Abstract: Fluorogenic protease substrates are provided that comprise a peptide doubly labelled via thiol groups of the peptide with an alkyleneamidotetramethylrhodamine (alkyleneamido-TMR) group. Preferred substrates are doubly labelled with substantially pure 5-methyleneamido-TMR or 6-methyleneamido-TMR. Methods of preparing the substrates are provided, which comprise reacting the unlabelled peptide with haloalkylamido-TMR (preferably iodoacetamido-TMR). More generally, fluorogenic protease substrates are also provided which comprise a peptide doubly labelled with the same rhodamine derivative, where the two labels, and their linkages to the peptide, are substantially isomerically identical. Also provided are related methods for assaying protease activity in a sample, kits for use in such methods, and solid supports bearing the substrates of the invention.

Abstract: The invention relates to a crystal comprising P13K and Ras, and to the use of such crystals in modelling the Ras-P13K interaction and in the design and/or screening of ligands capable of modulating this interaction

Abstract: A method of controlling the maceration of wood chips in a plug screw feeder having an inlet and an outlet, a compression device between said inlet and outlet, a variable speed screw disposed in the compression device, a force feed device connected to the plug screw feeder inlet, a variable speed force feed screw disposed in the force feed device, comprising the steps of introducing wood chips into the force feed drive and the plug screw feeder controlling the speed of the variable speed screw in the plug screw feeder, controlling the speed of the force feed screw disposed in the force feed cylinder to obtain the desired degree of fiber dislocation in the wood chips.