Transcription and replication of the influenza virus RNA genome occur in the nuclei of infected cells through the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase consisting of PB1, PB2, and PA. We previously identified a host factor designated RAF-1 (RNA polymerase activating factor 1) that stimulates viral RNA synthesis. RAF-1 is found to be identical to Hsp90. Here, we examined the intracellular localizat...

Lead (Pb2+) is a major environmental pollutant that has severe adverse effects on the nervous system. Similar human populations are at risk of suffering both Pb2+ toxicity and zinc (Zn) deficiency. Thus, in the present study we investigated whether Zn deficiency can increase the susceptibility of human neuroblastoma IMR-32 cells to Pb2+-induced oxidative stress which could trigger the activatio...

In the present study, activated carbon prepared from cedar wood was synthesized, ‎via NaOH activation, and optimized to be used as adsorbent for Pb2+ removal ‎from aqueous solutions in a batch process mode. The physicochemical properties ‎of synthesized were examined by SEM, FTIR BET analysis. ‎order determine optimum operational conditions, effects of different ‎parameters including pH, dosage...

Artificially aminoacylated suppressor tRNAs were used to introduce photoreactive amino acids into model mitochondrial precursor proteins to probe the environment along the protein import pathway. Amino acids with benzophenone side chains of various lengths [DL-2-amino-3-(p-benzoylphenyl)propanoic acid (1) and DL-2-amino-5-(p-benzoylphenyl)pentanoic acid (2)] were incorporated at specific sites ...

Several amino acid changes have been previously implicated in adaptation of avian influenza viruses to human hosts, among them the D701N change in the PB2 polymerase subunit that also is the main determinant of avian virus pathogenesis in animal models. However, previous studies using recombinant viruses did not provide conclusive information of the contribution of this PB2 residue to pathogeni...

Influenza A virus (IAV) replicates in the upper respiratory tract of humans at 33 degrees C and in the intestinal tract of birds at close to 41 degrees C. The viral RNA polymerase complex comprises three subunits (PA, PB1 and PB2) and plays an important role in host adaptation. We therefore developed an in vitro system to examine the temperature sensitivity of IAV RNA polymerase complexes from ...

Host-adaptive strategies, such as the E627K substitution in the PB2 protein, are critical for replication of avian influenza A viruses in mammalian hosts. Here we show that mutation PB2-K526R is present in some human H7N9 influenza isolates, in nearly 80% of H5N1 human isolates from Indonesia and, in conjunction with E627K, in almost all seasonal H3N2 viruses since 1970. Polymerase complexes co...

The production of biosorbents by waste biomass has attracted considerable attention due to the low cost and abundance raw materials. Here biochar produced from Eucalyptus camdulensis sawdust (EU-biochar) via pyrolysis at 600 °C was used as a potential biosorbent for Ni2+ Pb2+ metal ions wastewater. Characterization experiments indicated formation C- O-bearing functional groups on EU-biochar sur...

An adsorbent ZO (oxidized ZIF-8-derived carbon) was prepared on the carbon (ZC) by modified Hummer’s method. The removal rate and adsorption amount of Pb2+ were measured different molar ratios 2-Hmim to 2, 2′-bipyridine in ZO, including 1:1 (1:1 ZO) 1:2 (1:2 ZO). experiments show that best condition adsorb solution for is an dosage 20 mg, time 16 h, initial Pb2+concentration 15 mg/L, pH = 3; 18...