Binding inhibitors of the bacterial sliding clamp by design.

The bacterial replisome is a target for the development of new antibiotics to combat drug resistant strains. The β(2) sliding clamp is an essential component of the replicative machinery, providing a platform for recruitment and function of other replisomal components and ensuring polymerase processivity during DNA replication and repair. A single binding region of the clamp is utilized by its binding partners, which all contain conserved binding motifs.

Synthesis, binding and bioactivity of gamma-methylene gamma-lactam ecdysone receptor ligands: advantages of QSAR models for flexible receptors.

Nuclear hormone receptors, such as the ecdysone receptor, often display a large amount of induced fit to ligands. The size and shape of the binding pocket in the EcR subunit changes markedly on ligand binding, making modelling methods such as docking extremely challenging. It is, however, possible to generate excellent 3D QSAR models for a given type of ligand, suggesting that the receptor adopts a relatively restricted number of binding site configurations or 'attractors'.

Breast reduction: modified "Lejour technique" in 500 large breasts.

Background: The "minimal scar technique" for breast reduction, developed by Marchac, Lassus, and Lejour, has become an increasingly practiced alternative to standard operative procedures.

Methods: The authors introduced the modified "Lejour technique" in nearly 500 breast reductions in 250 overweight patients (adipose breasts) with a resection weight of more than 700 g. Their technique is a step-wise modification of the following procedures, resulting from their experience with complications and outcomes.

Role of CD95-mediated adipocyte loss in autoimmune lipodystrophy.

Context: Lipodystrophies are rare disorders characterized by the selective loss of adipose tissue. Metabolic complications increase in severity with the extent of fat loss. In some forms of acquired lipodystrophy, the loss of fat is suggested to be a result of autoimmune destruction of adipocytes.