High-affinity adaptors for switchable recognition of histidine-tagged proteins.

We aspired to create chemical recognition units, which bind oligohistidine tags with high affinity and stability, as tools for selectively attaching spectroscopic probes and other functional elements to recombinant proteins. Several supramolecular entities containing 2-4 nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) moieties were synthesized, which additionally contained an amino group, to which fluorescein was coupled as a sensitive reporter probe. These multivalent chelator heads (MCH) (termed bis-, tris-, and tetrakis-NTA) were characterized with respect to their interaction with hexahistidine (H6)- and decahistidine (H10)-tagged targets.

Evaluation of a parallel FDTD code and application to modeling of light scattering by deformed red blood cells.

A parallel Finite-Difference-Time-Domain (FDTD) code has been developed to numerically model the elastic light scattering by biological cells. Extensive validation and evaluation on various computing clusters demonstrated the high performance of the parallel code and its significant potential of reducing the computational cost of the FDTD method with low cost computer clusters. The parallel FDTD code has been used to study the problem of light scattering by a human red blood cell (RBC) of a deformed shape in terms of the angular distributions of the Mueller matrix elements.

Disruption of renal peritubular blood flow in lipopolysaccharide-induced renal failure: role of nitric oxide and caspases.

Acute renal failure (ARF) is a frequent and serious complication of endotoxemia caused by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and contributes significantly to mortality. The present studies were undertaken to examine the roles of nitric oxide (NO) and caspase activation on renal peritubular blood flow and apoptosis in a murine model of LPS-induced ARF. Male C57BL/6 mice treated with LPS (Escherichia coli) at a dose of 10 mg/kg developed ARF at 18 h.

Ethnic differences in upper lip response to incisor retraction.

Introduction: The purpose of this retrospective longitudinal study was to investigate the response of the upper lip to incisor retraction and to ascertain the effect of ethnicity on this response.

Methods: Pretreatment and posttreatment lateral cephalograms of 88 postpubertal female patients (44 black and 44 white; mean age, 18.45 years) were evaluated.

Measurement of the ratio of B+ and B0 meson lifetimes.

The ratio of the B+ and B0 meson lifetimes was measured using data collected in 2002-2004 by the D0 experiment in Run II of the Fermilab Tevatron Collider. These mesons were reconstructed in B-->mu(+)nuD(*-)X decays, which are dominated by B0 and B-->mu(+)nuD 0X decays, which are dominated by B+. The ratio of lifetimes is measured to be tau(+)/tau(0)=1.

Measurement of the ratio of inclusive cross sections sigma(pp --> Z + b jet)/sigma(pp --> Z + jet) at square root(s) = 1.96 TeV.

Using the data collected with the D0 detector at square root(s) = 1.96 TeV, for integrated luminosities of about 180 pb(-1), we have measured the ratio of inclusive cross sections for pp --> Z + b jet to pp --> Z + jet production. The inclusive Z + b-jet reaction is an important background to searches for the Higgs boson in associated ZH production at the Fermilab Tevatron collider.

Search for anomalous heavy-flavor quark production in association with W bosons.

We search for anomalous production of heavy-flavor quark jets in association with W bosons at the Fermilab Tevatron pp Collider in final states in which the heavy-flavor quark content is enhanced by requiring at least one tagged jet in an event. Jets are tagged using one algorithm based on semileptonic decays of b/c hadrons, and another on their lifetimes. We compare e+jets (164 pb(-1)) and mu+jets (145 pb(-1)) channels collected with the D0 detector at sqrt[s]=1.

Measurement of the WW production cross section in pp collisions at square root[s]=1.96 TeV.

We present a measurement of the W boson pair-production cross section in pp collisions at a center-of-mass energy of sqrt[s]=1.96 TeV. The data, collected with the Run II D0 detector at Fermilab, correspond to an integrated luminosity of 224-252 pb(-1) depending on the final state (ee, emu, or mumu).

Autophagy promotes MHC class II presentation of peptides from intracellular source proteins.

MHC-peptide complexes mediate key functions in adaptive immunity. In a classical view, MHC-I molecules present peptides from intracellular source proteins, whereas MHC-II molecules present antigenic peptides from exogenous and membrane proteins. Nevertheless, substantial crosstalk between these two pathways has been observed.

Peptide microarrays for the detection of molecular interactions in cellular signal transduction.

The formation of protein complexes is a hallmark of cellular signal transduction. Here, we show that peptide microarrays provide a robust and quantitative means to detect signalling-dependent changes of molecular interactions. Recruitment of a protein into a complex upon stimulation of a cell leads to the masking of an otherwise exposed binding site.

Search for Wbb and WH production in pp collisions at square root [s]=1.96 TeV.

We present a search for Wbb production in pp collisions at sqrt[s]=1.96 TeV in events containing one electron, an imbalance in transverse momentum, and two b-tagged jets. Using 174 pb(-1) of integrated luminosity accumulated by the D0 experiment at the Fermilab Tevatron collider, and the standard-model description of such events, we set a 95% C.

Search for the flavor-changing neutral current decay B0s--> mu(+) mu(-) in pp Collisions at sqrt[s] = 1.96 TeV with the D0 detector.

We present the results of a search for the flavor-changing neutral current decay B(0)(s)--> mu(+) mu(-) using a data set with integrated luminosity of 240 pb(-1) of pp collisions at sqrt[s] = 1.96 TeV collected with the D0 detector in run II of the Fermilab Tevatron collider. We find the upper limit on the branching fraction to be B(B(0)(s)--> mu(+) mu(-)) < or= 5.

Measurement of the B0s lifetime in the exclusive decay channel B0s-->J/psiphi.

Using the exclusive decay B0s-->J/psi(mu+mu-)phi(K+K-), we report the most precise single measurement of the B0s lifetime. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of approximately 220 pb(-1) collected with the D0 detector at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider in 2002-2004. We reconstruct 337 signal candidates, from which we extract the B0s lifetime, tau(B0s)=1.

Search for supersymmetry with gauge-mediated breaking in diphoton events at D0.

We report the results of a search for supersymmetry (SUSY) with gauge-mediated breaking in the missing transverse energy distribution of inclusive diphoton events using 263 pb(-1) of data collected by the D0 experiment at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider in 2002-2004. No excess is observed above the background expected from standard model processes, and lower limits on the masses of the lightest neutralino and chargino of about 108 and 195 GeV, respectively, are set at the 95% confidence level. These are the most stringent limits to date for models with gauge-mediated SUSY breaking with a short-lived neutralino as the next-to-lightest SUSY particle.

Measurement of the Lambda0b lifetime in the decay lambda0b--> J/psiLambda0 with the D0 detector.

We present measurements of the Lambda(0)(b) lifetime in the exclusive decay channel Lambda(0)(b)--> J/psiLambda(0), with J/psi--> mu(+)mu(-) and Lambda(0)--> ppi(-), the B0 lifetime in the decay B0-->J/psiK(0)(S) with J/psi--> mu(+)mu(-) and K(0)(S)-->pi(+)pi(-), and the ratio of these lifetimes. The analysis is based on approximately 250 pb(-1) of data recorded with the D0 detector in pp collisions at sqrt[s] = 1.96 TeV.

Characterization and regulation of essential murine cytomegalovirus genes m142 and m143.

US22 gene family members m142 and m143 are essential for replication of murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV). Their transcripts are produced with immediate-early kinetics, but little else is known about these viral genes. Unlike their transcripts, the m142 and m143 gene products (pm142, pm143) were not expressed until early times post-infection, with levels increasing over the course of infection.

Cobalt protoporphyrin protects against hepatic parenchymal injury and microvascular dysfunction during experimental rhabdomyolysis.

Although heme is necessary in many life-sustaining functions, its overwhelming systemic release with rhabdomyolysis (RM) is believed to be the cause of subsequent organ injury and dysfunction. We investigated the acute effects of experimental RM on hepatic parenchymal viability and microvascular function in vivo, while also determining the impact of cobalt protoporphyrin (CoPP) on its outcome. With a murine model of RM induced by hind limb glycerol administration (11.

A remission spectroscopy system for in vivo monitoring of hemoglobin oxygen saturation in murine hepatic sinusoids, in early systemic inflammation.

BACKGROUND: During the early stages of systemic inflammation, the liver integrity is compromised by microcirculatory disturbances and subsequent hepatocellular injury. Little is known about the relationship between the hemoglobin oxygen saturation (HbsO2) in sinusoids and the hepatocellular mitochondrial redox state, in early systemic inflammation. In a murine model of early systemic inflammation, we have explored the association between the sinusoidal HbsO2 detected with a remission spectroscopy system and 1.

Chemical inhibitors when timing is critical: a pharmacological concept for the maturation of T cell contacts.

Cellular signal transduction proceeds through a complex network of molecular interactions and enzymatic activities. The timing of these molecular events is critical for the propagation of a signal and the generation of a specific cellular response. To define the timing of signalling events, we introduce the combination of high-resolution confocal microscopy with the application of small-molecule inhibitors at various stages of signal transduction in T cells.

Toll-like receptor 6-independent signaling by diacylated lipopeptides.

Bacterial lipopeptides are strong immune modulators that activate early host responses after infection as well as initiating adjuvant effects on the adaptive immune system. These lipopeptides induce signaling in cells of the immune system through Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2)-TLR1 or TLR2-TLR6 heteromers. So far it has been thought that triacylated lipopeptides, such as the synthetic N-palmitoyl-S-[2,3-bis(palmitoyloxy)-(2RS)-propyl]-(R)-cysteine (Pam3)-CSK4, signal through TLR2-TLR1 heteromers, whereas diacylated lipopeptides, like the macrophage-activating lipopeptide from Mycoplasma fermentans (MALP2) or S-[2,3-bis(palmitoyloxy)-(2RS)-propyl]-(R)-cysteine (Pam2)-CGNNDESNISFKEK, induce signaling through TLR2-TLR6 heteromers.

Observation and properties of the X(3872) decaying to J/psipi(+)pi(-) in pp collisions at sqrt[s]=1.96 TeV.

We report the observation of the X(3872) in the J/psipi(+)pi(-) channel, with J/psi decaying to mu(+)mu(-), in pp collisions at sqrt[s]=1.96 TeV. Using approximately 230 pb(-1) of data collected with the Run II D0 detector, we observe 522+/-100 X(3872) candidates.

Search for doubly charged higgs boson pair production in the decay to mu(+)mu(+)mu(-)mu(-) in pp collisions at sqrt[s]=1.96 TeV.

A search for pair production of doubly charged Higgs bosons in the process pp -->H(++)H(--) -->mu(+)mu(+)mu(-)mu(-) is performed with the D0 run II detector at the Fermilab Tevatron. The analysis is based on a sample of inclusive dimuon data collected at an energy of sqrt[s]=1.96 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 113 pb(-1).

Mechanisms of acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity: role of oxidative stress and mitochondrial permeability transition in freshly isolated mouse hepatocytes.

Freshly isolated mouse hepatocytes were used to determine the role of mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT) in acetaminophen (APAP) toxicity. Incubation of APAP (1 mM) with hepatocytes resulted in cell death as indicated by increased alanine aminotransferase in the media and propidium iodide fluorescence. To separate metabolic events from later events in toxicity, hepatocytes were preincubated with APAP for 2 h followed by centrifugation of the cells and resuspension of the pellet to remove the drug and reincubating the cells in media alone.

Chemolabile cellular microarrays for screening small molecules and peptides.

Microarrays that mediate the uptake of small molecules into living cells are described. Tissue culture cells were seeded onto glass substrates functionalized locally with fluorescently labelled test substances. In order to enable a localized transfer of substances after contact of cells with the substrate, substances were immobilized on the surface either by non-covalent interactions or chemolabile linker groups.