Aquatic macrophyte composition in relation to environmental factors of irrigation ponds around Lake Shinji,Shimane, Japan

A comparative study of aquatic vegetation of 149 irrigation ponds in the surrounding area of Lake Shinji, Shimane Prefecture, Japan, was done to document the present status of aquatic flora and water chemistry. In addition, influence of 17 environmental factors on the between-pond variation in aquatic macrophyte composition was assessed by using detrended correspondence analysis (DCA). A total of 38 taxa were recorded, and the most frequent taxon was Trapa spp. (>50%). Number of taxa per pond ranged from 1 to 14 and mean number was 4.1. Floristic composition was primarily related to variation of the factors such as conductivity, Mg, Ca, Na, alkalinity, altitude, pH and depth. In contrast, no significant correlations were found with total P, PO₄-P, transparency, COD, ignition loss of bottom soil, Mn and Fe. Of the 33 significant species associations between 19 species with more than 5% frequency occurrence, 28 were positive and the remaining 5 were negative. All of these negative associations involved Trapa spp., and not only water chemistry but some other factors like competition and bottom soil preference were assumed to influence species associations.Abbreviations (DCA) Detrended Correspondence Analysis     

Annual net production and life span of floating leaves in Nymphaea tetragona Georgi: a comparison with other floating-leaved macrophytes

Fredericella sultana (Blumenbach, 1779) has long been considered one of the few freshwater bryozoan species with a truly cosmopolitan distribution. However, chromosome spreads from European material show 2n = 16 compared to 2n = 14 in North American specimens. In laboratory rearing the two forms are morphologically indistinguishable except for the surface texture of their statoblasts. Smooth statoblasts of European colonies match early illustrations of the species, while the densely pitted statoblasts of the North American form resemble those of F. indica Annandale 1909. On the basis of these observations we tentatively designate the North American F. sultana as F. indica. The only known American species with smooth statoblasts is F. australiensis Goddard 1909, in which the 2n = 16 karyotype is similar or identical to European F. sultana; however, despite this karyotypic similarity the two species retain their distinguishing morphology when reared together in the laboratory. Two enzymes from a single specimen of European F. sultana were electrophoretically distinct from the corresponding enzymes present in samples of both F. australiensis and North American F. sultana. Four phosphoglucose isomerase alleles were present in North American F. aultana from four geographically separated collection sites, although only one genotype for this locus was observed in material from any one site. These genetic findings are consistent with a relatively short-range dispersal potential in this species as compared to Plumatella species.     

Effects of l-Glutamine Deprivation on Growth of HVJ (Sendai Virus) in BHK Cells

l-Glutamine requirement for viral maturation was found in BHK-HVJ cells, a cell line of baby hamster kidney cells persistently infected with HVJ (Sendai virus). Synthesis of envelope protein in BHK-HVJ cells was markedly suppressed by deprivation of l-glutamine, whereas development of nucleocapsid (S) antigen was less affected. More detailed examination of this phenomenon was carried out by using a cytolytic system. Growth of HVJ in BHK cells cultured in media deprived of various amino acids was investigated, and omission of l-glutamine from culture medium resulted in a marked inhibitory effect on the release of infectious virus and synthesis of envelope protein, although synthesis of virus-specific RNA and nucleocapsid antigen in the cells was readily detected. When l-glutamine was restored to the culture medium, infectious virus and envelope protein could be detected. l-Glutamic acid, l-aspartic acid, or l-alanine could be substituted for l-glutamine. Effects of l-glutamine deprivation on HVJ growth in several other cells were also investigated. The growth of HVJ in the cells other than BHK and FL cells was not suppressed by lack of l-glutamine. Growth of Sindbis virus in BHK cells was also markedly retarded in the absence of l-glutamine.     

Inhibitory Effects of Trientine, a Copper-Chelating Agent, on Induction of DNA Strand Breaks in Kidney Cells of Long-Evans Cinnamon (LEC) Rats.

The effects of treatment with trientine, a specific copper-chelating agent, on the accumulation of copper and induction of DNA strand breaks were investigated in Long-Evans Cinnamon (LEC) rats, an animal model for human Wilson's disease. Copper accumulated in the kidneys of LEC rats in an age-dependent manner from 12 to 18 weeks of age. When LEC rats were treated with trientine from 10 weeks of age, renal copper contents did not increase and were maintained at the same levels as those in 4-week-old LEC rats. Estimation of the amounts of DNA single-strand breaks (SSBs) by comet assay showed that SSBs of DNA were induced in a substantial population of LEC rat renal cortex cells around 12 weeks of age and that the amounts of SSBs increased in an age-dependent manner from 12 to 18 weeks of age. When LEC rats were treated with trientine from 10 weeks of age, the observed number of cells with DNA damage decreased, suggesting that induction of SSBs of DNA was inhibited and/or SSBs were repaired during the period of treatment with trientine. The results show that SSBs of DNA in LEC rat kidney cells are induced prior to occurrence of clinical signs of hepatic injury and that treatment of LEC rats with trientine decreases the number of DNA strand breaks.     

Ablation of the 14‐3‐3gamma Protein Results in Neuronal Migration Delay and Morphological Defects in the Developing Cerebral Cortex

14‐3‐3 proteins are ubiquitously‐expressed and multifunctional proteins. There are seven isoforms in mammals with a high level of homology, suggesting potential functional redundancy. We previously found that two of seven isoforms, 14‐3‐3epsilon and 14‐3‐3zeta, are important for brain development, in particular, radial migration of pyramidal neurons in the developing cerebral cortex. In this work, we analyzed the function of another isoform, the protein 14‐3‐3gamma, with respect to neuronal migration in the developing cortex. We found that in utero 14‐3‐3gamma‐deficiency resulted in delays in neuronal migration as well as morphological defects. Migrating neurons deficient in 14‐3‐3gamma displayed a thicker leading process stem, and the basal ends of neurons were not able to reach the boundary between the cortical plate and the marginal zone. Consistent with the results obtained from in utero electroporation, time‐lapse live imaging of brain slices revealed that the ablation of the 14‐3‐3gamma proteins in pyramidal neurons slowed down their migration. In addition, the 14‐3‐3gamma deficient neurons showed morphological abnormalities, including increased multipolar neurons with a thicker leading processes stem during migration. These results indicate that the 14‐3‐3gamma proteins play an important role in radial migration by regulating the morphology of migrating neurons in the cerebral cortex. The findings underscore the pathological phenotypes of brain development associated with the disruption of different 14‐3‐3 proteins and will advance the preclinical data regarding disorders caused by neuronal migration defects. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 76: 600–614, 2016     

Enzymatic polymerization to novel polysaccharides having a glucose-N-acetylglucosamine repeating unit, a cellulose-chitin hybrid polysaccharide

A cellulose-chitin hybrid polysaccharide having alternatingly beta(1-->4)-linked D-glucose (Glc) and N-acetyl-d-glucosamine (GlcNAc) was synthesized via two modes of enzymatic polymerization. First, a sugar oxazoline monomer of Glcbeta(1-->4)GlcNAc (1) was designed as a transition-state analogue substrate (TSAS) monomer for chitinase catalysis. Monomer 1 was recognized by chitinase from Bacillus sp., giving rise to a cellulose-chitin hybrid polysaccharide (2) via ring-opening polyaddition with perfect regioselectivity and stereochemistry. Molecular weight (M(n)) of 2 reached 4030, which corresponds to 22 saccharide units. Second, a sugar fluoride monomer of GlcNAcbeta(1-->4)Glc (3) was synthesized for the catalysis of cellulase from Trichoderma viride. The enzyme catalyzed polycondensation of 3, providing a cellulose-chitin hybrid polysaccharide (4) in regio- and stereoselective manner. M(n) of 4 reached 2840, which corresponds to 16 saccharide units. X-ray diffraction measurements revealed that these hybrid polysaccharides did not form any characteristic crystalline structures. Furthermore, these unnatural hybrids of 2 and 4 were successfully digested by lysozyme from human neutrophils.     

Nematocidal Action of Microorganisms

The distribution in microorganisms of extracellular enzymes which degrade DNA into deoxymononucleotides was studied. The degradation products of DNA were determined by using 5′-nucleotidase and prostatic nonspecific phosphomonoesterase. It was found that except Bacillus subtilis IFO 3302, the microorganisms which produced the enzymes that catalyze the degradation of RNA into 5′-mononucleotides, produced the enzymes capable of hydrolyzing DNA into 5′-deoxymononucleotides, whereas the microorganisms which produced such enzymes that degrade RNA into 3′-mononuclcotides did not generally produce the enzymes which hydrolyze DNA.     

Seasonal variations in bacterioplankton community structures in two small rivers in the Himi region of central Japan and their relationships with environmental factors

The aim of this study was to improve our understanding of seasonal variations and the effects of physicochemical conditions on the bacterioplankton communities in two small rivers, the Moo and Nakayachi Rivers in the Himi region of central Japan. These rivers are inhabited by unionid freshwater mussels, which are used for oviposition by the endangered Itasenpara bitterling (Acheilognathus longipinnis). Water samples were collected every month between March 2011 and February 2012. Changes in bacterioplankton community structures were analysed using an approach that did not require cultivating the bacteria and involved PCR and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis. The bacterioplankton community structures in the two rivers were similar in all seasons except winter. The bacterial sequences identified were dominated by typical freshwater Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Cyanobacteria, α-Proteobacteria, and β-Proteobacteria bacterioplankton. Many β-Proteobacteria species were detected in all seasons, but Bacteroidetes species were dominant in the winter. The bacterioplankton community structures were affected by biochemical oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, chlorophyll-a concentration, water depth, and water temperature. These results provide a foundation for a more detailed understanding of the conditions that provide a suitable unionid habitat.