als The crystal structure of the TonB-dependent transporter YncD reveals a positively charged substrate-binding site By scripts.iucr.org Published On :: 2020-04-27 The outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria is highly impermeable to hydrophilic molecules of larger than 600 Da, protecting these bacteria from toxins present in the environment. In order to transport nutrients across this impermeable membrane, Gram-negative bacteria utilize a diverse family of outer-membrane proteins called TonB-dependent transporters. The majority of the members of this family transport iron-containing substrates. However, it is becoming increasingly clear that TonB-dependent transporters target chemically diverse substrates. In this work, the structure and phylogenetic distribution of the TonB-dependent transporter YncD are investigated. It is shown that while YncD is present in some enteropathogens, including Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp., it is also widespread in Gammaproteobacteria and Betaproteobacteria of environmental origin. The structure of YncD was determined, showing that despite a distant evolutionary relationship, it shares structural features with the ferric citrate transporter FecA, including a compact positively charged substrate-binding site. Despite these shared features, it is shown that YncD does not contribute to the growth of E. coli in pure culture under iron-limiting conditions or with ferric citrate as an iron source. Previous studies of transcriptional regulation in E. coli show that YncD is not induced under iron-limiting conditions and is unresponsive to the ferric uptake regulator (Fur). These observations, combined with the data presented here, suggest that YncD is not responsible for the transport of an iron-containing substrate. Full Article text
als Structure of the N-terminal domain of ClpC1 in complex with the antituberculosis natural product ecumicin reveals unique binding interactions By scripts.iucr.org Published On :: 2020-04-23 The biological processes related to protein homeostasis in Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the etiologic agent of tuberculosis, have recently been established as critical pathways for therapeutic intervention. Proteins of particular interest are ClpC1 and the ClpC1–ClpP1–ClpP2 proteasome complex. The structure of the potent antituberculosis macrocyclic depsipeptide ecumicin complexed with the N-terminal domain of ClpC1 (ClpC1-NTD) is presented here. Crystals of the ClpC1-NTD–ecumicin complex were monoclinic (unit-cell parameters a = 80.0, b = 130.0, c = 112.0 Å, β = 90.07°; space group P21; 12 complexes per asymmetric unit) and diffracted to 2.5 Å resolution. The structure was solved by molecular replacement using the self-rotation function to resolve space-group ambiguities. The new structure of the ecumicin complex showed a unique 1:2 (target:ligand) stoichiometry exploiting the intramolecular dyad in the α-helical fold of the target N-terminal domain. The structure of the ecumicin complex unveiled extensive interactions in the uniquely extended N-terminus, a critical binding site for the known cyclopeptide complexes. This structure, in comparison with the previously reported rufomycin I complex, revealed unique features that could be relevant for understanding the mechanism of action of these potential antituberculosis drug leads. Comparison of the ecumicin complex and the ClpC1-NTD-L92S/L96P double-mutant structure with the available structures of rufomycin I and cyclomarin A complexes revealed a range of conformational changes available to this small N-terminal helical domain and the minor helical alterations involved in the antibiotic-resistance mechanism. The different modes of binding and structural alterations could be related to distinct modes of action. Full Article text
als New book reveals tidal freshwater wetlands are on frontlines of global change By insider.si.edu Published On :: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:25:10 +0000 Tidal Freshwater Wetlands focuses on wetlands found in North America and Europe near the mouths of rivers that flow into estuaries like the Chesapeake Bay. The post New book reveals tidal freshwater wetlands are on frontlines of global change appeared first on Smithsonian Insider. Full Article Book Review Marine Science Research News Science & Nature
als New book reveals Ice Age mariners from Europe were America’s first inhabitants By insider.si.edu Published On :: Thu, 01 Mar 2012 12:46:09 +0000 Some of the earliest humans to inhabit America came from Europe according to a new book "Across Atlantic Ice: The Origin of America's Clovis Culture." The post New book reveals Ice Age mariners from Europe were America’s first inhabitants appeared first on Smithsonian Insider. Full Article Anthropology Book Review Science & Nature archaeology Chesapeake Bay National Museum of Natural History
als Automated 3D light-sheet screening with high spatiotemporal resolution reveals mitotic phenotypes [TOOLS AND RESOURCES] By jcs.biologists.org Published On :: 2020-04-15T01:46:56-07:00 Björn Eismann, Teresa G. Krieger, Jürgen Beneke, Ruben Bulkescher, Lukas Adam, Holger Erfle, Carl Herrmann, Roland Eils, and Christian Conrad3D cell cultures enable the in vitro study of dynamic biological processes such as the cell cycle, but their use in high-throughput screens remains impractical with conventional fluorescent microscopy. Here, we present a screening workflow for the automated evaluation of mitotic phenotypes in 3D cell cultures by light-sheet microscopy. After sample preparation by a liquid handling robot, cell spheroids are imaged for 24 hours in toto with a dual-view inverted selective plane illumination microscope (diSPIM) with a much improved signal-to-noise ratio, higher imaging speed, isotropic resolution and reduced light exposure compared to a spinning disc confocal microscope. A dedicated high-content image processing pipeline implements convolutional neural network based phenotype classification. We illustrate the potential of our approach by siRNA knock-down and epigenetic modification of 28 mitotic target genes for assessing their phenotypic role in mitosis. By rendering light-sheet microscopy operational for high-throughput screening applications, this workflow enables target gene characterization or drug candidate evaluation in tissue-like 3D cell culture models. Full Article
als A genetic interaction map centered on cohesin reveals auxiliary factors in sister chromatid cohesion [RESEARCH ARTICLE] By jcs.biologists.org Published On :: 2020-04-16T06:39:33-07:00 Su Ming Sun, Amandine Batte, Mireille Tittel-Elmer, Sophie van der Horst, Tibor van Welsem, Gordon Bean, Trey Ideker, Fred van Leeuwen, and Haico van AttikumEukaryotic chromosomes are replicated in interphase and the two newly duplicated sister chromatids are held together by the cohesin complex and several cohesin auxiliary factors. Sister chromatid cohesion is essential for accurate chromosome segregation during mitosis, yet has also been implicated in other processes, including DNA damage repair, transcription and DNA replication. To assess how cohesin and associated factors functionally interconnect and coordinate with other cellular processes, we systematically mapped genetic interactions of 17 cohesin genes centered on quantitative growth measurements of >52,000 gene pairs in budding yeast. Integration of synthetic genetic interactions unveiled a cohesin functional map that constitutes 373 genetic interactions, revealing novel functional connections with post-replication repair, microtubule organization and protein folding. Accordingly, we show that the microtubule-associated protein Irc15 and the prefoldin complex members Gim3, Gim4 and Yke2 are new factors involved in sister chromatid cohesion. Our genetic interaction map thus provides a unique resource for further identification and functional interrogation of cohesin proteins. Since mutations in cohesin proteins have been associated with cohesinopathies and cancer, it may also identify cohesin interactions relevant in disease etiology. Full Article
als En bloc TGN recruitment of Aspergillus TRAPPII reveals TRAPP maturation as unlikely to drive RAB1-to-RAB11 transition [RESEARCH ARTICLE] By jcs.biologists.org Published On :: 2020-04-23T01:49:49-07:00 M. Pinar and M. A. PenalvaTRAnsport Protein Particle (TRAPP) complexes regulate membrane traffic. TRAPPII and TRAPPIII share a core hetero-heptamer, also denoted TRAPPI. In fungi TRAPPIII and TRAPPII mediate GDP exchange on RAB1 and RAB11, respectively, regulating traffic across the Golgi, with TRAPPIII also activating RAB1 in autophagosomes. Our finding that Aspergillus nidulans TRAPPII can be assembled by addition of a TRAPPII-specific subcomplex onto core TRAPP prompted us to investigate the possibility that TRAPPI/TRAPPIII already residing in the Golgi matures into TRAPPII to determine a RAB1-to-RAB11 conversion as Golgi cisternae progress from early Golgi to TGN identity. By time-resolved microscopy we determine that the TRAPPII reporter Trs120/TRAPPC9 is recruited to existing TGN cisternae slightly before RAB11 arrives, and resides for~45 sec on them before cisternae tear off into RAB11 secretory carriers. Notably, the core TRAPP reporter Bet3/TRAPPC3 was not detectable in early Golgi cisternae, being instead recruited to TGN cisternae simultaneously with Trs120/TRAPPC9, indicating en bloc recruitment of TRAPPII to the Golgi and arguing strongly against the TRAPP maturation model. Full Article
als Salamander DNA reveals evidence of older land connection between Central and South America By insider.si.edu Published On :: Wed, 20 Mar 2013 14:55:53 +0000 The humble salamander may provide evidence to support a controversial claim that North and South America were joined together much earlier than previously thought. The […] The post Salamander DNA reveals evidence of older land connection between Central and South America appeared first on Smithsonian Insider. Full Article Animals Earth Science Marine Science Research News Science & Nature amphibian biodiversity conservation biology Ecuador geology Peru South America Tropical Research Institute
als Glittering, mesmerizing, lifesaving: Hospital exhibit showcases minerals used in medicine By insider.si.edu Published On :: Mon, 17 Oct 2016 16:51:14 +0000 Have an upset stomach? Pop a chalky, chewable antacid. Maybe you’ve got a painful cut or burn. No problem; reach for a healing ointment or […] The post Glittering, mesmerizing, lifesaving: Hospital exhibit showcases minerals used in medicine appeared first on Smithsonian Insider. Full Article Earth Science Science & Nature National Museum of Natural History
als A new method for in situ structural investigations of nano-sized amorphous and crystalline materials using mixed-flow reactors By scripts.iucr.org Published On :: 2019-08-23 Structural investigations of amorphous and nanocrystalline phases forming in solution are historically challenging. Few methods are capable of in situ atomic structural analysis and rigorous control of the system. A mixed-flow reactor (MFR) is used for total X-ray scattering experiments to examine the short- and long-range structure of phases in situ with pair distribution function (PDF) analysis. The adaptable experimental setup enables data collection for a range of different system chemistries, initial supersaturations and residence times. The age of the sample during analysis is controlled by adjusting the flow rate. Faster rates allow for younger samples to be examined, but if flow is too fast not enough data are acquired to average out excess signal noise. Slower flow rates form older samples, but at very slow speeds particles settle and block flow, clogging the system. Proper background collection and subtraction is critical for data optimization. Overall, this MFR method is an ideal scheme for analyzing the in situ structures of phases that form during crystal growth in solution. As a proof of concept, high-resolution total X-ray scattering data of amorphous and crystalline calcium phosphates and amorphous calcium carbonate were collected for PDF analysis. Full Article text
als Elastic propagation of fast electron vortices through amorphous materials By scripts.iucr.org Published On :: 2019-11-04 This work studies the elastic scattering behavior of electron vortices when propagating through amorphous samples. A formulation of the multislice approach in cylindrical coordinates is used to theoretically investigate the redistribution of intensity between different angular momentum components due to scattering. To corroborate and elaborate on our theoretical results, extensive numerical simulations are performed on three model systems (Si3N4, Fe0.8B0.2, Pt) for a wide variety of experimental parameters to quantify the purity of the vortices, the net angular momentum transfer, and the variability of the results with respect to the random relative position between the electron beam and the scattering atoms. These results will help scientists to further improve the creation of electron vortices and enhance applications involving them. Full Article text
als X-ray diffraction from strongly bent crystals and spectroscopy of X-ray free-electron laser pulses By scripts.iucr.org Published On :: 2020-01-01 The use of strongly bent crystals in spectrometers for pulses of a hard X-ray free-electron laser is explored theoretically. Diffraction is calculated in both dynamical and kinematical theories. It is shown that diffraction can be treated kinematically when the bending radius is small compared with the critical radius given by the ratio of the Bragg-case extinction length for the actual reflection to the Darwin width of this reflection. As a result, the spectral resolution is limited by the crystal thickness, rather than the extinction length, and can become better than the resolution of a planar dynamically diffracting crystal. As an example, it is demonstrated that spectra of the 12 keV pulses can be resolved in the 440 reflection from a 20 µm-thick diamond crystal bent to a radius of 10 cm. Full Article text
als A clouded leopard cub, a Przewalski’s horse and a red panda cub were all recently born at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo By insider.si.edu Published On :: Wed, 29 Jul 2009 19:30:49 +0000 As you read here In a 24-hour-period between July 9 and 10, 2009 a clouded leopard cub, a Przewalski's horse, and a red panda cub were all born at Smithsonian's National Zoo's Conservation and Research Center in Front Royal, Virginia. The post A clouded leopard cub, a Przewalski’s horse and a red panda cub were all recently born at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo appeared first on Smithsonian Insider. Full Article Research News Science & Nature Video animal births conservation biology endangered species Smithsonian's National Zoo
als Coral biologist Mary Hagedorn speaks about her research to conserve our ocean’s corals By insider.si.edu Published On :: Sat, 28 Aug 2010 22:36:10 +0000 Dr. Mary Hagedorn, a marine biologist at the Smithsonian Institution, talks about her research to understand and conserve our oceans' corals. To meet more scientists, visit https://insider.si.edu. The post Coral biologist Mary Hagedorn speaks about her research to conserve our ocean’s corals appeared first on Smithsonian Insider. Full Article Marine Science Research News Science & Nature Video carbon dioxide conservation coral reefs endangered species National Museum of Natural History Smithsonian's National Zoo
als Scientists at a new National Zoo laboratory use DNA to diagnose illnesses and discover new species of animals By insider.si.edu Published On :: Thu, 30 Sep 2010 08:27:13 +0000 Researchers at the Smithsonian's National Zoo's new genetics lab use animal DNA to diagnose new diseases, discover new species help in conservation efforts and solve mysteries. The post Scientists at a new National Zoo laboratory use DNA to diagnose illnesses and discover new species of animals appeared first on Smithsonian Insider. Full Article Video conservation endangered species mammals new species reptiles Smithsonian's National Zoo veterinary medicine
als National Zoo veterinarian Katharine Hope is in charge of the health of 2,000 animals from 400 different species. By insider.si.edu Published On :: Wed, 23 Feb 2011 13:22:29 +0000 National Zoo Veterinarian Katharine Hope treats about 2,000 animals from 400 different species. She and her colleagues care for a variety of animals, from small baby flamingos to adult Asian elephants, so there's no such thing as an average day. The post National Zoo veterinarian Katharine Hope is in charge of the health of 2,000 animals from 400 different species. appeared first on Smithsonian Insider. Full Article Animals Science & Nature Video amphibian conservation endangered species mammals Smithsonian's National Zoo veterinary medicine
als Roland Kays, curator of mammals at the New York State Museum, discusses a new Smithsonian Website for sharing camera-trap images of wild animals By insider.si.edu Published On :: Fri, 04 Mar 2011 13:38:09 +0000 The post Roland Kays, curator of mammals at the New York State Museum, discusses a new Smithsonian Website for sharing camera-trap images of wild animals appeared first on Smithsonian Insider. Full Article Animals Research News Science & Nature Video biodiversity camera traps conservation biology endangered species mammals Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute Smithsonian's National Zoo
als How do we know if dinosaurs cared for their young? Smithsonian curator Matthew Carrano reveals the fossil evidence. By insider.si.edu Published On :: Wed, 29 Feb 2012 12:14:49 +0000 The post How do we know if dinosaurs cared for their young? Smithsonian curator Matthew Carrano reveals the fossil evidence. appeared first on Smithsonian Insider. Full Article Dinosaurs & Fossils Science & Nature Video birds dinosaurs National Museum of Natural History reptiles
als Natural History Museum curator Nick Pyenson explains how scientists know what dinosaurs and other extinct animals ate By insider.si.edu Published On :: Mon, 12 Mar 2012 16:28:28 +0000 The post Natural History Museum curator Nick Pyenson explains how scientists know what dinosaurs and other extinct animals ate appeared first on Smithsonian Insider. Full Article Video dinosaurs National Museum of Natural History
als Meet our Scientist Rachel Page. She studies frog-eating bats, and other animals, in Panama By insider.si.edu Published On :: Tue, 27 Nov 2012 18:33:40 +0000 Meet Rachel Page, a Smithsonian scientist in Panama who studies frog-eating bats (fringe-lipped bats), among other topics. Her current research focuses on learning and memory in neotropical bats, combining field studies with laboratory experiments to learn about predator cognition and its effects on the evolution of their prey. The post Meet our Scientist Rachel Page. She studies frog-eating bats, and other animals, in Panama appeared first on Smithsonian Insider. Full Article Animals Meet Our People Science & Nature Video amphibian bats conservation conservation biology frogs mammals Tropical Research Institute
als Can animals take a selfie? By insider.si.edu Published On :: Wed, 21 May 2014 18:43:44 +0000 Yes! When an animal trips a “camera trap” as a part of a project between the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences and the Smithsonian. […] The post Can animals take a selfie? appeared first on Smithsonian Insider. Full Article Science & Nature Video
als Keeping zoo animals happy, healthy By insider.si.edu Published On :: Mon, 27 Nov 2017 15:02:29 +0000 The zoo extends the collecting mission of the Smithsonian into the realm of the living. From the Series: Stories From the Vault: Random? http://bit.ly/2gfy5hO The post Keeping zoo animals happy, healthy appeared first on Smithsonian Insider. Full Article Animals Science & Nature Video Smithsonian's National Zoo
als Study reveals hazards of the high-wire life for bromeliads By insider.si.edu Published On :: Fri, 10 Sep 2010 13:19:45 +0000 Botanists Gerhard Zotz of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute and Stefan Wester of the University of Oldenburg in Germany decided to take a closer look at these high-wire bromeliads. They were interested to find out how the growth and survival rates of these plants on electrical cables compared to the growth and survival of plants of the same species growing in trees--their natural environment. The post Study reveals hazards of the high-wire life for bromeliads appeared first on Smithsonian Insider. Full Article Plants Research News Science & Nature Tropical Research Institute
als The Encyclopedia of Life is a global effort to document all 1.8 million named species of animals, plants and other life forms on Earth By insider.si.edu Published On :: Tue, 05 Oct 2010 11:47:04 +0000 The Encyclopedia of Life is an unprecedented global effort to document all 1.8 million named species of animals, plants and other forms of life on Earth. For the first time in the history of the planet, scientists, students, and citizens will have multi-media access to all known living species, even those that have just been discovered. The Field Museum of Natural History, Harvard University, Marine Biological Laboratory, Smithsonian Institution, and Biodiversity Heritage Library joined together to initiate the project, bringing together species and software experts from across the world. Lean more at www.eol.org The post The Encyclopedia of Life is a global effort to document all 1.8 million named species of animals, plants and other life forms on Earth appeared first on Smithsonian Insider. Full Article Plants Video biodiversity conservation endangered species insects National Museum of Natural History
als DNA sequencing reveals simple vegetables in ancient Roman medicines By insider.si.edu Published On :: Thu, 21 Oct 2010 17:49:45 +0000 Recent analysis using DNA sequencing of ancient Roman pills found aboard a ship that sank in Italy’s Gulf of Baratti between 140 -120 B.C, has revealed that the medicines consist of material from simple garden plants, namely carrot, radish, parsley, celery, wild onion and cabbage. The post DNA sequencing reveals simple vegetables in ancient Roman medicines appeared first on Smithsonian Insider. Full Article Anthropology Plants Research News Science & Nature materials science National Museum of Natural History
als Fossil reveals 48-million year history of zombie ants By insider.si.edu Published On :: Wed, 10 Nov 2010 12:42:43 +0000 A 48 million-year-old fossilized leaf has revealed the oldest known evidence of a macabre part of nature – parasites taking control of their hosts to turn them into zombies. The post Fossil reveals 48-million year history of zombie ants appeared first on Smithsonian Insider. Full Article Dinosaurs & Fossils Plants Research News Science & Nature biodiversity insects National Museum of Natural History prehistoric rocks & minerals
als New project will improve access to thousands of scientific field books, journals and notes in Smithsonian collections By insider.si.edu Published On :: Wed, 25 May 2011 12:22:18 +0000 In 1909, naturalist Dr. Edgar A. Mearns joined Theodore Roosevelt and scientists from the Smithsonian and New York’s American Museum of Natural History on an […] The post New project will improve access to thousands of scientific field books, journals and notes in Smithsonian collections appeared first on Smithsonian Insider. Full Article Plants Research News Science & Nature National Museum of Natural History
als Wild ginseng in steep decline in Maryland, survey reveals: Q&A with Smithsonian botanist Christopher Puttock By insider.si.edu Published On :: Fri, 04 Jan 2013 18:04:21 +0000 Despite many laws to protect it, a new survey reveals wild ginseng in Maryland is on the decline. The post Wild ginseng in steep decline in Maryland, survey reveals: Q&A with Smithsonian botanist Christopher Puttock appeared first on Smithsonian Insider. Full Article Plants Q & A Science & Nature conservation biology endangered species extinction National Museum of Natural History
als Going for the gut: DNA from beetle stomachs reveals complex network By insider.si.edu Published On :: Tue, 12 Mar 2013 12:59:39 +0000 Going for the gut will soon become standard protocol for scientists working to unravel the complex living web of interactions between plants and animals on […] The post Going for the gut: DNA from beetle stomachs reveals complex network appeared first on Smithsonian Insider. Full Article Plants Q & A Research News Science & Nature biodiversity climate change conservation biology extinction insects National Museum of Natural History
als Loss of animals spells doom for diversity of rainforest trees By insider.si.edu Published On :: Fri, 07 Jun 2013 15:12:33 +0000 Soon after a dirt road through the forests of Lambir Hills National Park in Borneo was improved in 1987, local markets selling the meat of […] The post Loss of animals spells doom for diversity of rainforest trees appeared first on Smithsonian Insider. Full Article Animals Plants Research News Science & Nature biodiversity birds Center for Tropical Forest Science climate change conservation conservation biology Forest Global Earth Observatory mammals rain forests Tropical Research Institute
als 3D study of teeth in modern mammals opens window to extinct animal diets By insider.si.edu Published On :: Mon, 21 Nov 2016 19:39:06 +0000 By charting the slopes and crags on animals’ teeth as if they were mountain ranges, scientists at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History have […] The post 3D study of teeth in modern mammals opens window to extinct animal diets appeared first on Smithsonian Insider. Full Article Animals Dinosaurs & Fossils Plants Research News Science & Nature
als Of mice and macchiato: Bird Friendly coffee gives a paw-up to small mammals as well By insider.si.edu Published On :: Wed, 01 Mar 2017 14:47:09 +0000 Finding a mouse in your morning coffee might give you an unwelcome jolt, but there’s a strong connection between small mammals, birds and the plantations […] The post Of mice and macchiato: Bird Friendly coffee gives a paw-up to small mammals as well appeared first on Smithsonian Insider. Full Article Animals Plants Research News Science & Nature birds endangered species mammals Migratory Bird Center Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute Smithsonian's National Zoo
als A Cup of Joe That’s Also Good for the Birds By insider.si.edu Published On :: Wed, 12 Apr 2017 18:41:01 +0000 Most of us can’t begin the day without a cup of coffee. Coffee is a major agricultural crop in many Central and South American countries […] The post A Cup of Joe That’s Also Good for the Birds appeared first on Smithsonian Insider. Full Article Animals History & Culture Plants Q & A Research News Science & Nature migratory birds Smithsonian's National Zoo
als A first: New website reveals origin of genetic samples and date collected By insider.si.edu Published On :: Fri, 04 Aug 2017 14:28:48 +0000 For the first time, a new public database will link genetic data with records of where and when the samples it was taken from were […] The post A first: New website reveals origin of genetic samples and date collected appeared first on Smithsonian Insider. Full Article Animals Marine Science Plants Research News Science & Nature National Museum of Natural History
als Study reveals soil fungi has final say in survival of seeds from tropical trees By insider.si.edu Published On :: Thu, 05 Oct 2017 17:56:00 +0000 How specific fungi interact with seeds in tropical forest soils may be the ultimate arbiter in the struggle for survival among tropical trees. “Depending on […] The post Study reveals soil fungi has final say in survival of seeds from tropical trees appeared first on Smithsonian Insider. Full Article Earth Science Plants Research News Science & Nature fungi Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
als Nonlinear optical organic–inorganic crystals: synthesis, structural analysis and verification of harmonic generation in tri-(o-chloroanilinium nitrate) By scripts.iucr.org Published On :: 2019-01-01 The structural and nonlinear optical properties of a new anilinium hybrid crystal of chemical formula (C6H7NCl+·NO3−)3 have been investigated. The crystal structure was determined from single-crystal X-ray diffraction measurements performed at a temperature of 100 K which show that the compound crystallizes in a noncentrosymmetric space group (Pna21). The structural analysis was coupled with Hirshfeld surface analysis to evaluate the contribution of the different intermolecular interactions to the formation of supramolecular assemblies in the solid state that exhibit nonlinear optical features. This analysis reveals that the studied compound is characterized by a three-dimensional network of hydrogen bonds and the main contributions are provided by the O...H, C...H, H...H and Cl...H interactions, which alone represent ∼85% of the total contributions to the Hirshfeld surfaces. It is noteworthy that the halogen...H contributions are quite comparable with those of the H...H contacts. The nonlinear optical properties were investigated by nonlinear diffuse femtosecond-pulse reflectometry and the obtained results were compared with those of the reference material LiNbO3. The hybrid crystals exhibit notable second (SHG) and third (THG) harmonic generation which confirms its polarity is generated by the different intermolecular interactions. These measurements also highlight that the THG signal of the new anilinium compound normalized to its SHG counterpart is more pronounced than for LiNbO3. Full Article text
als Reducing dynamical electron scattering reveals hydrogen atoms By scripts.iucr.org Published On :: 2019-01-01 Compared with X-rays, electron diffraction faces a crucial challenge: dynamical electron scattering compromises structure solution and its effects can only be modelled in specific cases. Dynamical scattering can be reduced experimentally by decreasing crystal size but not without a penalty, as it also reduces the overall diffracted intensity. In this article it is shown that nanometre-sized crystals from organic pharmaceuticals allow positional refinement of the hydrogen atoms, even whilst ignoring the effects of dynamical scattering during refinement. To boost the very weak diffraction data, a highly sensitive hybrid pixel detector was employed. A general likelihood-based computational approach was also introduced for further reducing the adverse effects of dynamic scattering, which significantly improved model accuracy, even for protein crystal data at substantially lower resolution. Full Article text
als Ab initio phasing of the diffraction of crystals with translational disorder By scripts.iucr.org Published On :: 2019-01-01 To date X-ray protein crystallography is the most successful technique available for the determination of high-resolution 3D structures of biological molecules and their complexes. In X-ray protein crystallography the structure of a protein is refined against the set of observed Bragg reflections from a protein crystal. The resolution of the refined protein structure is limited by the highest angle at which Bragg reflections can be observed. In addition, the Bragg reflections alone are typically insufficient (by a factor of two) to determine the structure ab initio, and so prior information is required. Crystals formed from an imperfect packing of the protein molecules may also exhibit continuous diffraction between and beyond these Bragg reflections. When this is due to random displacements of the molecules from each crystal lattice site, the continuous diffraction provides the necessary information to determine the protein structure without prior knowledge, to a resolution that is not limited by the angular extent of the observed Bragg reflections but instead by that of the diffraction as a whole. This article presents an iterative projection algorithm that simultaneously uses the continuous diffraction as well as the Bragg reflections for the determination of protein structures. The viability of this method is demonstrated on simulated crystal diffraction. Full Article text
als Bounding the regularity radius for regular crystals By scripts.iucr.org Published On :: 2019-01-01 Full Article text
als 89 percent increase in loyalty program fraud, Forter reveals By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Tue, 15 Oct 2019 10:47:00 +0200 (The Paypers) Forter has released the seventh edition of its Fraud Attack Index, tracking shifting behaviours... Full Article
als A genetic interaction map centered on cohesin reveals auxiliary factors in sister chromatid cohesion By jcs.biologists.org Published On :: 2020-04-16 Su Ming SunApr 16, 2020; 0:jcs.237628v1-jcs.237628Articles Full Article
als Automated 3D light-sheet screening with high spatiotemporal resolution reveals mitotic phenotypes By jcs.biologists.org Published On :: 2020-04-15 Björn EismannApr 15, 2020; 0:jcs.245043v1-jcs.245043TOOLS AND RESOURCES Full Article
als Why animals eat what they eat By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: 2019-08-27T07:00:00Z Full Text:What an animal eats is a fundamental aspect of its biology, but surprisingly, the evolution of diet had not been studied across the animal kingdom until now. Scientists at the University of Arizona report several unexpected findings from taking a deep dive into the evolutionary history of more than one million animal species and going back 800 million years, when the first animals appeared on our planet. The study revealed several surprising key insights: Many species living today that are carnivorous, meaning they eat other animals, can trace this diet back to a common ancestor more than 800 million years ago; A plant-based, or herbivorous, diet is not the evolutionary driver for new species that it was believed to be; Closely related animals tend to share the same dietary category -- plant-eating, meat-eating, or both. This finding implies that switching between dietary lifestyles is not something that happens easily and often over the course of evolution.Image credit: Daniel Stolte/UANews Full Article
als Alexion's Buyout of Portola Pharmaceuticals Gets Investors' Blood Flowing By www.streetwisereports.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2020 00:00:00 PST Source: Streetwise Reports 05/05/2020 Shares of Portola Pharmaceuticals traded 130% higher after the company reported that it has received an $18 per share buyout offer from Alexion Pharmaceuticals.Commercial-stage biotechnology company Portola Pharmaceuticals Inc. (PTLA:NASDAQ), which focuses on blood-related disorders, and global biopharmaceuticals firm Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc. (ALXN:NASDAQ) announced that they have entered into a definitive merger agreement for Portola to be acquired by Alexion. The acquisition is said to provide a key addition to Alexion's diversified commercial portfolio. The report indicated that the merger agreement has already been unanimously approved each of the company's boards of directors. The report explained that "Portola's commercialized medicine, Andexxa® [coagulation factor Xa (recombinant), inactivated-zhzo], marketed as Ondexxya® in Europe, is the first and only approved Factor Xa inhibitor reversal agent, and has demonstrated transformative clinical value by rapidly reversing the anticoagulant effects of Factor Xa inhibitors rivaroxaban and apixaban in severe and uncontrolled bleeding." Portola's President and CEO Scott Garland commented, "In developing and launching Andexxa, Portola has established a strong foundation for changing the standard of care for patients receiving Factor Xa inhibitors that experience a major, life-threatening bleed. Andexxa rapidly reverses the pharmacologic effect of rivaroxaban and apixaban within two minutes, reducing anti-Factor Xa activity by 92 percent...Given their enhanced resources, global footprint and proven commercial expertise, we look forward to working with Alexion to maximize the value of Andexxa. With their commitment to commercial excellence, together, we will be able to drive stronger utilization of Andexxa, increase penetration and accelerate adoption in the critical care setting." Ludwig Hantson, Ph.D., CEO of Alexion, remarked, "The acquisition of Portola represents an important next step in our strategy to diversify beyond C5. Andexxa is a strategic fit with our existing portfolio of transformative medicines and is well-aligned with our demonstrated expertise in hematology, neurology and critical care...We believe Andexxa has the potential to become the global standard of care for patients who experience life-threatening bleeds while taking Factor Xa inhibitors apixaban and rivaroxaban. By leveraging Alexion's strong operational and sales infrastructure and deep relationships in hospital channels, we are well positioned to expand the number of patients helped by Andexxa, while also driving value for shareholders." The firms advised that "under the terms of the merger agreement, a subsidiary of Alexion will commence a tender offer to acquire all of the outstanding shares of Portola's common stock at a price of $18 per share in cash." Alexion plans to fund the purchase with existing cash on hand and the transaction is expected to close in Q3/20. The purchase is subject to approval by a majority interest of Portola's common stockholders tendering their shares along with ordinary closing conditions and regulatory approvals. The company noted that "following successful completion of the tender offer, Alexion will acquire all remaining shares not tendered in the offer at the same price of $18 per share through a merger." Alexion is a global biopharmaceutical company based in Boston, Mass., with offices in 50 countries worldwide. The company states that it has been "the global leader in complement biology and inhibition for more than 20 years and that it has developed and commercializes two approved complement inhibitors to treat patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria and atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome, as well as the first and only approved complement inhibitor to treat anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody-positive generalized myasthenia gravis and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder." Portola is headquartered in South San Francisco, Calif., and is a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on treating patients with serious blood-related disorders. Specifically, the company is engaged in developing and commercializing novel therapeutics in order to advance the fields of thrombosis and other hematologic conditions. The firm listed that its first two commercialized products are Andexxa® and Bevyxxa® (betrixaban), and that it is also advancing and developing cerdulatinib, a SYK/JAK inhibitor for use in treatment of hematologic cancers. Portola Pharmaceuticals started off the day with a market capitalization of around $609.0 million with approximately 78.5 million shares outstanding and a short interest of about 23.0%. PTLA shares opened 130% higher today at $17.85 (+$10.09, +130.03%) over yesterday's $7.85 closing price. The stock has traded today between $17.71 and $17.91 per share and is currently trading at $17.83 (+$10.07, +129.77%). Sign up for our FREE newsletter at: www.streetwisereports.com/get-news Disclosure: 1) Stephen Hytha compiled this article for Streetwise Reports LLC and provides services to Streetwise Reports as an independent contractor. He or members of his household own securities of the following companies mentioned in the article: None. He or members of his household are paid by the following companies mentioned in this article: None. 2) The following companies mentioned in this article are billboard sponsors of Streetwise Reports: None. Click here for important disclosures about sponsor fees. 3) Comments and opinions expressed are those of the specific experts and not of Streetwise Reports or its officers. The information provided above is for informational purposes only and is not a recommendation to buy or sell any security. 4) The article does not constitute investment advice. Each reader is encouraged to consult with his or her individual financial professional and any action a reader takes as a result of information presented here is his or her own responsibility. By opening this page, each reader accepts and agrees to Streetwise Reports' terms of use and full legal disclaimer. This article is not a solicitation for investment. Streetwise Reports does not render general or specific investment advice and the information on Streetwise Reports should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Streetwise Reports does not endorse or recommend the business, products, services or securities of any company mentioned on Streetwise Reports. 5) From time to time, Streetwise Reports LLC and its directors, officers, employees or members of their families, as well as persons interviewed for articles and interviews on the site, may have a long or short position in securities mentioned. Directors, officers, employees or members of their immediate families are prohibited from making purchases and/or sales of those securities in the open market or otherwise from the time of the interview or the decision to write an article until three business days after the publication of the interview or article. The foregoing prohibition does not apply to articles that in substance only restate previously published company releases. 6) This article does not constitute medical advice. Officers, employees and contributors to Streetwise Reports are not licensed medical professionals. Readers should always contact their healthcare professionals for medical advice. Full Article
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