Expression screening of 17q12-21 amplicon reveals GRB7 as an ERBB2-dependent oncogene

Gene amplification is a major genetic alteration in human cancers. Amplicons, amplified genomic regions, are believed to contain "driver" genes responsible for tumorigenesis. However, the significance of co-amplified genes has not been extensively studied. We have established an integrated analysis system of amplicons using retrovirus-mediated gene transfer coupled with a human full-length cDNA set. Applying this system to 17q12-21 amplicon observed in breast cancer, we identified GRB7 as a context-dependent oncogene, which modulates the ERBB2 signaling pathway through enhanced phosphorylation of ERBB2 and Akt. Our work provides an insight into the biological significance of gene amplification in human cancers.     

Induced pluripotent stem cells: past, present, and future

The development of iPSCs reflected the merging of three major scientific streams and has in turn led to additional new branches of investigation. However, there is still debate about whether iPSCs are functionally equivalent to ESCs. This question should be answered only by science, not by politics or business.     

In vivo receptor binding of benidipine and amlodipine in mesenteric arteries and other tissues of spontaneously hypertensive rats

The present study was undertaken to characterize the in vivo 1,4-dihydropyridine (DHP) receptor binding of long-acting 1,4-DHP calcium channel antagonists in the mesenteric artery and other tissues of SHR. In vivo specific binding of (+)-[3H]PN 200-110 in the SHR mesenteric artery was significantly (36.6-49.7 %) reduced 1-8 h after oral administration of benidipine (1.84 micromol/kg). A greater reduction in (+)-[3H]PN 200-110 binding in the mesenteric artery was observed at a higher dose (5.53 micromol/kg) of this drug. This dose of benidipine also reduced significantly the in vivo specific (+)-[3H]PN 200-110 binding in the aorta but not in the myocardium and cerebral cortex. Following oral administration of amlodipine (17.6 micromol/kg), a significant (51.7-94.2 %) reduction in (+)-[3H]PN 200-110 binding was seen at 1-18 h in the mesenteric artery and at 1-12 h in the aorta. Only a slight reduction in myocardial and cerebral cortical (+)-[3H]PN 200-110 binding was seen following amlodipine administration. In contrast, oral administration of nifedipine (28.9 micromol/kg) reduced markedly in vivo (+)-[3H]PN 200-110 binding in all the tissues of SHR at 1-6 h, and the degree and time-course of the reduction did not differ significantly among the tissues. The area under the curve (AUC) for the receptor occupancy vs time was calculated from the reduction rate (%) of in vivo specific (+)-[3H]PN 200-110 binding. The ratios of the AUCmesenteric artery to AUCaorta or AUCmesenteric artery to AUCmyocardium after oral administration of benidipine and amlodipine were greater than the corresponding value for nifedipine. The degree and time-course of arterial receptor occupancy by benidipine and amlodipine agreed well with those of their hypotensive effects in the conscious SHR. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates that benidipine and amlodipine may occupy, in a more selective and sustained manner, 1,4-DHP receptors in arterial tissues than in other tissues of SHR, and thus, such receptor binding specificity may be responsible for the long-lasting hypotensive effects of these drugs.     

Characterization of Oseltamivir-Resistant 2009 H1N1 Pandemic Influenza A Viruses

Influenza viruses resistant to antiviral drugs emerge frequently. Not surprisingly, the widespread treatment in many countries of patients infected with 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) viruses with the neuraminidase (NA) inhibitors oseltamivir and zanamivir has led to the emergence of pandemic strains resistant to these drugs. Sporadic cases of pandemic influenza have been associated with mutant viruses possessing a histidine-to-tyrosine substitution at position 274 (H274Y) in the NA, a mutation known to be responsible for oseltamivir resistance. Here, we characterized in vitro and in vivo properties of two pairs of oseltaimivir-sensitive and -resistant (possessing the NA H274Y substitution) 2009 H1N1 pandemic viruses isolated in different parts of the world. An in vitro NA inhibition assay confirmed that the NA H274Y substitution confers oseltamivir resistance to 2009 H1N1 pandemic viruses. In mouse lungs, we found no significant difference in replication between oseltamivir-sensitive and -resistant viruses. In the lungs of mice treated with oseltamivir or even zanamivir, 2009 H1N1 pandemic viruses with the NA H274Y substitution replicated efficiently. Pathological analysis revealed that the pathogenicities of the oseltamivir-resistant viruses were comparable to those of their oseltamivir-sensitive counterparts in ferrets. Further, the oseltamivir-resistant viruses transmitted between ferrets as efficiently as their oseltamivir-sensitive counterparts. Collectively, these data indicate that oseltamivir-resistant 2009 H1N1 pandemic viruses with the NA H274Y substitution were comparable to their oseltamivir-sensitive counterparts in their pathogenicity and transmissibility in animal models. Our findings highlight the possibility that NA H274Y-possessing oseltamivir-resistant 2009 H1N1 pandemic viruses could supersede oseltamivir-sensitive viruses, as occurred with seasonal H1N1 viruses.     

Specific inhibition of hepatitis C virus replication by cyclosporin A

The difficulty in eradicating hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is attributable to the limited treatment options against the virus. Recently, cyclosporin A (CsA), a widely used immunosuppressive drug, has been reported to be effective against HCV infection [J. Gastroenterol. 38 (2003) 567], although little is understood about the mechanism of its action against HCV. In this study, we investigated the anti-viral effects of CsA using an HCV replicon system. Human hepatoma Huh7 cells were transfected with an HCV replicon expressing a chimeric gene encoding a luciferase reporter and neomycin phosphotransferase (Huh7/Rep-Feo). Treatment of the Huh7/Rep-Feo cells with CsA resulted in suppression of the replication of the HCV replicon in a dose-dependent manner, with an IC50 of approximately 0.5 microg/ml. There were no changes in the rate of cell growth or viability, suggesting that the effect of CsA against HCV is specific and not due to cytotoxicity. In contrast, FK506, another immunosuppressive drug, did not suppress HCV replication. CsA did not activate interferon-stimulated gene responses, suggesting that its action is independent of that of interferon. In conclusion, CsA inhibits HCV replication in vitro specifically at clinical concentrations. Further defining its mode of action against HCV replication potentially may be important for identifying novel molecular targets to treat HCV infection.     

New and highly efficient method for silkworm transgenesis using Autographa californica nucleopolyhedrovirus and piggyBac transposable elements

We have developed a new method for the transgenesis of the silkworm, Bombyx mori. This method couples the use of recombinant baculoviruses with the use of the piggyBac transposable element. One recombinant AcNPV, designated the helper virus, is designed to express the piggyBac transposase under the control of the Drosophila hsp70 promoter. Another recombinant AcNPV encoded the gene to be incorporated into the silkworm genome, in this case a green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene, under the control of B. mori actin A3 promoter and franked by the piggyBac inverted terminal repeats. Preblastoderm eggs were inoculated with a fine needle coated with a mixture of these two recombinant baculoviruses. Most of the inoculated larvae hatched and a high proportion of the newly hatched G0 larvae expressed the GFP marker. Transgenesis was confirmed by Southern blot analysis of G1 insects, sequencing the insertion site junctions isolated by inverse PCR, and the marker segregated in Mendelian fashion, as evidenced by the appearance of green fluorescence in G2 insects. Thus, transgenic silkworms were easily and efficiently obtained using this new method.     

A FRET-based analysis of SNPs without fluorescent probes

Fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) is a simple procedure for detecting specific DNA sequences, and is therefore used in many fields. However, the cost is relatively high, because FRET-based methods usually require fluorescent probes. We have designed a cost-effective way of using FRET, and developed a novel approach for the genotyping of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and allele frequency estimation. The key feature of this method is that it uses a DNA-binding fluorogenic molecule, SYBR Green I, as an energy donor for FRET. In this method, single base extension is performed with dideoxynucleotides labeled with an orange dye and a red dye in the presence of SYBR Green I. The dyes incorporated into the extended products accept energy from SYBR Green I and emit fluorescence. We have validated the method with ten SNPs, which were successfully discriminated by end-point measurements of orange and red fluorescence intensity in a microplate fluorescence reader. Using a mixture of homozygous samples, we also confirmed the potential of this method for estimation of allele frequency. Application of this strategy to large-scale studies will reduce the time and cost of genotyping a vast number of SNPs.     

Downregulation of p‐COUMAROYL ESTER 3‐HYDROXYLASE in rice leads to altered cell wall structures and improves biomass saccharification

p‐Coumaroyl ester 3‐hydroxylase (C3′H) is a key enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of lignin, a phenylpropanoid polymer that is the major constituent of secondary cell walls in vascular plants. Although the crucial role of C3′H in lignification and its manipulation to upgrade lignocellulose have been investigated in eudicots, limited information is available in monocotyledonous grass species, despite their potential as biomass feedstocks. Here we address the pronounced impacts of C3′H deficiency on the structure and properties of grass cell walls. C3′H‐knockdown lines generated via RNA interference (RNAi)‐mediated gene silencing, with about 0.5% of the residual expression levels, reached maturity and set seeds. In contrast, C3′H‐knockout rice mutants generated via CRISPR/Cas9‐mediated mutagenesis were severely dwarfed and sterile. Cell wall analysis of the mature C3′H‐knockdown RNAi lines revealed that their lignins were largely enriched in p‐hydroxyphenyl (H) units while being substantially reduced in the normally dominant guaiacyl (G) and syringyl (S) units. Interestingly, however, the enrichment of H units was limited to within the non‐acylated lignin units, with grass‐specific γ‐p‐coumaroylated lignin units remaining apparently unchanged. Suppression of C3′H also resulted in relative augmentation in tricin residues in lignin as well as a substantial reduction in wall cross‐linking ferulates. Collectively, our data demonstrate that C3′H expression is an important determinant not only of lignin content and composition but also of the degree of cell wall cross‐linking. We also demonstrated that C3′H‐suppressed rice displays enhanced biomass saccharification.     

Mutual interactions between optic lobe circadian pacemakers in the cricket Gryllus bimaculatus

The coupling mechanism between the bilaterally paired optic lobe circadian pacemakers in the cricket Gryllus bimaculatus was investigated by recording locomotor activity, under constant light or constant red light, after the optic nerve was unilaterally severed.