Search for next-to-minimal supersymmetric Higgs bosons in the h --> aa --> micromicromicromicro, micromicrotautau channels using pp[over] collisions at sqrt[s] = 1.96 TeV

We report on a first search for production of the lightest neutral CP-even Higgs boson (h) in the next-to-minimal supersymmetric standard model, where h decays to a pair of neutral pseudoscalar Higgs bosons (a), using 4.2 fb;{-1} of data recorded with the D0 detector at Fermilab. The a bosons are required to either both decay to micro;{+}micro;{-} or one to micro;{+}micro;{-} and the other to tau;{+}tau;{-}. No significant signal is observed, and we set limits on its production as functions of M_{a} and M_{h}.

Search for the standard model Higgs boson in tau final states

We present a search for the standard model Higgs boson using hadronically decaying tau leptons, in 1 fb(-1) of data collected with the D0 detector at the Fermilab Tevatron pp collider. We select two final states: tau+/- plus missing transverse energy and b jets, and tau+ tau- plus jets. These final states are sensitive to a combination of associated W/Z boson plus Higgs boson, vector boson fusion, and gluon-gluon fusion production processes. The observed ratio of the combined limit on the Higgs production cross section at the 95% C.L. to the standard model expectation is 29 for a Higgs boson mass of 115 GeV.

Search for resonant diphoton production with the D0 detector

We present a search for a narrow resonance in the inclusive diphoton final state using approximately 2.7 fb(-1) of data collected with the D0 detector at the Fermilab Tevatron pp Collider. We observe good agreement between the data and the background prediction, and set the first 95% C.L. upper limits on the production cross section times the branching ratio for decay into a pair of photons for resonance masses between 100 and 150 GeV. This search is also interpreted in the context of several models of electroweak symmetry breaking with a Higgs boson decaying into two photons.

Measurement of the Zgamma --> nunu[over ]gamma production cross section and limits on anomalous ZZgamma and Zgammagamma couplings in pp[over] collisions at sqrt[s] = 1.96 TeV

We present the first observation of the Zgamma --> nunu[over ]gamma process at the Fermilab Tevatron at 5.1 standard deviations significance, based on 3.6 fb;{-1} of integrated luminosity collected with the D0 detector at the Fermilab Tevatron pp[over ] Collider at sqrt[s] = 1.96 TeV. The measured Zgamma production cross section multiplied by the branching fraction of Z --> nunu[over] is 32 +/- 9(stat + syst) +/-2 (lumi) fb for the photon E_{T} > 90 GeV. It is in agreement with the standard model prediction of 39 +/- 4 fb. We set limits on anomalous trilinear Zgammagamma and ZZgamma gauge boson couplings, most of which are the most restrictive to date.

Search for charged higgs bosons decaying into top and bottom quarks in pp[over ] collisions

We describe a search for production of a charged Higgs boson, qq[over ];{'}-->H;{+}, reconstructed in the tb[over ] final state in the mass range 180< or =M_{H;{+}}< or =300 GeV. The search was undertaken at the Fermilab Tevatron collider with a center-of-mass energy sqrt[s]=1.96 TeV and uses 0.9 fb;{-1} of data collected with the D0 detector. We find no evidence for charged Higgs boson production and set upper limits on the production cross section in the types I, II, and III two-Higgs-doublet models (2HDMs). An excluded region in the (M_{H;{+}}, tanbeta) plane for type I 2HDM is presented.

Measurement of gamma+b+X and gamma+c+X Production Cross Sections in pp[over ] Collisions at sqrt[s]=1.96 TeV

First measurements of the differential cross sections d;{3}sigma/(dp_{T};{gamma}dy;{gamma}dy;{jet}) for the inclusive production of a photon in association with a heavy quark (b, c) jet are presented, covering photon transverse momenta 30<p_{T};{gamma}<150 GeV, photon rapidities |y;{gamma}|<1.0, jet rapidities |y;{jet}|<0.8, and jet transverse momenta p_{T};{jet}>15 GeV. The results are based on an integrated luminosity of 1 fb;{-1} in pp[over ] collisions at sqrt[s]=1.96 TeV recorded with the D0 detector at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider. The results are compared with next-to-leading order perturbative QCD predictions.

From purified GPCRs to drug discovery: the promise of protein-based methodologies

G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), the largest family of membrane proteins, represent ideal therapeutic targets for a number of disorders and diseases. Besides cell-based assays and high throughput screening (HTS), and thanks to the availability of milligram quantities of active purified receptors, protein-based approaches focusing on soluble GPCRs are growingly being used in this drug discovery effort. Along with the exploitation of GPCRs structures, innovative biochemical and biophysical approaches open up new routes for improving the knowledge of structure-activity relationships, for the identification of novel interacting partners and for the determination of receptor behaviour in different model environments. This review summarizes the state-of-the-art methodologies that robustly allow for the production and purification of soluble and active GPCRs, as well as the main outcomes that have been recently gained in GPCR biology using a panel of such protein-based approaches.

The transfer of bovine J blood group activity to erythrocytes: chemical nature of transferable and of non-transferable J

The bovine J blood group substance exists as a glycosphingolipid (ceramide decahexoside as well as ceramide dodecahexoside) and as a glycoprotein. The lipidic form occurs in erythrocyte membranes, both forms are found in serum. The lipidic J substances were isolated from erythrocytes and from serum, and identified by thin-layer chromatography with lipidic J substances isolated from spleen. The glycoprotein nature of the non-lipidic J of serum was evident by pronase-catalysed hydrolysis yielding J-active glycopeptides of lower molecular weights. The lipidic J was completely extracted from lyophilized stroma with chloroform/methanol. From lyophilized serum, however, it was completely extracted only in the presence of water, indicating different binding partners in serum and in erythrocyte membranes. The J lipid was incorporated as intact molecule into the erythrocyte membrane by a simple incubation technique. The incorporation was inhibited by various glycerophospholipids (called blockers). The J glycoprotein could not be transferred to the erythrocyte membrane. Three methods are described which are suitable for the preparation of a blocker-free fraction enriched with J lipids from J-positive serum.

Quantification of antigens with haemolysing antibodies exemplified by the bovine J blood group system

1. The J blood group activity of red cells is measured in terms of 50% haemolysis ('direct test'), that of dissolved or suspended samples in terms of 50% haemolysis inhibition ('indirect test') in a standardized bovine J system. 2. The volume of J-containing sample required for a 50% haemolysis inhibition decreases with increasing J activity. 3. The volume of anti-J required for a 50% haemolysis of J-positive erythrocytes also decreases with increasing J activity. 4. The use of antigen units (UAg) was introduced to serve as a measure of J activity of dissolved or suspended samples. 5. Antigen units were also used to characterize J-containing red cells. This was made possible by measuring the relation of the direct test (on red cells). Thus, a relatively simple method of determination of red cell UAg is obtained. 6. It was confirmed by absorption experiments that erythrocytes containing high concentrations of antigen require relatively low amounts of antibody to bring about a 50% haemolysis, but are able to bind a relatively high excess of antibody.

Search for long-lived charged massive particles with the D0 detector

We search for long-lived charged massive particles using 1.1 fb;{-1} of data collected by the D0 detector at the Fermilab Tevatron pp[over ] Collider. Time-of-flight information is used to search for pair produced long-lived tau sleptons, gauginolike charginos, and Higgsino-like charginos. We find no evidence of a signal and set 95% C.L. cross section upper limits for staus, which vary from 0.31 to 0.04 pb for stau masses between 60 and 300 GeV. We also set lower mass limits of 206 GeV (171 GeV) for pair produced charged gauginos (Higgsinos).

Evidence of WW and WZ production with lepton + jets final states in pp collisions at square root s=1.96 TeV

We present first evidence for WW+WZ production in lepton + jets final states at a hadron collider. The data correspond to 1.07 fb-1 of integrated luminosity collected with the D0 detector at the Fermilab Tevatron in pp collisions at square root s=1.96 TeV. The observed cross section for WW+WZ production is 20.2+/-4.5 pb, consistent with the standard model and more precise than previous measurements in fully leptonic final states. The probability that background fluctuations alone produce this excess is <5.4 x 10-6, which corresponds to a significance of 4.4 standard deviations.

Search for anomalous top-quark couplings with the D0 detector

Anomalous Wtb couplings modify the angular correlations of the top-quark decay products and change the single top-quark production cross section. We present limits on anomalous top-quark couplings by combining information from W boson helicity measurements in top-quark decays and anomalous coupling searches in the single top-quark final state. We set limits on right-handed vector couplings as well as left-handed and right-handed tensor couplings based on about 1 fb(-1) of data collected by the D0 experiment.

Measurement of the lifetime of the Bc+/- meson in the semileptonic decay channel

Using approximately 1.3 fb(-1) of data collected by the D0 detector between 2002 and 2006, we measure the lifetime of the Bc+/- meson in the Bc-/+-->J/psimicro+/-+X final state. A simultaneous unbinned likelihood fit to the J/psi+micro invariant mass and lifetime distributions yields a signal of 881+/-80(stat) candidates and a lifetime measurement of tau(Bc+/-)=0.448(-0.036)(+0.038)(stat)+/-0.032(syst) ps.

Evidence for the decay Bs0-->Ds(*)Ds(*) and a measurement of DeltaGammasCP/Gammas

We search for the semi-inclusive process Bs0-->Ds(*)Ds(*) using 2.8 fb(-1) of pp collisions at sqrt[s]=1.96 TeV recorded by the D0 detector operating at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider. We observe 26.6+/-8.4 signal events with a significance above background of 3.2 standard deviations yielding a branching ratio of B(Bs0-->Ds(*)Ds(*))=0.035+/-0.010(stat.)+/-0.011(syst.). Under certain theoretical assumptions, these double-charm final states saturate CP-even eigenstates in the Bs0 decays resulting in a width difference of DeltaGammasCP/Gammas=0.072+/-0.021(stat.)+/-0.022(syst.).

Search for neutral Higgs Bosons at high tanbeta in the b(h/H/A)-->btau;{+}tau;{-} channel

The first search in pp[over ] collisions at sqrt[s]=1.96 TeV for the production of neutral Higgs bosons in association with bottom quarks and decaying in two tau leptons is presented. The cross section for this process is enhanced in many extensions of the standard model, such as its minimal supersymmetric extension (MSSM) at large tanbeta. The data, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 328 pb;{-1}, were collected with the D0 detector at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider. An upper limit is set on the production cross section of neutral Higgs bosons in the mass range of 90 to 150 GeV, and this limit is used to exclude part of the MSSM parameter space.

Search for associated W and Higgs Boson production in pp[over ] collisions at sqrt[s]=1.96 TeV

We present results of a search for WH-->lnubb[over ] production in pp[over ] collisions based on the analysis of 1.05 fb;{-1} of data collected by the D0 experiment at the Fermilab Tevatron, using a neural network for separating the signal from backgrounds. No signal-like excess is observed, and we set 95% C.L. upper limits on the WH production cross section multiplied by the branching ratio for H-->bb[over ] for Higgs boson masses between 100 and 150 GeV. For a mass of 115 GeV, we obtain an observed (expected) limit of 1.5 (1.4) pb, a factor of 11.4 (10.7) times larger than the standard model prediction.

Measurement of the semileptonic branching ratio of B_{s};{0} to an orbitally excited D_{s};{**} state: Br(B_{s};{0}-->D_{s1};{-}(2536)mu;{+}nuX)

In a data sample of approximately 1.3 fb;{-1} collected with the D0 detector between 2002 and 2006, the orbitally excited charm state D_{s1};{+/-}(2536) has been observed with a measured mass of 2535.7+/-0.6(stat)+/-0.5(syst) MeV/c;{2} via the decay mode B_{s};{0}-->D_{s1};{-}(2536)mu;{+}nu_{mu}X. A first measurement is made of the branching ratio product Br(b[over ]-->D_{s1};{-}(2536)mu;{+}nu_{mu}X)xBr(D_{s1};{-}-->D;{*-}K_{S};{0}). Assuming that D_{s1};{-}(2536) production in semileptonic decay is entirely from B_{s};{0}, an extraction of the semileptonic branching ratio Br(B_{s};{0}-->D_{s1};{-}(2536)mu;{+}nu_{mu}X) is made.

Search for large extra spatial dimensions in the dielectron and diphoton channels in pp[over ] collisions at sqrt[s]=1.96 TeV

We report on a search for large extra spatial dimensions in the dielectron and diphoton channels using a data sample of 1.05 fb;{-1} of pp[over ] collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 1.96 TeV collected by the D0 detector at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider. The invariant mass spectrum of the data agrees well with the prediction of the standard model. We find the most restrictive 95% C.L. lower limits on the effective Planck scale between 2.1 and 1.3 TeV for 2 to 7 extra dimensions.

Potential regulation of gene expression in photosynthetic cells by redox and energy state: approaches towards better understanding

BACKGROUND

Photosynthetic electron transport is performed by a chain of redox components that are electrochemically connected in series. Its efficiency depends on the balanced action of the photosystems and on the interaction with the dark reaction. Plants are sessile and cannot escape from environmental conditions such as fluctuating illumination, limitation of CO(2) fixation by low temperatures, salinity, or low nutrient or water availability, which disturb the homeostasis of the photosynthetic process. Photosynthetic organisms, therefore, have developed various molecular acclimation mechanisms that maintain or restore photosynthetic efficiency under adverse conditions and counteract abiotic stresses. Recent studies indicate that redox signals from photosynthetic electron transport and reactive oxygen species (ROS) or ROS-scavenging molecules play a central role in the regulation of acclimation and stress responses.

SCOPE

The underlying signalling network of photosynthetic redox control is largely unknown, but it is already apparent that gene regulation by redox signals is of major importance for plants. Signalling cascades controlling the expression of chloroplast and nuclear genes have been identified and dissection of the different pathways is advancing. Because of the direction of information flow, photosynthetic redox signals can be defined as a distinct class of retrograde signals in addition to signals from organellar gene expression or pigment biosynthesis. They represent a vital signal of mature chloroplasts that report their present functional state to the nucleus. Here we describe possible problems in the elucidation of redox signalling networks and discuss some aspects of plant cell biology that are important for developing suitable experimental approaches.

CONCLUSIONS

The photosynthetic function of chloroplasts represents an important sensor that integrates various abiotic changes in the environment into corresponding molecular signals, which, in turn, regulate cellular activities to counterbalance the environmental changes or stresses.

Measurement of the angular and lifetime parameters of the decays Bd0-->J/psiK*0 and Bs0-->J/psiphi

We present measurements of the linear polarization amplitudes and the strong relative phases that describe the flavor-untagged decays Bd0-->J/psiK*0 and Bs0-->J/psiphi in the transversity basis. We also measure the mean lifetime taus of the Bs0 mass eigenstates and the lifetime ratio taus/taud. The analyses are based on approximately 2.8 fb(-1) of data recorded with the D0 detector. From our measurements of the angular parameters we conclude that there is no evidence for a deviation from flavor SU(3) symmetry for these decays and that the factorization assumption is not valid for the Bd0-->J/psiK*0 decay.

Search for the standard model Higgs boson in the missing energy and acoplanar b-jet topology at sqrt[s]=1.96 TeV

We report a search for the standard model Higgs boson in the missing energy and acoplanar b-jet topology, using an integrated luminosity of 0.93 fb;{-1} recorded by the D0 detector at the Fermilab Tevatron pp[over ] Collider. The analysis includes signal contributions from pp[over ]-->ZH-->nunu[over ]bb[over ], as well as from WH production in which the charged lepton from the W boson decay is undetected. Neural networks are used to separate signal from background. In the absence of a signal, we set limits on sigma(pp[over ]-->VH)xB(H-->bb[over ]) at the 95% C.L. of 2.6-2.3 pb, for Higgs boson masses in the range 105-135 GeV, where V=W, Z. The corresponding expected limits range from 2.8 to 2.0 pb.

Search for third generation scalar leptoquarks decaying into taub

We have searched for third generation leptoquarks (LQ3) using 1.05 fb(-1) of data collected with the D0 detector at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider operating at sqrt[s]=1.96 TeV. We set a 95% C.L. lower limit of 210 GeV on the mass of a scalar LQ3 state decaying solely to a b quark and a tau lepton.

Measurement of Bs0 mixing parameters from the flavor-tagged decay Bs0-->J/psiphi

From an analysis of the flavor-tagged decay Bs0-->J/psiphi we obtain the width difference between the Bs0 light and heavy mass eigenstates, DeltaGammas = 0.19+/-0.07(stat)(-0.01)+0.02(syst) ps(-1), and the CP-violating phase, phi s= -0.57(-0.30)+0.24(stat)(-0.02)+0.08(syst). The allowed 90% CL intervals of DeltaGammas and phi s are 0.06 < DeltaGammas < 0.30 ps(-1) and -1.20 < phi s < 0.06, respectively. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 2.8 fb(-1) accumulated with the D0 detector at the Fermilab Tevatron collider.

Observation of the doubly strange b baryon Omegab-

We report the observation of the doubly strange b baryon Omegab- in the decay channel Omegab(-)-->J/psiOmega-, with J/psi-->mu+mu(-) and Omega(-)-->LambdaK(-)-->(ppi-)K-, in pp collisions at sqrt[s]=1.96 TeV. Using approximately 1.3 fb(-1) of data collected with the D0 detector at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider, we observe 17.8+/-4.9(stat)+/-0.8(syst) Omegab- signal events at a mass of 6.165+/-0.010(stat)+/-0.013(syst) GeV. The significance of the observed signal is 5.4sigma, corresponding to a probability of 6.7 x 10(-8) of it arising from a background fluctuation.

Search for anomalous Wtb couplings in single top quark production

In 0.9 fb(-1) of pp[over] collisions, the D0 Collaboration presented evidence for single top quark production in events with an isolated lepton, missing transverse momentum, and two to four jets. We examine these data to study the Lorentz structure of the Wtb coupling. The standard model predicts a left-handed vector coupling at the Wtb vertex. The most general lowest dimension, CP-conserving Lagrangian admits right-handed vector and left- or right-handed tensor couplings as well. We find that the data prefer the left-handed vector coupling and set upper limits on the anomalous couplings. These are the first direct constraints on a general Wtb interaction and the first direct limits on left- and right-handed tensor couplings.

Search for neutral Higgs bosons in multi-b-jet events in pp[over] collisions at sqrt[s]=1.96 TeV

Data recorded by the D0 experiment at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider are analyzed to search for neutral Higgs bosons produced in association with b quarks. This production mode can be enhanced in the minimal supersymmetric standard model (MSSM). The search is performed in the three b quark channel using multijet triggered events corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1 fb(-1). No statistically significant excess of events with respect to the predicted background is observed and limits are set in the MSSM parameter space.

Measurement of the electron charge asymmetry in pp[over ]-->W+X-->enu+X events at sqrt[s]=1.96 TeV

We present a measurement of the electron charge asymmetry in pp[over ]-->W+X-->enu+X events at a center of mass energy of 1.96 TeV using 0.75 fb(-1) of data collected with the D0 detector at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider. The asymmetry is measured as a function of the electron transverse momentum and pseudorapidity in the interval (-3.2, 3.2) and is compared with expectations from next-to-leading order calculations in perturbative quantum chromodynamics. These measurements will allow more accurate determinations of the proton parton distribution functions.

Measurement of the forward-backward charge asymmetry and extraction of sin2thetaWeff in pp-->Z/gamma* + X-->e+e- +X events produced at sqrt[s] = 1.96 TeV

We present a measurement of the forward-backward charge asymmetry (A FB) in pp-->Z/gamma* + X-->e+e(-) + X events at a center-of-mass energy of 1.96 TeV using 1.1 fb(-1) of data collected with the D0 detector at the Fermilab Tevatron collider. A FB is measured as a function of the invariant mass of the electron-positron pair, and found to be consistent with the standard model prediction. We use the A FB measurement to extract the effective weak mixing angle sin2thetaWeff = 0.2326+/-0.0018(stat)+/-0.0006(syst).

[Ossiculoplasty with a partial Spiggle & Theis titanium prosthesis in cholesteatoma: functional results]

OBJECTIVES

To report the functional results of ossicular reconstruction achieved with a specific partial prosthesis in tympanoplasty for cholesteatoma.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Forty-four patients presenting cholesteatoma of the middle ear were involved in a retrospective study. Tympanoplasties were performed by the same surgeon over a 30-month period. The patients underwent ossiculoplasty with the shortest nondivisible partial titanium Spiggle & Theis prosthesis. Twenty-eight procedures were canal wall-up tympanoplasties and 17 were canal wall-down procedures; 27 were primary tympanoplasties and 18 were revisions. Audiometric data were evaluated before and after surgery, with a mean follow-up of 13.4 months.

RESULTS

Improvement of the air-bone gap was 6+/-12.2dB. The overall success rate was 56% and 67% using the Glasgow Benefit Plot and a postoperative air-bone gap lower than 20dB, respectively. There was no significant functional difference between canal wall-up and canal wall-down procedures. Hearing results were better in primary tympanoplasties than in revisions (p=0.004). The extrusion rate was 2.2%.

CONCLUSION

The functional results observed in this study confirm that this partial titanium Spiggle & Theis prosthesis is a valuable biomaterial for ossicular reconstruction in primary tympanoplasty for cholesteatoma.

Measurement of the polarization of the upsilon(1S) and upsilon(2S) states in pp collisions at square root[s]=1.96 TeV

We present a study of the polarization of the Upsilon(1S) and Upsilon(2S) states using a 1.3 fb;{-1} data sample collected by the D0 experiment in 2002-2006 during run II of the Fermilab Tevatron Collider. We measure the polarization parameter alpha=(sigma_{T}-2sigma_{L})/(sigma_{T}+2sigma_{L}), where sigma_{T} and sigma_{L} are the transversely and longitudinally polarized components of the production cross section, as a function of the transverse momentum (p_{T};{Upsilon}) for the Upsilon(1S) and Upsilon(2S). Significant p_{T};{Upsilon}-dependent longitudinal polarization is observed for the Upsilon(1S). A comparison with theoretical models is presented.

Precise measurement of the top-quark mass from lepton + jets events

We measure the mass of the top quark using top-quark pair candidate events in the lepton+jets channel from data corresponding to 1 fb;{-1} of integrated luminosity collected by the D0 experiment at the Fermilab Tevatron collider. We use a likelihood technique that reduces the jet energy scale uncertainty by combining an in situ jet energy calibration with the independent constraint on the jet energy scale (JES) from the calibration derived using photon+jets and dijet samples. We find the mass of the top quark to be 171.5+/-1.8(stat.+JES)+/-1.1(syst.) GeV.

Observation of ZZ production in p-p collisions at sqrt s=1.96 TeV

We present an observation for ZZ-->l+l-l'+l'- (l, l'=e or mu) production in p[over]p collisions at a center-of-mass energy of sqrt[s]=1.96 TeV. Using 1.7 fb(-1) of data collected by the D0 experiment at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider, we observe three candidate events with an expected background of 0.14(+0.03)_(-0.02) events. The significance of this observation is 5.3 standard deviations. The combination of D0 results in this channel, as well as in ZZ-->l+l- nu[over]nu, yields a significance of 5.7 standard deviations and a combined cross section of sigma(ZZ)=1.60+/-0.63(stat)+0.16_-0.17(syst) pb.

Large-scale functional expression of WT and truncated human adenosine A2A receptor in Pichia pastoris bioreactor cultures

Background

The large-scale production of G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) for functional and structural studies remains a challenge. Recent successes have been made in the expression of a range of GPCRs using Pichia pastoris as an expression host. P. pastoris has a number of advantages over other expression systems including ability to post-translationally modify expressed proteins, relative low cost for production and ability to grow to very high cell densities. Several previous studies have described the expression of GPCRs in P. pastoris using shaker flasks, which allow culturing of small volumes (500 ml) with moderate cell densities (OD600 ~15). The use of bioreactors, which allow straightforward culturing of large volumes, together with optimal control of growth parameters including pH and dissolved oxygen to maximise cell densities and expression of the target receptors, are an attractive alternative. The aim of this study was to compare the levels of expression of the human Adenosine 2A receptor (A_2AR) in P. pastoris under control of a methanol-inducible promoter in both flask and bioreactor cultures.

Results

Bioreactor cultures yielded an approximately five times increase in cell density (OD600 ~75) compared to flask cultures prior to induction and a doubling in functional expression level per mg of membrane protein, representing a significant optimisation. Furthermore, analysis of a C-terminally truncated A_2AR, terminating at residue V334 yielded the highest levels (200 pmol/mg) so far reported for expression of this receptor in P. pastoris. This truncated form of the receptor was also revealed to be resistant to C-terminal degradation in contrast to the WT A_2AR, and therefore more suitable for further functional and structural studies.

Conclusion

Large-scale expression of the A_2AR in P. pastoris bioreactor cultures results in significant increases in functional expression compared to traditional flask cultures.

A novel, generic and effective method for the rapid purification of G protein-coupled receptors

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) constitute the largest family of membrane receptors and are of major therapeutic importance. Structure determination of G protein-coupled receptors and other applications require milligram quantities of purified receptor proteins on a regular basis. Recombinant GPCRs fused to a heterologous biotinylation domain were produced in the yeast Pichia pastoris. We describe an efficient method for their rapid purification that relies on the capture of these receptors with streptavidin immobilized on agarose beads, and their subsequent release by enzymatic digestion with TEV protease. This method has been applied to several GPCRs belonging to the class A rhodopsin subfamily, leading to high yields of purified proteins; it represents a method of choice for biochemical and biophysical studies when large quantities of purified GPCRs are needed.

Search for long-lived particles decaying into electron or photon pairs with the D0 detector

In this Letter we report on a search for long-lived particles that decay into final states with two electrons or photons. Such long-lived particles arise in a variety of theoretical models, such as hidden valleys and supersymmetry with gauge-mediated breaking. By precisely reconstructing the direction of the electromagnetic shower we are able to probe much longer lifetimes than previously explored. We see no evidence of the existence of such long-lived particles and interpret this search as a quasi model-independent limit on their production cross section, as well as a limit on a long-lived fourth generation quark.

Search for pair production of doubly charged Higgs bosons in the H++H- - -->mu+ mu+ mu- mu- final state

We report the results of a search for pair production of doubly charged Higgs bosons via pp over-->H++H - - X-->mu+ mu+ mu- mu- X at sqrt s=1.96 TeV. We use a data set corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.1 fb(-1) collected from 2002 to 2006 by the D0 detector at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider. In the absence of an excess above the standard model background, lower mass limits of M(H L +/- +/-) >150 GeV/c2 and M(H R+/- +/-) >127 GeV/c2 at 95% C.L. are set, respectively, for left-handed and right-handed doubly charged Higgs bosons assuming a 100% branching ratio into muons.

Search for Higgs bosons decaying to tau pairs in pp over collisions with the D0 detector

We present a search for the production of neutral Higgs bosons varphi decaying into tau+tau - final states in pp over collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 1.96 TeV. The data, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of approximately 1 fb(-1), were collected by the D0 experiment at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider. Limits on the production cross section times branching ratio are set. The results are interpreted in the minimal supersymmetric standard model yielding limits that are the most stringent to date at hadron colliders.

Measurement of the inclusive jet cross section in pp[over] collisions at square root [s]=1.96 TeV

We report on a measurement of the inclusive jet cross section in pp[over ] collisions at a center-of-mass energy sqrt[s]=1.96 TeV using data collected by the D0 experiment at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 0.70 fb;{-1}. The data cover jet transverse momenta from 50 to 600 GeV and jet rapidities in the range -2.4 to 2.4. Detailed studies of correlations between systematic uncertainties in transverse momentum and rapidity are presented, and the cross section measurements are found to be in good agreement with next-to-leading order QCD calculations.

Search for decay of a fermiophobic Higgs boson hf-->gammagamma with the D0 detector at sqrt s=1.96 TeV

We report the results of a search for a narrow resonance decaying into two photons in 1.1 fb;{-1} of data collected by the D0 experiment at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider during the period 2002-2006. We find no evidence for such a resonance and set a lower limit on the mass of a fermiophobic Higgs boson of m_{h_{f}}>100 GeV at the 95% C.L. This exclusion limit exceeds those obtained in previous searches at the Fermilab Tevatron and covers a significant region of the parameter space B(h_{f}-->gammagamma) vs m_{h_{f}} which was not accessible at the CERN Large Electron-Positron Collider.

Search for large extra dimensions via single photon plus missing energy final states at sqrt s = 1.96 TeV

We report on a search for large extra dimensions in a data sample of approximately 1 fb(-1) of pp[over] collisions at sqrt s=1.96 TeV. We investigate Kaluza-Klein graviton production with a photon and missing transverse energy in the final state. At the 95% C.L. we set limits on the fundamental mass scale M(D) from 884 to 778 GeV for two to eight extra dimensions.