Functional investigations

Pancreas Oral cholecysto-graphic agent iopanoate ( ) experimental Unknown excretion into pancreatic duct Schmiedl U etal (1994) Imaging of exocrine pancreatic function investigation of the bioavailability of weak organic acids as potential pancreatic contrast agents for computed tomography. Invest Radiol 29 689-694... 

Purified membrane proteins or enzymes can be incorporated into these vesicles in order to assess what factors (eg, specific lipids or ancillary proteins) the proteins require to reconstitute their function. Investigations of purified proteins, eg, the Ca " ATPase of the sarcoplasmic reticulum, have in certain cases suggested that only a single protein and a single lipid are required to reconstitute an ion pump. 

Liap, M.-S., Lu, X. and Zhang, Q.-F. (1998) Cyanide adsorbed on coinage metal electrodes A relativistic density functional investigation. International Journal of Quantum Chemistry, 67, 175-185. 

Elanany, M., Koyama, M., Kubo, M. el al. (2005) Periodic density functional investigation of Lewis acid sites in zeolites Relative strength order as revealed from NH3 adsorption, Appl. Surf. Sci., 246, 96. 

The discovery of psychopharmacological medications was revolutionary because they provided a means of treating illnesses that were otherwise intractable. With the exception of electroconvulsive treatments for severe depression, there were no medical treatments for disorders that did not respond to psychotherapy. Once established, the drugs led to an ongoing search for more effective and safer medications. A second reason for their revolutionary status is that they furthered understanding of mental illnesses and normal brain function. Investigations of their therapeutic mechanisms led to theories of the neurochemical bases of mental illnesses. 

Bourel-Bonnet L, et al. Anchorage of synthetic peptides onto liposomes via hydrazone and -oxo hydrazone bonds, preliminary functional investigations. Bioconjugate J. In press. 

Fig. 5.23 Time evolution of the three functions investigated for PIB at 390 K and Q=0.3 A"h pair correlation function (empty circle) single chain dynamic structure factor (empty diamond) and self-motion of the protons (filled triangle). Solid lines show KWW fitting curves. (Reprinted with permission from [187]. Copyright 2003 Elsevier)...

Periodic density functional investigation of lewis add sites in zeolites relative strength order as... 

Structural-Functional Investigations Based on Partial Proteolysis and Physical Measurements... 

Structure-function investigations have shown that the Smads have a sequence-specific DNA binding domain and two regulatory domains known as the MHl and MH2 domains. It is assiuned that the pathway-restricted Smads are kept in an inactive form by intramolecular interactions between the MHl and MH2 domains. The inactive conformation is lifted by phosphorylation at the C-terminus upon activation of the TGPp receptor, and an interaction with the conunon mediator Smad 4 becomes possible. According to these observations, the MHl domain functions as a negative regulator of the MH2 domain. 

Are mutation studies necessary Enzyme studies or other phenotypic or functional investigations may be more sensitive and more (cost-)effective for reaching a diagnosis. 

Invited 5. Bin Song and Pei-Lin Cao (Zhejiang University) Density Functional Investigation of Geometrical and Electronic Structures of Atomic Clusters... 

Evaluation of the effects of a toxicant on renal function can be accomplished by several methods. The method used depends on the complexity of the question to be answered. For example, unanesthetized or anesthetized animals may be used to determine if a chemical has an effect on kidney function. Investigations also may be conducted in vitro to examine specific biochemical or functional lesions. Finally, histopathologic techniques can provide a great deal of information about structural integrity. 

The 12 investigations compiled here deal mostly with functional investigations in the food area. Three chapters discuss soy proteins, relating the effects of heat, specific solvents, and enzyme activity on structure and functional properties. Single chapters are concerned with the proteins of wheat, milk, and yeast, respectively, as well as specific crosslinking effects and, enzyme-carrier interactions. Other chapters contrast general functional properties of different proteins. 

T he term functionality is of recent origin. It was coined about 15 years L ago by scientists dealing in plant protein utilizations. Its application since then has been widened, not always with adequate precision and consistency. Recently (I), it has been redefined as follows functionality is any property of a substance, besides its nutritional ones, that affects its utilization. Although at first glance this definition is too broad, after careful examination it is the only one that encompasses the various areas of functional investigations now in progress. 

The terms functionality or functional property will be used synonymously. Functional methods or functional evaluations refer to the procedures involved in testing these properties. Functionality investigations designate deeper evaluations of the properties, mostly connected with their relation to other physicochemical characteristics of the substances studied. These terms, although not used with rigor up to now, are put forth in this manner for possible standardization of reports in this area in the future. 

The need for supplying an expanding world population with adequate protein foods will not be discussed here. It has become a common enough belief, regularly reiterated, and widely documented in the literature of protein investigations. It is, however, necessary to dwell briefly on the status of protein functionality investigations in the total area of protein studies. 

The enzymatic branch of protein functional investigations is significant, not only for the basic scientific knowledge it imparts which helps clarify biological processes, but also because, by elucidating how catalytic functions depend on specific protein structures, more useful and more powerful enzymatic processes might be developed for food production... 

Any of these three methods of functionality investigation is open to various criticisms, especially on the basis of rigor. Therefore, in the final analysis we must resort to the simplest test of all scientific theories— predictability. If, after a careful study, the results of the elucidation of protein structural features predict its behavior in actual food utilization or processing, we conclude, a priori, that the structures are involved in the macroscopic manifestation. Otherwise, these tests, although very pretty and elaborate pieces of work, will only fatten the size of publications, with very little significance in relation to what we have attempted to do—understand the actual reasons for protein functionality. 

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