Effect of growth factors on the differentiation of chick precardiac mesoderm in vitro

We have found that precardiac mesoderm extirpated from chicken blastoderm at stage 5 fails to differentiate into beating tissue when cultured in Eagle's minimum essential medium (MEM), while it can pulsate provided either the endoderm is present or serum is added to the MEM. To identify the factor(s) which influence early myocardial differentiation, we examined the effect of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), activin A and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). All these growth factors showed a stimulating effect on myocardial differentiation and it is conceivable that these factors exhibit the same effect in vivo. Correspondence to: Y. Yamazaki     

Oil Palm Biomass Biorefinery for Sustainable Production of Renewable Materials

Oil palm biomass is widely known for its potential as a renewable resource for various value‐added products due to its lignocellulosic content and availability. Oil palm biomass biorefinery is an industry that comes with sociopolitical benefits through job opportunities, as well as potential environmental benefits. Many studies have been conducted on the technological advancements of oil‐palm biomass‐derived renewable materials, which are discussed comprehensively in this review. Recent technological developments have made it possible to bring new and innovative technologies to commercialization, such as compost, biocharcoal, biocomposites, and bioplastics.     

Identification of TMCO2 as an acrosome‐associated protein during rat spermiogenesis

We isolated the transmembrane and coiled‐coil domains 2 (Tmco2) gene using a polymerase chain reaction‐based subtraction technique. Tmco2 is predominantly expressed in rat testes starting from 4 weeks of age. Rat TMCO2 consists of 187 amino acids with a predicted molecular mass of 20.6 kDa. When expressed in COS7 cells, TMCO2 was found as vesicle‐like structures in the cytoplasm, whereas TMCO2ΔTM lacking the transmembrane (TM) region was found diffused in the cytoplasm. These results suggest that the TM region in TMCO2 is essential for its specificity of localization. Immunocytochemical analyzes indicated that rat TMCO2 was localized as small semiluminate bodies or cap‐like structures in the vicinity of round spermatid nuclei and as curved lines associated with nuclei of elongated spermatids and caput epididymal spermatozoa. However, it was detected in only a small part of cauda epididymal spermatozoa. Double immunolabeling of the spermatids and spermatozoa with the anti‐TMCO2 antibody and the monoclonal anti‐MN7 antibody showed that TMCO2 was predominantly associated with the inner acrosomal membrane in spermatids and caput epididymal spermatozoa. Our findings suggest that TMCO2 might be involved in the process of acrosome biogenesis, especially binding of acrosome to a nucleus, during spermiogenesis.     

Immunological Properties of Borrelia burgdorferi Isolated from the Ixodes ovatus in Shizuoka,Japan

Three strains of spirochetes (IKA1 to 3) were isolated from the midgut of Ixodes ovatus collected in the Ikawa region of the northern part of Shizuoka, Japan. These isolates had eight flagella, and their size and other morphological features were similar to Borrelia burgdorferi. They showed similar motility and reacted with monoclonal antibody (MAb) H9724 against borrelial flagella and with MAb H5332 against the outer surface protein A. These strains showed similar SDS-PAGE profiles to that of B. burgdorferi strain B31 and P/Bi isolated in the U.S.A. and Europe, respectively. Immunoblot with Lyme disease patient serum showed positive reactions with the flagella (41 Kilodalton, kDa), protein C (20 to 22 kDa), and outer surface protein A (29 kDa) of the isolates. Immunological properties, morphological characteristics, and epidemiological features revealed that these isolates were B. burgdorferi.     

Relative abundance of Δ5-sterols in plasma membrane lipids of root-tip cells correlates with aluminum tolerance of rice

We investigated variations in aluminum (Al) tolerance among rice plants, using ancestor cultivars from the family line of the Al-tolerant and widely cultivated Japonica cultivar, Sasanishiki. The cultivar Rikuu-20 was Al sensitive, whereas a closely related cultivar that is a descendant of Rikuu-20, Rikuu-132, was Al tolerant. These two cultivars were compared to determine mechanisms underlying variations in Al tolerance. The sensitive cultivar Rikuu-20 showed increased permeability of the plasma membrane (PM) and greater Al uptake within 1 h of Al treatment. This could not be explained by organic acid release. Lipid composition of the PM differed between these cultivars, and may account for the difference in Al tolerance. The tolerant cultivar Rikuu-132 had a lower ratio of phospholipids to Δ⁵-sterols than the sensitive cultivar Rikuu-20, suggesting that the PM of Rikuu-132 is less negatively charged and less permeabilized than that of Rikuu-20. We used inhibitors of Δ⁵-sterol synthesis to alter the ratio of phospholipids to Δ⁵-sterols in both cultivars. These inhibitors reduced Al tolerance in Rikuu-132 and its Al-tolerant ancestor cultivars Kamenoo and Kyoku. In addition, Rikuu-132 showed a similar level of Al sensitivity when the ratio of phospholipids to Δ⁵-sterols was increased to match that of Rikuu-20 after treatment with uniconazole-P, an inhibitor of obtusifoliol-14α-demethylase. These results indicate that PM lipid composition is a factor underlying variations in Al tolerance among rice cultivars.     

Divergent synthesis of kinase inhibitor derivatives,leading to discovery of selective Gck inhibitors

We accomplished divergent synthesis of potent kinase inhibitor BAY 61-3606 (1) and 27 derivatives via conjugation of imidazo[1,2-c]pyrimidine and indole ring compounds with aromatic (including pyridine) derivatives by means of palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction. Spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk) and germinal center kinase (Gck, MAP4K2) inhibition assays showed that some of the synthesized compounds were selective Gck inhibitors.     

Genetic Profiling Reveals Cross-Contamination and Misidentification of 6 Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma Cell Lines: ACC2, ACC3, ACCM,ACCNS, ACCS and CAC2

Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is the second most common malignant neoplasm of the salivary glands. Most patients survive more than 5 years after surgery and postoperative radiation therapy. The 10 year survival rate, however, drops to 40%, due to locoregional recurrences and distant metastases. Improving long-term survival in ACC requires the development of more effective systemic therapies based on a better understanding of the biologic behavior of ACC. Much preclinical research in this field involves the use of cultured cells and, to date, several ACC cell lines have been established. Authentication of these cell lines, however, has not been reported. We performed DNA fingerprint analysis on six ACC cell lines using short tandem repeat (STR) examinations and found that all six cell lines had been contaminated with other cells. ACC2, ACC3, and ACCM were determined to be cervical cancer cells (HeLa cells), whereas the ACCS cell line was composed of T24 urinary bladder cancer cells. ACCNS and CAC2 cells were contaminated with cells derived from non-human mammalian species: the cells labeled ACCNS were mouse cells and the CAC2 cells were rat cells. These observations suggest that future studies using ACC cell lines should include cell line authentication to avoid the use of contaminated or non-human cells.     

Presentation of two patients with malignant granulosa cell tumors, with a review of the literature

ABSTRACT: Granulosa cell tumors (GCTs) of the ovary account for 2 to 5 of ovarian malignancies. We present two patients with malignant ovarian adult GCT. In one patient, a combination of bleomycin, etoposide, and cisplatin was effective after initial surgery for malignant GCT. In the other, an aromatase inhibitor was effective for recurrent malignant GCT. We also review the literature for further management of this tumor. Because GCT of the ovary is rare, it will be necessary to elucidate the clinical phenotype and establish treatment protocols by accumulating and analyzing more patients.