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K Hölzer

Publications and source records attributed to K Hölzer.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Properties of an electron-density map derived from a limited number of experimentally determined triplet phases.

In a previous communication [Weckert et al. (1999). Acta Cryst. D55, 1320-1328], the feasibility of the measurement of a large set of triplet phases by three-beam interference was demonstrated. This paper reports the methodology for the calculation of an electron-density map from this limited amount of experimental phase information and the map's properties with respect to model building and refinement. The tetragonal form of hen egg-white lysozyme (HEWL) was chosen as a test structure for the development of this method. The quality of the electron-density map obtained from all measured triplet phases allows a straightforward and nearly complete interpretation. The starting model was refined to a final R value of 17.4%. In a second step, the minimum number of phased reflections needed for the interpretation of an electron-density map was investigated, applying criteria based on |F| and resolution.

Algorithms↗
PubMed1999

Feasibility study for the measurement of a large set of triplet phases from a small protein.

The feasibility of measuring a set of triplet phases large enough to solve the structure of a small protein has been evaluated. A total of about 850 triplet phases have been measured from the tetragonal form of hen egg-white lysozyme. From these triplet phases, about 750 single phases can be derived. The experimental details of these measurements as well as the results, the values of the measured triplet phases, are reported. Additional experimental data from other small proteins are also presented.

Crystallization↗
PubMed1997

Partial improvement of crystal quality for microgravity-grown apocrustacyanin C1.

The protein apocrustacyanin C(1) has been crystallized by vapour diffusion in both microgravity (the NASA space shuttle USML-2 mission) and on the ground. Rocking width measurements were made on the crystals at the ESRF Swiss-Norwegian beamline using a high-resolution psi-circle diffractometer from the University of Karlsruhe. Crystal perfection was then evaluated, from comparison of the reflection rocking curves from a total of five crystals (three grown in microgravity and two earth controls), and by plotting mosaicity versus reflection signal/noise. Comparison was then made with previous measurements of almost 'perfect' lysozyme crystals grown aboard IML-2 and Spacehab-I and reported by Snell et al. [Snell, Weisgerber, Helliwell, Weckert, Hölzer & Schroer (1995). Acta Cryst. D51, 1099-1102]. Overall, the best diffraction-quality apocrustacyanin C(1) crystal was microgravity grown, but one earth-grown crystal was as good as one of the other microgravity-grown crystals. The remaining two crystals (one from microgravity and one from earth) were poorer than the other three and of fairly equal quality. Crystal movement during growth in microgravity, resulting from the use of vapour-diffusion geometry, may be the cause of not realising the 'theoretical' limit of perfect protein crystal quality.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1995

Improvements in lysozyme protein crystal perfection through microgravity growth.

Microgravity offers an environment for protein crystallization where there is an absence of convection and sedimentation. We have investigated the effect of microgravity conditions on the perfection of protein crystals. The quality of crystals for X-ray diffraction studies is characterized by a number of factors, namely size, mosaicity and the resolution limit. By using tetragonal lysozyme crystals as a test case we show, with crystal growth in two separate Space Shuttle missions, that the mosaicity is improved by a factor of three to four over earth-grown ground control values. These microgravity-grown protein crystals are then essentially perfect diffraction gratings. As a result the peak to background of individual X-ray diffraction reflections is enhanced by a similar factor to the reduction in the mosaicity. This then offers a particularly important opportunity for improving the measurement of weak reflections such as occur at high diffraction resolution. These microgravity results set a benchmark for all future microgravity and earth-based protein crystallography procedures.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1994

Behavior of different activity-based pacemakers during treadmill exercise testing with variable slopes: a comparison of three activity-based pacing systems.

A new generation of activity-based pacemakers incorporates an accelerometer sensitive to low frequency acceleration signals in the anteroposterior direction for sensing of bodily stress. The purpose of our investigation was to test a representative model of these new activity-based pacemakers (Relay) and compare it with current vibration- and housing pressure-sensing systems. We tested ten pacemaker patients with implanted Activitrax, Sensolog, and Relay systems during treadmill exercise testing with variable slopes. Devices from the three systems were also strapped externally to the chest of each patient and to ten normal test subjects in the control group. Exercise tests were conducted with changes of treadmill speed and/or treadmill slope. For comparable workloads during constant speed/variable slope and constant slope/variable speed, Relay had similar rate responses (difference not significant). Significant differences (P < 0.05) in rate adaptation attributable to the kind of treadmill exercise (change in treadmill speed or slopes) were observed in the housing pressure- and vibration-based pacemakers. Activity-based pacemakers with an acceleration sensor adapt pacing rates during treadmill exercises independent of treadmill speed or slope better than those controlled by a conventional housing pressure or vibration sensor.

Acceleration↗
PubMed1993

[Behavior of various activity-controlled cardiac pacemakers in treadmill stress tests with variable slopes].

New activity pacemaker systems with the principle of sensing low-frequency acceleration in the anterior-posterior axis are currently under clinical evaluation. We compared the pacemaker system Relay, which represents this new generation of accelerometer controlled devices, with conventional activity systems sensing pressure and vibration. Ten pacemaker patients with implanted Activitrax, Sensolog or Relay pacemakers and 10 healthy volunteers with externally strapped-on pacemakers were studied. The aim was to evaluate the systems' ability to distinguish different workloads during graded treadmill testing with changes in speed and/or slope. The rate adaption of the new acceleration sensing pacemakers was found to be more adequate compared to vibration and pressure-sensing pacemakers when only the slope of the treadmill was varied. The acceleration-sensing pacemaker adjusted its rate according to the workload largely independent from the type of stress (n.s.). With the vibration and pressure-sensing pacemakers, however, significant differences (p < 0.05) were seen between rate adaption in the two stress test modes. The new generation of acceleration-sensing pacemakers has certain advantages over conventional vibration-sensitive systems in terms of a higher sensitivity to varying workloads and higher specificity to the type of exercise performed.

Adult↗