Abstract: The present invention relates to a fabric sail (1) which maintains a minimal surface. An elastic boundary is attached to the edges of an elastic membrane, and the edges (4) are shaped so that the membrane of the sail maintains a minimal surface configuration despite being deformed by the boundary. The sail therefore distributes strain across the sail surface and is thus free of wrinkles and creases. Points on the elastic membrane itself can be displaced but still form a minimal surface as defined by the boundary and the displaced surface connection points. In addition, strain matching allows the boundary and the elastic membrane to optimally share the strain caused by any deformation.

Abstract: A C-terminally modified Ubiquitin (Ub) derivative) ubiquitin vinyl sulfone (UbVS), which is specific for deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs), was synthesized as an active site directed probe that irreversibly modifies a subset of Ub C-terminal hydrolases (UCHs) and Ub specific processing proteases (UBPs), is provided. [125I]-UbVS modifies 6 of the 17 known and putative yeast deubiquitinating enzymes, namely Yuh1p, Ubp1p, Ubp2p, Ubp6p, Ubp12p and Ubp15p. In mammalian cells, a greater number of polypeptides is labeled, most of which are DUBs. An additional DUB that associates with the mammalian 26S proteasome, novel protein USP14, a mammalian homolog of yeast Ubp6p that is bound to the proteasome, is provided.