Painful Neuropathy with Trigeminal Nerve Involvement in Type 2 Diabetes

After several years of treatment for type 2 diabetes mellitus, a 69-year-old Japanese man developed an acute painful neuropathy, characterized by bilateral causalgia and dysaesthesia in his cheeks and around his eyes, typically 30 min to 3h after meals. As his glycaemic control deteriorated, his haemoglobin (Hb) A1c level gradually increased from 7-8% to 10.3% and his symptoms became more severe. The pain radiated out along the distribution of the ophthalmic and maxillary divisions of the trigeminal nerve. The patient was treated with insulin therapy and his HbA1c level decreased from 10.3% to 6.8% within 7 months. Five months after initiating insulin therapy, his symptoms showed a dramatic improvement. This was a very unusual case of bilateral acute painful neuropathy that involved the ophthalmic and maxillary divisions of the trigeminal nerve, and in which aggravation of the symptoms clearly related to poor glycaemic control.

Re-dislocation after corrective osteotomy for chronic dislocation of the radial head in children

This retrospective study was designed to evaluate the outcomes of re-dislocation of the radial head after corrective osteotomy for chronic dislocation. A total of 12 children with a mean age of 11 years (5 to 16), with further dislocation of the radial head after corrective osteotomy of the forearm, were followed for a mean of five years (2 to 10). Re-operations were performed for radial head re-dislocation in six children, while the other six did not undergo re-operation ('non-re-operation group'). The active range of movement (ROM) of their elbows was evaluated before and after the first operation, and at the most recent follow-up. In the re-operation group, there were significant decreases in extension, pronation, and supination when comparing the ROM following the corrective osteotomy and following re-operation (p < 0.05). The children who had not undergone re-operation achieved a better ROM than those who had undergone re-operation. There was a significant difference in mean pronation (76° vs 0°) between the non- re-operation and the re-operation group (p = 0.002), and a trend towards increases in mean flexion (133° vs 111°), extension (0° vs 23°), and supination (62° vs 29°). We did not find a clear benefit for re-operation in children with a re-dislocation following corrective osteotomy for chronic dislocation of the radial head.

Band-pass processing in a GPCR signaling pathway selects for NFAT transcription factor activation

Many biological processes are rhythmic and proper timing is increasingly appreciated as being critical for development and maintenance of physiological functions. To understand how temporal modulation of an input signal influences downstream responses, we employ microfluidic pulsatile stimulation of a G-protein coupled receptor, the muscarinic M3 receptor, in single cells with simultaneous real-time imaging of both intracellular calcium and NFAT nuclear localization. Interestingly, we find that reduced stimulation with pulses of ligand can give more efficient transcription factor activation, if stimuli are timed appropriately. Our experiments and computational analyses show that M3 receptor-induced calcium oscillations form a low pass filter while calcium-induced NFAT translocation forms a high pass filter. The combination acts as a band-pass filter optimized for intermediate frequencies of stimulation. We demonstrate that receptor desensitization and NFAT translocation rates determine critical features of the band-pass filter and that the band-pass may be shifted for different receptors or NFAT dynamics. As an example, we show that the two NFAT isoforms (NFAT4 and NFAT1) have shifted band-pass windows for the same receptor. While we focus specifically on the M3 muscarinic receptor and NFAT translocation, band-pass processing is expected to be a general theme that applies to multiple signaling pathways.

Efficient expression of SRK intracellular domain by a modeling-based protein engineering

S-locus protein kinase (SRK) is a receptor kinase that plays a critical role in self-recognition in the Brassicaceae self-incompatibility (SI) response. SRK is activated by binding of its ligand S-locus protein 11 (SP11) and subsequently induced phosphorylation of the intracellular kinase domain. However, a detailed activation mechanism of SRK is still largely unknown because of the difficulty in stably expressing SRK recombinant proteins. Here, we performed modeling-based protein engineering of the SRK kinase domain for stable expression in Escherichia coli. The engineered SRK intracellular domain was expressed about 54-fold higher production than wild type SRK, without loss of the kinase activity, suggesting it could be useful for further biochemical and structural studies.

Calcium signalling mediates self-incompatibility response in the Brassicaceae

Self-incompatibility in the Brassicaceae is controlled by multiple haplotypes encoding the pollen ligand (S-locus protein 11, SP11, also known as S-locus cysteine-rich protein, SCR) and its stigmatic receptor (S-receptor kinase, SRK). A haplotype-specific interaction between SP11/SCR and SRK triggers the self-incompatibility response that leads to self-pollen rejection, but the signalling pathway remains largely unknown. Here we show that Ca(2+) influx into stigma papilla cells mediates self-incompatibility signalling. Using self-incompatible Arabidopsis thaliana expressing SP11/SCR and SRK, we found that self-pollination specifically induced an increase in cytoplasmic Ca(2+) ([Ca(2+)]cyt) in papilla cells. Direct application of SP11/SCR to the papilla cell protoplasts induced Ca(2+) increase, which was inhibited by D-(-)-2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid (AP-5), a glutamate receptor channel blocker. An artificial increase in [Ca(2+)]cyt in papilla cells arrested wild-type (WT) pollen hydration. Treatment of papilla cells with AP-5 interfered with self-incompatibility, and Ca(2+) increase on the self-incompatibility response was reduced in the glutamate receptor-like channel (GLR) gene mutants. These results suggest that Ca(2+) influx mediated by GLR is the essential self-incompatibility response leading to self-pollen rejection.

Evaluation of a novel immunochromatographic device for rapid and accurate clinical detection of Porphyromonas gingivalis in subgingival plaque

An important goal for the improved diagnosis and management of infectious and inflammatory diseases, such as periodontitis, is the development of rapid and accurate technologies for the decentralized detection of bacterial pathogens. The aim of this prospective multicenter study was to evaluate the clinical use of a novel immunochromatographic device with monoclonal antibodies for the rapid point-of-care detection and semi-quantification of Porphyromonas gingivalis in subgingival plaque. Sixty-three patients with chronic periodontitis and 28 periodontally healthy volunteers were subjected to clinical and microbiological examinations. Subgingival plaque samples were analyzed for the presence of P. gingivalis using a novel immunochromatography based device DK13-PG-001, designed to detect the 40k-outer membrane protein of P. gingivalis, and compared with a PCR-Invader method. In the periodontitis group, a significant strong positive correlation in detection results was found between the test device score and the PCR-Invader method (Spearman rank correlation, r=0.737, p<0.0001). The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of the test device were 96.2%, 91.8%, 90.4% and 96.7%, respectively. The detection threshold of the test device was determined to be approximately 10(4) (per two paper points). There were significant differences in the bacterial counts by the PCR-Invader method among groups with different ranges of device scores. With a cut-off value of ≥0.25 in device score, none of periodontally healthy volunteers were tested positive for the subgingival presence of P. gingivalis, whereas 76% (n=48) of periodontitis subjects were tested positive. There was a significant positive correlation between device scores for P. gingivalis and periodontal parameters including probing pocket depth and clinical attachment level (r=0.317 and 0.281, respectively, p<0.01). The results suggested that the DK13-PG-001 device kit can be effectively used for rapid, chair-side detection and semi-quantification of P. gingivalis in subgingival plaque.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

UMIN Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN-CTR) UMIN000011943.

Transcriptional characteristics and differences in Arabidopsis stigmatic papilla cells pre- and post-pollination

Pollination is an important early step in sexual plant reproduction. In Arabidopsis thaliana, sequential pollination events, from pollen adhesion onto the stigma surface to pollen tube germination and elongation, occur on the stigmatic papilla cells. Following successful completion of these events, the pollen tube penetrates the stigma and finally fertilizes a female gametophyte. The pollination events are thought to be initiated and regulated by interactions between papilla cells and pollen. Here, we report the characterization of gene expression profiles of unpollinated (UP), compatible pollinated (CP) and incompatible pollinated (IP) papilla cells in A. thaliana. Based on cell type-specific transcriptome analysis from a combination of laser microdissection and RNA sequencing, 15,475, 17,360 and 16,918 genes were identified as expressed in UP, CP and IP papilla cells, respectively, and, of these, 14,392 genes were present in all three data sets. Differentially expressed gene (DEG) analyses identified 147 and 71 genes up-regulated in CP and IP papilla cells, respectively, and 115 and 46 genes down-regulated. Gene Ontology and metabolic pathway analyses revealed that papilla cells play an active role as the female reproductive component in pollination, particularly in information exchange, signal transduction, internal physiological changes and external morphological modification. This study provides fundamental information on the molecular mechanisms involved in pollination in papilla cells, furthering our understanding of the reproductive role of papilla cells.

Gene duplication and genetic exchange drive the evolution of S-RNase-based self-incompatibility in Petunia

Self-incompatibility (SI) systems in flowering plants distinguish self- and non-self pollen to prevent inbreeding. While other SI systems rely on the self-recognition between specific male- and female-determinants, the Solanaceae family has a non-self recognition system resulting in the detoxification of female-determinants of S-ribonucleases (S-RNases), expressed in pistils, by multiple male-determinants of S-locus F-box proteins (SLFs), expressed in pollen. It is not known how many SLF components of this non-self recognition system there are in Solanaceae species, or how they evolved. We identified 16-20 SLFs in each S-haplotype in SI Petunia, from a total of 168 SLF sequences using large-scale next-generation sequencing and genomic polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques. We predicted the target S-RNases of SLFs by assuming that a particular S-allele must not have a conserved SLF that recognizes its own S-RNase, and validated these predictions by transformation experiments. A simple mathematical model confirmed that 16-20 SLF sequences would be adequate to recognize the vast majority of target S-RNases. We found evidence of gene conversion events, which we suggest are essential to the constitution of a non-self recognition system and also contribute to self-compatible mutations.

Microfluidic source-sink model reveals effects of biophysically distinct CXCL12 isoforms in breast cancer chemotaxis

Chemokines critically regulate chemotaxis in normal and pathologic states, but there is limited understanding of how multicellular interactions generate gradients needed for cell migration. Previous studies of chemotaxis of CXCR4+ cells toward chemokine CXCL12 suggest the requirement of cells expressing scavenger receptor CXCR7 in a source-sink system. We leveraged an established microfluidic device to discover that chemotaxis of CXCR4 cells toward distinct isoforms of CXCL12 required CXCR7 scavenging only under conditions with higher than optimal levels of CXCL12. Chemotaxis toward CXCL12-β and -γ isoforms, which have greater binding to extracellular molecules and have been largely overlooked, was less dependent on CXCR7 than the more commonly studied CXCL12-α. Chemotaxis of CXCR4+ cells toward even low levels of CXCL12-γ and CXCL12-β still occurred during treatment with a FDA-approved inhibitor of CXCR4. We also detected CXCL12-γ only in breast cancers from patients with advanced disease. Physiological gradient formation within the device facilitated interrogation of key differences in chemotaxis among CXCL12 isoforms and suggests CXCL12-γ as a biomarker for metastatic cancer.

Slow and steady cell shrinkage reduces osmotic stress in bovine and murine oocyte and zygote vitrification

STUDY QUESTION

Does the use of a new cryoprotectant agent (CPA) exchange protocol designed to minimize osmotic stress improve oocyte or zygote vitrification by reducing sublethal cryodamage?

SUMMARY ANSWER

The use of a new CPA exchange protocol made possible by automated microfluidics improved oocyte and zygote vitrification with superior morphology as indicated by a smoother cell surface, higher sphericity, higher cytoplasmic lipid retention, less cytoplasmic leakage and higher developmental competence compared with conventional methods.

WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY

The use of more 'steps' of CPA exposure during the vitrification protocol increases cryosurvival and development in the bovine model. However, such an attempt to eliminate osmotic stress is limited by the practicality of performing numerous precise pipetting steps in a short amount of time.

STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION

Murine meiotically competent germinal vesicle intact oocytes and zygotes were harvested from the antral follicles in ovaries and ampulla, respectively. Bovine ovaries were obtained from a local abattoir at random stages of the estrous cycle. A total of 110 murine oocytes, 802 murine zygotes and 52 bovine oocytes were used in this study.

PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS

Microfluidic devices were fabricated using conventional photo- and soft-lithography. CPAs used were 7.5% ethylene glycol (EG) and 7.5% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) for equilibration solution and 15% EG, 15% DMSO and 0.5 M sucrose for vitrification solution. End-point analyses include mathematical modeling using Kedem-Katchalsky equations, morphometrics assessed by conventional and confocal microscopy, cytoplasmic lipid quantification by nile red staining, cytoplasmic leakage quantification by fluorescent dextran intercalation and developmental competence analysis by 96 h embryo culture and blastomere quantification.

MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE

The automated microfluidics protocol decreased the shrinkage rate of the oocyte and zygote by 13.8 times over its manual pipetting alternative. Oocytes and zygotes with a lower shrinkage rate during CPA exposure experienced less osmotic stress resulting in better morphology, higher cell quality and improved developmental competence. This microfluidic procedure resulted in murine zygotes with a significantly smoother cell surface (P < 0.001), more spherical cellular morphology (P < 0.001), increased cytoplasmic lipid retention in vitrified and warmed bovine oocytes (P < 0.01), decreased membrane perforations and cytoplasmic leakage in CPA-exposed murine zygotes (P < 0.05) and improved developmental competence of vitrified and warmed murine zygotes (P < 0.05) than CPA exposure using the current clinically used manual pipetting method.

LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION

It is necessary to design the microfluidic device to be more user-friendly for widespread use.

WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS

The theory and approach of eliminating osmotic stress by decreasing shrinkage rate is complementary to the prevalent osmotic stress theory in cryobiology which focuses on a minimum cell volume at which the cells shrink. The auto-microfluidic protocol described here has immediate applications for improving animal and human oocyte, zygote and embryo cryopreservation. On a fundamental level, the clear demonstration that at the same minimum cell volume, cell shrinkage rate affects sublethal damage should be broadly useful for cryobiology.

STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTERESTS

This project was funded by the National Institutes of Health and the University of Michigan Reproductive Sciences Program. The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Structural Elucidation of Minor Components of Peptidyl Antibiotic P168s (Leucinostatins) by Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Tandem mass spectrometry with a four-sector type mass spectrometer was used to elucidate the structures of minor components of the peptidyl antibiotic P168s (leucinostatins). As N-terminal fragments, ions by B-type cleavage were dominant, while V-type cleavages were observed along with X, Y, and Z types as C-terminal ions. The V-type ions were predominant in the cleavages of the amino terminals of leucyl and hydroxyleucyl residues. The structures of several minor components could be deduced from the tandem mass spectra.

Ubiquitin-proteasome-mediated degradation of S-RNase in a solanaceous cross-compatibility reaction

Many plants have a self-incompatibility (SI) system in which the rejection of self-pollen is determined by multiple haplotypes at a single locus, termed S. In the Solanaceae, each haplotype encodes a single ribonuclease (S-RNase) and multiple S-locus F-box proteins (SLFs), which function as the pistil and pollen SI determinants, respectively. S-RNase is cytotoxic to self-pollen, whereas SLFs are thought to collaboratively recognize non-self S-RNases in cross-pollen and detoxify them via the ubiquitination pathway. However, the actual mechanism of detoxification remains unknown. Here we isolate the components of a SCF(SLF) (SCF = SKP1-CUL1-F-box-RBX1) from Petunia pollen. The SCF(SLF) polyubiquitinates a subset of non-self S-RNases in vitro. The polyubiquitinated S-RNases are degraded in the pollen extract, which is attenuated by a proteasome inhibitor. Our findings suggest that multiple SCF(SLF) complexes in cross-pollen polyubiquitinate non-self S-RNases, resulting in their degradation by the proteasome.

A New Method of Defense Response Analysis Using a Transient Expression System in Rice Protoplasts

We established a new plant defense response assay using a transient expression system in rice protoplasts. The assay system sensitively detected defense induction by flagellin, which had previously been assigned to a specific elicitor. Our assay system provides a rapid and efficient way to dissect rice defense mechanisms.

Ca2+-activated reactive oxygen species production by Arabidopsis RbohH and RbohJ is essential for proper pollen tube tip growth

In flowering plants, pollen germinates on the stigma and pollen tubes grow through the style to fertilize the ovules. Enzymatic production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) has been suggested to be involved in pollen tube tip growth. Here, we characterized the function and regulation of the NADPH oxidases RbohH and RbohJ (Respiratory burst oxidase homolog H and J) in pollen tubes in Arabidopsis thaliana. In the rbohH and rbohJ single mutants, pollen tube tip growth was comparable to that of the wild type; however, tip growth was severely impaired in the double mutant. In vivo imaging showed that ROS accumulation in the pollen tube was impaired in the double mutant. Both RbohH and RbohJ, which contain Ca(2+) binding EF-hand motifs, possessed Ca(2+)-induced ROS-producing activity and localized at the plasma membrane of the pollen tube tip. Point mutations in the EF-hand motifs impaired Ca(2+)-induced ROS production and complementation of the double mutant phenotype. We also showed that a protein phosphatase inhibitor enhanced the Ca(2+)-induced ROS-producing activity of RbohH and RbohJ, suggesting their synergistic activation by protein phosphorylation and Ca(2+). Our results suggest that ROS production by RbohH and RbohJ is essential for proper pollen tube tip growth, and furthermore, that Ca(2+)-induced ROS positive feedback regulation is conserved in the polarized cell growth to shape the long tubular cell.

Physiological and genetic analysis of CO2-induced breakdown of self-incompatibility in Brassica rapa

Self-incompatibility (SI) of the Brassicaceae family can be overcome by CO2 gas treatment. This method has been used for decades as an effective means to obtain a large amount of inbred seeds which can then be used for F1 hybrid seed production; however, the molecular mechanism by which CO2 alters the SI pathway has not been elucidated. In this study, to obtain new insights into the mechanism of CO2-induced SI breakdown, the focus was on two inbred lines of Brassica rapa (syn. campestris) with different CO2 sensitivity. Physiological examination using X-ray microanalysis suggested that SI breakdown in the CO2-sensitive line was accompanied by a significant accumulation of calcium at the pollen-stigma interface. Pre-treatment of pollen or pistil with CO2 gas before pollination showed no effect on the SI reaction, suggesting that some physiological process after pollination is necessary for SI to be overcome. Genetic analyses using F1 progeny of a CO2-sensitive × CO2-insensitive cross suggested that CO2 sensitivity is a semi-dominant trait in these lines. Analysis of F2 progeny suggested that CO2 sensitivity could be a quantitative trait, which is controlled by more than one gene. Quantitative trait locus (QTL) analyses identified two major loci, BrSIO1 and BrSIO2, which work additively in overcoming SI during CO2 treatment. No QTL was detected at the loci previously shown to affect SI stability, suggesting that CO2 sensitivity is determined by novel genes. The QTL data presented here should be useful for determining the responsible genes, and for the marker-assisted selection of desirable parental lines with stable but CO2-sensitive SI in F1 hybrid breeding.

A pollen coat-inducible autoinhibited Ca2+-ATPase expressed in stigmatic papilla cells is required for compatible pollination in the Brassicaceae

In the Brassicaceae, intraspecific non-self pollen (compatible pollen) can germinate and grow into stigmatic papilla cells, while self-pollen or interspecific pollen is rejected at this stage. However, the mechanisms underlying this selective acceptance of compatible pollen remain unclear. Here, using a cell-impermeant calcium indicator, we showed that the compatible pollen coat contains signaling molecules that stimulate Ca(2+) export from the papilla cells. Transcriptome analyses of stigmas suggested that autoinhibited Ca(2+)-ATPase13 (ACA13) was induced after both compatible pollination and compatible pollen coat treatment. A complementation test using a yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain lacking major Ca(2+) transport systems suggested that ACA13 indeed functions as an autoinhibited Ca(2+) transporter. ACA13 transcription increased in papilla cells and in transmitting tracts after pollination. ACA13 protein localized to the plasma membrane and to vesicles near the Golgi body and accumulated at the pollen tube penetration site after pollination. The stigma of a T-DNA insertion line of ACA13 exhibited reduced Ca(2+) export, as well as defects in compatible pollen germination and seed production. These findings suggest that stigmatic ACA13 functions in the export of Ca(2+) to the compatible pollen tube, which promotes successful fertilization.

Glycan moiety of flagellin in Acidovorax avenae K1 prevents the recognition by rice that causes the induction of immune responses

Abstract Recognition of pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) such as flagellin, a main component of the bacterial flagellum, constitutes the first layer of plant immunity and is referred to as PAMP-triggered immunity (PTI). The rice avirulent N1141 strain of gram-negative phytopathogenic bacterium, Acidovorax avenae, induces PTI including H2O2 generation, while flagellin from the rice virulent K1 strain of A. avenae does not induce these immune responses. Mass spectrometry analyses revealed that total 1,600-Da and 2,150-Da of glycan residues were present on the flagellins from N1141 and K1, respectively. A deglycosylated K1 flagellin induced immune responses in the same manner as N1141 flagellin, suggesting that the glycan in K1 flagellin prevent epitope recognition in rice. We identified three genes in K1 flagella operon, which regulate structural modification of glycan in K1 flagellin. The immature glycan-attached flagellin from three genes deletion mutant, KΔ3FG, induced H2O2 generation in cultured rice cells, whereas the K1 mature-type flagellin did not cause a detectable increase in H2O2. The data indicate that the immature glycan of flagellin from KΔ3FG cannot prevent the epitope recognition in rice.

Cell type-specific transcriptome of Brassicaceae stigmatic papilla cells from a combination of laser microdissection and RNA sequencing

Pollination is an early and critical step in plant reproduction, leading to successful fertilization. It consists of many sequential processes, including adhesion of pollen grains onto the surface of stigmatic papilla cells, foot formation to strengthen pollen-stigma interaction, pollen hydration and germination, and pollen tube elongation and penetration. We have focused on an examination of the expressed genes in papilla cells, to increase understanding of the molecular systems of pollination. From three representative species of Brassicaceae (Arabidopsis thaliana, A. halleri and Brassica rapa), stigmatic papilla cells were isolated precisely by laser microdissection, and cell type-specific gene expression in papilla cells was determined by RNA sequencing. As a result, 17,240, 19,260 and 21,026 unigenes were defined in papilla cells of A. thaliana, A. halleri and B. rapa, respectively, and, among these, 12,311 genes were common to all three species. Among the17,240 genes predicted in A. thaliana, one-third were papilla specific while approximately half of the genes were detected in all tissues examined. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that genes related to a wide range of reproduction and development functions are expressed in papilla cells, particularly metabolism, transcription and membrane-mediated information exchange. These results reflect the conserved features of general cellular function and also the specific reproductive role of papilla cells, highlighting a complex cellular system regulated by a diverse range of molecules in these cells. This study provides fundamental biological knowledge to dissect the molecular mechanisms of pollination in papilla cells and will shed light on our understanding of plant reproduction mechanisms.

Thinking big by thinking small: application of microfluidic technology to improve ART

In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) laboratories often carry a penchant to resist change while in the pursuit of maintaining consistency in laboratory conditions. However, implementation of new technology is often critical to expand scientific discoveries and to improve upon prior successes to advance the field. Microfluidic platforms represent a technology that has the potential to revolutionize the fundamental processes of IVF. While the focus of microfluidic application in IVF has centered on embryo culture, the innovative platforms carry tremendous potential to improve other procedural steps and represents a possible paradigm shift in how we handle gametes and embryos. The following review will highlight application of various microfluidic platforms in IVF for use in maturation, manipulation, culture, cryopreservation and non-invasive quality assessment; pointing out new insights gained into functions of sperm, oocytes and embryos. Platform design and function will also be discussed, focusing on limitations, advancements and future refinements that can further aid in their clinical implementation.

A TILLING resource for functional genomics in Arabidopsis thaliana accession C24

TILLING (Targeting Induced Local Lesions IN Genomes) is a reverse genetic method that can be employed to generate allelic series of induced mutations in targeted genes for functional analyses. To date, TILLING resources in Arabidopsis thaliana are only available in accessions Columbia and Landsberg erecta. Here, we extended the Arabidopsis TILLING resources by developing a new population of ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS)-induced mutant lines in another commonly used A. thaliana accession C24. A permanent collection of 3,509 independent EMS mutagenized M2 lines was developed in A. thaliana accession C24, and designated C24TILL. Using the TILLING method to search C24TILL for mutations in four selected genes identified a total of 73 mutations, comprising 69.6% missense, 29.0% sense, and 1.4% nonsense mutations. Consistent with the propensity of EMS to induce guanine alkylation, 98.4% of the observed mutations were G/C to A/T transitions. Based on the mutations identified in the four target genes, the overall mutation density in the C24TILL collection was estimated to be 1/345 kb. TILLING the DUO POLLEN 1 (DUO1) gene from the C24TILL collection identified a truncation mutation leading to a deficiency in sperm cell differentiation. Taken together, a new TILLING resource, the C24TILL collection, was generated for A. thaliana accession C24. The C24TILL collection provides an allelic series of induced point mutations that will serve as a useful alternative reverse genetic resource for functional genetic studies in A. thaliana.

Cytoplasmic Ca2+ changes dynamically during the interaction of the pollen tube with synergid cells

The directional growth of the pollen tube from the stigma to the embryo sac in the ovules is regulated by pollen-pistil interactions based on intercellular communication. Although pollen tube growth is regulated by the cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]cyt), it is not known whether [Ca2+]cyt is involved in pollen tube guidance and reception. Using Arabidopsis expressing the GFP-based Ca2+-sensor yellow cameleon 3.60 (YC3.60) in pollen tubes and synergid cells, we monitored Ca2+ dynamics in these cells during pollen tube guidance and reception under semi-in vivo fertilization conditions. In the pollen tube growing towards the micropyle, pollen tubes initiated turning within 150 μm of the micropylar opening; the [Ca2+]cyt in these pollen tube tips was higher than in those not growing towards an ovule in assays with myb98 mutant ovules, in which pollen tube guidance is disrupted. These results suggest that attractants secreted from the ovules affect Ca2+ dynamics in the pollen tube. [Ca2+]cyt in synergid cells did not change when the pollen tube grew towards the micropyle or entered the ovule. Upon pollen tube arrival at the synergid cell, however, [Ca2+]cyt oscillation began at the micropylar pole of the synergid, spreading towards the chalazal pole. Finally, [Ca2+]cyt in the synergid cell reached a maximum at pollen tube rupture. These results suggest that signals from the pollen tube induce Ca2+ oscillations in synergid cells, and that this Ca2+ oscillation is involved in the interaction between the pollen tube and synergid cell.

Establishing apoptosis resistant cell lines for improving protein productivity of cell culture

The authors established apoptosis resistant COS-1, myeloma, hybridoma, and Friend leukemia cell lines by genetically engineering cells, aiming at more efficient protein production by cell culture. COS-1 cells, which are most widely used for eukariotic gene expression, were transfected with human bcl-2 gene. Both bcl-2 and mock transfected COS-1 cells were cultured at low (0.2%) serum concentration for 9 days. The final viable cell number of the bcl-2 transfected cells was ninefold of that of the mock transfectants. Both bcl-2 and mock transfectants were further transfected with the vector pcDNA-λ containing SV40 ori and immunoglobulin λ gene for transiently expressing λ protein. The bcl-2 expressing COS-1 cells produced more λ protein than the mock transfected COS-1 cells after 4 days posttransfection.Mouse myeloma p3-X63-Ag.8.653 cells, which are widely used as the partner for preparing hybridoma, and hybridoma 2E3 cells were transfected with human bcl-2 gene. Both bcl-2 transfected myeloma and hybridoma survived longer than the corresponding original cells in batch culture. The bcl-2 transfected 2E3 cells survived 2 to 4 four days longer in culture, producing 1.5- to 4-fold amount of antibody in comparison with the mock transfectants.Coexpression of bag-1 with bcl-2 improved survival of hybridoma 2E3 cells more than bcl-2 expression alone. The bag-1 and bcl-2 coexpressing cells produced more IgG than the the cells expressing bcl-2 alone.Apoptosis of Friend murine erythroleukemia(F-MEL) cells was suppressed with antisense c-jun expression. The antisense c-jun expressing cells survived 16 days at non-growth state.

Co-expression of bcl-2 and bag-1, apoptosis suppressing genes, prolonged viable culture period of hybridoma and enhanced antibody production

Human bcl-2 and bag-1 DNA were introduced into mouse hybridoma 2E3- O cells and expressed. The expression of bcl-2 in BCMGneo-bcl2 transfectants was confirmed by ELISA and that of bag-1 in pZeo-bag1 was confirmed by western blotting. In batch cultures, the over-expression of bcl-2 prolonged the culture period by 2 days and co-expression of bcl-2 and bag-1 prolonged the culture period by 3 days. The delayed increase in the dead cell number in culture of the bcl-2 and bag-1 cotransfectant indicated the additional antiapoptosis effect of bcl-2 and bag-1 cotransfection in comparison with the bcl-2 only transfection. The bcl-2 transfectants (2E3O-Bcl2) produced antibody twofold per batch culture in comparison with 2E3-O cells transfected with BCMGSneo (2E3O-Mock). Enhancement of this MoAb production was due to the improved survival of the cells and was not due to stimulation of antibody production rate per cell by Bcl-2 expression. And the bcl-2 and bag-1 co-transfectant (2E3O-Bcl2-BAG1) produced antibody approximately fourfold of 2E3O-Mock per batch culture. Enhancement of this MoAb production was due to the improved survival of the cells and was partly due to stimulation of MoAb production rate per cell in the non-growing phase by the cotransfection. The method to engineer hybridoma cells genetically with bcl-2 and bag-1 for increasing viability and productivity would be widely applied for improving antibody productivity of hybridoma cultures.

A new model of gastric bleeding induced in rats by aspirin plus clopidogrel under stimulation of acid secretion. Prophylactic effects of antiulcer drugs

We set up a new model of gastric bleeding induced by the luminal perfusion of aspirin (ASA) in rats pretreated with clopidogrel under conditions where acid secretion is stimulated, and examined the effect of antiulcer drugs on the bleeding. Under urethane anesthesia, acid secretion was stimulated by i.v. infusion of histamine (8 mg/kg/h), and two catheters were inserted into the stomach, one from the esophagus and another from the duodenum. The stomach was perfused with 25 mM ASA at a rate of 0.1 ml/min using an infusion pump, and gastric bleeding was measured as hemoglobin concentration in the perfusate collected every 15 min. Clopidogrel (30 mg/kg) was given orally 24 h before the perfusion. Various antiulcer drugs were given intraduodenally 30 min before the ASA treatment. Perfusion of the stomach with ASA provoked little gastric bleeding or damage even when acid secretion was stimulated. Pretreatment with clopidogrel significantly increased the bleeding and damage caused by ASA. The bleeding and lesions produced by ASA plus clopidogrel were significantly prevented by pretreatment with famotidine and omeprazole. Mucosal protective drugs such as rebamipide, irsogladine and teprenone also prevented gastric bleeding response to ASA/clopidogrel under conditions of acid secretion, although the effect was less pronounced than that of the antisecretory drugs. We conclude that clopidogrel increases gastric bleeding induced by ASA when acid secretion is stimulated. Both antisecretory and mucosal protective drugs are effective in reducing gastric bleeding under such conditions. This model is useful for the screening of drugs that protect against gastric bleeding.

Self/non-self discrimination in angiosperm self-incompatibility

Self-incompatibility (SI) in angiosperms prevents inbreeding and promotes outcrossing to generate genetic diversity. In many angiosperms, self/non-self recognition in SI is accomplished by male-specificity and female-specificity determinants (S-determinants), encoded at the S-locus. Recent studies using genetic, molecular biological and biochemical approaches have revealed that angiosperms utilize diverse self/non-self discrimination systems, which can be classified into two fundamentally different systems, self-recognition and non-self recognition systems. The self-recognition system, adopted by Brassicaceae and Papaveraceae, depends on a specific interaction between male and female S-determinants derived from the same S-haplotype. The non-self recognition system, found in Solanaceae, depends on non-self (different S-haplotype)-specific interaction between male and female S-determinants, and the male S-determinant genes are duplicated to recognize diverse non-self female S-determinants.

HMG domain containing SSRP1 is required for DNA demethylation and genomic imprinting in Arabidopsis

In Arabidopsis, DEMETER (DME) DNA demethylase contributes to reprogramming of the epigenetic state of the genome in the central cell. However, other aspects of the active DNA demethylation processes remain elusive. Here we show that Arabidopsis SSRP1, known as an HMG domain-containing component of FACT histone chaperone, is required for DNA demethylation and for activation and repression of many parentally imprinted genes in the central cell. Although loss of DNA methylation releases silencing of the imprinted FWA-GFP, double ssrp1-3;met1-3 mutants surprisingly showed limited activation of maternal FWA-GFP in the central cell, and only became fully active after several nuclear divisions in the endosperm. This behavior was in contrast to the dme-1;met1 double mutant in which hypomethylation of FWA-GFP by met1 suppressed the DNA demethylation defect of dme-1. We propose that active DNA demethylation by DME requires SSRP1 function through a distinctly different process from direct DNA methylation control.

Monoallelic gene expression and its mechanisms

Although the majority of genes are expressed equally from both alleles, some genes are differentially expressed. Monoallelic gene expression, the differential gene expression of the alleles such as genomic imprinting, is reported in several organisms and plays significant roles in proper development and diversity in gene expression and phenotypic variation. Recent studies in flowering plants have greatly increased our understanding of the underlying mechanisms of monoallelic gene expression. They indicate that machineries of gene silencing such as DNA methylation, histone modifications, and noncoding RNAs function in monoallelic gene expression. A combination of genetics and high-throughput technologies expands the scope of study on monoallelic gene expression in flowering plants.

Compliance with consensus recommendations for systemic therapy, breast cancer intrinsic subtype, and clinical outcome

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Background: Consensus recommendations for breast cancer are come into wide use, and we believe clinical guidelines leads our patients to improved outcome. Recently, gene profiling can be available, and immunohistochemical surrogates for molecular subtyping can provide much of prognostic and predictive factors. We investigated the relationship between compliance with consensus recommendations and clinical outcome of each subtype on the hypothesis that conformity with consensus recommendations is associated with increased survival among all intrinsic subtypes.

Methods: We investigated breast cancer patients operated in our hospital from 2002 to 2004. DCIS, Stage 4 and male breast cancer were excluded. Patients were divided into luminal A (ER+ and/or PgR+, HER2-, low nuclear grade (NG)), luminal B (ER+ and/or PgR+, HER2-, high NG), luminal-HER2 (ER+ and/or PgR+, HER2+), HER2 (ER-, PgR-, HER2+) and triple negative (TN), (ER-, PgR-, HER2-). All patients were divided into compliance group or non-compliance group according to their conformity with consensus recommendations. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used in statistical studies.

Results: 121 breast cancer patients were eligible and investigated in this study. Median follow-up period was 6.7 years. Fifteen relapse cases (12.4%) were identified. Among luminal A patients, compliance group was significantly associated with better recurrence free survival compared with non-compliance group with Kaplan-Meier analysis (p<0.001). In contrast, there was no difference between compliance group and non-compliance group among the other subtypes. Median time to recurrence (4.2 year) in non-compliance group among luminal A was apparently longer than that (1.7 year) in compliance group among the other subtypes.

Conclusions: Compliance group was significantly associated with better clinical outcome compared with non-compliance group among luminal A. This study suggests that cautious follow-up is required against non-compliance patients among luminal A, because time to recurrence of them was longer than that of both compliance and non-compliance subgroups among the other subtypes.

Periodic cracking of films supported on compliant substrates

When a tensile strain is applied to a film supported on a compliant substrate, a pattern of parallel cracks can channel through both the film and substrate. A linear-elastic fracture-mechanics model for the phenomenon is presented to extend earlier analyses in which cracking was limited to the film. It is shown how failure of the substrate reduces the critical strain required to initiate fracture of the film. This effect is more pronounced for relatively tough films. However, there is a critical ratio of the film to substrate toughness above which stable cracks do not form in response to an applied load. Instead, catastrophic failure of the substrate occurs simultaneously with the propagation of a single channel crack. This critical toughness ratio increases with the modulus mismatch between the film and substrate, so that periodic crack patterns are more likely to be observed with relatively stiff films. With relatively low values of modulus mismatch, even a film that is more brittle than the substrate can cause catastrophic failure of the substrate. Below the critical toughness ratio, there is a regime in which stable crack arrays can be formed in the film and substrate. The depth of these arrays increases, while the spacing decreases, as the strain is increased. Eventually, the crack array can become deep enough to cause substrate failure.

Glycosylation regulates specific induction of rice immune responses by Acidovorax avenae flagellin

Plants have a sensitive system that detects various pathogen-derived molecules to protect against infection. Flagellin, a main component of the bacterial flagellum, from the rice avirulent N1141 strain of the Gram-negative phytopathogenic bacterium Acidovorax avenae induces plant immune responses including H₂O generation, whereas flagellin from the rice virulent K1 strain of A. avenae does not induce these immune responses. To clarify the molecular mechanism that leads to these differing responses between the K1 and N1141 flagellins, recombinant K1 and N1141 flagellins were generated using an Escherichia coli expression system. When cultured rice cells were treated with recombinant K1 or N1141 flagellin, both flagellins equally induced H₂O₂ generation, suggesting that post-translational modifications of the flagellins are involved in the specific induction of immune responses. Mass spectrometry analyses using glycosyltransferase-deficient mutants showed that 1,600- and 2,150-Da glycans were present on the flagellins from N1141 and K1, respectively. A deglycosylated K1 flagellin induced immune responses in the same manner as N1141 flagellin. Site-directed mutagenesis revealed that glycans were attached to four amino acid residues (Ser¹⁷⁸, Ser¹⁸³, Ser²¹², and Thr³⁵¹) in K1 flagellin. Among mutant K1 flagellins in which each glycan-attached amino acid residue was changed to alanine, S178A and S183A, K1 flagellin induced a strong immune response in cultured rice cells, indicating that the glycans at Ser¹⁷⁸ and Ser¹⁸³ in K1 flagellin prevent epitope recognition in rice.

Yokukansan, a traditional Japanese medicine, ameliorates memory disturbance and abnormal social interaction with anti-aggregation effect of cerebral amyloid β proteins in amyloid precursor protein transgenic mice

The deposition of amyloid β protein (Aβ) is a consistent pathological hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD) brains. Therefore, inhibition of Aβ aggregation in the brain is an attractive therapeutic and preventive strategy in the development of disease-modifying drugs for AD. An in vitro study demonstrated that yokukansan (YKS), a traditional Japanese medicine, inhibited Aβ aggregation in a concentration-dependent manner. An in vivo study demonstrated that YKS and Uncaria hook (UH), a constituent of YKS, prevented the accumulation of cerebral Aβ. YKS also improved the memory disturbance and abnormal social interaction such as increased aggressive behavior and decreased social behavior in amyloid precursor protein transgenic mice. These results suggest that YKS is likely to be a potent and novel therapeutic agent to prevent and/or treat AD, and that this may be attributed to UH.

Surgical treatment of spontaneous posterior interosseous nerve palsy

We have reviewed 38 surgically treated cases of spontaneous posterior interosseous nerve palsy in 38 patients with a mean age of 43 years (13 to 68) in order to identify clinical factors associated with its prognosis. Interfascicular neurolysis was performed at a mean of 13 months (1 to 187) after the onset of symptoms. The mean follow-up was 21 months (5.5 to 221). Medical Research Council muscle power of more than grade 4 was considered to be a good result. A further 12 cases in ten patients were treated conservatively and assessed similarly.

Of the 30 cases treated surgically with available outcome data, the result of interfascicular neurolysis was significantly better in patients < 50 years old (younger group (18 nerves); good: 13 nerves (72%), poor: five nerves (28%)) than in cases > 50 years old (older group (12 nerves); good: one nerve (8%), poor: 11 nerves (92%)) (p < 0.001). A pre-operative period of less than seven months was also associated with a good result in the younger group (p = 0.01). The older group had a poor result regardless of the pre-operative delay.

Our recommended therapeutic approach therefore is to perform interfascicular neurolysis if the patient is < 50 years of age, and the pre-operative delay is < seven months. If the patient is > 50 years of age with no sign of recovery for seven months, or in the younger group with a pre-operative delay of more than a year, we advise interfascicular neurolysis together with tendon transfer as the primary surgical procedure.

Co-chaperone BAG3 and adenovirus penton base protein partnership

The BAG family of Hsp70/Hsc70 co‐chaperones is characterised by the presence of a conserved BAG domain at the carboxyl‐terminus. BAG3 protein is the only member of this family containing also the N‐terminally located WW domain. We describe here the identification of adenovirus (Ad) penton base protein as the first BAG3 partner recognising BAG3 WW domain. Ad penton base is the viral capsid constituent responsible for virus internalisation. It contains in the N‐terminal part two conserved PPxY motifs, known ligands of WW domains. In cells producing Ad penton base protein, cytoplasmic endogenous BAG3 interacts with it and co‐migrates to the nucleus. Preincubation of BAG3 with Ad base protein results in only slight modulation of BAG3 co‐chaperone activity, suggesting that this interaction is not related to the classical BAG3 co‐chaperone function. However, depletion of BAG3 impairs the cell entry of the virus and viral progeny production in Ad‐infected cells, suggesting that the interaction between virus penton base protein and cellular co‐chaperone BAG3 positively influences virus life cycle. These results thus demonstrate a novel host–pathogen interaction, which contributes to the successful infectious life cycle of adenoviruses. In addition, these data enrich our knowledge about the multifunctionality of the BAG3 co‐chaperone. J. Cell. Biochem. 111: 699–708, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

Collaborative non-self recognition system in S-RNase-based self-incompatibility

Self-incompatibility in flowering plants prevents inbreeding and promotes outcrossing to generate genetic diversity. In Solanaceae, a multiallelic gene, S-locus F-box (SLF), was previously shown to encode the pollen determinant in self-incompatibility. It was postulated that an SLF allelic product specifically detoxifies its non-self S-ribonucleases (S-RNases), allelic products of the pistil determinant, inside pollen tubes via the ubiquitin-26S-proteasome system, thereby allowing compatible pollinations. However, it remained puzzling how SLF, with much lower allelic sequence diversity than S-RNase, might have the capacity to recognize a large repertoire of non-self S-RNases. We used in vivo functional assays and protein interaction assays to show that in Petunia, at least three types of divergent SLF proteins function as the pollen determinant, each recognizing a subset of non-self S-RNases. Our findings reveal a collaborative non-self recognition system in plants.

Novel self-compatible lines of Brassica rapa L. isolated from the Japanese bulk-populations

Self-incompatibility (SI) in Brassicaceae is sporophytically controlled by a single S-locus with multi allelic variety. The male S determinant, SP11/SCR (S-locus protein 11/S-locus cysteine-rich protein), is a small cysteine-rich protein, and the female S determinant, SRK (S-locus receptor kinase), functions as a receptor for SP11 at the surface of stigma papilla cells. Although a few of the following downstream factors in the SP11-SRK signaling cascade have been identified, a comprehensive understanding of the SI mechanism still remains unexplained in Brassicaceae. Analysis of self-compatible (SC) mutants is significant for understanding the molecular mechanism in SI reactions, thus we screened SC lines from a variety of Japanese bulk-populations of B. rapa vegetables. Two lines, TSC4 and TSC28, seem to have disruptions in the SI signaling cascade, while the other line, TSC2, seems to have a deficiency in a female S determinant, SRK. In TSC4 and TSC28, known SI-related factors, i.e. SRK, SP11, MLPK (M-locus protein kinase), THL (thioredoxin-h-like), and ARC1 (arm repeat containing 1), were expressed normally, and their expression levels were comparable with those in SI lines. On a B. rapa genetic linkage map, potential SC genes in TSC4 and TSC28 were mapped on linkage groups A3 and A1, respectively, whereas MLPK, ARC1, and THL were mapped on A3, A4, and A6, respectively. Although potential SC genes of TSC4 and MLPK were on the same linkage group, their positions were apparently independent. These results indicate that the SC genes of TSC4 and TSC28 are independent from the S-locus or known SI-related genes. Thus, the SC lines selected here have mutations in novel factors of the SI signaling cascade, and they will contribute to fill pieces in a signal transduction pathway of the SI system in Brassicaceae.

Dynamic microfunnel culture enhances mouse embryo development and pregnancy rates

BACKGROUND

Despite advances in in vitro manipulation of preimplantation embryos, there is still a reduction in the quality of embryos produced leading to lower pregnancy rates compared with embryos produced in vivo. We hypothesized that a dynamic microfunnel embryo culture system would enhance outcomes by better mimicking the fluid-mechanical and biochemical stimulation embryos experience in vivo from ciliary currents and oviductal contractions.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Mouse embryos were cultured in microdrop-static control, microfunnel-static control or microfunnel-dynamic conditions with microfluidics. All groups tested had greater than 90% total blastocyst development from zygotes after 96 h culture. Blastocyst developmental stage was significantly enhanced (P < 0.01) under dynamic microfunnel culture conditions as evidenced by an increased percentage of hatching or hatched blastocysts (Microdrop-control 31%; Microfunnel-control 23%; Microfunnel-pulsatile 71%) and significantly higher (P < 0.01) average number of cells per blastocyst (Microdrop-control 67 +/- 3; Microfunnel-control 60 +/- 3; Microfunnel-pulsatile 109 +/- 5). Blastocyst cell numbers in dynamic microfunnel cultures (109 +/- 5) more closely matched numbers obtained from in vivo grown blastocysts (144 +/- 9). Importantly, dynamic microfunnel culture significantly improved embryo implantation and ongoing pregnancy rates over static culture to levels approaching that of in utero derived preimplantation embryos.

CONCLUSIONS

The improved pregnancy outcomes along with the simple and user-friendly design of the microfluidic/microfunnel system has potential to alleviate many inefficiencies in embryo production for biomedical research, genetic gain in domestic species and assisted reproductive technologies in humans.