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Biomedical subjects

N Zheng

Publications and source records attributed to N Zheng.

12 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Structure of a c-Cbl-UbcH7 complex: RING domain function in ubiquitin-protein ligases.

Ubiquitin-protein ligases (E3s) regulate diverse cellular processes by mediating protein ubiquitination. The c-Cbl proto-oncogene is a RING family E3 that recognizes activated receptor tyrosine kinases, promotes their ubiquitination by a ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme (E2) and terminates signaling. The crystal structure of c-Cbl bound to a cognate E2 and a kinase peptide shows how the RING domain recruits the E2. A comparison with a HECT family E3-E2 complex indicates that a common E2 motif is recognized by the two E3 families. The structure reveals a rigid coupling between the peptide binding and the E2 binding domains and a conserved surface channel leading from the peptide to the E2 active site, suggesting that RING E3s may function as scaffolds that position the substrate and the E2 optimally for ubiquitin transfer.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2000

Novel Single- and Double-Layer and Three-Dimensional Structures of Rare-Earth Metal Coordination Polymers: The Effect of Lanthanide Contraction and Acidity Control in Crystal Structure Formation.

Lanthanide atom sizes (the lanthanide contraction) directly control the type of structure formed by the coordination of a single multidentate ligand, 3,5-pyrazoledicarboxylic acid (H(3)pdc). Single-layer, double-layer ([Eu(2)(Hpdc)(3)(H(2)O)(6)], see picture), and three-dimensional networks were found. Control of the reaction pH plays a key role in the structure formation in this system.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

Biomechanics and motion analysis applied to sports.

The development of motion analysis and the application of biomechanical analysis techniques to sports has paralleled the exponential growth of computational and videographic technology. Technological developments have provided for advances in the investigation of the human body and the action of the human body during sports believed to be unobtainable a few years ago. Technological advancements have brought biomechanical applications into a wide range of fields from orthopedics to entertainment. An area that has made tremendous gains using biomechanics is sports science. Coaches, therapists, and physicians are using biomechanics to improve performance, rehabilitation, and the prevention of sports related injuries. Functional analyses of athletic movements that were impossible a few years ago are available and used today. With new advancements, the possibilities for investigating the way a human interacts and reacts to environmental conditions are ever expanding.

Athletic Injuries↗
PubMed1999

Structural basis of DNA recognition by the heterodimeric cell cycle transcription factor E2F-DP.

The E2F and DP protein families form heterodimeric transcription factors that play a central role in the expression of cell cycle-regulated genes. The crystal structure of an E2F4-DP2-DNA complex shows that the DNA-binding domains of the E2F and DP proteins both have a fold related to the winged-helix DNA-binding motif. Recognition of the central c/gGCGCg/c sequence of the consensus DNA-binding site is symmetric, and amino acids that contact these bases are conserved among all known E2F and DP proteins. The asymmetry in the extended binding site TTTc/gGCGCc/g is associated with an amino-terminal extension of E2F4, in which an arginine binds in the minor groove near the TTT stretch. This arginine is invariant among E2Fs but not present in DPs. E2F4 and DP2 interact through an extensive protein-protein interface, and structural features of this interface suggest it contributes to the preference for heterodimers over homodimers in DNA binding.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1999

Kinematic and kinetic comparison of baseball pitching among various levels of development.

Proper biomechanics help baseball pitchers minimize their risk of injury and maximize performance. However previous studies involved adult pitchers only. In this study, 23 youth, 33 high school, 115 college, and 60 professional baseball pitchers were analyzed. Sixteen kinematic (11 position and five velocity), eight kinetic, and six temporal parameters were calculated and compared among the four levels of competition. Only one of the 11 kinematic position parameters showed significant differences among the four levels, while all five velocity parameters showed significant differences. All eight kinetic parameters increased significantly with competition level. None of the six temporal parameters showed significant differences. Since 16 of the 17 position and temporal parameters showed no significant differences, this study supports the philosophy that a child should be taught 'proper' pitching mechanics for use throughout a career. Kinetic differences observed suggest greater injury risk at higher competition levels. Since adult pitchers did not demonstrate different position or temporal patterns than younger pitchers, increases in joint forces and torques were most likely due to increased strength and muscle mass in the higher level athlete. The greater shoulder and elbow angular velocities produced by high-level pitchers were most likely due to the greater torques they generated during the arm cocking and acceleration phases. The combination of more arm angular velocity and a longer arm resulted in greater linear ball velocity for the higher level pitcher. Thus, it appears that the natural progression for successful pitching is to learn proper mechanics as early as possible, and build strength as the body matures.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

An analytical model of the knee for estimation of internal forces during exercise.

An analytical model of the knee joint was developed to estimate the forces at the knee during exercise. Muscle forces were estimated based upon electromyographic activities during exercise and during maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC), physiological cross-sectional area (PCSA), muscle fiber length at contraction and the maximum force produced by an unit PCSA under MVIC. Tibiofemoral compressive force and cruciate ligaments' tension were determined by using resultant force and torque at the knee, muscle forces, and orientations and moment arms of the muscles and ligaments. An optimization program was used to minimize the errors caused by the estimation of the muscle forces. The model was used in a ten-subject study of open kinetic chain exercise (seated knee extension) and closed kinetic chain exercises (leg press and squat). Results calculated with this model were compared to those from a previous study which did not consider muscle length and optimization. Peak tibiofemoral compressive forces were 3134 +/- 1040 N during squat, 3155 +/- 755 N during leg press and 3285 +/- 1927 N during knee extension. Peak posterior cruciate ligament tensions were 1868 +/- 878 N during squat, 1866 +/- 383 N during leg press and 959 +/- 300 N for seated knee extension. No significant anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tension was found during leg press and squat. Peak ACL tension was 142 +/- 257 N during seated knee extension. It is demonstrated that the current model provided better estimation of knee forces during exercises, by preventing significant overestimates of tibiofemoral compressive forces and cruciate ligament tensions.

Anterior Cruciate Ligament↗
PubMed1998

Biomechanics of the knee during closed kinetic chain and open kinetic chain exercises.

PURPOSE: Although closed (CKCE) and open (OKCE) kinetic chain exercises are used in athletic training and clinical environments, few studies have compared knee joint biomechanics while these exercises are performed dynamically. The purpose of this study was to quantify knee forces and muscle activity in CKCE (squat and leg press) and OKCE (knee extension). METHODS: Ten male subjects performed three repetitions of each exercise at their 12-repetition maximum. Kinematic, kinetic, and electromyographic data were calculated using video cameras (60 Hz), force transducers (960 Hz), and EMG (960 Hz). Mathematical muscle modeling and optimization techniques were employed to estimate internal muscle forces. RESULTS: Overall, the squat generated approximately twice as much hamstring activity as the leg press and knee extensions. Quadriceps muscle activity was greatest in CKCE when the knee was near full flexion and in OKCE when the knee was near full extension. OKCE produced more rectus femoris activity while CKCE produced more vasti muscle activity. Tibiofemoral compressive force was greatest in CKCE near full flexion and in OKCE near full extension. Peak tension in the posterior cruciate ligament was approximately twice as great in CKCE, and increased with knee flexion. Tension in the anterior cruciate ligament was present only in OKCE, and occurred near full extension. Patellofemoral compressive force was greatest in CKCE near full flexion and in the mid-range of the knee extending phase in OKCE. CONCLUSION: An understanding of these results can help in choosing appropriate exercises for rehabilitation and training.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Biomechanical modelling of the human sacroiliac joint.

From a mechanical point of view, the human pelvis can be considered as a stable, complex three link structure. This three-link closed-chain system explains why there is so little motion in the sacroiliac joint. Based on the minimum total potential energy principle, a quasi-static model of the human pelvis with its three joints is developed. In the model, the articular cartilage linings of the joint surfaces are considered as thin layers with a geometric non-linear behaviour. They lie between two rigid curved surfaces that are represented by small three-node elements. Accessory ligaments and capsules are represented by a number of non-linear springs. A primary model is developed based on a female cadaver. According to the primary model, the translation of the sacroiliac joint in the direction of force is about 0.5 mm in the lateral direction, about 1.8 mm in the antero-posterior direction, and about 1.5 mm in the superior or inferior direction, when a load of 1000 N is applied to the sacrum. When a load of 50 N m-1 is applied to the sacrum, the rotation in the load direction is about 1.6 degrees in axial rotation, about 1.0 degree in flexion or extension and about 1.1 degrees in lateral bending.

Biomechanical Phenomena↗
PubMed1997

Domain interactions in E. coli SRP: stabilization of M domain by RNA is required for effective signal sequence modulation of NG domain.

The E. coli protein, Fth, binds to 4.5S RNA through its M domain to form the signal recognition particle (SRP). The other domain of Fth (NG) is a GTPase, which binds and is coordinately regulated by its receptor, FtsY. We find that the helical M domain is inherently flexible. Binding of 4.5S RNA to Fth stabilizes the M domain yet has little apparent effect on the binding of signal peptides. However, in the absence of the RNA, signal peptide binding results in a global destabilization of Fth, which is prevented by binding of 4.5S RNA. Signal peptide binding to isolated NG domain also causes a pronounced destabilization, implicating the NG domain in direct recognition of signal peptide.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Scanning tunneling microscopy study of poly-L-proline.

Differences in its peptide bonds allow the imino acid poly-L-proline to exist in two significantly different geometric structures. Form I with cis peptide bonds is supposed to be a right-handed helix and form II with trans peptide bonds a left-handed helix. Cis/trans isomerization about the proline imide is believed to cause the denaturation of a number of proteins and may be a key step in protein folding. Using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), we present high-resolution images of air-dried poly-L-proline. It is found that the electric conductivity of one monolayer of poly-L-proline is sufficient to allow for STM imaging without significant tip-sample interaction. Only at locations where stacking of poly-L-proline chains occurs, a direct contact of the probing tip to the molecules becomes apparent and prevents us, at present, from resolving the atomic structure of the topmost layer. Our STM images of poly-L-proline show that form II is relatively rigid and forms aggregates in most cases. Form I, which is occasionally observed, is very flexible and exhibits sharp bends as well as 180 degrees backfolding. These observations confirm theoretical predictions on the existence of two peptide bond conformations of poly-L-proline.

Isomerism↗