A delayed effect of the aquatic parasite <Emphasis Type="Italic">Margaritifera laevis</Emphasis> on the growth of the salmonid host fish <Emphasis Type="Italic">Oncorhynchus masou masou</Emphasis>

Parasitic species often have detrimental effects on host growth and survival. The larvae of the genus Margaritifera (Bivalvia), called glochidia, are specialist parasites of salmonid fishes. Previous studies have reported negligible influences of the parasite on their salmonid hosts at natural infection levels. However, those studies focused mainly on their instantaneous effects (i.e., during the parasitic period). Given the time lag between physiological and somatic responses to pathogen infections, the effect of glochidial infection may become clearer during the post-parasitic period. Here, we examined whether the effect of glochidial infections of Margaritifera laevis on its salmonid host Oncorhynchus masou masou would emerge during the post-parasitic period. We performed a controlled aquarium experiment and monitored fish growth at two time intervals (i.e., parasitic and post-parasitic periods) to test this hypothesis. Consistent with previous observations, the effects of glochidial infection were unclear in the middle of the experiment (day 50; parasitic period). However, even with a natural glochidial load (48 glochidia per fish), we found a significant reduction in growth rates of infected fish in the extended period of the experiment (day 70; post-parasitic period). Our results suggest that examining only instantaneous effects may provide misleading conclusions about mussel–host relationships.     

Interspecific interactions between coexisting Siberian and Ezo salamander larvae examined by stable isotope analyses

Limnology - Hokkaido Island is inhabited by two salamander species, Siberian salamander (Salamandrella keyserlingii) and Ezo salamander (Hynobius retardatus), which were previously considered...     

Differences in the Rates of Metabolism of Various Triacylglycerols during Seed Germination and the Subsequent Growth of Seedlings of Dioscorea tokoro, a Perennial Herb

Differences in the rates of metabolism of various triacylglycerols(TAGs) in the reserve oil of seeds during the course of germinationand seedling growth were studied in Dioscorea tokoro, an EastAsian perennial herb. Eleven molecular species of TAG were determinedin the reserve oil of seeds. These TAGs contained five fattyacids: palmitic acid (P); stearic acid (S); oleic acid (O);linoleic acid (L); and linolenic acid (Ln). At 20°C, levelsof TAGs with one or less than one L moiety, such as OLO, OOO,PLO, POO, OLS, and OLnO, decreased rapidly during germinationand the initial elongation of seedlings, whereas levels of otherTAGs decreased slowly during the subsequent development of seedlings.Even though seeds were unable to germinate at these temperatures,levels of some TAGs decreased during incubation at 5°C andat 30°C. Such changes might be related to the metabolismrequired for the survival of seeds at these temperatures. Itis also possible that they might be involved in the breakingof dormancy at low temperatures or in the induction of secondarydormancy at high temperatures. The present results provide anexample of the selective utilization of the TAGs in the reserveoil of seeds during germination and the subsequent growth ofseedlings. (Received October 3, 1995; Accepted January 31, 1996)     

Dormancy in Dioscorea: Rapid Germination of Detached Embryos from Dormant Seeds of D. tokoro

The intact dormant seeds of Dioscorea tokoro germinate slowlyif at all between 11-23°C; for full and rapid germinationthey require prior chilling treatment [Okagami and Kawai (1982)Bot. Mag. Tokyo 95: 155]. The germination abilities of zygoticembryos detached from dormant seeds of this species were studiedunder various nutritional and temperature regimes. For germinationof embryos, the minimum nutritional components in Murashigeand Skoog's (1962) medium that were required were sucrose andNO^–₃ or SO^2–₄. As the source of carbohydrate forgermination of detached embryos, sucrose, mannose and maltosewere effective; glucose and fructose were less effective; andrhamnose was entirely unable to support germination. Embryos detached from dormant seeds, incubated with the sucroseplus KNO₃, germinated more rapidly with increasing temperatureup to 35°C. However, application of sucrose and KNO₃ didnot induce germination of intact seeds above 26°C. Therefore,it is very possible that the endosperm exerts an inhibitoryfunction on germination at such high temperatures. When seeds were incubated after a cut was made over a smallpart of the edge of the endosperm in which the radicle of theembryo is encased, germination occurred rapidly but the increasein germination percentage was slight. This result suggests thatthe endosperm suppots part of the germination inhibition bymeans of a mechanical barrier or its impermeability to wateror gases. Physiological features of the endosperm alone or interactionsbetween the embryo and endosperm may contribute significantlyto the characteristics of dormancy of intact seeds of this species. (Received May 30, 1988; Accepted January 11, 1989)     

Phosphorylated and dephosphorylated types of non-activated glucocorticoid receptor

We purified glucocorticoid receptors quickly but very partially using DEAE-resin. [3H]-Triamcinolone acetonide-labeled and non-activated receptors in the quickly purified fraction were found to be separated into two fractions (P-2 and P-3) by hydroxyapatite column chromatography. The P-2 receptor was the main component, and the ratio of P-2/P-3 was around 2. The molecular weights of the two receptors were calculated to be the same, 242,000: Rs = 6.2 nm and s20,w = 9.0. Treatment of the receptor with catalytic subunits of phosphoprotein phosphatase 2A1 reduced the P-2/P-3 ratio from 2 to 0.5, while treatment with catalytic subunits of cAMP-dependent protein kinase and ATP increased it to 2.5. The isolated P-3 receptor could be converted into the P-2 type by the kinase treatment. Tungstate, a phosphatase inhibitor, stabilized the P-2 receptor, and the P-2/P-3 ratio was larger than 3 when the DEAE-fraction was prepared in the presence of tungstate. However, the tungstate effect was not very strong, and the P-2 type tended to change into the P-3. [3H]-Triamcinolone acetonide-labeled and non-activated receptors were purified very highly by using an affinity gel; the procedure required more than 10 h. Only the P-3 form was observed in the preparation of highly purified receptors. Hormone-free receptors were affected by neither the phosphatase nor the kinase. The results indicate that the hormone binding makes the receptor sensitive to phosphatase. The reversibly dephosphorylated receptor is more stable than the non-dephosphorylated one, and can be activated.     

Effect of peripheral administration of leptin on the renal sympathetic nerve activity in high-fat diet-related hypertensive rats

A previous study of ours demonstrated that a high-fat diet (FAT) causes body fat accumulation, as well as elevation of plasma leptin level, renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA), and blood pressure (BP). In the study reported here, we analyzed the role of leptin in these elevations of the RSNA and BP due to FAT feeding by assessing sympathetic and cardiovascular responses to intravenous (IV) administration of leptin in rats fed either a FAT or a high-carbohydrate diet (CHO). The results showed that baseline body fat, plasma leptin level, RSNA and BP were significantly higher in the FAT group than in the CHO group, and that IV administration of leptin elevated RSNA and plasma leptin levels but lowered BP in the CHO group. However, these effects of leptin were eliminated in the FAT group. These findings suggest that FAT-fed rats which expose basal elevation of plasma leptin levels, RSNA and BP might be hyposensitive to endogenous leptin. Therefore, leptin resistance appeared obviously in FAT-induced hypertension might indicate that leptin is implicated in generating the elevation of RSNA and BP induced by long-term FAT feeding.     

Identification and functions of amino acid residues in PotB and PotC involved in spermidine uptake activity

Amino acid residues on PotB and PotC involved in spermidine uptake were identified by random and site-directed mutagenesis. It was found that Trp(8), Tyr(43), Trp(100), Leu(110), and Tyr(261) in PotB and Trp(46), Asp(108), Glu(169), Ser(196), Asp(198), and Asp(199) in PotC were strongly involved in spermidine uptake and that Tyr(160), Glu(172), and Leu(274) in PotB and Tyr(19), Tyr(88), Tyr(148), Glu(160), Leu(195), and Tyr(211) in PotC were moderately involved in spermidine uptake. Among 11 amino acid residues that were strongly involved in spermidine uptake, Trp(8) in PotB was important for insertion of PotB and PotC into membranes. Tyr(43), Trp(100), and Leu(110) in PotB and Trp(46), Asp(108), Ser(196), and Asp(198) in PotC were found to be involved in the interaction with PotD. Leu(110) and Tyr(261) in PotB and Asp(108), Asp(198), and Asp(199) in PotC were involved in the recognition of spermidine, and Trp(100) and Tyr(261) in PotB and Asp(108), Glu(169), and Asp(198) in PotC were involved in ATPase activity of PotA. Accordingly, Trp(100) in PotB was involved in both PotD recognition and ATPase activity, Leu(110) in PotB was involved in both PotD and spermidine recognition, and Tyr(261) in PotB was involved in both spermidine recognition and ATPase activity. Asp(108) and Asp(198) in PotC were involved in PotD and spermidine recognition as well as ATPase activity. These results suggest that spermidine passage from PotD to the cytoplasm is coupled to the ATPase activity of PotA through a structural change of PotA by its ATPase activity.     

A novel splicing variant of CADM2 as a protective transcript of psoriasis

CADM2, a candidate gene for psoriasis, was identified by a genome-wide association study using microsatellites in the Japanese population (561 cases and 561 controls). Moreover, haplotype analysis included an additional 68 SNPs and indicated that a 110-kb haplotype block was detected for the protective risk haplotype of psoriasis. We also identified an initial exon of novel splicing variants in this haplotype block. A functional analysis by qRT-PCR using RNAs from the blood of 56 cases and 64 controls significantly demonstrated an inverse correlation between expression frequencies in a novel splicing variant and the number of alleles associated with psoriasis. To confirm these results, we must perform replication studies using other ethnic groups and more functional analysis particularly for skin tissues.     

Synthesis and evaluation of oligonucleotide-conjugated pyrrole polyamide-2'-deoxyguanosine hybrids as novel gene expression control compounds

DNA oligonucleotide-conjugated pyrrole polyamide-2'-deoxyguanosine hybrids were synthesized and examined as novel gene expression control compounds. The T(m) values and circular dichroism spectral analyses showed that the oligonucleotide-conjugated hybrids possess high DNA recognition and a very high binding affinity for DNA that includes the pyrrole polyamide binding sequence.