Evolutionary Origin of GnIH and NPFF in Chordates: Insights from Novel Amphioxus RFamide Peptides

Gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone (GnIH) is a newly identified hypothalamic neuropeptide that inhibits pituitary hormone secretion in vertebrates. GnIH has an LPXRFamide (X = L or Q) motif at the C-terminal in representative species of gnathostomes. On the other hand, neuropeptide FF (NPFF), a neuropeptide characterized as a pain-modulatory neuropeptide, in vertebrates has a PQRFamide motif similar to the C-terminal of GnIH, suggesting that GnIH and NPFF have diverged from a common ancestor. Because GnIH and NPFF belong to the RFamide peptide family in vertebrates, protochordate RFamide peptides may provide important insights into the evolutionary origin of GnIH and NPFF. In this study, we identified a novel gene encoding RFamide peptides and two genes of their putative receptors in the amphioxus Branchiostoma japonicum. Molecular phylogenetic analysis and synteny analysis indicated that these genes are closely related to the genes of GnIH and NPFF and their receptors of vertebrates. We further identified mature RFamide peptides and their receptors in protochordates. The identified amphioxus RFamide peptides inhibited forskolin induced cAMP signaling in the COS-7 cells with one of the identified amphioxus RFamide peptide receptors expressed. These results indicate that the identified protochordate RFamide peptide gene is a common ancestral form of GnIH and NPFF genes, suggesting that the origin of GnIH and NPFF may date back to the time of the emergence of early chordates. GnIH gene and NPFF gene may have diverged by whole-genome duplication in the course of vertebrate evolution.     

Inhibition of HIV replication by amino-sugar derivatives

The plant alkaloids castanospermine, dihydroxymethyldihydroxypyrrolidine and deoxynojirimycin have recently been shown to have potential anti-HIV activity [(1987) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 84, 8120-8124; (1987) Nature 330, 74-77; (1987) Lancet i, 1025-1026]. They are thought to act by inhibiting alpha-glucosidase I, an enzyme involved in the processing of N-linked oligosaccharides on glycoproteins. We report here the relative efficacy of a spectrum of amino-sugar derivatives as inhibition of HIV cytopathicity. Several alpha-glucosidase inhibitors and alpha-fucosidase inhibitors were found to be active at concentrations which were non-cytotoxic.     

Development of the endocrine cells in the rat pancreatic and bile duct system

Summary Morphological features of the endocrine cells in the duct system of the pancreas and the biliary tract have been recently characterized in the adult animal with respect to their physiological roles. In the present study, we have investigated their chronological appearance as well as their developmental progress at various stages of the rat fetal and postnatal life. On day 12 of gestation, glucagon and insulin, as well as CCK cells, were identified in the pancreatic primordium. On day 14, glucagon and CCK cells were first detected in the epithelial lining of the common hepatic and the hepatic ducts. These cells remained the dominant endocrine type in the duct system during the fetal period. Insulin and pancreatic polypeptide cells were first observed in the common hepatic duct only on days 16 and 18 of gestation respectively. In spite of their presence in the islets, somatostatin cells were not detected in the duct system during fetal life. They started to appear in the accessory pancreatic duct of the neonate, and subsequently in the common hepatic duct as well as in the small pancreatic ones on day 7 after birth. During postnatal development, the endocrine cells showed progressive or retrogressive changes in different portions of the duct system according to the cell type. In general, somatostatin, CCK and pancreatic polypeptide cells showed an increase, while glucagon and insulin cells gradually dwindled in number up to the adult stage. Somatostatin cells exhibited a significant increase in number, becoming the highest population among the duct endocrine cells in the adult. Throughout the developmental progress, the endocrine cells appear to be allocated in regions relevant to their possible influence modulating the exocrine secretion as well as the drainage of the pancreatic and bile fluid. To whom correspondence should be address.     

Effect of coamide on the morpho-functional state of the pancreatic islands in irradiated animals

X-Irradiation of animals with a dose of 6 Gy brings about fatty degeneration of the liver and a concurrent destruction of the morphological status in functional activity of the insular apparatus. The administration of coamide promotes the recovery of the morphological and physiological status of the pancreas.     

Continuous Exposure to Low-Dose-Rate Gamma Irradiation Reduces Airway Inflammation in Ovalbumin-Induced Asthma

Although safe doses of radiation have been determined, concerns about the harmful effects of low-dose radiation persist. In particular, to date, few studies have investigated the correlation between low-dose radiation and disease development. Asthma is a common chronic inflammatory airway disease that is recognized as a major public health problem. In this study, we evaluated the effects of low-dose-rate chronic irradiation on allergic asthma in a murine model. Mice were sensitized and airway-challenged with ovalbumin (OVA) and were exposed to continuous low-dose-rate irradiation (0.554 or 1.818 mGy/h) for 24 days after initial sensitization. The effects of chronic radiation on proinflammatory cytokines and the activity of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) were investigated. Exposure to low-dose-rate chronic irradiation significantly decreased the number of inflammatory cells, methylcholine responsiveness (PenH value), and the levels of OVA-specific immunoglobulin E, interleukin (IL)-4, and IL-5. Furthermore, airway inflammation and the mucus production in lung tissue were attenuated and elevated MMP-9 expression and activity induced by OVA challenge were significantly suppressed. These results indicate that low-dose-rate chronic irradiation suppresses allergic asthma induced by OVA challenge and does not exert any adverse effects on asthma development. Our findings can potentially provide toxicological guidance for the safe use of radiation and relieve the general anxiety about exposure to low-dose radiation.     

薄壳山核桃酚类代谢物研究进展

薄壳山核桃(Carya illinoensis)富含酚类代谢物,具有显著的抗氧化活性。近年来,我国薄壳山核桃产业快速发展,种植面积迅速扩大。明确薄壳山核桃中的酚类代谢物组成及保健功效对于促进健康产业发展具有重要意义。迄今为止,从薄壳山核桃中已检测出酚类代谢物67个,其中包括单宁36个、类黄酮22个、酚酸9个,水解后检测出酚类代谢物苷元34个。该文主要对薄壳山核桃酚类代谢物的组成、提取方法、含量、药理活性及与采后贮藏特性的关系进行综述,以期为今后深入研究薄壳山核桃酚类代谢物与其生理活性的关系及挖掘薄壳山核桃酚类代谢物的保健价值提供依据。     

Multiple shoot regeneration from root organ cultures of Populus alba x P. grandidentata

Excised roots of various ages from Crandon and Hansen clones of Populus alba x P. grandidentata were tested for their regeneration capacity. Sixty-day-old excised roots that contained root tips were found to be most suitable. The highest number of shoots (an average of 111 shoots/root segment with Crandon and 98 with Hansen) was obtained by adding 22M and 14M zeatin to the medium, respectively. The two clones of hybrid poplar responded similarly to growth regulator treatments; however, the number of shoots produced was greater from the root organs derived from Crandon clones. Regenerated shoots were rooted in basal Woody Plant Medium without any growth regulators. Successful transplantation into soil and growth was achieved with all plants.