The native architecture of a photosynthetic membrane

In photosynthesis, the harvesting of solar energy and its subsequent conversion into a stable charge separation are dependent upon an interconnected macromolecular network of membrane-associated chlorophyll–protein complexes. Although the detailed structure of each complex has been determined, the size and organization of this network are unknown. Here we show the use of atomic force microscopy to directly reveal a native bacterial photosynthetic membrane. This first view of any multi-component membrane shows the relative positions and associations of the photosynthetic complexes and reveals crucial new features of the organization of the network: we found that the membrane is divided into specialized domains each with a different network organization and in which one type of complex predominates. Two types of organization were found for the peripheral light-harvesting LH2 complex. In the first, groups of 10–20 molecules of LH2 form light-capture domains that interconnect linear arrays of dimers of core reaction centre (RC)–light-harvesting 1 (RC–LH1–PufX) complexes; in the second they were found outside these arrays in larger clusters. The LH1 complex is ideally positioned to function as an energy collection hub, temporarily storing it before transfer to the RC where photochemistry occurs: the elegant economy of the photosynthetic membrane is demonstrated by the close packing of these linear arrays, which are often only separated by narrow 'energy conduits' of LH2 just two or three complexes wide

Optimasi Metode Cryotherapy Untuk Mengeliminasi Virus Pada Tunas Kentang in Vitro

Penggunaan benih kentang generasi awal dan bebas virus merupakan kunci keberhasilan produksi kentang berkualitas. Cryotherapy (perendaman dalam nitrogen cair) merupakan teknik terbaru untuk mengeliminasi virus pada benih kentang. Salah satu kendala dalam penerapan teknologi cryotherapy ialah tingkat daya hidup eksplan yang masih rendah. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui efektifitas teknik enkapsulasi-dehidrasi untuk mendapatkan tunas yang sehat setelah perendaman dalam nitrogen cair. Ujung tunas in vitro ukuran 2–3 mm dari empat genotipe kentang di prakultur selama 3 hari secara bertahap pada media MS dengan penambahan gula 0,25 M, 0,5 M, dan 0, 75 M. Kemudian tunas dienkapsulasi, didehidrasi selama 5 jam, lalu direndam dalam nitrogen cair selama 60 menit lalu dihangatkan kembali dalam waterbath selama 3 menit. Tunas dalam kapsul kemudian dikulturkan pada media MS +30 g/l sukrosa + 8 g/l agar + 0,4 mg/l BAP + 1 mg/l GA3 untuk pemulihan, lalu dipelihara di ruang kultur dengan suhu 24oC. Daya hidup ujung tunas diamati pada minggu ke-8 dengan menggunakan kriteria skoring sebagai berikut: (1) pemutihan jaringan dan tidak ada respons pertumbuhan, (2) kalus mencokelat, (3) kalus hijau, (4) tumbuh tunas, dan (5) planlet sehat. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan daya hidup ujung tunas bervariasi antargenotipe. Skor daya hidup berkisar 1–2 (frekuensi 2–10) pada perlakuan nitrogen cair, yang menunjukkan tidak ada respons pertumbuhan tunas, beberapa memperlihatkan pertumbuhan kalus. Tunas pada perlakuan kontrol (tanpa perendaman dalam nitrogen cair) menunjukkan skor daya hidup 5 (frekuensi 1–7), di mana ujung tunas mampu beregenerasi menjadi planlet

Teknik Pemuliaan Kentang dan Produksi Bibit Kentang Bebas Virus di Texas, USA

Kentang merupakan sumber karbohidrat penting di negara maju seperti Amerika Serikat, Eropa dan Australia. Produktivitas kentang di Amerika Serikat mencapai 40 ton/ha. Berbagai varietas kentang juga tersedia dengan kegunaan yang berbeda seperti untuk keripik, kentang goreng (french fries), kentang rebus dan kentang panggang. Tulisan ini bertujuan untuk memaparkan teknik pemuliaan kentang untuk mendapatkan berbagai varietas serta metode perbanyakan benih kentang bebas virus melalui teknik kultur jaringan di Texas. Kunci utama keberhasilan pemuliaan kentang di Texas adalah ketersediaan sumber daya genetik kentang yang luas, serta evaluasi di lapang (field day) untuk genotipe-genotipe potential hasil pemuliaan yang melibatkan para peneliti, petani, pelaku pasar dan media. Teknik kultur jaringan digunakan untuk perbanyakan benih terpilih, serta meminimalisasi penyebaran penyakit yang berasal dari umbi seperti virus kentang PVX, PVY dan PLRV. Penggunaan teknik kultur jaringan juga mampu menekan biaya produksi benih karena mengurangi penggunaan ruang untuk stok benih dan perbanyakan di rumah kaca. Tahapan pemuliaan, produksi benih di lapang, evaluasi varietas, introduksi benih in vitro, perbanyakan in vitro, teknik eliminasi virus dan produksi benih di rumah kaca dideskripsikan pada tulisan ini

The Apollo Medical Operations Project: Recommendations to Improve Crew Health and Performance for Future Exploration Missions and Lunar Surface Operations

Medical requirements for the future Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV), Lunar Surface Access Module (LSAM), advanced Extravehicular Activity (EVA) suits and Lunar habitat are currently being developed. Crews returning to the lunar surface will construct the lunar habitat and conduct scientific research. Inherent in aggressive surface activities is the potential risk of injury to crewmembers. Physiological responses and the operational environment for short forays during the Apollo lunar missions were studied and documented. Little is known about the operational environment in which crews will live and work and the hardware will be used for long-duration lunar surface operations. Additional information is needed regarding productivity and the events that affect crew function such as a compressed timeline. The Space Medicine Division at the NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) requested a study in December 2005 to identify Apollo mission issues relevant to medical operations that had impact to crew health and/or performance. The operationally oriented goals of this project were to develop or modify medical requirements for new exploration vehicles and habitats, create a centralized database for future access, and share relevant Apollo information with the multiple entities at NASA and abroad participating in the exploration effort

Stratified spatiotemporal chaos in anisotropic reaction-diffusion systems

Numerical simulations of two dimensional pattern formation in an anisotropic bistable reaction-diffusion medium reveal a new dynamical state, stratified spatiotemporal chaos, characterized by strong correlations along one of the principal axes. Equations that describe the dependence of front motion on the angle illustrate the mechanism leading to stratified chaos

Stable Heterogeneity for the Production of Diffusible Factors in Cell Populations

The production of diffusible molecules that promote survival and growth is common in bacterial and eukaryotic cell populations, and can be considered a form of cooperation between cells. While evolutionary game theory shows that producers and non-producers can coexist in well-mixed populations, there is no consensus on the possibility of a stable polymorphism in spatially structured populations where the effect of the diffusible molecule extends beyond one-step neighbours. I study the dynamics of biological public goods using an evolutionary game on a lattice, taking into account two assumptions that have not been considered simultaneously in existing models: that the benefit of the diffusible molecule is a non-linear function of its concentration, and that the molecule diffuses according to a decreasing gradient. Stable coexistence of producers and non-producers is observed when the benefit of the molecule is a sigmoid function of its concentration, while strictly diminishing returns lead to coexistence only for very specific parameters and linear benefits never lead to coexistence. The shape of the diffusion gradient is largely irrelevant and can be approximated by a step function. Since the effect of a biological molecule is generally a sigmoid function of its concentration (as described by the Hill equation), linear benefits or strictly diminishing returns are not an appropriate approximations for the study of biological public goods. A stable polymorphism of producers and non-producers is in line with the predictions of evolutionary game theory and likely to be common in cell populations

Fast flowing populations are not well mixed

In evolutionary dynamics, well-mixed populations are almost always associated with all-to-all interactions; mathematical models are based on complete graphs. In most cases, these models do not predict fixation probabilities in groups of individuals mixed by flows. We propose an analytical description in the fast-flow limit. This approach is valid for processes with global and local selection, and accurately predicts the suppression of selection as competition becomes more local. It provides a modelling tool for biological or social systems with individuals in motion.Comment: 19 pages, 8 figure

Materials and Textile Architecture Analyses for Mechanical Counter-Pressure Space Suits using Active Materials

Mechanical counter-pressure (MCP) space suits have the potential to improve the mobility of astronauts as they conduct planetary exploration activities. MCP suits differ from traditional gas-pressurized space suits by applying surface pressure to the wearer using tight-fitting materials rather than pressurized gas, and represent a fundamental change in space suit design. However, the underlying technologies required to provide uniform compression in a MCP garment at sufficient pressures for space exploration have not yet been perfected, and donning and doffing a MCP suit remains a significant challenge. This research effort focuses on the novel use of active material technologies to produce a garment with controllable compression capabilities (up to 30 kPa) to address these problems. We provide a comparative study of active materials and textile architectures for MCP applications; concept active material compression textiles to be developed and tested based on these analyses; and preliminary biaxial braid compression garment modeling results.United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (OCT Space Technology Research Fellowship Grant NNX11AM62H)MIT-Portugal Progra

Co- and post-translational translocation through the protein-conducting channel:analogous mechanisms at work?

Many proteins are translocated across, or integrated into, membranes. Both functions are fulfilled by the 'translocon/translocase', which contains a membrane-embedded proteinconducting channel (PCC) and associated soluble factors that drive translocation and insertion reactions using nucleotide triphosphates as fuel. This perspective focuses on reinterpreting existing experimental data in light of a recently proposed PCC model comprising a front-to-front dimer of SecY or Sec61 heterotrimeric complexes. In this new framework, we propose (i) a revised model for SRP-SR-mediated docking of the ribosome-nascent polypeptide to the PCC; (ii) that the dynamic interplay between protein substrate, soluble factors and PCC controls the opening and closing of a transmembrane channel across, and/or a lateral gate into, the membrane; and (iii) that co-and post-translational translocation, involving the ribosome and SecA, respectively, not only converge at the PCC but also use analogous mechanisms for coordinating protein translocation

A model for a pulsed terahertz quantum cascade laser under optical feedback

Optical feedback effects in lasers may be useful or problematic, depending on the type of application. When semiconductor lasers are operated using pulsed-mode excitation, their behavior under optical feedback depends on the electronic and thermal characteristics of the laser, as well as the nature of the external cavity. Predicting the behavior of a laser under both optical feedback and pulsed operation therefore requires a detailed model that includes laser-specific thermal and electronic characteristics. In this paper we introduce such a model for an exemplar bound-to-continuum terahertz frequency quantum cascade laser (QCL), illustrating its use in a selection of pulsed operation scenarios. Our results demonstrate significant interplay between electro-optical, thermal, and feedback phenomena, and that this interplay is key to understanding QCL behavior in pulsed applications. Further, our results suggest that for many types of QCL in interferometric applications, thermal modulation via low duty cycle pulsed operation would be an alternative to commonly used adiabatic modulation