Sub-cellular damage by copper in the cnidarian Zoanthus robustus.

Sessile organisms may experience chronic exposure to copper that is released into the marine environment from antifoulants and stormwater runoff. We have identified the site of damage caused by copper to the symbiotic cnidarian, Zoanthus robustus (Anthozoa, Hexacorallia). External changes to the zoanthids were apparent when compared with controls.

Synthesis and properties of oxadiazole based V-shaped, shape persistent nematogens.

A series of biaxial V-shaped, shape-persistent molecules has been synthesised by stepwise coupling of phenylene ethynylene arms to an oxadiazole bending unit. Studies of their thermotropic nematic phases point to phase biaxiality.

Endocytosis of the dermatan sulfate proteoglycan decorin utilizes multiple pathways and is modulated by epidermal growth factor receptor signaling.

Human skin fibroblasts efficiently internalize the matrikine decorin by receptor-mediated endocytosis, however, very little is known about its intracellular trafficking routes up to lysosomal degradation. In an in vitro system measuring uptake and degradation of [(35)S]sulfate-labeled decorin, endocytosis was blocked by 46% when clathrin assembly/disassembly was inhibited using chlorpromazine. Pharmacological inhibition of EGF receptor signaling caused 34% reduction of decorin uptake, whereas inhibition of the IGF receptor had no effect.