Multicolored protein conformation states in the photocycle of transducer-free sensory rhodopsin-I

ABSTRACT Sensory rhodopsin-I (SRI), a phototaxis receptor of archaebacteria, is a retinal-binding protein that exists in the cell membrane intimately associated with a signal-transducing protein (Htrl) homologous to eubacterial chemotaxis receptors. Transducer-free sensory rhodopsin-I (fSRI), from cells devoid of Htrl, undergoes a photochemical cycle kinetically different from that of native SRI. We report here on the measurement and analysis of the photochemical kinetics of fSRI reactions in the 350-750-nm spectral range and in a 10-7 s to 1 s time window. The lack of specific intermolecular interactions between SRI and Htrl results in early return of the ground form via distinct …

Gen. Tommy Franks: Obama will 'do the right thing'

Retired U.S. Army Gen. Tommy Franks, who developed and executed the Iraq invasion plan, said President-elect Obama will "do the right thing" when it comes to the war.

Franks, who spoke with reporters before being inducted into the Oklahoma Military Hall of Fame, said that as a senator, Obama had limited access to those who conducted day-to-day military operations. As president, Franks said, Obama will gain a different perspective.

"I give him a lot of credit for being a very, very bright man," Franks said Tuesday. "Nobody will have to give him instructions. He'll figure it out all by himself. And at …

'In limbo' over plans for hospital

THE residents of the sheltered housing complex at the back ofCarmarthen's old infirmary have put their concerns to the countycouncil over the proposed development.

Secretary of the Hafan Twyi Residents Association, Ann Thomas,said: "We're all very much in limbo at the moment and anxious toknown what's going to happen.

"We are concerned that the plans show we will lose the accessroad down the side of the infirmary next to Lidl."

She said they were worried about general access by vehicles totheir housing block as well as by the bin lorry and emergencyservices.

"It was raised that if there is an emergency vehicle parked inthe Parade, that could …

Cubs Roll to 12th Win in 15 Games

PITTSBURGH - Ryan Theriot and the Chicago Cubs hitters easily singled out the reason they won Saturday night - they hit a lot of singles.

Despite being in their longest home run drought since 1999, the Cubs won for the 12th time in 15 games, beating the Pittsburgh Pirates 7-1.

The Cubs did not homer for the eighth straight game. Instead, they got 14 hits, all of them in the first six innings and all but one a single.

"I'd rather not hit any (homers) and win than hit four or five and lose," said Ryan Theriot, who had three hits. "The key to the game is whoever touches home most wins, and I guess however you do that, it really doesn't matter too much. We've got …

Indian girl dies after becoming entangled, sucked into a power generator

A 7-year-old girl died after her arms were mutilated in the rotating blades of an electricity generator at a political rally in eastern India, an official said Monday.

Ratna Das was playing with her friends in Kadambagachi village near Calcutta when she accidentally ran into the generator, said district administrator Joy Biswas.

Her dress became entangled in the machine's fan belt and as she struggled to extricate herself, the fan belt dragged her further in, Biswas told The Associated Press.

The fast-spinning …

Deccan score 26 off last over to beat Kolkata

Deccan Chargers scored 26 off the last over to beat the hapless Kolkata Knight Riders by six wickets in another Indian Premier League cliffhanger on Saturday.

Kolkata looked like finally earning its second win in 12 matches when it made Deccan need 21 to win off the last over at Wanderers.

Then Rohit Sharma started with a boundary off a no ball because Kolkata didn't have enough fielders in the circle. That was followed with a leg bye, a single and a six by Sharma over midwicket off the official third ball, leaving Deccan to score eight off three balls.

Mashrafe Mortaza bowled a wide.

Seven needed, still off three balls.

Sharma scored two, then a boundary through covers. One was needed off the last ball for the victory and Sharma pulled it over fine leg for a six to pull off the most unlikeliest of victories.

"I thought we'd blown away another one," Deccan captain Adam Gilchrist said. "But Rohit was fantastic out there today."

Deccan, rising to third in the standings, made 166-4 after last-placed Kolkata notched 160-5.

Sharma, named man of the match, hit 32 off 13 balls with two sixes and three fours. He was helped at the other end by Venugopal Rao, who ran well between the wickets for his 7 not out.

Deccan made a flying start with Gilchrist topscoring with 43 and putting on a solid 68-run stand with Herschelle Gibbs, who posted 28.

Left-arm spinner Murali Kartik, who enticed Gibbs to hole out to deep midwicket, was the pick of the Kolkata attack with 1-12.

Tirumalsetti Suman added 31 before he was run out by a combination of Ajit Agarkar and Brad Hodge in the 17th over.

Pressure intensified on Deccan when Andrew Symonds on 18 was run out off a no ball by Mortaza to leave Deccan on 128-4 in the 18th.

But Sharma and Rao engineered the escape to boost Deccan's chances of making next week's semifinals.

Earlier, Brad Hodge topscored with 48 while David Hussey added a quickfire 43 from 17 balls to guide Kolkata to 160-5.

Hodge hit five boundaries in 41 balls while his Australia teammate blasted two boundaries and four sixes.

Medium pacer Ryan Harris took 2-20 for Deccan.

Pirates extending range of operations says US Navy

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates _ Pirates from Somalia are expanding their areas of operation far from the coast and into the Red Sea, the U.S. Navy warned on Tuesday.

Pirates are now targeting merchant vessels around and beyond the Seychelles islands, using larger vessels for logistical support, the Navy said. It also warned of pirates' "potential move" into the southern Red Sea and their increased activity at night.

In the updated Special Maritime Advisory message, that regularly notes changes in pirates' tactics, merchant mariners were also advised on Tuesday to "use the weather to their advantage" and plan new routes due to the start of the southwest monsoon season along the east African coast, which will deter pirate attacks.

The advisory also urged heightened vigilance from vessels traveling through "the high risk areas" in and around of the Gulf of Aden even at night. Pirates are increasingly attacking ships under the cover of darkness, said Tuesday's statement, sent from the Navy's 5th Fleet headquarters in Bahrain.

Most of pirate attacks in 2008 and in early 2009 took place during the day time in the Gulf of Aden, the Navy said. Recently pirates have attacked vessels farther out on the high seas and at night.

The advisory identified the southern part of the Red Sea as a new area of potential risk for commercial ships after a pirate attack there.