The human genome holds an extraordinary trove of information about human development, physiology, medicine and evolution. Here we report the results of an international collaboration to produce and make freely available a draft sequence of the human genome. We also present an initial analysis of the data, describing some of the insights that can be gleaned from the sequence.

/pdf/initial-sequencing-and-analysis-of-the-human-genome-5dapk1rsx1.pdf

Initial sequencing and analysis of the human genome.

抗原变异可使得多种致病微生物易于逃避宿主免疫应答。表达在感染红细胞表面的恶性疟原虫红细胞表面蛋白1（PfPMP1）与感染红细胞、内皮细胞、树突状细胞以及胎盘的单个或多个受体作用，在黏附及免疫逃避中起关键的作用。每个单倍体基因组var基因家族编码约60种成员，通过启动转录不同的var基因变异体为抗原变异提供了分子基础。

疟原虫var基因转换速率变化导致抗原变异[英]／Paul H, Robert P, Christodoulou Z, et al//Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A

CHAPTER 24 – Evolution of Protein Molecules

Semiconductor nanocrystals were prepared for use as fluorescent probes in biological staining and diagnostics. Compared with conventional fluorophores, the nanocrystals have a narrow, tunable, symmetric emission spectrum and are photochemically stable. The advantages of the broad, continuous excitation spectrum were demonstrated in a dual-emission, single-excitation labeling experiment on mouse fibroblasts. These nanocrystal probes are thus complementary and in some cases may be superior to existing fluorophores.

https://science.sciencemag.org/content/sci/281/5385/2013.full.pdf

Semiconductor Nanocrystals as Fluorescent Biological Labels

Highly luminescent semiconductor quantum dots (zinc sulfide-capped cadmium selenide) have been covalently coupled to biomolecules for use in ultrasensitive biological detection. In comparison with organic dyes such as rhodamine, this class of luminescent labels is 20 times as bright, 100 times as stable against photobleaching, and one-third as wide in spectral linewidth. These nanometer-sized conjugates are water-soluble and biocompatible. Quantum dots that were labeled with the protein transferrin underwent receptor-mediated endocytosis in cultured HeLa cells, and those dots that were labeled with immunomolecules recognized specific antibodies or antigens.

http://science.sciencemag.org/content/sci/281/5385/2016.full.pdf

Quantum Dot Bioconjugates for Ultrasensitive Nonisotopic Detection

Attack by reactive oxygen species leads to a decay in phycoerythrin fluorescence emission. This phenomenon provides a versatile new assay for small molecules and macromolecules that can function as protective compounds. With 1-2 x 10(-8) M phycoerythrin, under conditions where peroxyl radical generation is rate-limiting, the fluorescence decay follows apparent zero-order kinetics. On reaction with HO., generated with the ascorbate-Cu2+ system, the fluorescence decays with apparent first-order kinetics. Examination of the major components of human urine in this assay confirms that at physiological concentrations, urate protects against both types of oxygen radicals. A novel finding is that creatinine protects efficiently by a chelation mechanism against radical damage in the ascorbate-Cu2+ system at creatinine, ascorbate, and Cu2+ concentrations comparable to those in normal urine. Urate and creatinine provide complementary modes of protection against reactive oxygen species in the urinary tract.

Fluorescence-based assay for reactive oxygen species: a protective role for creatinine.

Cyanine dyes with high absorption cross section as donor chromophores in energy transfer primers.

In vitro attachment of bilins to apophycocyanin. II. Determination of the structures of tryptic bilin peptides derived from the phycocyanobilin adduct.

Molecular architecture of a light-harvesting antenna. Comparison of wild type and mutant Synechococcus 6301 phycobilisomes.

Allophycocyanins were purified from diverse cyanobacteria and one rhodophytan alga (Cyanidium caldarium). The native proteins are trimeric molecules with the structure (αβ)3. Representative native allophycocyanins and their α and β subunits were characterized with respect to molecular weight, amino acid composition, isoelectric point, absorption and fluorescence spectra and immunological properties. All of the allophycocyanins studied were strikingly similar with respect to each of these properties.

Alexander N. Glazer

Papers

Fluorescence-based assay for reactive oxygen species: a protective role for creatinine.

Cyanine dyes with high absorption cross section as donor chromophores in energy transfer primers.

In vitro attachment of bilins to apophycocyanin. II. Determination of the structures of tryptic bilin peptides derived from the phycocyanobilin adduct.

Molecular architecture of a light-harvesting antenna. Comparison of wild type and mutant Synechococcus 6301 phycobilisomes.

Physico-chemical and immunological properties of allophycocyanins.