Novel autotrophic nitrogen removal system using gel entrapment technology

A pilot plant involving a nitritation-anammox process was operated for treating digester supernatant. In the preceding nitritation process, ammonium-oxidizing bacteria were immobilized in gel carriers, and the growth of nitrite-oxidizing bacteria was suppressed by heat-shock treatment. For the following anammox process, in order to maintain the anammox biomass in the reactor, a novel process using anammox bacteria entrapped in gel carriers was also developed. The nitritation performance was stable, and the average nitrogen loading and nitritation rates were 3.0 and 1.7 kg N m⁻³ d⁻¹, respectively. In the nitritation process, nitrate production was completely suppressed. For the anammox process, the startup time was about two months. Stable nitrogen removal was achieved, and an average nitrogen conversion rate of 5.0 kg N m⁻³ d⁻¹ was obtained. Since the anammox bacteria were entrapped in gel carriers, stable nitrogen removal performance was attained even at an influent suspended solids concentration of 1500 mg L⁻¹.     

Characterization of p-chloroamphetamine-induced penile erection and ejaculation in anesthetized rats

Methodological shortcomings present in elicitation of male sexual reflexes in anesthetized animals. The present study has demonstrated, however, that intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of p-chloroamphetamine (PCA), an indirect serotonin (5-HT) agonist, elicited simultaneously both penile erection and ejaculation in anesthetized rats. PCA (2.5-10.0 mg/kg, i.p.) caused an intermittent cluster of genital responses consisting of penile erection, glans erections, and penile cups, which closely resembles the response observed during the ex copula tests in unanesthetized rats. Measurements of intracavernous penile pressure showed that rhythmic changes in penile pressure were produced by PCA, together with glans erections and penile cups. PCA also caused a frequent ejaculations and the weighing of ejaculate accumulated over 0.5 hr was increased in a bell-shaped pattern, and the maximum effect was observed at 5.0 mg/kg. Pretreatment with p-chlorophenylalanine, a serotonin (5-HT)-synthesis inhibitor, significantly inhibited the expression of PCA-induced penile erection and ejaculation, while acute spinal transection at thoracic level did not affect the sexual responses. These results indicate that PCA-induced penile erection and ejaculation in anesthetized rats are mainly produced by the release of 5-HT, which is limited to the lower spinal cord and/or the peripheral sites. Furthermore, the sexual responses can be easily and reliably elicited by administration of PCA, which may be useful for the study of the mechanisms underlying male sexual functions.     

Depolarization-induced differentiation of PC12 cells is mediated by phospholipase D2 through the transcription factor CREB pathway

The present study examined the role of phospholipase D2 (PLD2) in the regulation of depolarization-induced neurite outgrowth and the expression of growth-associated protein-43 (GAP-43) and synapsin I in rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells. Depolarization of PC12 cells with 50 mmol/L KCl increased neurite outgrowth and elevated mRNA and protein expression of GAP-43 and synapsin I. These increases were suppressed by inhibition of Ca²⁺-calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII), PLD, or mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK). Knockdown of PLD2 by small interfering RNA (siRNA) suppressed the depolarization-induced neurite outgrowth, and the increase in GAP-43 and synapsin I expression. Depolarization evoked a Ca²⁺ rise that activated various signaling enzymes and the cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB). Silencing CaMKIIδ by siRNA blocked KCl-induced phosphorylation of proline-rich protein tyrosine kinase 2 (Pyk2), Src kinase, and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). Inhibition of Src or MEK abolished phosphorylation of ERK and CREB. Furthermore, phosphorylation of Pyk2, ERK, and CREB was suppressed by the PLD inhibitor, 1-butanol and transfection of PLD2 siRNA, whereas it was enhanced by over-expression of wild-type PLD2. Depolarization-induced PLD2 activation was suppressed by CaMKII and Src inhibitors, but not by MEK or protein kinase A inhibitors. These results suggest that the signaling pathway of depolarization-induced PLD2 activation was downstream of CaMKIIδ and Src, and upstream of Pyk2(Y881) and ERK/CREB, but independent of the protein kinase A. This is the first demonstration that PLD2 activation is involved in GAP-43 and synapsin I expression during depolarization-induced neuronal differentiation in PC12 cells.     

Properties of blocking and non-blocking monoclonal antibodies specific for human macrophage galactose-type C-type lectin (MGL/ClecSF10A/CD301)

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) specific for the human macrophage galactose-type calcium-type lectin (MGL) were established. The recombinant extracellular domain of MGL was used to immunize a mouse, and 10 hybridoma clones were obtained. Binding of recombinant MGL to asialo-bovine submaxillary mucin was shown to be blocked by mAbs MLD-1, 4 and 6. Immunoprecipitation of MGL from lysates of COS-1 cells transfected with MGL cDNA (form 6A) was achieved with mAbs MLD-1, 4, 7, 8 and 16. Chimeric recombinant proteins between human MGL and mouse MGL1 were used to determine the location of the epitopes for these mAbs. mAbs MLD-8, 13, 15 and 16 interacted with the amino terminal side of the conserved WVDGTD sequence immediately upstream of QPD, whereas mAbs MLD-7, 12 and 17 interacted with the other side. mAbs MLD-1, 4, and 6 apparently required both sides of this boundary. mAbs MLD-15 and 16 were shown to recognize the protein products of alternatively spliced mRNA 6A/8A and 6C/8A, having deletions at the boundary of exons 7 and 8, in addition to full length and other spliced forms of MGL (6A, 6B and 6C), whereas the other mAbs bound only full length and forms 6A, 6B and 6C.     

Alendronate suppresses tumor angiogenesis by inhibiting Rho activation of endothelial cells

We previously reported that alendronate inhibits intraperitoneal dissemination in an in vivo ovarian cancer model. Recently, nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates have been reported to have antiangiogenic activities. In this study, alendronate inhibited human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) migration and capillary-like structure formation in vitro. These inhibitory effects were associated with reduced Rho activation and suppression of the formation of actin stress fibers and focal adhesions in HUVECs. Furthermore, the inhibition by alendronate was reversed by geranylgeraniol, which abrogated the inhibition of Rho geranylgeranylation. Next, we examined the effect of alendronate on angiogenesis in disseminated ovarian tumors of athymic immunodeficient mice. Alendronate treatment reduced the intra-tumor neoangiogenesis compared with that in the non-treated mice, although tumor-derived VEGF expression was not altered. In conclusion, the in vivo anti-tumor effect of alendronate might be derived, at least in part, from its direct antiangiogenic effects on intra-tumor endothelial cells by inhibiting Rho geranylgeranylation.     

A second proliferating cell nuclear antigen loader complex, Ctf18-replication factor C, stimulates DNA polymerase eta activity

Replication factor C (RFC) loads the clamp protein PCNA onto DNA structures. Ctf18-RFC, which consists of the chromosome cohesion factors Ctf18, Dcc1, and Ctf8 and four small RFC subunits, functions as a second proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) loader. To identify potential targets of Ctf18-RFC, human cell extracts were assayed for DNA polymerase activity specifically stimulated by Ctf18-RFC in conjunction with PCNA. After several chromatography steps, an activity stimulated by Ctf18-RFC but not by RFC was identified. Liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) analysis revealed the presence of two DNA polymerases, eta and lambda, in the most purified fraction, but experiments with purified recombinant proteins demonstrated that only polymerase (pol) eta was responsible for activity. Ctf18-RFC alone stimulated pol eta, and the addition of PCNA cooperatively increased stimulation. Furthermore, Ctf18-RFC interacted physically with pol eta, as indicated by co-precipitation in human cells. We propose that this novel loader-DNA polymerase interaction allows DNA replication forks to overcome interference by various template structures, including damaged DNA and DNA-protein complexes that maintain chromosome cohesion.     

Mechanistic findings of green tea as cancer preventive for humans

Based on our initial work with green tea, in which repeated topical applications of (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), the main green tea polyphenol, inhibited tumor promotion in a two-stage carcinogenesis experiment on mouse skin (Phytother Res 1, 44-47, 1987), numerous scientists have since provided so much additional evidence of the benefits of drinking green tea that it is now an acknowledged cancer preventive in Japan, and will possibly soon be recognized as such in other countries. Our work has so far produced several important results with EGCG and green tea: a wide range of target organs in animal experiments for cancer prevention, wide bioavailability of 3H-EGCG in various organs of mice, delayed cancer onset of patients with a history of consuming over 10 cups of green tea per day, and absence of any severe adverse effects among volunteers who took 15 green tea tablets per day (2.25 g green tea extracts, 337.5 mg EGCG, and 135 mg caffeine) for 6 months. This paper introduces three new findings: 1) EGCG interacted with the phospholipid bilayer membrane resulting in confirmation of the sealing effect of EGCG; 2) EGCG inhibited TNF-alpha gene expression in the cells and TNF-alpha release from the cells; 3) high consumption of green tea was closely associated with decreased numbers of axillary lymph node metastases among premenopausal Stage I and II breast cancer patients, and with increased expression of progesterone and estrogen receptors among postmenopausal ones. These results provide new insights into our understanding of the mechanisms of action of tea polyphenols and green tea extract as a cancer preventive.