Structure and expression of human B cell stimulatory factor-2 (BSF-2/IL-6) gene.

The chromosomal DNA segment of human B cell stimulatory factor-2 (BSF-2/IL-6) was isolated and characterized by nucleotide sequence analysis. The human BSF-2/IL-6 gene consists of five exons and four introns and its organization shows a distinctive similarity to granulocyte colony-stimulating factor gene. The two genes have the same number of exons and introns and the size of each exon is strikingly similar. The BSF-2/IL-6 mRNA was found to be constitutively expressed in a human T cell leukemia virus-1 transformed T cell line, TCL-Na1, a bladder cell carcinoma line, T24, and an amnion derived cell line, FL. The BSF-2/IL-6 mRNA was also found to be inducible with interleukin-1 beta in an astrocytoma line, U373 and a glioblastoma line, SK-MG-4. S1 mapping and primer extension analyses showed the presence of multiple initiation sites and the preferential utilization of a different initiation site for each individual tissue tested.     

Spatiotemporal distribution of fruitbodies of ectomycorrhizal fungi in an Abies firma forest

 Spatial associations between ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi and their presumed host trees, and spatiotemporal associations among ECM fungi were surveyed for 3 years in an Abies firma-dominated forest in central Japan. A total of 39 species in 13 genera of ECM fungi were recorded, with more species in the Russulaceae than any other family. Russula ochroleuca, Russula sp.1 and Strobilomyces confusus tended to produce their fruitbodies on the forest floor directly under the crown of A. firma, whereas those of Inocybe cincinnata, Gomphus floccosus and G. fujisanensis were aggregated in limited areas outside the A. firma crown. Interspecific spatial associations were analysed for Russula sp.1, which was the most dominant species, and three other frequent species, I. cincinnata, S. confusus and R. ochroleuca. Pairwise, Russula sp.1 with I. cincinnata, with S. confusus or with R. ochroleuca showed an association which was exclusive, overlapping or independent, respectively. Fruiting phenologies differed in that S. confusus showed a peak density in the summer, whereas the other three species peaked in the autumn. These results suggest that the formation of ECM fruitbodies can be partitioned among the species both spatially and temporally. Accepted: 7 July 1998     

Photocurable biodegradable liquid copolymers: synthesis of acrylate-end-capped trimethylene carbonate-based prepolymers, photocuring, and hydrolysis

Various photocurable liquid biodegradable trimethylene carbonate (TMC)-based (co)oligomers were prepared by ring-opening (co)polymerization of TMC with or without L-lactide (LL) using low molecular weight poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) (mol wt 200, 600, or 1000) or trimethylolpropane (TMP) as an initiator. Resultant (co)oligomers were pastes, viscous liquids, or liquids at room temperature, depending on the monomer composition and monomer/initiator ratio. Liquid (co)oligomers were subsequently end-capped with acrylate groups. Upon visible-light irradiation in the presence of camphorquinone as a radical generator, rapid liquid-to-solid transformation occurred to produce photocured solid. The photocuring yield increased with photoirradiation time, photointensity, and camphorquinone concentration. The photocured polymers derived from low molecular weight PEG (PEG200) and TMP exhibited much reduced hydrolysis potential compared with PEG1000-derived polymers in terms of weight loss, water uptake, and swelling depth. Force-distance curve measurements by nanoindentation using atomic force microscopy clearly showed that Young's moduli of the photocured polymer films decreased with increasing hydrolysis time. Their potential biomedical applications are discussed.     

Anti-oxidation activity of ethanol extracts from natural thalli of lichens

Screening test on anti-oxidation activity using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl(DPPH) was performed for 99 ethanol extracts of 85 species of natural thalli of lichens in order to find novel anti-oxidation compounds.The 17 extracts of natural thalli showed high anti-oxidation activity.Among them,the activities of extracts from Hypogymnia vittata,Peltigera aphthosa,Nephromopsis ornata,Pseudevernia furfuracea,Cladonia vulcani and Peltigera elizabethae were higher.Extracts of Peltigera spp.showed higher activity than those of other genera.The ethanol extract of P.aphthosa had been separated into ethyl acetate-soluble and water-soluble fractions.Two anti-oxidative spots were found only in the water-soluble fractions by thin-layer chromatography.The compound in the lower spot had the same Rf value,UV spectrum,and color as authentic solorinine that was previously found as a unique quaternary ammonium compound from Peltigera spp.We now report that the hydrophilic lichen substance,solorinine showed a nearly same anti-oxidation activity(EC50=120?mol/Lol/L) as standard antioxidant Trolox(EC50=150?mol/L).     

Endothelial NO Synthase (eNOS) phosphorylation regulates coronary diameter during ischemia-reperfusion in association with oxidative stress

The link between endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) activation and vascular diameter during ischemia-reperfusion was investigated in the rat heart. After short (<30 min) and long (>45 min) time of ischemia conferred by coronary artery occlusion of the rats, reperfusion caused dilatation and constriction of arterioles, respectively. Partial oxygen pressure (pO2) measurement of the heart by the electrode confirmed the hyper-perfusion and no-reflow phenomena during reperfusion, as well as myocardial ischemia. The vascular diameter was correlated with phosphorylation of Akt and serine 1177 residue of eNOS, and formation of NO-bound guanylate cyclase (GC) by immuoflorescence study. Western blotting confirmed the phosphorylation of eNOS-Ser1177 depending on ischemia time. The constriction during reperfusion after 45 min of ischemia is supposedly caused by the inhibition of Akt-mediated eNOS-Ser1177 phosphorylation, which was suppressed by a PKC inhibitor chelerythrine, or ROS scavengers N-2-mercaptopropionyl glycine (MPG) and 4,5-Dihydroxy-1, 3-benzenedisulfonic acid disodium salt (Tiron). However, an endothelin receptor antagonist BQ123 alleviated the vasoconstriction by increasing NO availability but not eNOS-Ser1177 phosphorylation. Thus, vascular patency is correlated with eNOS-Ser1177 phosphorylation in association with ROS, and PKC during reperfusion. Endothelin inhibits vasodilatation by reducing NO availability during reperfusion.     

The molecular cloning of 8-epicedrol synthase from Artemisia annua.

A cDNA library was prepared from Artemisia annua, and a 129-bp fragment was amplified from this library using primers corresponding to sequences conserved in known dicot sesquiterpene synthases. A 1641-bp open reading frame that encoded a predicted protein 35-38% identical to dicot sesquiterpene synthases was cloned using this fragment as a hybridization probe. The gene product expressed in Escherichia coli cyclized farnesyl diphosphate to a 96:4 mixture of (-)8-epicedrol and cedrol. Neither cedrol epimer was detected by GC-MS in an A. annua extract prepared from the same specimen as the cDNA.     

Prolamellar bodies formed by cyanobacterial protochlorophyllide oxidoreductase in Arabidopsis

In angiosperms, chlorophyll biosynthesis is light dependent. A key factor in this process is protochlorophyllide oxidoreductase (POR), which requires light to catalyze the reduction of protochlorophyllide to chlorophyllide. It is believed that this protein originated from an ancient cyanobacterial enzyme that was introduced into proto‐plant cells during the primary symbiosis. Here we report that PORs from the cyanobacteria Gloeobacter violaceus PCC7421 and Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 function in plastids. First, we found that the G. violaceus POR shows a higher affinity to its substrate protochlorophyllide than the Synechocystis POR but a similar affinity to plant PORs. Secondly, the reduced size of prolamellar bodies caused by a knockdown mutation of one of the POR genes, PORA, in Arabidopsis could be complemented by heterologous expression of the cyanobacterial PORs. Photoactive protochlorophyllide in the etioplasts of the complementing lines, however, was retained at a low level as in the parent PORA knockdown mutant, indicating that the observed formation of prolamellar bodies was irrelevant to the assembly of photoactive protochlorophyllide. This work reveals a new view on the formation of prolamellar bodies and provides new clues about the function of POR in the etioplast–chloroplast transition.     

Genetic engineering to enhance the Ehrlich pathway and alter carbon flux for increased isobutanol production from glucose by Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The production of higher alcohols by engineered bacteria has received significant attention. The budding yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, has considerable potential as a producer of higher alcohols because of its capacity to naturally fabricate fusel alcohols, in addition to its robustness and tolerance to low pH. However, because its natural productivity is not significant, we considered a strategy of genetic engineering to increase production of the branched-chain higher alcohol isobutanol, which is involved in valine biosynthesis. Initially, we overexpressed 2-keto acid decarboxylase (KDC) and alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) in S. cerevisiae to enhance the endogenous activity of the Ehrlich pathway. We then overexpressed Ilv2, which catalyzes the first step in the valine synthetic pathway, and deleted the PDC1 gene encoding a major pyruvate decarboxylase with the intent of altering the abundant ethanol flux via pyruvate. Through these engineering steps, along with modification of culture conditions, the isobutanol titer of S. cerevisiae was elevated 13-fold, from 11 mg/l to 143 mg/l, and the yield was 6.6 mg/g glucose, which is higher than any previously reported value for S. cerevisiae.