Different forms of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I heavy chains are known to be expressed on the cell surface, including molecules which are functionally 'empty'. Direct peptide binding to cells is obvious during sensitization of target cells in vitro for cytotoxic T lymphocyte killing and 'empty' MHC-I molecules are comparatively abundant on TAP- 1 2 peptide transporter mutant cell

Background and aimsElevated body weight in adolescence is associated with early cardiovascular disease, but whether this association is traceable to weight in early adulthood, weight in midlife or to weight gain is not known. The aim of this study is to assess the risk of midlife coronary atherosclerosis being associated with body weight at age 20, body weight in midlife and body weight change.Met

The binding of uropathogenic Escherichia coli to the globo series of glycolipids via P pili is a critical step in the infectious process that is mediated by a human‐specific PapG adhesin. Three classes of PapG adhesins exist with different binding specificities to Galα4Gal‐containing glycolipids. The structural basis for PapG recognition of the human glycolipid receptor globoside was investigated

Ganglioside lactams are potentially useful analogs of ganglioside lactones, which are highly immunogenic derivatives of gangliosides. The lactam corresponding to the GM3-lactone saccharide has been synthesized by sialylation of a suitably protected lactose derivative carrying an azido group in the 2'-position, followed by reduction and ring closure to form GM3-lactam. Glycosylation in the 4-positi

The pentasaccharide glycoside corresponding to galactosylgloboside (SSEA-3), β-d-Gal p-(1 → 3)-β-d-Gal pNAc-(1 → 3)-α-d-Gal p-(1 → 4)-β-d-Gal p-(1 → 4)-β-d-Glc p-1-OCH2CH2Si-(CH3)3 (4), was synthesized via glycosylation (87%) of 2-(trimethylsilyl)ethyl 2,3,6-tri-O-benzyl-4-O-[2,3,6-tri-O-benzyl-4-O-(2,4,6-tri-O-benzyl-α-d-galactopyranosyl)-β-d- galactopyranosyl]-β-d-glucopyranoside (2) with the gl

The 1H and 13C NMR parameters, i.e., chemical shifts and coupling constants, for the pentasaccharide of the Forssman antigen and overlapping di-, tri-, and tetra-saccharide sequences thereof have been measured and assigned completely using 1D and 2D techniques, and the oligosaccharide structures have thereby been confirmed. Nuclear Overhauser effect (NOE) experiments have been carried out at three

Radical deoxygenation of methyl 3,6-di-O-benzoyl-2-deoxy-4-O-imidazol-1-yl-thiocarbonyloxy-2-phtha limido-beta-D - glucopyranoside 5 gave methyl 3,6-di-O-benzoyl-2,4-dideoxy-2-phthalimido-beta-D-glucopyranoside 6, which was converted into the corresponding methyl thioglycoside donor 9. Methylsulfenyl trifluoromethane-sulfonate-promoted glycosylation of 2-(trimethylsilyl)ethyl 2,3,6-tri-O-benzyl-4-

This article presents the investigation of two linen shirts which form part of the funerary dress of Bishop Peder Pedersen Winstrup (1605–1679), buried 1680 in Lund Cathedral, southern Sweden. When the grave was opened in 2013, it was discovered that the body had been naturally mummified, and that the funerary dress, including the linen, was well-preserved. Extant Early Modern linen garments are r

The sugar binding specificities of two groups of Streptococcus suis, a pig pathogen that causes meningitis also in man, were determined. Both the group represented by a recently characterized strain inhibitable by galactose and N-acetylgalactosamine (type PN) and the group inhibitable by galactose (type PO) were found by hemagglutination and solid-phase binding inhibition experiments to recognize

The 2-(trimethylsilyl)ethyl (TMSEt) β-glycosides of the Forssman pentasaccharide [α-d-GalNAc-(1 → 3)-β-d-GalNAc-(1 → 3)-α-d-Gal-(1 → 4)-β-d-Gal-(1 → 4)-d-Glc] and the terminal tetrasaccharide, as well as the methyl glycosides 1 and 2 of the terminal di- and tri-saccharides, were synthesised by silver trifluoromethanesulfonate-promoted α-glycosylation of suitably protected mono-, di-, tri-, and tet

The 2-(trimethylsilyl)ethyl (TMSEt) β-glycosides of globotetraose [β-d-GalNAc-(1 → 3)-α-d-Gal-(1 → 4)-β-d-Gal-(1 → 4)-d-Glc] and the terminal trisaccharide, as well as the methyl α-glycoside 1 of the terminal disaccharide, were synthesised by silver trifluoromethanesulfonate-promoted β-glycosylation of suitably protected galactoside, galabioside, and globotrioside alcohols with 3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-

3-Bromo-2-(bromomethyl)propyl (dibromoisobutyl or DIB) mono- to tetrasaccharide glycosides were prepared in moderate to high yields by treatment of the corresponding 1-0-acetyl saccharides with 3-bromo-2-(bromo-methyl)propanol (DIBOL) and boron trifluoride etherate. Treatment of the DIB glycosides with alkyl- and ω-methoxycarbonylalkyl thiols gave the corresponding bis-sulfide glycolipids and spac

Obesity and type 2 diabetes are causally related, yet there is considerable heterogeneity in the consequences of both conditions and the mechanisms of action are poorly defined. Here we show a genetic-driven approach defining two obesity profiles that convey highly concordant and discordant diabetogenic effects. We annotate and then compare association signals for these profiles across clinical an

Biological rules describe general morphological, structural and genetic patterns within and across species. Within these, ecogeographical rules correlate phenotypic variation of organisms with biogeography. The latter have been developed over the last 150 years, and recently have gained renewed attention due to climate change, as researchers try to predict how species will respond to different env

The impact of climate change on global biodiversity is firmly established, but the differential effect of climate change on populations within the same species is rarely considered. In ectotherms, melanism (i.e. darker integument due to heavier deposition of melanin) can significantly influence thermoregulation, as dark individuals generally heat more and faster than bright ones. Therefore, darker