RNAi targeting the gene for 1,8-cineole synthase induces recomposition of leaf essential oil in lavandin (Lavandula × intermedia Emeric)

Recomposition of volatile compounds is an effective way to alter the fragrance of an essential oil. Using RNA interference (RNAi), we attempted to reduce the production of 1,8-cineole, a major monoterpene in essential oils, to alter the composition of the essential oil in lavandin. We obtained 12 transgenic regenerants via inoculation with Agrobacterium tumefaciens, including an RNAi inducing vector targeting five regions of the gene for 1,8-cineole synthase (CINS). Of these, two regenerants, targeting a coding region about 250 nt upstream with 5′-UTR and a coding region about 300 nt downstream of CINS mRNA (CINS I and V), respectively, showed a significant decrease of 1,8-cineole production in leaf essential oil, although the overall composition was barely altered because the production of other compounds decreased concurrently. By contrast, in two other regenerants, targeting a coding region about 1000 nt in the middle and a coding region about 300 nt downstream of CINS mRNA (CINS IV and V), respectively, 1,8-cineole production could be barely observed, without any decrease in production of other compounds. Expression of CINS in these transgenic regenerants was extremely suppressed to 0.02 and 0.08 of that of a nontransgenic regenerant control. The composition of leaf essential oil in the transgenic regenerants was changed by the RNAi. Specifically, the major compounds changed from 1,8-cineole, camphor, and borneol, to linalool, camphor, and borneol. Consequently, the fragrance of essential oils of these plants was perceived as more citrusy than the fragrance of the nontransgenic regenerant. These results suggest that the knockdown strategy was a useful tool for altering the fragrance in lavandin.

     

Therapeutic effects of superoxide dismutase derivatives modified with mono- or polysaccharides on hepatic injury induced by ischemia/reperfusion.

Therapeutic effects of four types of recombinant superoxide dismutase (SOD) derivatives, conjugates with polysaccharides, carboxymethyl (SOD-CMD) and diethylaminoethyl (SOD-DEAED) dextrans and galactosylated (Gal-SOD) and mannosylated (Man-SOD) derivatives, on hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury were studied in rats. Hepatic injury induced by transient occlusion and subsequent reflow of hepatic blood was evaluated by the analysis of biliary excretion of bromosulfophthalein (BSP) injected intravenously. At a dose of 10000 units/kg, native SOD and SOD-DEAE did not show any significant effect and SOD-CMD showed slight effect. On the other hand, Gal-SOD and Man-SOD, targeted to the liver parenchymal and nonparenchymal cells, respectively, by a receptor-mediated endocytosis, exhibited superior inhibitory effects. These results demonstrated that these glycosylated SOD derivatives were useful for the prevention of hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury.     

Changes in Surgical Site Infections after Living Donor Liver Transplantation

Surgical site infections (SSIs) are a major threat for liver transplant recipients. We prospectively studied SSIs after living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) at Kyoto University Hospital from April 2001 to March 2002 (1^st period) and from January 2011 to June 2012 (2^nd period). We investigated the epidemiology of SSIs after LDLT and determined the differences between the two periods. A total of 129 adult recipients (66 during the 1^st period and 63 during the 2^nd period) and 72 pediatric recipients (39 and 33) were included in this study. The SSI rates for each period were 30.3% (1^st period) and 41.3% (2^nd period) among the adult recipients and 25.6% and 30.3% among the pediatric recipients. The overall rates of 30-day mortality among adult transplant recipients with SSIs were 10.0% (1^st period) and 3.9% (2^nd period). No pediatric recipient died from SSIs after LDLT in either period. The incidence of Enterococcus faecium increased from 5.0% to 26.9% in the adults and from 10.0% to 40.0% in the pediatric patients. Extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae were emerging important isolates during the 2^nd period. For this period, a univariate analysis showed that ABO incompatibility (P = 0.02), total operation duration (P = 0.01), graft-to-recipient body weight ratio (GRWR [P = 0.04]), and Roux-en-Y biliary reconstruction (P<0.01) in the adults and age (P = 0.01) and NHSN risk index (P = 0.02) in the children were associated with SSI development. In a multivariate analysis, lower GRWR (P = 0.02) and Roux-en-Y biliary reconstruction (P<0.01) in the adults and older age (P = 0.01) in the children were independent risk factors for SSIs during the 2^nd period. In conclusion, SSIs caused by antibiotic resistant bacteria may become a major concern. Lower GRWR and Roux-en-Y biliary reconstruction among adult LDLT recipients and older age among pediatric LDLT recipients increased the risk of developing SSIs after LDLT.     

Change in N-Glycosylation of Plasma Proteins in Japanese Semisupercentenarians

An N-glycomic analysis of plasma proteins was performed in Japanese semisupercentenarians (SSCs) (mean 106.7 years), aged controls (mean 71.6 years), and young controls (mean 30.2 years) by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) using a graphitized carbon column. Characteristic N-glycans in SSCs were discriminated using a multivariate analysis; orthogonal projections to latent structures (O-PLS). The results obtained showed that multi-branched and highly sialylated N-glycans as well as agalacto- and/or bisecting N-glycans were increased in SSCs, while biantennary N-glycans were decreased. Since multi-branched and highly sialylated N-glycans have been implicated in anti-inflammatory activities, these changes may play a role in the enhanced chronic inflammation observed in SSCs. The levels of inflammatory proteins, such as CRP, adiponectin, IL-6, and TNF-α, were elevated in SSCs. These results suggested that responses to inflammation may play an important role in extreme longevity and healthy aging in humans. This is the first study to show that the N-glycans of plasma proteins were associated with extreme longevity and healthy aging in humans.     

Sexual shape dimorphism accelerated by male–male competition,but not prevented by sex-indiscriminate parental care in dung beetles (Scarabaeidae)

Dimorphic sexual differences in shape and body size are called sexual dimorphism and sexual size dimorphism, respectively. The degrees of both dimorphisms are considered to increase with sexual selection, represented by male–male competition. However, the degrees of the two dimorphisms often differ within a species. In some dung beetles, typical sexual shape dimorphisms are seen in male horns and other exaggerated traits, although sexual size dimorphism looks rare. We hypothesized that the evolution of this sexual shape dimorphism without sexual size dimorphism is caused by male–male competition and their crucial and sex-indiscriminate provisioning behaviors, in which parents provide the equivalent size of brood ball with each of both sons and daughters indiscriminately. As a result of individual-based model simulations, we show that parents evolve to provide each of sons and daughters with the optimal amount of resource for a son when parents do not distinguish the sex of offspring and males compete for mates. This result explains why crucial and sex-indiscriminate parental provisioning does not prevent the evolution of sexual shape dimorphism. The model result was supported by empirical data of Scarabaeidae beetles. In some dung beetles, sexual size dimorphism is absent, compared with significant sexual size dimorphism in other horned beetles, although both groups exhibit similar degrees of sexual shape dimorphism in male horns and other exaggerated traits.     

Simultaneous serodetection of major rat infectious pathogens by a multiplex immunochromatographic assay

Rapid and simple serologic tests that require only a small amount of blood without the euthanization of animals are valuable for microbial control in colonies of laboratory animals. In this study, we developed a multiplex immunochromatographic assay (ICA) for detection of antibodies to Sendai virus (also known as hemagglutinating virus of Japan), hantavirus, and sialodacryoadenitis virus, which are causative agents of major infectious diseases in rats. For this assay, an ICA strip was placed into a microtube containing 150 µl PBS and either 0.75 µl of rat serum or 1.5 µl of whole blood. Binding antibodies were visualized by using anti-rat IgG antibody-conjugated colloidal gold. Under these conditions, the multiplex ICA simultaneously and specifically detected antibodies to multiple antigens. Positive serum samples for each infectious disease were used to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of the multiplex ICA. The sensitivities of the multiplex ICA for Sendai virus, hantavirus, and sialodacryoadenitis virus were 100%, 100%, and 81%, respectively. No nonspecific reactions were observed in any of the 52 positive sera against heterologous antigens. In addition, 10 samples of uninfected sera did not show any bands except for the control line. These observations indicate high specificity of the multiplex ICA. Moreover, the multiplex ICA could be applied to diluted blood. These results indicate that the multiplex ICA is appropriate for rapid and simple serological testing of laboratory rats.     

A tortricid moth of Cydia sp. (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) boring into thorns of Gleditsia japonica Miq. (Fabaceae) in Japan

Plants defend themselves using various physical structures, including spines and thorns. However, some herbivorous insects can make use of defensive structures as food sources. A tortricid moth larva in the genus Cydia bores into thorns of the endangered Japanese honey locust Gleditsia japonica. The larva may escape predation by using the thorns as protection. A survey of sharp plant structures was proposed.     

Saturation of transgene protein synthesis from mRNA in cells producing a large number of transgene mRNA

Experimental results have suggested that transgene expression can be saturated when large amounts of plasmid vectors are delivered into cells. To investigate this saturation kinetic behavior, cells were transfected with monitoring and competing plasmids using cationic liposomes. Even although an identical amount of a monitoring plasmid expressing firefly luciferase (FL) was used for transfection, transgene expression from the plasmid was greatly affected by the level of transgene expression from competing plasmids expressing renilla luciferase (RL). Similar results were obtained by exchanging the monitoring and competing plasmids. The competing plasmid‐dependent reduction in transgene expression from the monitoring plasmid was also observed in mouse liver after hydrodynamic injection of plasmids. On the other hand, the mRNA and protein expression level of glyceraldehyde‐3‐phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), an endogenous gene, in the liver hardly changed even when transgene expression process is saturated. The expression of FL from a monitoring plasmid was significantly restored by siRNA‐mediated degradation of RL mRNA that was expressed from a competing plasmid. These results suggest that the efficiency of protein synthesis from plasmid vectors is reduced when a large amount of mRNA is transcribed with no significant changes in endogenous gene expression. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2011;108: 2380–2389. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

A role for endothelial cells in promoting the maturation of astrocytes through the apelin/APJ system in mice

Interactions between astrocytes and endothelial cells (ECs) are crucial for retinal vascular formation. Astrocytes induce migration and proliferation of ECs via their production of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and, conversely, ECs induce maturation of astrocytes possibly by the secretion of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF). Together with the maturation of astrocytes, this finalizes angiogenesis. Thus far, the mechanisms triggering LIF production in ECs are unclear. Here we show that apelin, a ligand for the endothelial receptor APJ, induces maturation of astrocytes mediated by the production of LIF from ECs. APJ (Aplnr)- and Apln-deficient mice show delayed angiogenesis; however, aberrant overgrowth of endothelial networks with immature astrocyte overgrowth was induced. When ECs were stimulated with apelin, LIF expression was upregulated and intraocular injection of LIF into APJ-deficient mice suppressed EC and astrocyte overgrowth. These data suggest an involvement of apelin/APJ in the maturation process of retinal angiogenesis.