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Densities (ρ) and viscosities (η) for the ternary system cyclopropanemethanol (1) + n-dodecane (2) + butylcyclohexane (3) and three corresponding binary systems have been measured at 11 temperatures from 293.15 to 343.15 K under atmospheric pressure. The excess molar volumes (V m E) and viscosity deviations (Δη) of binary systems have been calculated and fitted to the Redlich-Kister equation, while data of the ternary system have been fitted to the Clibuka, Singh, Nagata-Tamura, and Redlich-Kister equations, respectively. The value of the V m E of the investigated systems is positive, while the value of Δη is negative over the entire concentration range; the results are illustrated through molecular interactions and structural effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have investigated the adsorption of hydrophobically end-capped poly(ethylene glycol) (HE-PEG) with carbon number (m) in the hydrocarbon end chain ranging from 0 to 16 onto phospholipid membrane by use of quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D), surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). QCM-D and SPR studies show that the hydrophobic interaction between HE-PEG chains and the lipid membrane increases with the hydrocarbon chain length. At a low HE-PEG concentration, the adsorption cannot induce a vesicle-to-bilayer transition until the carbon number is up to 16. However, at a high HE-PEG concentration, the adsorption results in a vesicle-to-bilayer transition at m≥ 12. ITC measurements demonstrate that enthalpy change (ΔH) for the mixing of lipid vesicles with HE-PEG chains is too small to be detectable when mis less than 12. However, ΔHchanges from positive to negative as the carbon number increases from 12 to 16, indicating that the HE-PEG insertion increases with its hydrocarbon end-chain length. The present study reveals that the hydrophobic interaction between the lipid membrane and HE-PEG chains as well as the osmotic pressure drive the adsorption and insertion of such polymer chains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the development of multifunctional synthetic nucleosomes that enable the study of chromatin-mediated protein interactions. The topics include mapping the binding sites for nucleosome-protein interactions, investigating the recognition of specific histone modifications within the nucleosome, and identifying proteins associated with the nucleosome acidic patch.

The newly constructed time-resolved atomic, molecular and optical science instrument (TMO) is configured to take full advantage of both linear accelerators at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, the copper accelerator operating at a repetition rate of 120 Hz providing high per-pulse energy as well as the superconducting accelerator operating at a repetition rate of about 1 MHz providing high average intensity. Both accelerators power a soft X-ray freeelectron laser with the new variable-gap undulator section. With this flexible light source, TMO supports many experimental techniques not previously available at LCLS and will have two X-ray beam focus spots in line. Thereby, TMO supports atomic, molecular and optical, strong-field and nonlinear science and will also host a designated new dynamic reaction microscope with a submicrometer X-ray focus spot. The flexible instrument design is optimized for studying ultrafast electronic and molecular phenomena and can take full advantage of the sub-femtosecond soft X-ray pulse generation program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zinc is an essential element and serves as a structural or catalytic component in many proteins. Two families of transporters are involved in maintaining cellular zinc homeostasis: the ZIP (SLC39A) family that facilitates zinc influx into the cytoplasm, and the ZnT (SLC30A) family that facilitates zinc efflux from the cytoplasm. Zinc dyshomeostasis caused by the dysfunction of zinc transporters can contribute to the initiation or progression of various cancers, including prostate cancer, breast cancer, and pancreatic cancer. In addition, intracellular zinc fluctuations lead to the disturbance of certain signaling pathways involved in the malignant properties of cancer cells. This review briefly summarizes our current understanding of zinc dyshomeostasis in cancer, and discusses the potential roles of zinc or zinc transporters in cancer therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have consistently identified PLCE1 as esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) susceptibility gene; however, the functional role of PLCE1 variants remains to be verified. In this study, we performed fine mapping of the PLCE1 region using our previous ESCC GWAS data and identified 33 additional risk variants in this susceptibility locus. Here, we report the functional characterization of a four-nucleotide insertion/deletion variation (rs71031566 C----/CATTT) in PLCE1 that was associated with risk of developing ESCC. We demonstrate for the first time that rs71031566[CATTT] insertion creates a silencer element, repressing PLCE1 transcription via long-range interaction with PLCE1 promoter mediated by OCT-2 binding. PLCE1 is down-regulated in majority of clinical ESCC samples and overexpression of PLCE1 in ESCC cells suppresses cell growth in vitro and in vivo, suggesting a tumor suppressor role of this gene. Therefore, repression of PLCE1 transcription may be the underlying mechanism for the rs71031566[CATTT] variant to be susceptible to ESCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Measurements on density and viscosity at T = (293.15, 298.15, 303.15, 308.15 313.15, 318.15, 323.15, 328.15, and 333.15) K and the pressure P = 0.1 MPa for binary mixtures of n-dodecane or methylcyclohexane with 1-heptanol or cyclohexylmethanol have been carried out over the whole composition range. Densities were measured with a vibrating-tube densimeter. Viscosities were determined by an automatic microviscometer based on the rolling-ball principle. The excess molar volumes (VmE) and viscosity deviations (Δη) were calculated with experimental data and fitted to the Redlich-Kister equation. The results of these excess or deviation functions are explained by molecular interactions and structural effects. Freezing points were measured with a differential scanning calorimeter. The fundamental data, VmE and Δη can be used to study the nature of mixing behaviors between new hydrocarbon fuels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study related to the horizontal gene transfer of Fusarium head blight (Fhb)7 from fungus that underlies (Fhb) resistance in wheat. It mentions that wheat relatives in the triticeae tribe carry resistant genes to different diseases including FHB and thus can be alternative sources of FHB resistance for wheat breeding. It also mentions that elongatum carries biotic and abiotic resistance genes and is a useful resource for wheat breeding.