Seasonal, sex, and interspecific differences in activity time budgets and diets of patas monkeys (Erythrocebus patas) and tantalus monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops tantalus), living sympatrically in northern Cameroon

I examined seasonal, sex, and interspecific differences in activity time budgest and diets of patas (Erythrocebus patas) and sympatric tantalus monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops tantalus) on the basis of 5-day data sets collected in three and two different seasons, respectively, by the method of focal animal sampling. The seasons included species-specific mating and birth seasons. As compared with not only the birth season but also conspecific females, both patas resident male and tantalus male spent less time feeding and more time resting, day and night, in their respective mating seasons. Given that day-resting time includes time for vigilance for non-resident males and receptive females, this may reflect that males should minimize time spent feeding to allow maximum participation in other fitness-increasing activities such as mating-relating activities asSchoener (1971) predicted. In both species, the males consumed fruits containing less protein but more calories and showed a high feeding rate to compensate for the shorter time spent feeding in the mating season. In contrast, females consumed protein-rich food types (i.e. animals, protein-rich seeds, leaves, and flowers) in the birth season to meet the high demand for protein due to pregnancy and lactation. Given that the season for males was considered to be not a calendar but a reproductive “season” (i.e. mating or birth season), both sexes of patas spent more time moving and less time day- and night-resting than did the tantalus counterparts irrespective of the “season”. Patas subsisted on fruits, gums, and supplementarily lipid-rich seeds as an energy source and animal matters and protein-rich seeds as a protein source. In contrast, tantalus subsisted on fruits and lipid-rich seeds as energy and flowers and leaves as protein.     

Noncanonical Control of Vasopressin Receptor Type 2 Signaling by Retromer and Arrestin

The vasopressin type 2 receptor (V2R) is a critical G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) for vertebrate physiology, including the balance of water and sodium ions. It is unclear how its two native hormones, vasopressin (VP) and oxytocin (OT), both stimulate the same cAMP/PKA pathway yet produce divergent antinatriuretic and antidiuretic effects that are either strong (VP) or weak (OT). Here, we present a new mechanism that differentiates the action of VP and OT on V2R signaling. We found that vasopressin, as opposed to OT, continued to generate cAMP and promote PKA activation for prolonged periods after ligand washout and receptor internalization in endosomes. Contrary to the classical model of arrestin-mediated GPCR desensitization, arrestins bind the VP-V2R complex yet extend rather than shorten the generation of cAMP. Signaling is instead turned off by the endosomal retromer complex. We propose that this mechanism explains how VP sustains water and Na⁺ transport in renal collecting duct cells. Together with recent work on the parathyroid hormone receptor, these data support the existence of a novel “noncanonical” regulatory pathway for GPCR activation and response termination, via the sequential action of β-arrestin and the retromer complex.     

Introduction of chemically labile substructures into Arabidopsis lignin through the use of LigD,the Cα‐dehydrogenase from Sphingobium sp. strain SYK‐6

Bacteria‐derived enzymes that can modify specific lignin substructures are potential targets to engineer plants for better biomass processability. The Gram‐negative bacterium Sphingobium sp. SYK‐6 possesses a Cα‐dehydrogenase (LigD) enzyme that has been shown to oxidize the α‐hydroxy functionalities in β–O–4‐linked dimers into α‐keto analogues that are more chemically labile. Here, we show that recombinant LigD can oxidize an even wider range of β–O–4‐linked dimers and oligomers, including the genuine dilignols, guaiacylglycerol‐β‐coniferyl alcohol ether and syringylglycerol‐β‐sinapyl alcohol ether. We explored the possibility of using LigD for biosynthetically engineering lignin by expressing the codon‐optimized ligD gene in Arabidopsis thaliana. The ligD cDNA, with or without a signal peptide for apoplast targeting, has been successfully expressed, and LigD activity could be detected in the extracts of the transgenic plants. UPLC‐MS/MS‐based metabolite profiling indicated that levels of oxidized guaiacyl (G) β–O–4‐coupled dilignols and analogues were significantly elevated in the LigD transgenic plants regardless of the signal peptide attachment to LigD. In parallel, 2D NMR analysis revealed a 2.1‐ to 2.8‐fold increased level of G‐type α‐keto‐β–O–4 linkages in cellulolytic enzyme lignins isolated from the stem cell walls of the LigD transgenic plants, indicating that the transformation was capable of altering lignin structure in the desired manner.     

Genetic mapping of the loquat canker resistance locus in bronze loquat (Eriobotrya deflexa)

Loquat canker disease, caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. eriobotryae, is one of the most harmful diseases of commercial cultivars of loquat (Eriobotrya japonica). To introgress resistance to loquat canker, we identified the linkage group and position of the resistance locus derived from the related wild species bronze loquat (Eriobotrya deflexa). The segregation of resistance and susceptibility fit the expected ratio of 1:1 in 96 individuals from a three-way cross involving bronze loquat (heterozygous for resistance) and two cultivars of loquat (susceptible). The genomic region containing Pse-a was identified by using a genome scanning approach, and the loquat canker resistance locus was mapped at the top of linkage group 10 by applying novel simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers designed on the basis of the ‘Golden Delicious’ apple genome sequence. The constructed linkage group spans 69.4 cM and has an average marker density of 2.6 cM per marker. The developed molecular markers tightly linked to the loquat canker resistance locus will be useful for marker-assisted selection and for introgression of resistance into loquat in breeding programs.     

Genetic structure of the critically endangered plant Tricyrtis ishiiana (Convallariaceae) in relict populations of Japan

Tricyrtis ishiiana is a relic endemic plant taxon of the Convallariaceae that inhabits two nearby gorges in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. The distribution range and number of populations are thought to have been reduced to the present refugial populations during the Quaternary climatic oscillations. Because of its showy flowers, this plant has faced illegal removal from its natural habitats for horticultural use and has been designated a critically endangered species (class IA). In this study, we analyzed the genetic structure of the relict populations of T. ishiiana in order to contribute to the conservation strategies of the prefectural government. Our analyses of nine nuclear microsatellite loci detected high genetic diversity (H _E = 0.704 and H _O = 0.541) for the two populations. The two populations were slightly differentiated (R _ST = 0.032), accompanied by faint substructure across the populations (K = 3). In addition, each population exhibited spatial genetic structuring. The relatively low inbreeding coefficient for both populations together (F _IS = 0.233) and each population separately (F _IS = 0.217?C0.246) may be attributable to crossing among descendants within a population along with occasional gene flow between the populations. These results suggested that the extant populations have not experienced a severe bottleneck. The two extant populations were genetically differentiated at a very low level, accompanied by occasional pollen flow via pollinators and/or seed dispersal by gravity in the mountainous environment. Occasional gene exchange between the populations has allowed T. ishiiana to harbor high genetic diversity despite being a relic plant confined to two small refugial populations.     

N-myc Downstream-regulated Gene 1 Promotes Tumor Inflammatory Angiogenesis through JNK Activation and Autocrine Loop of Interleukin-1α by Human Gastric Cancer Cells

The expression of N-myc downstream-regulated gene 1 (NDRG1) was significantly correlated with tumor angiogenesis and malignant progression together with poor prognosis in gastric cancer. However, the underlying mechanism for the role of NDRG1 in the malignant progression of gastric cancer remains unknown. Here we examined whether and how NDRG1 could modulate tumor angiogenesis by human gastric cancer cells. We established NU/Cap12 and NU/Cap32 cells overexpressing NDRG1 in NUGC-3 cells, which show lower tumor angiogenesis in vivo. Compared with parental NU/Mock3, NU/Cap12, and NU/Cap32 cells: 1) induced higher tumor angiogenesis than NU/Mock3 cells accompanied by infiltration of tumor-associated macrophages in mouse dorsal air sac assay and Matrigel plug assay; 2) showed much higher expression of CXC chemokines, MMP-1, and the potent angiogenic factor VEGF-A; 3) increased the expression of the representative inflammatory cytokine, IL-1α; 4) augmented JNK phosphorylation and nuclear expression of activator protein 1 (AP-1). Further analysis demonstrated that knockdown of AP-1 (Jun and/or Fos) resulted in down-regulation of the expression of VEGF-A, CXC chemokines, and MMP-1, and also suppressed expression of IL-1α in NDRG1-overexpressing cell lines. Treatment with IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) resulted in down-regulation of JNK and c-Jun phosphorylation, and the expression of VEGF-A, CXC chemokines, and MMP-1 in NU/Cap12 and NU/Cap32 cells. Finally, administration of IL-1ra suppressed both tumor angiogenesis and infiltration of macrophages by NU/Cap12 in vivo. Together, activation of JNK/AP-1 thus seems to promote tumor angiogenesis in relationship to NDRG1-induced inflammatory stimuli by gastric cancer cells.     

Introduction of a negative charge at Arg82 in thaumatin abolished responses to human T1R2-T1R3 sweet receptors

Thaumatin, an intensely sweet-tasting protein, elicits a sweet-taste sensation at a level as low as 50 nM. Although previous sensory analyses have suggested that Lys67 and Arg82 are important to the sweetness of thaumatin, the exact effects of each residue on sweet receptors are still unknown. In the present study, various mutants of thaumatin altered at Arg82 as well as Lys67 were prepared and their sweetness levels were quantitatively evaluated by cell-based assays using HEK293 cells expressing human sweet receptors. Mutations at Arg82 had a more deteriorative effect on sweetness than mutations at Lys67. Particularly, a charge inversion at Arg82 (R82E) resulted in an abolishment of the response to sweet receptors even at a concentration as high as 1 mM. These results indicate that Arg82 plays a central role in determining the sweetness of thaumatin. A strict spatial charge location at residue 82 appears to be required for interaction with sweet receptors.     

Intracellular Localization and Characterization of Beef Liver Aldehyde Dehydrogenase Isozymes

Various physiological roles of mammalian aldehyde dehydrogenase had been anticipated because of its broad substrate specificity. In order to clarify roles of the enzyme and the regulation of aldehyde metabolisms in liver, the intracellular distribution and isozyme of beef liver aldehyde dehydrogenase were studied.

The presence of the mitochondrial, the microsomal and the cytoplasmic isozymes were proved by the isoelectric focusing. These isozymes were different from each other in pH-activity curve in the responces for steroid hormones and disulfiram.

It was suggested by comparing the reactivities of these isozymes for various aldehydes that particular aldehyde might be oxidized by a favorite isozyme at particular locality in the liver cells and that a share of physiological role among these isozymes is probable.     

Properties of Two Inhibitors of Plant Virus Infection from Fruiting Bodies of Lentinus edodes and from Leaves of Yucca recurvifolia Salisb.

One of the inhibitors, named “fruiting body protein (FBP),” was purified from fruiting bodies of Lentinus edodes, and the other, named “yucca leaf protein (YLP),” from leaves of Yucca recurvifolia Salisb. The properties of these inhibitors were investigated, and the concentration of substances for a 50% inhibition ratio of TMV infection were measured. The inhibition ratios of YLP, FBP, Poly-Lys, Poly-Orn, Poly-Arg and cytochrome c were 0.6, 6.3, 14.1, 31.6, 44.7 and 100 ppm, respectively. Two inhibitors had no RNA hydrolyzing activity and no activity to TMV aggregation. FBP and YLP prevented infection of the plant by TMV when treated within 3 days before TMV inoculation, but not when treated within 1 hr for FBP or 3 hr for YLP after TMV inoculation. It seems that these two inhibitors had a preventive effect on plant virus infection, but no curative effect.