Intracellular localization and partial amino acid sequence of a stress-inducible 40-kDa protein in HeLa cells.

We earlier discovered a novel 40-kDa protein (hsp40) induced by heat shock and other stresses in mammalian and avian cells. In this report, we purified the hsp40 in HeLa cells, using modified two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, and determined the amino terminal amino acid sequence of this protein. The hsp40 is homologous to DnaJ, an Escherichia coli heat-shock protein, as well as to DnaJ-homologous proteins in yeast such as SCJ1, Sec63/Np11, YDJ1 and SIS1. Indirect immunofluorescence staining using an anti-hsp40 polyclonal antibody demonstrated that hsp40 was localized faintly throughout the cell in non-heat-shocked cells and was accumulated in nuclei and nucleoli in heat-shocked cells. The intracellular localization of hsp40 was very similar to that of hsp70, suggesting that these two hsps colocalize in heat-shocked HeLa cells.     

Erysiphe wadae: a new species of Erysiphe sect. Uncinula on Japanese beech

 A new species of Erysiphe sect. Uncinula is described and illustrated from Japan. Erysiphe wadae sp. nov., found on Japanese beech (Fagus crenata, Fagaceae), is characterized by having two types of appendages, i.e., a long (true) appendage arising from the equatorial zone of the ascomata, and a short appendage arising from the upper part of the ascomata. This characteristic is shared by E. simulans, E. australiana, E. flexuosa, E. liquidambaris, E. prunastri, and E. togashiana. Erysiphe wadae differs from the latter five species in its brown-colored appendage. Erysiphe simulans is most similar to E. wadae, but differs in its loosely uncinate appendage and smaller number of ascospores. Identity of the nucleotide sequences of the rDNA ITS region is 92.3% between the two species. The significance of the two types of appendage in taxonomy and phylogeny of powdery mildews is discussed based on molecular phylogenetic analysis. Received: November 8, 2002 / Accepted: January 29, 2003 Acknowledgments We are grateful to Drs. Yukio Harada and Hideki Naito for help in collecting powdery mildew specimens; Dr. Uwe Braun for providing the specimen of E. flexuosa; and Mr. Tetsuya Hirata and Miss Sanae Matsuda for nucleotide sequences of E. togashiana and E. flexuosa. This work was partially supported by a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (No. 13660047) from Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan.     

Bambusicolous fungi in Japan (8): a new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudolachnella from</Emphasis> Yakushima Island,southern Japan

A coelomycetous fungus occurring on culms of Pleioblastus sp. in Yakushima Island, southern Japan, is described and illustrated as a new species, Pseudolachnella yakushimensis. The species is characterized by cupulate, superficial black setose conidiomata, and cylindrical 3-septate conidia with two to five appendages at each end. Pseudolachnella yakushimensis is similar to P. indica and P. scolecospora by its 3-septate conidia, but is different from them by its smaller conidia with more than two appendages.     

Interpretation of enantioresolution in nordeoxycholic acid channels based on the four-location model

Nordeoxycholic acid (NDCA) forms three kinds of host frameworks, M1, M2, and M3, with channels where aliphatic alcohols (1-7) are accommodated. (13)C-NMR studies clarified that racemic alcohols 1- or 2-6 are enclosed in the M1- or M2-type channel with lower than 15% enantiomeric excess, respectively, while 3-methyl-2-pentanol (7) is done in the M3-type with 47% ee. These inclusion phenomena can be explained due to the Difference Fourier maps of electron densities of their enantiomers in the channels. In addition, analysis of the manner of packing indicates that four locations in the channels should be fixed for the enantioresolution of the alcohols. These results support the four-location model, which has been proposed by Mesecar et al.(20) with respect to enantioresolution on protein surfaces.     

Time-series metagenomic analysis reveals robustness of soil microbiome against chemical disturbance

Soil microbial communities have great potential for bioremediation of recalcitrant aromatic compounds. However, it is unclear which taxa and genes in the communities, and how they contribute to the bioremediation in the polluted soils. To get clues about this fundamental question here, time-course (up to 24 weeks) metagenomic analysis of microbial community in a closed soil microcosm artificially polluted with four aromatic compounds, including phenanthrene, was conducted to investigate the changes in the community structures and gene pools. The pollution led to drastic changes in the community structures and the gene sets for pollutant degradation. Complete degradation of phenanthrene was strongly suggested to occur by the syntrophic metabolism by Mycobacterium and the most proliferating genus, Burkholderia. The community structure at Week 24 (∼12 weeks after disappearance of the pollutants) returned to the structure similar to that before pollution. Our time-course metagenomic analysis of phage genes strongly suggested the involvement of the ‘kill-the-winner’ phenomenon (i.e. phage predation of Burkholderia cells) for the returning of the microbial community structure. The pollution resulted in a decrease in taxonomic diversity and a drastic increase in diversity of gene pools in the communities, showing the functional redundancy and robustness of the communities against chemical disturbance.     

Ongoing localized extinctions of stream-dwelling white-spotted charr populations in small dammed-off habitats of Hokkaido Island,Japan

Habitat fragmentation caused by damming can greatly reduce the population viability of aquatic organisms, with smaller fragmented populations at higher risk of extinction due to increased demographic, genetic, and environmental stochasticity. However, empirical evidence demonstrating that smaller natural populations are more vulnerable to extinction is limited. We studied the vulnerability to extinction of white-spotted charr (Salvelinus leucomaenis) populations in 30 dammed-off streams in Oshima Peninsula, southwestern Hokkaido Island, Japan, by comparing the incidence of charr populations in streams between 1999 and 2014. Using electrofishing and environmental DNA surveys, we identified three localized extinctions, with the probability of extinction increasing with decreasing watershed area (our surrogate for habitat size). We also found a new population in one dammed-off stream in which white-spotted charr were previously unknown, after installation of a fish ladder, indicating the capacity of white-spotted charr to recolonize reconnected habitat in a short period. Our results suggest that localized extinction of white-spotted charr in small dammed-off streams is ongoing, but that appropriate fish migration corridors can reduce localized extinction risk and increase the probability of species persistence.

     

Properties of Virus Isolated from an Epidemic of Hand-Foot-and-Mouth Disease in 1973 in the City of Matsue

The virus strains isolated from clinical cases in an epidemic of hand-foot-and-mouth disease in Matsue in 1973 were characterized and its properties were compared with those of the Coxsackievirus group A type 16 (CA 16) prototype strain. The virus isolated in 1973 was similar to CA16 prototype virus with respect to morphology in electron microscopy, resistance to ether and capability to replicate in medium containing fluorodeoxyuridine. Cross neutralization tests using guinea-pig and horse antisera revealed that there was little or no detectable common antigen between the two viruses. The two viruses also differed in heat stability of virion infectivity: the 1973-viruses were much more resistant to heat than the prototype virus. Under one-step growth conditions in Vero cell cultures, growth rate and virus yield of the 1973-viruses were lower than those of CA16, but this property was independent of incubation temperatures, pH of culture medium and other culture conditions. Several other differences in property between the 2 strains are also described. It is concluded that the epidemic in 1973 was caused by a virus whose properties differed greatly from those of the CA16 prototype.