The crystal structure of a putative dipeptidase (Phdpd) from Pyrococcus horikoshii OT3 was solved using X-ray data at 2.4 A resolution. The protein is folded into two distinct entities. The N-terminal domain consists of the general topology of the alpha/beta fold, and the C-terminal domain consists of five long mixed strands, four helices, and two 3(10) helices. The structure of Phdpd is quite ...

Transition metal ions (Zn(II), Cu(II)/(I), Fe(III)/(II), Mn(II)) are essential for life and participate in a wide range of biological functions. Cellular Zn(II) levels must be high enough to ensure that it can perform its essential roles. Yet, since Zn(II) binds to ligands with high avidity, excess Zn(II) can lead to protein mismetallation. The major targets of mismetallation, and the underlyin...

Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles may provide a more soluble and plant available source of Zn in Zn fertilizers due to their greater reactivity compared to equivalent micron- or millimetre-sized (bulk) particles. However, the effect of soil on solubility, spatial distribution and speciation of ZnO nanoparticles has not yet been investigated. In this study, we examined the diffusion and solid phase...

New results from the H1 and ZEUS collaborations on the measurement of cross-sections at very high Q (up to 25000 GeV) and on the proton structure function F2(x,Q ) for momentum transfers squared Q ≥ 1.5 GeV and Bjorken x ≥ 3.5·10 are reported, using data collected at HERA mainly in 1994. No deviations from the Standard Model have been observed at high Q and F2 is seen to increase significantly ...

Synechococcus sp. WH 8102 is a motile marine cyanobacterium isolated originally from the Sargasso Sea. To test the response of this organism to cadmium (Cd), generally considered a toxin, cultures were grown in a matrix of high and low zinc (Zn) and phosphate (PO4 (3-)) and were then exposed to an addition of 4.4 pM free Cd(2+) at mid-log phase and harvested after 24 h. Whereas Zn and PO4 (3-) ...

Modulation of the N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA)-selective glutamate receptors by extracellular protons and Zn(2+) may play important roles during ischemia in the brain and during seizures. Recombinant NR1/NR2A receptors exhibit a much higher apparent affinity for voltage-independent Zn(2+) inhibition than receptors with other subunit combinations. Here, we show that the mechanism of this apparent...

A novel luminescent Zn(2+) ions chemosensor, a cyclometalated platinum(II) bipyridyl acetylide complex, was designed. Of particular significance is that it shows a high sensitivity towards Zn(2+) ions without interference from other biologically important cations in acetonitrile. The tautomerization of amide favors detecting Zn(2+) ions among other HTM (heavy and transition metal) ions in aqueo...

The pollution characteristics of Pb, Cd, Zn, Cu and Ni in soil of lead−zinc mining area were studied. The results indicate that the contamination degree followed the sequence of Cd>Pb>Zn>Ni>Cu and concentrations of Pb, Cd and Zn exceeded corresponding limits of the Chinese National Soil Environmental Quality Standard III. The soil was extremely polluted by Cd (Iego=5.26), moderately to heavily ...

[reaction: see text] Tyrosine-derived Zn(2+) coordination complexes and their fluorescent NBD conjugates are synthesized in a short, high-yielding procedure. The Zn(2+) complexes are highly water soluble, but in the presence of sodium laurate they readily transfer into an octanol layer. Furthermore, the NBD-labeled bis-Zn(2+) complex can partition into vesicle membranes containing anionic phosp...

Water hardness is known to control the uptake and toxicity of zinc and other metals through either chemical competition, biological acclimation, or both processes. The dominant process controlling zinc uptake has not been previously elucidated, nor has the effect of calcium been investigated independently of other cations. We determined zinc uptake by rainbow trout acclimated and exposed to fou...