function of LDs. While much work has focused on peripheral and integral membrane proteins, the mechanism by which LD binding proteins recognize and target to LDs is still poorly understood (1). This is especially true for dedicated LD binding proteins of the perilipin family, i.e., perilipin 1 through 5, that function in the biogenesis and metabolism (lipolysis) of LDs. No work has directly investigated the interaction of a perilipin family member with a phospholipid monolayer interface. In order to address how this family of proteins interacts with lipid interfaces, we investigated the interaction of perilipin 3 with phospholipid monolayers at the air-buffer interface. We chose perilipin 3 because it is found in the cytosol as well as on the LD surface, and because previous work has characterized the structure and LD association of the protein (1-3).In addition to providing cellular energy, LDs take part in many other cellular functions, including signal transduction, formation of new cellular membranes, hormone synthesis, and lipid trafficking (4-8). Under certain physiological conditions, LDs have been found to act as storehouses for several different types of enzymes and proteins, including histones (9, 10), and they also facilitate virus replication (11-13). An understanding of how proteins Lipid droplets (LDs) are dynamic cell organelles that carry out a multitude of cellular functions vital for life, and protein-lipid interactions are crucial to the structure and

Abandoned mine lands continue to serve as non-point sources of acid and metal contamination to water bodies long after mining operations have ended. Although soils formed from abandoned mine spoil can support forest vegetation, as observed throughout the Appalachian coal basin, the effects of vegetation on metal cycling in these regions remain poorly characterized. Iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) biogeochemistry were examined at a former coal mine where deciduous trees grow on mine spoil deposited nearly a century ago. Forest vegetation growing on mine spoil effectively removed dissolved Mn from pore water; however, mineral weathering at a reaction front below the rooting zone resulted in high quantities of leached Mn. Iron was taken up in relatively low quantities by vegetation but was more readily mobilized by dissolved organic carbon produced in the surface soil. Dissolved Fe was low below the reaction front, suggesting that iron oxyhydroxide precipitation retains Fe within the system. These results indicate that mine spoil continues to produce Mn contamination, but vegetation can accumulate Mn and mitigate its leaching from shallow soils, potentially also decreasing Mn leaching from deeper soils by reducing infiltration. Vegetation had less impact on Fe mobility, which was retained as Fe oxides following oxidative weathering.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract