A double-stranded RNA mycovirus from the plant pathogenic fungus, Fusarium solani f. sp. robiniae

Abstract Two kinds of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), estimated to be 1.9 and 1.7 kb in size, were detected in the plant pathogenic fungus, Fusarium solani f. sp. robiniae . Isometric virus-like particles (VLPs), 30 nm in diameter, were recovered from cell extracts as a discrete band when centrifuged through a CsCl density gradient. The dsRNA molecules extracted from VLP preparations were identical in electrophoretic mobility to the dsRNAs obtained directly from cells. SDS-PAGE analysis of the VLPs revealed a single polypeptide of 38 kDa. The dsRNAs obtained directly from cells. SDS-PAGE analysis of the asexual cycle).     

Does weak local gamma irradiation modify the effect of CDDP on mouse mastocytoma?

The possibility that an irradiation with small doses of gamma rays given shortly before might enhance the cure effect of cis-diammine-dichloroplatinum (II) (CDDP) was tested in tumor bearing mice. Tumor cells of FMA3, a cloned cell line of murine mastocytoma, were transplanted in the muscle of a hind leg in one experiment and in the abdominal cavity in another experiment. In both cases, a single injection of CDDP at 4 mg/kg was effective to lengthen the mean survival time of mice. gamma rays at the dose of 1, 2 and 4 Gy given 3 hours before did not modify the effect of CDDP.     

Sodium hydroxide based non-detergent decellularizing solution for rat lung

Lung transplantation is the last option for the treatment of end stage chronic lung disorders. Because the shortage of donor lung organs represents the main hurdle, lung regeneration has been considered to overcome this hurdle. Recellularization of decellularized organ scaffold is a promising option for organ regeneration. Although detergents are ordinarily used for decellularization, other approaches are possible. Here we used high alkaline (pH12) sodium hydroxide (NaOH)-PBS solution without detergents for lung decellularization and compared the efficacy on DNA elimination and ECM preservation with detergent based decellularization solutions CHAPS and SDS. Immunohistochemical image analysis showed that cell components were removed by NaOH solution as well as other detergents. A Collagen and GAG assay showed that the collagen reduction of the NaOH group was comparable to that of the CHAPS and SDS groups. However, DNA reduction was more significant in the NaOH group than in other groups (p < 0.0001). The recellularization of HUVEC revealed cell attachment was not inferior to that of the SDS group. Ex vivo functional analysis showed 100% oxygen ventilation increased oxygen partial pressure as artificial hemoglobin vesicle-PBS solution passed through regenerated lungs in the SDS or NaOH group. It was concluded that the NaOH-PBS based decellularization solution was comparable to ordinal decellularizaton solutions and competitive in cost effectiveness and residues in the decellularized scaffold negligible, thus providing another potential option to detergent for future clinical usage.     

Rhythmic gene expression in somite formation and neural development

In mouse embryos, somite formation occurs every two hours, and this periodic event is regulated by a biological clock called the segmentation clock, which involves cyclic expression of the basic helix-loop-helix gene Hes7. Hes7 expression oscillates by negative feedback and is cooperatively regulated by Fgf and Notch signaling. Both loss of expression and sustained expression of Hes7 result in severe somite fusion, suggesting that Hes7 oscillation is required for proper somite segmentation. Expression of a related gene, Hes1, also oscillates by negative feedback with a period of about two hours in many cell types such as neural progenitor cells. Hes1 is required for maintenance of neural progenitor cells, but persistent Hes1 expression inhibits proliferation and differentiation of these cells, suggesting that Hes1 oscillation is required for their proper activities. Hes1 oscillation regulates cyclic expression of the proneural gene Neurogenin2 (Ngn2) and the Notch ligand Delta1, which in turn lead to maintenance of neural progenitor cells by mutual activation of Notch signaling. Taken together, these results suggest that oscillatory expression with short periods (ultradian oscillation) plays an important role in many biological events.     

Genetic determinant of pyocin R2 in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO. II. Physical characterization of pyocin R2 genes using R-prime plasmids constructed from R68.45

The chromosome segment which contains the genes responsible for production of pyocin R2 in P. aeruginosa PAO was defined physically using R-prime plasmids constructed in vivo from R68.45. The previous conclusion from genetic mapping that the cluster of pyocin R2 genes is located in between trpC and trpE genes was confirmed by deletion mapping of various R prime plasmids bearing the trpC gene. The pyocin R2 gene cluster was further localized on two contiguous HindIII fragments of 16 kb and 8.0 kb. PML14 strain, in which R-type pyocin genes were completely deleted, had only one 11 kb HindIII fragment instead. Heteroduplexes between this 11 kb fragment with the two HindIII fragments of PAO revealed that the cluster of pyocin R2 genes was an insertion 13 kb long.     

Dense HRP filling in pre-fixed brain tissue for light and electron microscopy

The use of neuroanatomical markers in tissues that have been pre-fixed has been virtually ignored, even though this approach could offer certain advantages over in vivo methods, in terms of convenience of application and choice of markers. We have found that HRP can be used on well-fixed brains of cats and goldfish to fill neurons, dendrites, axons, terminals, glial cells, and glial processes for high-resolution light microscopy and electron microscopy. Best results were obtained using brains that were perfusion-fixed with 2.5% depolymerized paraformaldehyde and 1.5% glutaraldehyde. Two methods of HRP application were used: optically guided injections of microliter quantities into various regions of cat brain, and optic nerve fills in goldfish by attaching an HRP-filled polyethylene tube for periods of 1 day to 2 weeks. HRP applied in these ways to pre-fixed tissue was found to fill neurons or glial cells with solid label in the anterograde and retrograde directions.     

Phylogenic and phenotypic evidence for the transfer of Eubacterium fossor to the genus Atopobium as Atopobium fossor comb. nov.

The 16S rRNA primary structure of Eubacterium fossor was determined by sequencing in vitro amplified rDNA. Sequence comparisons indicated that E. fossor has a specific phylogenetic association with the Atopobium species and is far from E. limosum, the type species of the genus Eubacterium. Phenotypic characters of E. fossor resemble those of the genus Atopobium. Therefore, we propose that E. fossor should be transferred to the genus Atopobium as Atopobium fossor comb. nov.     

Effect of omeprazole on secretion,synthesis and the gene expression of pepsinogen in the guinea pig stomach mucosa

The effects of omeprazole, a proton pump inhibitor, on gene expression, protein synthesis, intracellular storage and secretion of pepsinogen in guinea pig stomach were investigated. After treatment with omeprazole for five days, acid and pepsinogen secretion into the gastric lumen was significantly reduced. Concomitant with this, there was an increase in intracellular pepsinogen as demonstrated by increased pepsin activity in the gastric mucosa, more intense immunohistochemical staining by antibodies specific of pepsinogen and accumulation of secretory granules in the cells producing pepsinogen. In these cells, the amount for pepsinogen mRNA was reduced as revealed by Northern blotting and in situ hybridization. Ultrastructurally the endoplasmic reticulum of these cells was poorly developed, the findings being consistent with a reduction in protein synthesis. It appears that omeprazole inhibits the secretion of pepsinogen, increasing the intracellular store and leading to the reduction in gene expression probably by a feedback mechanism and consequent reduction in pepsinogen synthesis. Since these changes were most evident in the acid-secreting fundic gland mucosa, as compared with other mucosae secreting only pepsinogen, namely pyloric and duodenal mucosa, it appears probable that these changes are linked with omeprazole-induced reduction in the acid secretion.