scholarly journals Microscopic and immunohistochemical analyses of the claw of the nesting dinosaur, Citipati osmolskae

2016 ◽  
Vol 283 (1842) ◽  
pp. 20161997 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alison E. Moyer ◽  
Wenxia Zheng ◽  
Mary H. Schweitzer
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Level ◽  
Original Description ◽  
Structural Proteins ◽  
Thin Lens ◽  
Fossil Material ◽  
Calcium Chelation ◽  
Alpha Keratin ◽  
White Material ◽  
Cretaceous Fossils ◽  
Immunohistochemical Analyses

One of the most well-recognized Cretaceous fossils is Citipati osmolskae (MPC-D 100/979), an oviraptorid dinosaur discovered in brooding position on a nest of unhatched eggs. The original description refers to a thin lens of white material extending from a manus ungual, which was proposed to represent original keratinous claw sheath that, in life, would have covered it. Here, we test the hypothesis that this exceptional morphological preservation extends to the molecular level. The fossil sheath was compared with that of extant birds, revealing similar morphology and microstructural organization. In living birds, the claw sheath consists primarily of two structural proteins; alpha-keratin, expressed in all vertebrates, and beta-keratin, found only in reptiles and birds (sauropsids). We employed antibodies raised against avian feathers, which comprise almost entirely of beta-keratin, to demonstrate that fossil tissues respond with the same specificity, though less intensity, as those from living birds. Furthermore, we show that calcium chelation greatly increased antibody reactivity, suggesting a role for calcium in the preservation of this fossil material.

scholarly journals Small Structural Proteins E and M Render the SARS-CoV-2 Pseudovirus More Infectious and Reveal the Phenotype of Natural Viral Variants

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (16) ◽  
pp. 9087
Author(s):  
Hsin-I Wang ◽  
Zih-Shiuan Chuang ◽  
Yu-Ting Kao ◽  
Yi-Ling Lin ◽  
Jian-Jong Liang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Level ◽  
Structural Proteins ◽  
Viral Infectivity ◽  
Converting Enzyme ◽  
Biological Functions ◽  
Viral Receptor ◽  
S Protein ◽  
Antigenic Properties ◽  
M Proteins ◽  
Original Virus

The SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus is a commonly used strategy that mimics certain biological functions of the authentic virus by relying on biological legitimacy at the molecular level. Despite the fact that spike (S), envelope (E), and membrane (M) proteins together wrap up the SARS-CoV-2 virion, most of the reported pseudotype viruses consist of only the S protein. Here, we report that the presence of E and M increased the virion infectivity by promoting the S protein priming. The S, E, and M (SEM)-coated pseudovirion is spherical, containing crown-like spikes on the surface. Both S and SEM pseudoviruses packaged the same amounts of viral RNA, but the SEM virus bound more efficiently to cells stably expressing the viral receptor human angiotensin-converting enzyme II (hACE2) and became more infectious. Using this SEM pseudovirus, we examined the infectivity and antigenic properties of the natural SARS-CoV-2 variants. We showed that some variants have higher infectivity than the original virus and that some render the neutralizing plasma with lower potency. These studies thus revealed possible mechanisms of the dissemination advantage of these variants. Hence, the SEM pseudovirion provides a useful tool to evaluate the viral infectivity and capability of convalescent sera in neutralizing specific SARS-CoV-2 S dominant variants.

scholarly journals Angiosperms from the Early Cretaceous sediments of India

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 123-136
Author(s):  
Chinnappa Chopparapu ◽  
Rajanikanth Annamraju ◽  
Pauline Sabina Kavali ◽  
ConfiguraçõesSarah Gonçalves Duarte
Keyword(s):  
Early Cretaceous ◽  
Aquatic Environment ◽  
Angiosperm Evolution ◽  
First Report ◽  
Fossil Remains ◽  
Phylogenetic Studies ◽  
Fossil Material ◽  
Molecular Phylogenetic ◽  
Cretaceous Fossils ◽  
Godavari Basin

This study presents the first report of angiosperm macrofossil assemblage from the Early Cretaceous sediments of India, containing a fruit, a spike, a petal, leaves, and an axis from the Krishna Godavari Basin. This assemblage provides clues to angiosperm evolution and ecology during the Early Cretaceous of India. The described enigmatic forms are comparable to fruits of Trapa, and palm leaves and spikes of Potamogeton. The fossil material also includes ribbon-like leaves with a small axis; fossil remains suggest affinity with the monocotyledon group and support recent morphological and molecular phylogenetic studies to establish the divergence of this group from dicotyledons, during the early Cretaceous. Fossils described in the present study suggest an affinity for an aquatic environment that appears to be ideal for some early angiosperms.

Preparatory Procedures for Electron Microscopic Analysis at the Molecular Level of Resolution

1978 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 516-520
Author(s):  
F.J. Sjostrand
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscope ◽  
Molecular Level ◽  
Microscopic Analysis ◽  
Resolving Power ◽  
Cellular Structures ◽  
Electron Microscopic ◽  
Systematic Analysis ◽  
Technical Developments ◽  
Thin Sectioning ◽  
Obvious Reason

In the 1940's and 1950's electron microscopy conferences were attended with everybody interested in learning about the latest technical developments for one very obvious reason. There was the electron microscope with its outstanding performance but nobody could make very much use of it because we were lacking proper techniques to prepare biological specimens. The development of the thin sectioning technique with its perfectioning in 1952 changed the situation and systematic analysis of the structure of cells could now be pursued. Since then electron microscopists have in general become satisfied with the level of resolution at which cellular structures can be analyzed when applying this technique. There has been little interest in trying to push the limit of resolution closer to that determined by the resolving power of the electron microscope.

RNA polymerase: Preparation and structural analysis of helical polymers

1984 ◽  
Vol 42 ◽  
pp. 152-153
Author(s):  
E. Loren Buhle ◽  
Pamela Rew ◽  
Ueli Aebi
Keyword(s):  
Structural Analysis ◽  
Rna Polymerase ◽  
Molecular Level ◽  
X Ray Diffraction ◽  
Helical Polymers ◽  
X Ray ◽  
E Coli ◽  
The Past ◽  
Ordered Arrays ◽  
Low Ionic Strength

While DNA-dependent RNA polymerase represents one of the key enzymes involved in transcription and ultimately in gene expression in procaryotic and eucaryotic cells, little progress has been made towards elucidation of its 3-D structure at the molecular level over the past few years. This is mainly because to date no 3-D crystals suitable for X-ray diffraction analysis have been obtained with this rather large (MW ~500 kd) multi-subunit (α2ββ'ζ). As an alternative, we have been trying to form ordered arrays of RNA polymerase from E. coli suitable for structural analysis in the electron microscope combined with image processing. Here we report about helical polymers induced from holoenzyme (α2ββ'ζ) at low ionic strength with 5-7 mM MnCl2 (see Fig. 1a). The presence of the ζ-subunit (MW 86 kd) is required to form these polymers, since the core enzyme (α2ββ') does fail to assemble into such structures under these conditions.

The Current Situation in Chemical Stabilization of Biological Materials

1972 ◽  
Vol 30 ◽  
pp. 132-133
Author(s):  
John H. Luft
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Electron Microscope ◽  
Osmium Tetroxide ◽  
Molecular Level ◽  
Cross Linking ◽  
Chemical Stabilization ◽  
Specimen Preparation ◽  
Sufficient Condition ◽  
Radio Telescopes

With information processing devices such as radio telescopes, microscopes or hi-fi systems, the quality of the output often is limited by distortion or noise introduced at the input stage of the device. This analogy can be extended usefully to specimen preparation for the electron microscope; fixation, which initiates the processing sequence, is the single most important step and, unfortunately, is the least well understood. Although there is an abundance of fixation mixtures recommended in the light microscopy literature, osmium tetroxide and glutaraldehyde are favored for electron microscopy. These fixatives react vigorously with proteins at the molecular level. There is clear evidence for the cross-linking of proteins both by osmium tetroxide and glutaraldehyde and cross-linking may be a necessary if not sufficient condition to define fixatives as a class.

Atom-probe analysis of the solid-liquid interface

1995 ◽  
Vol 53 ◽  
pp. 676-677
Author(s):  
J.A. Panitz
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Level ◽  
Selective Adsorption ◽  
Electronic Devices ◽  
Atom Probe ◽  
Chemical Agent ◽  
Hostile Environment ◽  
Solid Interface ◽  
Solid Liquid Interface ◽  
Solid Liquid ◽  
Chemically Selective

The first few atomic layers of a solid can form a barrier between its interior and an often hostile environment. Although adsorption at the vacuum-solid interface has been studied in great detail, little is known about adsorption at the liquid-solid interface. Adsorption at a liquid-solid interface is of intrinsic interest, and is of technological importance because it provides a way to coat a surface with monolayer or multilayer structures. A pinhole free monolayer (with a reasonable dielectric constant) could lead to the development of nanoscale capacitors with unique characteristics and lithographic resists that surpass the resolution of their conventional counterparts. Chemically selective adsorption is of particular interest because it can be used to passivate a surface from external modification or change the wear and the lubrication properties of a surface to reflect new and useful properties. Immunochemical adsorption could be used to fabricate novel molecular electronic devices or to construct small, “smart”, unobtrusive sensors with the potential to detect a wide variety of preselected species at the molecular level. These might include a particular carcinogen in the environment, a specific type of explosive, a chemical agent, a virus, or even a tumor in the human body.

Exposure of protein VP7 on the surface of bluetongue virus

1990 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 600-601
Author(s):  
A.D. Hyatt
Keyword(s):  
Bluetongue Virus ◽  
Structural Proteins ◽  
Major Constituent ◽  
Outer Coat ◽  
Virus Particles ◽  
Antibody Recognition ◽  
The Core ◽  
The Family ◽  
Electron Microscopical ◽  
Physical Accessibility

Bluetongue virus (BTV) is the type species os the genus orbivirus in the family Reoviridae. The virus has a fibrillar outer coat containing two major structural proteins VP2 and VP5 which surround an icosahedral core. The core contains two major proteins VP3 and VP7 and three minor proteins VP1, VP4 and VP6. Recent evidence has indicated that the core comprises a neucleoprotein center which is surrounded by two protein layers; VP7, a major constituent of capsomeres comprises the outer and VP3 the inner layer of the core . Antibodies to VP7 are currently used in enzyme-linked immunosorbant assays and immuno-electron microscopical (JEM) tests for the detection of BTV. The tests involve the antibody recognition of VP7 on virus particles. In an attempt to understand how complete viruses can interact with antibodies to VP7 various antibody types and methodologies were utilized to determine the physical accessibility of the core to the external environment.

Shot-noise simulations of HREM images of polymer crystals

1989 ◽  
Vol 47 ◽  
pp. 342-343
Author(s):  
Philippe Pradère ◽  
Edwin L. Thomas
Keyword(s):  
Low Dose ◽  
Molecular Level ◽  
High Resolution Electron Microscopy ◽  
Crystal Defects ◽  
Inorganic Materials ◽  
Photographic Emulsion ◽  
Polymer Crystals ◽  
Resolution Electron ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Lattice Images

High Resolution Electron Microscopy (HREM) is a very powerful technique for the study of crystal defects at the molecular level. Unfortunately polymer crystals are beam sensitive and are destroyed almost instantly under the typical HREM imaging conditions used for inorganic materials. Recent developments of low dose imaging at low magnification have nevertheless permitted the attainment of lattice images of very radiation sensitive polymers such as poly-4-methylpentene-1 and enabled molecular level studies of crystal defects in somewhat more resistant ones such as polyparaxylylene (PPX) [2].With low dose conditions the images obtained are very noisy. Noise arises from the support film, photographic emulsion granularity and in particular, the statistical distribution of electrons at the typical doses of only few electrons per unit resolution area. Figure 1 shows the shapes of electron distribution, according to the Poisson formula :

Morphology of High-Performance Rigid-Rod Polymer Fibers and Molecular Composites

1989 ◽  
Vol 47 ◽  
pp. 338-339
Author(s):  
W.W. Adams ◽  
S. J. Krause
Keyword(s):  
Tensile Strength ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Liquid Crystalline ◽  
Molecular Level ◽  
Synergistic Effects ◽  
Tensile Modulus ◽  
Commercial Development ◽  
The Matrix ◽  
Molecular Composites ◽  
Rigid Rod

Rigid-rod polymers such as PBO, poly(paraphenylene benzobisoxazole), Figure 1a, are now in commercial development for use as high-performance fibers and for reinforcement at the molecular level in molecular composites. Spinning of liquid crystalline polyphosphoric acid solutions of PBO, followed by washing, drying, and tension heat treatment produces fibers which have the following properties: density of 1.59 g/cm3; tensile strength of 820 kpsi; tensile modulus of 52 Mpsi; compressive strength of 50 kpsi; they are electrically insulating; they do not absorb moisture; and they are insensitive to radiation, including ultraviolet. Since the chain modulus of PBO is estimated to be 730 GPa, the high stiffness also affords the opportunity to reinforce a flexible coil polymer at the molecular level, in analogy to a chopped fiber reinforced composite. The objectives of the molecular composite concept are to eliminate the thermal expansion coefficient mismatch between the fiber and the matrix, as occurs in conventional composites, to eliminate the interface between the fiber and the matrix, and, hopefully, to obtain synergistic effects from the exceptional stiffness of the rigid-rod molecule. These expectations have been confirmed in the case of blending rigid-rod PBZT, poly(paraphenylene benzobisthiazole), Figure 1b, with stiff-chain ABPBI, poly 2,5(6) benzimidazole, Fig. 1c A film with 30% PBZT/70% ABPBI had tensile strength 190 kpsi and tensile modulus of 13 Mpsi when solution spun from a 3% methane sulfonic acid solution into a film. The modulus, as predicted by rule of mixtures, for a film with this composition and with planar isotropic orientation, should be 16 Mpsi. The experimental value is 80% of the theoretical value indicating that the concept of a molecular composite is valid.

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