Intersecting Factors Lead to Absolute Pitch Acquisition That is Maintained in a “Fixed do” Environment

2011 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 285-296 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah J. Wilson ◽  
Dean Lusher ◽  
Catherine L. Martin ◽  
Genevieve Rayner ◽  
Neil McLachlan
Keyword(s):  
Auditory Processing ◽  
Environmental Influences ◽  
Absolute Pitch ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Detailed Characterization ◽  
Behavioral Level ◽  
Complex Relationships

the skill of absolute pitch (ap) has been proposed as an ideal paradigm for investigating the complex relationships that exist between the genome and its expression at a cognitive and behavioral level (the phenotype). Yet despite this, we still have limited understanding of the early conditions that might be necessary or sufficient for development of this skill, and the influence of the current music environment has not been explored. To investigate these issues we undertook a detailed characterization of the early and current music environment of 160 musicians, and then identified factors predictive of varying extent of AP ability. The results demonstrate a similar contribution of past and present environmental influences, with a combination of factors (rather than any given factor) most salient in AP musicians. The novel finding for the role of the current environment suggests that auditory processing models emphasizing plasticity effects are relevant to AP ability.

Acid-Sensing Ion Channels

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan Gründer
Keyword(s):  
Nervous System ◽  
Ion Channels ◽  
Excitatory Synapses ◽  
Detailed Characterization ◽  
High Affinity ◽  
Acid Sensing Ion Channels ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Pathological Pain

Acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) are proton-gated Na+ channels. Being almost ubiquitously present in neurons of the vertebrate nervous system, their precise function remained obscure for a long time. Various animal toxins that bind to ASICs with high affinity and specificity have been tremendously helpful in uncovering the role of ASICs. We now know that they contribute to synaptic transmission at excitatory synapses as well as to sensing metabolic acidosis and nociception. Moreover, detailed characterization of mouse models uncovered an unanticipated role of ASICs in disorders of the nervous system like stroke, multiple sclerosis, and pathological pain. This review provides an overview on the expression, structure, and pharmacology of ASICs plus a summary of what is known and what is still unknown about their physiological functions and their roles in diseases.

scholarly journals USG and CT scan evaluation of patients of acute and chronic pancreatitis- a cross-sectional, comparative study

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (8) ◽  
pp. 3713 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aastha Bhatt ◽  
Awdhut Tiparse ◽  
Arpita Patel ◽  
Birwa Gandhi
Keyword(s):  
Ct Scan ◽  
Structural Changes ◽  
Radiation Hazard ◽  
Government Medical College ◽  
Detailed Characterization ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Medical College ◽  
Adjacent Structures

Background: Pancreatitis is a condition of inflammation of pancreas with high rate of morbidity and mortality. USG provides the initial radiological assessment of the organ, clue of the extent of involvement and an opportunity to evaluate other abdominal organs. CT scan provides a cross-sectional anatomy of the organ, its internal structure, focal or diffuse involvement and involvement of adjacent structures. This study is done to evaluate the role of USG and CT scan in patients of pancreatitis admitted to Sir Takhtsinhji hospital, government medical college, Bhavnagar, Gujarat, India. Aim was to understand the role of CT and USG in determination of diagnosis of pancreatitis and to highlight and evaluate the cases in which USG failed to diagnose the cases which were helped through by CT.Methods: This study was done in department of radio diagnosis at Sir Takhtsinhji hospital, government medical college, Bhavnagar, Gujarat, India, over a period of one year from June 2015 to June 2016. Each patient was studied taking into consideration relevant clinical and laboratory factors. USG of patients was done using My Lab 40 or My Lab 20 plus machine. CT scan was done using GE 16 Slice CT scan machine.Results: Ultrasound by non-invasiveness, lack of radiation hazard and by ability to demonstrate structural changes in organ is first investigation of choice in pancreatitis. However, USG fails imaging in conditions with excess of bowel gas or fatty patient. It lacks in detailed characterization of the inflammatory process and does not delineate extent of necrosis of the gland. CT is superior to ultrasound for precise detection of size, parenchyma, MPD, calcification, pseudocyst, ascites, pleural effusion, necrosis and peri pancreatic region and hence helps to determine exact extent of inflammation of the organ, multi-system involvement and prognosis.Conclusions: Ultrasound by non-invasiveness, easy availability, cost parameters, lack of radiation hazard and by ability to demonstrate structural changes in organ is first investigation of choice in pancreatitis. However, ultrasonography lacks in detailed characterization of the extent of involvement of the organ and adjacent structures. CT is superior to ultrasound for precise detection and extension of the pancreatitis and it has better sensitivity and specificity than ultrasonography. 

scholarly journals Activation and activity of glycosylated KLKs 3, 4 and 11

2018 ◽  
Vol 399 (9) ◽  
pp. 1009-1022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shihui Guo ◽  
Peter Briza ◽  
Viktor Magdolen ◽  
Hans Brandstetter ◽  
Peter Goettig
Keyword(s):  
Physiological Function ◽  
Periodic Acid ◽  
Hek293 Cells ◽  
Secretory Expression ◽  
Detailed Characterization ◽  
Periodic Acid Schiff ◽  
Clinical Biomarkers ◽  
Schiff Reaction

Abstract Human kallikrein-related peptidases 3, 4, 11, and KLK2, the activator of KLK3/PSA, belong to the prostatic group of the KLKs, whose major physiological function is semen liquefaction during the fertilization process. Notably, these KLKs are upregulated in prostate cancer and are used as clinical biomarkers or have been proposed as therapeutic targets. However, this potential awaits a detailed characterization of these proteases. In order to study glycosylated prostatic KLKs resembling the natural proteases, we used Leishmania (LEXSY) and HEK293 cells for secretory expression. Both systems allowed the subsequent purification of soluble pro-KLK zymogens with correct propeptides and of the mature forms. Periodic acid-Schiff reaction, enzymatic deglycosylation assays, and mass spectrometry confirmed the glycosylation of these KLKs. Activation of glycosylated pro-KLKs 4 and 11 turned out to be most efficient by glycosylated KLK2 and KLK4, respectively. By comparing the glycosylated prostatic KLKs with their non-glycosylated counterparts from Escherichia coli, it was observed that the N-glycans stabilize the KLK proteases and change their activation profiles and their enzymatic activity to some extent. The functional role of glycosylation in prostate-specific KLKs could pave the way to a deeper understanding of their biology and to medical applications.

scholarly journals Transcription-termination-mediated immunity and its prevention in bacteriophage SfV of Shigella flexneri

2007 ◽  
Vol 88 (11) ◽  
pp. 3187-3197 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fleur Roberts ◽  
Gwen E. Allison ◽  
Naresh K. Verma
Keyword(s):  
Essential Role ◽  
Transcription Termination ◽  
Shigella Flexneri ◽  
Temperate Phage ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Subsequent Infection

The temperate phage SfV encodes the genes responsible for the serotype conversion of Shigella flexneri strains from serotype Y to 5a. Bacteriophages often encode proteins that prevent subsequent infection by homologous phages; the mechanism by which this is accomplished is referred to as superinfection immunity. The serotype conversion mediated following lysogenization of SfV is one such mechanism. Another mechanism is the putative λ-like CI protein within SfV. This study reports the characterization of a third superinfection mechanism, transcription termination, in SfV. The presence of a small immunity-mediating RNA molecule, called CI RNA, and its essential role in the establishment of immunity, is shown. The novel role of the gene orf77, located immediately downstream from the transcription termination region, in inhibiting the establishment of CI RNA-mediated immunity is also presented.

scholarly journals Development and Characterization of Anti-Nitr9 Antibodies

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Radhika N. Shah ◽  
Ivan Rodriguez-Nunez ◽  
Donna D. Eason ◽  
Robert N. Haire ◽  
Julien Y. Bertrand ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rna Splicing ◽  
Killer Cell ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Natural Killer Cell Receptors ◽  
Hematopoietic Lineage ◽  
Activating Receptors ◽  
Functional Orthologs ◽  
Activating Receptor

The novel immune-type receptors (NITRs), which have been described in numerous bony fish species, are encoded by multigene families of inhibitory and activating receptors and are predicted to be functional orthologs to the mammalian natural killer cell receptors (NKRs). Within the zebrafish NITR family,nitr9is the only gene predicted to encode an activating receptor. However, alternative RNA splicing generates three distinctnitr9transcripts, each of which encodes a different isoform. Althoughnitr9transcripts have been detected in zebrafish lymphocytes, the specific hematopoietic lineage(s) that expresses Nitr9 remains to be determined. In an effort to better understand the role of NITRs in zebrafish immunity, anti-Nitr9 monoclonal antibodies were generated and evaluated for the ability to recognize the three Nitr9 isoforms. The application of these antibodies to flow cytometry should prove to be useful for identifying the specific lymphocyte lineages that express Nitr9 and may permit the isolation of Nitr9-expressing cells that can be directly assessed for cytotoxic (e.g., NK) function.

Detailed characterization of the endocannabinoid system in human macrophages and foam cells, and anti-inflammatory role of type-2 cannabinoid receptor

2014 ◽  
Vol 233 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-63 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valerio Chiurchiù ◽  
Mirko Lanuti ◽  
Giuseppina Catanzaro ◽  
Filomena Fezza ◽  
Cinzia Rapino ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cannabinoid Receptor ◽  
Endocannabinoid System ◽  
Foam Cells ◽  
Detailed Characterization ◽  
Human Macrophages ◽  
Anti Inflammatory

scholarly journals Generation of Amylosucrase Variants That Terminate Catalysis of Acceptor Elongation at the Di- or Trisaccharide Stage

2009 ◽  
Vol 75 (23) ◽  
pp. 7453-7460 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jens Schneider ◽  
Christin Fricke ◽  
Heike Overwin ◽  
Birgit Hofmann ◽  
Bernd Hofer
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Random Mutagenesis ◽  
Structural Models ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Chain Elongation ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Detailed Characterization ◽  
Oligosaccharide Chain ◽  
Glucan Chain

ABSTRACT An amylosucrase gene was subjected to high-rate segmental random mutagenesis, which was directed toward a segment encoding amino acids that influence the interaction with substrate molecules in subsites −1 to +3. A screen was used to identify enzyme variants with compromised glucan chain elongation. With an average mutation rate of about one mutation per targeted codon, a considerable fraction (82%) of the clones that retained catalytic activity were deficient in this trait. A detailed characterization of selected variants revealed that elongation terminated when chains reached lengths of only two or three glucose moieties. Sequencing showed that the amylosucrase derivatives had an average of no more than two amino acid substitutions and suggested that predominantly exchanges of Asp394 or Gly396 were crucial for the novel properties. Structural models of the variants indicated that steric interference between the amino acids introduced at these sites and the growing oligosaccharide chain are mainly responsible for the limitation of glucosyl transfers. The variants generated may serve as biocatalysts for limited addition of glucose moieties to acceptor molecules, using sucrose as a readily available donor substrate.

scholarly journals Organization of the biosynthetic gene cluster in Streptomyces sp. DSM 4137 for the novel neuroprotectant polyketide meridamycin

Microbiology ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 152 (12) ◽  
pp. 3507-3515 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuhui Sun ◽  
Hui Hong ◽  
Markiyan Samborskyy ◽  
Tatiana Mironenko ◽  
Peter F. Leadlay ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neurodegenerative Disorders ◽  
Gene Deletion ◽  
Polyketide Synthase ◽  
Biosynthetic Gene Cluster ◽  
Specific Gene ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Biosynthetic Gene ◽  
Modular Polyketide Synthase

Meridamycin is a non-immunosuppressant, FKBP-binding macrocyclic polyketide, which has major potential as a neuroprotectant in a range of neurodegenerative disorders including dementia, Parkinson's disease and ischaemic stroke. A biosynthetic cluster predicted to encode biosynthesis of meridamycin was cloned from the prolific secondary-metabolite-producing strain Streptomyces sp. DSM 4137, not previously known to produce this compound, and specific gene deletion was used to confirm the role of this cluster in the biosynthesis of meridamycin. The meridamycin modular polyketide synthase consists of 14 extension modules distributed between three giant multienzyme proteins. The terminal module is flanked by a highly unusual cytochrome P450-like domain. The characterization of the meridamycin biosynthetic locus in this readily manipulated streptomycete species opens the way to the engineering of new, altered meridamycins of potential therapeutic importance.

Characterization of the novel role of NinaB orthologs from Bombyx mori and Tribolium castaneum

2019 ◽  
Vol 109 ◽  
pp. 106-115 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chunli Chai ◽  
Xin Xu ◽  
Weizhong Sun ◽  
Fang Zhang ◽  
Chuan Ye ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bombyx Mori ◽  
Tribolium Castaneum ◽  
The Novel

scholarly journals Heterogeneity Among Ly-49C Natural Killer (NK) Cells: Characterization of Highly Related Receptors with Differing Functions and Expression Patterns

1996 ◽  
Vol 184 (6) ◽  
pp. 2085-2090 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jack Brennan ◽  
Suzanne Lemieux ◽  
J. Douglas Freeman ◽  
Dixie L. Mager ◽  
Fumio Takei
Keyword(s):  
Nk Cells ◽  
Nk Cell ◽  
Expression Patterns ◽  
Flow Cytometric Analysis ◽  
Cdna Clones ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Color Flow ◽  
Flow Cytometric

Ly-49C is a member of the polymorphic family of murine NK cell inhibitory receptors. The 5E6 antibody that defines a subset of NK cells responsible for the rejection of parental H-2d bone marrow by F1 mice has been shown previously to react with Ly-49C. Here, the 5E6 antibody was found to detect two Ly-49C-related molecules in B6 mice. Two cDNA clones were isolated from B6 NK cells, one identical to previously reported Ly-49CB6 and the other a novel cDNA. The deduced amino acid sequence of the latter differs from that of Ly-49CBALB at only 4 residues, whereas the previously reported Ly-49CB6 differs at 22 residues. Flow cytometric analyses of COS cells transfected with the two cDNAs showed that the 5E6 antibody binds to both Ly-49 molecules, while another anti-Ly-49C antibody, 4LO3311, binds to the newly described Ly-49C but not the previously reported Ly-49CB6. Two-color flow cytometric analysis detected 5E6+4LO3311− as well as 5E6+4LO3311+ subsets of NK cells from B6, but not BALB/c, mice. The level of Ly-49C expression on B6 NK cells detected by the 4LO3311 antibody was substantially lower than that on BALB/c NK cells. Binding specificity of the novel Ly-49CB6 was indistinguishable from that of Ly-49CBALB, whereas no binding was detectable with previously reported Ly-49CB6. These results demonstrate that the newly described Ly-49CB6, not the previously reported Ly-49CB6, is the probable B6 allelic form of Ly49C. The previously reported Ly-49CB6 must be encoded by a separate gene and should be renamed Ly-49I. The implication of these results with respect to the role of Ly-49C in hybrid resistance is discussed.

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