A genome-wide association study for racing performances in Thoroughbreds clarifies a candidate region near the MSTN gene

Using 1400 microsatellites, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) was performed to identify genomic regions associated with lifetime earnings and performance ranks, as determined by the Japan Racing Association (JRA). The minimum heritability (h(2) ) was estimated at 7-8% based on the quantitative trait model, suggesting that the racing performance is heritable. Following GWAS with microsatellites, fine mapping led to identification of three SNPs on ECA18, namely, g.65809482T>C (P=1.05E-18), g.65868604G>T (P=6.47E-17), and g.66539967A>G (P=3.35E-14) associated with these performance measures. The haplotype of these SNPs, together with a recently published nearby SNP, g.66493737C>T (P=9.06E-16) in strong linkage disequilibrium, also showed a very clear association with the performance (P<1E-05). The candidate genomic region contained eight genes annotated by ENSEMBL, including the myostatin gene (MSTN). These findings suggest the presence of a gene affecting the racing performance in Thoroughbred racehorses in this region on ECA18.     

Serum evaluation of soluble interferon-α/β receptor and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein for diagnosis of the patients with gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary-pancreatic cancer

Serum soluble interferon-α/β receptor (sIFN-α/βR) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels were evaluated in the patients with gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary-pancreatic cancer. We compared the sensitivity and specificity of serum sIFN-α/βR with that of serum hs-CRP and evaluated the two diagnostic parameters in combination. Serum sIFN-α/βR levels were measured in 92 patients and 25 healthy individuals by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The diagnoses were 37 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma, 17 cases of pancreatic cancer, 15 cases of colon cancer, 13 cases of biliary tract cancer, and 10 cases of gastric cancer. Serum levels of sIFN-α/βR and hs-CRP were significantly higher in the patients than in healthy individuals (p < 0.05). The optimal cut-off values of sIFN-α/βR and hs-CRP were 3600 pg/ml and 0.5 μg/ml, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity for these thresholds were 94.6% and 88.0%, whereas positive predictive and negative predictive values were 96.7% and 81.5%. These results suggest that a combination of serum sIFN-α/βR and hs-CRP thresholds may be more reliable diagnostic parameter for gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary-pancreatic cancer.     

Inhibition of active HIV-1 replication by NF-κB inhibitor DHMEQ

Previous reports indicate that nuclear factor (NF)-κB regulates induction of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) gene expression in latently infected cells. However, the role of NF-κB in cells with active HIV-1 replication is not well understood. In this study, we examined the effect of a new NF-κB inhibitor, dehydroxymethylepoxyquinomicin (DHMEQ), on HIV-1 replication in a human T cell line and phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PHA-PBMCs). We further explored the mechanism of DHMEQ-mediated inhibition of HIV-1 replication. DHMEQ inhibited HIV-1 replication in HIV-1-infected Molt-4 and PHA-PBMCs. DHMEQ inhibited constitutive NF-κB activity in HIV-1-infected PHA-PBMCs and HIV long terminal repeat promoter activity driven by tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and the trans-activator Tat. The single-round assay using vesicular stomatitis virus-pseudotyped virus in the human T cell line M8166 indicated that DHMEQ treatment resulted in decreased integration of HIV-1 provirus into the host genome and decreased HIV-1 expression. These results indicate that NF-κB regulates early events as well as the initial and accelerated expression of HIV-1 in its life cycle. Therefore, we conclude that NF-κB is a molecular target for controlling active HIV-1 replication.     

Gummosis in grape hyacinth (Muscari armeniacum) bulbs: hormonal regulation and chemical composition of gums

The purpose of this study was to investigate the hormonal regulation of gummosis in grape hyacinth (Muscari armeniacum) bulbs, focusing especially on the chemical composition of the gums. The application of ethephon (2-chloroethylphosphonic acid), an ethylene-releasing compound, at 1% and 2% (w/w) in lanolin as well as ethylene induced gummosis in the bulbs within several days. Methyl jasmonate (JA-Me, 0.1–2% in lanolin) alone had no effect on gummosis. However, simultaneous application of JA-Me and ethephon led to extreme stimulation of ethephon-induced gummosis. Ethephon-induced gummosis in the bulbs depended on the maturation stage of the bulbs, increasing from April to July, but decreasing from August to September. Regardless of the presence of JA-Me, the application of ethephon to the inflorescence axis of grape hyacinths did not induce gummosis. Gel permeation chromatography analysis revealed that gums were homogenous polysaccharides with an average molecular mass of ca. 8.3 kDa. Analysis of the sugar composition of the gums after hydrolysis revealed that the molar ratio of Rha:Ara:Gal:GalA:GlcA was 25:10:40:7:15. These results suggest that principal factors of gummosis as well as the chemical composition of gums differ between species of bulbous plants.     

Structure and characterization of amidase from Rhodococcus sp. N-771: Insight into the molecular mechanism of substrate recognition

In this study, we have structurally characterized the amidase of a nitrile-degrading bacterium, Rhodococcus sp. N-771 (RhAmidase). RhAmidase belongs to amidase signature (AS) family, a group of amidase families, and is responsible for the degradation of amides produced from nitriles by nitrile hydratase. Recombinant RhAmidase exists as a dimer of about 107 kDa. RhAmidase can hydrolyze acetamide, propionamide, acrylamide and benzamide with kcat/Km values of 1.14 ± 0.23 mM^− 1s^− 1, 4.54 ± 0.09 mM^− 1s^− 1, 0.087 ± 0.02 mM^− 1s^− 1 and 153.5 ± 7.1 mM^− 1s^− 1, respectively. The crystal structures of RhAmidase and its inactive mutant complex with benzamide (S195A/benzamide) were determined at resolutions of 2.17 Å and 2.32 Å, respectively. RhAmidase has three domains: an N-terminal α-helical domain, a small domain and a large domain. The N-terminal α-helical domain is not found in other AS family enzymes. This domain is involved in the formation of the dimer structure and, together with the small domain, forms a narrow substrate-binding tunnel. The large domain showed high structural similarities to those of other AS family enzymes. The Ser-cis Ser-Lys catalytic triad is located in the large domain. But the substrate-binding pocket of RhAmidase is relatively narrow, due to the presence of the helix α13 in the small domain. The hydrophobic residues from the small domain are involved in recognizing the substrate. The small domain likely participates in substrate recognition and is related to the difference of substrate specificities among the AS family amidases.     

Neuron Specific Rab4 Effector GRASP-1 Coordinates Membrane Specialization and Maturation of Recycling Endosomes

The endosomal pathway in neuronal dendrites is essential for membrane receptor trafficking and proper synaptic function and plasticity. However, the molecular mechanisms that organize specific endocytic trafficking routes are poorly understood. Here, we identify GRIP-associated protein-1 (GRASP-1) as a neuron-specific effector of Rab4 and key component of the molecular machinery that coordinates recycling endosome maturation in dendrites. We show that GRASP-1 is necessary for AMPA receptor recycling, maintenance of spine morphology, and synaptic plasticity. At the molecular level, GRASP-1 segregates Rab4 from EEA1/Neep21/Rab5-positive early endosomal membranes and coordinates the coupling to Rab11-labelled recycling endosomes by interacting with the endosomal SNARE syntaxin 13. We propose that GRASP-1 connects early and late recycling endosomal compartments by forming a molecular bridge between Rab-specific membrane domains and the endosomal SNARE machinery. The data uncover a new mechanism to achieve specificity and directionality in neuronal membrane receptor trafficking.