scholarly journals The energy components of stacked chromatin layers explain the morphology, dimensions and mechanical properties of metaphase chromosomes

2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (92) ◽  
pp. 20131043 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joan-Ramon Daban

The measurement of the dimensions of metaphase chromosomes in different animal and plant karyotypes prepared in different laboratories indicates that chromatids have a great variety of sizes which are dependent on the amount of DNA that they contain. However, all chromatids are elongated cylinders that have relatively similar shape proportions (length to diameter ratio approx. 13). To explain this geometry, it is considered that chromosomes are self-organizing structures formed by stacked layers of planar chromatin and that the energy of nucleosome–nucleosome interactions between chromatin layers inside the chromatid is approximately 3.6 × 10 −20 J per nucleosome, which is the value reported by other authors for internucleosome interactions in chromatin fibres. Nucleosomes in the periphery of the chromatid are in contact with the medium; they cannot fully interact with bulk chromatin within layers and this generates a surface potential that destabilizes the structure. Chromatids are smooth cylinders because this morphology has a lower surface energy than structures having irregular surfaces. The elongated shape of chromatids can be explained if the destabilizing surface potential is higher in the telomeres (approx. 0.16 mJ m −2 ) than in the lateral surface (approx. 0.012 mJ m −2 ). The results obtained by other authors in experimental studies of chromosome mechanics have been used to test the proposed supramolecular structure. It is demonstrated quantitatively that internucleosome interactions between chromatin layers can justify the work required for elastic chromosome stretching (approx. 0.1 pJ for large chromosomes). The high amount of work (up to approx. 10 pJ) required for large chromosome extensions is probably absorbed by chromatin layers through a mechanism involving nucleosome unwrapping.

2005 ◽  
Vol 899 ◽  
Author(s):  
Byoung-Min Lee ◽  
Hong Koo Baik ◽  
Takahide Kuranaga ◽  
Shinji Munetoh ◽  
Teruaki Motooka

AbstractMolecular dynamics (MD) simulations of atomistic processes of nucleation and crystal growth of silicon (Si) on SiO2 substrate have been performed using the Tersoff potential based on a combination of Langevin and Newton equations. A new set of potential parameters was used to calculate the interatomic forces of Si and oxygen (O) atoms. It was found that the (111) plane of the Si nuclei formed at the surface was predominantly parallel to the surface of MD cell. The values surface energy for (100), (110), and (111) planes of Si at 77 K were calculated to be 2.27, 1.52, and 1.20 J/m2, respectively. This result suggests that, the nucleation leads to a preferred (111) orientation in the poly-Si thin film at the surface, driven by the lower surface energy.


2005 ◽  
Vol 289 (6) ◽  
pp. H2724-H2732 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xin Zhang ◽  
Indiresha Ramachandra ◽  
Zhongming Liu ◽  
Basharat Muneer ◽  
Steven M. Pogwizd ◽  
...  

Imaging the myocardial activation sequence is critical for improved diagnosis and treatment of life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias. It is desirable to reveal the underlying cardiac electrical activity throughout the three-dimensional (3-D) myocardium (rather than just the endocardial or epicardial surface) from noninvasive body surface potential measurements. A new 3-D electrocardiographic imaging technique (3-DEIT) based on the boundary element method (BEM) and multiobjective nonlinear optimization has been applied to reconstruct the cardiac activation sequences from body surface potential maps. Ultrafast computerized tomography scanning was performed for subsequent construction of the torso and heart models. Experimental studies were then conducted, during left and right ventricular pacing, in which noninvasive assessment of ventricular activation sequence by means of 3-DEIT was performed simultaneously with 3-D intracardiac mapping (up to 200 intramural sites) using specially designed plunge-needle electrodes in closed-chest rabbits. Estimated activation sequences from 3-DEIT were in good agreement with those constructed from simultaneously recorded intracardiac electrograms in the same animals. Averaged over 100 paced beats (from a total of 10 pacing sites), total activation times were comparable (53.3 ± 8.1 vs. 49.8 ± 5.2 ms), the localization error of site of initiation of activation was 5.73 ± 1.77 mm, and the relative error between the estimated and measured activation sequences was 0.32 ± 0.06. The present experimental results demonstrate that the 3-D paced ventricular activation sequence can be reconstructed by using noninvasive multisite body surface electrocardiographic measurements and imaging of heart-torso geometry. This new 3-D electrocardiographic imaging modality has the potential to guide catheter-based ablative interventions for the treatment of life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias.


1982 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 308-319
Author(s):  
G M Wahl ◽  
L Vitto ◽  
R A Padgett ◽  
G R Stark

Syrian hamster cells resistant to N-(phosphonacetyl)-L-aspartate (PALA), a specific inhibitor of the aspartate transcarbamylase activity of the multifunctional protein CAD, overproduce this protein as a result of amplification of the CAD gene. We have used a sensitive in situ hybridization technique to localize CAD genomes in spreads of metaphase chromosomes from several independent PALA-resistant lines and from wild-type PALA-sensitive cells. The amplified genes were always found within chromosomes, usually in an expanded region of the short arm of chromosome B9. In wild-type cells, the CAD gene was also on the short arm of chromosome B9. In one mutant line, 90 to 100 CAD genes were found within an expanded B9 chromosome and 10 to 15 more were near the distal end of one arm of several different chromosomes. Another line contained most the genes in a telomeric chromosome or large chromosome fragment. The amplified genes were in chromosomal regions that were stained in a banded pattern by trypsin-Giemsa. A few double minute chromosomes were observed in a very small fraction of the total spreads examined. The it situ hybridizations were performed in the presence of 10% dextral sulfate 500, which increases the signal by as much as 100-fold. Using recombinant DNA plasmids nick-translated with [125I]dCTP to high specific radioactivity, 10 CAD genes in a single chromosomal region were revealed after 1 week of autoradiographic exposure, and the position of the unique gene could be seen after 1 month.


2002 ◽  
Vol 731 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karl E.J. Lehtinen ◽  
Michael R. Zachariah

AbstractDuring coalescence, the surface area of the particle decreases, resulting in a heat release associated with the resulting lower surface energy. In a growth process particle heating competes with heat transfer by conduction to the cooler carrier gas and radiation. This temperature increase can be extremely important and should be accounted for when modeling collision/coalescence processes. The heat release associated with particle coalescence may reduce the coalescence time by as much as a few orders of magnitude. In addition, under some conditions there is insufficient time for the particles to cool to the gas temperature before another collision event takes place. It is shown that accounting for energy release and heat transfer effects have a dramatic effect on primary particle formation and the onset of aggregate formation. The results of the work indicate that to grow the largest primary particles one should operate at low pressures and high volume loadings.


1999 ◽  
Vol 23 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 409-423
Author(s):  
P.H. Oosthuizen ◽  
J.T. Paul

A numerical study of the flow about and heat transfer from a heated cylinder centrally positioned in a square enclosure containing ice has been undertaken. The cylinder is heated to a uniform temperature that is higher than the freezing temperature of water and melting, therefore, occurs in the vicinity of the cylinder. The two side-walls of the enclosure are kept at a uniform temperature that is below the freezing temperature. The conditions considered here are such that there can be significant natural convection in the water near the cylinder. The lower surface of the enclosure is assumed to be adiabatic. The liquid has a free surface which is assumed to be flat. In most previous numerical studies of such a situation it has been assumed that the free surface is adiabatic. In experimental studies of the is type of flow, however, the free surface is often effectively cooled. In order to evaluate the effect of this, it has here been assumed that the free surface is at the uniform temperature that is below the freezing temperature but that is, in general, higher than that of the cooled side-walls. The governing equations have been expressed in dimensionless form and solved using a finite element procedure. The effect of the various governing parameters on the mean cylinder Nusselt number and on the thickness of the melted region about the cylinder have mainly been considered. The effect of the assumed free-surface temperature has, in particular, been studied.


1982 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 308-319 ◽  
Author(s):  
G M Wahl ◽  
L Vitto ◽  
R A Padgett ◽  
G R Stark

Syrian hamster cells resistant to N-(phosphonacetyl)-L-aspartate (PALA), a specific inhibitor of the aspartate transcarbamylase activity of the multifunctional protein CAD, overproduce this protein as a result of amplification of the CAD gene. We have used a sensitive in situ hybridization technique to localize CAD genomes in spreads of metaphase chromosomes from several independent PALA-resistant lines and from wild-type PALA-sensitive cells. The amplified genes were always found within chromosomes, usually in an expanded region of the short arm of chromosome B9. In wild-type cells, the CAD gene was also on the short arm of chromosome B9. In one mutant line, 90 to 100 CAD genes were found within an expanded B9 chromosome and 10 to 15 more were near the distal end of one arm of several different chromosomes. Another line contained most the genes in a telomeric chromosome or large chromosome fragment. The amplified genes were in chromosomal regions that were stained in a banded pattern by trypsin-Giemsa. A few double minute chromosomes were observed in a very small fraction of the total spreads examined. The it situ hybridizations were performed in the presence of 10% dextral sulfate 500, which increases the signal by as much as 100-fold. Using recombinant DNA plasmids nick-translated with [125I]dCTP to high specific radioactivity, 10 CAD genes in a single chromosomal region were revealed after 1 week of autoradiographic exposure, and the position of the unique gene could be seen after 1 month.


2017 ◽  
Vol 114 (7) ◽  
pp. E1046-E1053 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nancy Birkner ◽  
Alexandra Navrotsky

Manganese oxides with layer and tunnel structures occur widely in nature and inspire technological applications. Having variable compositions, these structures often are found as small particles (nanophases). This study explores, using experimental thermochemistry, the role of composition, oxidation state, structure, and surface energy in the their thermodynamic stability. The measured surface energies of cryptomelane, sodium birnessite, potassium birnessite and calcium birnessite are all significantly lower than those of binary manganese oxides (Mn3O4, Mn2O3, and MnO2), consistent with added stabilization of the layer and tunnel structures at the nanoscale. Surface energies generally decrease with decreasing average manganese oxidation state. A stabilizing enthalpy contribution arises from increasing counter-cation content. The formation of cryptomelane from birnessite in contact with aqueous solution is favored by the removal of ions from the layered phase. At large surface area, surface-energy differences make cryptomelane formation thermodynamically less favorable than birnessite formation. In contrast, at small to moderate surface areas, bulk thermodynamics and the energetics of the aqueous phase drive cryptomelane formation from birnessite, perhaps aided by oxidation-state differences. Transformation among birnessite phases of increasing surface area favors compositions with lower surface energy. These quantitative thermodynamic findings explain and support qualitative observations of phase-transformation patterns gathered from natural and synthetic manganese oxides.


2012 ◽  
Vol 65 (10) ◽  
pp. 1390 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yan Liu ◽  
Qiwu Yang ◽  
Dongling Hao ◽  
Wenqin Zhang

An efficient method for triarylmethanimine synthesis promoted by a Lewis acid–base pair (AlCl3–Et3N) was designed using mechanistic analysis with the aid of density functional theory. A series of triarylmethanimines were successfully prepared under mild conditions in good to excellent yields with a simple work-up procedure. The promoter, the Lewis acid–base pair (AlCl3–Et3N), is inexpensive, efficient, and shows good functional group tolerance. The experimental results show that the electronic effect played a significant role, i.e. the reactions proceeded smoothly when electron-sufficient arylamines and electron-deficient ketones were used as substrates.


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