Cell cycle regulation in mouse heart during embryonic and postnatal stages

The regulation of cardiomyocyte proliferation is important for heart development and function. Proliferation levels of mouse cardiomyocytes are high during early embryogenesis and start to decrease at midgestation. Many cardiomyocytes undergo mitosis without cytokinesis, resulting in binucleated cardiomyocytes during early postnatal stages, following which the cell cycle arrests irreversibly. It remains unknown how the proliferation pattern is regulated, and how the irreversible cell cycle arrest occurs. To clarify the mechanisms, fundamental information about cell cycle regulators in cardiomyocytes and cell cycle patterns during embryonic and postnatal stages is necessary. Here, we show that the expression, complex formation, and activity of main cyclins and cyclin‐dependent kinases (CDKs) changed in a synchronous manner during embryonic and postnatal stages. These levels decreased from midgestation to birth, and then showed one wave in which the peak was around postnatal day 5. Detailed analysis of the complexes suggested that CDK activities were inhibited before the protein levels decreased. Analysis of DNA content distribution patterns in mono‐ and binucleated cardiomyocytes after birth revealed changes in cell cycle distribution patterns and the transition from mono‐ to binucleated cells. These analyses indicated that the wave of cell cycle regulator expression or activities during postnatal stages mainly produced binucleated cells from mononucleated cells. The data obtained should provide a basis for the analysis of cell cycle regulation in cardiomyocytes during embryonic and postnatal stages.     

Fast microscopical dissection of action scenes played by Escherichia coli RNA polymerase

Using fast-scanning atomic force microscopy, we directly visualized the interaction of Escherichia coli RNA polymerase (RNAP) with DNA at the scan rate of 1-2 frames per second. The analyses showed that the RNAP can locate the promoter region not only by sliding but also by hopping and/or segmental transfer. Upon the addition of 0.05 mM NTPs to the stalled complex, the RNAP molecule pulled the template DNA uni-directionally at the rates of 15 nucleotides/s on average. The present method is potentially applicable to examine a variety of protein-nucleic acid interactions, especially those involved in the process of gene regulation.     

Gain of function by phosphorylation in Presenilin 1-mediated regulation of insulin signaling

During pregnancy, activation of the maternal immune system results in inflammation in the foetal nervous system. The causative agents are pro-inflammatory cytokines like interleukin-1β (IL-1β), produced by the foetus. In this study, we examine the effect of IL-1β on the proliferation and differentiation of neural progenitor cells (NPCs) to better understand its potential effects on the developing brain. We find that the IL-1β receptor (IL-1R1) is expressed in the ventral mesencephalon of the developing brain. Furthermore, IL-1R1 is expressed on Nestin-positive, Sox-2-positive NPCs. IL-1β treatment reduced the numbers of proliferating NPCs, an effect prevented by the IL-1R1 receptor antagonist. LDH and MTT assays, and western blot analysis for cleaved caspase 3 and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase, confirmed that this was not due to an increase in cell death but rather an induction of differentiation. To further study the effects of IL-1β on cell fate determination, we differentiated NPCs in the presence and absence of IL-1β. Il-1β promoted gliogenesis and inhibited neurogenesis, an effect that required p38-MAPK kinase signalling. In summary, these data show that exposure of NPCs to IL-1β affects their development. This necessitates an examination of the consequences that maternal immune system activation during pregnancy has on the cellular architecture of the developing brain.     

Glutamate receptor δ1 induces preferentially inhibitory presynaptic differentiation of cortical neurons by interacting with neurexins through cerebellin precursor protein subtypes

Glutamate receptor (GluR) δ1 is widely expressed in the developing forebrain, whereas GluRδ2 is selectively expressed in cerebellar Purkinje cells. Recently, we found that trans-synaptic interaction of postsynaptic GluRδ2 and pre-synaptic neurexins (NRXNs) through cerebellin precursor protein (Cbln) 1 mediates excitatory synapse formation in the cerebellum. Thus, a question arises whether GluRδ1 regulates synapse formation in the forebrain. In this study, we showed that the N-terminal domain of GluRδ1 induced inhibitory presynaptic differentiation of some populations of cultured cortical neurons. When Cbln1 or Cbln2 was added to cultures, GluRδ1 expressed in HEK293T cells induced preferentially inhibitory presynaptic differentiation of cultured cortical neurons. The synaptogenic activity of GluRδ1 was suppressed by the addition of the extracellular domain of NRXN1α or NRXN1β containing splice segment 4. Cbln subtypes directly bound to the N-terminal domain of GluRδ1. The synaptogenic activity of GluRδ1 in the presence of Cbln subtypes correlated well with their binding affinities. When transfected to cortical neurons, GluRδ1 stimulated inhibitory synapse formation in the presence of Cbln1 or Cbln2. These results together with differential interactions of Cbln subtypes with NRXN variants suggest that GluRδ1 induces preferentially inhibitory presynaptic differentiation of cortical neurons by interacting with NRXNs containing splice segment 4 through Cbln subtypes.     

Synthesis and production of unsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids in yeast: current state and perspectives

Recently, many genes involved in the formation of unsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) were isolated. In most cases, their activities were confirmed by expressing them in the well-studied model organism Saccharomyces cerevisiae because its fatty acid compositions are very simple and it does not contain PUFAs. Taking advantage of its genetic tractability and increasing wealth of accessible data, many groups are attempting to produce various useful fatty acids in the model yeasts, mainly in S. cerevisiae. This review describes typical such examples including a very recent study on the expression of a fatty acid hydroxylase gene in fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Furthermore, the impact of the genetically engineered alteration of fatty acid composition on the stress tolerance is presented because unsaturated fatty acids have crucial roles in membrane fluidity and signaling processes. Lastly, recent attempts at increasing lipid content in S. cerevisiae are discussed.     

Enterolobium contortisiliquum trypsin inhibitor (EcTI), a plant proteinase inhibitor, decreases in vitro cell adhesion and invasion by inhibition of Src protein-focal adhesion kinase (FAK) signaling pathways

Tumor cell invasion is vital for cancer progression and metastasis. Adhesion, migration, and degradation of the extracellular matrix are important events involved in the establishment of cancer cells at a new site, and therefore molecular targets are sought to inhibit such processes. The effect of a plant proteinase inhibitor, Enterolobium contortisiliquum trypsin inhibitor (EcTI), on the adhesion, migration, and invasion of gastric cancer cells was the focus of this study. EcTI showed no effect on the proliferation of gastric cancer cells or fibroblasts but inhibited the adhesion, migration, and cell invasion of gastric cancer cells; however, EcTI had no effect upon the adhesion of fibroblasts. EcTI was shown to decrease the expression and disrupt the cellular organization of molecules involved in the formation and maturation of invadopodia, such as integrin β1, cortactin, neuronal Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein, membrane type 1 metalloprotease, and metalloproteinase-2. Moreover, gastric cancer cells treated with EcTI presented a significant decrease in intracellular phosphorylated Src and focal adhesion kinase, integrin-dependent cell signaling components. Together, these results indicate that EcTI inhibits the invasion of gastric cancer cells through alterations in integrin-dependent cell signaling pathways.     

Construction of a metagenomic library for the marine sponge Halichondria okadai

Symbionts of the marine sponge Halichondria okadai are promising as a source of natural products. Metagenomic technology is a powerful tool for accessing the genetic and biochemical potential of bacteria. Hence, we established a method of recovering bacterial-enriched metagenomic DNA by stepwise centrifugation. The metagenomic DNA was analyzed by ultrafast 454-pyrosequencing technology, and the results suggested that more than three types of bacterial DNA, Alphaproteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Cyanobacteria, had been recovered, and that eukaryotic genes comprised only 0.02% of the metagenomic DNA. These results indicate that stepwise centrifugation and real-time quantitative PCR were effective for separating sponge cells and symbiotic bacteria, and that we constructed a bacteria-enriched metagenomic library from a marine sponge, H. okadai, selectively for the first time.     

Effects of compounds from Passiflora edulis Sims f. flavicarpa juice on blood coagulation and on proteolytic enzymes

Passion fruit (Passiflora edulis Sims f. flavicarpa) is popularly known for its sedative and calming properties and is consumed as a fresh fruit or as a juice. The clinical observation of blood incoagulability associated with excessive consumption of passion fruit juice, in a patient treated with warfarin, prompted the current study to investigate in vitro the presence of blood clotting inhibitors in Passiflora edulis Sims f. flavicarpa extract. After purification process, two compounds of distinct molecular weight and inhibitory action were better characterized. One is a trypsin inhibitor similar to inhibitors from Bowman-Birk family, named PeTI-I12, and other is a compound active in coagulation that prolongs aPTT and PT, but does not change TT. The aim of this study is to provide evidence that passion fruit extract's components play a role on hemostasis and therefore may be relevant in the handling of patients treated with anticoagulants or suffering hemorrhagic diseases.     

Tiliroside, a glycosidic flavonoid, ameliorates obesity-induced metabolic disorders via activation of adiponectin signaling followed by enhancement of fatty acid oxidation in liver and skeletal muscle in obese-diabetic mice

Tiliroside contained in several dietary plants, such as rose hips, strawberry and raspberry, is a glycosidic flavonoid and possesses anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticarcinogenic and hepatoprotective activities. Recently, it has been reported that the administration of tiliroside significantly inhibited body weight gain and visceral fat accumulation in normal mice. In this study, we evaluated the effects of tiliroside on obesity-induced metabolic disorders in obese-diabetic KK-A(y) mice. In KK-A(y) mice, the administration of tiliroside (100 mg/kg body weight/day) for 21 days failed to suppress body weight gain and visceral fat accumulation. Although tiliroside did not affect oxygen consumption, respiratory exchange ratio was significantly decreased in mice treated with tiliroside. In the analysis of metabolic characteristics, it was shown that plasma insulin, free fatty acid and triglyceride levels were decreased, and plasma adiponectin levels were increased in mice administered tiliroside. The messenger RNA expression levels of hepatic adiponectin receptor (AdipoR)-1 and AdipoR2 and skeletal muscular AdipoR1 were up-regulated by tiliroside treatment. Furthermore, it was indicated that tiliroside treatment activated AMP-activated protein kinase in both the liver and skeletal muscle and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α in the liver. Finally, tiliroside inhibited obesity-induced hepatic and muscular triglyceride accumulation. These findings suggest that tiliroside enhances fatty acid oxidation via the enhancement adiponectin signaling associated with the activation of both AMP-activated protein kinase and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α and ameliorates obesity-induced metabolic disorders, such as hyperinsulinemia and hyperlipidemia, although it does not suppress body weight gain and visceral fat accumulation in obese-diabetic model mice.