Oxygen concentration-dependent induction of a 140-kDa protein in magnetic bacterium Magnetospirillum magnetotacticum MS-1

Abstract The magnetic bacterium Magnetospirillum magnetotacticum prefers a microaerobic habitat and should be able to sense oxygen. Therefore, the bacterium was cultured under atmospheres containing 0–5% O₂ and analyzed for oxygen-dependent changes in the levels of its protein components by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyccrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The analysis revealed a marked anaerobic induction of a 140-kDa protein, which was suppressed when M. magnetotacticum was switched from microaerobic (<1% O₂) to aerobic (>1% O₂) growth conditions. Although its function remains to be determined, the 140-kDa protein may serve as a useful tool to gain insight into the physiology of the organism.     

Studies on the interaction between Streptomyces pepsin inhibitor and several acid proteinases by means of a zinc(II)-dye complex as a probe.

The zinc(II) complex of pyridine-2-azo-p-dimethylaniline is bound to several acid proteinases, at pH 5.0, accompanied by a change is the visible absorption spectrum. Streptomyces pepsin inhibitor, which was discovered by Satoi and Murao (Satoi, S. and Murao, S. (1970) Agric. Biol. Chem. 34, 1265-1267 and Satoi, S. and Murao, S. (1971) Agric. Biol. Chem. 35, 1482-1487), is also bound to acid proteinases. Spectrophotometric studies with ten acid proteinases from different sources have revealed that in several acid proteinases, zinc(II)-pyridine-2-azo-p-dimethylaniline is released from the enzyme by the inhibitor, while some acid proteinase forms a quaternary complex, zinc(II)-pyridine-2-azo-p-dimethylaniline-inhibitor-enzyme. It is speculated that zinc(II)-pyridine-2-azo-p-dimethylaniline is bound to two catalytic carboxylate groups in the active site of the acid proteinases and the inhibitor is bound mainly to the substrate-binding site of the enzymes. The binding of the inhibitor may overlap the catalytic site completely or partially. The degree of overlapping is characteristic of the kind of acid proteinases.     

Genetic relationships of cichlid fishes from Lake Malawi based on mitochondrial DNA sequences

Limnology - The purpose of this study was to estimate the genetic distance, diversity and relationship of two large groups of Malawian cichlid, ‘mbuna’ living in rocky area and feeding...     

Biochemical recognition in seeds: Germination of Rumex obtusifolius is promoted by leaves of facilitative adult conspecifics

Seeds express various germination behaviors in response to competitor plants. However, germination behaviors in response to facilitator plants are not yet well understood. Rumex obtusifolius seedlings usually appear on the ground near adult conspecific plants, and their survival rate under the canopy of adult conspecifics is higher than that outside the canopy, indicating that adult R. obtusifolius plants facilitate their seedling establishments. We hypothesized that emergence of R. obtusifolius seedlings is promoted by cues from adult conspecifics, but emergence of heterospecific seedlings is not. To test this, we investigated emergence responses of seedlings of R. obtusifolius and three other species that grow with R. obtusifolius in the presence of R. obtusifolius leaf phytochemicals. Emergence of R. obtusifolius seedlings was promoted by the presence of R. obtusifolius leaves. In contrast, emergence of other species seedlings was not promoted by R. obtusifolius leaves. We conclude that germination of R. obtusifolius seeds is facilitated in the presence of conspecifics, via water-soluble chemical exposure, and that recognizing these chemicals has adaptive value.     

miR-34a-5p might have an important role for inducing apoptosis by down-regulation of SNAI1 in apigenin-treated lung cancer cells

Molecular Biology Reports - Apigenin is a flavonoid with antioxidant and anticancer effects. It has been reported that apigenin inhibits proliferation, migration, and invasion and induces apoptosis...     

Effects of Fcj1-Mos1 and mitochondrial division on aggregation of mitochondrial DNA nucleoids and organelle morphology

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is packaged into DNA–protein complexes called nucleoids, which are distributed as many small foci in mitochondria. Nucleoids are crucial for the biogenesis and function of mtDNA. Here, using a yeast genetic screen for components that control nucleoid distribution and size, we identify Fcj1 and Mos1, two evolutionarily conserved mitochondrial proteins that maintain the connection between the cristae and boundary membranes. These two proteins are also important for establishing tubular morphology of mitochondria, as mitochondria lacking Fcj1 and Mos1 form lamellar sheets. We find that nucleoids aggregate, increase in size, and decrease in number in fcj1∆ and mos1∆ cells. In addition, Fcj1 form punctate structures and localized adjacent to nucleoids. Moreover, connecting mitochondria by deleting the DNM1 gene required for organelle division enhances aggregation of mtDNA nucleoids in fcj1∆ and mos1∆ cells, whereas single deletion of DNM1 does not affect nucleoids. Conversely, deleting F1Fo-ATP synthase dimerization factors generates concentric ring-like cristae, restores tubular mitochondrial morphology, and suppresses nucleoid aggregation in these mutants. Our findings suggest an unexpected role of Fcj1-Mos1 and organelle division in maintaining the distribution and size of mtDNA nucleoids.     

Discovery and Evaluation of Terephthalic Acid Derivatives as Potent α4β1 Integrin Antagonists

Terephthalic acid based derivatives containing β- and γ-amino acid residues were prepared as antagonists of the leukocyte cell adhesion process that is mediated through the interaction of the very late antigen 4 (VLA-4) and the vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1). The compounds 2, 10–12, 14, and 16–17 inhibited the adhesion in a cell based assay in the low and sub micromolar range.     

Ovarian structure and mode of egg production in the seaweed pipefish Syngnathus schlegeli (Syngnathidae)

This study investigated ovarian structure and mode of egg production in the seaweed pipefish, Syngnathus schlegeli. The ovary had a rolled sheet-like structure where developing follicles were arranged serially in sequence according to their development, with a single germinal ridge running along the edge of the sheet. Oocytes of various developmental stages were concomitantly present in the ovary, and the number of mature eggs increased continuously over time, indicating that egg production is asynchronous. This would be a physiological basis for multiple spawning within a short time span associated with polygamy in this fish.     

Methamphetamine Increases Locomotion and Dopamine Transporter Activity in Dopamine D5 Receptor-Deficient Mice

Dopamine regulates the psychomotor stimulant activities of amphetamine-like substances in the brain. The effects of dopamine are mediated through five known dopamine receptor subtypes in mammals. The functional relevance of D5 dopamine receptors in the central nervous system is not well understood. To determine the functional relevance of D5 dopamine receptors, we created D5 dopamine receptor-deficient mice and then used these mice to assess the roles of D5 dopamine receptors in the behavioral response to methamphetamine. Interestingly, D5 dopamine receptor-deficient mice displayed increased ambulation in response to methamphetamine. Furthermore, dopamine transporter threonine phosphorylation levels, which regulate amphetamine-induced dopamine release, were elevated in D5 dopamine receptor-deficient mice. The increase in methamphetamine-induced locomotor activity was eliminated by pretreatment with the dopamine transporter blocker GBR12909. Taken together, these results suggest that dopamine transporter activity and threonine phosphorylation levels are regulated by D5 dopamine receptors.     

HLA-DQB1*03 Confers Susceptibility to Chronic Hepatitis C in Japanese: A Genome-Wide Association Study

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) establishes a chronic infection in 70-80% of infected individuals. Many researchers have examined the effect of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) on viral persistence because of its critical role in the immune response against exposure to HCV, but almost all studies have proven to be inconclusive. To identify genetic risk factors for chronic HCV infection, we analyzed 458,207 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 481 chronic HCV patients and 2,963 controls in a Japanese cohort. Next, we performed a replication study with an independent panel of 4,358 cases and 1,114 controls. We further confirmed the association in 1,379 cases and 25,817 controls. In the GWAS phase, we found 17 SNPs that showed suggestive association (P < 1 × 10^-5). After the first replication study, we found one intronic SNP in the HLA-DQ locus associated with chronic HCV infection, and when we combined the two studies, the association reached the level of genome-wide significance. In the second replication study, we again confirmed the association (P _combined = 3.59 × 10⁻¹⁶, odds ratio [OR] = 0.79). Subsequent analysis revealed another SNP, rs1130380, with a stronger association (OR=0.72). This nucleotide substitution causes an amino acid substitution (R55P) in the HLA-DQB1 protein specific to the DQB1*03 allele, which is common worldwide. In addition, we confirmed an association with the previously reported IFNL3-IFNL4 locus and propose that the effect of DQB1*03 on HCV persistence might be affected by the IFNL4 polymorphism. Our findings suggest that a common amino acid substitution in HLA-DQB1 affects susceptibility to chronic infection with HCV in the Japanese population and may not be independent of the IFNL4 genotype.