Cryopreservation of zebrafish (Danio rerio) primordial germ cells by vitrification of yolk-intact and yolk-depleted embryos using various cryoprotectant solutions

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of partial removal of yolk and cryoprotectant mixtures on the viability of cryopreserved primordial germ cells (PGCs) and elucidated the differentiation ability of cryopreserved PGCs in zebrafish. First, dechorionated yolk-intact and yolk-depleted (partially yolk removed) embryos, PGCs of which were labeled with green fluorescence protein (GFP), were vitrified after serial exposures to pretreatment solution (PS) and vitrification solution (VS) that contained ethylene glycol (EG), dimethyl sulfoxide (Me₂SO) or propylene glycol at 3 and 5 M, respectively. Although partial removal of yolk improved the viability of cryopreserved PGCs, numbers of PGCs with pseudopodial movement were limited (0–2.6 cells/embryo). Next, yolk-depleted embryos were cryopreserved using mixtures of two types of cryoprotectants. The maximum survival rate of PGCs (81%; 9.6 cells/embryo) was obtained from the yolk-depleted embryos vitrified using PS containing 2 M EG + 1 M Me₂SO and VS containing 3 M EG + 2 M Me₂SO and 56% (5.3 cells/embryo) of PGCs showed pseudopodial movement. Finally, PGCs recovered from yolk-depleted embryos (wild-type) that were vitrified under the optimum condition were transplanted individually into 236 sterilized recipient blastulae (recessive light-colored). Seven recipients matured and generated progeny with characteristics inherited from the PGC donor. In conclusion, the authors confirmed the beneficial effects of partial removal of yolk on the viability of cryopreserved PGCs and that the viability of the PGCs was improved by using PS and VS that contained two types of cryoprotectants, especially PS containing 2 M EG + 1 M Me₂SO and VS containing 3 M EG + 2 M Me₂SO, and that recovered PGCs retained ability to differentiate into functional gametes.     

The Drosophila DOCK family protein sponge is involved in differentiation of R7 photoreceptor cells

The Drosophila sponge (spg)/CG31048 gene belongs to the dedicator of cytokinesis (DOCK) family genes that are conserved in a wide variety of species. DOCK family members are known as DOCK1–DOCK11 in mammals. Although DOCK1 and DOCK2 involve neurite elongation and immunocyte differentiation, respectively, the functions of other DOCK family members are not fully understood. Spg is a Drosophila homolog of mammalian DOCK3 and DOCK4. Specific knockdown of spg by the GMR-GAL4 driver in eye imaginal discs induced abnormal eye morphology in adults. To mark the photoreceptor cells in eye imaginal discs, we used a set of enhancer trap strains that express lacZ in various sets of photoreceptor cells. Immunostaining with anti-Spg antibodies and anti-lacZ antibodies revealed that Spg is localized mainly in R7 photoreceptor cells. Knockdown of spg by the GMR-GAL4 driver reduced signals of R7 photoreceptor cells, suggesting involvement of Spg in R7 cell differentiation. Furthermore, immunostaining with anti-dpERK antibodies showed the level of activated ERK signal was reduced extensively by knockdown of spg in eye discs, and both the defects in eye morphology and dpERK signals were rescued by over-expression of the Drosophila raf gene, a component of the ERK signaling pathway. Furthermore, the Duolink in situ Proximity Ligation Assay method detected interaction signals between Spg and Rap1 in and around the plasma membrane of the eye disc cells. Together, these results indicate Spg positively regulates the ERK pathway that is required for R7 photoreceptor cell differentiation and the regulation is mediated by interaction with Rap1 during development of the compound eye.     

Discovery of a disused desaturase gene from the pheromone gland of the moth Ascotis selenaria, which secretes an epoxyalkenyl sex pheromone

Female Ascotis selenaria (Geometridae) moths use 3,4-epoxy-(Z,Z)-6,9-nonadecadiene, which is synthesized from linolenic acid, as the main component of their sex pheromone. While the use of dietary linolenic or linoleic fatty acid derivatives as sex pheromone components has been observed in moth species belonging to a few families including Geometridae, the majority of moths use derivatives of a common saturated fatty acid, palmitic acid, as their sex pheromone components. We attempted to gain insight into the differentiation of pheromone biosynthetic pathways in geometrids by analyzing the desaturase genes expressed in the pheromone gland of A. selenaria. We demonstrated that a Δ11-desaturase-like gene (Asdesat1) was specifically expressed in the pheromone gland of A. selenaria in spite of the absence of a desaturation step in the pheromone biosynthetic pathway in this species. Further analysis revealed that the presumed transmembrane domains were degenerated in Asdesat1. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that Asdesat1 anciently diverged from the lineage of Δ11-desaturases, which are currently widely used in the biosynthesis of sex pheromones by moths. These results suggest that an ancestral Δ11-desaturase became dysfunctional in A. selenaria after a shift in pheromone biosynthetic pathways.     

Isolation of the Melanization and Reddish Coloration Hormone (MRCH) of the Armyworm,Leucania separata,from the Silkworm,Bombyx mori

Two types of glycerol dehydrogenase (GDH) were found on DEAE-cellulose column chromatography of cell-free extracts of methylotrophic yeasts. One type, designated as GDH I, showed only the reductive activity which was detected in the reaction system containing dihydroxyacetone and NADH, at pH 6.0. The other type, designated as GDH II, showed the oxidative activity which was detected in the system containing glycerol and NAD ⁺, at pH 9.0, together with the reductive activity.

Candida boidinii No. 2201, which possesses the phosphorylative pathway for glycerol dissimilation, had only GDH I when grown on glycerol or methanol as the carbon source. Hansenula ofunaensis, which has the oxidative pathway, had both GDH I and GDH II when grown on glycerol, but only GDH I when grown on methanol. Hansenula polymorpha Dl-1, which has both pathways, had both GDH I and GDH II when grown on glycerol or methanol.     

Structures of Allosamidins,Novel Insect Chitinase Inhibitors,Produced by Actinomycetes

The structures of allosamidin (1) and methylallosamidin (2), novel insect chitinase inhibitors, were elucidated as 1 and 2 by acid hydrolysis experiments and analyses of 2d-NMR spectra. They are unique basic pseudotrisaccharides consisting of 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-d-allose (N-acetyl-d- allosamine) and a novel aminocyclitol derivative (3), termed allosamizoline.     

Serratia Protease

The substrate specificity of Serratia protease was determined using various synthetic substrates. The enzyme did not participate in the hydrolysis of di- and tri-peptides except benzoylglycylleucinamide which was split at a limited rate into hippuric acid and leucinamide. The enzyme action on larger peptides was also studied. The enzyme cleaved the gly-leu bond in eledoisin related peptide and the gly-phe bond in bradykinin. The enzyme split oxidized insulin B-chain at twelve different peptide bonds.     

Serratia Protease

Protease from a strain of Serratia contained one gram atom of zinc ion per mole and the zinc ion was essential for the activity. Also zinc-free apoenzyme was isolated as a crystalline form from the native-enzyme. Several metalloenzymes were prepared by the addition of corresponding metal ions to the apoenzyme. Studies on activities toward the hydrolysis of casein showed that relative activities of native- (zinc), cobalt- and manganese-enzyme were 1.0, 1.2 and 0.8, respectively. Toward the hydrolysis of hippurylleucinamide, however, specific activity of cobalt-enzyme was about 10 times that of the native- (zinc-) enzyme. Spectroscopic studies did not reveal any significant differences in conformations among native-enzyme, apoenzyme and the other metalloenzymes.     

Metabolic stability and inhibitory effect of O-methylated theaflavins on H2O2-induced oxidative damage in human HepG2 cells

Seven new O-methylated theaflavins (TFs) were synthesized by using O-methyltransferase from an edible mushroom. Using TFs and O-methylated TFs, metabolic stability in pooled human liver S9 fractions and inhibitory effect on H₂O₂-induced oxidative damage in human HepG2 cells were investigated. In O-methylation of theaflavin 3′-O-gallate (TF3′G), metabolic stability was potentiated by an increase in the number of introduced methyl groups. O-methylation of TF3,3′G did not affect metabolic stability, which was likely because of a remaining 3-O-galloyl group. The inhibitory effect on oxidative damage was assessed by measuring the viability of H₂O₂-damaged HepG2 cells treated with TFs and O-methylated TFs. TF3,3′G and O-methylated TFs increased cell viabilities significantly compared with DMSO, which was the compound vehicle (p?<?0.05), and improved to approximately 100%. Only TF3′G did not significantly increase cell viability. It was suggested that the inhibitory effect on H₂O₂-induced oxidative damage was potentiated by O-methylation or O-galloylation of TFs.