Biphasic reinforcement of nascent adhesions by vinculin.

Vinculin is an integral component of integrin adhesions, where it functions as a molecular clutch coupling intracellular contraction to the extracellular matrix. Quantitating its contribution to the reinforcement of newly forming adhesions, however, requires ultrasensitive cell force assays covering short time and low force ranges. Here, we have combined atomic force microscopy-based single-cell force spectroscopy (SCFS) and optical tweezers force spectroscopy to investigate the role of vinculin in reinforcement of individual nascent adhesions during the first 5 min of cell contact with fibronectin or vitronectin.

Influence of cooking on the iodine content in potatoes, pasta and rice using iodized salt.

To counteract iodine deficiency in the population in areas of environmental iodine deficiency table salt is often fortified with potassium iodide or iodate. However, most estimations of iodine contribution from the diet rely on calculations based on the added iodized salt and very limited experimental data about the stability of potassium iodate (KIO) or iodine uptake during food processing is available. Therefore, the influence of cooking on the iodine content of potatoes, pasta, and rice having different size, varieties or composition was investigated.

Tumor suppressor Fhit protein interacts with protoporphyrin IX in vitro and enhances the response of HeLa cells to photodynamic therapy.

Fhit, the product of tumor suppressor fragile histidine triad (FHIT) gene, exhibits antitumor activity of still largely unknown cellular background. However, it is believed that Fhit-Ap(3)A or Fhit-AMP complex might act as a second class messenger in cellular signal transduction pathway involved in cell proliferation and apoptosis. We demonstrate here for the first time that the photosensitizer, protoporphyrin IX (which is a natural precursor of heme) binds to Fhit protein and its mutants in the active site in vitro.