 |
|||
| ARGONNE HOME PAGE | ARGONNE INTRANET | NEWS HOME PAGE | BACK ISSUES |
| |
|||
| ARGONNE HOME PAGE | ARGONNE INTRANET | NEWS HOME PAGE | BACK ISSUES |
Biologists working at Argonne's Structural Biology Center (SBC) recently examined components of protein factories called "ribosomes" at resolutions high enough to determine the position and interaction of individual atoms.
Knowledge of the ribosome's structure is helping scientists understand how many antibiotics attack certain parts, or functions, of the bacterial ribosome. Biologists in pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies will use this valuable information to develop new antibiotics to fight the growing problem of bacterial drug resistance.
The researchers also discovered that the ribosome's basic mechanisms for producing proteins are probably billions of years old because parts of these mechanisms are preserved among all organisms, from humans to bacteria.
Ribosomes are composed of many separate molecules that work together to manufacture a cell's proteins -- large molecules that give cells structure and initiate or speed up chemical reactions.
Three groups of researchers used the SBC beamlines at Argonne's Advanced Photon Source (APS) to create complete, high-resolution models of the bacterial ribosome's two main structural parts: the small 30S subunit and the large 50S subunit. The APS supplies the nation's most brilliant X-rays for scientific research.
Decoding
Two separate groups resolved the structure of the small (30S) subunit at atomic-scale resolution. Ada Yonath led a group from the Weizmann Institute in Israel and the Max Planck Institute in Germany. The second group was led by Venki Ramakrishnan at the Medical Research Council (MRC) Laboratory of Molecular Biology in the United Kingdom.
Yonath's and Ramakrishnan's group discovered that the small subunit's ribosomal RNA molecule is the main player in decoding the genetic information inherent in a molecule called messenger RNA (mRNA), which is a transcripted copy of a gene's instructions for making a protein.
The Ramakrishnan group analyzed small subunits paired with different antibiotics. By blocking a specific function of a small subunit, each antibiotic gave the biologists not only a view of what happens when the process of translation -- the creation of proteins from mRNA instructions -- goes haywire, but also knowledge of how it normally proceeds.
"Scientists will now design better antibiotics by learning how the drugs bind to the ribosome and how structural and chemical changes can make their actions more specific," said Andrzej Joachimiak, SBC director.
A Yale University research group, headed by Thomas Steitz, determined the structure of the large (50S) subunit at the SBC.
With their results, the Steitz group showed for the first time that RNA performs the subunit's main function _ forming the peptide bonds between the amino acid building blocks in the chemical synthesis of a protein.
Many biologists believe that in the early days of the Earth, when life was beginning to emerge 3.5 billion to 4 billion years ago, RNA was both the primary genetic material and the main catalytic substance that sped up the first protein-synthesizing reactions.
"RNA had to precede the creation of proteins because we know that the RNA component of the ribosome drives the formation of proteins," said Steitz, the Eugene Higgins Professor of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry and Chemistry at Yale University.
More than $14,000 has been contributed by employees to aid the victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attack in a special collection run by the Argonne Combined Appeal.
"People have been incredibly generous," said ACA Co-chair Evelyn Brown (OPA). "Most of the checks have been for $100, some for less and some for much more. The lab has come together as an international community to aid those in need."
ACA workers have set up special collections in the past, in order to raise relief money for earthquake victims and Kosovo refugees. This time, the collection was scheduled for lunch hours the week of Sept. 17-21, but was extended to the following week due to demand. Donations were also collected in the 200, 300 and 400 areas, as well as at Argonne-West and the Washington, D.C. office.
Groups have also contributed. The Energy Technology division had scheduled a Sept. 21 picnic to raise money for their Christmas party, but donated the proceeds to the relief fund instead.
"After the attack, we wondered if we should even have the picnic," said Judie Tonies (ET). "But we changed its focus and raised $77."
The contributions are being sent directly to the American Red Cross.
While this drive is completed, employees have another opportunity to help through the Sept. 11 fund, which will go directly to the families of the victims and emergency workers in New York, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C.
Employees can make checks payable to the Sept. 11 Fund. These checks can be submitted with ACA pledge cards to an ACA coordinator.
Contact an ACA coordinator for more information about the Sept. 11 fund.
A series of talks on "September 11, 2001: Has Terrorism Changed Our Lives?" will be presented at Argonne-East by Don Lavey, counterintelligence officer, and Larry Collins, senior counterintelligence officer.
The presentation will be held Friday, Oct. 12, in the Building 200 Auditorium at 10:30 a.m. It will be repeated in the Building 362 Auditorium at 2 p.m.
On Wednesday, Oct. 17, the two will speak in the Building 402 Auditorium at 10:30 a.m. and in the 203 Auditorium at 2 p.m.
All employees whose schedules permit are encouraged to attend.
Despite the advances that have been made to correct gender inequality over the last 25 years, bias continues to affect women in the workplace, said Virginia Valian, who spoke at a recent Director's Special Colloquium at Argonne-East.
Valian, professor of psychology and linguistics at Hunter College and the City University of New York Graduate Center, talked about the ways in which women generally still receive unequal treatment and pay at work in comparison to their male colleagues. She noted that most people interpret social events and groupings through beliefs they do not consciously express or intend. These "gender schemas," said Valian, allow people to assign different psychological traits to males and females. These gender schemas result in seemingly small biases against women in organizations that have a large cumulative effect.
"Small things can build up over time," said Valian, who is author of the book "Why So Slow? The Advancement of Women."
"The suggestion is that here and elsewhere men and women are starting out with roughly equal wealth, but as their careers progress, there is a growing disparity between how well men and women do," Valian said.
To improve women's problems in professional advancement and equality, Valian suggested remedies that both sexes can use, such as improving eye contact, better listening skills and sharing informal information equally.
Answers to many questions about Argonne's compensation program can be found in a new guide available on the laboratory's Web site and at Human Resources.
"The Dollars and Sense of Compensation" provides answers to questions like:
Why does
Argonne have position descriptions?
How are
position grades or salary ranges determined?
How do
salaries at Argonne compare to other organizations?
The guide also covers basic compensation principles, practices and methods used by Argonne in developing its compensation program.
Call ext. 2-3010 to request a print copy.
Safeguards and security information is now easier to find online. The Argonnet now has a direct link to the Office of Safeguards and Security Web site.
In addition, the Foreign Visits and Assignments Web page has been added to the Argonne home page in the section marked "visiting Argonne," giving employees and external users access to the information needed to arrange a foreign visit or assignment.
For more information about current security initiatives or activities, call the Office of Safeguards and Security at ext. 2-5737.
Open enrollment at Argonne is going online. This year, employees can use their computers to choose from among the three medical plans offered by the laboratory and to enroll in or change flexible spending accounts.
Human Resources has developed a user-friendly open enrollment computer system that will allow employees to make changes from their homes or at their desk.
Employees who do not have personal computers can use machines that will be available in Building 201 during open enrollment. A Human Resources employee will be present to assist.
More information on open enrollment will appear in Argonne News in coming weeks.
The impact on Argonne employees of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 will be the topic of a talk Monday, Oct. 15.
Larry Loomis, senior consulting officer, TIAA/CREF, will explain the act's pension reform provisions. Congress has been working on the act since the passage of the Small Business Job Protection Act of 1996.
The presentation will be offered at 10 a.m. and again at 1:30 p.m. in the Building 402 Conference Center Auditorium. All employees whose schedules permit are invited to attend either session.
A one-day educational program, "Promoting Performance and Professionalism," will be offered by the Argonne Chapter of the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP).
The program will be held Saturday, Oct. 20, at Hamburger University, McDonald's Office Campus, 2815 Jorie Boulevard, Oak Brook, Ill. It begins at 8 a.m.
Cost is $90 for IAAP members, $100 for non-members and $80 for students if registered by Saturday, Oct. 6. Registration after Oct. 6 will cost $10 more. For more information, call Lorry Richards (ESH) at ext. 2-3434.
In conjunction with the seminar, the Argonne Chapter of IAAP will sponsor a "Pamper Yourself" fundraiser the evening of Friday, Oct. 19 at the lodge at McDonald's campus in Oak Brook.
Students from the Hanover Park College of Beauty Culture and the Chicago School of Massage Therapy will offer mini-massages, manicures and mini-facials for $10 each and mini-makeovers for $15. For information, call Lee Harris (MSD) at ext. 2-3114. Advance registration is required for both events.
Hotel reservation deadline is Thursday, Oct. 4; thereafter, reservations will depend on space and rate availability. Call l-800-223-1234 and ask for the IAAP room rate.
Human Resources has scheduled four classes in October.
To enroll, contact a Training Management System representative. Call Betty Iwan (HR) at ext. 2-3410 for more information, or visit the Human Resources Web site.
"Performance
Management" (HR561) provides supervisors with the essential communication tools
to more effectively manage, document and influence the performance of
employees. Thursday, Oct. 11, from 1-4:30 p.m., in Building 201, Room 190.
"The
Supervisory Role In Managing Employee Issues" (HR643) provides guidance on how
to effectively manage issues such as poor performance, excessive absenteeism,
misconduct, safety violations and fitness for duty. Argonne-specific case
studies are used to reinforce key concepts. Thursday, Oct. 18, from 9 a.m.-3:30
p.m. in Building 212, Room A157.
"CPS Review:
Management" (HR261) covers key principles in behavior science, human resources
management and organizations and management for this part of the Certified
Professional Secretaries exam. Wednesdays and Fridays from Oct. 10 - Nov. 9,
from 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. in Building 201, Room 238.
"Russian
Language" (HR164) course offers both beginning and intermediate coverage of
reading, writing, and speaking the Russian language. Tuesdays and Thursdays, at
9 a.m. for the intermediate class and 10:30 a.m. for the beginning class, in
Building 208, Room E251.
Electronics and Computing Technologies will offer several computer software classes during October.
Detailed class descriptions, schedules and enrollment forms are available online. For more information, contact Diane Cavazos (ECT) at ext. 2-7153 or dkcavazos@anl.gov.
"Introduction
to Word 2000" (ECT369) -- Monday, Oct. 15, 8:30 a.m. _ 4:30 p.m.
"Introduction
to Excel 2000" (ECT370) -- Tuesday, Oct 16, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
"Introduction
Access 2000" (ECT371) -- Wednesday, Oct. 17, 8:30 a.m. _ 4:30 p.m.
"Introduction
to PowerPoint 2000" (ECT372) -- Thursday, Oct. 18, 8:30 a.m. _ 11:30 a.m.
"Intermediate
PowerPoint 2000" (ECT373) -- Thursday, Oct. 18, 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.
"Beginning
Unix" (ECT564) -- This class consists of two three-hour sessions for a total of
six hours. First session: Tuesday, Oct. 23, 9 a.m. _ noon. Second session:
Wednesday, Oct. 24, 9 a.m. - noon. December class -- First session:
Tuesday, Dec. 4, 9 a.m. - noon. Second session: Thursday, Dec. 6, 9 a.m. -
noon.
"vi Editor in
Unix" (ECT567) -- Friday, Oct. 26, 9 a.m. - noon, and Friday, Dec. 7, 9 a.m. -
noon.
"Front Page
2000" (ECT383) -- Two-day class. Nov. 15-16, 8:30 a.m. _ 4:30 p.m. Another
class will be held Dec. 13-14, 8:30 a.m. _ 4:30 p.m.
A representative from MetLife will be available at Argonne-East Tuesday, Oct. 9, and Tuesday, Oct. 23, to meet with individual employees and provide insurance comparisons and quotes for the "MetPay" group automobile and homeowners insurance program.
To schedule an appointment, call (630) 810-0346, ext. 143. Employees should fax their auto policy renewal statements to (630) 810-1628 before their appointments.