Alexander N. Glazer

Bio: Alexander N. Glazer is an academic researcher from University of California, Berkeley. The author has contributed to research in topics: Phycobilisome & Phycocyanin. The author has an hindex of 71, co-authored 208 publications receiving 21068 citations. Previous affiliations of Alexander N. Glazer include Pasteur Institute & University of California, Los Angeles.

Chromopeptides from phycoerythrocyanin. Structure and linkage of the three bilin groups

Abstract: Phycoerythrocyanin carries two covalently attached phycocyanobilin (PCB) groups on the ..beta.. subunit and a phycobiliviolinoid (PXB) group on the ..cap alpha.. subunit. Three distinct bilipeptides were obtained by proteolytic digestion of this protein: Asn-Gln-Ala-Ala-Cys(PCB)-Ile-Arg, Gly-Asp-Cys(PCB)-Ser-Gln, and Cys(PXB)-Val-Arg. Correlation 500-MHz /sup 1/H NMR analyses showed that the heptapeptide and pentapeptide were attached by cysteinyl thioether linkage to the A ring of the PCB moiety. /sup 1/H NMR and mass spectrometry determinations led to structural assignment for the hitherto uncharacterized PXB moiety, with peptide-thioether bonding possible to either ring A or D. Amino acid sequence homologies strongly favor A-ring linkage.

Cryptomonad biliproteins - an evolutionary perspective.

Abstract: Each cryptomonad strain contains only a single spectroscopic type of biliprotein. These biliproteins are isolated as ≈50000 kDa αα'β2 complexes which carry one bilin on the α and three on the β subunit. Six different bilins are present on the cryptomonad biliproteins, two of which (phycocyanobilin and phycoerythrobilin) also occur in cyanobacterial and rhodophytan biliproteins, while four are known only in the cryptomonads. The β subunit is encoded on the chloroplast genome, whereas the α subunits are encoded by a small nuclear multigene family. The β subunits of all cryptomonad biliproteins, regardless of spectroscopic type, have highly conserved amino acid sequences, which show > 80% identity with those of rhodophytan phycoerythrin β subunits. In contrast, cyanobacteria and red algal chloroplasts each contain several spectroscopically distinct biliproteins organized into macromolecular complexes (phycobilisomes). The data on biliproteins, as well as several other lines of evidence, indicate that the cryptomonad biliprotein antenna system is ‘primitive’ and antedates that of the cyanobacteria. It is proposed that the gene encoding the cryptomonad biliprotein β subunit is the ancestral gene of the gene family encoding cyanobacterial and rhodophytan biliprotein α and β subunits.

Universal spacer/energy transfer dyes

Abstract: Fluorescent labels are provided employing energy absorber/donor components and energy acceptor/fluorescer components joined together by a spacer which comprises sugar phosphate monomeric units, particularly ribosyl phosphate monomeric units, where the sugar groups are free of active hydroxyl groups. Particularly, an energy transfer component is substituted at the 5' position of the spacer chain, while the other energy transfer component is substituted at the 1' position of the 3' terminal ribosyl group of the label forming an ET cassette for linking to a nucleic acid sequence with any compositions. By employing combinations of ET components, with a common energy absorber/donor and different fluorescers, one can provide for families of labels which can be tagged to any target molecules and which can be excited at a single wavelength and fluoresce at different wavelengths with large Stokes shifts. The compositions find particular application in sequencing.

Initial sequencing and analysis of the human genome.

Abstract: 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.

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

Abstract: 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。

Semiconductor Nanocrystals as Fluorescent Biological Labels

Abstract: 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.

Quantum Dot Bioconjugates for Ultrasensitive Nonisotopic Detection

Abstract: 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.