Abortive Infection of L Cells by Influenza B Virus: Defect in Bud Formation

Host-dependent restriction of influenza B virus replication in L cells was analysed in comparison with productive infection in MDCK or 1–5C-4 cells. The synthesis and intracellular distribution of virus-specific proteins and the production of cytoplasmic ribonucleoproteins in nonpermissive L cells were similar to those in permissive MDCK cells. However, an electron microscopic study of infected L cells showed neither extracellular virions nor budding virus particles on the cell surface, in contrast to MDCK cells which produced numerous virus particles. PAGE analysis of the plasma membrane isolated from the cells demonstrated no significant difference in the composition of viral polypeptides between permissive 1-5C-4 and nonpermissive L cells. It was noted that the abortiveness of influenza B virus infection in L cells may be due to a defect in host cell function involved in the initiation of virus budding.     

Identification of ortho-hydroxy anilide as a novel scaffold for lysine demethylase 5 inhibitors

Fe(II)/α-ketoglutarate-dependent lysine demethylases (KDMs) are attractive drug targets for several diseases including cancer. In this study, we designed and screened ortho-substituted anilides that are expected to function as Fe(II) chelators, and identified ortho-hydroxy anilide as a novel scaffold for KDM5A inhibitors. Treatment of human lung cancer A549 cells with a prodrug form of 4-carboxy-2-hydroxy-formanilide (9c) increased trimethylated lysine 4 on histone H3 level, suggesting KDM5 inhibition in the cells.     

Impaired cortical oxygenation is related to mood disturbance resulting from three nights of sleep restriction

Sleep and Biological Rhythms - Chronic sleep restriction adversely effects cognitive performance and mood, resulting in accidents and economic loss. We examined the effects of three nights of sleep...     

Extracellular agglutination factor of myxamoebae produced by Dictyostelium discoideum NC-4

A non-dialyzable specific agglutination factor of myxamoebae obtained from culture broth during the growth phase of Dictyostelium discoideum NC-4 was thermostable but the agglutination activity disappeared below pH 5.0. In the case of formalinized myxamoebae, digestion of the factor with Pronase decreased the activity, but periodate treatment of the factor did not affect the activity. Myxamoebal agglutination by this factor was inhibited by the addition of uronic acid, polyuronide (protuberic acid), and cell-surface polysaccharide prepared from the myxamoebae, but the agglutination was not affected by citric acid or glycine.The factor was purified by ethanol precipitation, column chromatography using DEAE-cellulose and Sepharose-2B, and zone electrophoresis. Chemical analysis of the purified factor gave 61.0% carbohydrate and 26.1% protein, and glucose, mannose, xylose and rhamnose (molar ratios of 9.3 : 3.2 : 2.1 : 1.0) were detected as the component sugars. The content of uronic acid was 12.9%.When the myxamoebae of the growth phase were starved in Millipore-supporting medium, the agglutination activity was detected in the supernatant of the medium.