Syntheses of Compounds Possessing Chicken-Flavor

2,4-Decadien-1-ol and 2,4-dodecadien-1-ol were synthesized from n-caproaldehyde and caprylaldehyde, respectively and their flavors were shown to be similar to those of chicken meat and chicken fat.     

Up-and-down movement of a sliding actin filament in the in vitro motility assay

We observed a three-dimensional up-and-down movement of an actin filament sliding on heavy mero-myosin (HMM) molecules in an in vitro motility assay. The up-and-down movement occurred along the direction perpendicular to the planar glass plane on which the filament demonstrated a sliding movement. The height length of the up-and-down movement was measured by monitoring the extent of diminishing fluorescent emission from the marker attached to the filament in the evanescent field of attenuation. The height lengths whose distribution exhibits a local maximum were found around the two values, 150 nm and 90 nm, separately. This undulating three-dimensional movement of an actin filament suggests that the interactions between myosin (HMM) molecules and the actin filament may temporally be modulated during its sliding movement.     

Molecular and cellular function of ALS2/alsin: implication of membrane dynamics in neuronal development and degeneration

ALS2 is a causative gene for a juvenile autosomal recessive form of motor neuron diseases (MNDs), including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis 2 (ALS2), juvenile primary lateral sclerosis, and infantile-onset ascending hereditary spastic paralysis. These disorders are characterized by ascending degeneration of the upper motor neurons with or without lower motor neuron involvement. Thus far, a total of 12 independent ALS2 mutations, which include a small deletion, non-sense mutation, or missense mutation spreading widely across the entire coding sequence, are reported. They are predicted to result in either premature termination of translation or substitution of an evolutionarily conserved amino acid. Thus, a loss of functions in the ALS2-coded protein accounts for motor dysfunction and/or degeneration in the ALS2-linked MNDs. The ALS2 gene encodes a novel 184kDa protein of 1657 amino acids, ALS2 or alsin, comprising three predicted guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) domains: the N-terminal RCC1-like domain, the central Dbl homology and pleckstrin homology (DH/PH) domains, and the C-terminal vacuolar protein sorting 9 (VPS9) domain. In addition, eight consecutive membrane occupation and recognition nexus (MORN) motifs are noted in the region between DH/PH and VPS9 domains. ALS2 activates Rab5 small GTPase and involves in endosome/membrane trafficking and fusions in the cells, and also promotes neurite outgrowth in neuronal cultures. Further, a neuroprotective role for ALS2 against cytotoxicity; i.e., the mutant Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1)-mediated toxicity, oxidative stress, and excitotoxicity, has recently been implied. This review outlines current understandings of the molecular and cellular functions of ALS2 and its related proteins on safeguarding the integrity of motor neurons, and sheds light on the molecular pathogenesis of MNDs as well as other conditions of neurodegenerative diseases.     

ALS2/alsin deficiency in neurons leads to mild defects in macropinocytosis and axonal growth

Loss of function mutations in the ALS2 gene account for a number of juvenile/infantile recessive motor neuron diseases, indicating that its gene product, ALS2/alsin, plays a crucial role in maintenance and survival for a subset of neurons. ALS2 acts as a guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) for the small GTPase Rab5 and is implicated in endosome dynamics in cells. However, the role of ALS2 in neurons remains unclear. To elucidate the neuronal ALS2 functions, we investigate cellular phenotypes of ALS2-deficient primary cultured neurons derived from Als2-knockout (KO) mice. Here, we show that ALS2 deficiency results not only in the delay of axon outgrowth in hippocampal neurons, but also in a decreased level of the fluid phase horseradish peroxidase (HRP) uptake, which represents the activity for macropinocytic endocytosis, in cortical neurons. Thus, ALS2 may act as a modulator in neuronal differentiation and/or development through regulation of membrane dynamics.     

Presence of perivenular elastic fibers in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis Fibrosis Stage III

Elastic fibers appear in extensive old fibrotic foci in general. We examined an association between hepatic fibrosis stage and the presence of perivenular elastic fibers in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). A total of 48 liver needle biopsy specimens were used, taken from 48 cases with NASH. Fibrosis Stage (Brunt E, et al. Am. J. Gastroenterol. 1999) of the cases was as follows; six Fibrosis Stage I, twenty-two Fibrosis Stage II, and twenty Fibrosis Stage III. We examined Orcein stain sections in all of the liver needle biopsy specimens. In all twenty Fibrosis Stage III cases, perivenular elastic fiber bundles were observed. In contrast, perivenular elastic fibers were detected only in one of the six Fibrosis Stage I and two of the twenty-two Fibrosis Stage II cases. In liver needle biopsy specimens of NASH, detection of perivenular elastic fibers is useful in deciding Fibrosis Stage III.     

Bactericidal effect of a silica gel-supported porphyrinatoantimony(V) complex under visible light irradiation

In order to develop a bactericidal agent operating under visible light irradiation, a silica gel-supported dihydroxo(tetraphenylporphyrinato)antimony(V) complex (SbTPP/SiO₂) was prepared. The SbTPP/SiO₂ particles irradiated by fluorescent light in a test tube induced remarkable bactericidal activity for Escherichia coli cells. The bactericidal activity of the SbTPP/SiO₂ was affected by both the concentration of the SbTPP/SiO₂ and the light intensity. Under irradiation by visible light, the SbTPP/SiO₂ photocatalyst showed much superior bactericidal activity to the commercially available TiO₂. Moreover, under irradiation by sunlight, bactericidal activity of the SbTPP/SiO₂ was observed, and the bactericidal effect of the SbTPP/SiO₂ particles was effective for continuous treatment on a column photoreactor under fluorescent-light irradiation.     

Pregnancy-associated homeostasis and dysregulation: lessons from genetically modified animal models

Unlimitedly proliferating cells need to acquire the telomere DNA maintenance mechanism, to counteract possible shortening through multiple rounds of replication and segregation of linear chromosomes. Most human cancer cells express telomerase whereas the other cells utilize the alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) pathway to elongate telomere DNA. It is suggested that ALT depends on the recombination between telomere repetitive DNAs. However, the molecular details remain unknown. Recent studies have provided evidence of special structures of telomere DNA and genes essential for the phenotypes of ALT cells. The molecular models of the ALT pathway should be validated to elucidate recombination-mediated telomere maintenance and promote the applications to anti-cancer therapy.     

Viral infection of cynomolgus macaque (Macaca irus)

The antiviral antibody against 14 viruses was studied with sera from 178 cynomolgus macaques. The viruses were employed, taking into consideration the probability of natural infection with the viruses in the habitats of the macaques and by contact with humans.Results on influenza and group B arboviruses were significant. 1) No hemagglutination inhibition (HI) antibody against influenza A2 (Adachi) was found but antibody against influenza B (Setagaya) was found in about 50% of the sera tested every year. 2) The results of the HI test with group B arboviruses indicated that macaques were infected with dengue type 2 and Japanese encephalitis viruses.Macaques also showed a high proportion of sero-positive cases and high antibody titers against herpes simplex, measles, and SV5 viruses.Antibody against at least one of the viruses tested was present in 170 of the 178 sera tested.