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2. |
- Murray, Christopher J. L., et al.
(author)
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Population and fertility by age and sex for 195 countries and territories, 1950–2017: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017
- 2018
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In: The Lancet. - 1474-547X .- 0140-6736. ; 392:10159, s. 1995-2051
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Population estimates underpin demographic and epidemiological research and are used to track progress on numerous international indicators of health and development. To date, internationally available estimates of population and fertility, although useful, have not been produced with transparent and replicable methods and do not use standardised estimates of mortality. We present single-calendar year and single-year of age estimates of fertility and population by sex with standardised and replicable methods. Methods: We estimated population in 195 locations by single year of age and single calendar year from 1950 to 2017 with standardised and replicable methods. We based the estimates on the demographic balancing equation, with inputs of fertility, mortality, population, and migration data. Fertility data came from 7817 location-years of vital registration data, 429 surveys reporting complete birth histories, and 977 surveys and censuses reporting summary birth histories. We estimated age-specific fertility rates (ASFRs; the annual number of livebirths to women of a specified age group per 1000 women in that age group) by use of spatiotemporal Gaussian process regression and used the ASFRs to estimate total fertility rates (TFRs; the average number of children a woman would bear if she survived through the end of the reproductive age span [age 10–54 years] and experienced at each age a particular set of ASFRs observed in the year of interest). Because of sparse data, fertility at ages 10–14 years and 50–54 years was estimated from data on fertility in women aged 15–19 years and 45–49 years, through use of linear regression. Age-specific mortality data came from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2017 estimates. Data on population came from 1257 censuses and 761 population registry location-years and were adjusted for underenumeration and age misreporting with standard demographic methods. Migration was estimated with the GBD Bayesian demographic balancing model, after incorporating information about refugee migration into the model prior. Final population estimates used the cohort-component method of population projection, with inputs of fertility, mortality, and migration data. Population uncertainty was estimated by use of out-of-sample predictive validity testing. With these data, we estimated the trends in population by age and sex and in fertility by age between 1950 and 2017 in 195 countries and territories. Findings: From 1950 to 2017, TFRs decreased by 49·4% (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 46·4–52·0). The TFR decreased from 4·7 livebirths (4·5–4·9) to 2·4 livebirths (2·2–2·5), and the ASFR of mothers aged 10–19 years decreased from 37 livebirths (34–40) to 22 livebirths (19–24) per 1000 women. Despite reductions in the TFR, the global population has been increasing by an average of 83·8 million people per year since 1985. The global population increased by 197·2% (193·3–200·8) since 1950, from 2·6 billion (2·5–2·6) to 7·6 billion (7·4–7·9) people in 2017; much of this increase was in the proportion of the global population in south Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. The global annual rate of population growth increased between 1950 and 1964, when it peaked at 2·0%; this rate then remained nearly constant until 1970 and then decreased to 1·1% in 2017. Population growth rates in the southeast Asia, east Asia, and Oceania GBD super-region decreased from 2·5% in 1963 to 0·7% in 2017, whereas in sub-Saharan Africa, population growth rates were almost at the highest reported levels ever in 2017, when they were at 2·7%. The global average age increased from 26·6 years in 1950 to 32·1 years in 2017, and the proportion of the population that is of working age (age 15–64 years) increased from 59·9% to 65·3%. At the national level, the TFR decreased in all countries and territories between 1950 and 2017; in 2017, TFRs ranged from a low of 1·0 livebirths (95% UI 0·9–1·2) in Cyprus to a high of 7·1 livebirths (6·8–7·4) in Niger. The TFR under age 25 years (TFU25; number of livebirths expected by age 25 years for a hypothetical woman who survived the age group and was exposed to current ASFRs) in 2017 ranged from 0·08 livebirths (0·07–0·09) in South Korea to 2·4 livebirths (2·2–2·6) in Niger, and the TFR over age 30 years (TFO30; number of livebirths expected for a hypothetical woman ageing from 30 to 54 years who survived the age group and was exposed to current ASFRs) ranged from a low of 0·3 livebirths (0·3–0·4) in Puerto Rico to a high of 3·1 livebirths (3·0–3·2) in Niger. TFO30 was higher than TFU25 in 145 countries and territories in 2017. 33 countries had a negative population growth rate from 2010 to 2017, most of which were located in central, eastern, and western Europe, whereas population growth rates of more than 2·0% were seen in 33 of 46 countries in sub-Saharan Africa. In 2017, less than 65% of the national population was of working age in 12 of 34 high-income countries, and less than 50% of the national population was of working age in Mali, Chad, and Niger. Interpretation: Population trends create demographic dividends and headwinds (ie, economic benefits and detriments) that affect national economies and determine national planning needs. Although TFRs are decreasing, the global population continues to grow as mortality declines, with diverse patterns at the national level and across age groups. To our knowledge, this is the first study to provide transparent and replicable estimates of population and fertility, which can be used to inform decision making and to monitor progress. Funding: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
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3. |
- Rabe, Patrick, et al.
(author)
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X-ray free-electron laser studies reveal correlated motion during isopenicillin N synthase catalysis
- 2021
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In: Science Advances. - : American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). - 2375-2548. ; 7:34
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Isopenicillin N synthase (IPNS) catalyzes the unique reaction of L-delta-(alpha-aminoadipoyl)-L-cysteinyl-D-valine (ACV) with dioxygen giving isopenicillin N (IPN), the precursor of all natural penicillins and cephalosporins. X-ray free-electron laser studies including time-resolved crystallography and emission spectroscopy reveal how reaction of IPNS:Fe(II):ACV with dioxygen to yield an Fe(III) superoxide causes differences in active site volume and unexpected conformational changes that propagate to structurally remote regions. Combined with solution studies, the results reveal the importance of protein dynamics in regulating intermediate conformations during conversion of ACV to IPN. The results have implications for catalysis by multiple IPNS-related oxygenases, including those involved in the human hypoxic response, and highlight the power of serial femtosecond crystallography to provide insight into long-range enzyme dynamics during reactions presently impossible for nonprotein catalysts.
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4. |
- Beal, Jacob, et al.
(author)
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Robust estimation of bacterial cell count from optical density
- 2020
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In: Communications Biology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2399-3642. ; 3:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Optical density (OD) is widely used to estimate the density of cells in liquid culture, but cannot be compared between instruments without a standardized calibration protocol and is challenging to relate to actual cell count. We address this with an interlaboratory study comparing three simple, low-cost, and highly accessible OD calibration protocols across 244 laboratories, applied to eight strains of constitutive GFP-expressing E. coli. Based on our results, we recommend calibrating OD to estimated cell count using serial dilution of silica microspheres, which produces highly precise calibration (95.5% of residuals <1.2-fold), is easily assessed for quality control, also assesses instrument effective linear range, and can be combined with fluorescence calibration to obtain units of Molecules of Equivalent Fluorescein (MEFL) per cell, allowing direct comparison and data fusion with flow cytometry measurements: in our study, fluorescence per cell measurements showed only a 1.07-fold mean difference between plate reader and flow cytometry data.
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- Bhowmick, Asmit, et al.
(author)
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Structural evidence for intermediates during O2 formation in photosystem II
- 2023
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In: Nature. - : Springer Nature. - 0028-0836 .- 1476-4687. ; 617:7961, s. 629-636
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In natural photosynthesis, the light-driven splitting of water into electrons, protons and molecular oxygen forms the first step of the solar-to-chemical energy conversion process. The reaction takes place in photosystem II, where the Mn4CaO5 cluster first stores four oxidizing equivalents, the S0 to S4 intermediate states in the Kok cycle, sequentially generated by photochemical charge separations in the reaction center and then catalyzes the O–O bond formation chemistry. Here, we report room temperature snapshots by serial femtosecond X-ray crystallography to provide structural insights into the final reaction step of Kok’s photosynthetic water oxidation cycle, the S3→[S4]→S0 transition where O2 is formed and Kok’s water oxidation clock is reset. Our data reveal a complex sequence of events, which occur over micro- to milliseconds, comprising changes at the Mn4CaO5 cluster, its ligands and water pathways as well as controlled proton release through the hydrogen-bonding network of the Cl1 channel. Importantly, the extra O atom Ox, which was introduced as a bridging ligand between Ca and Mn1 during the S2→S3 transition, disappears or relocates in parallel with Yz reduction starting at approximately 700 μs after the third flash. The onset of O2 evolution, as indicated by the shortening of the Mn1–Mn4 distance, occurs at around 1,200 μs, signifying the presence of a reduced intermediate, possibly a bound peroxide.
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- Hussein, Rana, et al.
(author)
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Structural dynamics in the water and proton channels of photosystem II during the S2 to S3 transition
- 2021
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In: Nature Communications. - : Nature Publishing Group. - 2041-1723. ; 12:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Light-driven oxidation of water to molecular oxygen is catalyzed by the oxygen-evolving complex (OEC) in Photosystem II (PS II). This multi-electron, multi-proton catalysis requires the transport of two water molecules to and four protons from the OEC. A high-resolution 1.89 Å structure obtained by averaging all the S states and refining the data of various time points during the S2 to S3 transition has provided better visualization of the potential pathways for substrate water insertion and proton release. Our results indicate that the O1 channel is the likely water intake pathway, and the Cl1 channel is the likely proton release pathway based on the structural rearrangements of water molecules and amino acid side chains along these channels. In particular in the Cl1 channel, we suggest that residue D1-E65 serves as a gate for proton transport by minimizing the back reaction. The results show that the water oxidation reaction at the OEC is well coordinated with the amino acid side chains and the H-bonding network over the entire length of the channels, which is essential in shuttling substrate waters and protons.
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7. |
- Bhowmick, Asmit, et al.
(author)
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Going around the Kok cycle of the water oxidation reaction with femtosecond X-ray crystallography
- 2023
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In: IUCrJ. - : International Union Of Crystallography. - 2052-2525. ; 10:6, s. 642-655
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The water oxidation reaction in photosystem II (PS II) produces most of the molecular oxygen in the atmosphere, which sustains life on Earth, and in this process releases four electrons and four protons that drive the downstream process of CO2 fixation in the photosynthetic apparatus. The catalytic center of PS II is an oxygen-bridged Mn4Ca complex (Mn4CaO5) which is progressively oxidized upon the absorption of light by the chlorophyll of the PS II reaction center, and the accumulation of four oxidative equivalents in the catalytic center results in the oxidation of two waters to dioxygen in the last step. The recent emergence of X-ray free-electron lasers (XFELs) with intense femtosecond X-ray pulses has opened up opportunities to visualize this reaction in PS II as it proceeds through the catalytic cycle. In this review, we summarize our recent studies of the catalytic reaction in PS II by following the structural changes along the reaction pathway via room-temperature X-ray crystallography using XFELs. The evolution of the electron density changes at the Mn complex reveals notable structural changes, including the insertion of OX from a new water molecule, which disappears on completion of the reaction, implicating it in the O-O bond formation reaction. We were also able to follow the structural dynamics of the protein coordinating with the catalytic complex and of channels within the protein that are important for substrate and product transport, revealing well orchestrated conformational changes in response to the electronic changes at the Mn4Ca cluster.
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8. |
- Ohmer, Christopher J., et al.
(author)
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XFEL serial crystallography reveals the room temperature structure of methyl-coenzyme M reductase
- 2022
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In: Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry. - : Elsevier BV. - 0162-0134 .- 1873-3344. ; 230, s. 111768-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Methyl-Coenzyme M Reductase (MCR) catalyzes the biosynthesis of methane in methanogenic archaea, using a catalytic Ni-centered Cofactor F430 in its active site. It also catalyzes the reverse reaction, that is, the anaerobic activation and oxidation, including the cleavage of the C-H bond in methane. Because methanogenesis is the major source of methane on earth, understanding the reaction mechanism of this enzyme can have massive implications in global energy balances. While recent publications have proposed a radical-based catalytic mechanism as well as novel sulfonate-based binding modes of MCR for its native substrates, the structure of the active state of MCR, as well as a complete characterization of the reaction, remain elusive. Previous attempts to structurally characterize the active MCR-Ni(I) state have been unsuccessful due to oxidation of the redox- sensitive catalytic Ni center. Further, while many cryo structures of the inactive Ni(II)-enzyme in various substrates bound forms have been published, no room temperature structures have been reported, and the structure and mechanism of MCR under physiologically relevant conditions is not known. In this study, we report the first room temperature structure of the MCRred1-silent Ni(II) form using an X-ray Free-Electron Laser (XFEL), with simultaneous X-ray Emission Spectroscopy (XES) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD) data collection. In celebration of the seminal contributions of inorganic chemist Dick Holm to our understanding of nickel-based catalysis, we are honored to announce our findings in this special issue dedicated to this remarkable pioneer of bioinorganic chemistry.
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- Bogacz, Isabel, et al.
(author)
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Room temperature X-ray absorption spectroscopy of metalloenzymes with drop-on-demand sample delivery at XFELs
- 2023
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In: Pure and Applied Chemistry. - 0033-4545. ; 95:8, s. 891-897
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- X-ray crystallography and X-ray spectroscopy using X-ray free electron lasers plays an important role in understanding the interplay of structural changes in the protein and the chemical changes at the metal active site of metalloenzymes through their catalytic cycles. As a part of such an effort, we report here our recent development of methods for X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) at XFELs to study dilute biological samples, available in limited volumes. Our prime target is Photosystem II (PS II), a multi subunit membrane protein complex, that catalyzes the light-driven water oxidation reaction at the Mn4CaO5 cluster. This is an ideal system to investigate how to control multi-electron/proton chemistry, using the flexibility of metal redox states, in coordination with the protein and the water network. We describe the method that we have developed to collect XAS data using PS II samples with a Mn concentration of <1 mM, using a drop-on-demand sample delivery method.
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10. |
- Hussein, Rana, et al.
(author)
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Evolutionary diversity of proton and water channels on the oxidizing side of photosystem II and their relevance to function
- 2023
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In: Photosynthesis Research. - : Springer Nature. - 0166-8595 .- 1573-5079. ; 158:2, s. 91-107
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- One of the reasons for the high efficiency and selectivity of biological catalysts arise from their ability to control the pathways of substrates and products using protein channels, and by modulating the transport in the channels using the interaction with the protein residues and the water/hydrogen-bonding network. This process is clearly demonstrated in Photosystem II (PS II), where its light-driven water oxidation reaction catalyzed by the Mn4CaO5 cluster occurs deep inside the protein complex and thus requires the transport of two water molecules to and four protons from the metal center to the bulk water. Based on the recent advances in structural studies of PS II from X-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy, in this review we compare the channels that have been proposed to facilitate this mass transport in cyanobacteria, red and green algae, diatoms, and higher plants. The three major channels (O1, O4, and Cl1 channels) are present in all species investigated; however, some differences exist in the reported structures that arise from the different composition and arrangement of membrane extrinsic subunits between the species. Among the three channels, the Cl1 channel, including the proton gate, is the most conserved among all photosynthetic species. We also found at least one branch for the O1 channel in all organisms, extending all the way from Ca/O1 via the ‘water wheel’ to the lumen. However, the extending path after the water wheel varies between most species. The O4 channel is, like the Cl1 channel, highly conserved among all species while having different orientations at the end of the path near the bulk. The comparison suggests that the previously proposed functionality of the channels in T. vestitus (Ibrahim et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 117:12624–12635, 2020; Hussein et al., Nat Commun 12:6531, 2021) is conserved through the species, i.e. the O1-like channel is used for substrate water intake, and the tighter Cl1 and O4 channels for proton release. The comparison does not eliminate the potential role of O4 channel as a water intake channel. However, the highly ordered hydrogen-bonded water wire connected to the Mn4CaO5 cluster via the O4 may strongly suggest that it functions in proton release, especially during the S0 → S1 transition (Saito et al., Nat Commun 6:8488, 2015; Kern et al., Nature 563:421–425, 2018; Ibrahim et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 117:12624–12635, 2020; Sakashita et al., Phys Chem Chem Phys 22:15831–15841, 2020; Hussein et al., Nat Commun 12:6531, 2021).
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11. |
- Simon, Philipp S., et al.
(author)
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Capturing the sequence of events during the water oxidation reaction in photosynthesis using XFELs
- 2023
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In: FEBS Letters. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 0014-5793 .- 1873-3468. ; 597:1, s. 30-37
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Ever since the discovery that Mn was required for oxygen evolution in plants by Pirson in 1937 and the period-four oscillation in flash-induced oxygen evolution by Joliot and Kok in the 1970s, understanding of this process has advanced enormously using state-of-the-art methods. The most recent in this series of innovative techniques was the introduction of X-ray free-electron lasers (XFELs) a decade ago, which led to another quantum leap in the understanding in this field, by enabling operando X-ray structural and X-ray spectroscopy studies at room temperature. This review summarizes the current understanding of the structure of Photosystem II (PS II) and its catalytic centre, the Mn4CaO5 complex, in the intermediate Si (i = 0–4)-states of the Kok cycle, obtained using XFELs.
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