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Semi-arid regions play an increasingly important role as a sink within the global carbon (C) cycle and is the main biome driving inter-annual variability in carbon dioxide (CO2) uptake by terrestrial ecosystems. This indicates the need for detailed studies of spatiotemporal variability in C cycling for semi-arid ecosystems. We have synthesized data on the land-atmosphere exchange of CO2 measured w
Adaptor proteins assist proteases in degrading specific proteins under appropriate conditions. The adaptor protein YjbH promotes the degradation of an important global transcriptional regulator Spx, which controls the expression of hundreds of genes and operons in response to thiol-specific oxidative stress in Bacillus subtilis. Under normal growth conditions, the transcription factor is bound to
We have estimated the binding affinity of three sets of ligands of the heat-shock protein 90 in the D3R grand challenge blind test competition. We have employed four different methods, based on five different crystal structures: first, we docked the ligands to the proteins with induced-fit docking with the Glide software and calculated binding affinities with three energy functions. Second, the do
Abstract Fatty acids mobilized from triacylglycerol stores are a major energy source in humans. Mobilization occurs through the consecutive action of three lipases: adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL), hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) and monoglyceride lipase (MGL). Whereas ATGL and MGL only hydrolyse tri- and monoacylglycerols, respectively, HSL has a broad substrate range and hydrolyses cholesterol
Increasing evidence supports the benefit of identifying BRCA1 and BRCA2 germline mutations in early breast cancer. Selection of patients for genetic testing is based on defined criteria taking individual and family history related factors into account. It is important to make a distinction between efficacy and effectiveness of BRCA testing criteria. Efficacy can be defined as the performance under
We have studied the diffusive mobility of hydrogen molecules confined in different size cages in clathrate hydrates. In clathrate hydrate H2 molecules are effectively stored by confinement in two different size cages of the nano-porous host structure with accessible volumes of about 0.50 and 0.67 nm diameters, respectively. For the processes of sorption and desorption of the stored hydrogen the di
Pile heat exchangers are fast emerging as a potentially viable alternative to the more prevalent borehole heat exchangers for the provision of space heating and cooling. In the last decade or so, the use of geothermal piles has increased sharply in many countries including Belgium, China, Japan, Switzerland, the Netherlands, United Kingdom, and United States, among others. In Sweden, however, inte
Most avian migrants alternate flight bouts, characterized by high metabolic rates, with stopovers, periods of fuel replenishment through hyperphagia. High-energy metabolism and excessive calorie intake shift the balance between damaging prooxidants and antioxidants toward the former. Hence, migration likely affects the oxidative balance of birds. Migratory flight indeed appears to cause oxidative
Ions differ in their ability to salt out proteins from solution as expressed in the lyotropic or Hofmeister series of cations and anions. Since its first formulation in 1888, this series has been invoked in a plethora of effects, going beyond the original salting out/salting in idea to include enzyme activities and the crystallization of proteins, as well as to processes not involving proteins lik
The mallard Anas platyrhynchos is a reservoir species for influenza A virus in the northern hemisphere, with particularly high prevalence rates prior to as well as during its prolonged autumn migration. It has been proposed that the virus is brought from the breeding grounds and transmitted to conspecifics during subsequent staging during migration, and so a better understanding of the natal origi
Immunotherapy has shown effectiveness against experimental malignant brain tumors, but the clinical results have been less convincing most likely due to immunosuppression. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2 ) is the key immunosuppressive product of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and increased levels of PGE2 and COX-2 have been shown in several tumor types including brain tumors. In the current study, we report enha
The oxygen-atom transfer reaction catalyzed by the mononuclear molybdenum enzyme dimethyl sulfoxide reductase (DMSOR) has attracted considerable attention through both experimental and theoretical studies. We show here that this reaction is more sensitive to details of quantum mechanical calculations than what has previously been appreciated Basis sets of at least triple-zeta quality are needed to
Proton-transfer dynamics plays a critical role in many biochemical processes, such as proton pumping across membranes and enzyme catalysis. The large majority of enzymes utilize acid-base catalysis and proton-transfer mechanisms, where the rates of proton transfer can be rate limiting for the overall reaction. However, measurement of proton-exchange kinetics for individual side-chain carboxyl grou
The Gram-positive bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae is a major human pathogen that causes infections ranging from acute otitis media to life-threatening invasive disease. Pneumococci have evolved several strategies to circumvent the host immune response, in particular the complement attack. The pneumococcal glycolytic enzyme phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK) is both secreted and bound to the bacteria
Popular Abstract in Swedish Antikroppar är viktiga beståndsdelar av det naturliga immunförsvaret som skyddar oss mot smittämnen, såsom bakterier och virus. Utvecklingen av olika genetiska och biokemiska teknologier har dessutom möjliggjort användningen av antikroppar för en mängd ändmål, bl a för diagnostik och behandling av infektionssjukdomar och cancer. I denna avhandling, som bygger på fem vetAntibodies are key players of the immune system in higher vertebrates, which provide a defense against potentially lethal threats from the environment. Besides their importance in the immune defense, antibodies have a great potential as reagents in biological chemistry and diagnostics, and as therapeutic agents against both infectious diseases and cancer. Despite tremendous advances in all fields
Popular Abstract in Swedish Zeoliter är en grupp av kisel-aluminium-föreningar, med karaktäristiska kanalsystem inuti strukturen, som har fått stor användning inom många områden inom teknik och vetenskap. Zeoliternas viktigaste användningsområden är som torkmedel, som molekylsiktar, som jonbytare och som katalysatorer. Användningen av naturligt förekommande zeoliter är relativt liten jämfört med aA highly dealuminated form of zeolite FAU, ultra-stable zeolite Y (USY), was used as an adsorbent matrix in the purification of proteins. Undesired proteins were removed from a crude preparation by adsorption on USY, increasing the purity of an unadsorbed protein (horse radish peroxidase), or the protein of interest was adsorbed on the zeolite and subsequently eluted through changes in the solutio
Popular Abstract in Swedish Trots att kroppen skyddas av ett hudlager på utsidan och av epitelceller i kroppens inre organ utsätts vi hela tiden för infektioner. När en vävnad blir infekterad börjar cellerna utsöndra inflammatoriska mediatorer som bland annat orsakar svullnad och rodnad. En inflammation kan också orsakas av till exempel slag eller brännskador. De inflammatoriska mediatorerna signaThis thesis describes early inflammatory responses involving interactions between leukocytes and the endothelial lining of the blood vessel wall. An adhesion molecule, E-selectin, which is upregulated on interleukin-1 activated endothelium, was found to mediate rolling between leukocytes and endothelial cells in vivo. Immunohistochemistry revealed that E-selectin was preferentially expressed in ve
Popular Abstract in Swedish Evolusjon og energikonservering i en katalysator i cellens kraftverk Alle levende organismer må omforme energien i mat eller sollys til en form som cellen kan bruke som energi. Energien brukes både til prosesser som bryter ned og bygger opp komponenter i cellen. Den brukes også til prosesser som muskelsammentrekninger, celledelinger og bevegelser. Uansett hva slags celComplex I or NADH:quinone oxidoreductase is the largest enzyme complex, but the least understood energy coupling site in the respiratory chain of mitochondria and bacteria. No high-resolution structural information exists for this enzyme and the molecular mechanism that couples electron transfer and proton pumping is not understood. In mammals, about 50% of the mitochondrial DNA is encoding protei
Chancroid caused by Haemophilus ducreyi, has been described as a significantly predisposing factor of HIV heterosexual transmission in an endemic region of both diseases. Antibiotic resistances are extensively found in H. ducreyi and many of the resistances are due to the presence of resistance plasmids. A high tendency of drug resistances has commonly been found among isolates derived in Thailan
