In Situ Nano-Indentation of a Gold Sub-Micrometric Particle Imaged by Multi-Wavelength Bragg Coherent X-ray Diffraction.

The microstructure of a sub-micrometric gold crystal during nanoindentation is visualized by in situ multi-wavelength Bragg coherent X-ray diffraction imaging. The gold crystal is indented using a custom-built atomic force microscope. A band of deformation attributed to a shear band oriented along the (221) lattice plane is nucleated at the lower left corner of the crystal and propagates towards the crystal center with increasing applied mechanical load. After complete unloading, an almost strain-free and defect-free crystal is left behind, demonstrating a pseudo-elastic behavior that can only be studied by in situ imaging while it is invisible to ex situ examinations. The recovery is probably associated with reversible dislocations nucleation/annihilation at the side surface of the particle and at the particle-substrate interface, a behavior that has been predicted by atomistic simulations. The full recovery of the particle upon unloading sheds new light on extraordinary mechanical properties of metal nanoparticles obtained by solid-state dewetting.

Neonatal right mini thoracotomy for repair of critical pulmonary stenosis.

Over the last few decades, due to evolving surgical techniques and medical management, there has been a significant decrease in the rate of mortality and complications for neonates born with critical pulmonary valve stenosis. Median sternotomy is the standard approach; however, this longitudinal midline incision is invasive and leaves a significant scar. A right mini thoracotomy approach to this surgical repair decreases recovery time and the chance of possible future psychological distress from a visible median sternotomy scar. This is the first article to describe a right mini thoracotomy approach for critical pulmonary stenosis during the neonatal period.

Self-Healing and Shape Memory Effects in Gold Microparticles through the Defects-Mediated Diffusion.

Some metal alloys subjected to irreversible plastic deformation can repair the inflicted damage and/or recover their original shape upon heating. The conventional shape memory effect in metallic alloys relies on collective, or "military" phase transformations. This work demonstrates a new and fundamentally different type of self-healing and shape memory in single crystalline faceted nano and microparticles of pure gold, which are plastically deformed with an atomic force microscope tip. It is shown that annealing of the deformed particles at elevated temperatures leads to nearly full recovery of their initial asymmetric polyhedral shape, which does not correspond to global energy minimum shape. The atomistic molecular dynamic simulations demonstrate that the shape recovery of the particles is controlled by the self-diffusion of gold atoms along the terrace ledges formed during the particles indentation. This ledge-guided diffusion leads to shape recovery by the irreversible diffusion process. A semiquantitative model of healing developed in this work demonstrates a good agreement with the experimental data.

Ostrowski type inequalities for sets and functions of bounded variation.

In this paper we obtain sharp Ostrowski type inequalities for multidimensional sets of bounded variation and multivariate functions of bounded variation.

Cross-Split of Dislocations: An Athermal and Rapid Plasticity Mechanism.

The pathways by which dislocations, line defects within the lattice structure, overcome microstructural obstacles represent a key aspect in understanding the main mechanisms that control mechanical properties of ductile crystalline materials. While edge dislocations were believed to change their glide plane only by a slow, non-conservative, thermally activated motion, we suggest the existence of a rapid conservative athermal mechanism, by which the arrested edge dislocations split into two other edge dislocations that glide on two different crystallographic planes. This discovered mechanism, for which we coined a term "cross-split of edge dislocations", is a unique and collective phenomenon, which is triggered by an interaction with another same-sign pre-existing edge dislocation. This mechanism is demonstrated for faceted α-Fe nanoparticles under compression, in which we propose that cross-split of arrested edge dislocations is resulting in a strain burst. The cross-split mechanism provides an efficient pathway for edge dislocations to overcome planar obstacles.

Optimization of experimental conditions for functional in vitro characterization of humanized antibodies specific for staphylococcal enterotoxin B.

Staphylococcus aureus is a common nosocomial infection and its resistance to penicillin and methicillin antibiotics is a growing clinical problem. We previously described the development of a humanized anti-Staphylococcus enterotoxin B (SEB) antibody derived from the mouse antibody made by the 20B1 hybridoma. This antibody was humanized and characterized kinetically by surface plasmon resonance demonstrating that the humanized clones retained binding to SEB. Clones were then functionally characterized in an in vitro assay demonstrating that the murine 20B1, chimeric and humanized antibodies potently inhibited SEB-induced murine splenocyte proliferation assay. Here, we describe a human cell-based screening assay, optimized by varying multiple experimental parameters that resulted in an assay that was used to demonstrate full and potent neutralization by the parental, chimeric and humanized antibodies. The replacement of fetal bovine serum (FBS) with normal human serum (NHS) was found to be a crucial factor in the performance of the human cell based screening assay that enabled the calculation of mAb efficacy and potency. In addition, we found that anti-SEB antibodies showed similar efficacy and potency with a triple mutant Fc region (designed to be effector function null) or a wild-type Fc region, which is in contrast to previously described studies.

Humanized staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB)-specific monoclonal antibodies protect from SEB intoxication and Staphylococcus aureus infections alone or as adjunctive therapy with vancomycin.

BACKGROUND: Staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB), a potential biological warfare agent, is a potent superantigen that contributes to the virulence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), which is a major health threat in the United States. Efforts to develop toxin-neutralizing antibodies as adjunctive therapies are justified, given the high mortality and frequent failure of therapy despite available antibiotics. METHODS: Murine SEB-specific mAb 20B1 was humanized, and treatment benefits of Hu-1.6/1.1 and Hu-1.4/1.1 variants were investigated in mice in an SEB intoxication model, as well as in sepsis and deep-tissue infection models. RESULTS: Hu-1.6/1.1 and Hu-1.4/1.1 protected mice against SEB-induced lethal shock. Hu-1.6/1.1 also enhanced survival of mice that developed fatal sepsis after challenge with a SEB-producing MRSA strain. Combined treatment of Hu-1.6/1.1 with vancomycin further increased survival and altered cytokine responses, compared with monotherapy with either monoclonal antibody or vancomycin alone. Efficacy was also demonstrated in the deep-tissue infection model, where Hu-1.4/1.1 bound to SEB in vivo and decreased abscess formation, as well as proinflammatory cytokine levels. CONCLUSIONS: SEB-neutralizing mAb 20B1 was successfully humanized. The mAb affects outcome by modulating the proinflammatory host response in both the sepsis and the intoxication models, which justifies further development.

Staphylococcal Enterotoxin B-specific monoclonal antibody 20B1 successfully treats diverse Staphylococcus aureus infections.

BACKGROUND: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has become a major health threat in the United States. Staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) is a potent superantigen that contributes to its virulence. High mortality and frequent failure of therapy despite available antibiotics have stimulated research efforts to develop adjunctive therapies. METHODS: Treatment benefits of SEB-specific monoclonal antibody (mAb) 20B1 were investigated in mice in sepsis, superficial skin, and deep-tissue infection models. RESULTS: Mice challenged with a SEB-producing MRSA strain developed fatal sepsis, extensive tissue skin infection, and abscess-forming deep-seeded thigh muscle infection. Animals preimmunized against SEB or treated passively with mAb 20B1 exhibited enhanced survival in the sepsis model, whereas decrease of bacterial burden was observed in the superficial skin and deep-tissue models. mAb 20B1 bound to SEB in the infected tissue and decreased abscess formation and proinflammatory cytokine levels, lymphocyte proliferation, and neutrophil recruitment. CONCLUSIONS: mAb 20B1, an SEB-neutralizing mAb, is effective against MRSA infection. mAb 20B1 protects against lethal sepsis and reduces skin tissue invasion and deep-abscess formation. The mAb penetrates well into the abscess and binds to SEB. It affects the outcome of S. aureus infection by modulating the host's proinflammatory immune response.

Atypical antigen recognition mode of a shark immunoglobulin new antigen receptor (IgNAR) variable domain characterized by humanization and structural analysis.

The immunoglobulin new antigen receptors (IgNARs) are a class of Ig-like molecules of the shark immune system that exist as heavy chain-only homodimers and bind antigens by their single domain variable regions (V-NARs). Following shark immunization and/or in vitro selection, V-NARs can be generated as soluble, stable, and specific high affinity monomeric binding proteins of ∼12 kDa. We have previously isolated a V-NAR from an immunized spiny dogfish shark, named E06, that binds specifically and with high affinity to human, mouse, and rat serum albumins. Humanization of E06 was carried out by converting over 60% of non-complementarity-determining region residues to those of a human germ line Vκ1 sequence, DPK9. The resulting huE06 molecules have largely retained the specificity and affinity of antigen binding of the parental V-NAR. Crystal structures of the shark E06 and its humanized variant (huE06 v1.1) in complex with human serum albumin (HSA) were determined at 3- and 2.3-Å resolution, respectively. The huE06 v1.1 molecule retained all but one amino acid residues involved in the binding site for HSA. Structural analysis of these V-NARs has revealed an unusual variable domain-antigen interaction. E06 interacts with HSA in an atypical mode that utilizes extensive framework contacts in addition to complementarity-determining regions that has not been seen previously in V-NARs. On the basis of the structure, the roles of various elements of the molecule are described with respect to antigen binding and V-NAR stability. This information broadens the general understanding of antigen recognition and provides a framework for further design and humanization of shark IgNARs.

A novel cysteine cross-linking method reveals a direct association between claudin-1 and tetraspanin CD9.

Tetraspanins serve as molecular organizers of multiprotein microdomains in cell membranes. Hence to understand functions of tetraspanin proteins, it is critical to identify laterally interacting partner proteins. Here we used a novel technical approach involving exposure and cross-linking of membrane-proximal cysteines coupled with LC-MS/MS protein identification. In this manner we identified nine potential tetraspanin CD9 partners, including claudin-1. Chemical cross-linking yielded a CD9-claudin-1 heterodimer, thus confirming direct association and adding claudin-1 to the short list of proteins that can directly associate with CD9. Interaction of CD9 (and other tetraspanins) with claudin-1 was supported by subcellular colocalization and was confirmed in multiple cell lines, although other claudins (claudin-2, -3, -4, -5, and -7) associated to a much lesser extent. Moreover claudin-1 was distributed very similarly to CD9 in sucrose gradients and, like CD9, was released from A431 and A549 cells upon cholesterol depletion. These biochemical features of claudin-1 are characteristic of tetraspanin microdomain proteins. Although claudins are major structural components of intercellular tight junctions, CD9-claudin-1 complexes did not reside in tight junctions, and depletion of key tetraspanins (CD9 and CD151) by small interfering RNA had no effect on paracellular permeability. However, tetraspanin depletion did cause a marked decrease in the stability of newly synthesized claudin-1. In conclusion, these results (a) validate a technical approach that appears to be particularly well suited for identifying protein partners directly associated with tetraspanins or with other proteins that contain membrane-proximal cysteines and (b) provide insight into how non-junctional claudins may be regulated in the context of tetraspanin-enriched microdomains.

RAD51AP2, a novel vertebrate- and meiotic-specific protein, shares a conserved RAD51-interacting C-terminal domain with RAD51AP1/PIR51.

Many interacting proteins regulate and/or assist the activities of RAD51, a recombinase which plays a critical role in both DNA repair and meiotic recombination. Yeast two-hybrid screening of a human testis cDNA library revealed a new protein, RAD51AP2 (RAD51 Associated Protein 2), that interacts strongly with RAD51. A full-length cDNA clone predicts a novel vertebrate-specific protein of 1159 residues, and the RAD51AP2 transcript was observed only in meiotic tissue (i.e. adult testis and fetal ovary), suggesting a meiotic-specific function for RAD51AP2. In HEK293 cells the interaction of RAD51 with an ectopically-expressed recombinant large fragment of RAD51AP2 requires the C-terminal 57 residues of RAD51AP2. This RAD51-binding region shows 81% homology to the C-terminus of RAD51AP1/PIR51, an otherwise totally unrelated RAD51-binding partner that is ubiquitously expressed. Analyses using truncations and point mutations in both RAD51AP1 and RAD51AP2 demonstrate that these proteins use the same structural motif for RAD51 binding. RAD54 shares some homology with this RAD51-binding motif, but this homologous region plays only an accessory role to the adjacent main RAD51-interacting region, which has been narrowed here to 40 amino acids. A novel protein, RAD51AP2, has been discovered that interacts with RAD51 through a C-terminal motif also present in RAD51AP1.

Contrasting effects of EWI proteins, integrins, and protein palmitoylation on cell surface CD9 organization.

CD9, a tetraspanin protein, makes crucial contributions to sperm egg fusion, other cellular fusions, epidermal growth factor receptor signaling, cell motility, and tumor suppression. Here we characterize a low affinity anti-CD9 antibody, C9BB, which binds preferentially to homoclustered CD9. Using mAb C9BB as a tool, we show that cell surface CD9 homoclustering is promoted by expression of alpha3beta1 and alpha6beta4 integrins and by palmitoylation of the CD9 and beta4 proteins. Conversely, CD9 is shifted toward heteroclusters upon expression of CD9 partner proteins (EWI-2 and EWI-F) or other tetraspanins, or upon ablation of CD9 palmitoylation. Furthermore, unpalmitoylated CD9 showed enhanced EWI-2 association, thereby demonstrating a previously unappreciated role for tetraspanin palmitoylation, and underscoring how depalmitoylation and EWI-2 association may collaborate to shift CD9 from homo- to heteroclusters. In conclusion, we have used a novel molecular probe (mAb C9BB) to demonstrate the existence of multiple types of CD9 complex on the cell surface. A shift from homo- to heteroclustered CD9 may be functionally significant because the latter was especially obvious on malignant epithelial tumor cells. Hence, because of its specialized properties, C9BB may be more useful than other anti-CD9 antibodies for monitoring CD9 during tumor progression.

Structural organization and interactions of transmembrane domains in tetraspanin proteins.

BACKGROUND: Proteins of the tetraspanin family contain four transmembrane domains (TM1-4) linked by two extracellular loops and a short intracellular loop, and have short intracellular N- and C-termini. While structure and function analysis of the larger extracellular loop has been performed, the organization and role of transmembrane domains have not been systematically assessed. RESULTS: Among 28 human tetraspanin proteins, the TM1-3 sequences display a distinct heptad repeat motif (abcdefg)n. In TM1, position a is occupied by structurally conserved bulky residues and position d contains highly conserved Asn and Gly residues. In TM2, position a is occupied by conserved small residues (Gly/Ala/Thr), and position d has a conserved Gly and two bulky aliphatic residues. In TM3, three a positions of the heptad repeat are filled by two leucines and a glutamate/glutamine residue, and two d positions are occupied by either Phe/Tyr or Val/Ile/Leu residues. No heptad motif is apparent in TM4 sequences. Mutations of conserved glycines in human CD9 (Gly25 and Gly32 in TM1; Gly67 and Gly74 in TM2) caused aggregation of mutant proteins inside the cell. Modeling of the TM1-TM2 interface in CD9, using a novel algorithm, predicts tight packing of conserved bulky residues against conserved Gly residues along the two helices. The homodimeric interface of CD9 was mapped, by disulfide cross-linking of single-cysteine mutants, to the vicinity of residues Leu14 and Phe17 in TM1 (positions g and c) and Gly77, Gly80 and Ala81 in TM2 (positions d, g and a, respectively). Mutations of a and d residues in both TM1 and TM2 (Gly25, Gly32, Gly67 and Gly74), involved in intramolecular TM1-TM2 interaction, also strongly diminished intermolecular interaction, as assessed by cross-linking of Cys80. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that tetraspanin intra- and intermolecular interactions are mediated by conserved residues in adjacent, but distinct regions of TM1 and TM2. A key structural element that defines TM1-TM2 interaction in tetraspanins is the specific packing of bulky residues against small residues.

Palmitoylation supports assembly and function of integrin-tetraspanin complexes.

As observed previously, tetraspanin palmitoylation promotes tetraspanin microdomain assembly. Here, we show that palmitoylated integrins (alpha3, alpha6, and beta4 subunits) and tetraspanins (CD9, CD81, and CD63) coexist in substantially overlapping complexes. Removal of beta4 palmitoylation sites markedly impaired cell spreading and signaling through p130Cas on laminin substrate. Also in palmitoylation-deficient beta4, secondary associations with tetraspanins (CD9, CD81, and CD63) were diminished and cell surface CD9 clustering was decreased, whereas core alpha6beta4-CD151 complex formation was unaltered. There is also a functional connection between CD9 and beta4 integrins, as evidenced by anti-CD9 antibody effects on beta4-dependent cell spreading. Notably, beta4 palmitoylation neither increased localization into "light membrane" fractions of sucrose gradients nor decreased solubility in nonionic detergents-hence it does not promote lipid raft association. Instead, palmitoylation of beta4 (and of the closely associated tetraspanin CD151) promotes CD151-alpha6beta4 incorporation into a network of secondary tetraspanin interactions (with CD9, CD81, CD63, etc.), which provides a novel framework for functional regulation.

Evidence for specific tetraspanin homodimers: inhibition of palmitoylation makes cysteine residues available for cross-linking.

It is a well-established fact that tetraspanin proteins, a large family of integral membrane proteins involved in cell motility, fusion and signalling, associate extensively with one another and with other transmembrane and membrane-proximal proteins. In this study, we present results strongly suggesting that tetraspanin homodimers are fundamental units within larger tetraspanin complexes. Evidence for constitutive CD9 homodimers was obtained using several cell lines, utilizing the following four methods: (1) spontaneous cross-linking via intermolecular disulphide bonds, (2) use of a cysteine-reactive covalent cross-linking agent, (3) use of an amino-reactive covalent cross-linking agent, and (4) covalent cross-linking via direct intermolecular disulphide bridging between unpalmitoylated membrane-proximal cysteine residues. In the last case, incubation of cells with the palmitoylation inhibitor 2-bromopalmitate exposed membrane-proximal cysteine residues, thus effectively promoting 'zero-length' cross-linking to stabilize homodimers. Similar to CD9, other tetraspanins (CD81 and CD151) also showed a tendency to homodimerize. Tetraspanin homodimers were assembled from newly synthesized proteins in the Golgi, as evidenced by cycloheximide and Brefeldin A inhibition studies. Importantly, tetraspanin homodimers appeared on the cell surface and participated in typical 'tetraspanin web' interactions with other proteins. Whereas homodimers were the predominant cross-linked species, we also observed some higher-order complexes (trimers, tetramers or higher) and a much lower level of cross-linking between different tetraspanins (CD81-CD9, CD9-CD151, CD81-CD151). In conclusion, our results strongly suggest that tetraspanin homodimers, formed in the Golgi and present at the cell surface, serve as building blocks for the assembly of larger, multicomponent tetraspanin protein complexes.