Friday, May 3, 2013

Scripps Research Institute scientists find dissimilar proteins evolved similar 7-part shape

Scripps Research Institute scientists find dissimilar proteins evolved similar 7-part shape

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Solving the structure of a critical human molecule involved in cancer, scientists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) have found what they call a good example of structural conservation?dissimilar genes that keep very similar shapes.

Described this week in the journal Nature, the work brings attention to what scientists have thought of as a family of molecules called the G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Many GPCRs are important targets for drug design. However, the new work suggests that GPCRs may, in fact, be a subset of a larger group.

"This work highlights the need to modify how we classify the GPCR family," said TSRI Professor Raymond Stevens, PhD, the senior author on the study. "The study suggests we should start calling the family 7-transmembrane receptors, which has been proposed by others before, to better reflect the diversity of the family, both structurally and in terms of function."

The new classification would include proteins with similar shapes to GPCRs?like the smoothened receptor (SMO), which was the subject of the new research.

Different Genes, Same Structure

In the study, the TSRI team solved the high-resolution structure of SMO, which is the first non-class A GPCR structure published to date (class A GPCRs are also known as rhodopsin-like GPCRs). The results showed the molecule is nearly identical to the classic GPCR shape, even though it bears almost no similarity in terms of genetic sequence.

Often, two proteins with very different sequences have different structures, said Chong Wang, a graduate student at TSRI's Kellogg School of Science and Technology who is the first author on the study.

"These receptors are very different?less than 10 percent sequence identity, and yet they have the same 7-transmembrane helical fold," Wang added.

"This is a great example of structural conservation of the 7-transmembrane fold," said Stevens. "A key question is, why the magic number 7?"

Potential Target for Drug Design

The work is also significant because the SMO protein itself is a potential target for drug design.

SMO is important for proper growth in the early stages of mammalian development and animals with deficiencies in the activities of this protein develop severe deformities in the womb. The initial discovery was made in 1957, when sheep in Idaho ate corn lily containing cyclopamine and newborns were observed to develop a single eye?a characteristic for which the condition, known as "cyclopia," is named. In work published in the journal Nature in 2000, Stanford University researchers Philip Beachy and Matthew Scott found cyclopamine inhibits the SMO receptor.

The body reduces its need for SMO in adulthood, and its activity is usually curtailed. However, later in life the protein can also play a role in disease, this time by helping cancerous tumors grow. SMO receptor inhibition has been harnessed as a means to reduce basal cell carcinoma, a common form of skin cancer.

The discovery of the structure of SMO may help researchers develop new molecules to treat cancer and other diseases.

"The structure of the human smoothened receptor bound to an anti-cancer compound will help us understand the receptor's role in cancer, as well as its role in the normal process of embryonic development," said Jean Chin, PhD, of the National Institutes of Health's National Institute of General Medical Sciences, which partly supported the research. "In addition, comparison of smoothened's unique structure with those of the more conventional GPCRs will teach us a lot about how these receptors respond to the many therapeutics they interact with."

###

Scripps Research Institute: http://www.scripps.edu

Thanks to Scripps Research Institute for this article.

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Source: http://www.labspaces.net/128086/Scripps_Research_Institute_scientists_find_dissimilar_proteins_evolved_similar___part_shape

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Fossil of great ape sheds light on evolution

May 1, 2013 ? Researchers who unearthed the fossil specimen of an ape skeleton in Spain in 2002 assigned it a new genus and species, Pierolapithecus catalaunicus. They estimated that the ape lived about 11.9 million years ago, arguing that it could be the last common ancestor of modern great apes: chimpanzees, orangutans, bonobos, gorillas and humans. Now, a University of Missouri integrative anatomy expert says the shape of the specimen's pelvis indicates that it lived near the beginning of the great ape evolution, after the lesser apes had started to develop separately but before the great ape species began to diversify.

Ashley Hammond, a Life Sciences Fellow in the MU Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences, is the first to examine the pelvis fragments of the early hominid. She used a tabletop laser scanner attached to a turntable to capture detailed surface images of the fossil, which provided her with a 3-D model to compare the Pierolapithecus pelvis anatomy to living species.

Hammond says the ilium, the largest bone in the pelvis, of the Pierolapithecus catalaunicus is wider than that of Proconsul nyanzae, a more primitive ape that lived approximately 18 million years ago. The wider pelvis may be related to the ape's greater lateral balance and stability while moving using its forelimbs. However, the fingers of the Pierolapithecus catalaunicus are unlike those of modern great apes, indicating that great apes may have evolved differently than scientists originally hypothesized.

"Pierolapithecus catalaunicus seemed to use a lot of upright behaviors such as vertical climbing, but not the fully suspensory behaviors we see in great apes alive today," Hammond said. "Today, chimpanzees, orangutans, bonobos and gorillas use forelimb-dominated behaviors to swing below branches, but Pierolapithecus catalaunicus didn't have the long, curved finger bones needed for suspension, so those behaviors evolved more recently."

Hammond suggests researchers continue searching for fossils to further explain the evolution of the great apes in Africa.

"Contrary to popular belief, we're not looking for a missing link," Hammond said. "We have different pieces of the evolutionary puzzle and big gaps between points in time and fossil species. We need to continue fieldwork to identify more fossils and determine how the species are related and how they lived. Ultimately, everything is connected."

The study, "Middle Miocene Pierolapithecus provides a first glimpse into early hominid pelvic morphology," will be published in an upcoming issue of the Journal of Human Evolution. The Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences is in the MU School of Medicine. Co-authors included David Alba from the Autonomous University of Barcelona in Spain and the University of Turin in Italy, Sergio Alm?cija from Stony Brook University in New York, and Salvador Moy?-Sol? from the Miquel Crusafont Institute of Catalan Palaeontology at Autonomous University of Barcelona.

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by University of Missouri-Columbia.

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Journal Reference:

  1. Ashley S. Hammond, David M. Alba, Sergio Alm?cija, Salvador Moy?-Sol?. Middle Miocene Pierolapithecus provides a first glimpse into early hominid pelvic morphology. Journal of Human Evolution, 2013; DOI: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2013.03.002

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/Envk-jxfwjs/130501132100.htm

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Brother bouts, Fox fights and more: Four fights you ?May? get excited for

After a busy run in April, May is a relatively slow month for MMA. You can spend the extra time and money you're not spending on fights on a Mother's Day gift. After you've taken your mother to brunch, check out these fights:

Mike Treadwell vs. Chris Treadwell, MFC 37, May 10: This is the brother vs. brother bout. Watch and record it on AXS, then record it. When you and your brother fight during that Mother's Day brunch, show the fight and tell your mom it could be much worse.

Costa Philippou vs. Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza, UFC on FX 8, May 18: Philippou is riding a five-fight win streak, with his last bout a TKO over Tim Boetsch. Souza is one of the latest Strikeforce imports, and he has a three-fight win streak, a nasty ground game and striking that gets more impressive with every game. Check it out before the Vitor Belfort-Luke Rockhold bout.

Fallon Fox vs. Allannah Jones, Championship Fighting Alliance, May 24: No matter your feelings on Fallon Fox, you probably want to see her fight. Some want to see her get knocked out. Some want to see how the first openly trans fighter has handled the spotlight. You can see her bout with Allannah Jones at Championship Fighting Alliance 11 which will air on AXS TV. Fox-Jones is on the undercard of the event headlined by Strikeforce standout Mike Kyle and Alistair Overeem's brother Valentijn.

Every single bout on UFC 160, May 25: The limited quantity of UFC bouts in May is made up for by the quality of fights at UFC 160. It starts with the main event. Cain Velasquez will test his title in a rematch with Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva, and former champ Junior dos Santos will fight Mark Hunt in a another heavyweight bout. T.J. Grant and Gray Maynard are fighting for the next lightweight title shot. Even the preliminary card has fighters that are really fun to watch, like Khabib Nurmagomedov and Brian Bowles.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/brother-bouts-fox-fights-more-four-fights-may-194805950.html

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Guerrero likes chances of giving Mayweather loss

Floyd Mayweather Jr. poses for photos at the end of a news conference, Wednesday, May 1, 2013, in Las Vegas. Mayweather faces Robert Guerrero on Saturday for Mayweather's WBC welterweight title. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

Floyd Mayweather Jr. poses for photos at the end of a news conference, Wednesday, May 1, 2013, in Las Vegas. Mayweather faces Robert Guerrero on Saturday for Mayweather's WBC welterweight title. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

Boxer Robert Guerrero listens to comments during a news conference, Wednesday, May 1, 2013, in Las Vegas. Guerrero will challenge Floyd Mayweather Jr. for Mayweather's WBC welterweight title on Saturday. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

Boxers Floyd Mayweather Jr., left, and Robert Guerrero, right, pose for photographers with Mayweather's advisor, Leonard Ellerby, second from left, and Oscar De La Hoya, during a press conference, Wednesday, May 1, 2013, in Las Vegas. Guerrero will take on Mayweather for Mayweather's WBC welterweight title on Saturday. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

Ruben Guerrero, right, father of fighter Robert Guerrero, left, shouts at Floyd Mayweather Jr. calling him a wife beater during a news conference, Wednesday, May 1, 2013, in Las Vegas. Robert Guerrero will challenge Mayweather for Mayweather's WBC welterweight title on Saturday. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

(AP) ? Floyd Mayweather Jr. admitted this week what many have long suspected ? that he hand picks every opponent who enters the ring with him.

He also decides how much they get paid and what the contract details will be. So Robert Guerrero was somewhat prepared when Mayweather picked him to be the opponent for his first fight in a year Saturday night at the MGM Grand hotel.

What he wasn't prepared for was what Mayweather's camp insisted on putting in the contract.

"He asked for a rematch clause. That was the very first thing," Guerrero said. "It just shows me where his head is at."

Where Mayweather's head is at has, of course, been the topic of many conversations over the years. When he fought last May against Miguel Cotto the worry among his fans was that he would be distracted by an upcoming jail sentence, though that turned out to be unfounded.

Talk to Mayweather now, and his head seems to be fine. So, too, are his reflexes at the age of 36, at least judged by a sparring session last week where he practiced landing right hand leads against a fighter mimicking Guerrero's southpaw style.

He has to lose sometime because nearly every fighter not named Rocky Marciano lost at some point in their career. But Mayweather has a new six-fight television deal that should cement his status as the world's highest paid athlete, and he doesn't seem terribly concerned about a loss or a possible rematch of their welterweight title fight.

"I've done this my whole life," Mayweather said. "This is what I love to do."

Though Mayweather sees Guerrero as just the latest opponent for yet another huge payday, Guerrero sees things quite differently. He believes he is the fighter who will be the first to beat Mayweather, and he's eager to earn both the recognition and the money that would come with such a win.

At the final pre-fight press conference Wednesday he said Mayweather made a mistake by picking him as an opponent.

"They talk about this as Floyd Mayweather's home," Guerrero said. "Well, this is a home invasion."

Oddsmakers don't share Guerrero's confidence, making the former champion in three weight classes a decided underdog in the biggest fight of his career. But the once-beaten (31-1-1) fighter from Gilroy, Calif., said he's been underestimated his entire career.

"The only thing that means something is what you do in that ring," he said. "I just can't wait to get in that ring."

Both fighters were on their best behavior at their final press conference, though their fathers almost mixed it up. Floyd Mayweather Sr. and Reuben Guerrero ? who both train their sons ? exchanged words after Reuben Guerrero went into a rant about Mayweather being a woman beater for the altercation with the mother of his children that got him jailed for 70 days last year.

There is an undercurrent of hostility between the fighters, too, with Mayweather suggesting Guerrero ? who talks openly about his faith ? is a hypocrite for getting busted in a New York gun charge while promoting the fight. Mayweather also said that Guerrero used his wife's fight with leukemia ? she is now healthy ? to gain fans and sympathy for himself.

"It's laughable," Guerrero said. "I don't need sympathy, I come to fight. Sympathy doesn't win fights."

Though Mayweather is unbeaten in 43 fights and has been a pay-per-view star since his 2007 win over Oscar De La Hoya, he has been fighting professionally for 17 years and is getting to an age that historically fighters have had trouble with. The fact he's fought only four times since beating Ricky Hatton more than five years ago and has not fought in a year leads some in boxing to believe he may have as much trouble with ring rust as he has with Guerrero.

There are signs, too, that perhaps his appeal is fading, though Mayweather would argue that his fan base is bigger than ever. Seats are still readily available for the fight at the MGM arena, and the All Access shows promoting the fight on Showtime have generated little buzz.

A documentary on Mayweather's life that aired last Saturday in primetime on Showtime's sister network, CBS, also drew miserable ratings.

Still, Mayweather ? who acts as his own promoter ? insists the promotion is going well and people will tune in at home, even at a suggested retail price of $69.95. Mayweather's win over Cotto last May drew 1.5 million pay-per-view buys, his biggest sales since he and De La Hoya combined for a record 2.5 million.

"I think everything is playing out like it should play out," Mayweather said. "I'm ready to go out there and perform.

____

Tim Dahlberg can be reached at http://twitter.com/timdahlberg

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2013-05-01-BOX-Mayweather-Guerrero/id-ef0c2f91e97a4929b270cca1760a0a2e

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Saturday, April 27, 2013

Country music legend George Jones dies at 81

By Randee Dawn, TODAY contributor

Country music legend George Jones has died in Nashville, Tenn., his representative confirmed in a statement on Friday. He was 81.

Jones had been in the midst of a year-long goodbye tour, deciding to withdraw from the road over health issues including an upper respiratory infection. He was hospitalized on April 18 with fever and irregular blood pressure; he died at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville. A cause of death has not yet been reported.

Jones was a Country Music Hall of Famer, Grand Ole Opry member and Kennedy Center Honoree, and the singer of such hits as "The Grand Tour," "She Thinks I Still Care" and "He Stopped Loving Her Today."

Born in Saratoga, Tex., on Sept. 12, 1931, Jones grew up in nearby Beaumont and played on the streets for tips while still a teenager, then joined the U.S. Marine Corps. When he left service he began recording for the Starday label in Houston, and his first top 10 song "Why Baby Why" hit the charts in 1955. He hit No. 1 with "White Lightning" four years later. He continued to record and hit the charts throughout the next few decades, shifting from a classic honky-tonk style into a more mainstream sound called "countrypolitan."

Mark Humphrey / AP

Jones' public persona was shaped by his addiction to alcohol and cocaine; he became known for missing many concerts, notes the Houston Chronicle. In 1983 police chased after an intoxicated Jones through Nashville, and the event was captured on TV (documentary?video clip here).

He was married four times; his third wife was country singer Tammy Wynette, with whom he recorded several songs. They hit No. 1 three times, with "We're Gonna Hold On," "Golden Ring," and "Near You." Their daughter Georgette Jones is a performer, and appeared onstage with her father.

He is survived by his wife of 30 years Nancy Jones, a sister and offspring.

This is a developing story. Check back with TODAY.com for updates.

Related content:

Source: http://todayentertainment.today.com/_news/2013/04/26/17929793-george-jones-legendary-country-singer-dies-at-81?lite

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Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Friends, family seek word on runners

CHICAGO (AP) ? Far-flung family members, co-workers and friends frantically used social media, cellphones and even a "people finder" website Monday to try to learn the fate of participants and spectators at the Boston Marathon, where two people were killed and dozens injured after a pair of bombs exploded near the finish line of one of the world's great marathons.

The search was made more difficult because heavy cellphone use caused slow and delayed service.

Jan Seeley, director of the Illinois Marathon in Champaign, Ill., said she spent much of Monday afternoon trying to reach the runners from her area who she knew were at the race. She reached most of them, but still was waiting to hear from a handful of others.

"I've left messages for everyone I know," she said. One woman she knew crossed the finish line just a minute or so ahead of the explosions.

Tim Apuzzo of Seattle said he spent an agonizing 10 minutes frantically trying to call his girlfriend, Quinn Schweizer, who was watching the marathon with her friends at the finish line. But when he kept getting a recording saying there was no service, he started to worry "because you know you have a group of people in this generation all wired in ... and quick to respond."

Finally, she was able to call him to say she was fine and that her group had left the finish line just minutes before the blast to walk to a cafe for lunch.

Google stepped in to help family and friends of runners find their loved ones, setting up a site called Google Person Finder that allows users to enter the name of a person they're looking for or enter information about someone who was there.

Mary Beth Aasen of Shorewood, Wis., and her husband were using an app to track their daughter Maggie's progress along the marathon route. They didn't realize anything was wrong until a worried friend texted Aasen and asked if Maggie was OK.

The app indicated that Maggie was still moving, a relief for her parents. Mary Beth Aasen tried in vain to call her daughter for about 30 minutes before Maggie called her.

"When I talked to her she was pretty upset," Aasen said. "Physically she said she felt great but she was upset because she hadn't been in contact with her friends."

Aasen said she was waiting for Maggie to call her back with an update, but knew cellphone service was slow in the area.

"I just feel terrible for the people who haven't been in contact with their family and friends who are there," she said. "I'm praying for everyone who hasn't heard yet."

David Meixelsperger, who owns the Berkeley Running Company in Madison, Wis., finished the race about 90 minutes before the explosion. He sent an email to customers of his store and friends in the running community letting everyone know he was safe, but that he couldn't send or receive calls on his cellphone.

"At this time, all Berkeley Runners and Customers are safe," he said in the email. "We have been texting each other to seek out their whereabouts."

Mary Butler of Oklahoma City hadn't been able to reach her husband, Jason Butler, who was running with his son, brother and other family members. But she said he'd posted on Facebook that he and the others were OK.

"That's all I know about it," Mary Butler said, adding she'd been trying to call since she'd first heard of the explosions. "I'm just waiting ? keep trying to call."

She declined to talk further so that she could keep her phone line open.

___

Online: http://google.org/personfinder/2013-boston-explosions/

___

Associated Press writers Scott Bauer in Madison, Wis.; Kevin Begos in Pittsburgh; Dan Holtmeyer in Oklahoma City; David Mercer in Champaign, Ill.; Dinesh Ramde in Milwaukee and Dan Sewell in Cincinnati contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/loved-ones-seek-word-boston-runners-blast-225431691--spt.html

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As they say in the language of my adopted land ?Dude, far out!? (Unqualified Offerings)

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