Here we report the occurrence of garnet porphyroblasts that have overgrown alternating silica-saturated and silica deficient microdomains via different mineral reactions. The samples were collected from ultrahigh-temp...Here we report the occurrence of garnet porphyroblasts that have overgrown alternating silica-saturated and silica deficient microdomains via different mineral reactions. The samples were collected from ultrahigh-temperature(UHT) metapelites in the Highland Complex, Sri Lanka. In some of the metapelites, garnet crystals have cores formed via a dehydration reaction, which had taken place at silicasaturated microdomains and mantle to rim areas formed via a dehydration reaction at silica-deficient microdomains. In contrast, some other garnets in the same rock cores had formed via a dehydration reaction which occurred at silica-deficient microdomains while mantle to rim areas formed via a dehydration reaction at silica-saturated microdomains. Based on the textural observations, we conclude that the studied garnets have grown across different effective bulk compositional microdomains during the prograde evolution. These microdomains could represent heterogeneous compositional layers(paleobedding/laminations) in the precursor sediments or differentiated crenulation cleavages that existed during prograde metamorphism. UHT metamorphism associated with strong ductile deformation, metamorphic differentiation and crystallization of locally produced melt may have obliterated the evidence for such microdomains in the matrix. The lack of significant compositional zoning in garnet probably due to self-diffusion during UHT metamorphism had left mineral inclusions as the sole evidence for earlier microdomains with contrasting chemistry.展开更多
Owing to the recent push toward efficient energy storage/conversion devices, fuel cells have become a strong candidate for energy conversion equipments. On the other hand, block copolymer polyelectrolytes are interest...Owing to the recent push toward efficient energy storage/conversion devices, fuel cells have become a strong candidate for energy conversion equipments. On the other hand, block copolymer polyelectrolytes are interesting materials for proton exchange membranes in fuel cells. Thus a considerable attention has been paid to the development of block copolymer polyelectrolyte membranes. In this study, the microdomains in block copolymer polyelectrolytes were controlled by external electric fields to develop high performance membranes with improved proton conductivity. The microdomain alignments in sulfonated polystyrene-b-hydrogenated poly butadiene-b-polystyrene block copolymer electrolyte were monitored by cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy analysis. The proton conductivities of the block copolymer electrolyte membranes were measured before and after exposure to electric field. In addition, the morphological features of the block copolymer electrolyte were observed with small angle x-ray scattering and atomic force microscopy.展开更多
Understanding all facets of membrane microdomains in normal and cancerous cells within the digestive tract is highly important,not only from a clinical point of view,but also in terms of our basic knowledge of cellula...Understanding all facets of membrane microdomains in normal and cancerous cells within the digestive tract is highly important,not only from a clinical point of view,but also in terms of our basic knowledge of cellular transformation.By studying the normal and cancer stem cell-associated molecule CD133 (prominin-1),novel aspects of the organization and dynamics of polarized epithelial cells have been revealed during the last decade.Its association with particular membrane microdomains is highly relevant in these contexts and might also offer new avenues in diagnosis and/or targeting of cancer stem cells.展开更多
The major brassinosteroid (BR) receptor of Arabidopsis BRASSINOSTEROID INSENSITIVE1 (BRI1) plays fundamental roles in BR signaling, but the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of BR on BRI1 internalization...The major brassinosteroid (BR) receptor of Arabidopsis BRASSINOSTEROID INSENSITIVE1 (BRI1) plays fundamental roles in BR signaling, but the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of BR on BRI1 internalization and assembly state remain unclear. Here, we applied variable angle total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy and fluorescence cross-correlation spectroscopy to analyze the dynamics of GFP-tagged BRII. We found that, in response to BR, the degree of co-localization of BRI1-GFP with AtFIotl-mCherry increased, and especially BR stimulated the membrane microdomain-associated pathway of BRI1 internalization. We also verified these observations in endocytosis-defective chc2-1 mutants and the AtFIotl amiRNA 15-5 lines. Furthermore, examination of the phosphorylation status of bril-EMS-suppressor 1 and measurement of BR-responsive gene expression revealed that membrane microdomains affect BR signaling. These results suggest that BR promotes the partitioning of BRI1 into functional membrane microdomains to activate BR signaling.展开更多
Phototropin (phot)-mediated signaling initiated by blue light (BL) plays a critical role in optimizing photosyn- thetic light capture at the plasma membrane (PM) in plants. However, the mechanisms underlying the...Phototropin (phot)-mediated signaling initiated by blue light (BL) plays a critical role in optimizing photosyn- thetic light capture at the plasma membrane (PM) in plants. However, the mechanisms underlying the regu- lation of phot activity at the PM in response to BL remain largely unclear. In this study, by single-particle tracking and stepwise photobleaching analysis of photl-GFP proteins we demonstrated that in the dark photl proteins remain in an inactive state and mostly exist as monomers. Dimerization and the diffusion rate of photl-GFP increased in a dose-dependent manner in response to BL. In contrast, BL did not affect the lateral diffusion of kinase-inactive photlD806N-GFP but did enhance its dimerization, suggesting that photl dimerization is independent of phosphorylation. Forster resonance energy transfer-fluorescence life- time imaging microscopy analysis revealed that the interaction between photl-GFP and a marker of sterol- rich lipid environments, AtRem1.3-mCherry, was enhanced with increased time of BL treatment. However, this BL-dependent interaction was not obvious in plants co-expressing phot1D806N-GFP and AtRem1.3- mCherry, indicating that BL facilitates the translocation of functional photl-GFP into AtRem1.3-1abeled microdomains to activate phot-mediated signaling. Conversely, sterol depletion attenuated photl-GFP dynamics, dimerization, and phosphorylation. Taken together, these results indicate that membrane micro- domains act as organizing platforms essential for the proper function of activated photl at the PM.展开更多
基金the National Research Council(NRC) of Sri Lanka(Grant Nos. 11-180 and 15-089)the Indo-Lanka Joint Grant from the Ministry of Technology and Research,Sri Lanka (MTR/TRD/AGR/3/1/04) for funding this projectsupport by the Stichting Dr Schurmannfonds, Grant Nos. 88/2012, 94/2013 and 101/2014
文摘Here we report the occurrence of garnet porphyroblasts that have overgrown alternating silica-saturated and silica deficient microdomains via different mineral reactions. The samples were collected from ultrahigh-temperature(UHT) metapelites in the Highland Complex, Sri Lanka. In some of the metapelites, garnet crystals have cores formed via a dehydration reaction, which had taken place at silicasaturated microdomains and mantle to rim areas formed via a dehydration reaction at silica-deficient microdomains. In contrast, some other garnets in the same rock cores had formed via a dehydration reaction which occurred at silica-deficient microdomains while mantle to rim areas formed via a dehydration reaction at silica-saturated microdomains. Based on the textural observations, we conclude that the studied garnets have grown across different effective bulk compositional microdomains during the prograde evolution. These microdomains could represent heterogeneous compositional layers(paleobedding/laminations) in the precursor sediments or differentiated crenulation cleavages that existed during prograde metamorphism. UHT metamorphism associated with strong ductile deformation, metamorphic differentiation and crystallization of locally produced melt may have obliterated the evidence for such microdomains in the matrix. The lack of significant compositional zoning in garnet probably due to self-diffusion during UHT metamorphism had left mineral inclusions as the sole evidence for earlier microdomains with contrasting chemistry.
文摘Owing to the recent push toward efficient energy storage/conversion devices, fuel cells have become a strong candidate for energy conversion equipments. On the other hand, block copolymer polyelectrolytes are interesting materials for proton exchange membranes in fuel cells. Thus a considerable attention has been paid to the development of block copolymer polyelectrolyte membranes. In this study, the microdomains in block copolymer polyelectrolytes were controlled by external electric fields to develop high performance membranes with improved proton conductivity. The microdomain alignments in sulfonated polystyrene-b-hydrogenated poly butadiene-b-polystyrene block copolymer electrolyte were monitored by cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy analysis. The proton conductivities of the block copolymer electrolyte membranes were measured before and after exposure to electric field. In addition, the morphological features of the block copolymer electrolyte were observed with small angle x-ray scattering and atomic force microscopy.
基金Supported by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft(TRR83 No.6SFB655 B3CO298/5-1)
文摘Understanding all facets of membrane microdomains in normal and cancerous cells within the digestive tract is highly important,not only from a clinical point of view,but also in terms of our basic knowledge of cellular transformation.By studying the normal and cancer stem cell-associated molecule CD133 (prominin-1),novel aspects of the organization and dynamics of polarized epithelial cells have been revealed during the last decade.Its association with particular membrane microdomains is highly relevant in these contexts and might also offer new avenues in diagnosis and/or targeting of cancer stem cells.
文摘The major brassinosteroid (BR) receptor of Arabidopsis BRASSINOSTEROID INSENSITIVE1 (BRI1) plays fundamental roles in BR signaling, but the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of BR on BRI1 internalization and assembly state remain unclear. Here, we applied variable angle total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy and fluorescence cross-correlation spectroscopy to analyze the dynamics of GFP-tagged BRII. We found that, in response to BR, the degree of co-localization of BRI1-GFP with AtFIotl-mCherry increased, and especially BR stimulated the membrane microdomain-associated pathway of BRI1 internalization. We also verified these observations in endocytosis-defective chc2-1 mutants and the AtFIotl amiRNA 15-5 lines. Furthermore, examination of the phosphorylation status of bril-EMS-suppressor 1 and measurement of BR-responsive gene expression revealed that membrane microdomains affect BR signaling. These results suggest that BR promotes the partitioning of BRI1 into functional membrane microdomains to activate BR signaling.
基金This work is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31530084, 31270224) and the Program of Introducing Talents of Discipline to Universities (111 project, B13007).
文摘Phototropin (phot)-mediated signaling initiated by blue light (BL) plays a critical role in optimizing photosyn- thetic light capture at the plasma membrane (PM) in plants. However, the mechanisms underlying the regu- lation of phot activity at the PM in response to BL remain largely unclear. In this study, by single-particle tracking and stepwise photobleaching analysis of photl-GFP proteins we demonstrated that in the dark photl proteins remain in an inactive state and mostly exist as monomers. Dimerization and the diffusion rate of photl-GFP increased in a dose-dependent manner in response to BL. In contrast, BL did not affect the lateral diffusion of kinase-inactive photlD806N-GFP but did enhance its dimerization, suggesting that photl dimerization is independent of phosphorylation. Forster resonance energy transfer-fluorescence life- time imaging microscopy analysis revealed that the interaction between photl-GFP and a marker of sterol- rich lipid environments, AtRem1.3-mCherry, was enhanced with increased time of BL treatment. However, this BL-dependent interaction was not obvious in plants co-expressing phot1D806N-GFP and AtRem1.3- mCherry, indicating that BL facilitates the translocation of functional photl-GFP into AtRem1.3-1abeled microdomains to activate phot-mediated signaling. Conversely, sterol depletion attenuated photl-GFP dynamics, dimerization, and phosphorylation. Taken together, these results indicate that membrane micro- domains act as organizing platforms essential for the proper function of activated photl at the PM.