scholarly journals Scalable method for micro-CT analysis enables large scale quantitative characterization of brain lesions and implants

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
David B. Kastner ◽  
Viktor Kharazia ◽  
Rhino Nevers ◽  
Daniela A. Astudillo-Maya ◽  
Greer M. Williams ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Brain Structure ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Ct Imaging ◽  
Nondestructive Method ◽  
Brain Lesions ◽  
Dimensional Structure ◽  
Micro Ct ◽  
Ct Analysis ◽  
Quantitative Analyses

AbstractAnatomic evaluation is an important aspect of many studies in neuroscience; however, it often lacks information about the three-dimensional structure of the brain. Micro-CT imaging provides an excellent, nondestructive, method for the evaluation of brain structure, but current applications to neurophysiological or lesions studies require removal of the skull and hazardous chemicals, dehydration or embedding, limiting their scalability and utility. Here we present a protocol using eosin in combination with bone decalcification to enhance contrast in the tissue and then employ monochromatic and propagation phase-contrast micro-CT imaging to enable the imaging of brain structure with the preservation of the surrounding skull. Instead of relying on descriptive, time-consuming, or subjective methods, we develop simple quantitative analyses to map the locations of recording electrodes and to characterize the presence and extent of brain lesions.

scholarly journals Scalable method for micro-CT analysis enables large scale quantitative characterization of brain lesions and implants

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
David B. Kastner ◽  
Viktor Kharazia ◽  
Rhino Nevers ◽  
Clay Smyth ◽  
Daniela A. Astudillo-Maya ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Brain Structure ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Ct Imaging ◽  
Nondestructive Method ◽  
Brain Lesions ◽  
Dimensional Structure ◽  
Micro Ct ◽  
Ct Analysis ◽  
Quantitative Analyses

AbstractAnatomic evaluation is an important aspect of many studies in neuroscience; however, it often lacks information about the three-dimensional structure of the brain. Micro-CT imaging provides an excellent, nondestructive, method for the evaluation of brain structure, but current applications to neurophysiological or lesion studies require removal of the skull as well as hazardous chemicals, dehydration, or embedding, limiting their scalability and utility. Here we present a protocol using eosin in combination with bone decalcification to enhance contrast in the tissue and then employ monochromatic and propagation phase-contrast micro-CT imaging to enable the imaging of brain structure with the preservation of the surrounding skull. Instead of relying on descriptive, time-consuming, or subjective methods, we develop simple quantitative analyses to map the locations of recording electrodes and to characterize the presence and extent of hippocampal brain lesions.

scholarly journals Biophysical and biochemical investigations of RNA catalysis in the hammerhead ribozyme

1999 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 241-284 ◽  
Author(s):  
William G. Scott
Keyword(s):  
Metal Ions ◽  
Conformational Change ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Enzyme Inhibitor ◽  
Hammerhead Ribozyme ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Chemical Mechanism ◽  
Dimensional Structure ◽  
Three Dimensional Structure ◽  
Hammerhead Rna

1. How do ribozymes work? 2412. The hammerhead RNA as a prototype ribozyme 2422.1 RNA enzymes 2422.2 Satellite self-cleaving RNAs 2422.3 Hammerhead RNAs and hammerhead ribozymes 2443. The chemical mechanism of hammerhead RNA self-cleavage 2463.1 Phosphodiester isomerization via an SN2(P) reaction 2473.2 The canonical role of divalent metal ions in the hammerhead ribozyme reaction 2513.3 The hammerhead ribozyme does not actually require metal ions for catalysis 2543.4 Hammerhead RNA enzyme kinetics 2574. Sequence requirements for hammerhead RNA self-cleavage 2604.1 The conserved core, mutagenesis and functional group modifications 2604.2 Ground-state vs. transition-state effects 2615. The three-dimensional structure of the hammerhead ribozyme 2625.1 Enzyme–inhibitor complexes 2625.2 Enzyme–substrate complex in the initial state 2645.3 Hammerhead ribozyme self-cleavage in the crystal 2645.4 The requirement for a conformational change 2655.5 Capture of conformational intermediates using crystallographic freeze-trapping 2665.6 The structure of a hammerhead ribozyme ‘early’ conformational intermediate 2675.7 The structure of a hammerhead ribozyme ‘later’ conformational intermediate 2685.8 Is the conformational change pH dependent? 2695.9 Isolating the structure of the cleavage product 2715.10 Evidence for and against additional large-scale conformation changes 2745.11 NMR spectroscopic studies of the hammerhead ribozyme 2786. Concluding remarks 2807. Acknowledgements 2818. References 2811. How do ribozymes work? 241The discovery that RNA can be an enzyme (Guerrier-Takada et al. 1983; Zaug & Cech, 1986) has created the fundamental question of how RNA enzymes work. Before this discovery, it was generally assumed that proteins were the only biopolymers that had sufficient complexity and chemical heterogeneity to catalyze biochemical reactions. Clearly, RNA can adopt sufficiently complex tertiary structures that make catalysis possible. How does the three- dimensional structure of an RNA endow it with catalytic activity? What structural and functional principles are unique to RNA enzymes (or ribozymes), and what principles are so fundamental that they are shared with protein enzymes?

scholarly journals Crystal structure of a tankyrase 1–telomere repeat factor 1 complex

2016 ◽  
Vol 72 (4) ◽  
pp. 320-327 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bo Li ◽  
Ruihong Qiao ◽  
Zhizhi Wang ◽  
Weihong Zhou ◽  
Xin Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Crystal Structure ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Sparse Matrix ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Mitotic Cell ◽  
Ankyrin Repeat ◽  
Dimensional Structure ◽  
Telomere Repeat ◽  
Tankyrase 1

Telomere repeat factor 1 (TRF1) is a subunit of shelterin (also known as the telosome) and plays a critical role in inhibiting telomere elongation by telomerase. Tankyrase 1 (TNKS1) is a poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase that regulates the activity of TRF1 through poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation (PARylation). PARylation of TRF1 by TNKS1 leads to the release of TRF1 from telomeres and allows telomerase to access telomeres. The interaction between TRF1 and TNKS1 is thus important for telomere stability and the mitotic cell cycle. Here, the crystal structure of a complex between the N-terminal acidic domain of TRF1 (residues 1–55) and a fragment of TNKS1 covering the second and third ankyrin-repeat clusters (ARC2-3) is presented at 2.2 Å resolution. The TNKS1–TRF1 complex crystals were optimized using an `oriented rescreening' strategy, in which the initial crystallization condition was used as a guide for a second round of large-scale sparse-matrix screening. This crystallographic and biochemical analysis provides a better understanding of the TRF1–TNKS1 interaction and the three-dimensional structure of the ankyrin-repeat domain of TNKS.

scholarly journals SVFX: a machine-learning framework to quantify the pathogenicity of structural variants

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sushant Kumar ◽  
Arif Harmanci ◽  
Jagath Vytheeswaran ◽  
Mark B. Gerstein
Keyword(s):  
Machine Learning ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Point Mutations ◽  
Dimensional Structure ◽  
Rapid Decline ◽  
Ras Signaling ◽  
Cancer Genes ◽  
Structural Variations ◽  
Pathogenic Variants

AbstractA rapid decline in sequencing cost has made large-scale genome sequencing studies feasible. One of the fundamental goals of these studies is to catalog all pathogenic variants. Numerous methods and tools have been developed to interpret point mutations and small insertions and deletions. However, there is a lack of approaches for identifying pathogenic genomic structural variations (SVs). That said, SVs are known to play a crucial role in many diseases by altering the sequence and three-dimensional structure of the genome. Previous studies have suggested a complex interplay of genomic and epigenomic features in the emergence and distribution of SVs. However, the exact mechanism of pathogenesis for SVs in different diseases is not straightforward to decipher. Thus, we built an agnostic machine-learning-based workflow, called SVFX, to assign a “pathogenicity score” to somatic and germline SVs in various diseases. In particular, we generated somatic and germline training models, which included genomic, epigenomic, and conservation-based features for SV call sets in diseased and healthy individuals. We then applied SVFX to SVs in six different cancer cohorts and a cardiovascular disease (CVD) cohort. Overall, SVFX achieved high accuracy in identifying pathogenic SVs. Moreover, we found that predicted pathogenic SVs in cancer cohorts were enriched among known cancer genes and many cancer-related pathways (including Wnt signaling, Ras signaling, DNA repair, and ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis). Finally, we note that SVFX is flexible and can be easily extended to identify pathogenic SVs in additional disease cohorts.

scholarly journals An Initiation Process of Tropical Depression-type Disturbances under the Influence of Upper-level Troughs

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuya Hamaguchi ◽  
Yukari N. Takayabu
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Convective Available Potential Energy ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Lower Troposphere ◽  
Dimensional Structure ◽  
Convective Heating ◽  
Upper Troposphere ◽  
Tropical Depression ◽  
Upper Level ◽  
Extratropical Forcing

AbstractIn this study, the statistical relationship between tropical upper-tropospheric troughs (TUTTs) and the initiation of summertime tropical-depression type disturbances (TDDs) over the western and central North Pacific is investigated. By applying a spatiotemporal filter to the 34-year record of brightness temperature and using JRA-55 reanalysis products, TDD-event initiations are detected and classified as trough-related (TR) or non-trough-related (non-TR). The conventional understanding is that TDDs originate primarily in the lower-troposphere; our results refine this view by revealing that approximately 30% of TDDs in the 10°N-20°N latitude ranges are generated under the influence of TUTTs. Lead-lag composite analysis of both TR- and non-TR-TDDs clarifies that TR-TDDs occur under relatively dry and less convergent large-scale conditions in the lower-troposphere. This result suggests that TR-TDDs can form in a relatively unfavorable low-level environment. The three-dimensional structure of the wave activity flux reveals southward and downward propagation of wave energy in the upper troposphere that converges at the mid-troposphere around the region where TR-TDDs occur, suggesting the existence of extratropical forcing. Further, the role of dynamic forcing associated with the TUTT on the TR-TDD-initiation is analyzed using the quasi-geostrophic omega equation. The result reveals that moistening in the mid-to-upper troposphere takes place in association with the sustained dynamical ascent at the southeast side of the TUTT, which precedes the occurrence of deep convective heating. Along with a higher convective available potential energy due to the destabilizing effect of TUTTs, the moistening in the mid-to-upper troposphere also helps to prepare the environment favorable to TDDs initiation.

Micro-CT analysis of two-dimensional and three-dimensional parameters in severely curved roots prepared with 3 instrumentation systems: An in vitro study

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 62
Author(s):  
AntonioMiranda da Cruz-Filho ◽  
LuisEduardo Souza-Flamini ◽  
BrunoMonguilhott Crozeta ◽  
RicardoGariba Silva ◽  
RicardoNovak Savioli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Three Dimensional ◽  
In Vitro Study ◽  
Vitro Study ◽  
Two Dimensional ◽  
Micro Ct ◽  
Ct Analysis ◽  
Dimensional Parameters

Hepatocyte Aggregate Culture Technique for Bioreactors in Hybrid Liver Support Systems

1993 ◽  
Vol 16 (12) ◽  
pp. 843-846 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.C. Gerlach ◽  
K. Klöppel ◽  
C. MÜller ◽  
N. Schnoy ◽  
M.D. Smith ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Performance ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Support Systems ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Culture Technique ◽  
Dimensional Structure ◽  
Cell Aggregates ◽  
Liver Support ◽  
Aggregate Culture

Utilizing a modified culture technique for hepatocytes, a high performance suspension culture is possible in which hepatocytes spontaneously form cell aggregates. The aggregates of 20-100 cells have been histologically confirmed to hold a three-dimensional structure, they show a long-term external metabolism and a survival time comparable with standard adhesion cultures. This technique has several advantages in the construction of large scale bioreactors for hybrid liver support systems.

scholarly journals Oligomeric Structure of Colicin Ia Channel in Lipid Bilayer Membranes

2009 ◽  
Vol 284 (24) ◽  
pp. 16126-16134 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah L. Greig ◽  
Mazdak Radjainia ◽  
Alok K. Mitra
Keyword(s):  
Lipid Bilayer ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Velocity Sedimentation ◽  
Dimensional Structure ◽  
Lipid Bilayer Membranes ◽  
Outer Membrane Receptor ◽  
Bilayer Membranes ◽  
Three Dimensional Structure ◽  
Colicin Ia

Colicin Ia is a soluble, harpoon-shaped bacteriocin which translocates across the periplasmic space of sensitive Escherichia coli cell by parasitizing an outer membrane receptor and forms voltage-gated ion channels in the inner membrane. This process leads to cell death, which has been thought to be caused by a single colicin Ia molecule. To directly visualize the three-dimensional structure of the channel, we generated two-dimensional crystals of colicin Ia inserted in lipid-bilayer membranes and determined a ∼17 three-dimensional model by electron crystallography. Supported by velocity sedimentation, chemical cross-linking and single-particle image analysis, the three-dimensional structure is a crown-shaped oligomer enclosing a ∼35 Å-wide extrabilayer vestibule. Our study suggests that lipid insertion instigates a global conformational change in colicin Ia and that more than one molecule participates in the channel architecture with the vestibule, possibly facilitating the known large scale peptide translocation upon channel opening.

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