Reaction between Nitrite and Low Salt-soluble Diffusible Fraction of Meat. Some Compounds Influencing Nitrite Depletion and Producing Unidentified-N Compounds

A low salt-soluble, diffusible fraction of meat was separated into basic, neutral and acidic fractions. Investigations were then conducted on the reaction of each fraction with nitrite and on the recovery of the added nitrite.

The basic fraction shared the lowest ability to decompose nitrite and had 88% recovery of added nitrite-N. Hypoxanthine was one of the main components that affected the recovery in the basic fraction. In the neutral fraction, 42% of nitrite was decomposed, and the recovery of the nitrite was 107%. In the acidic fraction, more than 80% of nitrite was decomposed and 30% was converted to unidentified-N compounds. Among endogenous acidic substances tested, cysteic acid showed the highest ability to decompose nitrite, accompanying the production of unidentified-N compounds.     

Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometric Analysis of Monohydro-peroxide Isomers and Their Secondary Oxidation Productsof Methyl Linoleate and Methyl Linolenate

Emulsions of methyl linoleate monohydroperoxides (18:2-monoHP) and methyl linolenate monohydroperoxides (18: 3-monoHP) were incubated with ferrous sulfate and ascorbic acid. Gas chromatography mass spectrometric analysis of the trimethylsilyl and te^butyldimethylsilyl derivatives of the reaction products showed that isomerization and secondary oxidation happen competitively during decomposition of 18:2-monoHP, while the secondary oxidation reaction proceeds preferentially and little isomerization is observed in 18: 3-monoHP. It is suggested that 18:3-monoHP is more susceptible to secondary oxidation than 18:2-monoHP because of 18:3 specific secondary oxidation resulting in hydroperoxy-cyclic peroxides and dihydroperoxides. Moreover, an experiment using ¹⁸0₂ has demonstrated that molecular oxygen is scrambled by isomerization and secondary oxidation. It was confirmed that molecular oxygen is attached preferentially to the C-13 position in the 9-monoHP isomer and C-9 position in the 13-monoHP isomer during degradation of 18:2-monoHP.     

Tomato extract suppresses the production of proinflammatory mediators induced by interaction between adipocytes and macrophages

Obese adipose tissue is characterized by enhanced macrophage infiltration. A loop involving monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) between adipocytes and macrophages establishes a vicious cycle that augments inflammatory changes and insulin resistance in obese adipose tissue. Tomatoes, one of the most popular crops worldwide, contain many beneficial phytochemicals that improve obesity-related diseases such as diabetes. Some of them have also been reported to have anti-inflammatory properties. In this study, we focused on the potential protective effects of phytochemicals in tomatoes on inflammation. We screened fractions of tomato extract using nitric oxide (NO) assay in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264 macrophages. One fraction, RF52, significantly inhibited NO production in LPS-stimulated RAW264 macrophages. Furthermore, RF52 significantly decreased MCP-1 and TNFα productions. The coculture of 3T3-L1 adipocytes and RAW264 macrophages markedly enhanced MCP-1, TNFα, and NO productions compared with the control cultures; however, the treatment with RF52 inhibited the production of these proinflammatory mediators. These results suggest that RF52 from tomatoes may have the potential to suppress inflammation by inhibiting the production of NO or proinflammatory cytokines during the interaction between adipocytes and macrophages.     

2-(2-Phenylmorpholin-4-yl)pyrimidin-4(3H)-ones; A new class of potent,selective and orally active glycogen synthase kinase-3β inhibitors

A series of 2-(2-phenylmorpholin-4-yl)pyrimidin-4(3H)-ones was synthesized and examined for their inhibitory activity against glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β). We found 21, 29 and 30 to possess potent in vitro GSK-3β inhibitory activity with good in vitro PK profiles. 21 demonstrated significant decrease of tau phosphorylation after oral administration in mice and excellent PK profiles.     

Patch size determines the strength of edge effects on carabid beetle assemblages in urban remnant forests

Habitat fragmentation due to urbanization is increasing rapidly worldwide. Although patch area and edge effect are both important determinants of species diversity and the number of individuals in fragmented landscapes, studies that tested interaction between two effects were limited. Here we examined the interaction between area and edge effects on species richness and the number of individuals of carabids in highly fragmented forests in Tokyo, central Japan. We surveyed carabids in each of 26 forest patches (1.1–121.6 ha) using pitfall traps set in both edge and interior zones. First, we correlated the edge-to-interior differences of both species richness and the number of individuals with patch area. Second, we examined the interaction between patch area and distance to the edge on species richness and the number of individuals using generalized linear models. We found a significant decrease in carabid species richness and the number of individuals in edge zones. The edge-to-interior differences in both species richness and the number of individuals were positively correlated with patch area. Model selection revealed the evident interaction effects between patch area and distance to the edge: higher number of individuals was predicted in only large interior zones. Our results indicated that carabid beetle assemblages were influenced by the interaction between area and edge effects. Thus, in urban areas where small forest remnants dominate, circularizing the shape of the forest patches to maximize the core areas may be the most feasible and realistic means to preserve biodiversity.     

Hepatitis C virus RNA replication in human stellate cells regulates gene expression of extracellular matrix-related molecules

Erlin1 and erlin2 are highly homologous, ∼40 kDa, endoplasmic reticulum membrane proteins that assemble into a ring-shaped complex with a mass of ∼2 MDa. How this complex is formed is not understood, but appears to involve multiple interactions, including a coiled-coil region that mediates lower-order erlin assembly, and a short hydrophobic region, termed the “assembly domain”, that mediates higher-order assembly into ∼2 MDa complexes. Here we have used molecular modeling, mutagenesis and cross-linking to examine the role of the assembly domain in higher-order assembly. We find (i) that the assembly domains of erlin1 and erlin2 are amphipathic helices, (ii) that erlin1 alone and erlin2 alone can assemble into ∼2 MDa complexes, (iii) that higher-order assembly is strongly inhibited by point mutations to the assembly domain, (iv) that three interacting hydrophobic residues in the assembly domain and aromaticity are essential for higher-order assembly, and (iv) that while erlins1 and 2 are equally capable of forming lower-order homo- and hetero-oligomers, hetero-oligomers are the most prevalent form when erlin1 and erlin2 are co-expressed. Overall, we conclude that the ∼2 MDa erlin1/2 complex is composed of an assemblage of lower-order hetero-oligomers, probably heterotrimers, linked together by assembly domain hydrophobic residues.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Polistes japonicus</Emphasis> (Hymenoptera,Vespidae) queens monopolize ovipositing but are not the most active aggressor in dominant-subordinate interactions

In order to elucidate the dominant–subordinate relationship between the foundress and workers, five colonies of the paper wasp Polistes japonicus were observed in a netted and covered cage located outdoors. The number of workers in each colony ranged from four to eight. Workers were divided into first and second broods. Abdominal wagging and ovipositing were performed almost exclusively by the foundress throughout colony development. However, an analysis of aggressive encounters indicated that although the foundress hardly received dominance behaviors (aggression) from workers, it lacked either partially or completely the following characteristics of the queen that are usually seen in paper-wasp colonies with independent-founding queens (except in one colony that produced no second brood): the queen being socially dominant over any worker (the queen had more wins than losses in one-on-one dominance contests with any worker), exhibiting the highest frequency of dominance behaviors, and directing dominance behaviors primarily toward the socially most-dominant worker. In particular, during the mixed-brood period (when all first- and second-brood workers were present on the nest) the foundress hardly exhibited dominance behaviors toward socially dominant workers (mainly second brood) but frequently directed dominance behaviors toward socially subordinate workers (mainly first brood). The foundress disappeared in two colonies before the reproductives emerged; in these colonies the socially most-dominant worker inherited the colony and laid many eggs. The frequency of abdominal wagging by these two foundresses decreased during colony development, while it did not in the other colonies. This suggests that abdominal wagging provides information about the vigor of the performer. The superseder was socially dominant over all other workers, but spent little time wagging its abdomen and allowed some workers to lay eggs.     

Distal transport of exogenously applied jasmonoyl-isoleucine with wounding stress

Determining the mobile signal used by plants to defend against biotic and abiotic stresses has proved elusive, but jasmonic acid (JA) and its derivatives appear to be involved. Using deuterium-labeled analogs, we investigated the distal transport of JA and jasmonoyl-isoleucine (JA-Ile) in response to leaf wounding in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plants. We recovered [(2)H(2)-2]JA ([(2)H(2)]JA) and [(2)H(3)-12]JA-Ile ([(2)H(3)]JA-Ile) in distal leaves of N. tabacum and S. lycopersicum after treating wounded leaves with [(2)H(2)]JA or [(2)H(3)]JA-Ile. We found that JA-Ile had a greater mobility than JA, despite its lower polarity, and that application of exogenous JA-Ile to wounded leaves of N. tabacum led to a higher accumulation of JA and JA-Ile in distal leaves compared with wounded control plants. We also found that exudates from the stem of S. lycopersicum plants with damaged leaflets contained JA and JA-Ile at higher levels than in an undamaged plant, and a significant difference in the levels of JA-Ile was observed 30 min after wounding. Based on these results, it was found that JA-Ile is a transportable compound, which suggests that JA-Ile is a signaling cue involved in the resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses in plants.     

Estimate of the seed shadow created by the Asiatic black bear Ursus thibetanus and its characteristics as a seed disperser in Japanese cool‐temperate forest

We estimated the seed shadow created by the Asiatic black bear Ursus thibetanus in order to evaluate the bears effectiveness as a seed disperser. We combined data from bear movements, determined by GPS telemetry, with data from gut retention time (GRT). We estimated plant seed shadows in two ways: from direct movement data to give the actual seed shadow (ASS), and from cumulative movement data to give the potential seed shadow (PSS). The purpose of this study was to answer the following questions: (1) does GRT differ between seasons or in the size of contents? (2) Does seed shadow vary among sex, seasons, estimation method (ASS or PSS), and years? (3) Does the masting affect seed shadows? There were no differences in median GRT among seasons or seed dimensions. Combining these data, the seed shadows produced by long GRT (median; 15.2–19.7 hours, maximum; 44.0 hours) and large daily movements suggest that the bears effectively move 40% of the seeds they consume to a distance greater than 500 m from the parent tree and can potentially move the seeds up to a maximum distance of more than 22 000 m from the parent tree. The results also indicate that bears make complex seed shadows caused by multiple defecations and long periods of daily movement. In summary, PSS did not differ between sexes, but PSS can be expected to be larger in autumn than in summer of each year. ASS, however, can be expected to be larger in males than females, and to be larger in autumn than in summer. ASS may become especially large during a poor masting year as compared to good masting years. These results indicate that bears are potentially more effective seed dispersers during years of poor fruit production in autumn. The bears have longer seed shadows than other seed disperser and consequently may play a unique role in the maintenance and renewal of forest ecosystem.     

IL-15-high-responder developing NK cells bearing Ly49 receptors in IL-15-/- mice

In mice lacking IL-15, NK cell development is arrested at immature stages, providing an opportunity to investigate the earliest developing NK cells that would respond to IL-15. We show in this study that immature NK cells were present in the spleen as well as bone marrow (BM) and contained IL-15-high-responder cells. Thus, mature NK cells were generated more efficiently from IL-15(-/-) than from control donor cells in radiation BM chimeras, and the rate of IL-15-induced cell division in vitro was higher in NK cells in the spleen and BM from IL-15(-/-) mice than in those from wild-type mice. Phenotypically, NK cells developed in IL-15(-/-) mice up to the minor but discrete CD11b(-)CD27(+)DX5(hi)CD51(dull)CD127(dull)CD122(hi) stage, which contained the majority of Ly49G2(+) and D(+) NK cells both in the spleen and BM. Even among wild-type splenic NK cells, IL-15-induced proliferation was most prominent in CD11b(-)DX5(hi) cells. Notably, IL-15-mediated preferential expansion (but not conversion from Ly49(-) cells) of Ly49(+) NK cells was observed in vitro only for NK cells in the spleen. These observations indicated the uneven distribution of NK cells of different developing stages with variable IL-15 responsiveness in these lymphoid organs. Immature NK cells in the spleen may contribute, as auxiliaries to those in BM, to the mature NK cell compartment through IL-15-driven extramarrow expansion under steady-state or inflammatory conditions.