A new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Penopus</Emphasis> (Teleostei: Ophidiidae) from the Ryukyu Trench,the West Pacific,with remarks on <Emphasis Type="Italic">Penopus microphthalmus</Emphasis>

The bathyal genus Penopus (Ophidiidae) is revised based on 23 specimens. One specimen from the Ryukyu Trench represents a new species, Penopus japonicus. The remaining 22 specimens were found on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, and neither 28 meristic and morphometric characters nor several morphological characters show any differences between the two populations. This supports Séret (1988), who considered Penopus macdonaldi Goode and Bean 1896 a junior synonym of Penopus microphthalmus (Vaillant 1888). The new Japanese species can be separated from the Atlantic species by having fewer rays in the dorsal (117 vs. 135–158) and anal (89 vs. 106–122) fins, the squamation of the head restricted to the middle part of the preopercle versus the squamation covering the dorsum, preopercle and the opercle in part, a distinct spine behind the posterior nostril versus the spine hardly visible and 9 spines on the hind margin of the preopercle versus 4–7 spines.     

Cure of ADPKD by selection for spontaneous genetic repair events in Pkd1-mutated iPS cells

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) generated by epigenetic reprogramming of personal somatic cells have limited therapeutic capacity for patients suffering from genetic disorders. Here we demonstrate restoration of a genomic mutation heterozygous for Pkd1 (polycystic kidney disease 1) deletion (Pkd1(+/-) to Pkd1(+/R+)) by spontaneous mitotic recombination. Notably, recombination between homologous chromosomes occurred at a frequency of 1~2 per 10,000 iPSCs. Southern blot hybridization and genomic PCR analyses demonstrated that the genotype of the mutation-restored iPSCs was indistinguishable from that of the wild-type cells. Importantly, the frequency of cyst generation in kidneys of adult chimeric mice containing Pkd1(+/R+) iPSCs was significantly lower than that of adult chimeric mice with parental Pkd1(+/-) iPSCs, and indistinguishable from that of wild-type mice. This repair step could be directly incorporated into iPSC development programmes prior to cell transplantation, offering an invaluable step forward for patients carrying a wide range of genetic disorders.     

Organic solvent-tolerant elastase efficiently hydrolyzes insoluble, cross-linked, protein fiber of eggshell membranes

Eggshell membrane is a mechanically stable and insoluble cross-linked fibrous protein. Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain ME-4 synthesizes a metalloprotease that degrades the eggshell membrane. We cloned the encoding gene in Escherichia coli. The recombinant protease, over-expressed in E. coli, was inactive but addition of acetone to crude cell extracts restored the activity and removed many E. coli proteins. We purified the active, acetone-treated protease to homogeneity in a single chromatography step with 57% recovery. The recombinant protease partially hydrolyzed eggshell membrane and produced more soluble peptides and proteins than commercial elastase, α-chymotrypsin, and collagenase. The soluble peptides produced from hydrolyzed eggshell membrane inhibited angiotensin-I-converting enzyme activity. The degradation of eggshell membrane by the recombinant elastase could be applied to the production of soluble bioactive peptides.