High-throughput determination of exchange rates of unmodified and PTM-containing peptides using HX-MS.

Despite the widespread use of MS for hydrogen/deuterium exchange measurements, no systematic, large-scale study has been conducted to compare the observed exchange rates in protein-derived, unstructured peptides measured by MS to the predicted exchange rates calculated from NMR-derived values and how neighboring residues and post-translational modifications influence those exchange rates. In this study, we sought to test the accuracy of predicted values by performing hydrogen exchange measurements on whole cell digests to generate an unbiased dataset of 563 unique peptides derived from naturally-occurring protein sequences. A remarkable 97% of observed exchange rates of peptides are within two-fold of predicted values.

Computational deconvolution of cell type-specific gene expression in COPD and IPF lungs reveals disease severity associations.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) are debilitating diseases associated with divergent histopathological changes in the lungs. At present, due to cost and technical limitations, profiling cell types is not practical in large epidemiology cohorts (n > 1000). Here, we used computational deconvolution to identify cell types in COPD and IPF lungs whose abundances and cell type-specific gene expression are associated with disease diagnosis and severity.

Zn(II)-Responsive MRI Probe Based on an Fe(III) Macrocyclic Complex.

The development of responsive MRI contrast agents to detect fluctuations in Zn(II) is a growing area of research. Here we describe a high-spin Fe(III) coordination complex, Fe(ADAPT), as one of the first examples of an Fe(III) MRI probe that is responsive to Zn(II). The six-coordinate Fe(ADAPT) contains a phenolate-appended 1,4,7-triazacyclononane (TACN) ligand framework, with the phenolate groups linked to a Zn(II) binding moiety.

Mammoth featured heavily in Western Clovis diet.

Ancient Native American ancestors (Clovis) have been interpreted as either specialized megafauna hunters or generalist foragers. Supporting data are typically indirect (toolkits, associated fauna) or speculative (models, actualistic experiments). Here, we present stable isotope analyses of the only known Clovis individual, the 18-month-old Anzick child, to directly infer maternal protein diet.