Polymorphism of dopamine receptor D4 exon I corresponding region in chicken

In stockbreeding, there are indications that behavioral traits of livestock have an effect on breeding and production. If the variation in individual behavior is related to that in neurotransmitter-related genes such as in humans, it would be possible to breed pedigrees composed of individuals having behavioral traits that are useful to production and breeding using selection based on genotypes. In this study, we investigated the exon I region of dopamine receptor D4 (DRD4), in which variation is related to psychiatric disorder in humans, in major poultry species namely Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica), chicken (Gallus gallus), ring-necked pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) and helmeted guinea fowl (Numida meleagris). Furthermore, we investigated Japanese cormorant (Phalacrocorax capillatus) and Japanese jungle crow (Corvus macrorhynchos) as an out-group. In these species of birds, the repeat of proline was identified in the region corresponding to the human polymorphic region. The repeat number was 9 in Japanese quail, ring-necked pheasant and Japanese cormorant; 12 in helmeted guinea fowl; and 3 in Japanese jungle crow. However, no polymorphism was found in these species. In contrast, polymorphism was observed in chicken and two alleles with 8 and 9 repeats were identified. Although 9 repeats (allele 9) were predominant in most chicken breeds, Black Minorca had only 8 repeats (allele 8). Intra-breed polymorphism was found in 6 out of 12 breeds, and two alleles (alleles 8 and 9) were detected in these breeds. This polymorphism, which is the first to be reported on a neurotransmitter-related gene in birds, would contribute significant information for elucidation of differences in behavioral traits in chicken breeds.     

Current topics on SARS coronavirus

The serious respiratory disease, SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), outbreaking in winter of 2003 to 2004 remained in a sporadic patient's generating at this winter. However, there is also a possibility that wild animals as the source of infection may not be specified and that it may be much in fashion again. The paper regarding SARS and SARS-CoV is published at one per day now which has passed since fashion of SARS in one or so year. There are many papers which the researchers of other viruses enter into the research field of SARS-CoV using their own technology in addition to the researchers of coronavirus. Topics of the research on the present SARS-research field are development of vaccine, inspecting of medicine and establishment of diagnostic method. Here, the newest information is offered about these researches.     

Insulin stimulates placental leucine aminopeptidase/oxytocinase/insulin-regulated membrane aminopeptidase expression in BeWo choriocarcinoma cells

Placental leucine aminopeptidase (P-LAP), a cystine aminopeptidase that is identical to insulin-regulated membrane aminopeptidase, hydrolyzes oxytocin, which results in the loss of oxytocin activity. We previously isolated genomic clones containing the human P-LAP promoter region, which included two sites homologous to the 10-bp-insulin responsive element (IRE) that was identified on the phosphoenolpyruvate carboxinase gene. We therefore postulated that insulin regulates P-LAP expression via these IREs and investigated this notion using BeWo choriocarcinoma trophoblastic cells cultured in the presence of insulin. Insulin increased P-LAP activity in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Physiological concentrations of insulin at 10(-7) M exhibited the most potent effect on P-LAP activity. Western blotting demonstrated that 10(-7) M insulin increased P-LAP protein levels. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR and Southern blotting showed that insulin also increased P-LAP mRNA, which was abrogated by prior exposure to cycloheximide. Luciferase assay did not reveal any regulatory regions within 1.1 kb upstream of the P-LAP gene that could explain the insulin-induced P-LAP mRNA accumulation. These findings indicate that insulin induces P-LAP expression in trophoblasts, and that it acts via de novo synthesis of other proteins, which partially contradicts our initial hypothesis.     

Synergism between cysteinyl leukotrienes and thromboxane A2 to induce allergic late phase nasal blockage in guinea pigs

We examined whether cysteinyl leukotrienes (CysLTs) and thromboxane (TX) A2 are synergistically involved in a cedar pollen-induced allergic late phase nasal blockage in guinea pigs. Sensitized animals were repeatedly challenged by pollen inhalation once every week. Combined treatment with pranlukast (a CysLT antagonist) and seratrodast (a TXA2 antagonist) inhibited late phase nasal blockage, but the magnitude of inhibition (approximately 50%) was equal to those of the respective single treatments, suggesting that CysLTs produced late after challenge induces TXA2 production in the nasal tissue, as in the case of the lung of this species. However, pranlukast did not affect TXB2 increase in the nasal tissue. In contrast, combined intranasal instillation of LTD4 and U-46619 (a TXA2 mimetic) produced much greater nasal blockage than single administration of each agonist in sensitized animals. Therefore, allergic late phase nasal blockage should be induced by synergistic activity of CysLTs and TXA2 at the effector organ.     

A series of immune responses leading to the induction ofT cell IL-12/IL-18 responsiveness in patientswith relatively large tumor burdens

The induction of interleukin-12 (IL-12) responsiveness in T cells depends on T cell receptor (TCR) triggering, and is regarded as a parameter of recently TCR-sensitized T cells. Here, we investigated whether IL-12 responsiveness could be detected in freshly prepared T cells from tumor-bearing patients, and if so whether such patients exhibited additional immunological parameters related to IL-12 responsiveness. CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cell populations from an appreciable proportion of tumor-bearing patients exhibited high levels of IL-12 responsiveness as evaluated by IL-12-stimulated interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) production. T cell populations with high IL-12 responsiveness were observed in the group of patients with moderate to large tumor mass or tumor metastases rather than in patients with small tumors. The frequency of such a T cell population was also lower in post-surgery tumor-free patients, showing the correlation between IL-12 responsiveness and the presence of a certain extent of tumor burden. More importantly, a higher incidence of IL-12 responsiveness was observed in tumor-bearing patients exhibiting detectable plasma IL-12 levels, and correlated with IL-18 responsiveness. T cell IL-12 and IL-18 responsiveness is induced by TCR triggering and subsequent IL-12 stimulation respectively. Furthermore, TCR-triggered T cells stimulate antigen-presenting cells (APC) to produce IL-12. Therefore, the present observations suggest that an immune response loop from TCR sensitization to the induction of IL-12/IL-18 responsiveness via IL-12 production operates in tumor-bearing patients, particularly in those with relatively large tumor burdens.     

Human leukocyte-derived arginine aminopeptidase. The third member of the oxytocinase subfamily of aminopeptidases

In this study we report the cloning and characterization of a novel human aminopeptidase, which we designate leukocyte-derived arginine aminopeptidase (L-RAP). The sequence encodes a 960-amino acid protein with significant homology to placental leucine aminopeptidase and adipocyte-derived leucine aminopeptidase. The predicted L-RAP contains the HEXXH(X)18E zinc-binding motif, which is characteristic of the M1 family of zinc metallopeptidases. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that L-RAP forms a distinct subfamily with placental leucine aminopeptidase and adipocyte-derived leucine aminopeptidase in the M1 family. Immunocytochemical analysis indicates that L-RAP is located in the lumenal side of the endoplasmic reticulum. Among various synthetic substrates tested, L-RAP revealed a preference for arginine, establishing that the enzyme is a novel arginine aminopeptidase with restricted substrate specificity. In addition to natural hormones such as angiotensin III and kallidin, L-RAP cleaved various N-terminal extended precursors to major histocompatibility complex class I-presented antigenic peptides. Like other proteins involved in antigen presentation, L-RAP is induced by interferon-gamma. These results indicate that L-RAP is a novel aminopeptidase that can trim the N-terminal extended precursors to antigenic peptides in the endoplasmic reticulum.     

The protozoa dinoflagellate Oxyrrhis marina contains selenoproteins and the relevant translation apparatus

In the phylogenetic tree, selenoproteins and the corresponding translation machinery are found in Archaea, Eubacteria, and animals, but not in fungi and higher plants. As very little is known about Protozoa, we searched for the presence of selenoproteins in the primitive dinoflagellate Oxyrrhis marina, belonging to the Protoctista kingdom. Four selenoproteins could be obtained from O. marina cells cultured in the presence of 75Se. Using O. marina or bovine liver cytosolic extracts, we could serylate and selenylate in vitro total O. marina tRNAs. Moreover, the existence of a tRNA(Sec) could be deduced from in vivo experiments. Lastly, an anti-serum against the specialized mammalian translation elongation factor mSelB reacted with a protein of 48-kDa molecular mass. Altogether, our data showed that O. marina contains selenoproteins and suggests that the corresponding translation machinery is related to that found in animals.