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J L Rosner

Publications and source records attributed to J L Rosner.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Search for X(3872) in gammagamma fusion and radiative production at CLEO.

We report on a search for the recently reported X(3872) state using 15.1 fb(-1) of e(+)e(-) data taken in the sqrt[s] = 9.46-11.30 GeV region. Separate searches for the production of the X(3872) in untagged gammagamma fusion and e(+)e(-) annihilation following initial state radiation are made by taking advantage of the unique angular correlation between the leptons from the decay J/psi --> l(+)l(-) in X(3872) decay to pi(+)pi(-)J/psi. No signals are observed in either case, and 90% confidence upper limits are established as (2J+1)Gamma(gammagamma)(X(3872))B(X --> pi(+)pi(-)J/psi) < 12.9 eV and Gamma(ee)(X(3872))B(X- -> pi(+)pi(-)J/psi) < 8.3 eV.

Journal Article↗

Photon transitions in Upsilon(2S) and Upsilon(3S) decays.

We have studied the inclusive photon spectra in Upsilon(2S) and Upsilon(3S) decays using a large statistics data sample obtained with the CLEO III detector. We present the most precise measurements of electric dipole (E1) photon transition rates and photon energies for Upsilon(2S) --> gammachi(bJ)(1P) and Upsilon(3S) --> gammachi(bJ)(2P) (J = 0, 1, 2). We measure the rate for a rare E1 transition Upsilon(3S) --> gammachi(b0)(1P) for the first time. We also set upper limits on the rates for the hindered magnetic dipole (M1) transitions to the eta(b)(1S) and eta(b)(2S) states.

Journal Article↗

Observation of 1(-)0(-) final states from psi(2S) decays and e(+)e(-) annihilation.

Using CLEO data collected from CESR e(+)e(-) collisions at the psi(2S) resonance and nearby continuum at sqrt[s]=3.67 GeV, we report the first significantly nonzero measurements of light vector-pseudoscalar hadron pair production (including rhopi, omegapi, rhoeta, and K(*0)K0 ) and the pi(+)pi(-)pi(0) final state, both from psi(2S) decays and direct e(+)e(-) annihilation.

Journal Article↗

Study of the semileptonic charm decays D(0)-->pi(-)l(+)nu and D(0)-->K(-)l(+)nu.

We investigate the decays D(0)-->pi(-)l(+)nu and D(0)-->K(-)l(+)nu, where l is e or mu, using approximately 7 fb(-1) of data collected with the CLEO III detector. We find R(0) identical with B(D(0)-->pi(-)e(+)nu)/B(D(0)-->K(-)e(+)nu)=0.082+/-0.006+/-0.005. Fits to the kinematic distributions of the data provide parameters describing the form factor of each mode. Combining the form factor results and R(0) gives |f(pi)(+)(0)|(2)|V(cd)|(2)/|f(K)(+)(0)|(2)|V(cs)|(2)=0.038(+0.006+0.005)(-0.007-0.003).

Journal Article↗

Measurement of the muonic branching fractions of the narrow upsilon resonances.

The decay branching fractions of the three narrow Upsilon resonances to mu(+)mu(-) have been measured by analyzing about 4.3 fb(-1) e(+)e(-) data collected with the CLEO III detector. The branching fraction B(Upsilon(1S)-->mu(+)mu(-))=(2.49+/-0.02+/-0.07)% is consistent with the current world average, but B(Upsilon(2S)-->mu(+)mu(-))=(2.03+/-0.03+/-0.08)% and B(Upsilon(3S)-->mu(+)mu(-))=(2.39+/-0.07+/-0.10)% are significantly larger than prior results. These new muonic branching fractions imply a narrower total decay width for the Upsilon(2S) and Upsilon(3S) resonances and lower other branching fractions that rely on these decays in their determination.

Journal Article↗

Search for the lepton-flavor-violating leptonic B(0)-->mu(+/-)tau(-/+) and B(0)-->e(+/-)tau(-/+).

We have searched a sample of 9.6 x 10(6) BB events for the lepton-flavor-violating leptonic B decays, B(0)-->mu(+/-)tau(-/+) and B(0)-->e(+/-)tau(-/+). The tau lepton was detected through the decay modes tau-->lnunu(-) , where l=e, mu. There is no indication of a signal, and we obtain the 90% confidence level upper limits B(B(0)-->mu(+/-)tau(-/+))<3.8 x 10(-5) and B(B(0)-->e(+/-)tau(-/+))<1.3 x 10(-4).

Journal Article↗

Oral midazolam with an antacid may increase the speed of onset of sedation in children prior to general anaesthesia.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to see whether sodium citrate solution would speed the gastric absorption of oral midazolam. METHODS: Forty presurgical ASA I and II patients (aged 2-6 years) were randomly assigned to one of two groups. Group I received midazolam 0.5 mg x kg(-1) mixed with sodium citrate while group II (control) received midazolam 0.5 mg x kg(-1) mixed with Hawaiian fruit punch. RESULTS: There was no statistical difference between the ages, weights, preoperative sedation and anxiety scores in the two groups. After premedication, the onset of sedation (mean +/- SD) measured by the first change in sedation score was found to be significantly faster (P < 0.05) in group I (17.8 +/- 7.11) compared with group II (21.9 +/- 5.34). There was no statistical difference in anxiety at any time intervals, separation or induction scoring for both groups. Gastric volumes and the pH of gastric aspirates between the two groups were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: The time to onset of sedation can potentially be shortened, by using a preparation of intravenous midazolam and antacid, given orally.

Administration, Oral↗

Structure and dynamics of MarA-DNA complexes: an NMR investigation.

An unanswered question regarding gene regulation is how certain proteins are capable of binding to DNA with high affinity at specific but highly degenerate consensus sequences. We have investigated the interactions between the Escherichia coli transcription factor, MarA, and its diverse binding sites using NMR techniques. Complete resonance assignments for the backbone of the MarA protein complexed with DNA oligomers corresponding to its binding sites at the mar, fumC, micF and the fpr promoters were obtained. Secondary structure analysis based on chemical shifts reveals that regions identified as helical in the X-ray structure of the MarA-mar complex are present in the solution structure, although some of the helices are less well defined. The chemical shift differences between the four complexes confirm that helix 3 and helix 6 constitute the major DNA-binding elements. However, in striking contrast with the X-ray data: (i) the protein appears to be present in two or more conformations in each of the complexes; (ii) no slowly exchanging N(zeta)H(2) protons (indicative of hydrogen bonded groups) were observed by NMR for the two arginine residues proposed to form crucial hydrogen bonds in the X-ray structure; and (iii) regions at the N terminus, not observed in the X-ray structure, may be involved in DNA-binding. Taken together, the NMR results indicate that MarA in its complexes with DNA target sites is in a highly dynamic state, allowing for small but significant rearrangements of the side-chains and/or backbone to bind to the different DNA sequences.

Bacterial Proteins↗

The AraC transcriptional activators.

The AraC family of bacterial transcriptional activators regulate diverse genetic systems. Recent X-ray diffraction studies show that the monomeric MarA and Rob activators bind to their asymmetric degenerate DNA sites via two different helix-turn-helix elements. Activation by MarA, SoxS or Rob requires a particular orientation of the asymmetric binding sequence (and hence the activator), depending on its distance from the -10 RNAP signal. Genetic studies are beginning to clarify how the activators interact with RNAP. Growing evidence suggests that for the sugar metabolism activators, multiple binding sites upstream of the promoter anchor the activator in a repressing or nonactivating configuration. By interaction with the sugar and/or CRP, the activator is allosterically altered so it can bind a new set of sites that enable it to activate the promoter. Surprisingly, the virulence activator, Rns, must bind to both upstream and downstream sites in order to activate the rns promoter.

Binding Sites↗

Probing the Escherichia coli transcriptional activator MarA using alanine-scanning mutagenesis: residues important for DNA binding and activation.

The MarA transcriptional activator binds to a 20 bp asymmetric degenerate sequence (marbox) located at different positions and orientations within the promoters of the genes of the Escherichia coli mar regulon. Solution of the MarA-marbox X-ray crystallographic structure suggested the presence of base-specific and non-specific interactions between the marbox and two helix-turn-helix (HTH) motifs on the monomeric MarA. Here, we use alanine-scanning mutagenesis and DNA retardation analysis to: (i) evaluate the contacts between MarA and the marboxes of five differently configured mar regulon promoters; (ii) assess the role of conserved hydrophobic amino acid residues for MarA activity; and (iii) identify residues required for RNA polymerase activation. These analyses revealed that the phosphate-backbone contacts and hydrogen bonds with the bases of the marbox are more significant for DNA binding than are the van der Waals interactions. While both N and C-terminal HTH motifs make essential contributions to binding site affinity, MarA is more sensitive to alterations in the N-terminal HTH. In a similar way, the activity of MarA is more sensitive to alterations in the hydrophobic core of this HTH. Solvent-exposed amino acid residues located at many positions on the MarA surface are important for activity. Some of these residues affect activity on all promoters and thus, are implicated in maintaining MarA structure whereas several solvent-exposed amino acids not involved in DNA binding were important for MarA activity on specific promoters. The pattern of activation defects defined a class II promoter-specific activating region. However, a localized class I activating region was not apparent. These results suggest that MarA activates transcription by at least two distinct mechanisms. Furthermore, the important role of phosphate contacts in marbox affinity suggests that indirect readout contributes to binding site recognition by MarA.

Alanine↗

Promoter discrimination by the related transcriptional activators MarA and SoxS: differential regulation by differential binding.

MarA and SoxS are closely related proteins ( approximately 45% identical) that transcriptionally activate a common set of unlinked genes, resulting in multiple antibiotic and superoxide resistance in Escherichia coli. Both proteins bind as monomers to a 20 bp degenerate asymmetric recognition sequence, the 'marbox', located upstream of the promoter. However, the proteins differ widely in the extents to which they activate particular promoters, with the consequence that overexpression of SoxS leads to greater superoxide resistance than does overexpression of MarA. This 'discrimination' between activators by promoters was demonstrated in vivo, using promoters fused to lacZ, and in vitro, using purified RNA polymerase, promoter DNA and MarA or SoxS. The marbox was found to be a critical element in discrimination by in vivo and in vitro assays of hybrid promoters containing the marbox from one gene and the core promoter from another. Furthermore, by sequential mutation of its marbox, a promoter that discriminated 35-fold in favour of SoxS was converted into one that did not discriminate. The relative activation of a promoter by MarA or SoxS was paralleled by the relative binding of the two activators to the promoter's marbox as assayed by band shift experiments. Thus, differential recognition of closely related marbox sequences by the closely related activators is the primary basis for promoter discrimination. Discrimination enables the cell to customize its response to the stresses that trigger synthesis of the activators.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Structural requirements for marbox function in transcriptional activation of mar/sox/rob regulon promoters in Escherichia coli: sequence, orientation and spatial relationship to the core promoter.

The promoters of the mar/sox/rob regulon of Escherichia coli contain a binding site (marbox) for the homologous transcriptional activators MarA, SoxS and Rob. In spite of data from footprinting studies, the marbox has not been precisely defined because of its degeneracy and asymmetry and seemingly variable location with respect to the -10 and -35 hexamers for RNA polymerase (RNP) binding. Here, we use DNA retardation studies and hybrid promoters to identify optimally binding 20 bp minimal marboxes from a number of promoters. This has yielded a more defined marbox consensus sequence (AYnGCACnnWnnRYYAAAYn) and has led to the demonstration that some marboxes are inverted relative to others. Using transcriptional fusions to lacZ, we have found that only one marbox orientation is functional at a given location. Moreover, the functional orientation is determined by marbox location: marboxes that are 15 or more basepairs upstream of the -35 hexamer are oriented opposite those closer to the -35 hexamer. Marbox orientation and the spacing between marbox and signals for RNP binding are critical for transcriptional activation, presumably to align MarA with RNP.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Identification of two new proteins in spermidine nucleoids isolated from Escherichia coli.

The Escherichia coli nucleoid contains DNA in a condensed but functional form. Analysis of proteins released from isolated spermidine nucleoids after treatment with DNase I reveals significant amounts of two proteins not previously detected in wild-type E. coli. Partial amino-terminal sequencing has identified them as the products of rdgC and yejK. These proteins are strongly conserved in gram-negative bacteria, suggesting that they have important cellular roles.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

A novel DNA-binding motif in MarA: the first structure for an AraC family transcriptional activator.

A crystal structure for a member of the AraC prokaryotic transcriptional activator family, MarA, in complex with its cognate DNA-binding site is described. MarA consists of two similar subdomains, each containing a helix-turn-helix DNA-binding motif. The two recognition helices of the motifs are inserted into adjacent major groove segments on the same face of the DNA but are separated by only 27 A thereby bending the DNA by approximately 35 degrees. Extensive interactions between the recognition helices and the DNA major groove provide the sequence specificity.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Fis, an accessorial factor for transcriptional activation of the mar (multiple antibiotic resistance) promoter of Escherichia coli in the presence of the activator MarA, SoxS, or Rob.

Transcription of the multiple antibiotic resistance marRAB operon increases when one of the sequence-related activators, MarA, SoxS, or Rob, binds to the "marbox" centered at -61.5 relative to the transcriptional start site. Previous deletion analyses showed that an adjacent upstream "accessory region" was needed to augment the marbox-dependent activation. To analyze the roles of the marbox and accessory regions on mar transcription, thirteen promoters, each with a different 5-bp transversion of the -96 to -32 sequence, were synthesized, fused to lacZ, and assayed for beta-galactosidase production in single-copy lysogens with appropriate genotypes. The accessory region is shown here to be a binding site for Fis centered at -81 and to bind Fis, a small DNA-binding and -bending protein, with a Kd of approximately 5 nM. The binding of MarA to the marbox and that of Fis to its site were independent of each other. MarA, SoxS, and Rob each activated the mar promoter 1.5-to 2-fold when it had a wild-type marbox but Fis was absent. In the presence of MarA, SoxS, or Rob, Fis further enhanced the activity of the promoter twofold provided the promoter was also capable of binding Fis. However, in the absence of MarA, SoxS, or Rob or in the absence of a wild-type marbox, Fis nonspecifically lowered the activity of the mar promoter about 25% whether or not a wild-type Fis site was present. Thus, Fis acts as an accessory transcriptional activator at the mar promoter.

Bacterial Proteins↗