Antibodies to human-related H3 influenza A virus in Baikal seals (Phoca sibirica) and ringed seals (Phoca hispida) in Russia

Antibodies to influenza A virus were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in the sera from two of seven Baikal seals (Phoca sibrica) and from five of six ringed seals (Phoca hispida) in Russia. In a hemagglutination-inhibition test using H1-H15 reference influenza A viruses, ELISA-positive sera from one Baikal seal and four ringed seals reacted to A/Aichi/2/68 (H3N2) and A/Bangkok/1/79 (H3N2) strains. One ringed seal serum sample reacted to A/seal/Massachusetts/1/80 (H7N7). The present results suggested that human-related H3 viruses were prevalent in Baikal seals and ringed seals inhabiting the central Russian Arctic.     

Estrogen and xenoestrogens upregulate the brain aromatase isoform (P450aromB) and perturb markers of early development in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Estrogen synthesized in the brain itself by the action of cytochrome P450 aromatase (P450arom) is known to have permanent organizing effects on the developing CNS. In fish, estrogen upregulates the predominant brain isoform (P450aromB), implying that xenoestrogens (XE) could act as neurodevelopmental toxicants by altering P450aromB. To test this hypothesis, zebrafish embryos were exposed to 17beta-estradiol (E(2)), diethylstilbestrol (DES, a potent agonist), and bisphenol A (BPA, a weak agonist). RT-PCR/Southern transfer analysis showed that E(2) (0.01-10 microM) upregulated P450aromB in a dose-response manner. The effect of DES (0.01 microM) was similar to 1 microM E(2) (three- to four-fold higher than control), but BPA was less effective (相似文献   

Enrichment of sugar content in melon fruits by hydrogen peroxide treatment

Since sweetness is one of the most important qualities of many fruits, and since sugars are translocated from leaves to fruits, the present study investigates photosynthetic activity, activity of sugar metabolizing enzymes, sugar content in leaves and fruits and endogenous levels of hydrogen peroxide in leaves of melon plants treated with various dilutions of hydrogen peroxide, a nonspecific signaling molecule in abiotic stress. For this purpose, 4-month-old melon plants were treated with various concentrations (<50mM) of hydrogen peroxide by applying 300mL per day to the soil of potted plants. The treatments resulted in increased fructose, glucose, sucrose and starch in the leaves and fruits. The most effective concentration of hydrogen peroxide was 20mM. During the day, soluble sugars in leaves were highest at 12:00h and starch at 15:00h. Furthermore, the peroxide treatment increased the photosynthetic activity and the activities of chloroplastic and cytosolic fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase, sucrose phosphate synthase and invertases. Thus, our data show that exogenous hydrogen peroxide, applied to the soil, can increase the soluble sugar content of melon fruits.     

Multiplicity of the interactions of Wnt proteins and their receptors

Wnts are secreted proteins that are essential for a wide array of developmental and physiological processes. They signal across the plasma membranes by interacting with serpentine receptors of the Frizzled (Fz) family and members of the low-density-lipoprotein receptor-related protein (LRP) family. Recent advances in the Wnt signaling field have revealed that Wnt-unrelated proteins activate or suppress Wnt signaling by binding to Fzs or LRP5/6 and that atypical receptor tyrosine kinases mediate Wnt signaling independently of Fz and/or function as a Fz co-receptor. This review highlights recent progress in our understanding of the multiplicity of Wnts and their receptors. We discuss how the interaction between the ligands and receptors activate distinct intracellular signaling pathways. We also discuss how intracellular trafficking of Wnt signaling components can regulate the sensitivity of cells to Wnts.     

Formation mechanism of the internal structure of type I protein bodies in rice endosperm: relationship between the localization of prolamin species and the expression of individual genes

Rice prolamins, a group of seed storage proteins, are synthesized on the rough endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and form type I protein bodies (PB-Is) in endosperm cells. Rice prolamins are encoded by a multigene family. In this study, the spatial accumulation patterns of various prolamin species in rice endosperm cells were investigated to determine the mechanism of formation of the internal structure of PB-Is. Immunofluorescence microscopic analysis of mature endosperm cells showed that the 10 kDa prolamin is mainly localized in the core of the PB-Is, the 13b prolamin is localized in the inner layer surrounding the core and the outermost layer, and the 13a and 16 kDa prolamins are localized in the middle layer. Real-time RT-PCR analysis showed that expression of the mRNA for 10 kDa prolamin precedes expression of 13a, 13b-1 and 16 kDa prolamin in the developing stages. mRNA expression for 13b-2 prolamin occurred after that of the other prolamin species. Immunoelectron microscopy of developing seeds showed that the 10 kDa prolamin polypeptide initially accumulates in the ER, and then 13b, 13a, 16 kDa and 13b prolamins are stacked in layers within the ER. Studies with transgenic rice seeds expressing prolamin-GFP fusion proteins under the control of native and constitutive promoters indicated that the temporal expression pattern of prolamin genes influenced the localization of prolamin proteins within the PB-Is. These findings indicate that the control of gene expression of prolamin species contributes to the internal structure of PB-Is.     

Antimicrobiological activity of lignan: effect of benzylic oxygen and stereochemistry of 2,3-dibenzyl-4-butanolide and 3,4-dibenzyltetrahydrofuran lignans on activity

The effect of oxidation degree at the benzylic position of 2,3-dibenzyl-4-butanolide and 3,4-dibenzyltetrahydrofuran lignans on the antimicrobiological activity was examined. The highest oxidation degree at the benzylic position of 2,3-dibenzyl-4-butanolide gave the greatest activity, and 3,4-dibenzoyltetrahydrofuran showed the highest antifungal activity. The relationship between stereochemistry and activity was also examined. Both enantiomers of cis-matairesinol were synthesized for the first time, one of the cis-matairesinols showing antibacterial activity.     

First stereoselective synthesis of meso-secoisolariciresinol and comparison of its biological activity with (+) and (-)-secoisolariciresinol

The first stereoselective synthesis of meso-secoisolariciresinol is reported. A comparison of the cytotoxic and immunosuppressive activity between meso-secoisolariciresinol and optically active secoisolariciresinols was similarly performed for the first time. Both enantiomers of secoisolariciresinol accelerated IgM production, although meso-secoisolariciresinol did not affect IgM production. Only meso-secoisolariciresinol showed cytotoxic activity.     

Genotype-phenotype correlation in Japanese patients with familial Mediterranean fever: differences in genotype and clinical features between Japanese and Mediterranean populations

Introduction

Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is a hereditary autoinflammatory disease characterized by recurrent self-limiting fever and serositis that mainly affects Mediterranean populations. Many patients with FMF have been reported in Japan due to increasing recognition of this condition and the availability of genetic analysis for the gene responsible, MEFV. The present study was performed to elucidate the clinical characteristics of Japanese FMF patients and to examine the precise genotype-phenotype correlation in a large cohort of Japanese FMF patients.

Methods

We analyzed the MEFV genotypes and clinical manifestations in 116 patients clinically diagnosed as having FMF and with at least one mutation.

Results

The most frequent mutation in Japanese patients was E148Q (40.2%), followed by M694I (21.0%), L110P (18.8%), P369S (5.4%), and R408Q (5.4%). In contrast, common mutations seen in Mediterranean patients, such as M694V, V726A, and M680I, were not detected in this population. The clinical features with M694I were associated with more severe clinical course compared to those seen with E148Q. P369S/R408Q showed variable phenotypes with regard to both clinical manifestations and severity. Patients with M694I showed a very favorable response to colchicine therapy, while those with P369S and R408Q did not.

Conclusions

Clinical features and efficacy of treatment in Japanese FMF patients vary widely according to the specific MEFV gene mutation, and therefore genetic analysis should be performed for diagnosis in cases of Japanese FMF.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13075-014-0439-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

The C. elegans TPR Containing Protein,TRD-1, Regulates Cell Fate Choice in the Developing Germ Line and Epidermis

Correct cell fate choice is crucial in development. In post-embryonic development of the hermaphroditic Caenorhabitis elegans, distinct cell fates must be adopted in two diverse tissues. In the germline, stem cells adopt one of three possible fates: mitotic cell cycle, or gamete formation via meiosis, producing either sperm or oocytes. In the epidermis, the stem cell-like seam cells divide asymmetrically, with the daughters taking on either a proliferative (seam) or differentiated (hypodermal or neuronal) fate. We have isolated a novel conserved C. elegans tetratricopeptide repeat containing protein, TRD-1, which is essential for cell fate determination in both the germline and the developing epidermis and has homologs in other species, including humans (TTC27). We show that trd-1(RNAi) and mutant animals have fewer seam cells as a result of inappropriate differentiation towards the hypodermal fate. In the germline, trd-1 RNAi results in a strong masculinization phenotype, as well as defects in the mitosis to meiosis switch. Our data suggests that trd-1 acts downstream of tra-2 but upstream of fem-3 in the germline sex determination pathway, and exhibits a constellation of phenotypes in common with other Mog (masculinization of germline) mutants. Thus, trd-1 is a new player in both the somatic and germline cell fate determination machinery, suggestive of a novel molecular connection between the development of these two diverse tissues.