices for 24 h in liquid medium with 0.75 M sucrose and dehydration with silica gel to 20% moisture content (fresh weight basis) before direct immersion in liquid nitrogen. …

Ultrastructure, fractionation and biochemical analysis of Cryptosporidium parvum sporozoites.

1999

Abstract Sporozoites of the apicomplexan parasite Cryptosporidium parvum were subjected to cell disruption and subcellular fractionation using a sucrose density step gradient. With this procedure, highly enriched preparations of the parasite membrane, the micronemes, dense granules and amylopectin granules were produced. No separate fraction containing rhoptries was obtained, however this organelle was found in defined fractions of the gradient, still associated with the apical tip of the sporozoites. Using negative staining, the internal structure of the micronemes was revealed by transmission electron microscopy. Micronemes and dense granules showed characteristic protein compositions by …

Solid state NMR studies of gels derived from low molecular mass gelators

2016

The emergence of NMR crystallography provides a unique opportunity to study solids, gels and xerogels, thereby providing ample information to elucidate molecular packing in the native gel. This review details the importance as well as the application of solid state NMR spectroscopy combined with other analytical tools to study gels derived from low molecular mass organo- and hydrogelators.