Immobilization of human thrombomodulin on glass beads and its anticoagulant activity.

Human thrombomodulin (TM) was for the first time immobilized on glass beads by the reaction between the carboxyl group of TM and the amino group of glass beads using water-soluble carbodiimide. Immobilized human TM exhibited both anticoagulant activity and inhibition of platelet aggregation of human blood.     

Gene expression analysis of Six3, Pax6, and Otx in the early development of the stalked crinoid Metacrinus rotundus

The stalked crinoid, Metacrinus rotundus, is one of the most basal extant echinoderms. Here, we show the expression patterns of Six3, Pax6, and Otx in the early development of M. rotundus. All three genes are highly expressed in stages from the gastrula to the auricularia larval stage. Ectodermal expression of MrOtx appears to be correlated with development of the ciliary band. These three genes are expressed sequentially along the embryonic body axis in the anterior and middle walls of the archenteron in the order of MrPax6, MrSix3, and MrOtx. The anterior, middle, and posterior parts of the archenteron in the late gastrula differentiate into the axo-hydrocoel, the enteric sac, and somatocoels at later stages, respectively. The three genes are expressed sequentially from the tip of the axo-hydrocoel to the bottom of enteric sac in the order of MrSix3, MrPax6, and MrOtx at the later stages. This suggests that these genes are involved in patterning of the larval endo-mesoderm in stalked crinoids. The present results suggest that radical alterations have occurred in the expression and function of homeobox genes in basal echinoderms.     

Double-stranded RNA-binding protein DRB3 negatively regulates anthocyanin biosynthesis by modulating PAP1 expression in Arabidopsis thaliana

Journal of Plant Research - The model plant Arabidopsis thaliana has five double-stranded RNA-binding proteins (DRB1-DRB5), two of which, DRB1 and DRB4, are well characterized. In contrast, the...