Reversible Encoding

The ideal descriptor can be decoded to obtain the original chemical structure or the properties that have been used to calculate the descriptor. Although this is definitely desired, the real world shows that the information used to calculate the descriptor is usually too complex to use it at its full size. A descriptor shall have a reasonable size for effective computation, and this is mostly achieved by reducing information to the facts that are of major importance for the task. The need for a fixed descriptor dimension also contradicts this requirement. 

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Droplet Traffic in Microfluidic Networks Traffic of droplets (without splitting and merging) in a dual network can also be simulated in a similar method, which contains transport channels for droplet transport and bypass channels that cannot be accessed by droplets. Figure 1 shows three recently proposed devices for droplet traffic analysis a reversible encoding loop (Fig. la), a bypassed Y-junction for symmetric... 

A potentially general method of identifying a probe is, first, to purify a protein of interest by chromatography (qv) or electrophoresis. Then a partial amino acid sequence of the protein is deterrnined chemically (see Amino acids). The amino acid sequence is used to predict likely short DNA sequences which direct the synthesis of the protein sequence. Because the genetic code uses redundant codons to direct the synthesis of some amino acids, the predicted probe is unlikely to be unique. The least redundant sequence of 25—30 nucleotides is synthesized chemically as a mixture. The mixed probe is used to screen the Hbrary and the identified clones further screened, either with another probe reverse-translated from the known amino acid sequence or by directly sequencing the clones. Whereas not all recombinant clones encode the protein of interest, reiterative screening allows identification of the correct DNA recombinant. 

The hepatitis B virus (HBV) genome is one of the smallest viral genomes (approximately 3,200 base pairs) and encodes only one viral enzyme, namely the HBV reverse transcriptase (RT). Like the HIV RT, the HBV RT is an error-prone enzyme lacking proofreading activity. In combination with a high virus production, this results in an HBV quasispecies. 

HIV phenotype A type of resistance testing for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in which a patient s blood sample is obtained, and the patient s HIV genes that encode for reverse transcriptase and protease are removed and placed in an HIV viral vector. This viral vector is replicated in a cell culture system with varying concentrations of antiretrovirals. A drug concentration-viral inhibition curve is developed and the concentration needed to inhibit 50% of the patient s virus is reported. This is used to predict resistance versus susceptibility. 

The nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs), used in the treatment of AIDS, provide interesting examples of clinically relevant noncompetitive inhibitors. The causative agent of AIDS, HIV, belongs to a virus family that relies on an RNA-based genetic system. Replication of the vims requires reverse transcription of the viral genomic RNA into DNA, which is then incorporated into the genome of the infected host cell. Reverse transcription is catalyzed by a virally encoded nucleic acid polymerase, known as reverse transcriptase (RT). This enzyme is critical for viral replication inhibition of HIV RT is therefore an effective mechanism for abrogating infection in patients. 

The human retrovirus HIV can be controlled using chemotherapy directed at the reverse transcriptase and aspartyl protease encoded by the viral genome as with other microbial pathogens, however, resistance to drug therapy becomes a major problem. Figure 7.3 shows a crystal structure (PDB 1HXW) of the HIV protease, where mutated amino acids (shown in cyan) lead to disrupted binding of the clinically effective inhibitor ritonavir [24]. 

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