Structural modeling of two plant UDP-dependent sugar-sugar glycosyltransferases reveals a conserved glutamic acid residue that is a hallmark for sugar acceptor recognition.

Glycosylation is one of the common modifications of plant metabolites, playing a major role in the chemical/biological diversity of a wide range of compounds. Plant metabolite glycosylation is catalyzed almost exclusively by glycosyltransferases, mainly by Uridine-diphosphate dependent Glycosyltransferases (UGTs). Several X-ray structures have been determined for primary glycosyltransferases, however, little is known regarding structure-function aspects of sugar-sugar/branch-forming O-linked UGTs (SBGTs) that catalyze the transfer of a sugar from the UDP-sugar donor to an acceptor sugar moiety of a previously glycosylated metabolite substrate.

Augmenting Structure-Based Design with Experimental Protein-Ligand Interaction Data: Molecular Recognition, Interactive Visualization, and Rescoring.

The previously introduced ratio of frequencies (R ) framework provides statistically sound information on the relative interaction preferences of atoms in crystal structures. By applying the methodology to protein-ligand complexes, we can investigate the significance of interactions that are employed in structure-based drug design. Here, we revisit three aspects of molecular recognition in the light of the R framework, namely stacking interactions of heteroaromatic rings with protein amide groups, interactions of acidified C-H groups, and interaction differences between syn and anti lone pairs of carboxylate groups.

The α-Terpineol to 1,8-Cineole Cyclization Reaction of Tobacco Terpene Synthases.

Flowers of Nicotiana species emit a characteristic blend including the cineole cassette monoterpenes. This set of terpenes is synthesized by multiproduct enzymes, with either 1,8-cineole or α-terpineol contributing most to the volatile spectrum, thus referring to cineole or terpineol synthase, respectively. To understand the molecular and structural requirements of the enzymes that favor the biochemical formation of α-terpineol and 1,8-cineole, site-directed mutagenesis, in silico modeling, and semiempiric calculations were performed.

Regions outside of conserved PxxPxR motifs drive the high affinity interaction of GRB2 with SH3 domain ligands.

SH3 domains are evolutionarily conserved protein interaction domains that control nearly all cellular processes in eukaryotes. The current model is that most SH3 domains bind discreet PxxPxR motifs with weak affinity and relatively low selectivity. However, the interactions of full-length SH3 domain-containing proteins with ligands are highly specific and have much stronger affinity.

Decreased range of motion is associated with structural hip deformity in asymptomatic adolescent athletes.

Background: Decreased hip range of motion (ROM) is a common finding in patients with femoroacetabular impingement (FAI).

Purpose: To report the prevalence of decreased hip ROM in asymptomatic adolescent athletes and to correlate examination findings to signs of FAI on radiographs and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Study Design: Cross-sectional study (prevalence); Level of evidence, 3.

The adaptor protein LAT serves as an integration node for signaling pathways that drive T cell activation.

T cells are essential for the adaptive immune response to pathogens. However, dysfunctional T cell activity has been implicated in numerous diseases, including the failure of organ transplants, allergic reactions, asthma, autoimmune disorders, and coronary artery disease. T cell responses to pathogens require the induction of the primary activating receptor, the T cell receptor (TCR), along with other costimulatory and adhesion receptors.

A novel attractant for Anastrepha ludens (Diptera: Tephritidae) from a Concord grape product.

An attractant for Mexican fruit fly, Anastrepha ludens (Loew) (Diptera: Tephritidae), was developed from a commercial product called Sabor Uva containing processed Concord grape juice. The principal volatile components of Sabor Uva aroma were identified and an aqueous mixture of 15 components that was gas chromatographically similar to Sabor Uva was prepared. This mixture was equivalent to Sabor Uva in attractiveness by using wind-tunnel bioassays.

Male-specific sesquiterpenes from Phyllotreta flea beetles.

Flea beetles in several genera are known to possess male-specific sesquiterpenes, at least some of which serve as aggregation pheromones that attract both sexes. In continuing research on the chemical ecology of Phyllotreta flea beetles, six new male-specific sesquiterpenes were identified, one from P. striolata (hydroxyketone 9) and five from P.

Methyl 6-methylsalicylate: a female-produced pheromone component of the parasitoid wasp Spalangia endius.

Sex-pheromone-related behavior and chemistry were studied in the wasp Spalangia endius Walker (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae), a pupal parasitoid of the house fly, Musca domestica L. (Diptera: Muscidae). Males responded behaviorally to female extracts by arrestment, whereas females did not arrest to male extracts.

Shoulder arthroplasty in patients aged fifty-five years or younger with osteoarthritis.

Background: The younger patient with glenohumeral arthritis presents a challenge because of concerns about activity and frequency of failure. The purpose of this study was to define the results, complications, and frequency of revision surgery in this group.

Materials And Methods: Between 1986 and 2005, 46 total shoulder arthroplasties and 20 hemiarthroplasties were performed in 63 patients who were aged 55 years or younger and had chronic shoulder pain due to glenohumeral osteoarthritis.

Recurrent hematomas within the iliopsoas muscle caused by impingement after total hip arthroplasty.

Impingement of the iliopsoas muscle after total hip arthroplasty is a potential cause of postoperative groin pain. In addition, hematoma within the iliopsoas sheath has been documented as a cause of groin pain in patients on long-term anticoagulation. We present the case of a patient on long-term anticoagulation presenting after total hip arthroplasty with recurrent, symptomatic iliopsoas sheath hematomas.

The prevalence of groin pain after metal-on-metal total hip arthroplasty and total hip resurfacing.

Background: Groin pain after total hip arthroplasty (THA) or total hip resurfacing arthroplasty can be troubling for patients and surgeons. Potential sources of pain include infection, loosening, metal hypersensitivity, or impingement of bony structures or the iliopsoas tendon.

Questions/purposes: We compared the rate of groin pain after THA or hip resurfacing using metal-on-metal to those of other bearing surfaces.

T cell receptor activation leads to two distinct phases of Pyk2 activation and actin cytoskeletal rearrangement in human T cells.

The tyrosine kinase Pyk2 integrates receptor-mediated signals controlling actin cytoskeletal rearrangement, events needed for the activation and function of T cells. Induction of the T cell receptor (TCR) leads to the phosphorylation of Pyk2, but the timing of these events is controversial and not fully understood. In this study, the TCR-induced phosphorylation kinetics of Pyk2 tyrosines 402 and 580 were characterized in human T cells.

Sex pheromone of the pine false webworm Acantholyda erythrocephala.

Females of the pine false webworm Acantholyda erythrocephala (L) produce the sex pheromone (Z)-6, 14-pentadecadienal, which attracts flying males in the field. By using gas chromatography coupled with electroantennographic detection (GC-EAD) and mass spectrometry (GC-MS), we detected (Z)-6,14-pentadecadienal in volatile collections and in whole body extracts of female A. erythrocephala.

Identification of chemicals emitted by calling males of the Sapote fruit fly, Anastrepha serpentina.

Emissions from sexually active Anastrepha serpentina males were collected by solid-phase microextraction. Calling behavior of wild-type males showed no clear peak during the day, except that it was evident less frequently immediately after daybreak and just before dark. Calling by laboratory males was highest between 8 and 11 h after onset of the photophase, and mating by wild flies occurred mostly between 6 and 10 h after onset of the photophase.

Male-produced aggregation pheromone of the lesser mealworm beetle, Alphitobius diaperinus.

The lesser mealworm beetle, Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer), is a widespread serious pest in poultry production facilities and is difficult to control by conventional means. Although pheromone-based tools have become useful in the management of other beetle pests, no pheromone was known for A. diaperinus, and this study sought to develop basic pheromone information.

Analysis of 2,4,6-nonatrienal geometrical isomers from male flea beetles, Epitrix hirtipennis and E. fuscula.

Geometrical isomers of 2,4,6-nonatrienal have been reported from a variety of food- and insect-related sources. It was discovered recently that the eggplant flea beetle, Epitrix fuscula, uses the (2 E,4 E,6 Z) and (2 E,4 E,6 E) isomers as components of its male-produced aggregation pheromone. Here, we learned that the related species, E.

Dysphagia following anterior cervical arthrodesis is associated with continuous, strong retraction of the esophagus.

Background: The prevalence of dysphagia after anterior cervical decompression and arthrodesis is estimated to be 50% within one month and 21% at twelve months. However, its exact etiology is not well understood. The objective of the present study was to explore the relationship between intraoperative intra-esophageal pressure due to surgical retraction, esophageal mucosal blood flow at the level of surgery, and postoperative dysphagia.

Antennally active macrolide from the emerald ash borer Agrilus planipennis emitted predominantly by females.

The macrocyclic lactone (3Z)-dodecen-12-olide was identified from the emissions of the emerald ash borer, Agrilus planipennis, feeding on ash foliage. The compound was detected from both sexes but was ca. 10 times more abundant from females.

Spatial perception errors do not predict pointing errors by individuals with brain lesions.

We examined the relationship between errors in sensorimotor transformations (SMT) for reaching to external targets and visual and kinesthetic spatial perception of those targets by participants with damage to the posterior parietal lobule (PPL) and adjacent areas. A total of 12 participants had focal PPL lesions, 7 had with brain lesions outside the PPL, and 10 had no brain lesions. Brain lesions were due to stroke (12) or surgical resection (7).

Diapause in the leaf beetle Diorhabda elongata (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), a biological control agent for tamarisk (Tamarix spp.).

The tamarisk leaf beetle, Diorhabda elongata Brullé deserticola Chen, was collected in northwestern China and has been released in the western United States to control tamarisk (Tamarix spp.). Characteristics of diapause and reproductive development in D.

Direct aldehyde homologation utilized to construct a conjugated-tetraene hydrocarbon insect pheromone.

New phosphonate reagents were developed for the two-carbon homologation of aldehydes to methyl- or ethyl-branched unsaturated aldehydes and used in the practical synthesis of (2E,4E,6E,8E)-3,5-dimethyl-7-ethyl-2,4,6,8-undecatetraene (1), a pheromone of the beetle Carpophilus lugubris. The phosphonate reagents, diethyl ethylformyl-2-phosphonate dimethylhydrazone and diethyl 1-propylformyl-2-phosphonate dimethylhydrazone, contained a protected aldehyde group instead of the usual ester group. A homologation cycle entailed condensation of the reagent with the starting aldehyde, followed by removal of the dimethylhydrazone protective group with a biphasic mixture of dilute HCl and petroleum ether.

Behaviorally active green leaf volatiles for monitoring the leaf beetle, Diorhabda elongata, a biocontrol agent of saltcedar, Tamarix spp.

Biological activity and chemistry of host plant volatiles were investigated for Diorhabda elongata, Brullé (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), a biological control agent for the invasive tree, saltcedar (Tamarix spp., Tamaricaceae). Gas chromatographic-electroantennographic detection (GC-EAD) analysis of volatiles collected from adult D.

Male-produced aggregation pheromone compounds from the eggplant flea beetle (Epitrix fuscula): identification, synthesis, and field biossays.

Volatiles from the eggplant flea beetle, Epitrix fuscula Crotch (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), feeding on host foliage, were investigated. Six male-specific compounds were detected and were identified through the use of mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometry, chiral and achiral gas chromatography, high-performance liquid chromatography, electrophysiology (gas chromatography-electroantennography, GC-EAD), and microchemical tests. The two most abundant of the six compounds were (2E,4E,6Z)-2,4,6-nonatrienal (1) and (2E,4E,6E)-2,4,6-nonatrienal (2).