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For the magnetic moment of the 2083 keV level of 140Ce, there are four published data, all obtained by applying an external magnetic field of less than 5 T to a liquid sample containing 140La using the time-differential perturbed angular correlation (TDPAC) technique. Although these four values are consistent within two times their uncertainties (2σ), the range of values in 2σ extends from μ = +3.0 to +5.2 (in units of nuclear magneton, μN). This time, the TDPAC technique was successfully applied to the 2083 ke V level of 140Ce implanted in an Fe foil. The magnetic moment of this level was determined to beμ = +4.00(20)μN, employing the known hyperfine field at 141Ce in Fe, -- 41(2) T, which agrees very well with one of the values, μ = +4.06(15)μN. The present value is compared with two shell-model calculations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contents The present study was carried out to compare the gene expression profiles in oocytes derived from adult and prepubertal Japanese Black cattle during in vitro maturation (IVM) using microarray gene chips (Bovine genome array containing 24 072 probe sets representing over 23 000 transcripts). Microarray experiments were conducted using total RNA isolated from immature [germinal vesicle (GV)] and in vitro matured [metaphase II, (MII)] oocytes derived from adult and prepubertal animals. A total of 333 (1.4%) and 549 (2.3%) genes were differentially expressed between prepubertal vs adult bovine GV and MII stages oocytes, respectively. Of these, 176 and 312 genes were up-regulated, while 157 and 237 were down-regulated in prepubertal when compared with adult GV and MII oocytes, respectively. It was also observed that 695 (2.9%) and 553 (2.3%) genes were differentially expressed between GV vs MII stage oocytes in the adult and prepubertal groups, respectively. Gene ontological classification of the differentially expressed genes revealed that up-regulated genes in adult oocytes were involved in signal transduction, transcriptional control and transport. Quantitative reverse transcription-PCR validated the expression profile of some selected transcripts and confirmed differences in the expression levels of transcripts between adult vs prepubertal groups in both GV and MII stages oocytes as identified by microarray data analysis. This study indicated for the first time that significant number of genes were differentially expressed (>2-fold, p < 0.01) between oocytes derived from adult and those from prepubertal Japanese Black cattle, and this difference increased during IVM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Larmor precession for the 362 keV state in Ho( I = 3/2, T = 1.512 μs) in DyO with an external magnetic field of 0.3 T was determined to be − 32.3 ± 0.6 MHz by use of the perturbed angular correlation technique, intending to determine the magnetic moment and apply it to the measurement of the hyperfine field at Ho in Fe. The magnetic moment for this state was tentatively deduced under the assumption that the paramagnetic correction factor for a free Ho ion is applicable to the present case. The independent A measurement for the 633 − 362 keV γ cascade for the sign assignment of the Larmor frequency is inconsistent with that from known multipolarities and mixing ratios for this cascade, implying that the mixing ratios may be different from the reported values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Recently, we found that transglutaminase 2 (TG2) might be involved in the difference in proliferative capacities between periportal hepatocytes (PPH) and perivenous hepatocytes (PVH) through down-regulation of high-affinity epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). However, it is uncertain whether this high-affinity EGFR contributes to the hepatocyte growth signalling pathway. Here, we have investigated the influence of TG2 on EGF-induced EGFR dimerization and its phosphorylation, which are important steps in the hepatocyte proliferative/growth signalling pathway, in PPH and PVH. Materials and methods: PPH and PVH were isolated using the digitonin/collagenase perfusion technique. Amounts of TG2, EGFR dimerization and its phosphorylation were determined by Western blot analysis. Results: Pretreatment with monodansylcadaverine, an inhibitor of TG2, greatly increased EGF-induced EGFR dimerization and its phosphorylation in PVH compared with PPH. Conversely, treatment with retinoic acid, an inducer of TG2, significantly decreased EGF-induced EGFR dimerization and its phosphorylation with a significant increase in TG2 expression and its catalysed products, isopeptide bonds, in both subpopulations. It was found that EGFR served as a substrate for TG2. Conclusion: The present data showed good correlation with our previous data on EGF-induced DNA synthesis and EGFR-binding affinity to EGF. These results suggest that zonal difference in cell growth between PPH and PVH may be caused by down-regulation of EGFR dimerization and subsequent autophosphorylation through TG2-mediated cross-linking of EGFR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The GLA domain, a common membrane-anchoring domain of several serine protease coagulation factors, is a key element in membrane association and activation of these factors in a highly Ca2+-dependent manner. However, the critical role of Ca2+ ions in binding is only poorly understood. Here, we present the atomic model of a membrane-bound GLA domain by using MD simulations of the GLA domain of human factor VIIa and an anionic lipid bilayer. The binding is furnished through a complete insertion of the ω-loop into the membrane and through direct interactions of structurally bound Ca2+ ions and protein side chains with negative lipids. The model suggests that Ca2+ ions play two distinct roles in the process: the four inner Ca2+ ions are primarily responsible for optimal folding of the GLA domain for membrane insertion, whereas the outer Ca2+ ions anchor the protein to the membrane through direct contacts with lipids. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]