The manager of a Vancouver barber shop warns that once many B.C. salons are back open, they may have to implement a price increase for their services.

Extracytoplasmic sugar decoration of glycopolymer components of the bacterial cell wall contributes to their structural diversity. Typically, the molecular mechanism that underpins such a decoration process involves a three-component glycosylation system (TGS) represented by an undecaprenyl-phosphate (Und-P) sugar-activating glycosyltransferase (Und-P GT), a flippase, and a polytopic glycosyltransferase (PolM GT) dedicated to attaching sugar residues to a specific glycopolymer. Here, using bioinformatic analyses, CRISPR-assisted recombineering, structural analysis of cell wall–associated polysaccharides (CWPS) through MALDI-TOF MS and methylation analysis, we report on three such systems in the bacterium Lactococcus lactis. On the basis of sequence similarities, we first identified three gene pairs, csdAB, csdCD, and csdEF, each encoding an Und-P GT and a PolM GT, as potential TGS component candidates. Our experimental results show that csdAB and csdCD are involved in Glc side-chain addition on the CWPS components rhamnan and polysaccharide pellicle (PSP), respectively, whereas csdEF plays a role in galactosylation of lipoteichoic acid (LTA). We also identified a potential flippase encoded in the L. lactis genome (llnz_02975, cflA) and confirmed that it participates in the glycosylation of the three cell wall glycopolymers rhamnan, PSP, and LTA, thus indicating that its function is shared by the three TGSs. Finally, we observed that glucosylation of both rhamnan and PSP can increase resistance to bacteriophage predation and that LTA galactosylation alters L. lactis resistance to bacteriocin.

Fucosylation of the innermost GlcNAc of N-glycans by fucosyltransferase 8 (FUT8) is an important step in the maturation of complex and hybrid N-glycans. This simple modification can dramatically affect the activities and half-lives of glycoproteins, effects that are relevant to understanding the invasiveness of some cancers, development of mAb therapeutics, and the etiology of a congenital glycosylation disorder. The acceptor substrate preferences of FUT8 are well-characterized and provide a framework for understanding N-glycan maturation in the Golgi; however, the structural basis of these substrate preferences and the mechanism through which catalysis is achieved remain unknown. Here we describe several structures of mouse and human FUT8 in the apo state and in complex with GDP, a mimic of the donor substrate, and with a glycopeptide acceptor substrate at 1.80–2.50 Å resolution. These structures provide insights into a unique conformational change associated with donor substrate binding, common strategies employed by fucosyltransferases to coordinate GDP, features that define acceptor substrate preferences, and a likely mechanism for enzyme catalysis. Together with molecular dynamics simulations, the structures also revealed how FUT8 dimerization plays an important role in defining the acceptor substrate-binding site. Collectively, this information significantly builds on our understanding of the core fucosylation process.

Multidrug resistance (MDR) in cancer arises from cross-resistance to structurally- and functionally-divergent chemotherapeutic drugs. In particular, MDR is characterized by increased expression and activity of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) superfamily transporters. Sphingolipids are substrates of ABC proteins in cell signaling, membrane biosynthesis, and inflammation, for example, and their products can favor cancer progression. Glucosylceramide (GlcCer) is a ubiquitous glycosphingolipid (GSL) generated by glucosylceramide synthase, a key regulatory enzyme encoded by the UDP-glucose ceramide glucosyltransferase (UGCG) gene. Stressed cells increase de novo biosynthesis of ceramides, which return to sub-toxic levels after UGCG mediates incorporation into GlcCer. Given that cancer cells seem to mobilize UGCG and have increased GSL content for ceramide clearance, which ultimately contributes to chemotherapy failure, here we investigated how inhibition of GSL biosynthesis affects the MDR phenotype of chronic myeloid leukemias. We found that MDR is associated with higher UGCG expression and with a complex GSL profile. UGCG inhibition with the ceramide analog d-threo-1-(3,4,-ethylenedioxy)phenyl-2-palmitoylamino-3-pyrrolidino-1-propanol (EtDO-P4) greatly reduced GSL and monosialotetrahexosylganglioside levels, and co-treatment with standard chemotherapeutics sensitized cells to mitochondrial membrane potential loss and apoptosis. ABC subfamily B member 1 (ABCB1) expression was reduced, and ABCC-mediated efflux activity was modulated by competition with nonglycosylated ceramides. Consistently, inhibition of ABCC-mediated transport reduced the efflux of exogenous C6-ceramide. Overall, UGCG inhibition impaired the malignant glycophenotype of MDR leukemias, which typically overcomes drug resistance through distinct mechanisms. This work sheds light on the involvement of GSL in chemotherapy failure, and its findings suggest that targeted GSL modulation could help manage MDR leukemias.

Losses within the entertainment industry are already estimated to be in the billions as the sector continues to reel from the impacts of COVID-19. Major events like Reggae Sumfest, which has already been cancelled this year, had an estimated...

Este manual ofrece a los formuladores de políticas y especialistas una guía accesible y práctica sobre las iniciativas gubernamentales referentes a la diáspora. Este manual contiene un menú, seleccionado cuidadosamente, de opciones normativas y programáticas viables basadas en experiencias reales en distintas partes del mundo.

If modern lives were measured in unprecedented weather events, we would all be 200 years old. Defences against floods that were supposed to happen every other century are being overtopped in the space of a few winters. The victims surveying ruined homes and businesses are ageing fast.

If modern lives were measured in unprecedented weather events, we would all be 200 years old. Defences against floods that were supposed to happen every other century are being overtopped in the space of a few winters. The victims surveying ruined homes and businesses are ageing fast.

BS6 Hero Splendor iSmart has seen a price revision very recently. Here's how much it now costs over its launch price and the outgoing BS4 model.

The Honda Dio has got a minor price for both its variants.

BS-VI Honda Activa 125 Fi Review: The very first BS6-compliant to launch in India, the Activa 125 Fi now boasts of a host of new features besides the BS-VI compliance but all this for an upgraded price. So, how much better is it really?

CY20e volumes cut by 6% due to Covid-19; limited upside from current levels; ‘Neutral’ maintained.

Petrol price is hiked by Rs 1.67 per litre while diesel price is increased by Rs 7.10 per litre in Delhi.

Coronavirus is ensuring the trade-off, especially for developing economies is significant, notwithstanding efforts to strike a balance

With China’s decreasing importance in global supply chains, being a low risk indexed location will allow India to win in global manufacturing stakes.

1 Ugandan Shilling = 0.1497 Costa Rican Colon

1 Salvadoran Colon = 65.009 Costa Rican Colon

1 Romanian Leu = 127.7534 Costa Rican Colon

1 Ukrainian Hryvnia = 21.1987 Costa Rican Colon

1 Tanzanian Shilling = 0.2458 Costa Rican Colon

1 Venezuelan Bolivar Fuerte = 56.9649 Costa Rican Colon

1 Yemeni Rial = 2.2723 Costa Rican Colon

1 Paraguayan Guarani = 0.0871 Costa Rican Colon

1 Hong Kong Dollar = 73.251 Costa Rican Colon

1 Kuwaiti Dinar = 1839.131 Costa Rican Colon

1 Saudi Riyal = 151.4637 Costa Rican Colon

1 Tunisian Dinar = 195.3432 Costa Rican Colon

1 South African Rand = 31.0032 Costa Rican Colon

1 Norwegian Krone = 55.6853 Costa Rican Colon

1 Argentine Peso = 8.5589 Costa Rican Colon

1 Moroccan Dirham = 57.9068 Costa Rican Colon

1 US Dollar = 568.937 Costa Rican Colon

1 Icelandic Krona = 3.8904 Costa Rican Colon

1 Kazakhstan Tenge = 1.3482 Costa Rican Colon

1 Namibian Dollar = 30.7029 Costa Rican Colon

1 Israeli New Sheqel = 162.2428 Costa Rican Colon

1 Costa Rican Colon = 2.0916 Iraqi Dinar

1 Costa Rican Colon = 9.1214 Zambian Kwacha

1 Costa Rican Colon = 0.0323 South African Rand

1 Costa Rican Colon = 0.4401 Yemeni Rial

1 Costa Rican Colon = 1.0634 CFA Franc BCEAO

1 Costa Rican Colon = 41.1302 Vietnamese Dong

1 Costa Rican Colon = 0.0176 Venezuelan Bolivar Fuerte

1 Costa Rican Colon = 17.7682 Uzbekistan Som

1 Costa Rican Colon = 0.0758 Uruguayan Peso

1 Costa Rican Colon = 0.0018 US Dollar

1 Costa Rican Colon = 6.6797 Ugandan Shilling

1 Costa Rican Colon = 0.0472 Ukrainian Hryvnia

1 Costa Rican Colon = 4.0676 Tanzanian Shilling