Nutritional environment of soil and roots in and around mycelial blocks of an ectomycorrhizal fungusTricholoma bakamatsutake in an evergreen Fagaceae forest

In the evergreen Fagaceae forests of Japan, an ectomycorrhizal fungusTricholoma bakamatsutake forms shiros or developing mycelial blocks. To determine the physiological characteristics of the mycelial blocks, organic acids of the soil and major nutrient elements of the soil and roots were compared at three types of sites: presently colonized mycelial blocks, previously colonized sites behind the blocks, and uncolonized sites in front of the blocks. The upper part of the mycelial blocks showed the following features compared with the uncolonized site: lower pH (5.1), higher concentrations of oxalic and gluconic acids, lower content of total nitrogen, a similar amount of total carbon, reduced total and available phosphorus, higher content of total calcium and lower content of exchangeable calcium. These findings suggested that the activity of the fungus led to soil acidification by the organic acids, an increase in C/N ratio, depletion of phosphorus and accumulation of calcium.     

Distribution and Morphological Features of Microglia in the Developing Cerebral Cortex of Gyrencephalic Mammals

Microglia have been attracting much attention because of their fundamental importance in both the mature brain and the developing brain. Though important roles of microglia in the developing cerebral cortex of mice have been uncovered, their distribution and roles in the developing cerebral cortex in gyrencephalic higher mammals have remained elusive. Here we examined the distribution and morphology of microglia in the developing cerebral cortex of gyrencephalic carnivore ferrets. We found that a number of microglia were accumulated in the germinal zones (GZs), especially in the outer subventricular zone (OSVZ), which is a GZ found in higher mammals. Furthermore, we uncovered that microglia extended their processes tangentially along inner fiber layer (IFL)-like fibers in the developing ferret cortex. The OSVZ and the IFL are the prominent features of the cerebral cortex of higher mammals. Our findings indicate that microglia may play important roles in the OSVZ and the IFL in the developing cerebral cortex of higher mammals.     

Localization of the Major Allergen Bet V 1 in Betula Pollen Using Monoclonal Antibody Labelling

The major allergen Bet ver 1 of Betula pendula (= B. verrucosa) pollen grains has been localized by gold labelling with monoclonal antibodies. The allergen is located predominantly in the starch grains and to a slight extent in the exine and intine. The possibility that environmental factors might influence the liberation of allergenic compounds present in birch pollen grains is discussed.     

The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 Vpr protein and its carboxy-terminally truncated form induce apoptosis in tumor cells

The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) accessory protein Vpr induces apoptosis after cell cycle arrest at the G₂ phase in primate cells. We have reported previously that C81, a carboxy-terminally truncated form of Vpr, interferes with cell proliferation and results in apoptosis without G₂ arrest. Here, we investigated whether this property of Vpr and C81 could be exploited for use as a potential anticancer agent. First, we demonstrated that C81 induced G₁ arrest and apoptosis in all tumor cells tested. In contrast, Vpr resulted in G₂ arrest and apoptosis in HeLa and 293 T cells. Vpr also suppressed the damaged-DNA-specific binding protein 1 (DDB1) in HepG2 cells, thereby inducing apoptosis without G₂ arrest. G₂ arrest was restored when DDB1 was overexpressed in cells that also expressed Vpr. Surprisingly, C81 induced G₂ arrest when DDB1 was overexpressed in HepG2 cells, but not in HeLa or 293 T cells. Thus, the induction of Vpr- and C81-mediated cell cycle arrest appears to depend on the cell type, whereas apoptosis was observed in all tumor cells tested. Overall, Vpr and C81 have potential as novel therapeutic agents for treatment of cancer.     

Isolation and characterization of two positional isomers of novel heterogeneous branched cyclomaltohexaoses (alpha-cyclodextrins) having a D-galactobiosyl residue on the side chain

Transgalactosylated products, 2-O-alpha-D-galactobiosyl-cyclomaltohexaoses (alpha-cyclodextrins, alphaCDs), were synthesized by alpha-galactosidase from coffee bean using melibiose and alphaCD as a donor substrate and an acceptor, respectively. Two positional isomers of 2-O-alpha-galactobiosyl-alphaCDs were isolated and purified by HPLC, and their structures were elucidated by FABMS and NMR spectroscopies, as well as by an enzymatic degradation method. The chromatographic behavior of these novel galactosylated alphaCDs was compared on three HPLC columns with different separation modes.     

X-ray structure and spectroscopic properties of pentasodium bis(l-tartrato(4-)-O,O,O) manganate(III) dodecahydrate

X-ray crystallographic analysis of Na₅[Mn(l-tart)₂] · 12H₂O demonstrated that Mn(III) ion has two tridentate l-tartrates of which two deprotonated hydroxo groups and one carboxylate are coordinated in contrast to the previously proposed structure with two didentate tartrates and two coordinated water. The tetragonally distorted octahedron due to the Jahn-Teller effect was discussed in relation with the large splitting components for the UV-Vis and circular dichroism (CD) spectra in the d-d transition in the solid. The significant difference in the UV-Vis and CD spectra between the solid and the solution suggests that the tridentate coordination of the tartrate in the solid complex changes to the didentate one in the solution.