An NLR paralog Pit2 generated from tandem duplication of Pit1 fine-tunes Pit1 localization and function.

NLR family proteins act as intracellular receptors. Gene duplication amplifies the number of NLR genes, and subsequent mutations occasionally provide modifications to the second gene that benefits immunity. However, evolutionary processes after gene duplication and functional relationships between duplicated NLRs remain largely unclear.

Acceptance-cone-tunable electron spectrometer for highly-efficient constant energy mapping.

We have developed an acceptance-cone-tunable (ACT) electron spectrometer for the highly efficient constant-energy photoelectron mapping of functional materials. The ACT spectrometer consists of the hemispherical deflection analyzer with the mesh-type electrostatic lens near the sample. The photoelectron trajectory can be converged by applying a negative bias to the sample and grounding the mesh lens and the analyzer entrance.

Widely Dispersed Intermolecular Valence Bands of Epitaxially Grown Perfluoropentacene on Pentacene Single Crystals.

Strong intermolecular electronic coupling and well-ordered molecular arrangements enable efficient transport of both charge carriers and excitons in semiconducting π-conjugated molecular solids. Thus, molecular heteroepitaxy to form crystallized donor-acceptor molecular interfaces potentially leads to a novel strategy for creating efficient organic optoelectronic devices via the concomitance of these two requirements. In the present study, the crystallographic and electronic structures of a heteroepitaxial molecular interface, perfluoropentacene (PFP, CF) grown on pentacene single crystals (Pn-SCs, CH), were determined by means of grazing-incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXD) and angle-resolved ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (ARUPS), respectively.

Direct visualization of diffuse unoccupied molecular orbitals at a rubrene/graphite interface.

Spectroscopic and nanoscale imaging investigations concerning the spatial extent of molecular orbitals at organic/substrate interfaces have been of intense interest to understand charge dynamics. Here, the spatial extent of unoccupied molecular orbitals of ultrathin rubrene [5,6,11,12-tetraphenyltetracene] films has been investigated with scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy. Based on constant-current distance (z)-voltage (V) measurements, the unoccupied energy levels are elucidated and found to be consistent with previously reported macroscopic two-photon photoemission (2PPE) spectroscopy.

Probing Triplet Excited States and Managing Blue Light Emission of Neutral Tetradentate Platinum(II) Complexes.

The structural and photophysical properties of tetradentate Pt(ppzOppz), Pt(ppzOpopy), Pt(ppzOczpy), and Pt(czpyOczpy) have been experimentally and theoretically explored. Single-crystal diffraction measurements provided accurate structural information. Electrochemical and photophysical characterizations revealed internal electronic energy levels in ground and excited states.

Electronic excitation and relaxation dynamics of the LUMO-derived level in rubrene thin films on graphite.

Time resolved two-photon photoemission (TR-2PPE) spectroscopy has been performed for rubrene films on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite. When a second layer is formed on the first monolayer (ML), 2PPE intensity from the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO)-derived level shows a clear resonance at a pump photon energy of 4.1 eV.

Self-Assembly of Tetraphenyldibenzoperiflanthene (DBP) Films on Ag(111) in the Monolayer Regime.

Tetraphenyldibenzoperiflanthene (DBP) is a promising candidate as a component of highly efficient organic photovoltaic cells and organic light-emitting diodes. The structural properties of thin films of this particular lander-type molecule on Ag(111) were investigated by complementary techniques. Highly ordered structures were obtained, and their mutual alignment was characterized by means of low-energy electron diffraction (LEED).

The complex polymorphism and thermodynamic behavior of a seemingly simple system: naphthalene on Cu(111).

Naphthalene, C10H8, is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) consisting of two fused benzene rings. From previous studies, it is known to form three different commensurate structures in thin epitaxial films on Cu(111), depending on the preparation conditions. One of these structures even exhibits a chiral motif of molecular rotations within the unit cell.

Dynamic regulation of myosin light chain phosphorylation by Rho-kinase.

Myosin light chain (MLC) phosphorylation plays important roles in various cellular functions such as cellular morphogenesis, motility, and smooth muscle contraction. MLC phosphorylation is determined by the balance between activities of Rho-associated kinase (Rho-kinase) and myosin phosphatase. An impaired balance between Rho-kinase and myosin phosphatase activities induces the abnormal sustained phosphorylation of MLC, which contributes to the pathogenesis of certain vascular diseases, such as vasospasm and hypertension.