Transfer RNA (tRNA) contains modified nucleosides essential for modulating protein translation. One of these modifications is queuosine (Q), which affects NAU codons translation rate. For decades, multiple studies have reported a wide variety of species-specific Q-related phenotypes in different eukaryotes, hindering the identification of a general underlying mechanism behind that phenotypic diversity.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGiant viruses can control their eukaryotic host populations, shaping the ecology and evolution of aquatic microbial communities. Understanding the impact of the viruses' own parasites, the virophages, on the control of microbial communities remains a challenge. Most virophages have two modes of infection.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSpike (S) glycoprotein is the largest structural protein of SARS-CoV-2 virus and the main one involved in anchoring of the host receptor ACE2 through the receptor binding domain (RBD). S protein secondary structure is of great interest for shedding light on various aspects, from functionality to pathogenesis, finally to spectral fingerprint for the design of optical biosensors. In this paper, the secondary structure of SARS-CoV-2 S protein and its constituting components, namely RBD, S1 and S2 regions, are investigated at serological pH by measuring their amide I infrared absorption bands through Attenuated Total Reflection Infrared (ATR-IR) spectroscopy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDetecting volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from different plant species and their organs can provide valuable information about plant health and environmental factors that affect them. For example, limonene emission can be a biomarker to monitor plant health and detect stress. Traditional methods for VOC detection encounter challenges, prompting the proposal of novel approaches.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis study delves into the effects of titanium (Ti) doping on the optical properties of vanadium dioxide (VO), a material well known for its metal-to-insulator transition (MIT) near room temperature. By incorporating Ti into VO's crystal lattice, we aim to uncover the resultant changes in its physical properties, crucial for enhancing its application in smart devices. Utilizing polarized infrared micro-spectroscopy, we examined TiVO single crystals with varying Ti concentrations (x = 0.
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