217,504 research outputs found
Evolution of the G+C content frontier in the rat cytomegalovirus genome
No full textWithin the 230138 bp of the rat cytomegalovirus (RCMV) genome, the G+C content changes abruptly at position 142644, constituting a G+C content frontier. To the left of this point, overall G+C content is 69.2%, and to the right it is only 47.6%. A region of extremely low G+C content (33.8%) is found in the 5 kb immediately to the right of the frontier, in which there are no predicted coding sequences. To the right of position 147501, the G+C content rises and predicted coding sequences reappear. However, these genes are much shorter (average 848bp, 50% G+C) than those in the left two-thirds of the genome (average 1462bp, 70% G+C). Whole genome alignment of several viruses indicates that the initial ultra-low G+C region appeared in the common ancestor of the genera Cytomegalovirus and Muromegalovirus, and that the lowering of G+C in the right third has been a subsequent process in the lineage leading to RCMV. The left two-thirds of RCMV has stop codon occurrences at 67.5% of their expected level, based on a modified Markov chain model of stop codon distribution, and the corresponding figure for the right third is 78%. Therefore, despite heavy mutation pressure, selective constraint has operated in the right third of the RCMV genome to maintain a degree of gene length unusual for such low G+C sequences
Rotationally resolved infrared spectrum of the Li+-D-2 cation complex
No full textThe infrared spectrum of mass selected Li+-D-2 cations is recorded in the D-D stretch region (2860-2950 cm(-1)) in a tandem mass spectrometer by monitoring Li+ photofragments. The D-D stretch vibration of Li+-D-2 is shifted by -79 cm(-1) from that of the free D-2 molecule indicating that the vibrational excitation of the D-2 subunit strengthens the effective Li+center dot D-2 intermolecular interaction. Around 100 rovibrational transitions, belonging to parallel K-a=0-0, 1-1, and 2-2 subbands, are fitted to a Watson A-reduced Hamiltonian to yield effective molecular parameters. The infrared spectrum shows that the complex consists of a Li+ ion attached to a slightly perturbed D-2 molecule with a T-shaped equilibrium configuration and a 2.035 A vibrationally averaged intermolecular separation. Comparisons are made between the spectroscopic data and data obtained from rovibrational calculations using a recent three dimensional Li+-D-2 potential energy surface [R. Martinazzo, G. Tantardini, E. Bodo, and F. Gianturco, J. Chem. Phys. 119, 11241 (2003)]. (c) 2006 American Institute of Physics
Characterization of an alternatively spliced G(M2) activator protein, G(M2A) protein - An activator protein which stimulates the enzymatic hydrolysis of N-acetylneuraminic acid, but not N-acetylgalactosamine, from G(M2)
No full textG(M2) activator protein is a protein cofactor which stimulates the enzymatic hydrolysis of both GalNAc and NeuAc from G(M2). We have previously isolated two cDNA clones, G(M2) activator cDNA and G(M2A) cDNA, for human G(M2) activator protein (Nagarajan, S., Chen, H.-C., Li, S.-C., Li, Y.-T., and Lockyer, J. M. (1992) Biochem. J. 282, 807-813). G(M2A) mRNA is an RNA alternative splicing product that contains exons 1, 2, 3, and intron 3 of the genomic DNA sequence of G(M2) activator protein (Klima, H., Tanaka, A., Schnabel, D., Nakano, T., Schroder, M., Suzuki, K., and Sandhoff, K. (1991) FEES Left. 289, 260-264). G(M2A) cDNA encodes a protein (G(M2A) protein) containing 1-109 of the 160 amino acids of human G(M2) activator protein, plus a tripeptide (VST) encoded by intron 3 at the COOH terminus. Thus, G(M2A) protein can be regarded as a form (truncated version) of G(M2) activator protein. We have expressed G(M2A) cDNA in Escherichia coli using pT7-7 as the vector. The recombinant G(M2A) protein was purified to an electrophoretically homogeneous form and was found to stimulate the hydrolysis of NeuAc from G(M2) by clostridial sialidase, but not the hydrolysis of GalNAc from G(M2) by beta-hexosaminidase A. Like G(M2) activator protein, G(M2A) protein also specifically recognized the terminal G(M2) epitope in GalNAc-GD1a and stimulated the hydrolysis of only the external NeuAc from this ganglioside by clostridial sialidase. These results enabled us to discern the enzymatic hydrolyses of GalNAc and NeuAc from the G(M2) epitope and established that the NeuAc recognition domain of G(M2) activator protein is located within amino acids 1-109. The presence of G(M2A) mRNA in human tissues and the selective stimulation of NeuAc hydrolysis by G(M2A) protein indicate that this activator protein may be involved in the catabolism of G(M2) through the asialo-G(M2) pathway
Role of the Microstructure in the Li-Storage Performance of Spinel-Structured High-Entropy (Mn,Fe,Co,Ni,Zn) Oxide Nanofibers
No full textHigh-entropy oxides with spinel structure (SHEOs) are promising anode materials for next-generation lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). In this work, electrospun (Mn,Fe,Co,Ni,Zn) SHEO nanofibers produced under different conditions are evaluated as anode materials in LIBs and thoroughly characterised by a combination of analytical techniques. The variation of metal load (19.23 or 38.46 wt% relative to the polymer) in the precursor solution and of calcination conditions (700 degrees C/0.5 h, or 700 degrees C/2 h followed by 900 degrees C/2 h) affects the morphology, microstructure, crystalline phase, and surface composition of the pristine SHEO nanofibers and the resulting electrochemical performance, whereas mechanism of Li+ storage does not substantially change. Causes of long-term (>= 650 cycles) capacity fading are elucidated via ex situ synchrotron X-ray absorption spectroscopy. The results evidence that the larger amounts of Fe, Co, and Ni cations irreversibly reduced to the metallic form during cycling are responsible for faster capacity fading in nanofibers calcined under milder conditions. The microstructure of the active material plays a key role. Nanofibers composed by larger and better-crystallized grains, where a stable solid/electrolyte interphase forms, exhibit superior long-term stability (453 mAh g-1 after 550 cycles at 0.5 A g-1) and rate-capability (210 mAh g-1 at 2 A g-1).High-entropy (Mn,Fe,Co,Ni,Zn) oxide nanofibers (NFs) are evaluated as LIB anodes.The existence of a microstructure-performance relationship is demonstrated.NFs with larger and less defective grains show superior stability and rate-capability.Best anodes deliver 453 mAh g-1 after 550 cycles at 0.5 A g-1, and 210 mAh g-1 at 2 A g-1.Long-term (>= 650 cycles) capacity fading is due to the formation of Fe degrees, Co degrees, and Ni degrees
Synthesis and electrochemical performance of the high voltage cathode material Li[Li0.2Mn0.56Ni0.16Co 0.08]O2 with improved rate capability
No full textThe high voltage layered Li[Li0.2Mn0.56Ni 0.16Co0.08]O2 cathode material, which is a solid solution between Li2MnO3 and LiMn 0.4Ni0.4Co0.2O2, has been synthesized by co-precipitation method followed by high temperature annealing at 900 °C. XRD and SEM characterizations proved that the as prepared powder is constituted of small and homogenous particles (100-300 nm), which are seen to enhance the material rate capability. After the initial decay, no obvious capacity fading was observed when cycling the material at different rates. Steady-state reversible capacities of 220 mAh g-1 at 0.2C, 190 mAh g-1 at 1C, 155 mAh g-1 at 5C and 110 mAh g-1 at 20C were achieved in long-term cycle tests within the voltage cutoff limits of 2.5 and 4.8 V at 20 °C. © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved
SPECIFIC RECOGNITION OF N-ACETYLNEURAMINIC ACID IN THE G(M2) EPITOPE BY HUMAN G(M2) ACTIVATOR PROTEIN
No full textG(M2) Activator is a low molecular weight protein cofactor that stimulates the enzymatic conversion of G(M2) into G(M3) by human beta-hexosaminidase A and also the conversion of G(M2) into G(A2) by clostridial sialidase (Wu, Y.-Y., Lockyer, J. M., Sugiyama, E., Pavlova, N. V., Li, Y.-T., and Li, S.- C. (1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269, 16276-16283). Among the five known activator proteins for the enzymatic hydrolysis of glycosphingolipids, only G(M2) activator is effective in stimulating the hydrolysis of G(M2). However, the mechanism of action of G(M2) activator is still not well understood, Using a unique disialosylganglioside, GalNAc-G(D1a), as the substrate, we were able to show that in the presence of G(M2) activator, GalNAc-G(D1a) was specifically converted into GalNAc-G(M1a) by clostridial sialidase, while in the presence of saposin B, a nonspecific activator protein, GalNAc-G(D1a) was converted into both GalNAc-G(M1a) and GalNAc-G(M1b). individual products generated from GalNAc-G(D1a) by clostridial sialidase were identified by thin layer chromatography, negative secondary ion mass spectrometry, and immunostaining with a monoclonal IgM that recognizes the G(M2) epitope. Our results clearly show that G(M2) activator recognizes the G(M2) epitope in GalNAc-G(D1a). Thus, G(M2) activator may interact with the trisaccharide structure of the G(M2) epitope and render the GalNAc and NeuAc residues accessible to beta-hexosaminidase A and sialidase, respectively
Rechargeable Li/Cl battery down to -80 {\deg}C
No full textLow temperature rechargeable batteries are important to life in cold
climates, polar/deep-sea expeditions and space explorations. Here, we report ~
3.5 - 4 V rechargeable lithium/chlorine (Li/Cl2) batteries operating down to
-80 {\deg}C, employing Li metal negative electrode, a novel CO2 activated
porous carbon (KJCO2) as the positive electrode, and a high ionic conductivity
(~ 5 to 20 mS cm-1 from -80 {\deg}C to 25 {\deg}C) electrolyte comprised of 1 M
aluminum chloride (AlCl3), 0.95 M lithium chloride (LiCl), and 0.05 M lithium
bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (LiFSI) in low melting point (-104.5 {\deg}C) thionyl
chloride (SOCl2). Between room-temperature and -80 {\deg}C, the Li/Cl2 battery
delivered up to ~ 30,000 - 4,500 mAh g-1 first discharge capacity and a 1,200 -
5,000 mAh g-1 reversible capacity (discharge voltages in ~ 3.5 to 3.1 V) over
up to 130 charge-discharge cycles. Mass spectrometry and X-ray photoelectron
spectroscopy (XPS) probed Cl2 trapped in the porous carbon upon LiCl
electro-oxidation during charging. At lower temperature down to -80 {\deg}C,
SCl2/S2Cl2 and Cl2 generated by electro-oxidation in the charging step were
trapped in porous KJCO2 carbon, allowing for reversible reduction to afford a
high discharge voltage plateau near ~ 4 V with up to ~ 1000 mAh g-1 capacity
for SCl2/S2Cl2 reduction and up to ~ 4000 mAh g-1 capacity at ~ 3.1 V plateau
for Cl2 reduction. Towards practical use, we made CR2032 Li/Cl2 battery cells
to drive digital watches at -40 {\deg}C and light emitting diode at -80
{\deg}C, opening Li/Cl2 secondary batteries for ultra-cold conditions
Tuning Work Function of Fe2N@C Nanosheets by Co Doping for Enhanced Lithium Storage
No full textTransition metal nitrides (TMNs) with high theoretical capacity and excellent electrical conductivity have great potential as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), but suffer from poor rate performance due to the slow kinetics. Herein, taking the Fe2N for instance, Co doping is utilized to enhance the work function of Fe2N, which accelerates the charge transfer and strengthens the adsorption of Li+ ions. The Fe2N nanoparticles with various Co dopants are anchoring on the surface of honeycomb porous carbon foam (named Co-x-Fe2N@C). Co-doping can enlarge the work function of pristine Fe2N and thereby optimize the charging/discharging kinetics. The work function can be increased from 5.23 eV (pristine Fe2N) to 5.67 eV for Co-0.3-Fe2N@C and 5.56 eV for Co-0.1-Fe2N@C. As expected, the Co-0.1-Fe2N@C electrode exhibits the highest specific capacity (673 mA h g(-1) at 100 mA g(-1)) and remarkable rate capability (375 mA h g(-1) at 5 000 mA g(-1)), outperforming most reported TMNs electrodes. Therefore, this work provides a promising strategy to design and regulate anode materials for high-performance and even commercially available LIBs.Y.C. and Q.H. contributed equally to this work. This work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 22372127), Natural Science Foundation of Hubei Province (Nos. ZRM2023000271 and
2023AFB608)
TiF<sub>3</sub> catalyzed MgH<sub>2</sub> as a Li/Na ion battery anode
No full textMgH2 has been considered as a potential anode material for Li ion batteries due to its low cost and high theoretical capacity. However, it suffers from low electronic conductivity and slow kinetics for hydrogen sorption at room temperature that results in poor reversibility, cycling stability and rate capability for Li ion storage. This work presents a MgH2–TiF3@CNT based Li ion battery anode manufactured via a conventional slurry based method. Working with a liquid electrolyte at room temperature, it achieves a high capacity retention of 543 mAh g−1 in 70 cycles at 0.2 C and an improved rate capability, thanks to the improved hydrogen sorption kinetics with the presence of catalytic TiF3. Meanwhile, the first realization of Na ion uptake in MgH2 has been evidenced in experiments.Accepted Author ManuscriptChemE/Materials for Energy Conversion and Storag
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