N-terminal acetyl group is essential for the inhibitory function of carboxypeptidase Y inhibitor (I(C))

Carboxypeptidase Y (CPY) inhibitor, I(C), a yeast cytoplasmic inhibitor in which the N-terminal amino acid is acetylated, was expressed in Escherichia coli and produced as an unacetylated form of I(C) (unaI(C)). Circular dichroism and fluorescence measurements showed that unaI(C) and I(C) were structurally identical and produce identical complexes with CPY. However, the K(i) values for unaI(C) for anilidase and peptidase activity of CPY were much larger, by 700- and 60-fold, respectively, than those of I(C). The reactivities of phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride and p-chloromercuribenzoic acid toward the CPY-unaI(C) complex were considerably higher than those toward the CPY-I(C) complex. Thus, the N-terminal acetyl group of I(C) is essential for achieving a tight interaction with CPY and for its complete inactivation.     

Lanthanum-Induced Mucosal Alterations in the Stomach (Lanthanum Gastropathy): a Comparative Study Using an Animal Model

Lanthanum (La) carbonate (LC) is one of the most potent phosphate binders that prevents the elevation of serum phosphate levels in patients with end-stage renal diseases undergoing dialysis. LC binds strongly to dietary phosphate and forms insoluble complexes that pass through the gastrointestinal tract. La deposition in patients treated with LC is a recently documented finding particularly observed in gastric mucosa. We herein describe the detailed gastric mucosal lesions in 45 LC-treated patients and address the potential underlying pathologic mechanism using oral LC administration in rats. Microscopically, La deposition, as shown by subepithelial collections of plump eosinophilic histiocytes or small foreign body granulomas containing coarse granular or amorphous inclusion bodies, was found in the gastric mucosa of 44 (97.8%) of the 45 dialysis patients in the study cohort, which was most frequently associated with foveolar hyperplasia (37.8%). Using oral administration of rats with 1000 mg/day LC for 2 or more weeks, La deposition was consistently detectable in the gastric mucosa but not in other organs examined. In addition, various histologic alterations such as glandular atrophy, stromal fibrosis, proliferation of mucous neck cells, intestinal metaplasia, squamous cell papilloma, erosion, and ulcer were demonstrated in the rat model. Thus, orally administered LC can induce mucosal injury, designated here as La gastropathy, which may alter the local environment and result in La deposition in the gastric mucosa, thereby potentially inducing abnormal cell proliferation or neoplastic lesions.     

Improved immobilization of DNA to microwell plates for DNA-DNA hybridization.

An improved and simplified protocol for DNA immobilization was developed to enhance DNA-DNA hybridization on microwell plates. Target DNA was immobilized by simple dry-adsorption. Efficiencies of DNA immobilization and retention were enhanced 1.4-6.5 times and 4.2-19.6 times, respectively, compared with a conventional method. The overall hybridization efficiency was increased 3.1-5.2 times. This simple new protocol can reduce the consumption of scarce DNA samples.     

Resting spore formation ofLeptocylindrus danicus (Bacillariophyceae) during short time-scale upwelling and its significance as predicted by a simple model

Resting spore formation during short time-scale upwelling and its significance were investigated in the field and by a simple theoretical model. Field observations of spore formation ofLeptocylindrus danicus were made off Izu Peninsula, Japan. A rapid increase in ratio of resting spore to vegetative cell numbers indicated thatL. danicus formed resting spores quickly as a response to nutrient depletion in the upwelled water, although only a very low number of resting spores was found in the upwelling. A simple model was constructed to investigate the possible advantages of spore formation during short time-scale upwelling. This showed that there is a critical time-scale for resting spore formation to be advantageous. The nutrient depletion period of the upwelling off Izu was shorter than the critical time-scale determined by the model. Rapid-sinking of resting spores may increase further the critical time-scale, unless spores return with upwelling water. For short time-scale upwelling, the vegetative cell may be better suited than the resting spore for enduring a short period of nutrient depletion. Contribution from Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba, No. 475.     

Reversed type of color-pattern modifications of butterfly wings: a physiological mechanism of wing-wide color-pattern determination

Application of cold shock or tungstate to butterfly pupae produces a unique color-pattern modification type on the adult wings, in which the color-pattern elements are dislocated toward the reduced focal elements. This modification-inducing activity has been primarily attributed to the putative cold-shock hormone (CSH) that is secreted into the hemolymph upon cold shock. Here, using a species of nymphalid butterfly Junonia almana, a new "reversed" type of the color-pattern modifications of butterfly wings was obtained by the application of heat shock or thapsigargin, a calcium-ATPase inhibitor, in which most elements were dislocated away from the enlarged focal elements. This result suggests that the endocrine secretion of CSH is sensitive to a wide range of temperature shocks, which then affects the cellular interpretation of the wing-wide positional information that is emitted from the focal locations. Ecdysteroid contributes to the wing-wide patterning primarily independently from CSH, but these two systems negatively interact with each other, probably in the intracellular signaling pathways.     

Suppression of tomato bacterial wilt by anaerobic soil disinfestation and associations with production of antagonistic compounds

Plant and Soil - Anaerobic soil disinfestation (ASD) has been proven to be an effective and environmentally friendly method for controlling soil-borne plant diseases. Mechanisms of ASD-mediated...