Theory of electric dissipative structure in Characean internode

A band-type alternating pattern of acidic and alkaline regions formed along the Characean cell wall is discussed theoretically. The model system is constructed from linear diffusion equations for the concentration of H+ outside the internode and in the protoplasm. The plasmalemma is taken as a boundary transporting H+ under energy supply by light. The sizes of the protoplasm and extracellular water phase are taken into account explicitly in the present model system to reproduce qualitatively the characteristics observed in various types of experiments. Theoretical analysis shows that the band pattern belongs to dissipative structures emerging far from equilibrium, and is stabilized through the electric current loops produced by locally activated electrogenic H+ pumps and spatially separated passive H+ influx (or OH- efflux) across the membrane. Both the numerical calculation and the theoretical analysis using a generalized time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau equation reveal the following points: (i) the intemodal cell with a larger vacuole in a smaller size of the extracellular water phase tends to exhibit a clearer band pattern; (ii) the increase in viscosity of the external aqueous medium makes the bands appear more easily and, furthermore, distinctly; (iii) the change in size of the extracellular water phase significantly affects the kinetics of the pattern- formation process. These results are interpreted reasonably by taking account of the electric current circulating between the acidic and alkaline regions.     

Diazepam inhibits potassium-induced aldosterone secretion in adrenal glomerulosa cell

In an attempt to elucidate a possible role of peripheral benzodiazepine receptor in adrenal glomerulosa cell, effect of diazepam on potassium-induced aldosterone secretion was studied using isolated bovine adrenal glomerulosa cell. Diazepam inhibited aldosterone secretion stimulated by 8mM potassium in a dose dependent manner. The ID50 was approximately 14 nM. Although diazepam inhibited potassium action effectively, forskolin-induced aldosterone secretion was not affected by diazepam. These results indicate that peripheral benzodiazepine receptor may have an active role in regulating aldosterone secretion. The voltage dependent calcium channel may be a possible site of benzodiazepine action in this tissue.     

Correction to: Comparative analysis of sperm motility in liquid and seminal coagulum portions between Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) and chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes)

Primates - In the original publication of the article, the coauthor “Takashi Hayakawa” was wrongly assigned as co-corresponding author.     

BCG-induced susceptibility of mice to challenge with Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Mice infected with Mycobacterium bovis, BCG, were shown to be highly susceptible to subsequent challenge with Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The susceptibility was characterized by the enhanced mortality and shortened survival after challenge with P. aeruginosa. BCG-treated mice did not show any enhanced susceptibility to challenge with Gram-positive bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus or Listeria monocytogenes. BCG-treated mice eliminated P. aeruginosa from their organs in a pattern similar to that in untreated mice. There was no significant difference in the bactericidal activities of polymorphonuclear cells and macrophages between BCG-treated and untreated mice. An equal amount of endotoxin was detected by the Limulus lysate assay in the blood of both BCG-treated and untreated mice after challenge with P. aeruginosa. The enhanced susceptibility induced by BCG pretreatment could be decreased when the mice were rendered LPS-tolerant by injections of small amounts of LPS. These results suggest that BCG-induced susceptibility to P. aeruginosa can be ascribed to an enhanced susceptibility to the lethal effect of LPS produced by challenge bacteria, and not to the impairment of the ability to eliminate infected bacteria.     

Replication Study in a Japanese Population of Six Susceptibility Loci for Type 2 Diabetes Originally Identified by a Transethnic Meta-Analysis of Genome-Wide Association Studies

AimWe performed a replication study in a Japanese population to evaluate the association between type 2 diabetes and six susceptibility loci (TMEM154, SSR1, FAF1, POU5F1, ARL15, and MPHOSPH9) originally identified by a transethnic meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) in 2014.MethodsWe genotyped 7,620 Japanese participants (5,817 type 2 diabetes patients and 1,803 controls) for each of the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) using a multiplex polymerase chain reaction invader assay. The association of each SNP locus with the disease was evaluated using logistic regression analysis.ResultsOf the six SNPs examined in this study, four (rs6813195 near TMEM154, rs17106184 in FAF1, rs3130501 in POU5F1 and rs4275659 near MPHOSPH9) had the same direction of effect as in the original reports, but two (rs9505118 in SSR1 and rs702634 in ARL15) had the opposite direction of effect. Among these loci, rs3130501 and rs4275659 were nominally associated with type 2 diabetes (rs3130501; p = 0.017, odds ratio [OR] = 1.113, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.019–1.215, rs4275659; p = 0.012, OR = 1.127, 95% CI 1.026–1.238, adjusted for sex, age and body mass index), but we did not observe a significant association with type 2 diabetes for any of the six evaluated SNP loci in our Japanese population.ConclusionsOur results indicate that effects of the six SNP loci identified in the transethnic GWAS meta-analysis are not major among the Japanese, although SNPs in POU5F1 and MPHOSPH9 loci may have some effect on susceptibility to type 2 diabetes in this population.     

Development of AC microelectrophoresis for rapid protein affinity evaluation

We have developed a new method for evaluating the affinity interactions between two different proteins by applying an alternating current (AC) voltage to a micro-flow channel. An AC voltage was applied to the protein-modified microspheres in the micro-flow channel, which resulted in the oscillation of the microspheres owing to their surface charges. The oscillation amplitude showed a linear relationship with the charge density of the microspheres. As an example for protein affinity measurement, the amplitude changes of a profilin-modified microsphere were measured by the addition of actin. In the same electrical condition, the oscillation amplitude of the profilin-modified microsphere increased by ≈175% by binding with actin. Similar results in the principle were obtained for the affinity interaction between biotin and streptavidin. The results showed that the higher the charge density of the microspheres induced by binding with different proteins, the higher the oscillation amplitude of the microspheres, thus, suggesting a possible application of the micro-flow channel and AC voltage on the protein property study, as well as on the biosensor application using the oscillation amplitude changes.     

The structure of the covalent flavin adduct formed between lactate oxidase and the suicide substrate 2-hydroxy-3-butynoate.

2-Hydroxy-3-butynoic acid is a suicide substrate for Mycobacterium smegmatis lactate oxidase. Inactivation occurs by covalent modification of enzyme-bound FMN and does not involve labeling of the apoprotein. The spectrum of the enzyme bound adduct suggests that it is a 4a, 5-dihydroflavin derivative. When this adduct is released from the enzyme, a complex mixture of unstable compounds is obtained. When the initially formed enzyme-bound adduct is reduced with NaBH4, a major stable species can be resolved from the enzyme and can be isolated and purified. The structure was established by appropriate isotope substitutions. Fourier transform NMR spectroscopy, chemical reactivity, and synthesis of a model compound. The structure of the isolated adduct is structure II, Scheme II. The structure proposed for the adduct initially formed on the enzyme is structure VII, Scheme II.     

Interactions between cancer and bone marrow cells induce osteoclast differentiation factor expression and osteoclast-like cell formation in vitro

Cancer cells metastasized to bone induce osteoclastogenesis for bone destruction. Coculture of either mouse melanoma B16 or breast cancer Balb/c-MC cells with mouse bone marrow cells (BMCs) induced osteoclast-like cells, which were not observed when cancer cells were segregated from BMCs. Osteoclast differentiation factor (ODF), also known as receptor activator of NF-kappaB ligand (RANKL), is a direct mediator of many osteotropic factors. Neither BMCs, B16 nor Balb/c-MC cells alone expressed ODF mRNA. However, coculture of these cancer cells with BMCs induced ODF expression, which was prevented by indomethacin. Moreover, the coculture with cancer cells inhibited secretion of osteoprotegerin/osteoclastogenesis inhibitory factor (OPG/OCIF), an inhibitory decoy receptor for ODF, from BMCs. Thus, enhanced osteoclastogenesis in the presence of cancer cells might be due to an increase in ODF activity. These results suggest that interactions between cancer cells and BMCs induce ODF expression and suppress OPG/OCIF level in metastatic foci resulting in pathological osteoclastogenesis for bone destruction.