Pharmacognostic studies on ginger and related drugs--part 1: five sulfonated compounds from Zingiberis rhizome (Shokyo)

Five sulfonated compounds, namely 4-gingesulfonic acid and shogasulfonic acids A, B, C and D, were isolated together with seven known compounds including 6-gingesulfonic acid from Zingiberis rhizome (Japanese name: Shokyo) made out of ginger. Their structures were characterized by means of spectroscopic analysis.     

Reduction in photostability by the esterification of beta-cryptoxanthin

Liposomes, in which beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, zeaxanthin, beta-cryptoxanthin palmitate or beta-cryptoxanthin acetate had been embedded, were irradiated by UVA, and the rate of degradation of each carotenoid was measured. There was no significant difference in the degradation rate between beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin and zeaxanthin. The degradation rates of beta-cryptoxanthin palmitate and beta-cryptoxanthin acetate were faster than that of beta-cryptoxanthin, and the degradation rate of beta-cryptoxanthin palmitate was faster than that of beta-cryptoxanthin acetate.     

Proteomics-based identification of differentially expressed genes in human gliomas: down-regulation of SIRT2 gene

A number of chromosomal abnormalities including 19q deletions have been associated with the formation of human gliomas. In this study, we employed a proteomics-based approach to identify possible genes involved in glioma tumorigenesis which may serve as potential diagnostic molecular markers for this type of cancer. By comparing protein spots from gliomas and non-tumor tissues using two-dimensional (2D) gel electrophoresis, we identified 11 up-regulated proteins and four down-regulated proteins in gliomas. Interestingly, we also discovered that a group of cytoskeleton-related proteins are differentially regulated in gliomas, suggesting the involvement of cytoskeleton modulation in glioma pathogenesis. We then focused on the cytoskeleton-related protein, SIRT2 (sirtuin homologue 2) tubulin deacetylase, which was down-regulated in gliomas. SIRT2 is located at 19q13.2, a region known to be frequently deleted in human gliomas. Subsequent Northern blot analysis revealed that RNA expression of SIRT2 was dramatically diminished in 12 out of 17 gliomas and glioma cell lines, in agreement with proteomic data. Furthermore, ectopic expression of SIRT2 in glioma cell lines led to the perturbation of the microtubule network and caused a remarkable reduction in the number of stable clones expressing SIRT2 as compared to that of a control vector in colony formation assays. These results suggest that SIRT2 may act as a tumor suppressor gene in human gliomas possibly through the regulation of microtubule network and may serve as a novel molecular marker for gliomas. Additional proteins were also identified, whose function in gliomas was previously unsuspected.     

Temporal and spatial expression pattern of the OSVP1 and OSEM genes during seed development in rice

The spatial and temporal expression patterns of the rice VP1 (OSVP1) gene, as well as the OSEM gene which it controls, were studied during seed development by in situ hybridization and immuno-localization techniques. The expression of OSVP1 could be detected in embryos as early as 2-3 d after pollination (DAP) and thereafter became preferentially localized to shoot, radicle and vascular tissues during the embryo development at both the mRNA and protein levels. In the aleurone layers, OSVP1 mRNA and protein were detected after 6 DAP. OSEM mRNA was detectable after 6 DAP in the embryo and aleurone tissue. The spatial distribution within the embryo of OSEM mRNA and OSVP1 mRNA/protein was very similar after 6 DAP. Transgenic rice carrying a beta-glucuronidase (GUS) gene transcribed from a chimeric promoter consisting of the CaMV 35S minimal promoter (-46) and the 55-bp promoter fragment of OSEM, minimally required for ABA and VP1 regulation, also exhibited a spatial pattern of GUS expression similar to that of OSEM and OSVP1. These results suggest that (OS)VP1 is a major determinant not only of the seed specificity but also of the spatial pattern of OSEM expression in the developing seed.     

Dual origin of mesenchymal tissues participating in mouse mammary gland embryogenesis

By the 14th day of gestation, two different mesenchymes can be identified which affect mouse mammary gland embryogenesis: the fibroblastic mammary mesenchyme (MM) closely surrounding the epithelial rudiment, and a condensed mesenchymal tissue (FP) appearing separately, posterior to the mammary rudiment, the precursor tissue of the fat pad. Late on the 16th day, the mammary epithelium (ME), surrounded by MM, starts to elongate, puts out branches, and penetrates the FP. A fatty substance appears in the FP at this stage. Interaction between ME and FP is necessary for typical mammary morphogenesis. When 17-day ME is combined with 14- or 17-day FP, the resulting mammary gland has the normal mammary pattern, but when 17-day ME is combined with 12- to 17-day MM, a ductal hyperplasia is formed by frequent branching, without the “stretching out” of these ducts. All the glands formed by combining ME with either FP or MM will lactate, if the mice carrying the grafts are allowed to mate and give birth. Adult ME also shows a different response to MM and FP.     

Preliminary X-ray studies on Pseudomonas isoamylase

Single crystals of Pseudomonas isoamylase (M_r 95,000) belong to space group P2₁2₁2₁ with unit cell dimensions of $\text{a = 137.9}\text{A}\text{?}\text{, b = 52.9}\text{A}\text{?}\text{, c = 151.2}\text{A}\text{?}$. A Guinier plot of the X-ray small-angle scattering of the protein solution gave the radius of gyration of the molecule as 27.5 Å.     

Immunohistochemical localization of two otolith matrix proteins in the otolith and inner ear of the rainbow trout,<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Oncorhynchus mykiss</Emphasis>: comparative aspects between the adult inner ear and embryonic otocysts

The fish otolith consists mainly of calcium carbonate and organic matrices, the latter of which may play important roles in the process of otolith formation. We previously identified two otolith matrix proteins, named otolith matrix protein-1 (OMP-1) and otolin-1, from the rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, and the chum salmon, O. keta. In this study, recombinant proteins corresponding to OMP-1 and otolin-1 were synthesized using yeast and bacterial expression systems, respectively, to produce specific antibodies against each protein. Immunohistochemical analysis using these antisera revealed that in the otoliths of adult fish, OMP-1 and otolin-1 were colocalized along the daily rings possibly formed by alternate deposition of calcium carbonate and organic matrices. In the adult inner ear, OMP-1 was produced at most of the saccular epithelium, while otolin-1 was produced at a limited part of cylindrical cells located at the marginal zone of the sensory epithelium. In the embryonic inner ear, these proteins had already existed in the otolith primordia when calcification had commenced. In addition, otolin-1 was localized in the fibrous materials connecting otolith primordia and sensory epithelium at this stage. These results indicate that these proteins are required as essential components for otolith formation and calcification.     

Apoptosis induced by the histone deacetylase inhibitor FR901228 in human T-cell leukemia virus type 1-infected T-cell lines and primary adult T-cell leukemia cells

Inhibition of histone deacetylase (HDAC) activity induces growth arrest, differentiation, and, in certain cell types, apoptosis. FR901228, FK228, or depsipeptide, is an HDAC inhibitor effective in T-cell lymphomas. Adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) is caused by human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) and remains incurable. We examined whether FR901228 is effective for treatment of ATL by assessing its ability to induce apoptosis of HTLV-1-infected T-cell lines and primary leukemic cells from ATL patients. FR901228 induced apoptosis of Tax-expressing and -unexpressing HTLV-1-infected T-cell lines and selective apoptosis of primary ATL cells, especially those of patients with acute ATL. FR901228 also efficiently reduced the DNA binding of NF-kappaB and AP-1 in HTLV-1-infected T-cell lines and primary ATL cells and down-regulated the expression of Bcl-x(L) and cyclin D2, regulated by NF-kappaB. Although the viral protein Tax is an activator of NF-kappaB and AP-1, FR901228-induced apoptosis was not associated with reduced expression of Tax. In vivo use of FR901228 partly inhibited the growth of tumors of HTLV-1-infected T cells transplanted subcutaneously in SCID mice. Our results indicated that FR901228 could induce apoptosis of these cells and suppress the expression of NF-kappaB and AP-1 and suggest that FR901228 could be therapeutically effective in ATL.     

Phase dynamics of complex-valued neural networks and its application to traffic signal control

Complex-valued Hopfield networks which possess the energy function are analyzed. The dynamics of the network with certain forms of an activation function is de-composable into the dynamics of the amplitude and phase of each neuron. Then the phase dynamics is described as a coupled system of phase oscillators with a pair-wise sinusoidal interaction. Therefore its phase synchronization mechanism is useful for the area-wide offset control of the traffic signals. The computer simulations show the effectiveness under the various traffic conditions.