Ratiometric imaging of extracellular pH in bacterial biofilms with C-SNARF-4.

pH in the extracellular matrix of bacterial biofilms is of central importance for microbial metabolism. Biofilms possess a complex three-dimensional architecture characterized by chemically different microenvironments in close proximity. For decades, pH measurements in biofilms have been limited to monitoring bulk pH with electrodes.

Osteopontin reduces biofilm formation in a multi-species model of dental biofilm.

Background: Combating dental biofilm formation is the most effective means for the prevention of caries, one of the most widespread human diseases. Among the chemical supplements to mechanical tooth cleaning procedures, non-bactericidal adjuncts that target the mechanisms of bacterial biofilm formation have gained increasing interest in recent years. Milk proteins, such as lactoferrin, have been shown to interfere with bacterial colonization of saliva-coated surfaces.

Circulating endothelial progenitor cells do not contribute to regeneration of endothelium after murine arterial injury.

Aims: Endothelial regeneration after vascular injury, including percutaneous coronary intervention, is essential for vascular homeostasis and inhibition of neointima formation. Circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) have been implicated to contribute by homing and differentiating into endothelial cells (ECs). We tested this theory in a murine arterial injury model using carotid artery transplants and fluorescent reporter mice.

pH landscapes in a novel five-species model of early dental biofilm.

Background: Despite continued preventive efforts, dental caries remains the most common disease of man. Organic acids produced by microorganisms in dental plaque play a crucial role for the development of carious lesions. During early stages of the pathogenetic process, repeated pH drops induce changes in microbial composition and favour the establishment of an increasingly acidogenic and aciduric microflora.

SorLA regulates the activity of lipoprotein lipase by intracellular trafficking.

Many different tissues and cell types exhibit regulated secretion of lipoprotein lipase (LPL). However, the sorting of LPL in the trans Golgi network has not, hitherto, been understood in detail. Here, we characterize the role of SorLA (officially known as SorLA-1 or sortilin-related receptor) in the intracellular trafficking of LPL.

Modulation of the dopamine transporter by interaction with Secretory Carrier Membrane Protein 2.

The monoamine transporters for dopamine (DAT), norepinephrine (NET) and serotonin (SERT) facilitate the homeostatic balance of neurotransmitters in the synaptic cleft and thus, play a fundamental role in regulating neuronal activity. Despite the importance of these monoamine transporters in controlling brain function, only relatively little information is available regarding the cellular and molecular regulation of these proteins. The monoamine transporters have been found to associate with a number of different proteins that regulate the function and subcellular localization of the transporters.

siRNA nanoparticle functionalization of nanostructured scaffolds enables controlled multilineage differentiation of stem cells.

The creation of complex tissues and organs is the ultimate goal in tissue engineering. Engineered morphogenesis necessitates spatially controlled development of multiple cell types within a scaffold implant. We present a novel method to achieve this by adhering nanoparticles containing different small-interfering RNAs (siRNAs) into nanostructured scaffolds.

Enhanced yellow fluorescent protein photoconversion to a cyan fluorescent protein-like species is sensitive to thermal and diffusion conditions.

Ongoing research efforts into fluorescent proteins continuously generates new mutation variants, some of which can become photoactivated or photoconverted to a red-shifted color upon intense UV or blue light illumination. We report a built-in propensity for enhanced yellow fluorescent protein (EYFP) to undergo irreversible photoconversion into a cyan fluorescent protein (CFP)-like species upon green-light illumination. The photoconversion is thermally activated, happens mainly in fixed, nonsealed cell samples, and may result in a very bright and relatively photostable CFP-like species.

Adsorbate reactivity and thermal mobility from simple modeling of high-resolution core-level spectra: application to O/Al(111).

A high-resolution core-level spectroscopy investigation of the adsorption of oxygen on Al(111) at variable oxygen exposure demonstrates a low surface reactivity for an intensively cleaned surface. The threshold for oxide formation is as high as ∼200 L (langmuirs), at which point the coverage of the chemisorbed oxygen exceeds half a monolayer. A simple model is presented, using which it is possible to deduce the oxygen coverage from the core-level spectra and determine the initial sticking probability.

Endocytosis of apolipoprotein A-V by members of the low density lipoprotein receptor and the VPS10p domain receptor families.

Apolipoprotein A-V (apoA-V) is present in low amounts in plasma and has been found to modulate triacylglycerol levels in humans and in animal models. ApoA-V displays affinity for members of the low density lipoprotein receptor (LDL-R) gene family, known as the classical lipoprotein receptors, including LRP1 and SorLA/LR11. In addition to LDL-A binding repeats, the mosaic receptor SorLA/LR11 also possesses a Vps10p domain.

Type I hair cell degeneration in the utricular macula of the waltzing guinea pig.

Waltzing guinea pigs are an inbred guinea pig strain with a congenital and progressive balance and hearing disorder. A unique rod-shaped structure is found in the type I vestibular hair cells, that traverses the cell in an axial direction, extending towards the basement membrane. The present study estimates the total number of utricular hair cells and supporting cells in waltzing guinea pigs and age-matched control animals using the optical fractionator method.