Comparative mapping of seven genes in mouse, rat and Chinese hamster chromosomes by fluorescence in situ hybridization

By fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) using mouse probes, we assigned homologues for cathepsin E (Ctse), protocadherin 10 (Pcdh10, alias OL-protocadherin, Ol-pc), protocadherin 13 (Pcdh13, alias protocadherin 2c, Pcdh2c), neuroglycan C (Cspg5) and myosin X (Myo10) genes to rat chromosomes (RNO) 13q13, 2q24-->q25, 18p12-->p11, 8q32.1 and 2q22.1-->q22.3, respectively. Similarly, homologues for mouse Ctse, Pcdh13, Cspg5 and Myo10 genes and homologues for rat Smad2 (Madh2) and Smad4 (Madh4) genes were assigned to Chinese hamster chromosomes (CGR) 5q28, 2q17, 4q26, 2p29-->p27, 2q112-->q113 and 2q112-->q113, respectively. The chromosome assignments of homologues of Ctse and Cspg5 reinforced well-known homologous relationships among mouse chromosome (MMU) 1, RNO 13 and CGR 5q, and among MMU 9, RNO 8 and CGR 4q, respectively. The chromosome locations of homologues for Madh2, Madh4 and Pcdh13 genes suggested that inversion events were involved in chromosomal rearrangements in the differentiation of MMU 18 and RNO 18, whereas most of MMU 18 is conserved as a continuous segment in CGR 2q. Furthermore, the mapping result of Myo10 and homologues suggested an orthologous segment of MMU 15, RNO 2 and CGR 2.

Single-sweep EEG analysis of neural processes underlying perception and production of vowels

This single-sweep electroencephalographic study using independent component analysis was conducted to determine the neural processes underlying both speech perception and production of vowels. The same neural processes located in auditory and motor areas of the brain that significantly distinguish between a speech production and a control mental rehearsal task were found for both auditory evoked responses and speech planning responses. Thus identifying common task dependent neural processes underlying speech production and perception.

Polymorphisms in FcepsilonRI beta chain do not affect IgE-mediated mast cell activation

Genetic polyymorphisms that result in three amino acid changes in FcepsilonRI beta chain (Ile(181)-->Leu, Val(183)-->Leu, and Glu(237)-->Gly) have been identified as candidates that associate with allergic disorders such as atopy and asthma. To elucidate the biological significance of these polymorphisms in regulating the expression and function of FcepsilonRI, we generated four types of transfectants that express wild-type or mutant mouse beta chains corresponding to these human variants by retrovirus-mediated gene transfer into beta chain-deficient mouse-derived mast cells. No significant functional differences between the wild-type beta chain transfectant and any of the mutant beta chain transfectants were observed in beta-hexosaminidase release, intracellular calcium mobilization, or cytokine and leukotriene C(4) production in response to FcepsilonRI crosslinking. Our results suggest that these polymorphisms in FcepsilonRI beta chain do not affect FcepsilonRI-mediated mast cell activation at least in our mouse in vitro system.

Mouse myosin X: molecular architecture and tissue expression as revealed by northern blot and in situ hybridization analyses

The structure of the coding region of mouse myosin X cDNA was determined. The predicted protein sequence indicated an approximately 240 kDa molecular mass with 2062 amino acids. When aligned with the structure predicted for calf myosin X (GenBank Accession No. U55042), extremely highly conserved pleckstrin homology domains and a myosin tail homology 4 domain were apparent in the tail region, suggesting their importance for myosin X's function. Northern blot analysis revealed the existence of a myosin X mRNA, 8.7 kb in size, in various mouse tissues, while a similar size of human type myosin X mRNA was recognized mainly in the testis. In addition to the adult-type transcripts in mice, a smaller embryo-specific mRNA, 4.8 kb in size, was identified in early to late embryonic stages, suggesting the presence of a shorter myosin X isoform in mouse embryos. In situ hybridization experiments with mouse testis revealed that myosin X mRNA was restricted to Sertoli cells at stages VIII-X of the spermatogenesis cycle, suggesting that myosin X is implicated in the supporting cells during the spermatid morphogenesis.

Role of vertical larynx movement and cervical lordosis in F0 control

The role of vertical larynx movement in vocal frequency (F0) change has attracted the attention of many researchers. Recently, Hirai, Honda, Fujimoto, and Shimada (1994) proposed a mechanism of F0 control by vertical larynx movement based on the measurement of magnetic resonance images (MRI). In F0 changes, the larynx moves vertically along the cervical spine, which displays anterior convexity (lordosis) at the level of the larynx. Therefore, the vertical larynx movement results in the rotation of the cricoid cartilage and vocal fold tension changes. The present study reexamines the above mechanism based on a qualitative analysis of midsagittal MRI data using three male subjects with evident cervical lordosis. Tracings of the jaw, hyoid bone, laryngeal cartilage, and cervical spine were compared in high and low F0 ranges. In the high F0 range, the hyoid bone moved horizontally while the larynx height remained relatively constant. In the low F0 range, the entire larynx moved vertically, and the cricoid cartilage rotated along the cervical lordosis. These results indicate that the vertical movement of the larynx comprises an effective F0 lowering mechanism, and suggest that the human morphologies of low larynx position and spinal curvature contribute to voluntary use of the vocal function.

Cellobiose transport by mixed ruminal bacteria from a Cow

The transport of cellobiose in mixed ruminal bacteria harvested from a holstein cow fed an Italian ryegrass hay was determined in the presence of nojirimycin-1-sulfate, which almost inhibited cellobiase activity. The kinetic parameters of cellobiose uptake were 14 microM for the Km and 10 nmol/min/mg of protein for the Vmax. Extracellular and cell-associated cellobiases were detected in the rumen, with both showing higher Vmax values and lower affinities than those determined for cellobiose transport. The proportion of cellobiose that was directly transported before it was extracellularly degraded into glucose increased as the cellobiose concentration decreased, reaching more than 20% at the actually observed levels of cellobiose in the rumen, which were less than 0.02 mM. The inhibitor experiment showed that cellobiose was incorporated into the cells mainly by the phosphoenolpyruvate phosphotransferase system and partially by an ATP-dependent and proton-motive-force-independent active transport system. This finding was also supported by determinations of phosphoenolpyruvate phosphotransferase-dependent NADH oxidation with cellobiose and the effects of artificial potentials on cellobiose transport. Cellobiose uptake was sensitive to a decrease in pH (especially below 6.0), and it was weakly but significantly inhibited in the presence of glucose.

Identification and functional analysis of the mouse lens filensin gene promoter

Filensin (also called CP94; CP95; CP97; 115kDa protein) is a component of the lens-specific beaded filament which is believed to be functionally important in lens fiber cell differentiation and in maintaining lens fiber cell conformation and transparency. A 17.2kb fragment containing the 5'-upstream sequence of the filensin gene was isolated. S1-mapping analysis determined the transcription start point (tsp; +1) which locates at 94base pairs upstream from the initiating ATG on the filensin gene. In addition to a major tsp, a minor tsp (-136) was observed. DNA sequence of the fragment around the tsp (-2144 to +155) was identified. Analysis of the DNA sequence of the promoter region around tsp revealed two motifs with sequence homology to Sox2 and Maf recognition sequences in addition to one GATA-1 site, two Sp1 binding sites, and three AP-2 binding motifs. No TATA-box or CCAAT-motif was found around the tsp region. A series of sequentially deleted fragments of (-2144 to +40) were fused to firefly luciferase reporter plasmid pGL2 and tested for activity in chicken embryonic lens explants. A minimal promoter region for mouse filensin of (-70 to +40) was identified. The lens-specific promoter activity was detected using lens explants cultured within 12h after dissection. The activity was remarkably enhanced by culture in the presence of 5ng/ml of basic fibroblast growth factor. Each one of the Sp1 and AP-2 binding motifs was localized to the fragment of (-27 to +40) using electrophoretic mobility shift assays. These are the first data to identify the basic elements to the 5'-upstream sequences of the filensin gene, namely the tsp and the minimal filensin promoter.

Measurement of hemodynamics of auditory cortex using magnetoencephalography and near infrared spectroscopy

Near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy, a non-invasive optical method for monitoring hemodynamics, was applied to record evoked auditory response of the human brain. Our newly developed system detected the amount of oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin in the area of the local brain located beneath the probes. In the study, we used magnetoencephalography (MEG) and NIR spectroscopy to observe the blood component change near the auditory cortex. The sound stimulus of 1 kHz sine wave at 70 dB SPL was used to elicit evoked responses in both experiments. The active region of the auditory cortex was determined by MEG, and the same area was examined by the NIR system. The results from the NIR experiments showed significant increases of total hemoglobin and deoxygenated hemoglobin, indicating that both blood flow and oxygen consumption at the cortical area increased in response to the sound stimuli. The NIR recordings at the two different depths revealed that the increases of local blood flow and oxygen consumption were observed at depths ranging between 20 and 30 mm from the scalp.

Orthography and phonology in reading Japanese kanji words: evidence from the semantic decision task with homophones

Correspondences between spelling and sound for Japanese kanji are complex and deep. The meaning of kanji words has generally been assumed to be accessed directly from orthography without phonological mediation. Experiment 1, however, replicated the findings of Van Orden (1987) that subjects made more false-positive errors on homophone foils than they did on nonhomophone controls in a semantic decision task, although they did so only when the foils were orthographically similar to the correct exemplars, which indicates both orthographic and phonological activations of meaning. Experiment 2 showed the same results when subjects were not required to pronounce the target words after semantic decisions, which indicates automatic phonological activation of kanji words. In Experiment 3, under pattern-masking conditions, this homophony effect was reduced but remained on errors, and the orthographic-similarity effect remained strong on both homophone and nonhomophone foils. These results suggest that both orthography and phonology play an important role in the comprehension of kanji words.

Gene structure and sequence comparisons of the eye lens specific protein, filensin, from rat and mouse: implications for protein classification and assembly

The full length cDNA sequences of rat and mouse filensin are presented, as well as the structure of the rat filensin gene. This gene spanned 31 kb and included seven introns. The first six introns were conserved in position and phase with those found in the intermediate filament (IF) protein genes of the type II (type II keratin), type III (vimentin) and type V (lamin). The last intron of the filensin was unique. As none of the filensin intron positions coincided with those unique to type I, II or IV genes, it appears that filensin is most similar to type III genes. Comparison of the deduced amino acid sequences for rat and mouse filensin with those of cow and chick, and with other species of IF proteins, indicated the C-terminal non-alpha-helical tail domain of filensin to be one of the most divergent yet found in the vertebrate IF family. The tail domain had three conserved regions which are interrupted with two regions with lower identity. Two motifs, (1) PGDVPDGxxISKAF; and (2) KVEVVESIEKxxxxxIQTYEETxxIVET, were identified as sequences which were particularly highly conserved across species. Coassembly studies using CP49 and a physiologically derived 53 kDa-fragment of filensin showed the motif (2) was not required for filament assembly in vitro. These data strengthen the view that the C-terminal non-alpha-helical domain of filensin contributes in more than one way to filensin function in the lens.

Glucose transport by mixed ruminal bacteria from a cow

The glucose transport of mixed ruminal bacteria harvested from a holstein cow fed 5.0 kg of Italian ryegrass and 1.5 kg of flaked corn a day was investigated. The Eadie-Hofstee plot characterized two transport systems: a high-affinity, low-velocity system and a low-affinity, high-velocity system. The former system (K(m) = 16 microM; Vmax = 2.2 nmol/min/mg of protein) is considered dominant under this feeding condition based on the glucose concentration in the rumen (< 1 mM). In light of the facts that the protonophore SF6847 and the lipophilic triphenylmethyl phosphonium ion had no effect on the high-affinity system and an artificially generated proton gradient and electrical potential across the cell membrane did not increase glucose transport, a proton motive force is not be involved in the system. On the other hand, from the facts that chlorhexidine inhibited about 90% of the high-affinity system while iodoacetate showed no significant effect, and a high phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphorylation of glucose was actually shown, the phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase system is considered the main system in the high-affinity system. Moreover, as shown by the facts that harmaline inhibited about 30% of the high-affinity system and the artificially generated sodium gradient across the cell membrane significantly stimulated glucose transport, this system also includes sodium symport to some degree. The high-affinity system was sensitive to a decrease in pH (< 6.5) and was inhibited by the presence of sucrose, mannose, and fructose.

Temperature Regulation of Supercooling and Gut Nucleation in Relation to Diapause of Pyrrhocoris apterus (L.) (Heteroptera)

The heteropteran Pyrrhocoris apterus (L.) does not survive freezing of its body fluids; there is a good correlation between values of survival at subzero temperatures and the supercooling point (SCP), i.e., the temperature at which body fluids start to freeze. The decrease of the SCP and thus the increase in cold hardiness is regulated by photoperiod and temperature. The relative importance of these factors depends on the physiological state of the insect. The SCP is about -7&deg;C at the onset of prediapause and a decrease of about 4-5&deg;C is associated with the development of the diapause syndrome in adults; these processes both are induced by a short-day photoperiod with temperature playing a secondary role. The induction of the diapause syndrome is a prerequisite for the subsequent decrease of the SCP by about 5-6&deg;C during cold acclimation. An intermediate temperature of 15&deg;C, or fluctuating outdoor temperatures and short-day photoperiods, are more suitable for the decrease of SCP than 5&deg;C in continuous darkness. The sensitivity to photoperiod gradually disappears during the development of diapause; after the termination of diapause around the winter solstice the SCP irreversibly increases at a high temperature of 26&deg;C even if exposed to a short-day photoperiod. The SCPs of hemolymph, gut, fat body, and gonads were compared to whole-body SCP. The gut was identified as the primary site of ice nucleation because its SCP value was very similar to the value for the whole body in both short-day and long-day insects. The SCPs of other organs, including the hemolymph, were always lower than the whole body SCP. Food was not a source of ice nucleating agents because the SCP of freshly ecdysed adults remained high after 2 weeks of starvation. In contrast, feeding was a prerequisite for the decrease of the SCP during prediapause. In postdiapause insects, the SCP increased at high temperatures in spite of the absence of food.

Histamine enhanced the TNF-alpha-induced expression of E-selectin and ICAM-1 on vascular endothelial cells

Cell adhesion molecules are expressed on endothelial cells by various proinflammatory cytokines. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) induces the expression of E-selectin and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Although histamine is a potent vasoactive mediator, it does not induce the expression of E-selectin and ICAM-1. In this report, we show that histamine concentration-dependently enhances the TNF-alpha-induced expression of E-selectin and ICAM-1 on HUVEC. The histamine-enhanced expression of E-selectin and ICAM-1 was inhibited by the histamine H1 receptor antagonists, mepyramine and diphenhydramine. KW-4679 and ketotifen, antiallergic drugs with histamine H1 receptor antagonistic activity, potently inhibit the expression of E-selectin and ICAM-1. A histamine H2 receptor antagonist, ranitidine, did not affect the histamine-induced expression of cell adhesion molecules. These data indicate that histamine induces the expression of E-selectin and ICAM-1 synergistically with TNF-alpha through histamine H1 receptors.

Differential contribution of the FcR gamma chain to the surface expression of the T cell receptor among T cells localized in epithelia: analysis of FcR gamma-deficient mice

The function of the Fc receptors gamma chain (FcR gamma) for the expression of the T cell receptor (TCR) complex and for T cell development, especially for T cells localized in epithelia, was investigated by analyzing FcR gamma-deficient mice. In wild-type mice, CD8 alpha alpha + beta -TCR alpha beta + T cells of intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes (i-IEL) utilized CD3 zeta homodimers and zeta-FcR gamma heterodimers, whereas CD8 alpha alpha + beta -TCR gamma delta + i-IEL used zeta-FcR gamma and FcR gamma homodimers in the TCR complex. On the other hand, these T cells in FcR gamma-deficient mice contained only zeta homodimers. The surface expression of the TCR complex was reduced in CD8 alpha alpha + beta -i-IEL and dendritic epidermal T cells (DETC) in these mice, whereas the development of these T cells was normal. The degree of reduction appeared to depend on the expression level of FcR gamma. In contrast to these populations, TCR gamma delta + intraepithelial T cells in reproductive organs (r-IEL) were dramatically decreased, suggesting that the development of r-IEL is FcR gamma-dependent, probably due to the predominant usage of FcR gamma homodimers in the TCR complex. These results indicate that the FcR gamma chain contributes differently to the TCR expression and to the development of T cells localized in epithelia.

The gene Bfsp1 for the lens fiber cell beaded-filament structural protein CP94 maps to mouse chromosome 2

Bfsp1 is a mouse gene encoding the lens beaded-filament structural protein CP94. By use of rat CP94 cDNA as a probe, Southern hybridization of mouse DNAs prepared from the interspecific backcross progeny between Mus molossinus-mit and C57BL/6J strains was carried out. The results indicated that Bfsp1 maps at position 58 (+/- 6) on chromosome 2, in the vicinity of the blind-sterile (bs) locus.

Apoptotic degeneration in the arhinencephalic brain of the mouse mutant Pdn/Pdn

The homozygotes of a mouse strain with genetic polydactyly (Polydactyly Nagoya, Pdn) exhibit arhinencephaly and various brain malformations. In the present experiment, abnormal apoptotic degeneration in the arhinencephalic brain of Pdn/Pdn embryos and newborns was investigated immunohistochemically and by molecular genetic techniques. Polyclonal antibody against single-stranded DNA detected the nuclei of programmed dying cells (apoptotic cells) specifically in the interdigital necrotic zone of the normal mouse limb plate on day 14 of gestation. We used this antibody against single-stranded DNA to investigate the apoptotic degeneration in Pdn/Pdn brain. Abnormal apoptosis was observed in the infralimbic cortical plate, hypothalamus and periventricular thalamus on day 0 after birth in Pdn/Pdn brains. The TRPM-2 gene, which has been considered to mediate apoptosis, was expressed in the developing normal and Pdn/Pdn brains. TRPM-2 gene expressions in the brain stem and cerebellum of arhinencephalic Pdn/Pdn fetuses and newborns were higher than those of +/+ littermates. From these facts, it was suggested that the abnormal apoptosis caused a large amount of cell loss in the arhinencephalic mouse brain, and this cell loss induced the expansion of the ventricle, followed by the hydrocephaly.

Isolation and characterization of a Haemophilus paragallinarum mutant that lacks a hemagglutinating antigen

In an in vivo cross-protection test with Haemophilus paragallinarum strains of serovars B and C, we isolated and characterized a mutant strain, S1M, which lacked a hemagglutinating (HA) antigen when compared biologically and immunologically with isogenic strain S1. Unlike the isogenic strain S1, the mutant strain S1M lacked HA activity against formaldehyde-fixed chicken erythrocytes, even after hyaluronidase treatment, and it did not stimulate hemagglutination-inhibition antibody in chickens immunized with bacterial cells. Dot-blot testing and immunoelectron microscopy with monoclonal antibodies against serovar C-specific HA antigens showed that strain S1M did not react with these monoclonal antibodies. Furthermore, strain S1M was found to be both non-pathogenic and non-immunogenic. In contrast, the isogenic strain S1 reacted with these monoclonal antibodies and was pathogenic and immunogenic. These results suggest that the HA antigen of H. paragallinarum serovar C. strain plays an important role in pathogenicity and immunogenicity.

A molecular genetic linkage map of mouse chromosome 10, including the Myb, S100b, Pah, Sl, and Ifg genes

Restriction endonuclease fragment length variations (RFLV) on mouse chromosome 10 were detected in four genes, namely, the Myb protooncogene (Myb) and the genes for S100 beta protein (S100b), phenylalanine hydroxylase (Pah), and interferon-gamma (Ifg). RFLV were found in restriction patterns generated with BamHI for Myb, in those generated with BglII for S100b, in those generated with EcoRV for Pah, and in those generated with TaqI for Ifg. A multipoint backcross was carried out by the mating (129/Sv-Sl/+ x MOL-MIT)F1 x 129/SvJ(-)+/+. The Sl mutation has phenotypic effects which include deficiencies in pigment cells, germ cells, and blood cells. The following order of genes was derived from the results of the multipoint backcross, with distances between genes in parentheses: centromere--Myb--(34.9 cM)--S100b--(8.5 cM)--Pah--(8.5 cM)--Sl--(12.3 cM)--Ifg--telomere. Most laboratory strains and two strains of Mus musculus domesticus of wild origin carry the Myba, S100a, Paha, and Ifga alleles. In contrast, a strain of M. m. musculus, two strains of M. m. yamashinai, and two strains of M. m. molossinus carry the Mybb, S100b, Pahb, and Ifgb alleles. Other strains of wild origin carry various combinations of these alleles.

cDNA sequence analysis of CP94: rat lens fiber cell beaded-filament structural protein shows homology to cytokeratins

To study the molecular structure of the gene responsible for a lens fiber cell beaded-filament structural protein of 94kDa (CP94), we isolated its specific cDNA from a rat lens cDNA library by use of anti-mouse CP94 antiserum. The expressed fusion protein kept the epitopes specific against anti-chick CP97 as well as anti-mouse CP94 antibody, and the size was estimated as 190-200kDa, indicating that the cDNA insert of the clone seemed to encode a polypeptide with 80-90kDa in appearance. Northern analysis indicated that CP94 mRNA is expressed only in the lens, and not in the brain, skin, heart, kidney, lung, and liver, and the size was estimated to 2.1-2.3kb. In a lens of inherited microphthalmic mouse, Elo, a trace amount of mRNA with the size closely similar to that of rat mRNA was observed. The entire compiled sequence (1,873bp) showed an open reading frame covering the sequence of 533 amino acids totalling 58,857Da. No sequence homologous to the entire CP94 was found among the entries of any nucleotide and amino acid sequence databases; but with respect to a limited amino acid sequence of N-side region of CP94, a significant homology with cytokeratins was found.

Antiallergic effect of epinastine (WAL 801 CL) on immediate hypersensitivity reactions: (I). Elucidation of the mechanism for histamine release inhibition

Epinastine caused an inhibition of histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells induced by both antigen-antibody reaction and compound 48/80. Epinastine was similarly effective in inhibiting compound 48/80-induced histamine release not only from isolated rat peritoneal mast cells but also from rat mesenterial pieces. Also, histamine release from lung pieces obtained from actively sensitized guinea pigs after exposure to antigen challenge was markedly inhibited by epinastine. The drug was effective in inhibiting not only Ca2+ uptake into lung mast cells in actively sensitized guinea pigs but also Ca2+ release from the intracellular Ca store of rat peritoneal mast cells exposed to both compound 48/80 and substance P. No significant changes were observed in phosphodiesterase activity in rat peritoneal mast cells treated with epinastine, while adenylate cyclase activity was augmented by epinastine. Epinastine has no inhibitory effect on histamine release induced by Ca2+ or IP3 from permeabilized mast cells. However, the drug significantly and dose-dependently suppressed calmodulin activity suggesting that histamine release inhibition due to epinastine may be partly attributable to Ca(2+)-calmodulin dependent process(es). The drug caused no visible changes in thermodynamic behavior of lipids, either in order parameter or in differential scanning calorimetry, indicating that the drug has no influence on membrane fluidity.