ADVANCES IN F0F1-ATP SYNTHASE BIOLOGICAL PROTEIN NANOMOTOR: FROM MECHANISMS AND STRATEGIES TO POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS

NANO ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 04 (02) ◽  
pp. 55-67 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. R. KHATAEE ◽  
A. R. KHATAEE

Movement and shape changes are fundamental aspects of all living organisms. This biological motility results from the biological nanomotors, in particular protein nanomotors. Cells contain a variety of protein nanomotors that rotate (e.g., F0F1-ATP synthase or bacterial flagellar motors) or move in a linear fashion (e.g., the kinesin, myosin and dynein motors). F0F1-ATP synthase is one of the ideal nanomotors or energy providing systems for micro/nanomachines because of its small size, smart and perfect structure, and ultra-high energy transfer efficiency. Therefore, in this paper, we have reviewed the structure, mechanism, and potential applications of the F0F1-ATP synthase nanomotor. In all organisms, the F0F1-ATP synthase consists of two distinct nanomotors, F0 and F1. The F0 moiety is embedded in the membrane and is a detergent soluble unit while the F1 moiety protrudes from the membrane and is a water soluble unit. F0F1-ATP synthase operates as two stepper motor/generators coupled by a common shaft and an electrochemical-to-mechanical-to-chemical energy transducer with an astounding 360° rotary motion of subunits. F0F1-ATP synthase nanomotor may enable the creation of a new class of sensors, mechanical force transducers, actuators, and nanomechanical devices. Thus, the F0F1-ATP synthase nanomotor field has expanded into a wide variety of science.

Holzforschung ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaodi Wang ◽  
Yongchao Zhang ◽  
Luyao Wang ◽  
Xiaoju Wang ◽  
Qingxi Hou ◽  
...  

AbstractAn efficient separation technology for hydrolysates towards a full valorization of bamboo is still a tough challenge, especially regarding the lignin and lignin-carbohydrate complexes (LCCs). The present study aimed to develop a facile approach using organic solvent extraction for efficiently fractionating the main components of bamboo hydrolysates. The high-purity lignin with only a trace of carbohydrates was first obtained by precipitation of the bamboo hydrolysate. The water-soluble lignin (WSL) fraction was extracted in organic solvent through a three-stage organic solvent extraction process, and the hemicellulosic sugars with increased purity were also collected. Furthermore, a thorough characterization including various NMR techniques (31P, 13C, and 2D-HSQC), GPC, and GC-MS was conducted to the obtained lignin-rich-fractions. It was found that the WSL fraction contained abundant functional groups and tremendous amount of LCC structures. As compared to native LCC of bamboo, the WSL fraction exhibited more typical LCC linkages, i.e. phenyl glycoside linkage, which is the main type of chemical linkage between lignin and carbohydrate in both LCC samples. The results demonstrate that organic phase extraction is a highly efficient protocol for the fractionation of hydrolysate and the isolation of LCC-rich streams possessing great potential applications.


Life ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 325
Author(s):  
Chiara Galber ◽  
Stefania Carissimi ◽  
Alessandra Baracca ◽  
Valentina Giorgio

Human diseases range from gene-associated to gene-non-associated disorders, including age-related diseases, neurodegenerative, neuromuscular, cardiovascular, diabetic diseases, neurocognitive disorders and cancer. Mitochondria participate to the cascades of pathogenic events leading to the onset and progression of these diseases independently of their association to mutations of genes encoding mitochondrial protein. Under physiological conditions, the mitochondrial ATP synthase provides the most energy of the cell via the oxidative phosphorylation. Alterations of oxidative phosphorylation mainly affect the tissues characterized by a high-energy metabolism, such as nervous, cardiac and skeletal muscle tissues. In this review, we focus on human diseases caused by altered expressions of ATP synthase genes of both mitochondrial and nuclear origin. Moreover, we describe the contribution of ATP synthase to the pathophysiological mechanisms of other human diseases such as cardiovascular, neurodegenerative diseases or neurocognitive disorders.


Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (9) ◽  
pp. 2603
Author(s):  
Luana Malacaria ◽  
Giuseppina Anna Corrente ◽  
Amerigo Beneduci ◽  
Emilia Furia ◽  
Tiziana Marino ◽  
...  

This review focuses on the ability of some natural antioxidant molecules (i.e., hydroxycinnamic acids, coumarin-3-carboxylic acid, quercetin, luteolin and curcumin) to form Al(III)- and Fe(III)-complexes with the aim of evaluating the coordination properties from a combined experimental and theoretical point of view. Despite the contributions of previous studies on the chemical properties and biological activity of these metal complexes involving such natural antioxidants, further detailed relationships between the structure and properties are still required. In this context, the investigation on the coordination properties of Al(III) and Fe(III) toward these natural antioxidant molecules might deserve high interest to design water soluble molecule-based metal carriers that can improve the metal’s intake and/or its removal in living organisms.


2016 ◽  
Vol 06 (02) ◽  
pp. 1630003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhen Fan ◽  
Jingsheng Chen ◽  
John Wang

Ferroelectric random access memory (FeRAM) based on conventional ferroelectric perovskites, such as Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 and SrBi2Ta2O9, has encountered bottlenecks on memory density and cost, because those conventional perovskites suffer from various issues mainly including poor complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS)-compatibility and limited scalability. Next-generation cost-efficient, high-density FeRAM shall therefore rely on a material revolution. Since the discovery of ferroelectricity in Si:HfO2 thin films in 2011, HfO2-based materials have aroused widespread interest in the field of FeRAM, because they are CMOS-compatible and can exhibit robust ferroelectricity even when the film thickness is scaled down to below 10 nm. A review on this new class of ferroelectric materials is therefore of great interest. In this paper, the most appealing topics about ferroelectric HfO2-based materials including origins of ferroelectricity, advantageous material properties, and current and potential applications in FeRAM, are briefly reviewed.


2004 ◽  
Vol 44 (7) ◽  
pp. 687 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. M. Bindon

The biology of marbling is a considerable issue for the Australian beef industry. Measurement of the trait is still a concern: subjective assessment based on the degree of visual fat deposition and its distribution is the 'industry standard' and the basis for payment of marbling grades. Yet this measurement may be subject to operator error and is influenced by chiller temperature. Chemical extraction gives an unequivocal measure of all fat in the muscle (intramuscular fat percentage: IMF%) and has higher heritability and genetic variation than marble score; but does this mirror exactly what the trade regards as 'marbling'?Progeny test results from the Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) for Cattle and Beef Quality breeding projects provide improved understanding of breed and genetic effects on IMF% and marble score. Estimated breeding values (EBVs) for IMF% have been released to the industry for 7 breeds. Heritability estimates confirm that genetic progress will be faster when selection is based on IMF% rather than marble score. Genetic correlations of IMF% with growth, retail beef yield (RBY%), P8 fat, residual feed intake (RFI) and tenderness are now available to underpin selection indices. A favourable allele for marbling (TG5) on chromosome 14 has been identified by CSIRO/MLA as a direct gene marker for the trait. This is now being marketed as GeneSTAR marbling. Other favourable chromosomal regions are under investigation by the CRC.Nutritional manipulation of marbling remains problematic. It is accepted that high-energy grain diets achieve higher marbling than pasture diets. Within grain-based feedlot diets higher marbling is achieved with maize than barley, while barley diets in turn are better than sorghum. Steam flaking produces higher marbling than dry rolled grain and this effect is more marked with sorghum than maize. Beyond these establishments there are many uncertainties: experiments have examined the effects of diets with high protein; low protein; protected lipid; protected protein; added oil with and without calcium; vitamin A deficiency. None of these manipulations gave consistent improvement in marble score or IMF%. Commercial feedlots supplying Japanese B3/B4 markets may have successful dietary manipulations to enhance marbling but because of its proprietary nature the information is not normally available for scientific scrutiny.Japan is the only market for Australian beef where marbling is an important component of the market specification. There can be no doubt that marbling meets a special consumer preference in that niche market. In other markets scientific evidence for a link between marbling and beef tenderness or eating quality has been difficult to define (marbling is a key component of the USA grading scheme for primal cuts but Australia is not a big supplier to that market). In the domestic Meat Standards Australia market there is a trend for marbling to become more important as a consumer issue in 5-star products where higher order sensory attributes of beef come into play. Early meat science investigations concluded that beef flavour elements were water-soluble. This would exclude marbling fat as having a notable influence on flavour.Marbling remains the major determinant of carcass value in Australia's most valuable beef market. Research should continue to assist Australian producers to meet the specifications of that market with increased precision and reduced costs.


1996 ◽  
Vol 431 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lori A. Vermeulen ◽  
J. Pattanayak ◽  
Travis Fisher ◽  
Monica Hansford ◽  
Scott J. Burgmeyer

AbstractSolid state metal phosphonates (M(O3P-R-PO3) or M(O3P-R)2 (M = metal)) have layered structures where the metal atoms lie in planar sheets and the intervening R groups take up the interlamellar space. Microporous metal phosphonates can be prepared by reaction of the metal with a mixture of large and small phosphonates (M(O3P-LARGE)x(O3P-SMALL)2-x. The larger group acts as a pillar that holds the layers apart. Void spaces result from the presence of the smaller groups. The porous nature of these solids make them potential candidates for applications as sensors, size- and shape- selective catalysts, and chromatographic materials. Metal diphosphonates (M(O3P-R-PO3) can also be prepared one layer at a time on a surface, resulting in the construction of interesting superstructures that are not accessible through the solid state synthesis. For example, these superstructures can contain different components in sequential layers and may have applications in energy conversion, vectorial electron transport, and NLO devices. The preparation of microporous thin films would combine the desirable potential applications of the porous solids with the interesting parallel superstructures that can be prepared from the thin film assemblies. We report our progress toward the construction of microporous metal phosphonate thin films. The two methods that are currently being developed include: 1) phosphonate exchange of pre-assembled films, and 2) co-deposition of different large and small phosphonates during film assembly.


2012 ◽  
Vol 45 (5) ◽  
pp. 906-913 ◽  
Author(s):  
Herve Palancher ◽  
Anne Bonnin ◽  
Veijo Honkimäki ◽  
Heikki Suhonen ◽  
Peter Cloetens ◽  
...  

This article describes a single-shot methodology to derive an average coating thickness in multi-particle core–shell systems exhibiting high X-ray absorption. Powder composed of U–Mo alloy particles surrounded by a micrometre-thick UO2protective layer has been used as a test sample. Combining high-energy X-ray diffraction and laser granulometry, the average shell thickness could be accurately characterized. These results have been validated by additional measurements on single particles by two techniques: X-ray nanotomography and high-energy X-ray diffraction. The presented single-shot approach gives rise to many potential applications on core–shell systems and in particular on as-fabricated heterogeneous nuclear fuels.


2016 ◽  
Vol 72 (5) ◽  
pp. 373-378 ◽  
Author(s):  
Feng-Lan Liang ◽  
De-Yun Ma ◽  
Liang Qin

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are a new class of porous materials that have received widespread attention due to their potential applications in gas storage and/or separation, catalysis, luminescence, and so on. The title compound, poly[[(μ2-3,3′-dimethyl-4,4′-bipyridine-κ2N:N′)bis(μ4-4,4′-oxydibenzoato-κ4O:O′:O′′:O′′′)dizinc] tetrahydrate], {[Zn2(C14H8O5)2(C12H12N2)]·4H2O}n, has been prepared by the solvothermal assembly of Zn(NO3)2·6H2O, 4,4′-oxydi(benzoic acid) and 3,3′-dimethyl-4,4′-bipyridine. The two ZnIIatoms adopt the same five-coordinated distorted square-pyramidal geometry (i.e.ZnO4N), bonding to four O atoms from four different 4,4′-oxydibenzoate (oba) ligands and one N atom from a 3,3′-dimethyl-4,4′-bipyridine (dmbpy) ligand. The supramolecular secondary building unit (SBU) is a paddle-wheel [Zn2(COO)4] unit and these units are linked by oba ligands within the layer to form a two-dimensional net parallel to thebaxis, with the dmbpy ligands pointing alternately up and down, which is further extended by dmbpy ligands to form a three-dimensional framework withrobtopology. The single net leaves voids that are filled by mutual interpenetration of an independent equivalent framework in a twofold interpenetrating architecture. The title compound shows thermal stability up to 673 K and is stable in aqueous solutions in the pH range 5–9. Excitation and luminescence data observed at room temperature show that it emits a bright-blue fluorescence.


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