Identification of alpha 2-macroglobulin as a carrier protein for IL-6

In this report we demonstrate that alpha 2-macroglobulin (alpha 2M) is a carrier protein for IL-6. IL-6 was found to bind plasma proteins and an immunoblot analysis revealed that the complex between IL-6 and plasma proteins contains alpha 2M. Furthermore, purified alpha 2M bound IL-6. alpha 2M did not inhibit IL-6 activity or its binding to homologous receptor. IL-6 bound to alpha 2M retained its biologic activity and became resistant to treatment with proteases, although free IL-6 was easily degraded. These findings indicate that alpha 2M plays an important role as a carrier protein for IL-6 in serum and makes IL-6 produced at the local inflammatory site available to lymphocytes, hepatocytes, and hematopoietic stem cells, resulting in the induction of the coordinate systemic host defense reactions, such as immune response, acute phase reaction, and hematopoiesis.     

cDNA cloning and sequence determination of the pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide of the silkworm, Bombyx mori.

We have identified the cDNAs encoding pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide (PBAN) using PCR technique. The nucleotide sequence showed that the PBAN gene encodes, besides PBAN, diapause hormone and three putative amidated peptides. These four peptides share with PBAN the C-terminal pentapeptide amide which is corresponding to the shortest fragment with pheromonotropic activity. The organization of the PBAN gene is characteristic of several short neuropeptides and has some degree of similarity to that of the gene for the insect neuropeptide FMRFamide. Thus, the PBAN gene products construct a family of structurally related peptides and have various biological functions.     

Gene expression of metalloproteinase and its inhibitor in mesangial cells exposed to high glucose.

To clarify the roles of metalloproteinases and their inhibitor (TIMP) in diabetic glomerulopathy, we studied the effect of a high glucose concentration on the gene expression of metalloproteinase transin and TIMP as well as collagen type IV and laminin in cultured rat mesangial cells (MCs). In the high glucose group, collagen type IV, laminin, and TIMP mRNA levels were all elevated in a concentration-dependent manner, whereas transin expression was suppressed. Osmotic control of high glucose with mannitol selectively stimulated TIMP expression. We hypothesize that high glucose decreases matrix-degrading activity as well as increases matrix productivity in MCs.     

Conformational equilibria of the L-iduronate residue in non-sulphated di-, tetra- and hexa-saccharides and their alditols derived from dermatan sulphate.

The conformation of the L-iduronate residue in non-sulphated di-, tetra- and hexa-saccharides and their alditol derivatives derived from rooster comb dermatan sulphate was investigated by 400 MHz 1H-n.m.r. spectroscopy. The ratio of conformational isomers is obtained by the average spin-spin coupling constants of a mixture of nearly isoenergetic conformers (1C4, 4C1 and 2S0). The non-reducing terminal L-iduronate residue in the tetrasaccharides (I-H-I-H and I-H-G-H) and their alditols (I-H-I-H-ol and I-H-G-H-ol) is in equilibrium with three conformers (1C4, 30%; 4C1, 40%; 2S0, 30%) of nearly equal population. Whereas the internal L-iduronate residue in the tetrasaccharides (I-H-I-H and G-H-I-H) exists as an equilibrium mixture of 1C4 (54%) and 2S0 (42-44%) conformers, that of their alditols (I-H-I-H-ol and G-H-I-H-ol) is in equilibrium between 2S0 conformer (66%) and 1C4 conformer (28%). The conformational population for the internal L-iduronate residue 2I in the hexasaccharide (3I-H-2I-H-1I-H) is also calculated and compared with that for the L-iduronate residue in native dermatan sulphate, which was calculated on the basis of the spin-spin coupling constants reported by Gatti, Casu, Torri & Vercellotti [(1979) Carbohydr. Res. 68, c3-c7].     

Redescription of Vorticella oceanica Zacharias, 1906 (Ciliophora: Peritrichia) with notes on its host, the marine planktonic diatom Chaetoceros coarctatum Lauder,1864

The late-spring quantitative relationship between epiphyton and macroinvertebrates was analyzed on the basis of units of colonizable plant surface of Typha angustifolia, Phragmites australis and Nuphar lutea (floating leaves) in the shallow euthrophic Lake Loosdrecht (the Netherlands), with a high seston load. The non-predatory chironomid larvae (Glyptotendipes viridis, Endochironomus albipennis, Pentapedilum sordens, Cricotopus sylvestris agg.) dominated among the macroinvertebrate taxa, controlling the diversity and resemblance of macroinvertebrate assemblages. There was a gradient in functional feeding groups among the chironomids from continuous filtering of the seston to prevailing utilization of epiphyton. We found no direct relationship between the total macroinvertebrate abundance and the epiphyton mass on the plants surface. We attribute this to the filter feeding-strategy of the most abundant species, Glyptotendipes viridis, that utilizes seston in the eutrophicated lake.     

Mutations associated with floral organ number in rice

How floral organ number is specified is an interesting subject and has been intensively studied in Arabidopsis thaliana. In rice (Oryza sativa L.), mutations associated with floral organ number have been identified. In three mutants of rice, floral organ number 1 (fon1) and the two alleles, floral organ number 2-1 (fon2-1) and floral organ number 2-2 (fon2-2), the floral organs were increased in number centripetally. Lodicules, homologous to petals, were rarely affected, and stamens were frequently increased from six to seven or eight. Of all the floral organs the number of pistils was the most frequently increased. Among the mutants, fon1 showed a different spectrum of organ number from fon2 -1 and fon2 -2. Lodicules were the most frequently affected in fon1, but pistils of more than half of fon1 flowers were unaffected; in contrast, the pistils of most flowers were increased in fon2 -1 and fon2-2. Homeotic conversion of organ identity was also detected at a low frequency in ectopically formed lodicules and stamens. Lodicules and stamens were partially converted into anthers and stigmas, respectively. Concomitant with the increased number of floral organs, each mutant had an enlarged apical meristem. Although meristem size was comparable among the three mutants and wild type in the early phase of flower development, a significant difference became apparent after the lemma primordium had differentiated. In these mutants, the size of the shoot apical meristem in the embryo and in the vegetative phase was not affected, and no phenotypic abnormalities were detected. These results do not coincide with those for Arabidopsis in which clavatal affects the sizes of both shoot and floral meristems, leading to abnormal phyllotaxis, inflorescence fasciation and increased floral organs. Accordingly, it is considered that FON1 and FON2 function exclusively in the regulation of the floral meristem, not of the vegetative meristem.Abbreviation DIC differential interference contrast This work was supported in part by Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Priority Areas from the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture of Japan.     

Isolation and identification of (2S)-2-amino-5-chloro-4-hydroxy-5-hexenoic acid from anAmanita of the sectionRoanokenses (Amanitaceae)

A chlorine-containing non-protein amino acid which was recently discovered from the fruit bodies ofAmanita gymnopus (2S)-2-amino-5-chloro-4-hydroxy-5-hexenoic acid, was isolated and crystallized for the first time from the fruit bodies of an unknown member ofAmanita belonging to the sectionRoanokenses, subsectionSolitariae. The results of elementary analyses, determination of optical rotations,¹H- and¹³C-NMR-spectra, and some chemical reactions supported an earlier proposed structure.Part 24 in the series Biochemical studies of nitrogen compounds in fungi. for Part 23, see Hatanaka, S. I. et al. 1994. this journal35: 391–394.