scholarly journals A close look at the conformational transitions of a helical polymer in its response to environmental stimuli

AIP Advances ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 085107
Author(s):  
Shuangshuang Zhang ◽  
Ning Yuan ◽  
Weiping Li ◽  
Cuifang Wang ◽  
Fuxin Li ◽  
...  
Author(s):  
J.S. Wall ◽  
V. Maridiyan ◽  
S. Tumminia ◽  
J. Hairifeld ◽  
M. Boublik

The high contrast in the dark-field mode of dedicated STEM, specimen deposition by the wet film technique and low radiation dose (1 e/Å2) at -160°C make it possible to obtain high resolution images of unstained freeze-dried macromolecules with minimal structural distortion. Since the image intensity is directly related to the local projected mass of the specimen it became feasible to determine the molecular mass and mass distribution within individual macromolecules and from these data to calculate the linear density (M/L) and the radii of gyration.2 This parameter (RQ), reflecting the three-dimensional structure of the macromolecular particles in solution, has been applied to monitor the conformational transitions in E. coli 16S and 23S ribosomal RNAs in solutions of various ionic strength.In spite of the differences in mass (550 kD and 1050 kD, respectively), both 16S and 23S RNA appear equally sensitive to changes in buffer conditions. In deionized water or conditions of extremely low ionic strength both appear as filamentous structures (Fig. la and 2a, respectively) possessing a major backbone with protruding branches which are more frequent and more complex in 23S RNA (Fig. 2a).


Author(s):  
E. H. Egelman ◽  
X. Yu

The RecA protein of E. coli has been shown to mediate genetic recombination, regulate its own synthesis, control the expression of other genes, act as a specific protease, form a helical polymer and have an ATPase activity, among other observed properties. The unusual filament formed by the RecA protein on DNA has not previously been shown to exist outside of bacteria. Within this filament, the 36 Å pitch of B-form DNA is extended to about 95 Å, the pitch of the RecA helix. We have now establishedthat similar nucleo-protein complexes are formed by bacteriophage and yeast proteins, and availableevidence suggests that this structure is universal across all of biology, including humans. Thus, understanding the function of the RecA protein will reveal basic mechanisms, in existence inall organisms, that are at the foundation of general genetic recombination and repair.Recombination at this moment is assuming an importance far greater than just pure biology. The association between chromosomal rearrangements and neoplasms has become stronger and stronger, and these rearrangements are most likely products of the recombinatory apparatus of the normal cell. Further, damage to DNA appears to be a major cause of cancer.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suhua Li ◽  
Gencheng Li ◽  
Bing Gao ◽  
Sidharam P. Pujari ◽  
Xiaoyan Chen ◽  
...  

The first SuFEx click chemistry synthesis of SOF<sub>4</sub>-derived copolymers based upon the polymerization of bis(iminosulfur oxydifluorides) and bis(aryl silyl ethers) is described. This novel class of SuFEx polymer presents two key characteristics: First, the newly created [-N=S(=O)F-O-] polymer backbone linkages are themselves SuFExable and primed to undergo further high-yielding and precise SuFEx-based post-modification with phenols or amines to yield branched functional polymers. Second, studies of individual polymer chains of several of these new materials indicate the presence of helical polymer structures, which itself suggests a preferential approach of new monomers onto the growing polymer chain upon the formation of the stereogenic linking moiety.


2014 ◽  
Vol 55 ◽  
pp. 153-159 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ming S. Liu ◽  
Cheryl Taylor ◽  
Bill Chong ◽  
Lihui Liu ◽  
Ante Bilic ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 152
Author(s):  
Dorota Dabrowska ◽  
Justyna Mozejko-Ciesielska ◽  
Tomasz Pokój ◽  
Slawomir Ciesielski

Pseudomonas putida’s versatility and metabolic flexibility make it an ideal biotechnological platform for producing valuable chemicals, such as medium-chain-length polyhydroxyalkanoates (mcl-PHAs), which are considered the next generation bioplastics. This bacterium responds to environmental stimuli by rearranging its metabolism to improve its fitness and increase its chances of survival in harsh environments. Mcl-PHAs play an important role in central metabolism, serving as a reservoir of carbon and energy. Due to the complexity of mcl-PHAs’ metabolism, the manner in which P. putida changes its transcriptome to favor mcl-PHA synthesis in response to environmental stimuli remains unclear. Therefore, our objective was to investigate how the P. putida KT2440 wild type and mutants adjust their transcriptomes to synthesize mcl-PHAs in response to nitrogen limitation when supplied with sodium gluconate as an external carbon source. We found that, under nitrogen limitation, mcl-PHA accumulation is significantly lower in the mutant deficient in the stringent response than in the wild type or the rpoN mutant. Transcriptome analysis revealed that, under N-limiting conditions, 24 genes were downregulated and 21 were upregulated that were common to all three strains. Additionally, potential regulators of these genes were identified: the global anaerobic regulator (Anr, consisting of FnrA, Fnrb, and FnrC), NorR, NasT, the sigma54-dependent transcriptional regulator, and the dual component NtrB/NtrC regulator all appear to play important roles in transcriptome rearrangement under N-limiting conditions. The role of these regulators in mcl-PHA synthesis is discussed.


Author(s):  
Lev Levintov ◽  
Harish Vashisth

Ribonucleic acid (RNA) molecules are known to undergo conformational changes in response to various environmental stimuli including temperature, pH, and ligands. In particular, viral RNA molecules are a key example...


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