Dynein axonemal intermediate chain 2 is required for formation of the left-right body axis and kidney in medaka

Ciliary defects lead to various diseases, such as primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) and polycystic kidney disease (PKD). We isolated a medaka mutant mii, which exhibits defects in the left-right (LR) polarity of organs, and found that mii encodes dynein axonemal intermediate chain 2a (dnai2a). Ortholog mutations were recently reported to cause PCD in humans. mii mutant embryos exhibited loss of nodal flow in Kupffer's Vesicle (KV), which is equivalent to the mammalian node, and abnormal expression of the left-specific gene. KV cilia in the mii mutant were defective in their outer dynein arms (ODAs), indicating that Dnai2a is required for ODA formation in KV cilia. While the mii mutant retained motility of the renal cilia and failed to show PKD, the loss of dnai2a and another dnai2 ortholog dnai2b led to PKD. These findings demonstrate that Dnai2 proteins control LR polarity and kidney formation through regulation of ciliary motility.     

Essential role of beta-1,4-galactosyltransferase 2 during medaka (Oryzias latipes) gastrulation

Glycans are known to play important roles in vertebrate development; however, it is difficult to analyze in mammals because it takes place in utero. Therefore, we used medaka (Oryzias latipes) to clarify the roles of glycans during vertebrate development. β-1,4-Galactosyltransferase is one of the key enzymes in the biosynthesis of the lactosamine structures that are commonly found on glycoproteins and glycolipids. Here, we show the essential role of β4GalT2 during medaka development. Depletion of β4GalT2 by morpholino antisense oligonucleotide injection resulted in significant morphological defects, such as shortening of the anterior-posterior axis, cyclopia, impaired somite segmentation, and head hypoplasia. In situ hybridization analyses revealed that the loss of β4GalT2 led to defective anterior-posterior axis elongation during gastrulation without affecting organizer formation. Furthermore, a cell tracing experiment demonstrated that β4GalT2 knockdown mainly affects mediolateral cell intercalation, which contributes to anterior-posterior axis elongation. A cell transplantation experiment indicated that glycans are produced by β4GalT2 cell-autonomously during gastrulation. β4GalT2 depletion also led to enhanced apoptosis; however, this does not account for the phenotypic abnormalities, as blockade of apoptosis failed to compensate for the β4GalT2 depletion. Our data suggest that β4GalT2 activity is cell-autonomously required in cells undergoing mediolateral cell intercalation, which drives extension movements during medaka gastrulation.     

Sperm motility initiation and duration in a euryhaline fish, medaka (Oryzias latipes)

The medaka, Oryzias latipes, is a well-recognized fish model for biomedical research. An understanding of gamete characteristics is necessary for experimental manipulations such as artificial fertilization and sperm cryopreservation. The goal of this study was to investigate sperm characteristics of motility initiation, duration, and retention in medaka. First, motility was initiated by osmolality values ranging from 25 to 686 mOsm/kg, which included deionized water and hypotonic, isotonic, and hypertonic Hanks’ balanced salt solution. The percentage of motile sperm was >80% when osmolality was <315 mOsm/kg and decreased as osmolality increased. This is different from most fish with external fertilization in which sperm motility can be initiated by hypotonic (for freshwater fish) or hypertonic (for marine fish) solutions or by altering the concentration of specific ions such as potassium (e.g., in salmonids). Second, upon activation, the sperm remained continuously motile, with reserve capacity, for as long as 1 wk during storage at 4 °C. This was also different from other externally fertilizing fish, in which motility is typically maintained for seconds to several minutes. Third, after changing the osmolality to 46 to 68 mOsm/kg by adding deionized water, the motility of sperm held at 274 to 500 mOsm/kg was higher than the original motility (P ≤ 0.035) after 24, 48, and 72 h of storage at 4 °C. Fourth, the addition of glucose had no effect on maintaining sperm motility during refrigerated storage. To our knowledge, this combination of sperm motility characteristics is reported for the first time in fish and may be unique to medaka or may represent an undescribed modality of sperm behavior within euryhaline fish.     

Transient and permanent gene transfer into the brain of the teleost fish medaka (Oryzias latipes) using human adenovirus and the Cre-loxP system

In this study, we demonstrated that human type-5 adenovirus infected the brain of the teleost fish, medaka (Oryzias latipes), in vivo. Injection of adenoviral vector into the mesencephalic ventricle of medaka larvae induced the expression of reporter genes in some parts of the telencephalon, the periventricular area of the mesencephalon and diencephalon, and the cerebellum. Additionally, the Cre-loxP system works in medaka brains using transgenic medaka carrying a vector containing DsRed2, flanked by loxP sites under control of the β-actin promoter and downstream promoterless enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP). We demonstrated that the presence of green fluorescence depended on injection of adenoviral vector expressing the Cre gene and confirmed that EGFP mRNA was transcribed in the virus-injected larvae.     

Molecular cloning and biochemical characterization of two novel Neu3 sialidases, neu3a and neu3b, from medaka (Oryzias latipes)

Mammalian Neu3 sialidases are involved in various biological processes, such as cell death and differentiation, through desialylation of gangliosides. The enzymatic profile of Neu3 seems to be highly conserved from birds to mammals. In fish, the functional properties of Neu3 sialidase are not clearly understood, with the partial exception of the zebrafish form. To cast further light on the molecular evolution of Neu3 sialidase, we identified the encoding genes in the medaka Oryzias latipes and investigated the properties of the enzyme. PCR amplification using medaka brain cDNA allowed identification of two novel medaka Neu3 genes, neu3a and neu3b. The YRIP, VGPG motif and Asp-Box, characteristic of consensus motifs of sialidases, were well conserved in the both medaka Neu3 sialidases. When each gene was transfected into HEK293 to allow cell lysates for the use of enzymatic characterization, two Neu3 sialidases showed strict substrate specificity toward gangliosides, similar to mammalian Neu3. The optimal pH values were at pH 4.2 and pH 4.0, respectively, and neu3b in particular showed a broad optimum. Immunofluorescence assays indicated neu3a localization at plasma membranes, while neu3b was found in cytosol. The tissue distribution of two genes was then investigated by estimation of mRNA expression and sialidase activity, both being dominantly expressed in the brain. In neu3a gene-transfected neuroblastoma cells, the enzyme was found to positively regulate retinoic acid-induced differentiation with the elongation of axon length. On the other hand, neu3b did not affect neurite formation. These results and phylogenetic analysis suggested that the medaka neu3a is an evolutionally conserved sialidase with regard to enzymatic properties, whereas neu3b is likely to have originally evolved in medaka.     

The relationship between lamellar-type cytosomes,DOPA decarboxylase,and lateral ciliary activity of the oyster Crassostrea virginica (Gmelin): Response to salinity change

Lamellar transformations of cytosomes, DOPA decarboxylase and lateral ciliary activity were measured in neuronal components and/or ctenidia of the oyster, Crassostrea virginica (Gmelin). Prolonged exposure to light, anoxic conditions, EGTA (a calcium chelator), and exogenous perfusion of dopamine (a cilioinhibitory neurotransmitter) increases the frequency of lamellar type cytosomes. This is accompanied by decreases in enzymatic activity and a lateral cilioinhibition. Prolonged periods of darkness, electrical stimulation of the branchial nerve and exogenous perfusion of serotonin (a cilioexcitatory neurotransmitter) reduces the conversion of lamellar type configurations, increases enzymatic activity and produces a lateral cilioexcitation. Salinity changes that produce an increase to higher acclimation values result in a gradual decrease in the number of lamellar configurations with a subsequent increase in enzymatic activity and lateral cilioexcitation. The magnitude of the lateral cilioexcitation-cilioinhibition and decarboxylase activity is directly related to the number of lamellar conversions.     

Spectral properties and bio-activity of copper(II) clofibriates, part III: crystal structure of Cu(clofibriate)2(2-pyridylmethanol)2, Cu(clofibriate)2(4-pyridylmethanol)2(H2O) dihydrate, and Cu2(clofibriate)4(N,N-diethylnicotinamide)2

New copper(II) clofibriates (clof, {2-(4-chlorophenoxy)-2-methylpropionic or 2-(4-chlorophenoxy)isobutyric acid}) of composition Cu(clof)₂L₂ (where L=2-pyridylmethanol (2-pymeth) (1), N-methylnicotinamide (Menia) (4), N,N-diethylnicotinamide (Et₂nia) (5), isonicotinamide (isonia) (7) or methyl-3-pyridylcarbamate (mpc) (8)), [Cu(clof)₂(4-pymeth)₂(H₂O)] · 2H₂O (4-pymeth=4-pyridylmethanol) (2 · 2H₂O) and Cu(clof)₂L (where L=4-pymeth (3) or Et₂nia (6)) have been prepared and spectroscopically characterized. All the Cu(clof)₂L₂ compounds seem to possess distorted octahedral copper(II) stereochemistry with differing tetragonal distortions. An X-ray analysis of 1 was carried out and it featured a tetragonal-bipyramidal geometry around the copper(II) atom. X-ray analysis of 2 · 2H₂O featured a square-pyramidal geometry around copper(II) atom. Both the Cu(clof)₂L compounds seem to consist of a binuclear unit of tetracarboxylate type bridging. An X-ray analysis of 6 revealed typical binuclear paddle-wheel type structure, consisting of two copper(II) atoms in square-pyramidal geometry bridged by four carboxylate anions in the xy-plane. All complexes under study were characterized by EPR and electronic spectroscopy. The antimicrobial effects have been tested on various strains of bacteria, yeasts and filamentous fungi.     

Characterization of Ca2+-dependent neutral protease (calpain) from human blood flukes, Schistosoma mansoni

Calcium-dependent, neutral cysteine-proteases (calpain) were purified from human blood flukes, Schistosoma mansoni. The electrophoretic mobilities, Western blot analyses and high specificity to peptide inhibitors confirmed the presence of both calpain I and II in the purified preparation. The schistosome calpains were localized in the surface syncytial epithelium and underlying musculature. Using peptide inhibitors, calpain was shown to function as a mediator of the surface membrane synthetic process. Since there was also no immunological cross-reactivity between vertebrate and schistosome calpains using antibodies affinity-purified from native and recombinant schistosome calpains, this protease may be usefully investigated as forming the basis of a molecular vaccine against schistosomiasis.     

Synthesis, spectroscopic characterization and structural studies of chloro dioxotriphenylphosphine oxide (O,O-dialkyl/diphenyl(alkylene)dithiophosphate) molybdenum(VI) complexes: crystal structure of MoO2Cl2(OSMe2)2

Reactions of dichlorodioxobis(triphenylphosphine oxide)molybdenum(VI) complexes with ammonium/sodium salts of O,O-dialkyl(alkylene) and diphenyl dithiophosphoric acids in 1:1 molar ratio in dichloromethane solution yield dioxomolybdenum complexes of the types, MoO₂Cl[S₂P(OR)₂] · OPPh₃ (R=Me, Et, i-Pr, Ph) and MoO₂Cl[S₂] · OPPh₃. (G=-CH₂CMe₂CH₂O-, -OCMe₂CMe₂O-). These newly synthesized compounds were characterized by IR, UV-visible and ¹H NMR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. The molecular structure of MoO₂Cl₂(OSMe₂)₂ was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. MoO₂Cl₂(OSMe₂)₂ crystallizes as orthorhombic in the space group Pbca with cell parameters a=13.7235(3) Å, b=12.2429(2) Å, c=14.3356(3) Å, V=2408.60(8) Å⁻³, Z=8, R=0.0221, R_w=0.0519. There are two cis oxo ligands, two cis dimethylsulphoxide moieties and two trans chlorine atoms in a distorted octahedral environment around molybdenum.     

Coordination diversity of N-phosphoryl-N′-phenylthiourea (LH) towards Co, Ni and Pd cations: Crystal structure of ML2-N,S and ML2-O,S chelates

Thiourea, PhNHC(S)NHP(O)(OPrⁱ)₂ (LH) chelates of Co^II, Ni^II, and Pd^II ions have been obtained and investigated by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, UV, IR, NMR spectroscopy, and EI mass-spectrometry. The unusual 1,3-N,S-coordination via sulfur and NP(O) nitrogen atoms has been found in the trans-square-planar NiL₂ and PdL₂ complexes, whereas the 1,5-O,S-coordination is realized in the tetrahedral CoL₂ complex. DFT calculations have revealed significant stabilization of the 1,3-N,S-structures due to stronger crystal field and the NH-OP hydrogen bonds.     

Photolytic CO-substitution reaction of organoiron thiocarboxylate derivatives CpFe(CO)2SCOR (R=alkyl, aryl) with diphosphines (Ph2P(CH2)nPPh2) (n=1-6): X-ray crystal structure of [CpFe(dppm)SCO(3,5-(NO2)2C6H3)]

The photolytic CO-substitution reaction of the organoiron thiocarboxylate complexes CpFe(CO)₂SCOR (R=CH₃, 2-CH₃C₆H₄, 2-NO₂C₆H₄, 4-NO₂C₆H₄, 3,5-(NO₂)₂C₆H₃) with diphosphines (Ph₂P(CH₂)_nPPh₂) [n=1 (dppm), n=2 (dppe), n=3 (dpppr), n=4 (dppb), n=5 (dppp), n=6 (dpph)] at room temperature using 1:2 (metal-ligand) molar ratio afforded exclusively the disubstituted complexes CpFe(Ph₂P(CH₂)_nPPh₂)SCOR when n=1, 2 and 3 and the monosubstituted analogs CpFe(CO)(Ph₂P(CH₂)_nPPh₂)SCOR when n=4, 5 and 6. This reaction was found to be strongly influenced by the backbone length of the diphosphine ligand, the nature of the R group of the thiocarboxylate moiety and the metal-ligand molar ratios. The crystal structure of CpFe(dppm)SCO(3,5-(NO₂)₂C₆H₃) was determined.     

Studies of the oxovanadium(IV)—oxalate system: syntheses and crystal structures of binuclear (Ph4P)2[(VO)2(H2O)2(C2O4)3]·4H2O and of the one-dimensional chain material, (Ph4P)[VOCl(C2O4)]

The hydrothermal reactions of (Ph₄P)[VO₂Cl₂] and H₂C₂O₄ at 150 and 125°C yield (Ph₄P)₂[V₂O₂(H₂O)₂(C₂O₄)₃]·4H₂O (1) and (Ph₄P)[VOCl(C₂O₄)] (2), respectively. The structure of the molecular anion of 1 consists of a binuclear unit of oxovanadium(IV) octahedra bridged by a bisbidentate oxalate group. The VO₆ coordination geometry at each vanadium site is defined by a terminal oxo group, an aquo ligand, and four oxygen donors — two from the bisbidentate bridging oxalate and two from the terminal bidentate oxalate. The structure of 2 consists of discrete Ph₄P⁺ cations occupying regions between [VOCl(C₂O₄)]⁻_∞ spiral chains. The structure of the one-dimensional anionic chain exhibits V(IV) octahedra bridged by bisbidentate oxalate groups. Crystal data: 1·4H₂O, monoclinic P2₁/n, A = 12.694(3), B = 12.531(3), C = 17.17(3) Å, β = 106.32(2)°, V = 2621.3(13) ų, Z = 2, D_calc = 1.501 g cm⁻³, structure solution and refinement converged at a conventional residual of 0.0518; 2, tetragonal P4₃, A = 12.145(2), C = 15.991(3) Å, V = 2358.7(12) ų, Z = 4, R = 0.0452.     

Syntheses, spectroscopic and structural characterization of some (solvated) binuclear adducts of the form Ag(oxyanion):dpem(:S) (1:1(:x))2 (oxyanion = ClO4, F3CCO2, F3CSO3; dpem = Ph2E(CH2)EPh2 (E = P, As))

Syntheses, spectroscopic (IR, NMR and ESI MS) and single crystal X-ray structural characterizations are reported for a wide variety of adducts of Ag(oxyanion):dpem(:S) (1:1(:n))₂ (oxyanion = ClO₄, F₃CCO₂ (tfa) F₃CSO₃ (tfs); dpem = Ph₂E(CH₂)EPh₂) stoichiometry among which the basic Ag(Ph₂E(CH₂)EPh₂)₂Ag core is diversely perturbed by interactions with anions and solvent molecules. ESI MS and ³¹P NMR spectroscopy indicated that dinuclear species also exist in solution.     

Salts of cationic platinum dithiolenes with anionic platinum complexes: structural characterization of [Pt(Me2pipdt)2][Pt(SCN)4] (Me2pipdt = N,N-dimethyl-piperazine-2,3-dithione)

[Pt(Me₂pipdt)₂](BF₄)₂ salts [Me₂pipdt = N,N^′-dimethyl-piperazine-2,3-dithione] bearing cationic dithiolene complexes react with (Bu₄N)₂[Pt(X)₄] (X = SCN, CN) to form [Pt(Me₂pipdt)₂][Pt(SCN)₄ ] (1) and [Pt(Me₂pipdt)₂][Pt(CN)₄] (2) salts by metathesis. Black crystals of 1 have been structurally characterized showing that the two metals lie on inversion centers and exhibit a square planar coordination. The Pt-S bond distances in the anion complex (2.324(2) Å) are longer than in the cation complex (2.280(2) Å) whereas the C-S bond distances are shorter in SCN⁻ (average 1.669 Å) than in Me₂pipdt (average 1.694 Å). The chelating Me₂Pipdt ligand is found disordered in the λ/δ conformations with site occupancies of 50/50, respectively. The cation and anion complexes run parallel to a.     

Characterization of a novel nm23 gene and its potential roles in gametogenesis in the prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii (de Man, 1879) (Crustacea: Decapoda)

Nm23 is a family of genes encoding the nucleoside diphosphate (NDP) kinase, which functions in a wide variety of biological processes, including growth, development, differentiation and tumor metastasis. In this study, a novel nm23 gene, designated as Mrnm23, was identified from the freshwater giant prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii. The full-length cDNA was 776 bp in length, encoding for a protein of 176 amino acids with one typical NDP kinase domain that harbored all the crucial residues for nucleotide binding and enzymatic activity. Like human novel nm23-H1B, the putative protein contained a unique 21-amino-acid NH₂-terminal extension as compared to human nm23 (nm23-H1) homologs. Further, 3 extra amino acid residues prolonged the COOH-terminus. The Mrnm23 was ubiquitously expressed in all tissues examined, including androgenic gland, gill, heart, liver, muscle, ovary, and testis. In situ hybridization to gonad sections indicated that the Mrnm23 mRNA was localized in the cytoplasm of cup-base of differentiating spermatids, in the spike of the umbrella-shaped spermatozoa and in the cytoplasm of the early previtellogenic oocytes, suggesting that the Mrnm23 has potential roles in spermiogenesis and early differentiation of oocyte.     

Syntheses and structures of adducts of stoichiometry MX:dpex (2:1)(n), M = Cu, Ag, X = (pseudo-) halogen, dppx = Ph2E(CH2)xEPh2, E = P, As

Single crystal X-ray studies have defined the structures of a number of adducts of the form MX:dpex (2:1), M = univalent coinage metal (Cu, Ag), X = (pseudo-)halide, dpex = bis(diphenylpnicogeno)alkane, Ph₂E(CH₂)_xEPh₂, E = P, As, of diverse types, some novel. The adducts of AgCl,Br:dppm and AgNCO:dpem (x = 1) are tetranuclear as is the AgNO₃:dppp (x = 3) array, all derivative of the familiar ‘step’ structure while the combination CuCN:dppm yields a two-dimensional web of twenty-membered macro/metallacycles. Synthetic procedures for all adducts have been reported. All compounds have been characterized both in solution (¹H, ¹³C, ³¹P NMR, ESI MS) and in the solid state (IR).     

Crystal structure and fluorescence of a europium (III) complex: EuCl3(2,2′-bipyridine N,N dioxide) · 2CH3OH

We report the synthesis and characterization of a seven coordinate europium complex, [EuCl₃(C₁₀H₈N₂O₂) ·  2CH₃OH]. The growing interest in developing efficient light conversion molecular devices (LCMDs) necessitates the need for new fluorescent materials. Ideal physicochemical properties of the materials include ligand absorption, efficient metal to ligand transfer, and strong luminescence with a relatively long decay time. The design of such material requires distinct absorbing (ligand) and emitting (metal ion) components. While Eu³⁺ cation has a non-degenerate emitting level, 2,2′-bipyridine N,N dioxide is a heterocyclic ligand known to exhibit strong luminescence. Additional characterization is also described, including single crystal X-ray diffraction, IR and UV-Vis spectroscopies and elemental analysis.     

Synthesis and characterization of the 1:1 adducts of copper(I) halides with bidentate N,N′-bis(benzophenone)-1,2-diiminoethane Schiff base: Crystal structures of [Cu(bz2en)2][CuX2] (X = Br, I) complexes

1:1 adducts of N,N′-bis(benzophenone)-1,2-diiminoethane (bz₂en) with copper(I) chloride, bromide and iodide, [Cu(bz₂en)₂][CuX₂] (X = Cl, Br, and I), have been synthesized and the structures of the solid bromide and iodide adducts were determined by X-ray crystallography from single-crystal data. The solid-state structure reveals ionic complexes containing a cation of copper(I) ion coordinated to four nitrogen atoms of two bz₂en molecules (distorted tetrahedron) and a linear dibromocuprate(I) and a di-μ-iodo-diiododicuprate(I) anion for the bromo and iodo adducts, respectively. The bromo adduct structure contains CH?Br intermolecular hydrogen bonds. The complexes are very stable towards atmospheric oxygen in the solid state. The spectral properties of the above complexes are also discussed.     

Synthesis and characterization of cis-[(PPh3)2Pt{9-MeAd(-H),NN}]X (X = NO3, PF6): The first example of a platinum(II) complex containing the N,N-chelated 9-methyladenine anion

Reaction between the binuclear hydroxo complex cis-[(PPh₃)₂Pt(μ-OH)]₂X₂ (X⁻ = NO₃, 1a; , 1b) and the model DNA base 9-methyladenine (9-MeAd) leads to the formation of the mononuclear species cis-[(PPh₃)₂Pt{9-MeAd(-H),N⁶N⁷}]X (X⁻ = NO₃, 2a; PF₆, 2b), in which the nucleobase chelates the Pt(II) ion with the N6 and N7 atoms. The coordination mode of the nucleobase has been determinated through a multinuclear (¹H, ³¹P, ¹³C, ¹⁵N and ¹⁹⁵Pt) NMR analysis and the nuclearity of the complex has been obtained by E.S.I. mass spectrometry. 2 represents the first example of an isolated platinum complex in which the NH₂-deprotonated adenine exhibits this binding mode.     

Transformations of the Vaska-type complex trans-[RhCl(CO)(PTA)2] (PTA = 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane) during stepwise addition of HCl: Synthesis, characterization and crystal structure of trans-[RhCl2(PTA)(PTAH)]

The new aqua-soluble rhodium(I) complex trans-[RhCl₂(PTA)(PTAH)] (1) {PTAH = N-protonated form of 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane (PTA)} has been synthesized via the reaction of trans-[RhCl(CO)(PTA)₂] with aqueous HCl or N-chlorosuccinimide, or by the treatment of RhCl₃ with PTA. Compound 1 has been characterized by IR, ¹H and ³¹P{H} NMR spectroscopies, ESI-MS(+), elemental and single crystal X-ray diffraction analyses, the latter showing a square planar {RhCl₂P₂} geometry. Besides, the stepwise addition of diluted HCl to an aqueous solution of trans-[RhCl(CO)(PTA)₂] has been monitored by ³¹P{¹H} NMR and ESI-MS(+) techniques, allowing to detect a number of intermediate Rh(I) species.