A numerical taxonomic study on heterophyid trematodes

A numerical taxonomy was studied on a group of heterophyid trematodes and analysis was made on the following species: Metagonimus yokogawai (3 OTU, Operational Taxonomic Unit), Metagonimus Miyata Type (3 OTU), Metagonimus takahashii (2 OTU), Heterophyes dispar (2 OTU), Heterophyes heterophyes (1 OTU), Heterophyes nocens (2 OTU), Heterophyopsis continua (1 OTU), Pygidiopsis summa (3 OTU), Stellantchasmus falcatus (2 OTU) and Stictodora lari (2 OTU). Twenty-six morphological characters were measured and their values were expressed as relative ratios. Similarity and correlation matrix among each individuals were calculated. Clustering analysis by Ward's method and factor analysis were performed using the SAS (Statistical Analysis System) package. As a result, the groups belonging to the genus of Metagonimus were divided into three phenons (Metagonimus yokogawai, Metagonimus Miyata Type, M. takahashii), and Metagonimus Miyata Type was classified as the level of subspecies of M. takahashii. The groups belonging to the genus Heterophyes were clearly divided into three phenons (Heterophyes dispar, H. heterophyes, H. nocens), and H. nocens was classified as not a subspecies level of H. heterophyes but a distinct species. Other species were classified as distinct phenons. From these results, the application of numerical taxonomy on trematode classification is considered to be a great aid to determine the limit of taxa.     

Effect of trapidil derivative AR 12456 on intracellular cholesterol homeostasis in human hepatoma cell line Hep G2

The effect of trapidil derivative AR12456 on intracellular cholesterol metabolism was investigated in human hepatoma cell line HepG2. AR12456 enhanced the uptake and degradation of¹²⁵I-LDL in a dose-dependent manner. The drug inhibited cholesterol synthesis and esterification without affecting cellular cholesterol content and bile acid synthesis; cholesterol efflux was slightly increased. These results show that the inhibition of cholesterol synthesis together with the enhanced expression of LDL receptors may partially explain the hypocholesterolemic activity of compound AR12456.     

1H, 13C, and 15N resonance assignments of FK506-binding domain of Plasmodium falciparum FKBP35

The immunosuppressant FK506 binds Plasmodium falciparum FK-506 binding protein 35 (PfFKBP35) and shows anti-malarial activity. To understand molecular mechanism of the drug on the parasite, we have done NMR studies. Here, we report the assignment of FK506-binding domain of PfFKBP35.     

The C-type Arabidopsis thioredoxin reductase ANTR-C acts as an electron donor to 2-Cys peroxiredoxins in chloroplasts

2-Cys peroxiredoxins (Prxs) play important roles in the antioxidative defense systems of plant chloroplasts. In order to determine the interaction partner for these proteins in Arabidopsis, we used a yeast two-hybrid screening procedure with a C175S-mutant of Arabidopsis 2-Cys Prx-A as bait. A cDNA encoding an NADPH-dependent thioredoxin reductase (NTR) isotype C was identified and designated ANTR-C. We demonstrated that this protein effected efficient transfer of electrons from NADPH to the 2-Cys Prxs of chloroplasts. Interaction between 2-Cys Prx-A and ANTR-C was confirmed by a pull-down experiment. ANTR-C contained N-terminal TR and C-terminal Trx domains. It exhibited both TR and Trx activities and co-localized with 2-Cys Prx-A in chloroplasts. These results suggest that ANTR-C functions as an electron donor for plastidial 2-Cys Prxs and represents the NADPH-dependent TR/Trx system in chloroplasts.     

Mapping carcass and meat quality QTL on Sus Scrofa chromosome 2 in commercial finishing pigs

Quantitative trait loci (QTL) affecting carcass and meat quality located on SSC2 were identified using variance component methods. A large number of traits involved in meat and carcass quality was detected in a commercial crossbred population: 1855 pigs sired by 17 boars from a synthetic line, which where homozygous (A/A) for IGF2. Using combined linkage and linkage disequilibrium mapping (LDLA), several QTL significantly affecting loin muscle mass, ham weight and ham muscles (outer ham and knuckle ham) and meat quality traits, such as Minolta-L* and -b*, ultimate pH and Japanese colour score were detected. These results agreed well with previous QTL-studies involving SSC2. Since our study is carried out on crossbreds, different QTL may be segregating in the parental lines. To address this question, we compared models with a single QTL-variance component with models allowing for separate sire and dam QTL-variance components. The same QTL were identified using a single QTL variance component model compared to a model allowing for separate variances with minor differences with respect to QTL location. However, the variance component method made it possible to detect QTL segregating in the paternal line (e.g. HAMB), the maternal lines (e.g. Ham) or in both (e.g. pHu). Combining association and linkage information among haplotypes improved slightly the significance of the QTL compared to an analysis using linkage information only.     

Adverse environmental conditions influence age-related innate immune responsiveness

Background-  

The innate immune system plays an important role in the recognition and induction of protective responses against infectious pathogens, whilst there is increasing evidence for a role in mediating chronic inflammatory diseases at older age. Despite indications that environmental conditions can influence the senescence process of the adaptive immune system, it is not known whether the same holds true for the innate immune system. Therefore we studied whether age-related innate immune responses are similar or differ between populations living under very diverse environmental conditions.