A human anti-matriptase-2 antibody limits iron overload, α-globin aggregates, and splenomegaly in β-thalassemic mice.

Iron plays a major role in the deterioration of β-thalassemia. Indeed, the high levels of transferrin saturation and iron delivered to erythroid progenitors are associated with production of α-globin precipitates that negatively affect erythropoiesis. Matriptase-2/TMPRSS6, a membrane-bound serine protease expressed in hepatocytes, negatively modulates hepcidin production and thus is a key target to prevent iron overload in β-thalassemia.

Non-destructive detection of large molecules without mass limitation.

The problem for molecular identification knows many solutions, which include mass spectrometers whose mass sensitivity depends on the performance of the detector involved. The purpose of this article is to show by means of molecular dynamics simulations how a laser-cooled ion cloud, confined in a linear radio-frequency trap, can reach the ultimate sensitivity providing the detection of individual charged heavy molecular ions. In our simulations, we model the laser-cooled Ca ions as two-level atoms, confined thanks to a set of constant and time oscillating electrical fields.