Immunogenicity of a DNA vaccine expressing the Neospora caninum surface protein NcSRS2 in mice.

The immunogenicity of a DNA vaccine expressing the surface protein NcSRS2 of Neospora caninum was studied in BALB/c mice. The NcSRS2-encoding DNA was obtained by PCR amplification of the NcSRS2 ORF gene from the p43 plasmid encoding the N. caninum surface protein NcSRS2, ligated to the mammalian expression vector pcDNA3.

Aminosulfonate modulated pH-induced conformational changes in connexin26 hemichannels.

Gap junction channels regulate cell-cell communication by passing metabolites, ions, and signaling molecules. Gap junction channel closure in cells by acidification is well documented; however, it is unknown whether acidification affects connexins or modulating proteins or compounds that in turn act on connexins. Protonated aminosulfonates directly inhibit connexin channel activity in an isoform-specific manner as shown in previously published studies.

Serodiagnosis of Neospora caninum infection in cattle using a recombinant tNcSRS2 protein-based ELISA.

The truncated NcSRS2 gene (tNcSRS2) by removal of the N-terminal hydrophobic sequence was cloned into the pGEX-6p-1 plasmid and subsequently expressed as a glutathione-S-transferase (GST) fusion protein. The purified recombinant tNcSRS2 protein was specific to Neospora caninum and was used in an ELISA for the diagnosis of neosporosis. There was a good agreement between tNctSRS2-based ELISA and three commercially available diagnostic kits (IDEXX ELISA, HIPRA ELISA and VMRD IFAT).

Interpolyelectrolyte complexes: a single-molecule insight.

Polyelectrolyte (PE) complexes (PECs) between long polycation poly(methacryloyloxyethyl dimethylbenzylammonium chloride) and short polyanion polystyrene sulfonic acid adsorbed onto mica were studied by atomic force microscopy. If one component is taken in excess, then a rapid coupling of the oppositely charged polyions first leads to the formation of nonequilibrium structures when collapsed PEC particles coexist with unreacted PEs molecules. The equilibrium PEC particles possess micelle-like core-shell morphology if the short polyion is taken in excess.

Structural evidence for a constant c11 ring stoichiometry in the sodium F-ATP synthase.

The Na+-dependent F-ATP synthases of Ilyobacter tartaricus and Propionigenium modestum contain membrane-embedded ring-shaped c subunit assemblies with a stoichiometry of 11. Subunit c from either organism was overexpressed in Escherichia coli using a plasmid containing the corresponding gene, extracted from the membrane using detergent and then purified. Subsequent analyses by SDS/PAGE revealed that only a minor portion of the c subunits had assembled into stable rings, while the majority migrated as monomers.

The c15 ring of the Spirulina platensis F-ATP synthase: F1/F0 symmetry mismatch is not obligatory.

The oligomeric c ring of the F-ATP synthase from the alkaliphilic cyanobacterium Spirulina platensis was isolated and characterized. Mass spectroscopy analysis indicated a mass of 8,210 Da, reflecting that of a c monomer. The mass increased by 206 Da after treatment with the c-subunit-specific inhibitor dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD), which indicated modification of the ion-binding carboxylate by DCCD.