Article
Polymer Science
Min-Kyung Chae, Nam-Kyung Lee, Youngkyun Jung, Albert Johner
Summary: Charged polymers with random charge sequences form pearl-necklace structures, with dynamics of pearls controlled by nucleation/dissolution processes. Most sequences have a stable number of large pearls, while a few exhibit fast-switching behavior. Similar shape fluctuations are observed in intrinsically disordered protein (IDP) sequences.
Article
Polymer Science
Gaukhar Toleutay, Esra Su, Gaukhargul Yelemessova
Summary: Polyampholyte hydrogels possess excellent antibacterial and antifouling properties, making them appealing for various biomedical applications. They also find potential uses in areas like food safety, wastewater treatment, and desalination. This study investigated the effects of chemical and physical interactions on the performance of polyampholyte hydrogels, specifically focusing on their mechanical and rheological properties. Different gel characteristics were achieved by varying the initial monomer concentration and crosslinker ratios, demonstrating the ability to reduce the amount of chemical crosslinker required for a desired level of crosslinking. Additionally, the incorporation of N,N-dimethylacrylamide resulted in improved material performance due to an increase in hydrogen bond formation.
Article
Mathematics
Steven J. Dilworth, Denka Kutzarova, Bunyamin Sari, Svetozar Stankov
Summary: The paper discusses the equivalence of subsymmetric basic sequences in the Tirilman spaces and their dual spaces. The results show that these subsymmetric basic sequences are equivalent to the canonical subsymmetric but not symmetric basis sequences.
BULLETIN OF THE LONDON MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Yuancheng Zhang, Qiqian Hu, Shurui Yang, Tao Wang, Weixiang Sun, Zhen Tong
Summary: The introduction of a weak cationic monomer into the polyampholyte hydrogel system, along with copolymerization with a strong cationic monomer and strong anionic monomer, enhances the self-healing and self-reinforcement capabilities of the hydrogel. The hydrogel can fix a temporary shape in HCl solution and recover to its original shape in NaOH solution. Through alternating immersion in HCl and NaOH solutions, rapid self-healing and increased tensile strength can be achieved within a few minutes.
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
S. Alkan, D. Akay
Summary: We conducted theoretical studies on the generic helical edge state (GHES) with quadrangular potential in the two-dimensional (2D) HgTe/CdTe quantum well (QW) structure. We determined the thermodynamic properties of the GHES with and without the external geometric potential. Our findings revealed the heat capacity dependence of the edge modes on the optimum temperatures and the distortion of the Fermi surface by the quadrangular potential term.
Article
Physics, Applied
V. Dumont, T. A. Bowen, R. Roglans, G. Dobler, M. S. Sharma, A. Karpf, S. D. Bale, A. Wickenbrock, E. Zhivun, T. Kornack, J. S. Wurtele, D. Budker
Summary: This study presents a comparative analysis of urban magnetic fields in two American cities: Berkeley, California and Brooklyn Borough of New York City. Significant differences in magnetic signatures between the two cities were identified. The study also demonstrates the use of different magnetometers for measurement and analysis to study local anthropogenic activities.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSICS
(2022)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Irene Pradas, Mariona Jove, Kevin Huynh, Marta Ingles, Consuelo Borras, Natalia Mota-Martorell, Jose Daniel Galo-Licona, Josep Puig, Jose Vina, Peter J. Meikle, Reinald Pamplona
Summary: Human longevity is associated with specific lipidome features, with structural glycosphingolipids potentially playing a more important role than signaling sphingolipids.
JOURNALS OF GERONTOLOGY SERIES A-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND MEDICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jiaheng Teng, Hanmin Zhang, Hongjun Lin, Fangang Meng
Summary: The fouling mechanism of forward osmosis membrane was investigated, revealing variations in flux decline and fouling layer structure under different modes. Thermodynamic analysis and quantum chemistry calculations helped interpret these phenomena, deepening understanding of membrane fouling in the FO process.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
K. J. Goudie, S. J. McCreath, J. A. Parkinson, C. M. Davidson, J. J. Liggat
Summary: The behavior of gelatin hydrogels is influenced by the charges on the amino acid side chains, which in turn affects their surface activity and mechanical properties. Extreme pH values lead to softer gelatin blocks, while pH values close to the isoelectric point result in firmer material. The presence of net charge on the gelatin surface hinders the formation of tight helices and reduces the physical crosslink network density, contributing to the observed behavior.
JOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Mechanical
Marco Astolfi, Dario Rizzi, Ennio Macchi, Claudio Spadacini
Summary: This paper focuses on the thermodynamic performance and techno-economic assessment of a novel electrical energy storage technology called CO2 battery, which uses carbon dioxide as a working fluid. The study presents the concept, operation, and numerical model of CO2 batteries, and compares their performance with other energy storage systems. Results show that CO2 batteries have high round trip efficiency and are easy to install.
JOURNAL OF ENGINEERING FOR GAS TURBINES AND POWER-TRANSACTIONS OF THE ASME
(2022)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Shanshan Wu, Jing Guo, Yilei Wang, Hui Xie, Shaobing Zhou
Summary: A new type of cryopolymerized polyampholyte gel with the multifunctionality of antidehydration, self-healing, and shape-memory has been developed for wearable sensing electronics, enabling automatic repair of physical damages and manual adjustment of performance.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Tomoya Ishizuka, Nitika Grover, Christopher J. Kingsbury, Hiroaki Kotani, Mathias O. Senge, Takahiko Kojima
Summary: This article summarizes the synthetic methods and design aspects of nonplanar porphyrin formation, the key properties and functionality of the nonplanar aromatic framework, and the scope and utility of this emerging class in addressing important scientific, industrial, and environmental issues.
CHEMICAL SOCIETY REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Gabriele Marciano, Midori Ishii, Olga O. Nerusheva, Bungo Akiyoshi
Summary: The study characterizes the KKT2 and KKT3 proteins in the kinetoplastid parasite Trypanosoma brucei, showing that they are important for the localization of various kinetochore proteins, with their central domains playing a critical role. Crystal structures of the KKT2 central domain reveal a unique zinc-binding domain that promotes its kinetochore localization, while mutations in the equivalent domain in KKT3 abolish its function. This work demonstrates the importance of the unique central domains in mediating the centromere localization of KKT2 and KKT3.
JOURNAL OF CELL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Oria Holin, Yosef Gofer, Dan Thomas Major, Doron Aurbach
Summary: A unique thermodynamic behavior was observed for solutions of magnesium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonimide) in 1,2-dimethoxyethane, where the solutions display temperature-dependent phase separation. The driving forces for phase separation are explained by statistical thermodynamics based on the populations of different conformers. Raman spectroscopy analysis revealed an increase in the entropy of the dilute phase with temperature, attributed to a decrease in salt concentration and an increase in population of entropically favored conformers.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY C
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Frederico Campos Freitas, Michelli Maldonado, Antonio Bento Oliveira Junior, Jose Nelson Onuchic, Ronaldo Junio de Oliveira
Summary: Biotin-labeled proteins are commonly used to study protein-protein interactions and proximity in living cells. However, the influence of biotinylation on aspects such as folding, binding, stability, and kinetics needs to be investigated further.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL PHYSICS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Matthew Batchelor, Marcin Wolny, Emily G. Baker, Emanuele Paci, Arnout P. Kalverda, Michelle Peckham
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY
(2019)
Article
Biophysics
Simon P. Skinner, Gael Radou, Roman Tuma, Jeanine J. Houwing-Duistermaat, Emanuele Paci
BIOPHYSICAL JOURNAL
(2019)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Filip Radom, Emanuele Paci, Andreas Pluckthun
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2019)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Martin Lepsik, Roman Sommer, Sakonwan Kuhaudomlarp, Mickael Lelimousin, Emanuele Paci, Annabelle Varrot, Alexander Titz, Anne Imberty
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2019)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yuxin Hao, Jeneffer P. England, Luca Bellucci, Emanuele Paci, H. Courtney Hodges, Susan S. Taylor, Rodrigo A. Maillard
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2019)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Fiona Whelan, Aleix Lafita, Samuel C. Griffiths, Rachael E. M. Cooper, Jean L. Whittingham, Johan P. Turkenburg, Iain W. Manfield, Alexander N. St. John, Emanuele Paci, Alex Bateman, Jennifer R. Potts
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2019)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Matthew Batchelor, Kostas Papachristos, Michele Stofella, Zu Thur Yew, Emanuele Paci
BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-GENERAL SUBJECTS
(2020)
News Item
Biophysics
Emanuele Paci, James F. Ross
BIOPHYSICAL JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Simon P. Skinner, Alec H. Follmer, Marcellus Ubbink, Thomas L. Poulos, Jeanine J. Houwing-Duistermaat, Emanuele Paci
Summary: The research found that during the catalysis of camphor by P450cam, an allosteric camphor binding site is opened upon camphor binding, facilitating the binding of Pdx; the state to which Pdx binds comprises an ensemble of structures with features of both the open and closed state.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Fiona Whelan, Aleix Lafita, James Gilburt, Clement Degut, Samuel C. Griffiths, Huw T. Jenkins, Alexander N. St John, Emanuele Paci, James W. B. Moir, Michael J. Plevin, Christoph G. Baumann, Alex Bateman, Jennifer R. Potts
Summary: Changes at the cell surface enable bacteria to survive in dynamic environments, with Periscope Proteins identified as a common mechanism for bacterial surface alteration through protein length variation. These proteins, forming elongated rod-like structures, can have over 50 distinct variants implicated in host colonization and biofilm formation. While sequence divergence in large multidomain proteins may reduce misfolding between domains, Periscope Proteins break this rule and suggest that their length variability is crucial in regulating bacterial interactions with host surfaces and the immune system.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Lauren J. Tomlinson, Matthew Batchelor, Joscelyn Sarsby, Dominic P. Byrne, Philip J. Brownridge, Richard Bayliss, Patrick A. Eyers, Claire E. Eyers
Summary: Protein kinase inhibitors are effective in treating diseases driven by aberrant kinase signaling and can help understand the cellular roles of kinase signaling complexes. This study characterizes the conformational changes and stability of protein kinase Aurora A (Aur A) caused by binding of the physiological activator TPX2 or small molecule inhibitors using gas-phase ion-mobility mass spectrometry (IM-MS). The results show that inhibitor binding induces more compact configurations of Aur A, leading to the stabilization of active Aur A.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR MASS SPECTROMETRY
(2022)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Michele Stofella, Simon P. Skinner, Frank Sobott, Jeanine Houwing-Duistermaat, Emanuele Paci
Summary: This study investigates the structure and dynamic structural variation in proteins through the experimental measurement of the spontaneous exchange of amide protons with deuterium in the solvent. Two experimental techniques, NMR and MS, are used to probe the exchange. NMR provides residue-specific information, while MS provides information specific to proteolytic digestion products. Different computational approaches have been proposed to extract residue-specific information from peptide-level MS data.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR MASS SPECTROMETRY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alexander J. E. Bruce, Emanuele Paci, David J. Brockwell
Summary: The Staphylococcus aureus surface protein G (SasG) is associated with host colonization and biofilm formation. It shows extreme mechanical strength due to its unique structure and interactions. The main force-bearing regions of the protein are the N- and C-terminal 'Mechanical Clamps' and their side-chain interactions, as revealed by residue-level analysis.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Vanessa Porkolab, Martin Lepsik, Stefania Ordanini, Alexander St John, Aline Le Roy, Michel Thepaut, Emanuele Paci, Christine Ebel, Anna Bernardi, Franck Fieschi
Summary: DC-SIGN functions as the coreceptor for SARSCoV-2 virus, and a glycomimetic ligand called Polyman26 inhibits DC-SIGN-dependent trans-infection. By designing dendrimer constructs that can engage two binding sites of the tetrameric DC-SIGN simultaneously, the researchers were able to achieve nanomolar affinity. This study opens up possibilities for developing new virus attachment blockers for different C-type lectin receptors.
ACS CENTRAL SCIENCE
(2023)