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Neutral sodium (Na i ) is an alkali metal with a favorable absorption cross section such that tenuous gases are easily illuminated at select transiting exoplanet systems. We examine both the time-averaged and time-series alkali spectral flux individually, over 4 nights at a hot Saturn system on a ∼2.8 day orbit about a Sun-like star WASP-49 A. Very Large Telescope/ESPRESSO observations are analyzed, providing new constraints. We recover the previously confirmed residual sodium flux uniquely when averaged, whereas night-to-night Na i varies by more than an order of magnitude. On HARPS/3.6 m Epoch II, we report a Doppler redshift at v _Γ,NaD = + 9.7 ± 1.6 km s ^−1 with respect to the planet’s rest frame. Upon examining the lightcurves, we confirm night-to-night variability, on the order of ∼1%–4% in NaD, rarely coinciding with exoplanet transit, not readily explained by stellar activity, starspots, tellurics, or the interstellar medium. Coincident with the ∼+10 km s ^−1 Doppler redshift, we detect a transient sodium absorption event dF _NaD / F _⋆ = 3.6% ± 1% at a relative difference of Δ F _NaD ( t ) ∼ 4.4% ± 1%, lasting Δ t _NaD ≳ 40 minutes. Since exoplanetary alkali signatures are blueshifted due to the natural vector of radiation pressure, estimated here at roughly ∼−5.7 km s ^−1 , the radial velocity is rather at +15.4 km s ^−1 , far larger than any known exoplanet system. Given that the redshift magnitude v _Γ is in between the Roche limit and dynamically stable satellite orbits, the transient sodium may be a putative indication of a natural satellite orbiting WASP-49 A b.

The structure of mismatched DNA-Polζ ternary complex provides a basis for understanding what makes Polζ adept at extending DNA synthesis past mismatched base pairs.

The human DNA primase and DNA polymerase PrimPol replicates through the major oxidative DNA damage lesion 7,8-dihydro-8-oxoguanine (oxoG) via translesion synthesis in a mostly error-free manner thus suppressing oxoG-induced mutagenesis in mitochondria and the nucleus. Here, the authors present crystal structures of PrimPol in complex with an oxoG lesion in different contexts that provide mechanistic insights into how PrimPol performs predominantly accurate synthesis on oxidative-damaged DNAs in human cells.

The vertical propagation of wave energy into a planet’s exosphere, a process that affects atmospheric evolution, is calculated here using 1D molecular kinetic simulations. Effects sensitive to molecular interactions are examined by comparing simulation results to solutions of linear fluid models for steady wave activity using parameters associated with Mars’ upper atmosphere. In addition to correctly describing the wave behavior in the exobase region, these simulations directly yield nonlinear effects such as atmospheric heating. They also readily include the transient behavior due to the onset and decay of waves propagating into the rarefied region of a planet’s atmosphere. This is a first step in understanding the effects of variable wave activity in the region where the atmosphere evolves from collisional to collisionless.

Retinal rod bipolar cells (RBCs) partially undergo programmed cell death triggering cell density-dependent plasticity. This study shows that increased removal of RBCs using genetic approaches causes dendrites of the remaining RBCs to expand and contact more rod photoreceptors while reducing connectivity with each.

DNA polymerase ζ (Polζ) is specialized for the extension step of translesion DNA synthesis (TLS). Despite its central role in maintaining genome integrity, little is known about its overall architecture. Initially identified as a heterodimer of the catalytic subunit Rev3 and the accessory subunit Rev7, yeast Polζ has recently been shown to form a stable four-subunit enzyme (Polζ-d) upon the incorporation of Pol31 and Pol32, the accessory subunits of yeast Polδ. To understand the 3D architecture and assembly of Polζ and Polζ-d, we employed electron microscopy. We show here how the catalytic and accessory subunits of Polζ and Polζ-d are organized relative to each other. In particular, we show that Polζ-d has a bilobal architecture resembling the replicative polymerases and that Pol32 lies in proximity to Rev7. Collectively, our study provides views of Polζ and Polζ-d and a structural framework for understanding their roles in DNA damage bypass.

BACKGROUND:Oxygen-free radicals formed during normal aerobic cellular metabolism attack bases in DNA and 7,8-dihydro-8-oxoguanine (8-oxoG) is one of the major lesions formed. It is amongst the most mutagenic lesions in cells because of its dual coding potential, wherein 8-oxoG(syn) can pair with an A in addition to normal base pairing of 8-oxoG(anti) with a C. Human DNA polymerase kappa (Polkappa) is a member of the newly discovered Y-family of DNA polymerases that possess the ability to replicate through DNA lesions. To understand the basis of Polkappa's preference for insertion of an A opposite 8-oxoG lesion, we have solved the structure of Polkappa in ternary complex with a template-primer presenting 8-oxoG in the active site and with dATP as the incoming nucleotide. METHODOLOGY AND PRINCIPAL FINDINGS:We show that the Polkappa active site is well-adapted to accommodate 8-oxoG in the syn conformation. That is, the polymerase and the bound template-primer are almost identical in their conformations to that in the ternary complex with undamaged DNA. There is no steric hindrance to accommodating 8-oxoG in the syn conformation for Hoogsteen base-paring with incoming dATP. CONCLUSIONS AND SIGNIFICANCE:The structure we present here is the first for a eukaryotic translesion synthesis (TLS) DNA polymerase with an 8-oxoG:A base pair in the active site. The structure shows why Polkappa is more efficient at inserting an A opposite the 8-oxoG lesion than a C. The structure also provides a basis for why Polkappa is more efficient at inserting an A opposite the lesion than other Y-family DNA polymerases.

The detection of heavy negative ions (up to 13 800 amu) in Titan’s ionosphere is one of the tantalizing new results from the Cassini mission. These heavy ions indicate for the first time the existence of heavy hydrocarbon and nitrile molecules in this primitive Earth-like atmosphere. These ions were suggested to be precursors of aerosols in Titan’s atmosphere and may precipitate to the surface as tholins. We present the evidence for and the analysis of these heavy negative ions at Titan. In addition we examine the variation of the maximum mass of the Titan negative ions with altitude and latitude for the relevant encounters so far, and we discuss the implications for the negative ion formation process. We present data from a recent set of encounters where the latitude was varied between encounters, with other parameters fixed. Models are beginning to explain the low mass negative ions, but the formation process for the higher mass ions is still not understood. It is possible that the structures may be chains, rings or even fullerenes. Negative ions, mainly water clusters in this case, were seen during Cassini’s recent close flybys of Enceladus. We present mass spectra from the Enceladus plume, showing water clusters and additional species. As at Titan, the negative ions indicate chemical complexities which were unknown before the Cassini encounters, and are indicative of a complex balance between neutrals and positively and negatively charged ions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thrust bearings have been the object of a considerable amount of research for many years. The attention that these bearings have received is primarily due to the important role they play in the design and operation of heavy equipment. The objectives of this work are to examine the effect of translation and bearing geometry, such as recess depth and width, on the performance of circular thrust bearings. A closed-form solution is obtained for laminar viscous flow that extends prior results which generally focus on stationary or hydrostatic bearings. Earlier studies have examined specific aspects of translation, such as recirculation in the recess, but the current study is a comprehensive analysis in the case of laminar flow. The analysis reveals a single dimensionless parameter that describes the influence of the bearing speed. Expressions that predict the load-carrying capacity of the bearing, the tilting moment exerted on the bearing, the volumetric leakage of the bearing, and power due to lubricant injection and translation are obtained. Streamline patterns under the bearing show conditions at higher speeds when the injected lubricant does not penetrate underneath the entire bearing surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extrasolar satellites are generally too small to be detected by nominal searches. By analogy to the most active body in the solar system, Io, we describe how sodium (Na i) and potassium (K i) gas could be a signature of the geological activity venting from an otherwise hidden exo-Io. Analyzing ∼a dozen close-in gas giants hosting robust alkaline detections, we show that an Io-sized satellite can be stable against orbital decay below a planetary tidal . This tidal energy is also focused into the satellite driving an ∼105±2 higher mass-loss rate than Io’s supply to Jupiter’s Na exosphere based on simple atmospheric loss estimates. The remarkable consequence is that several exo-Io column densities are, on average, more than sufficient to provide the ∼1010±1 Na cm−2 required by the equivalent width of exoplanet transmission spectra. Furthermore, the benchmark observations of both Jupiter’s extended (∼1000 RJ) Na exosphere and Jupiter’s atmosphere in transmission spectroscopy yield similar Na column densities that are purely exogenic in nature. As a proof of concept, we fit the “high-altitude” Na at WASP-49b with an ionization-limited cloud similar to the observed Na profile about Io. Moving forward, we strongly encourage time-dependent ingress and egress monitoring along with spectroscopic searches for other volcanic volatiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The confirmation and constraints of a Europa-generated neutral torus are presented based on available observations and computational modeling of relevant source species. These results are applied to determine if the Energetic Neutral Atom (ENA) images reported by Mauk et al. were produced by interactions with a Europa neutral particle torus or with the local charged particle population. Neutral tori provide important insights into the processes operating in large planet magnetospheres. Such features emerge when particles escape an embedded satellite and form a population that co-orbits with the moon. Torus distributions and compositions are directly related to the satellite composition and source mechanisms. Significant findings are as follows. (1) The presence of a Europa neutral torus is confirmed through the development of 3D Io and Europa neutral tori models. (2) Density constraints for H, H2, O, and O2 in the Europa neutral torus are determined. (3) The torus is highly asymmetric: Near Europa, ∼99% of the ENA image is produced by the neutral torus. Furthest from Europa, ∼15%–69% of the ENA emissions are caused by charge exchange interaction within the ambient plasma. In addition, we showed that (4) 7%–34% of the ENAs near Europa would be produced by charge exchange with neutrals, even with a three order of magnitude neutral source rate reduction (<2 × 1024). (5) Satellite source rate variations take longer to impact the Europa neutral torus than the Io neutral torus. Dominant processes at Europa’s orbit have lifetimes >2–8 days, while at Io, the neutral particles lifetimes are as short as 8–13 hr. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DNA polymerase ε (Polε) is a multi-subunit polymerase that contributes to genomic stability via its roles in leading strand replication and the repair of damaged DNA. Here we report the ternary structure of the Polε catalytic subunit (Pol2) bound to a nascent G:C base pair (Pol2G:C). Pol2G:C has a typical B-family polymerase fold and embraces the template-primer duplex with the palm, fingers, thumb and exonuclease domains. The overall arrangement of domains is similar to the structure of Pol2T:A reported recently, but there are notable differences in their polymerase and exonuclease active sites. In particular, we observe Ca2+ ions at both positions A and B in the polymerase active site and also observe a Ca2+ at position B of the exonuclease site. We find that the contacts to the nascent G:C base pair in the Pol2G:C structure are maintained in the Pol2T:A structure and reflect the comparable fidelity of Pol2 for nascent purine-pyrimidine and pyrimidine-purine base pairs. We note that unlike that of Pol3, the shape of the nascent base pair binding pocket in Pol2 is modulated from the major grove side by the presence of Tyr431. Together with Pol2T:A, our results provide a framework for understanding the structural basis of high fidelity DNA synthesis by Pol2.