Ultrastructure of secretory and high-polymer serum immunoglobulin A of human and rabbit origin

Electron micrographs of immunoglobulins A from human and rabbit colostrum, which were purified on tall agarose columns, revealed Y-shaped molecules (125 by 140 angstroms). The linear dimensions of the arms were 55 to 75 by 25 to 30 angstroms. A molecular model is postulated in which two immunoglobulin A monomers are superimposed on each other in a close-packed state with the secretory piece inserted in the constant region of the alpha-chains. High-polymer (11 or 13S) immunoglobulin A molecules (total span 100 to 110 angstroms) from human serum were composed of four arms (50 to 55 by 20 angstroms) joined at a contrast-rich center.     

Ultrahigh-Resolution X-ray Tomography

Ultrahigh-resolution three-dimensional images of a microscopic test object were made with soft x-rays collected with a scanning transmission x-ray microscope. The test object consisted of two different patterns of gold bars on silicon nitride windows that were separated by approximately 5 micrometers. Depth resolution comparable to the transverse resolution was achieved by recording nine two-dimensional images of the object at angles between -50 and +55 degrees with respect to the beam axis. The projections were then combined tomographically to form a three-dimensional image by means of an algorithm using an algebraic reconstruction technique. A transverse resolution of approximately 1000 angstroms was observed. Artifacts in the reconstruction limited the overall depth resolution to approximately 6000 angstroms; however, some features were clearly reconstructed with a depth resolution of approximately 1000 angstroms.     

Atomic-level models of the bacterial carboxysome shell

The carboxysome is a bacterial microcompartment that functions as a simple organelle by sequestering enzymes involved in carbon fixation. The carboxysome shell is roughly 800 to 1400 angstroms in diameter and is assembled from several thousand protein subunits. Previous studies have revealed the three-dimensional structures of hexameric carboxysome shell proteins, which self-assemble into molecular layers that most likely constitute the facets of the polyhedral shell. Here, we report the three-dimensional structures of two proteins of previously unknown function, CcmL and OrfA (or CsoS4A), from the two known classes of carboxysomes, at resolutions of 2.4 and 2.15 angstroms. Both proteins assemble to form pentameric structures whose size and shape are compatible with formation of vertices in an icosahedral shell. Combining these pentamers with the hexamers previously elucidated gives two plausible, preliminary atomic models for the carboxysome shell.     

Flocculation mechanism: charge neutralization and bridging

Electrophoresis measurements and electron-microscope observations with two model colloids and a polymeric flocculant show zeta-potential changes and details of floc structure. Fibers of the flocculant extend radially from the particle surface and vary in thickness from 20 to 300 angstroms. Both charge neutralization and bridging may function simultaneously.     

Aqueous central cavity in aspartate transcarbamylase from Escherichia coli

A three-dimensional x-ray diffraction study of aspartate transcarbamylase to 5.5-angstrom resolution, with the aid of four isomorphous heavy atom derivatives, indicates the presence of a central aqueous cavity approximating an oblate spheroid about 25 by 50 by 50 angstroms in dimension, within a molecule about 90 by 110 by 110 angstroms in largest dimensions.     

Quenchable high-pressure polymorph of zinc selenate

A new quenchable high-pressure form of zinc selenate (ZnSeO(4)) was produced by subjecting the low-pressure modification to 40 kilobars at 400 degrees C for 30 minutes. The new form is orthorhombic, space group D(2h),(17)-Cmcm. The cell constants at 29 degrees C are: a, 5.511 angstroms; b, 8.110 angstroms; and c, 6.585 angstroms. The calculated density is 4.70 grams per cubic centimeter in comparison with 4.61 grams per cubic centimeter for the low-pressure modification. This implies a volume change of 2 percent at the transition.     

Cholestasis: lamellar structure of the abnormal human serum lipoprotein

An abnormal lipoprotein was visualized directly in serum by electron microscopy of preparations negatively stained with potassium phosphotungstate. It appears as a unique disk-shaped particle with major axis measuring 400 to 600 angstroms and minor axis measuring about 100 angstroms. Chemical analysis, viscosity measurements, and x-ray diffraction analysis of purified preparations indicate that the particle, consisting of a one-to-one molar mixture of cholesterol and choline phosphatides associated with a small amount of protein, is a flattened vesicle, the wall of which is a continuous lipid bilayer.     

Three-dimensional tertiary structure of yeast phenylalanine transfer RNA

The 3-angstrom electron density map of crystalline yeast phenylalanine transfer RNA has provided us with a complete three-dimensional model which defines the positions of all of the nucleotide residues in the moleclule. The overall features of the molecule are virtually the same as those seen at a resolution of 4 angstroms except that many additional details of tertiary structure are now visualized. Ten types of hydrogen bonding are identified which define the specificity of tertiary interactions. The molecule is also stabilized by considerable stacking of the planar purines and pyrimidines. This tertiary structure explains, in a simple and direct fashion, chemical modification studies of transfer RNA. Since most of the tertiary interactions involve nucleotides which are common to all transfer RNA 's, it is likely that this three-dimensional structure provides a basic pattern of folding which may help to clarify the three-dimensional structure of all transfer RNA's.     

Three-Dimensional X-ray Reflections from Anthracite and Meta-Anthracite

Careful analysis of x-ray scattering intensities of demineralized metaanthracites and high-rank anthracites formed during the Pennsylvanian geological period has revealed the presence of three-dimensional (hkl) reflections of graphite, demonstrating unequivocally that coals graphitize with metamorphism. Graphitization has been observed also with a coal formed before the Cambrian period, much earlier than most coals. A significant degree of graphitization occurs by coalification when the graphite-like layers attain a size of 25 to 30 angstroms as compared to 100 A or more by the heat treatment of amorphous carbons.     

Particle Formation during Water-Vapor Photolysis

Micrometer-sized particles have been produced by the photolysis of water vapor at wavelengths between 1500 and 1700 angstroms. Although the composition of the particles was not determined, the rate of particle production is consistent with the efficient conversion of water photolysis products to particulate matter. Such a process may be of importance in planetary atmospheres.     

Matrix-Mediated Synthesis of Nanocrystalline ggr-Fe2O3: A New Optically Transparent Magnetic Material

A new magnetic material with appreciable optical transmission in the visible region at room temperature has been isolated as a gamma-Fe(2)O(3)/polymer nanocomposite. The synthesis is carried out in an ion-exchange resin at 60 degrees C. Magnetization and susceptibility data demonstrate loading-dependent saturation moments as high as 46 electromagnetic units per gram and superparamagnetism for lower loadings where particle sizes are less than 100 angstroms. Optical absorption studies show that the small-particle form of gamma-Fe(2)O(3) is considerably more transparent to visible light than the single-crystal form. The difference in absorption ranges from nearly an order of magnitude in the "red" spectral region to a factor of 3 at 5400 angstroms. The magnetization of the nanocomposite is greater by more than an order of magnitude than those of the strongest room-temperature transparent magnets, FeBO(3) and FeF(3).     

The structure of ferrihydrite, a nanocrystalline material

Despite the ubiquity of ferrihydrite in natural sediments and its importance as an industrial sorbent, the nanocrystallinity of this iron oxyhydroxide has hampered accurate structure determination by traditional methods that rely on long-range order. We uncovered the atomic arrangement by real-space modeling of the pair distribution function (PDF) derived from direct Fourier transformation of the total x-ray scattering. The PDF for ferrihydrite synthesized with the use of different routes is consistent with a single phase (hexagonal space group P6(3)mc; a = approximately 5.95 angstroms, c = approximately 9.06 angstroms). In its ideal form, this structure contains 20% tetrahedrally and 80% octahedrally coordinated iron and has a basic structural motif closely related to the Baker-Figgis delta-Keggin cluster. Real-space fitting indicates structural relaxation with decreasing particle size and also suggests that second-order effects such as internal strain, stacking faults, and particle shape contribute to the PDFs.     

Design of a novel globular protein fold with atomic-level accuracy

A major challenge of computational protein design is the creation of novel proteins with arbitrarily chosen three-dimensional structures. Here, we used a general computational strategy that iterates between sequence design and structure prediction to design a 93-residue alpha/beta protein called Top7 with a novel sequence and topology. Top7 was found experimentally to be folded and extremely stable, and the x-ray crystal structure of Top7 is similar (root mean square deviation equals 1.2 angstroms) to the design model. The ability to design a new protein fold makes possible the exploration of the large regions of the protein universe not yet observed in nature.     

Nature of the packing of ribosomes within chromatoid bodies

Optical Fourier transformns, made of electron mnicrographs of the crystalline array of ribonucleoprotein known as chromatoid bodies of Entamoeba invadens, have been interpreted as the transforms of a helix of 12 nodes in five turns. A model shows that this helix may be built of spheres 180 angstroms in diameter, placed at a radius of 150 angstroms. The optical transform of the model is very similar to the transform of the original electron micrograph.     

倾斜地表下隧道开挖引起的三维地表沉降计算

为研究倾斜地表下隧道开挖引起的地表沉降计算方法,考虑倾斜地表对隧道埋深的影响,建立了倾斜地表下隧道开挖模型和三维情况下单元体开挖计算模型.采用随机介质理论,推导出三维倾斜地表下隧道开挖引起的地表沉降计算公式,并结合工程实例选取监测数据和计算数据对比验证,证明了计算方法的准确性.最后针对地表倾斜角度进行对比分析,表明地表斜面倾角越大,地表不均匀沉降越明显.该倾斜地表沉降计算方法对隧道开挖地表沉降预测有一定的工程价值和指导意义.     

Single crystals of transfer RNA: an x-ray diffraction study

Large single crystals of formylmethionyl transfer RNA have been prepared. An x-ray diffraction study shows that the material crystallizes in a hexagonal lattice with a equal to 170 angstroms, c equal to 234 angstroms. The diffraction pattern extends to spacings just under 20 angstroms at present. The crystals are heavily hydrated, containing 88 percent water.     

Intermolecular electron transfer by quantum mechanical tunneling

The transfer of electrons from one molecule to another by quantum mechanical tunneling has recently been implicated in biological electron transport. This report describes observations of electron transfer between aromatic molecules in a rigid matrix, in which electrons apparently tunnel through tens of angstroms of inert solvent. The kinetics tend to confirm the tunneling process, which is likely to be an important means of electron transfer when diffusion is blocked by steric factors or immobilization of the reactants.     

The Framework Topology of ZSM-18, a Novel Zeolite Containing Rings of Three (Si,Al)-O Species

ZSM-18 is the first known aluminosilicate zeolite to contain rings of three (Si,Al)-O species (3-rings). Its framework topology has been determined by hypothetical model building, subsequent constrained distance and angle least-squares refinements of atomic coordinates, and x-ray powder diffraction pattern simulations. Its channel structure is characterized by a linear unidimensional 12-ring channel, with an approximate pore opening of 7.0 angstroms. In addition, the channels are lined with pockets that are capped by 7-rings with dimensions of 2.8 angstroms by 3.5 angstroms. An intraframework packing model of the organic moiety used in the synthesis suggests that a strong templating effect may be responsible for the formation of this unusual zeolite structure.     

Garnet-like structures of high-pressure cadmium germanate and calcium germanate

Crystals of CdGeO(3) grown at a pressure of 65 kilobars are tetragonal and have an ordered, garnet-like crystal structure with cadmium occupying the dodecahedral and octahedral sites, and germanium the octahedral and tetrahedral sites. The crystal structure (a = 12.406 +/- 1 angstroms, c = 12.256 +/- 1 angstroms, and space group 14,/a) has been refined by least-squares analysis to an R (discrepancy index) of 0.073. Two high-pressure phases of CaGeO(3) were synthesized, one isotypic with tetragonal CdGeO(3) (a = 12.514 +/- 3 angstroms, c = 12.358 +/- 3 angstroms), and the other isotypic with perovskite.     

Manganese oxide octahedral molecular sieves: preparation, characterization, and applications

A thermally stable 3 x 3 octahedral molecular sieve corresponding to natural todorokite (OMS-1) has been synthesized by autoclaving layer-structure manganese oxides, which are prepared by reactions of MnO(4)(-) and Mn(2+) under markedly alkaline conditions. The nature and thermal stability of products depend strongly on preparation parameters, such as the MnO(4)(-)/Mn(2+) ratio, pH, aging, and autoclave conditions. The purest and the most thermally stable todorokite is obtained at a ratio of 0.30 to 0.40. Autoclave treatments at about 150 degrees to 180 degrees C for more than 2 days yield OMS-1, which is as thermally stable (500 degrees C) as natural todorokite minerals. Adsorption data give a tunnel size of 6.9 angstroms and an increase of cyclohexane or carbon tetrachloride uptake with dehydration temperature up to 500 degrees C. At 600 degrees C, the tunnel structure collapses. Both Lewis and Br?nsted acid sites have been observed in OMS-1. Particular applications of these materials include adsorption, electrochemical sensors, and oxidation catalysis.