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The Sanfilippo syndrome type B is a lysosomal storage disorder caused by deficiency of alpha-N-acetylglucosaminidase; it is characterized by profound mental deterioration in childhood and death in the second decade. For understanding the molecular genetics of the disease and for future development of DNA-based therapy, we have cloned the cDNA and gene encoding alpha-N-acetylglucosaminidase. Clonin
BACKGROUND: Neuroendocrine (NE) cells and nerves in the prostate gland are thought to play a central role in the regulation of growth, cellular differentiation and homeostasis of secretory activity. The objective of this experimental study was to describe the effects of peripheral denervation and castration on NE cells and nerves in the guinea pig prostate. METHODS: Guinea pigs underwent sham-oper
Some strains of group B streptococci express a cell surface protein which binds IgA. This report describes some properties of such an IgA receptor and compares it with a previously described IgA receptor from group A streptococci. The group B receptor was released in an almost pure form from bacteria incubated at elevated pH, and could be isolated by IgA-Sepharose affinity chromatography. The sequ
Encapsulated Haemophilus influenzae is a causative agent of invasive disease, such as meningitis and septicemia. Several interactions exist between H. influenzae and the human host. H. influenzae has been reported to bind IgD in a nonimmune manner, but the responsible protein has not yet been identified. To define the binding site on IgD for H. influenzae, full-length IgD and four chimeric IgDs wi
Transverse relaxation dispersion NMR spectroscopy can provide atom-specific information about time scales, populations, and the extent of structural reorganization in proteins under equilibrium conditions. A method is described that uses side-chain methyl groups as local reporters for conformational transitions taking place in the microsecond regime. The experiment measures carbon nuclear spin rel
Attachment of, and cell–cell fusion induced by, human cytomegalovirus were studied in the presence of neutralizing monospecific antibodies against antigenic domains 1 (AD-1) or 2 (AD-2) of glycoprotein B (gB, gpUL55). Efficient inhibition of the virion-mediated fusion event was consistently observed for the human AD-2-specific antibody as determined by a reporter gene activation assay based on per
The homolytic Co-C bond dissociation energy (BDE) is central to the understanding of the function of vitamin B12, an important coenzyme of many proteins. We investigate why earlier density functional (B3LYP) estimations of the BDE in methylcobalamin have given so poor results (91-117 kJ/mol) compared to the experimental estimate (155 ± 13 kJ/mol). Improving the basis set increases the discrepancy,
In search for a possible explanation of the phenotypic heterogeneity in selective immunoglobulin (Ig)A deficiency, we studied the IgG2 antibody response to meningococcal polysaccharide A (PSA) in IgA-deficient (IgAd) individuals after vaccination with meningococcal A + C polysaccharide vaccine. Two groups of IgAd individuals, one frequently infected and one clinically apparently healthy, as well a
Previously, time/temperature treatments of starch have been performed mainly on starch/water systems. In this study the same time/temperature treatments were applied to starch/water systems and to potato starch in situ. Two potato varieties (Solanum tuberosum cultivars Asterix and Bintje) were used. The effect of time/temperature treatments on gelatinisation behaviour was evaluated using different
A general approach to exploratory analysis and modeling of network data is to investigate dyad distributions. We discuss clustering of dyad distributions when there are several variables defined on the vertices, and these variables interact with the arc values of the network. As an illustration we use data on achievement, race, sex and friendship for children in 48 different school classes. A clus
The kinetics of dipolar nonradiative energy transfer (DET) between dyes confined to the core−corona interface region of poly(isoprene-b-methyl methacrylate) block copolymers (PI−PMMA) in acetonitrile was analyzed using a new distribution model for energy transfer in spherical micelles. The distribution of block junction points was described by the model of Helfand and Tagami (HT) for the strong se
Repeated exposures to both microbial and innocuous Ags in vivo have been reported to both eliminate and tolerize T cells after their initial activation and expansion. The remaining tolerant T cells have been shown to suppress the response of naive T cells in vitro. This feature is reminiscent of natural CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells. However, it is not known whether the regulatory function of in vi
In this work, we describe the application of a sorption calorimeter to study the binary system n-octyl beta-D-glucoside/water at 25, 40, and 60 degreesC. At 25 degreesC we also carried out experiments with heavy water which showed similar results to those with normal water. The method used allows one to simultaneously obtain information about the activity of water and the enthalpy of mixing in bin
Theoretical results are presented on the absorption and fluorescence of indole in aqueous solution as well as at the air/water surface. We use a combined quantum chemical statistical mechanical model with explicit solvent. An approximate ab initio complete active space self-consistent field description of the indole molecule is used, coupled to a discrete polarizable water medium. From the bulk si
Anti-proliferative drugs have been used for immunosuppression since the introduction of clinical transplantation. Most transplant centres include azathioprine (Aza) and cyclosporine (CyA) in their standard regimens, despite several controlled studies having failed to confirm the benefit of this combination. Aza is still. the most commonly used anti-proliferative drug, although no major differences
