Power Density Titration of Reversible Photoisomerization of a Fluorescent Protein Chromophore in the Presence of Thermally Driven Barrier Crossing Shown by Quantitative Millisecond Serial Synchrotron X-ray Crystallography.

We present millisecond quantitative serial X-ray crystallography at 1.7 Å resolution demonstrating precise optical control of reversible population transfer from Trans-Cis and Cis-Trans photoisomerization of a reversibly switchable fluorescent protein, rsKiiro. Quantitative results from the analysis of electron density differences, extrapolated structure factors, and occupancy refinements are shown to correspond to optical measurements of photoinduced population transfer and have sensitivity to a few percent in concentration differences.

A small step towards an important goal: fragment screen of the c-di-AMP-synthesizing enzyme CdaA.

CdaA is the most widespread diadenylate cyclase in many bacterial species, including several multidrug-resistant human pathogens. The enzymatic product of CdaA, cyclic di-AMP, is a secondary messenger that is essential for the viability of many bacteria. Its absence in humans makes CdaA a very promising and attractive target for the development of new antibiotics.

Mechanisms of inward transmembrane proton translocation.

Proton transport is indispensable for cell life. It is believed that molecular mechanisms of proton movement through different types of proton-conducting molecules have general universal features. However, elucidation of such mechanisms is a challenge.

Antecedents of the red-romance effect: Men's attractiveness and women's fertility.

The color red has been implicated in a variety of social processes, including those involving mating. While previous research suggests that women sometimes wear red strategically to increase their attractiveness, the replicability of this literature has been questioned. The current research is a reasonably powered conceptual replication designed to strengthen this literature by testing whether women are more inclined to display the color red 1) during fertile (as compared with less fertile) days of the menstrual cycle, and 2) when expecting to interact with an attractive man (as compared with a less attractive man and with a control condition).

Interleukin-11 (IL-11) receptor cleavage by the rhomboid protease RHBDL2 induces IL-11 trans-signaling.

Interleukin-11 (IL-11) is a pleiotropic cytokine with both pro- and anti-inflammatory properties. It activates its target cells via binding to the membrane-bound IL-11 receptor (IL-11R), which then recruits a homodimer of the ubiquitously expressed, signal-transducing receptor gp130. Besides this classic signaling pathway, IL-11 can also bind to soluble forms of the IL-11R (sIL-11R), and IL-11/sIL-11R complexes activate cells via the induction of gp130 homodimerization (trans-signaling).

Temporal Evolution of Superlattice Contraction and Defect-Induced Strain Anisotropy in Mesocrystals during Nanocube Self-Assembly.

Understanding and controlling defect formation during the assembly of nanoparticles is crucial for fabrication of self-assembled nanostructured materials with predictable properties. Here, time-resolved small-angle X-ray scattering was used to probe the temporal evolution of strain and lattice contraction during evaporation-induced self-assembly of oleate-capped iron oxide nanocubes in a levitating drop. We show that the evolution of the strain and structure of the growing mesocrystals is related to the formation of defects as the solvent evaporated and the assembly process progressed.

Liquid application method for time-resolved analyses by serial synchrotron crystallography.

We introduce a liquid application method for time-resolved analyses (LAMA), an in situ mixing approach for serial crystallography. Picoliter-sized droplets are shot onto chip-mounted protein crystals, achieving near-full ligand occupancy within theoretical diffusion times. We demonstrate proof-of-principle binding of GlcNac to lysozyme, and resolve glucose binding and subsequent ring opening in a time-resolved study of xylose isomerase.

Out of the dark, into the light: The impact of social exclusion on judgments of darkness and brightness.

Based on theories of grounded cognition, we assumed that the experience of social exclusion is grounded in a concept of darkness. Specifically, we hypothesized that social exclusion causes perceptual judgments of darkness and a preference for brightness as a compensatory response. To investigate these hypotheses, we conducted four studies using different manipulations and measurements.

Inducing nematic ordering of cellulose nanofibers using osmotic dehydration.

The formation of nematically-ordered cellulose nanofiber (CNF) suspensions with an order parameter f≈ 0.8 is studied by polarized optical microscopy, small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), and rheological measurements as a function of CNF concentration. The wide range of CNF concentrations, from 0.

Mutations in Craniosynostosis Patients Cause Defective Interleukin-11 Receptor Maturation and Drive Craniosynostosis-like Disease in Mice.

Premature closure of the sutures that connect the cranial bones during development of the mammalian skull results in a phenotype called craniosynostosis. Recently, several craniosynostosis patients with missense mutations within the gene encoding the interleukin-11 receptor (IL-11R) have been described, but the underlying molecular mechanisms have remained elusive. IL-11 is a cytokine that has a crucial role in bone remodeling and activates cells via binding to the IL-11R.

Assembly of cellulose nanocrystals in a levitating drop probed by time-resolved small angle X-ray scattering.

Assembly of bio-based nano-sized particles into complex architectures and morphologies is an area of fundamental interest and technical importance. We have investigated the assembly of sulfonated cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) dispersed in a shrinking levitating aqueous drop using time-resolved small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). Analysis of the scaling of the particle separation distance (d) with particle concentration (c) was used to follow the transition of CNC dispersions from an isotropic state at 1-2 vol% to a compressed nematic state at particle concentrations above 30 vol%.

Time-resolved viscoelastic properties of self-assembling iron oxide nanocube superlattices probed by quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring.

Self-assembly of nanoparticles into superlattices can be used to create hierarchically structured materials with tailored functions. We have used the surface sensitive quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D) technique in combination with video microscopy (VM) to obtain time-resolved information on the mass increase and rheological properties of evaporation-induced self-assembly of nanocubes. We have recorded the frequency and dissipation shifts during growth and densification of superlattices formed by self-assembly of oleic acid capped, truncated iron oxide nanocubes and analyzed the time-resolved QCM-D data using a Kelvin-Voigt viscoelastic model.

Two N-Linked Glycans Differentially Control Maturation, Trafficking and Proteolysis, but not Activity of the IL-11 Receptor.

Background/aims: The cytokine interleukin-11 (IL-11) has important pro- and anti-inflammatory functions. It activates its target cells through binding to the IL-11 receptor (IL-11R), and the IL-11/IL-11R complex recruits a homodimer of glycoprotein 130 (gp130). N-linked glycosylation, a post-translational modification where complex oligosaccharides are attached to the side chain of asparagine residues, is often important for stability, folding and biological function of cytokine receptors.

Nanoscale Assembly of Cellulose Nanocrystals during Drying and Redispersion.

We have followed the structural evolution during evaporation-induced self-assembly of sulfonated cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) in the presence of H and Li counterions by small-angle X-ray scattering. Drying of CNC-H dispersions results in ordered films that could not be readily redispersed, while the CNC-Li films were disordered and prone to reswelling and redispersion. The scaling of the separation distance () between CNC particles and the particle concentration () shows that the CNC-H dispersions display a unidimensional contraction of the nematic structure ( ∝ ) during drying, while the CNC-Li dispersions consolidate isotropically ( ∝ ), which is characteristic for hydrogels with no preferential orientation.

Workflow interruptions and employee work outcomes: The moderating role of polychronicity.

Workflow interruptions are one of the most commonly experienced stressors at work. This research expands existing literature on workflow interruptions in a diary field study. We apply a within-person approach and investigate detrimental effects of daily workflow interruptions on both daily satisfaction with performance and daily emotional exhaustion.

Interleukin-11 classic but not trans-signaling is essential for fertility in mice.

The cytokine interleukin (IL)-11 activates its target cells through binding to the membrane-bound IL-11 receptor (IL-11R). Female mice deficient in IL-11R (Il11ra) are infertile due to a defect in decidualization when the blastocyst implants. We have recently shown that IL-11 can also signal via a soluble IL-11R (trans-signaling).

Proteolytic control of Interleukin-11 and Interleukin-6 biology.

Interleukin-11 (IL-11) and IL-6 are secreted glycoproteins which fulfill important homeostatic functions. Activation of target cells occurs via membrane-bound IL-11 and IL-6 receptors (IL-11R and IL-6R, respectively). Formation of IL-11/IL-11R and IL-6/IL-6R complexes triggers the recruitment of a homodimer of the ubiquitously expressed signal-transducing β-receptor gp130 (classic signaling).

Effects of muscle dysmorphia, social comparisons and body schema priming on desire for social interaction: an experimental approach.

Background: Muscle dysmorphia (MD) is a relatively young diagnosis referring to the desire for a high degree in lean muscle mass, while simultaneously believing that one is insufficiently muscular, mostly found in men. It goes along with a risk for social withdrawal to maintain rigid exercise and dietary regimen. The aim of the current study was thus, to explore differences in men with and without a risk for muscle dysmorphia regarding their desire for social interaction.

Strong but flexible: How fundamental social motives support but sometimes also thwart favorable attractiveness biases.

Research corroborates the notion that fundamental social motives play an important role in biases that favor attractive people. Although an adaptationist framework expects favorable social effects of good looks in most situations and contexts, it simultaneously allows for potential negative social reactions and outcomes that may be elicited by physical attractiveness in other contexts. These effects of attractiveness reflect the reproductive opportunities and threats posed by potential mates and rivals.

Proteolytic Origin of the Soluble Human IL-6R In Vivo and a Decisive Role of N-Glycosylation.

Signaling of the cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) via its soluble IL-6 receptor (sIL-6R) is responsible for the proinflammatory properties of IL-6 and constitutes an attractive therapeutic target, but how the sIL-6R is generated in vivo remains largely unclear. Here, we use liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry to identify an sIL-6R form in human serum that originates from proteolytic cleavage, map its cleavage site between Pro-355 and Val-356, and determine the occupancy of all O- and N-glycosylation sites of the human sIL-6R. The metalloprotease a disintegrin and metalloproteinase 17 (ADAM17) uses this cleavage site in vitro, and mutation of Val-356 is sufficient to completely abrogate IL-6R proteolysis.

Following the Assembly of Iron Oxide Nanocubes by Video Microscopy and Quartz Crystal Microbalance with Dissipation Monitoring.

We have studied the growth of ordered arrays by evaporation-induced self-assembly of iron oxide nanocubes with edge lengths of 6.8 and 10.1 nm using video microscopy (VM) and quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D).

Following in Real Time the Two-Step Assembly of Nanoparticles into Mesocrystals in Levitating Drops.

Mesocrystals composed of crystallographically aligned nanocrystals are present in biominerals and assembled materials which show strongly directional properties of importance for mechanical protection and functional devices. Mesocrystals are commonly formed by complex biomineralization processes and can also be generated by assembly of anisotropic nanocrystals. Here, we follow the evaporation-induced assembly of maghemite nanocubes into mesocrystals in real time in levitating drops.

Generation of Soluble Interleukin-11 and Interleukin-6 Receptors: A Crucial Function for Proteases during Inflammation.

The cytokines interleukin-11 (IL-11) and IL-6 are important proteins with well-defined pro- and anti-inflammatory functions. They activate intracellular signaling cascades through a homodimer of the ubiquitously expressed signal-transducing β-receptor glycoprotein 130 (gp130). Specificity is gained through the cell- and tissue-specific expression of the nonsignaling IL-11 and IL-6 α-receptors (IL-11R and IL-6R), which determine the responsiveness of the cell to these two cytokines.

Strategic Sexual Signals: Women's Display versus Avoidance of the Color Red Depends on the Attractiveness of an Anticipated Interaction Partner.

The color red has special meaning in mating-relevant contexts. Wearing red can enhance perceptions of women's attractiveness and desirability as a potential romantic partner. Building on recent findings, the present study examined whether women's (N = 74) choice to display the color red is influenced by the attractiveness of an expected opposite-sex interaction partner.

Proteolytic Cleavage Governs Interleukin-11 Trans-signaling.

Interleukin (IL)-11 has been shown to be a crucial factor for intestinal tumorigenesis, lung carcinomas, and asthma. IL-11 is thought to exclusively mediate its biological functions through cell-type-specific expression of the membrane-bound IL-11 receptor (IL-11R). Here, we show that the metalloprotease ADAM10, but not ADAM17, can release the IL-11R ectodomain.