Metal-organic frameworks based on octafluorobiphenyl-4,4'-dicarboxylate: synthesis, crystal structure, and surface functionality.

In contrast to aromatic carboxylates, the coordination polymers based on their perfluorinated analogues are not numerous. Here we present a series of six Zn(ii) coordination polymers of different dimensionalities (1D, 2D, and 3D) and porosities based on octafluorobiphenyl-4,4'-dicarboxylate (oFBPDC) and N-containing co-ligands (ur, dabco, and bpy). These complexes are characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, PXRD, FT-IR, elemental analysis, and TGA.

DNA damage checkpoint adaptation genes are required for division of cells harbouring eroded telomeres.

In budding yeast, telomerase and the Cdc13p protein are two key players acting to ensure telomere stability. In the absence of telomerase, cells eventually enter a growth arrest which only few can overcome via a conserved process; such cells are called survivors. Survivors rely on homologous recombination-dependent mechanisms for telomeric repeat addition.

Stimulus-selective regulation of human mast cell gene expression, degranulation and leukotriene production by fluticasone and salmeterol.

Despite the fact that glucocorticoids and long acting beta agonists are effective treatments for asthma, their effects on human mast cells (MC) appear to be modest. Although MC are one of the major effector cells in the underlying inflammatory reactions associated with asthma, their regulation by these drugs is not yet fully understood and, in some cases, controversial. Using a human immortalized MC line (LAD2), we studied the effects of fluticasone propionate (FP) and salmeterol (SM), on the release of early and late phase mediators.

A phenomenological theory of nonphotochemical laser induced nucleation.

We present a theory of electric field driven phase transitions that occur via nucleation of needle-shaped, metallic particles. The predictions of this theory have much in common with the observations related to nonphotochemical laser induced nucleation (NPLIN). That connection is rather paradoxical because the final NPLIN products are dielectric crystals.

Substance P primes lipoteichoic acid- and Pam3CysSerLys4-mediated activation of human mast cells by up-regulating Toll-like receptor 2.

Substance P (SP) is a neuropeptide with neuroimmunoregulatory activity that may play a role in susceptibility to infection. Human mast cells, which are important in innate immune responses, were analysed for their responses to pathogen-associated molecules via Toll-like receptors (TLRs) in the presence of SP. Human cultured mast cells (LAD2) were activated by SP and TLR ligands including lipopolysaccharide (LPS), Pam3CysSerLys4 (Pam3CSK4) and lipoteichoic acid (LTA), and mast cell leukotriene and chemokine production was assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and gene expression by quantitative PCR (qPCR).

Holliday junction formation by the Borrelia burgdorferi telomere resolvase, ResT: implications for the origin of genome linearity.

Spirochetes of the genus Borrelia include the causative agents of Lyme disease and relapsing fever. They possess unusual, highly segmented genomes composed mostly of linear replicons with covalently closed hairpin telomeres. The telomeres are formed from inverted repeat replicated telomere junctions (rTels) by the telomere resolvase, ResT.