The normalized slope conductance as a tool for quantitative analysis of current-voltage relations.

The patch-clamp method, which was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1991, is a well-established and indispensable method to study ion channels in living cells and to biophysically characterize non-voltage-gated ion channels, which comprise about 70% of all ion channels in the human genome. To investigate the biophysical properties of non-voltage-gated ion channels, whole-cell measurements with application of continuous voltage ramps are routinely conducted to obtain current-voltage (IV) relationships. However, adequate tools for detailed and quantitative analysis of IV curves are still missing.

Shape Similarity by Fractal Dimensionality: An Application in the de novo Design of (-)-Englerin A Mimetics.

Molecular shape and pharmacological function are interconnected. To capture shape, the fractal dimensionality concept was employed, providing a natural similarity measure for the virtual screening of de novo generated small molecules mimicking the structurally complex natural product (-)-englerin A. Two of the top-ranking designs were synthesized and tested for their ability to modulate transient receptor potential (TRP) cation channels which are cellular targets of (-)-englerin A.

The SMUL_1544 Gene Product Governs Norcobamide Biosynthesis in the Tetrachloroethene-Respiring Bacterium Sulfurospirillum multivorans.

Unlabelled: The tetrachloroethene (PCE)-respiring bacterium Sulfurospirillum multivorans produces a unique cobamide, namely, norpseudo-B12, which, in comparison to other cobamides, e.g., cobalamin and pseudo-B12, lacks the methyl group in the linker moiety of the nucleotide loop.