International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Cell surface glycosaminoglycans play important roles in cell adhesion and viral entry. Laboratory strains of two alphaviruses, Sindbis and Semliki Forest virus, have been shown to utilize heparan sulfate as an attachment receptor, whereas Ross River virus (RRV) does not significantly interact with it. However, a single amino acid substitution at residue 218 in the RRV E2 glycoprotein adapts the virus to heparan sulfate binding and expands the host range of the virus into chicken embryo fibroblasts. Structures of the RRV mutant, E2 N218R, and its complex with heparin were determined through the use of electron cryo-microscopy and image reconstruction methods. Heparin was found to bind at the distal end of the RRV spikes, in a region of the E2 glycoprotein that has been previously implicated in cell-receptor recognition and antibody binding.

Science.gov (United States)

Myostatin is a member of the transforming growth factor-{beta} (TGF-{beta}) family and a strong negative regulator of muscle growth. Here, we present the crystal structure of myostatin in complex with the antagonist follistatin 288 (Fst288). We find that the prehelix region of myostatin very closely resembles that of TGF-{beta} class members and that this region alone can be swapped into activin A to confer signalling through the non-canonical type I receptor Alk5. Furthermore, the N-terminal domain of Fst288 undergoes conformational rearrangements to bind myostatin and likely acts as a site of specificity for the antagonist. In addition, a unique continuous electropositive surface is created when myostatin binds Fst288, which significantly increases the affinity for heparin. This translates into stronger interactions with the cell surface and enhanced myostatin degradation in the presence of either Fst288 or Fst315. Overall, we have identified several characteristics unique to ...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Ingestion or inhalation of botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) results in botulism, a severe and frequently fatal disease. Current treatments rely on antitoxins, which while effective cannot reverse...Full Text Available

Science.gov (United States)

... $84JAN07X 133 147.654 ps 56 fs/s RMS_DEL: $95NOV21DX 607 144.552 ps 208 ...... $86MAR09XI 378 34.285 ps 77 fs/s RMS_DEL: $95MAR23XA 1628 34.270 ps 223 ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

An experimental study was conducted to investigate the heat transfer and friction loss characteristics in a horizontal rectangular channel having attachments of hollow rectangular profile fins over one of its heated surface. The Reynolds number based on the flow averaged inlet velocity and the hydraulic diameter, ranged from 3000 to 32,000. The hollow rectangular profile fins in 10cm height and axb=2cmx4cm dimensions with a thickness of 0.2cm were mounted on a heating surface vertically. Reynolds number, fin arrangement and fin pitch in the flow direction were the experimental parameters. Both in-line and staggered fin arrangements were studied for one-fixed spanwise (S{sub x}/a=3) and four different streamwise (S{sub y}/b=1.5, 1.875, 2.5 and 3.75) distances. Correlation equations for Nu, f and thermal performances were determined for fin configurations and the straight channel case without fins. (author)