Atomic momentum distributions in polyatomic molecules in rotational-vibrational eigenstates.

We report a quantum mechanical method for calculating the momentum distributions of constituent atoms of polyatomic molecules in rotational-vibrational eigenstates. Application of the present theory to triatomic molecules in the rovibrational ground state revealed that oscillatory changes appear on the proton momentum distribution in the nonlinear H2O molecule, while no such modulation is present in the case of an oxygen atom in the linear CO2 molecule. The atomic momentum distributions were analyzed in detail by means of a rigid rotor model, and it was found that the oscillation originates from the quantum-mechanical delocalization of the target atom with respect to the other atoms.

Tissue flow regulates planar cell polarity independently of the Frizzled core pathway.

Planar cell polarity (PCP) regulates the orientation of external structures. A core group of proteins that includes Frizzled forms the heart of the PCP regulatory system. Other PCP mechanisms that are independent of the core group likely exist, but their underlying mechanisms are elusive.

Immunocytochemistry of phospholipase D1 and D2 in cultured cells.

Activation of Gq protein-coupled receptors triggers the phospholipase C (PLC) pathway, which yields a pair of second messengers: diacylglycerol (DG) and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP). DG kinase (DGK) phosphorylates DG to produce phosphatidic acid (PA), which serves as another second messenger. Along with PLC-DGK pathway, PA is produced directly by the action of phospholipase D (PLD), which hydrolyzes the major membrane phospholipid: phosphatidylcholine (PC).

A mass spectrometric method for in-depth profiling of phosphoinositide regioisomers and their disease-associated regulation.

Phosphoinositides are a family of membrane lipids essential for many biological and pathological processes. Due to the existence of multiple phosphoinositide regioisomers and their low intracellular concentrations, profiling these lipids and linking a specific acyl variant to a change in biological state have been difficult. To enable the comprehensive analysis of phosphoinositide phosphorylation status and acyl chain identity, we develop PRMC-MS (Phosphoinositide Regioisomer Measurement by Chiral column chromatography and Mass Spectrometry).

Development of multi-channel apparatus for electron-atom Compton scattering to study the momentum distribution of atoms in a molecule.

We have developed multi-channel apparatus for electron-atom Compton scattering to study the momentum distribution of atoms in a molecule. It combines the features of both a spherical electron energy analyzer and a large-area position sensitive detector, thereby having an ability to cover almost completely the azimuthal angle range available for quasi-elastic electron Rutherford backscattering at an angle of 135°. Details and performance of the apparatus are reported, together with experimental results measured for Xe and CH at an incident electron energy of 2 keV.

Vps34 regulates myofibril proteostasis to prevent hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a common heart disease with a prevalence of 1 in 500 in the general population. Several mutations in genes encoding cardiac proteins have been found in HCM patients, but these changes do not predict occurrence or prognosis and the molecular mechanisms underlying HCM remain largely elusive. Here we show that cardiac expression of vacuolar protein sorting 34 (Vps34) is reduced in a subset of HCM patients.

Electron Momentum Spectroscopy Investigation of Molecular Conformations of Ethanol Considering Vibrational Effects.

The interpretation of experimental electron momentum distributions (EMDs) of ethanol, one of the simplest molecules having conformers, has confused researchers for years. High-level calculations of Dyson orbital EMDs by thermally averaging the gauche and trans conformers as well as molecular dynamical simulations failed to quantitatively reproduce the experiments for some of the outer valence orbitals. In this work, the valence shell electron binding energy spectrum and EMDs of ethanol are revisited by the high-sensitivity electron momentum spectrometer employing symmetric noncoplanar geometry at an incident energy of 1200 eV plus binding energy, together with a detailed analysis of the influence of vibrational motions on the EMDs for the two conformers employing a harmonic analytical quantum mechanical (HAQM) approach by taking into account all of the vibrational modes.

Vibrational Effects on Electron Momentum Distributions of Outer-Valence Orbitals of Oxetane.

Vibrational effects on electron momentum distributions (EMDs) of outer-valence orbitals of oxetane are computed with a comprehensive consideration of all vibrational modes. It is found that vibrational motions influence EMDs of all outer-valence orbitals noticeably. The agreement between theoretical and experimental momentum profiles of the first five orbitals is greatly improved when including molecular vibrations in the calculation.

INPP4B Is a PtdIns(3,4,5)P3 Phosphatase That Can Act as a Tumor Suppressor.

Unlabelled: Inositol polyphosphate 4-phosphatase B (INPP4B) has been identified as a tumor suppressor mutated in human breast, ovary, and prostate cancers. The molecular mechanism underlying INPP4B's tumor-suppressive role is currently unknown. Here, we demonstrate that INPP4B restrains tumor development by dephosphorylating the PtdIns(3,4,5)P3 that accumulates in situations of PTEN deficiency.

Molecular orbital imaging of the acetone S2 excited state using time-resolved (e, 2e) electron momentum spectroscopy.

We report a time-resolved (e, 2e) experiment on the deuterated acetone molecule in the S2 Rydberg state with a lifetime of 13.5 ps. The acetone S2 state was prepared by a 195 nm pump laser and probed with electron momentum spectroscopy using a 1.

Vibrational effects on valence electron momentum distributions of CH2F2.

We report an electron momentum spectroscopy study of vibrational effects on the electron momentum distributions for the outer valence orbitals of difluoromethane (CH2F2). The symmetric noncoplanar (e,2e) experiment has been performed at an incident electron energy of 1.2 keV.

The conserved discs-large binding partner Banderuola regulates asymmetric cell division in Drosophila.

Background: Asymmetric cell division (ACD) is a key process that allows different cell types to be generated at precisely defined times and positions. In Drosophila, neural precursor cells rely heavily on ACD to generate the different cell types in the nervous system. A conserved protein machinery that regulates ACD has been identified in Drosophila, but how this machinery acts to allow the establishment of differential cell fates is not entirely understood.

Dachsous-dependent asymmetric localization of spiny-legs determines planar cell polarity orientation in Drosophila.

In Drosophila, planar cell polarity (PCP) molecules such as Dachsous (Ds) may function as global directional cues directing the asymmetrical localization of PCP core proteins such as Frizzled (Fz). However, the relationship between Ds asymmetry and Fz localization in the eye is opposite to that in the wing, thereby causing controversy regarding how these two systems are connected. Here, we show that this relationship is determined by the ratio of two Prickle (Pk) isoforms, Pk and Spiny-legs (Sple).

Phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate 5-kinase β regulates growth cone morphology and semaphorin 3A-triggered growth cone collapse in mouse dorsal root ganglion neurons.

Growth cone motility and morphology, which are critical for axon guidance, are controlled through intracellular events such as actin cytoskeletal reorganization and vesicular trafficking. The membrane phospholipid phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate [PI(4,5)P₂] has been implicated in regulation of these cellular processes in a diverse range of cell types. The main kinases involved in the production of PI(4,5)P₂ are the type I phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate 5-kinase (PIP5K) family, which consist of three isozymes, α, β and γ.

Critical roles of type III phosphatidylinositol phosphate kinase in murine embryonic visceral endoderm and adult intestine.

The metabolism of membrane phosphoinositides is critical for a variety of cellular processes. Phosphatidylinositol-3,5-bisphosphate [PtdIns(3,5)P(2)] controls multiple steps of the intracellular membrane trafficking system in both yeast and mammalian cells. However, other than in neuronal tissues, little is known about the physiological functions of PtdIns(3,5)P(2) in mammals.

Vibrational effects on valence electron momentum distributions of ethylene.

We report an electron momentum spectroscopy study of vibrational effects on the electron momentum distributions for the outer valence orbitals of ethylene (C(2)H(4)). The symmetric noncoplanar (e,2e) experiment has been conducted at an impact energy of 1.2 keV.

Phospholipase D2 activation by p38 MAP kinase is involved in neurite outgrowth.

p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase plays an important role in neurite outgrowth. However, the underlying molecular mechanism(s) remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate that phospholipase D2 (PLD2) mediates p38 signaling in neurite outgrowth.

O1s photoionization dynamics in oriented NO2.

We have performed extensive density functional theory (DFT) calculations, partial cross sections, dipole prepared continuum orbitals, dipole amplitudes and phase shifts, asymmetry parameters β, and molecular frame photoelectron angular distributions, to elucidate the O1s photoionization dynamics of NO(2) molecule with emphasis on the shape resonances in the O1s ionization continuum. In the shape resonance region, the β parameters and photoelectron angular distributions have been compared with our experimental results. Fairly good agreement between the theory and experiment has confirmed that the DFT level calculations can well describe the photoionization dynamics of the simple molecule such as NO(2).

Aging effects of major and trace elements in rat bones and their mutual correlations.

The concentrations of 29 major to trace elements in rat bones (femur) aging from 5 to 113 weeks old were determined. The samples were decomposed by high purity nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide. Nine elements (Na, Mg, P, K, Ca, Fe, Ni, Zn, and Sr) were determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) and 20 elements (Li, B, Al, V, Cr, Mn, Cu, As, Se, Rb, Mo, Ag, Cd, Sb, Cs, Ba, W, Tl, Pb, and U) were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).

N 1s photoelectron angular distributions from fixed-in-space NO2 molecules: stereodynamics and symmetry considerations.

Angular distributions of N 1s photoelectrons from fixed-in-space NO(2) molecules have been measured over the energy region of shape resonance and above. A multiple-coincidence velocity-map imaging technique for observation of molecular frame photoelectron angular distributions (MF-PADs) has been extended to nonlinear molecular targets. Density functional theory calculations have also been conducted to elucidate the photoionization dynamics and shape resonance in the N 1s photoionization of NO(2).

The PtdIns(3,4)P(2) phosphatase INPP4A is a suppressor of excitotoxic neuronal death.

Phosphorylated derivatives of phosphatidylinositol, collectively referred to as phosphoinositides, occur in the cytoplasmic leaflet of cellular membranes and regulate activities such as vesicle transport, cytoskeletal reorganization and signal transduction. Recent studies have indicated an important role for phosphoinositide metabolism in the aetiology of diseases such as cancer, diabetes, myopathy and inflammation. Although the biological functions of the phosphatases that regulate phosphatidylinositol-3,4,5-trisphosphate (PtdIns(3,4,5)P(3)) have been well characterized, little is known about the functions of the phosphatases regulating the closely related molecule phosphatidylinositol-3,4-bisphosphate (PtdIns(3,4)P(2)).

Mammalian phosphoinositide kinases and phosphatases.

Phosphoinositides are lipids that are present in the cytoplasmic leaflet of a cell's plasma and internal membranes and play pivotal roles in the regulation of a wide variety of cellular processes. Phosphoinositides are molecularly diverse due to variable phosphorylation of the hydroxyl groups of their inositol rings. The rapid and reversible configuration of the seven known phosphoinositide species is controlled by a battery of phosphoinositide kinases and phosphoinositide phosphatases, which are thus critical for phosphoinositide isomer-specific localization and functions.

Genome-wide analysis of Notch signalling in Drosophila by transgenic RNAi.

Genome-wide RNA interference (RNAi) screens have identified near-complete sets of genes involved in cellular processes. However, this methodology has not yet been used to study complex developmental processes in a tissue-specific manner. Here we report the use of a library of Drosophila strains expressing inducible hairpin RNAi constructs to study the Notch signalling pathway during external sensory organ development.

Decay channel dependence of the photoelectron angular distributions in core-level ionization of Ne dimers.

For K-shell photoionization of neon dimers, we report Ne 1s photoelectron angular distributions for Ne2++Ne+ and Ne++Ne+ channels exhibiting quite different patterns. Noninversion-symmetric patterns of the former obtained by the fast interatomic Coulombic decay of Auger final states show direct evidence of core-hole localization. Dipolar patterns of the latter obtained by the slow radiative decay of the other Auger final states clearly show that the radiative process is slow enough to allow dicationic dimers to rotate many times before fragmentation.