Increased Expression of Phosphatidylcholine (16:0/18:1) and (16:0/18:2) in Thyroid Papillary Cancer

A good prognosis can be expected for most, but not all, cases of thyroid papillary cancer. Numerous molecular studies have demonstrated beneficial treatment and prognostic factors in various molecular markers. Whereas most previous reports have focused on genomics and proteomics, few have focused on lipidomics. With the advent of mass spectrometry (MS), it has become possible to identify many types of molecules, and this analytical tool has become critical in the field of omics. Recently, imaging mass spectrometry (IMS) was developed. After a simple pretreatment process, IMS can be used to examine tissue sections on glass slides with location information.Here, we conducted an IMS analysis of seven cases of thyroid papillary cancer by comparison of cancerous with normal tissues, focusing on the distribution of phospholipids. We identified that phosphatidylcholine (16:0/18:1) and (16:0/18:2) and sphingomyelin (d18:0/16:1) are significantly higher in thyroid papillary cancer than in normal thyroid tissue as determined by tandem mass (MS/MS) analysis. These distributional differences may be associated with the biological behavior of thyroid papillary cancer.     

Measurement of net ecosystem production and ecosystem respiration in a Zoysia japonica grassland,central Japan,by the chamber method

Measuring light, temperature, soil moisture, and growth provides a better understanding of net ecosystem production (NEP), ecosystem respiration (R _eco), and their response functions. Here, we studied the variations in NEP and R _eco in a grassland dominated by a perennial warm-season C₄ grass, Zoysia japonica. We used the chamber method to measure NEP and R _eco from August to September 2007. Biomass and leaf area index (LAI) were also measured to observe their effects on NEP and R _eco. Diurnal variations in NEP and R _eco were predicted well by light intensity (PPFD) and by soil temperature, respectively. Maximum NEP (NEP_max) values on days of year 221, 233, 247, and 262, were 2.44, 2.55, 3.90, and 4.17 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹, respectively. Throughout the growing period, the apparent quantum yield (α) increased with increasing NEP_max that ranged from 0.0154 to 0.0515, and NEP responded to the soil temperature changes by 44% and R _eco changes by 48%, and R _eco responded from 88 to 94% with the soil temperature diurnally. NEP’s light response and R _eco’s temperature response were affected by soil water content; more than 27% of the variation in NEP and 67% of the variation in R _eco could be explained by this parameter. NEP was strongly correlated with biomass and LAI, but R _eco was not, because environmental variables affected R _eco more strongly than growth parameters. Using the light response of NEP, the temperature response of R _eco, and meteorological data, daily NEP and R _eco were estimated at 0.67, 0.81, 1.17, and 1.56 g C m⁻², and at 2.88, 2.50, 3.51, and 3.04 g C m⁻², respectively, on days of year 221, 233, 247, and 262. The corresponding daily gross primary production (NEP + R _eco) was 3.5, 3.3, 4.6, and 4.6 g C m⁻².     

A New Mouse Allele of Glutamate Receptor Delta 2 with Cerebellar Atrophy and Progressive Ataxia

Spinocerebellar degenerations (SCDs) are a large class of sporadic or hereditary neurodegenerative disorders characterized by progressive motion defects and degenerative changes in the cerebellum and other parts of the CNS. Here we report the identification and establishment from a C57BL/6J mouse colony of a novel mouse line developing spontaneous progressive ataxia, which we refer to as ts3. Frequency of the phenotypic expression was consistent with an autosomal recessive Mendelian trait of inheritance, suggesting that a single gene mutation is responsible for the ataxic phenotype of this line. The onset of ataxia was observed at about three weeks of age, which slowly progressed until the hind limbs became entirely paralyzed in many cases. Micro-MRI study revealed significant cerebellar atrophy in all the ataxic mice, although individual variations were observed. Detailed histological analyses demonstrated significant atrophy of the anterior folia with reduced granule cells (GC) and abnormal morphology of cerebellar Purkinje cells (PC). Study by ultra-high voltage electron microscopy (UHVEM) further indicated aberrant morphology of PC dendrites and their spines, suggesting both morphological and functional abnormalities of the PC in the mutants. Immunohistochemical studies also revealed defects in parallel fiber (PF)–PC synapse formation and abnormal distal extension of climbing fibers (CF). Based on the phenotypic similarities of the ts3 mutant with other known ataxic mutants, we performed immunohistological analyses and found that expression levels of two genes and their products, glutamate receptor delta2 (grid2) and its ligand, cerebellin1 (Cbln1), are significantly reduced or undetectable. Finally, we sequenced the candidate genes and detected a large deletion in the coding region of the grid2 gene. Our present study suggests that ts3 is a new allele of the grid2 gene, which causes similar but different phenotypes as compared to other grid2 mutants.     

A novel mutant mouse, joggle, with inherited ataxia.

While establishing a new mouse strain, we discovered a novel mutant mouse that exhibited ataxia. Mating experiments showed that the mutant phenotype was due to a single autosomal recessive gene, which we have termed joggle (gene symbol: jog). The ataxia becomes apparent around postnatal day 12, when the mice first attempt to walk, and worsens thereafter. The life span of the mutant mouse is comparable to that of the wild-type mouse. After 21 days of age, the cerebellum weights of the jog/jog mice are significantly lower than those of the wild-type mice. These observations indicate that jog/jog mutant mice could be useful models for biomedical research.     

Intraspecific nucleotide sequence differences in the major noncoding region of human mitochondrial DNA.

Nucleotide sequences of the major noncoding region of human mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from 95 human placentas have been determined. These sequences include at least a 482-bp-long region encompassing most of the D-loop-forming region. Comparisons of these sequences with those previously determined have revealed remarkable features of nucleotide substitutions and insertion/deletion events. The nucleotide diversity among the sequences is estimated as 1.45%, which is three- to fourfold higher than the corresponding value estimated from restriction-enzyme analysis of whole mtDNA genome. A hypervariable region has also been defined. In this 14-bp region, 17 different sequences were detected. More than 97% of the base changes are transitions. A significantly nonrandom distribution of nucleotide substitutions and sequence length variations were also noted. The phylogenetic analysis indicates that diversity among the negroids is much larger than that among the caucasoids or the mongoloids. In fact, part of the negroids first diverged from other humans in the phylogenetic tree. A striking finding in the phylogenetic analysis is that the mongoloids can be separated into two distinct groups. Divergence of part of the mongoloids follows the earliest divergence of part of the negroids. The remainder of the mongoloids subsequently diverged together with the caucasoids. This observation confirmed our earlier study, which clearly demonstrated, by the restriction-enzyme analysis, existence of two distinct groups in the Japanese.     

Furunculosis in cultured American eel Anguilla rostrata (Le Sueur)

Diseased American eels, Anguilla rostrata , were collected from an eel culture facility in South Carolina and examined. The disease was characterized by skin lesions located on the body. A bacterium identified as Aeromonas salmonicida was isolated from the lesions and shown to be the causative agent. The bacterium was also isolated from the kidney during later stages of the disease.     

TRIM44 interacts with and stabilizes terf, a TRIM ubiquitin E3 ligase

Terf/TRIM17 is a member of the TRIM family of proteins, which is characterized by the RING finger, B-box, and coiled-coil domains. In the present study, we found that terf interacts with TRIM44. Terf underwent ubiquitination in vitro in the presence of the E2 enzyme UbcH6; this suggests that terf exhibits E3 ubiquitin ligase activity. It was also found that terf was conjugated with polyubiquitin chains and stabilized by the proteasome inhibitor in mammalian cells; this suggested that terf rendered itself susceptible to proteasomal degradation through polyubiquitination. We also found that TRIM44 inhibited ubiquitination of terf, and thus stabilized the protein. The N-terminal region of TRIM44 contains a zinc-finger domain found in ubiquitin hydrolases (ZF UBP) and ubiquitin specific proteases (USPs). Thus, we proposed that TRIM44 may function as a new class of the “USP-like-TRIM” which regulates the activity of associated TRIM proteins.     

Targeted deletion of the tybe IIb Na-dependent Pi-co-transporter, NaPi-IIb, results in early embryonic lethality

NaPi-IIb encodes a Na⁺-dependent Pi co-transporter, which is expressed in various adult tissues and mediates transport of extracellular Pi ions coupling with Na⁺ ion. To define the role of NaPi-IIbin vivo, NaPi-IIb gene deficient mice were generated utilizing targeted mutagenesis, yielding viable, heterozygous NaPi-IIb mice. In contrast, homozygous NaPi-IIb mice died in utero soon after implantation, indicating that NaPi-IIb was essential for early embryonic development. In situ hybridization revealed NaPi-IIb mRNA expression in the parietal endoderm, followed by the visceral endoderm, at a time point prior to establishment of a functioning chorio-allantoic placenta. At the time point of functional placenta development, the main site of NaPi-IIb production resided in the labyrinthine zone, where embryonic and maternal circulations were in closest contact. Expression patterns of NaPi-IIb suggest that NaPi-IIb plays an important role in Pi absorption from maternal circulation.     

Carbon dynamics and budget in a Zoysia japonica grassland, central Japan

The ecosystem carbon budget was estimated in a Japanese Zoysia japonica grassland. The green biomass started to grow in May and peaked from mid-July to September. Seasonal variations in soil CO₂ flux and root respiration were mediated by changes in soil temperature. Annual soil CO₂ flux was 1,121.4 and 1,213.6 g C m⁻² and root respiration was 471.0 and 544.3 g C m⁻² in 2007 and 2008, respectively. The root respiration contribution to soil CO₂ flux ranged from 33% to 71%. During the growing season, net primary production (NPP) was 747.5 and 770.1 g C m⁻² in 2007 and 2008, respectively. The biomass removed by livestock grazing (GL) was 122.1 and 102.7 g C m⁻², and the livestock returned 28.2 and 25.6 g C m⁻² as fecal input (FI) in 2007 and 2008, respectively. The decomposition of FI (DL, the dry weight loss due to decomposition) was very low, 1.5 and 1.4 g C m⁻², in 2007 and 2008. Based on the values of annual NPP, soil CO₂ flux, root respiration, GL, FI, and DL, the estimated carbon budget of the grassland was 1.7 and 22.3 g C m⁻² in 2007 and 2008, respectively. Thus, the carbon budget of this Z. japonica grassland ecosystem remained in equilibrium with the atmosphere under current grazing conditions over the 2 years of the study.