Self-assembled adhesive biomaterials formed by a genetically designed fusion protein.

Here we report a recombinant protein (MS) obtained by genetic fusion of a mussel foot protein (Mfp3) motif into a silk spidroin (MaSp1). The MS not only self-assembled into a supramolecular fibre, as does the parent MaSp1, but also showed enhanced adhesiveness resulting from the DOPA-containing Mfp3 portion. The successful incorporation of the wet adhesiveness of Mfp3 into the well-structured assembly of MaSp1 may provide a new insight for the genetic design of underwater adhesive recombinant proteins by utilizing the structural features of a spidroin protein.

Effects of Preferential Counterion Interactions on the Specificity of RNA Folding.

The real-time search for native RNA structure is essential for the operation of regulatory RNAs. We previously reported that a fraction of the Azoarcus ribozyme achieves a compact structure in less than a millisecond. To scrutinize the forces that drive initial folding steps, we used time-resolved SAXS to compare the folding dynamics of this ribozyme in thermodynamically isostable concentrations of different counterions.

Iodide-Selective Synthetic Ion Channels Based on Shape-Persistent Organic Cages.

We report here a synthetic ion channel developed from a shape-persistent porphyrin-based covalent organic cage. The cage was synthesized by employing a synthetically economical dynamic covalent chemistry (DCC) approach. The organic cage selectively transports biologically relevant iodide ions over other inorganic anions by a dehydration-driven, channel mechanism as evidenced by vesicle-based fluorescence assays and planar lipid bilayer-based single channel recordings.

Self-Healable Supramolecular Hydrogel Formed by Nor-Seco-Cucurbit[10]uril as a Supramolecular Crosslinker.

A supramolecular hydrogel was formed by a simple mixing of solutions of nor-seco-cucurbit[10]uril (NS-CB[10]) and adamantylamine-terminated 4-armed polyethylene glycol (AdA-4-arm-PEG). In the formation of the hydrogel, NS-CB[10] acted as a noncovalent crosslinker to form a ternary complex with two AdA moieties. The dynamic and selective nature of the host-guest interaction between NS-CB[10] and AdA enabled the supramolecular hydrogel to rapidly recover its physical properties after it was damaged.

Charge screening in RNA: an integral route for dynamical enhancements.

Electrostatic interactions of RNA are at the center of determining the dynamical flexibility and structural stability. By analysing neutron scattering spectroscopy, we show that fast dynamics of hydrated tRNA on ps to ns timescales increases with stronger charge screening, while its structural stability either increases or remains largely unchanged. An unprecedented electrostatic threshold for the onset of additional flexibility is induced from the correlation between the charge-screening density of counterions and the promoted dynamical properties.

A clinical analysis of bilateral orbital fracture.

Although bilateral orbital fracture can cause serious eyeball and facial skeletal problems, few reports have been issued on the topic. We analyzed the clinical features of bilateral orbital fracture by reviewing the medical records of 147 patients and compared bilateral and unilateral fractures by reviewing the literature.Bilateral orbital fracture was most common in men aged between 50 and 59 years.

Crowders perturb the entropy of RNA energy landscapes to favor folding.

Biological macromolecules have evolved to fold and operate in the crowded environment of the cell. We have shown previously that molecular crowding stabilizes folded RNA structures. Here we report SAXS measurements on a 64 kDa bacterial group I ribozyme in the presence of mono- and divalent ions and PEG crowders of different molecular weight.

Cooperative tertiary interaction network guides RNA folding.

Noncoding RNAs form unique 3D structures, which perform many regulatory functions. To understand how RNAs fold uniquely despite a small number of tertiary interaction motifs, we mutated the major tertiary interactions in a group I ribozyme by single-base substitutions. The resulting perturbations to the folding energy landscape were measured using SAXS, ribozyme activity, hydroxyl radical footprinting, and native PAGE.

The dynamics of unfolded versus folded tRNA: the role of electrostatic interactions.

The dynamics of RNA contributes to its biological functions such as ligand recognition and catalysis. Using quasielastic neutron scattering spectroscopy, we show that Mg(2+) greatly increases the picosecond to nanosecond dynamics of hydrated tRNA while stabilizing its folded structure. Analyses of the atomic mean-squared displacement, relaxation time, persistence length, and fraction of mobile atoms showed that unfolded tRNA is more rigid than folded tRNA.

Multistage collapse of a bacterial ribozyme observed by time-resolved small-angle X-ray scattering.

Ribozymes must fold into compact, native structures to function properly in the cell. The first step in forming the RNA tertiary structure is the neutralization of the phosphate charge by cations, followed by collapse of the unfolded molecules into more compact structures. The specificity of the collapse transition determines the structures of the folding intermediates and the folding time to the native state.

Efficacy of dye disappearance test and tear meniscus height in diagnosis and postoperative assessment of nasolacrimal duct obstruction.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of the fluorescein dye disappearance test (FDDT) and measurement of tear meniscus height (TMH) in the diagnosis and postoperative assessment of nasolacrimal duct obstruction (NLDO).

Methods: The study group included 42 eyes of 42 patients who had a diagnosis of primary acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction (PANDO) or functional nasolacrimal duct obstruction (FNDO) and underwent endoscopic transnasal dacryocystorhinostomy. The control group included 38 eyes of 38 people without tearing.

Molecular crowding stabilizes folded RNA structure by the excluded volume effect.

Crowder molecules in solution alter the equilibrium between folded and unfolded states of biological macromolecules. It is therefore critical to account for the influence of these other molecules when describing the folding of RNA inside the cell. Small angle X-ray scattering experiments are reported on a 64 kDa bacterial group I ribozyme in the presence of polyethylene-glycol 1000 (PEG-1000), a molecular crowder with an average molecular weight of 1000 Da.

Comparison of posterior capsular opacification between a combined procedure and a sequential procedure of pars plana vitrectomy and cataract surgery.

Purpose: To compare posterior capsular opacification (PCO) between a combined procedure and a sequential procedure of pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) and cataract surgery (CS).

Methods: The medical records of 89 eyes of 85 patients who underwent PPV and CS were retrospectively reviewed. There were 56 eyes of 52 patients with a combined PPV and CS (the combined surgery group), and 33 eyes of 33 patients with CS in a previously vitrectomized eye (the sequential surgery group).

Different expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and pigment epithelium-derived factor between diabetic and non-diabetic epiretinal membranes.

Purpose: To determine whether there is a difference in protein levels of expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and transforming growth factor beta(1) (TGF-beta(1)) between diabetic and non-diabetic epiretinal membranes (ERMs).

Methods: ERMs and vitreous were surgically removed from the eyes of 8 patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy and from 6 patients with proliferative vitreoretinopathy. Concentrations of VEGF, PEDF, PDGF and TGF-beta(1) were investigated by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.