Evaluating the potential for invasion by alien freshwater fishes in northern Kyushu Island,Japan, using the Fish Invasiveness Scoring Kit

The potential invasiveness of 28 freshwater fishes in northern Kyushu Island, Japan, was evaluated using the Fish Invasiveness Scoring Kit (FISK). The five co-authors scored the level of invasiveness for each species and calculated the total FISK scores; the maximum and minimum scores were then eliminated, and the mean of the remaining three scores was used as the final score for each species. The mean scores ranged from 11.0 (Hypomesus nipponensis) to 31.0 (Cyprinus carpio). The receiver operating characteristic curve indicated that the threshold value between fishes that present a high risk of invasion and the other species were 19.8.     

Fluctuation in O-GlcNAcylation inactivates STIM1 to reduce store-operated calcium ion entry via down-regulation of Ser621 phosphorylation

Stromal interaction molecule 1 (STIM1) plays a pivotal role in store-operated Ca²⁺ entry (SOCE), an essential mechanism in cellular calcium signaling and in maintaining cellular calcium balance. Because O-GlcNAcylation plays pivotal roles in various cellular function, we examined the effect of fluctuation in STIM1 O-GlcNAcylation on SOCE activity. We found that both increase and decrease in STIM1 O-GlcNAcylation impaired SOCE activity. To determine the molecular basis, we established STIM1-knockout HEK293 (STIM1-KO-HEK) cells using the CRISPR/Cas9 system and transfected STIM1 WT (STIM1-KO-WT-HEK), S621A (STIM1-KO-S621A-HEK), or T626A (STIM1-KO-T626A-HEK) cells. Using these cells, we examined the possible O-GlcNAcylation sites of STIM1 to determine whether the sites were O-GlcNAcylated. Co-immunoprecipitation analysis revealed that Ser⁶²¹ and Thr⁶²⁶ were O-GlcNAcylated and that Thr⁶²⁶ was O-GlcNAcylated in the steady state but Ser⁶²¹ was not. The SOCE activity in STIM1-KO-S621A-HEK and STIM1-KO-T626A-HEK cells was lower than that in STIM1-KO-WT-HEK cells because of reduced phosphorylation at Ser⁶²¹. Treatment with the O-GlcNAcase inhibitor Thiamet G or O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) transfection, which increases O-GlcNAcylation, reduced SOCE activity, whereas treatment with the OGT inhibitor ST045849 or siOGT transfection, which decreases O-GlcNAcylation, also reduced SOCE activity. Decrease in SOCE activity due to increase and decrease in O-GlcNAcylation was attributable to reduced phosphorylation at Ser⁶²¹. These data suggest that both decrease in O-GlcNAcylation at Thr⁶²⁶ and increase in O-GlcNAcylation at Ser⁶²¹ in STIM1 lead to impairment of SOCE activity through decrease in Ser⁶²¹ phosphorylation. Targeting STIM1 O-GlcNAcylation could provide a promising treatment option for the related diseases, such as neurodegenerative diseases.     

Large-scale hybridization of Japanese populations of Hinamoroko,Aphyocypris chinensis,with A. kikuchii introduced from Taiwan

Ichthyological Research - Aphyocypris chinensis is a small cyprinid that is widely distributed in lowland areas of continental China, the Korean Peninsula, and the northwestern part of Kyushu,...     

Chemistry of Benzeneglycols

Streptamine (scyllo-inosadiamine-l,3²⁾) was synthesized from conduritol-F³⁾ dibromide, via one of its diazido derivatives. At the same time, a new isomer of inosadiamine, rac-inosadiamine-l,2,²⁾ was also prepared. Its configuration was induced from the synthetic intermediates and its NMR spectrum.     

The Preparation of 14C-Labeled Ribosyl-trans-zeatin and Its cis Isomer

¹⁴C-Labeled ribosyl-trans-zeatin and its cis isomer have been prepared from [8-¹⁴C]inosine by facile reactions.     

Synthesis and Structure of Three Isomers of 1,3,4,5-Tetrachlorocyclohexene

By controlled reduction of 1,3,4,5,6-pentachlorocyclohexene isomers with lithium aluminum hydride, three isomers of 1,3,4,5-tetrachlorocyclohexene were prepared. Their structures were (34/5)-, (3/45)- and (35/4)- by PMR analyses.