The molecular organization of beet necrotic yellow vein virus

Virology ◽  
1981 ◽  
Vol 113 (2) ◽  
pp. 428-438 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.C. Steven ◽  
B.L. Trus ◽  
C. Putz ◽  
M. Wurtz
Author(s):  
Robert M. Glaeser ◽  
David W. Deamer

In the investigation of the molecular organization of cell membranes it is often supposed that lipid molecules are arranged in a bimolecular film. X-ray diffraction data obtained in a direction perpendicular to the plane of suitably layered membrane systems have generally been interpreted in accord with such a model of the membrane structure. The present studies were begun in order to determine whether selected area electron diffraction would provide a tool of sufficient sensitivity to permit investigation of the degree of intermolecular order within lipid films. The ultimate objective would then be to apply the method to single fragments of cell membrane material in order to obtain data complementary to the transverse data obtainable by x-ray diffraction.


Author(s):  
T. Gulik-Krzywicki ◽  
M.J. Costello

Freeze-etching electron microscopy is currently one of the best methods for studying molecular organization of biological materials. Its application, however, is still limited by our imprecise knowledge about the perturbations of the original organization which may occur during quenching and fracturing of the samples and during the replication of fractured surfaces. Although it is well known that the preservation of the molecular organization of biological materials is critically dependent on the rate of freezing of the samples, little information is presently available concerning the nature and the extent of freezing-rate dependent perturbations of the original organizations. In order to obtain this information, we have developed a method based on the comparison of x-ray diffraction patterns of samples before and after freezing, prior to fracturing and replication.Our experimental set-up is shown in Fig. 1. The sample to be quenched is placed on its holder which is then mounted on a small metal holder (O) fixed on a glass capillary (p), whose position is controlled by a micromanipulator.


Author(s):  
G. Zampighi ◽  
M. Kreman

The plasma membranes of most animal cells contain transport proteins which function to provide passageways for the transported species across essentially impermeable lipid bilayers. The channel is a passive transport system which allows the movement of ions and low molecular weight molecules along their concentration gradients. The pump is an active transport system and can translocate cations against their natural concentration gradients. The actions and interplay of these two kinds of transport proteins control crucial cell functions such as active transport, excitability and cell communication. In this paper, we will describe and compare several features of the molecular organization of pumps and channels. As an example of an active transport system, we will discuss the structure of the sodium and potassium ion-activated triphosphatase [(Na+ +K+)-ATPase] and as an example of a passive transport system, the communicating channel of gap junctions and lens junctions.


Author(s):  
Rudolf Oldenbourg

The recent renaissance of the light microsope is fueled in part by technological advances in components on the periphery of the microscope, such as the laser as illumination source, electronic image recording (video), computer assisted image analysis and the biochemistry of fluorescent dyes for labeling specimens. After great progress in these peripheral parts, it seems timely to examine the optics itself and ask how progress in the periphery facilitates the use of new optical components and of new optical designs inside the microscope. Some results of this fruitful reflection are presented in this symposium.We have considered the polarized light microscope, and developed a design that replaces the traditional compensator, typically a birefringent crystal plate, with a precision universal compensator made of two liquid crystal variable retarders. A video camera and digital image processing system provide fast measurements of specimen anisotropy (retardance magnitude and azimuth) at ALL POINTS of the image forming the field of view. The images document fine structural and molecular organization within a thin optical section of the specimen.


Cells ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 2034 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian D. Siewert ◽  
Heinrich Haas ◽  
Vera Cornet ◽  
Sara S. Nogueira ◽  
Thomas Nawroth ◽  
...  

Hybrid nanoparticles from lipidic and polymeric components were assembled to serve as vehicles for the transfection of messenger RNA (mRNA) using different portions of the cationic lipid DOTAP (1,2-Dioleoyl-3-trimethylammonium-propane) and the cationic biopolymer protamine as model systems. Two different sequential assembly approaches in comparison with a direct single-step protocol were applied, and molecular organization in correlation with biological activity of the resulting nanoparticle systems was investigated. Differences in the structure of the nanoparticles were revealed by thorough physicochemical characterization including small angle neutron scattering (SANS), small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), and cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM). All hybrid systems, combining lipid and polymer, displayed significantly increased transfection in comparison to lipid/mRNA and polymer/mRNA particles alone. For the hybrid nanoparticles, characteristic differences regarding the internal organization, release characteristics, and activity were determined depending on the assembly route. The systems with the highest transfection efficacy were characterized by a heterogenous internal organization, accompanied by facilitated release. Such a system could be best obtained by the single step protocol, starting with a lipid and polymer mixture for nanoparticle formation.


Author(s):  
Lu Lin ◽  
Azhad U. Chowdhury ◽  
Ying-Zhong Ma ◽  
Robert L. Sacci ◽  
John Katsaras ◽  
...  

Coatings ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 586
Author(s):  
Ana-Gianina Gereanu ◽  
Camillo Sartorio ◽  
Aurelio Bonasera ◽  
Giuliana Giuliano ◽  
Sebastiano Cataldo ◽  
...  

This work deals with the interfacial mixing mechanism of picoliter (pL)-scale droplets produced by sequential inkjet printing of organic-based inks onto ITO/PET surfaces at a moderately high Weber number (~101). Differently from solution dispensing processes at a high Bond number such as spin coating, the deposition by inkjet printing is strictly controlled by droplet velocity, ink viscosity, and surface tension. In particular, this study considers the interfacial mixing of droplets containing the most investigated donor/acceptor couple for organic solar cells, i.e., poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and (6,6)-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM), showing how low-viscosity and low-surface energy inks can be leveraged for the fabrication of an interface suitable for a pseudo-planar heterojunction (pseudo-PHJ) organic solar cell (OSC) that is a convenient alternative to a bulk heterojunction (BHJ) OSC. The resulting thin-film morphology and molecular organization at the P3HT/PCBM interface are investigated, highlighting the roles of dissolution-driven molecular recirculation. This report represents a first step toward the sequential inkjet printing fabrication of pseudo-PHJ OSCs at low consumption of solvents/chemicals.


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