Smartphone spectrometer for colorimetric biosensing.

We report on a smartphone spectrometer for colorimetric biosensing applications. The spectrometer relies on a sample cell with an integrated grating substrate, and the smartphone's built-in light-emitting diode flash and camera. The feasibility of the smartphone spectrometer is demonstrated for detection of glucose and human cardiac troponin I, the latter in conjunction with peptide-functionalized gold nanoparticles.

Signal-peptide-mediated translocation is regulated by a p97-AIRAPL complex.

Protein homoeostasis is a fundamental requirement for all living cells in order to survive in a dynamic surrounding. Proper levels of AIRAPL (arsenite-inducible RNA-associated protein-like protein) (ZFAND2B) are required in order to maintain cellular folding capacity in metazoans, and functional impairment of AIRAPL results in acceleration of aging and protein aggregation. However, the cellular roles of AIRAPL in this process are not known.

ATP binding to p97/VCP D1 domain regulates selective recruitment of adaptors to its proximal N-domain.

p97/Valosin-containing protein (VCP) is a member of the AAA-ATPase family involved in many cellular processes including cell division, intracellular trafficking and extraction of misfolded proteins in endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation (ERAD). It is a homohexamer with each subunit containing two tandem D1 and D2 ATPase domains and N- and C-terminal regions that function as adaptor protein binding domains. p97/VCP is directed to its many different functional pathways by associating with various adaptor proteins.

Real-time determination of the activity of ATPase by use of a water-soluble polythiophene.

This contribution introduces a fluorescence assay for real-time determination of the activity of p97/VCP, a 540-kDa homo-hexameric enzyme, belonging to the AAA-ATPase family. A fluorescent reporter "poly 1-(3-((4-methylthiophen-3-yl)oxy)propyl)quinuclidin-1-ium" (poly PTQ) is used to monitor the hydrolysis of ATP to ADP by p97/VCP. The proposed assay relies on the different strength of coordination of ATP and ADP to the polymer backbone.