Alkaline adaptation induces cross-protection against some environmental stresses and morphological change in Vibrio parahaemolyticus

The relationship between alkaline adaptation and the resistance against environmental stresses was examined in Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Alkali-adapted cells were found to have increased resistance against various stresses, including heat, crystal violet, deoxycholic acid, and hydrogen peroxide. However, alkali-adapted cells showed no increased resistance against acid stress and heat-adapted cells did not show increased resistance against alkaline stress. Furthermore, alkaline treatment induced cell elongation with heterogenous size of the bacterium.     

Spontaneous differentiation of periodontal ligament stem cells into myofibroblast during ex vivo expansion

Periodontitis is characterized by the chronic inflammation and destruction of tooth-supporting tissues. Periodontal ligament stem cell (PDLSC) is the mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) population isolated from periodontal ligament, which is the key tissue for regeneration of periodontal tissues. Although transplantation of PDLSCs is proposed as novel regenerative therapy, limited information is available, regarding the characteristic change of PDLSCs during ex vivo expansion. In this study, we encountered morphological change of PDLSCs during standard cell culture and aimed to investigate the change of PDLSCs in stem cell characteristics and to search for the culture condition to maintain stem cell properties. Characteristics of PDLSCs were examined using in vitro osteoblast and adipocyte differentiation. Myofibroblast differentiation was confirmed using immunohistochemistry and collagen gel contraction assay. Replicative senescence was examined by β-gal staining. PDLSCs changed their morphology from spindle to flat and wide during ex vivo expansion. After the morphological change, PDLSCs showed several features of myofibroblast including extensive stress fiber formation, contraction activity, and myofibroblast marker expression. Upon the morphological change, osteoblastic and adipocyte differentiation capacity were reduced and expression of stem cell-related genes were decreased. β-Gal staining was not always correlated with the morphological change of PDLSCs. Moreover, exogenous addition of bFGF and PDGF-BB served to maintain spindle shape and osteoblastic differentiation potential of PDLSCs. This study demonstrates that spontaneous differentiation of PDLSCs during ex vivo expansion and may provide the important information of cell culture condition of PDLSCs for clinical use.     

High level expression of Thermococcus litoralis 4-alpha-glucanotransferase in a soluble form in Escherichia coli with a novel expression system involving minor arginine tRNAs and GroELS.

The Thermococcus litoralis 4-alpha-glucanotransferase (GTase) gene has a high content of AGA and AGG codons for arginine, which are extremely rare in Escherichia coli. Expression of the GTase gene in E. coli resulted in low protein production and the accumulation of inclusion bodies. However, simultaneous expression of GTase with tRNA(AGA), tRNA(AGG) and GroELS affected both the production and solubility of GTase, and production of soluble GTase increasing about 5-fold. This new E. coli expression system should be applicable to the expression of not only archaeal but also eukaryotic genes, which usually contain a large number of AGA and AGG codons.     

Remodeling of the corpora cardiaca and the corpora allata during adult metamorphosis in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bombyx mori</Emphasis>: identification of invisible corpora cardiaca by the expression of adipokinetic hormone

It is problematic to identify the corpora cardiaca (CC) of pupal and adult stages of Bombyx mori because of the presence of tissues similar in appearance near the associated corpora allata (CA). To find the CC, we performed in situ hybridization experiments using the adipokinetic hormone II (AKH-II) gene as a probe, as AKH-II expression occurs only in the CC. Shortly after pupation, the CC and CA began to move toward the esophagus and had attached there tightly by 4 days; during this period, the distance between the CC and CA increased from 65 to 507 μm. The CC became flattened during the remodeling period, although the CA stayed globular until adult ecdysis. In situ hybridization analyses, after the CC had been correctly identified during adult development, showed that the mRNA expression of all the mevalonate enzymes and juvenile hormone acid O-methyltransferase involved in JH synthesis occurred only in CA cells, indicating that the fluctuations of enzyme mRNA amounts in CC-CA complexes (Kinjoh et al. in Insect Biochem Mol Biol 37:808–818, 2007) were derived solely from those in the CA.     

Apo A-I and apo A-II inhibit hepatic triglyceride lipase from human postheparin plasma

Like α-amanitin, tRNA binds reversibly to yeast RNA polymerases A or B, in a 1:1 stoechiometry and inhibits enzyme B preferentially. Kinetic studies showed that the binding sites for the two inhibitors are completely independent. The dissociation constant of the enzyme-inhibitor complexes was determined. Only in the case of tRNA, it varied with the nature and concentration of the template. The stimulation factor P₃₇ does not interfere with the binding of both inhibitors.     

Measurements of gamma (γ)-emitting radionuclides with a high-purity germanium detector: the methods and reliability of our environmental assessments on the Fukushima 1 Nuclear Power Plant accident

The severe accident of Fukushima 1 Nuclear Power Plant due to the Tohoku Region Pacific Coast Earthquake in 11 March 2011 caused wide contamination and pollution by radionuclides in Fukushima and surrounding prefectures. In the current JPR symposium, a group of plant scientists attempted to examine the impact of the radioactive contamination on wild and cultivated plants. Measurements of gamma (γ) radiation from radionuclides in “Fukushima samples”, which we called and collected from natural and agricultural areas in Fukushima prefecture were mostly done with a high-purity Ge detector in the Graduate School of Maritime Sciences, Kobe University. In this technical note, we describe the methods of sample preparation and measurements of radioactivity of the samples and discuss the reliability of our data in regards to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Interlaboratory comparisons and proficiency test (IAEA proficiency test).