Intercellular communication between oocyte and follicle cells, mediated by the gurken-torpedo/DER signalling pathway, has a crucial role in determining both anterior-posterior and dorsal-ventral polarity in Drosophila.

The submarine H.L. Hunley was the first submarine to sink an enemy ship during combat; however, the cause of its sinking has been a mystery for over 150 years. The Hunley set off a 61.2 kg (135 lb) black powder torpedo at a distance less than 5 m (16 ft) off its bow. Scaled experiments were performed that measured black powder and shock tube explosions underwater and propagation of blasts throu...

A high resolution structure of -conotoxin EI has been determined by H NMR spectroscopy and molecular modeling. -Conotoxin EI has the same disulfide framework as 4/7 conotoxins targeting neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors but antagonizes the neuromuscular receptor as do the 3/5 and A conotoxins. The unique binding preference of -conotoxin EI to the 1/ subunit interface of Torpedo neuromu...

In order to visualize and appreciate conformational changes between homologous three-dimensional (3D) protein structures or protein/inhibitor complexes, we have developed a user-friendly morphing procedure. It enabled us to detect coordinated conformational changes not easily discernible by analytic methods or by comparison of static images. This procedure was applied to comparison of native To...

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors are implicated in different nervous system-related disorders, and their modulation could improve existing therapy of these diseases. Parazoanthoxanthin A (ParaA) is a fluorescent pigment of the group of zoanthoxanthins. Since it is a potent acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, it may also bind to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). For this reason its effect...