Rapid and diverse changes of gene expression in the kidneys of protein-overload proteinuria mice detected by microarray analysis

BACKGROUND

Microarray is a method that allows the analysis of a large number of genes at the same time. We applied this method to show the difference of gene expression in the kidney caused by proteinuria.

METHODS

An experimental mouse model of protein overload was prepared by bovine serum albumin injection. The mRNAs of kidneys isolated after 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks loading were analysed by Northern blotting. We analysed about 18000 genes by microarray. The expression patterns of the microarray were displayed on control, 1 and 3 weeks of protein overload using the clustering procedure. A clone showing the greatest changes of up-regulation in the kidney was cloned and analysed by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

Over 1600 kinds of gene expression were confirmed in control kidneys. Proteinuria caused systematic changes of gene expression demonstrated by the cluster analysis. The up-regulation of osteopontin mRNA was shown and confirmed by Northern blot analysis. One of the clones showing the largest changes, AA275245, was isolated and characterized. It revealed that AA275245 was an unreported 3' non-coding region of vinculin mRNA which was associated with cytoskeleton proteins (e.g. alpha-actinin, talin, F-actin). Immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization showed that this clone was identified in glomeruli as a mesangial pattern. The detected signal intensity using both methods, however, was virtually identical in control and disease kidney models. All data including images and analysed signal intensities are accessible on the web site.

CONCLUSION

The microarray analysis revealed that the renal gene expression pattern was changed dynamically in mice with experimentally induced proteinuria within a few weeks.

[Factors related to satisfaction level in daily life for older people]

The purpose of this study was to examine relations between satisfaction levels and life-style in daily life for older people. A questionnaire, based on 7 factors of life satisfaction level and 13 factors of life-style chosen after considering theoretical validity, was administered to 1,320 healthy people aged 60 or more in the community (665 males and 655 females). Remarkable gender and grade differences were confirmed in the "physical health" satisfaction level. Satisfaction level for "personal relations" related to the number of friends for both sexes and to volunteer activities for males. The influence of the life-style factor on satisfaction level was highest in physical health. The influence of the number of friends was high for each satisfaction level. It was inferred that there are many aspects of life-style backgrounds contributing to the satisfaction level of older people in the community, and individual satisfaction with daily life is affected by different life-style factors.

Versatile synthons for optically pure alpha-amino aldehydes and alpha-amino acids: (+)- and (-)-4,5-dialkoxy-2-oxazolidinones

Both enantiomers of trans-5-benzyloxy-4-methoxy- (BMOx) and trans-4,5-dimethoxy-2-oxazolidinones (DMOx), which are readily accessible from simple 2-oxazolone heterocycles, represent good candidates for a new class of chiral synthons for use in the preparation of optically pure alpha-amino aldehydes and alpha-amino acids, respectively.

New prediction equation for residual volume in Japanese male and female young adults

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to establish a convenient prediction equation for residual volume for Japanese male and female young adults after comparisons in reliability and validity with previous equations widely used in studies of body composition with Japanese subjects.

METHODS

The subjects were healthy Japanese, 110 males aged 18 to 27 years and 82 females aged 18 to 22 years. Measured residual volume (MRV) was measured with a nitrogen washout technique and each predicted residual volume (PRV) was predicted using a prediction equation. Multiple regression analysis on all possible selections was applied to determine a suitable and convenient prediction equation for residual volume.

RESULTS

Intra-class correlation coefficient and a coefficient of Cronbach in MRV exceeded 0.9, indicating high reliability. Pearson s correlation coefficients between MRV and each PRV for males and females ranged from 0.225 to 0.327 and - 0.485 to 0.507, respectively. Multiple correlation coefficient adjusted for degrees of freedom applying the one variables of height was 0.592 for males and 0.670 for females.

CONCLUSIONS

Considering the practicability of measurement, prediction equations for residual volume with height in Japanese male and female young adults have been proposed. The new prediction equations (PRVnew) are as follows: male: PRVnew= 32.16 yen height (cm) - 4113.70 (Radj= 0.592, SE= 247.13 ml); female: PRVnew = 34.03 yen height (cm) - 4407.78 (Radj= 0.670, SE= 195.74 ml).

[Examination of validity of the subjective fatigue scale for young adults]

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to examine the validity of a new type of Subjective Fatigue Scale for young adults (SFS-Y).

METHODS

The SFS-Y consisted of 24 item questions representing 6 sub-scales of difficulty of concentrated thinking, languor, reduced activation, reduced motivation, drowsiness and feeling of physical disintegration. The SFS-Y, subjective symptoms index (SSI), chronic fatigue symptoms index (CFSI), multidimensional fatigue index (MFI) and the Chalder fatigue scale (CFS) were administered to 5435 students aged 15-20 yr.

RESULTS

It was inferred that SFS-Y can evaluate individual differences from the viewpoints of score distribution and discrimination power. It was considered that the SFS-Y has high generality because it includes many question items with a similar content to existing fatigue scales and it can do multiple evaluations covering almost all aspects of existing scales. The relationships between sub-scales in the SFS-Y and existing fatigue scales were high in sub-scales with similar names and was low in ones with different names.

CONCLUSION

The Subjective Fatigue Scale developed to evaluate subjective fatigue for youths was considered to be excellent in validity and to be effective scale.

The influence of posture change on measurements of relative body fat in the bioimpedance analysis method

The purpose of this study was to clarify the influence of posture change on relative body fat in the bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) method. The subjects were 30 Japanese healthy young adult males (age: 19.8 +/- 1.4 years, height: 172.3 +/- 5.8 cm, weight: 67.1 +/- 8.2 kg). We used devices with different body segment inductions, between the hand and foot (H-F BIA) and between hands (H-H BIA), and set four measurement conditions differing in posture (supine or sitting), during rest and measurement. The reliabilities of %BF in the H-H and H-F BIA methods were very high (r = 0.995, 0.966), and the relationship in %BF between the UW method and each BIA method was mid-range (r = 0.767, 0.709). Although there were no differences in %BF among different measurement postures in the H-F BIA method, %BF in the H-H BIA method increased significantly when the posture was changed just before measurement. This indicated that it is necessary to pay attention to the posture change just before measurement in the H-H BIA method.

Down-regulation of monocyte chemotactic protein-3 by activated beta-catenin

Accumulation of intracellular beta-catenin, as a result of inactivation of the adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene or by mutation of the beta-catenin gene (CTNNB1) itself, is involved in a wide range of human cancers. By means of fluorescent differential display using a murine fibroblast cell line (L-MT), which expresses an activated form of beta-catenin that accumulates in the cells, we found that expression of murine monocyte chemotactic protein-3 (mMCP-3) was suppressed by activated beta-catenin. Inversely, expression of MCP-3 in human colon cancer cells was induced by depletion of beta-catenin after adenovirus-mediated transfer of wild-type APC genes into the cells. A reporter-gene assay indicated that the accumulation of beta-catenin in the nucleus suppressed activity of the MCP-3 promoter through a putative T-cell factor/lymphocyte enhancer factor (Tcf/LEF)-binding site, ATCAAAG; but when the promoter sequence contained a two-base substitution in the binding site, it failed to suppress reporter-gene (luciferase) activity. An electrophoretic mobility-shift assay using the putative Tcf/LEF-binding sequence revealed interaction of the candidate sequence with the beta-catenin complex. Furthermore, induction of MCP-3 cDNA into HT-29 colon cancer cells increased expression of two markers of differentiation: alkaline phosphatase and carcinoembryonic antigen. Our results implied that activation of beta-catenin through the Tcf/LEF signaling pathway may participate in colonic carcinogenesis by inhibiting MCP-3-induced differentiation of colorectal epithelial cells.

Examination of force-production properties during static explosive grip based on force-time curve parameters

The present study attempts to clarify the properties of force-time curves in the force-development phase during static explosive grip exertion and to determine force-time parameters in relation to static explosive strength. 80 healthy young males (age 17.8 +/- 2.5 yr.) exerted maximal isometric force as fast and forcefully as possible. In total, 21 variables, e.g., time to fixed level, integrated area, average force, integrated area to fixed time, force at the maximal rate of force development, and maximal rate of force development, were selected as force-time parameters. Good reliability was obtained for average force in force levels above 90% of maximal strength (.64-.93), integrated area to a fixed time of 1.0-2.0 sec. (.86-.93), force at the maximal rate of force development (.67), and maximal rate of force development (.73). In addition, these values correlated closely with maximal grip strength (r= .65-.93). Further, significant differences in maximal grip strength, average force in force levels above 90% of maximal strength, integrated area to fixed time, and force at the maximal rate of force development were found among three groups categorized by average force in force levels of maximal strength. These results suggested that individual differences were present in the force-time curve patterns during the force-development phase of static explosive grip exertion and that the average force in force levels of maximal strength might be a valuable tool for evaluating static explosive strength.

Activation of the beta-catenin gene by interstitial deletions involving exon 3 as an early event in colorectal tumorigenesis

beta-Catenin has been identified as an oncogene in several tumors including colorectal cancers. beta-Catenin gene is activated by interstitial deletions involving exon 3 in colorectal carcinomas of Japanese population, in contrast to amino acid substitutions detected among Caucasian population. The aim of this study was to examine the type and frequency of beta-catenin gene mutation during early stages of colorectal tumorigenesis. We screened 100 colorectal adenomas for somatic mutations in the beta-catenin gene by single-strand conformation polymorphism method, as well as polymerase chain reaction amplification. In cases with mutations, sequencing analyses and immunohistochemical staining were also performed. Somatic interstitial deletions of 272-413 bp, each of which included all parts of exon 3, were detected in three tumors. However, no adenoma carried missense mutations. We confirmed accumulation of aberrant beta-catenin protein in cytoplasm and nuclei of adenoma cells by immunohistochemical analysis. Our results suggested that activation of the beta-catenin gene by interstitial deletions involving exon 3 might be less frequent compared with frequent alterations of adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene, but could be an early event in colorectal tumorigenesis equivalent to APC gene alterations in the Japanese population.

Mutations of the bak gene in human gastric and colorectal cancers

The Bcl-2 homologue Bak is a potent inducer of apoptosis. We performed PCR-based single-strand conformational polymorphism and sequencing analysis of the entire coding region of the bak gene (exons 2-6) in 24 primary gastric cancers (6 early-stage and 18 advanced-stage cancers) and 20 primary colorectal cancers (6 early-stage and 14 advanced-stage cancers). The data herein demonstrate, for the first time, the mutation of the bak gene in gastric and colorectal cancers. Missense bak gene mutations were observed in 3 of 24 (12.5%) gastric cancers and 2 of 20 (10.0%) colorectal cancers. Sequence alterations without amino acid alteration were observed 1 of 24 (4.2%) gastric cancers and 2 of 20 (10.0%) colorectal cancers. Mutations in the bak gene were observed only in advanced-stage gastrointestinal cancers but not in early-stage cancers. Our observations suggest that mutations in this gene predispose bearers to the development of gastrointestinal malignancies in at least a subset of the cases.

Isolation and characterization of a novel human gene, DRCTNNB1A, the expression of which is down-regulated by beta-catenin

Beta-catenin plays significant roles in cell-to-cell adhesion and the Wnt/Wg signal transduction pathway. Accumulation of this protein in the cytoplasm and nucleus as a result of mutations of the adenomatous polyposis coli tumor suppressor gene or of the beta-catenin gene itself is often seen in a wide variety of tumors including carcinomas of the colon, liver, uterus, and brain. Interaction of accumulated beta-catenin with Tcf/Lef transcription factors is known to deregulate expression of some downstream genes, but the precise mechanisms whereby beta-catenin contributes to carcinogenesis remain to be disclosed. Here we report isolation of a novel murine gene, Drctnnb1a (down-regulated by Ctnnb1, a), the expression of which was experimentally down-regulated in response to the activated form of beta-catenin. To investigate a possible role of DRCTNNB1A in cancers, we also isolated the human homologue, DRCTNNB1A, the deduced product of which was 91% identical to the murine protein. The transcript was expressed in all human tissues examined, and we assigned the genomic location of DRCTNNB1A to chromosomal band 7p15.3 by in situ hybridization. Expression of DRCTNNB1A in SW480 colon cancer cells was significantly increased in response to reduction of intracellular beta-catenin by adenovirus-mediated transfer of the beta-catenin-binding domain of the adenomatous polyposis coli gene into the cells. Furthermore, we documented reduced expression of DRCTNNB1A in 12 of 15 primary colorectal cancers examined, compared with corresponding adjacent noncancerous mucosae. Our results implied that DRCTNNB1A is one of the genes involved in the beta-catenin-Tcf/Lef signaling pathway, and that reduced expression of DRCTNNB1A may have some role in colorectal carcinogenesis.

Ability to coordinate exertion of force by the dominant hand: comparisons among university students and 65- to 78-year-old men and women

The purposes of this study were to examine the characteristics of ability to coordinate exertion of force in 60 healthy older people (30 men, 30 women) from the viewpoint of sex differences and to compare their performance with those of 60 healthy university students (30 men, 30 women). The test of ability to coordinate exertion of force was conducted by having the subject fit the exertion value of grip strength to a changing demand value appearing on the display of a personal computer (using a bar chart-description form). The changes in the demand value were tracked. The variable estimating ability to coordinate exertion of force was the total sum of the differences between demand and the produced grip strength induced by time lapses. The ability to coordinate exertion of force in the older subjects was inferior to that of the younger subjects, and large individual differences were observed. Unlike the younger subjects, the means of the ability to coordinate exertion of force of the older subjects significantly decreased between trials. The ability to coordinate exertion of force of the older women was significantly inferior to that of the older men, but the means of the measurements among three trials shows a similar tendency to decrease in both sexes.

Molecular and biological analysis of carcinoma of the small intestine: beta-catenin gene mutation by interstitial deletion involving exon 3 and replication error phenotype

The genetic mechanisms of carcinomas of the small intestine are not well understood. We report the results of analysis of genetic alterations in a case of small intestinal carcinoma. A tumor in the terminal ileum was resected in a 59-yr-old woman. Histologically, the tumor was classified as well-differentiated adenocarcinoma. We screened for genetic alterations in adenomatous polyposis coli (APC), beta-catenin, K-ras, and p53 genes, as well as microsatellite instability, which are known to be involved in colorectal tumorigenesis. The tumor exhibited somatic interstitial deletion of 425-bp, which included the entire exon 3 in beta-catenin gene. Immunohistochemical staining confirmed accumulation of aberrant beta-catenin protein in the cytoplasm and nuclei of the malignant tissue. Furthermore, a frameshift mutation in the transforming growth factor beta receptor type II gene with replication error phenotype was detected in the tumor DNA. In contrast, no genetic alterations were found in the APC, K-ras, and p53 genes. Our results suggested that both beta-catenin gene mutation and replication error phenotype might contribute to carcinogenesis of the small intestinal tumor in our case. This is the first report that activation of beta-catenin gene by somatic gene mutation is involved in the development of carcinoma of the small intestine.

Isolation and characterization of human NBL4, a gene involved in the beta-catenin/tcf signaling pathway

beta-Catenin, a key regulator of cellular proliferation, is often mutated in various types of human cancer. To investigate cellular responses related to the beta-catenin signaling pathway, we applied a differential display method using mouse cells transfected with an activated form of mutant beta-catenin. This analysis and subsequent northern-blot hybridization confirmed that expression of a murine gene encoding NBL4 (novel band 4.1-like protein 4) was up-regulated by activation of beta-catenin. To examine a possible role of NBL4 in cancer, we isolated the human homologue of the murine NBL4 gene by matching mNBL4 against the human EST (expressed sequence tag) database followed by 5' rapid amplification of cDNA ends (5'RACE). The cDNA of hNBL4 encoded a protein of 598 amino acids that shared 87% identity in amino acid sequence with murine NBL4 and 71% with zebrafish NBL4. A 2.2-kb hNBL4 transcript was expressed in all human tissues examined with high levels of expression in brain, liver, thymus and peripheral blood leukocytes and low levels of expression in heart, kidney, testis and colon. We determined its chromosomal localization at 5q22 by fluorescence in situ hybridization. Expression of hNBL4 was significantly reduced when beta-catenin was depleted in SW480 cells, a human cancer cell line that constitutionally accumulates beta-catenin. The results support the view that NBL4 is an important component of the beta-catenin / Tcf pathway and is probably related to determination of cell polarity or proliferation.

Quantitation of mRNA expression in glomeruli using laser-manipulated microdissection and laser pressure catapulting

BACKGROUND

Laser-manipulated microdissection (LMM) is a method to cut out a single cell or limited tiny region from a specimen under microscopic observation by a laser beam. Laser pressure catapulting (LPC) is a method to push up and collect samples that were microdissected using a strong laser.

METHODS

To induce experimental glomerulonephritis, anti-Thy1.1 monoclonal antibody (OX-7) was injected intravenously into rats. Control and disease model kidneys were obtained. Six-micrometer thick cryostat sections were mounted onto a 1.35 microm thin polyethylene membrane. Ten glomeruli were collected from 6 microm frozen sections of rat kidney by LMM and LPC. Isolated glomeruli were used to quantitate the expression of mRNA by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

RESULTS

Transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) mRNA was not detected in glomeruli isolated by the LMM and the LPC methods on day 0, although G3PDH mRNA was measurable in the same samples. On day 7 after the treatment with OX-7, the ratio of TGF-beta1/G3PDH mRNA was 1.89 +/- 0.96 (N = 6).

CONCLUSIONS

We established methods to isolate glomeruli from standard histochemical specimens by LMM and LPC, and to quantify mRNA expression in the targeted glomeruli using real-time PCR. We confirmed the up-regulation of TGF-beta1 mRNA expression in isolated glomeruli from frozen sections of the anti-Thy1.1 glomerulonephritis model.

[Trends in variation within the day and between days of subjective symptoms of fatigue in adolescent males]

The purpose of this study was to clarify the trends in the variation within the day, and between days, of subjective symptoms of fatigue (SSF) in the daily life of male students. A SSF questionnaire (54 items) with guaranteed validity and reliability was administered to 104, 15-16 year-old healthy students, 3 times a day, in the morning (about 08:50), mid-day (about 12:10) and afternoon (about 16:10) for 5 days from Monday to Friday. As the main statistical analysis, two-way (day and week) ANOVA and post-hoc t tests were used. The SSF questionnaire was considered to have very high reliability because Cronbach's alpha coefficients in each survey point of time were .967-.977. SSF complaints between days were low on the whole, but complaints of drowsiness were relatively high. The trends in variation of SSF between days were greater than those within the day. The trends in variation within the day were noticeable in complaints regarding drowsiness and loss of vigor. Complaints regarding languor became high from the middle of the week to the weekend. On the other hand, SSF complaints except for languor, were high at the beginning of the week, especially on Monday and became lower after Tuesday. There is a trend in variation within the day for symptoms regarding drowsiness and loss of vigor. The trend in variation between days was confirmed for many SSFs, and was noticeable as compared to those within the day. Complaints regarding languor were high on the weekend, and SSF complaints except for languor were high at the beginning of the week, especially on Monday.

Gene expression profiles of the collecting duct in the mouse renal inner medulla

Gene expression profiles of the collecting duct in the mouse renal inner medulla.

BACKGROUND

Gene expression profiles, constructed from 1000 to 2000 cloned cDNA sequences, depict their relative abundance of expression in a tissue. Establishing such a profile for mouse inner renal medullary collecting ducts (IMCDs), we compared expression patterns with those in other tissues including proximal tubule.

METHODS

A nonbiased 3'-end cDNA library was prepared from microdissected mouse IMCDs. Single-pass sequencing of 2000 randomly selected cDNA clones collected short sequences (approximate length, 250 bp) following poly (A), called gene signatures (GS). Identical sequences were considered a single GS. GS occurrence was quantitated to yield a list of expressed genes indicating their abundance.

RESULTS

Among 2000 clones, 1613 types of transcripts were found in IMCDs; 155 were identical or homologous to reported genes. The gene most expressed in IMCDs was alphaB-crystallin, a small stress (heat-shock) protein that is also a major structural protein in the ocular lens. According to Northern analysis, renal expression of this mRNA was induced by dehydration, presumably via tissue hypertonicity. However, expression did not change with acute NaCl loading. Also, a new member of the glutathione-S-transferase family was identified by comparing the IMCD expression profile with those of other tissues.

CONCLUSION

With our database of genes expressed in mouse IMCDs, we are devising an IMCD-specific microarray to study gene-expression responses to various physiologic alterations.

PPARgamma inhibits the expression of c-MET in human gastric cancer cells through the suppression of Ets

Activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) is shown to inhibit the growth of MKN-45 cells, a human gastric cancer cell line, which overexpresses c-Met tyrosine kinase. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether PPARgamma regulates the expression of c-Met. Two days after the activation of PPARgamma by troglitazone, a potent and selective PPARgamma ligand, a dramatic reduction of c-MET transcripts and the c-Met protein in MKN45 cells was observed. The luciferase assay showed that the activation of PPARgamma suppressed -249 to +330 c-MET promoter activity, driven by cotransfection of ETS-1 expression vector. These data demonstrate that PPARgamma activation is capable of suppressing Ets-induced c-MET gene transcription. Thus, it is possible that the growth inhibitory effect of PPARgamma on MKN-45 cells is related to the suppression of c-MET transcription.

[The relationship among subjective symptoms of fatigue, subjective fatigue feeling, and life habits of high school and college students]

The relationship among subjective symptoms of fatigue, subjective fatigue feeling, and life habits of high school and college students. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship among subjective symptoms of fatigue (SSF), subjective fatigue feeling (SFF), life habits (behavioral patterns (BP) and life-style consciousness (LC)) in male students. A questionnaire on SSF, SFF, fatigue content, BP and LC was administered to 1802 male students aged 15-20 yr, and data from 1792 properly completed questionnaires was analyzed. The results were: 1) Students experience high SFF from daily activity. Students with a higher SFF tend to have more complaints of SSF, especially symptoms of languor, but the relationship between SFF and symptoms of irritation and physical disintegration are low. 2) Relationships between SFF and BP and LC are relatively low, except for physical condition. Even if the BP is successful, student's SFF is relatively high. 3) Subjective degree of health and physical condition relate highly to SSF. Exercise habits relate to loss of vigor, dietary habits to languor, loss of vigor, drowsiness and a decrease in concentration, and LC to SSF except for languor. It was inferred that SSF is influenced by BP and LC.

Characteristics of ADL ability on partially dependent older adults: comparison among different ambulatory activities levels

The purpose of the present study was to clarify the characteristics of ADL ability among different ambulatory level groups. The subjects were 448 partially dependent older adults (PD; 126 male, 81.7 +/- 8.22 year; 322 female, 82.5 +/- 7.25 year) over 60 years of age, and they were divided into 3 groups based on ambulatory activity level; G1 could not walk without assistance; G2 could walk with a stick; G3 could walk without assistance. The PD were asked 17 ADL questionnaires representing seven ADL domains to evaluate the ADL ability. Total and domain ADL scores, and achievement rates for each item were calculated, and compared among different ambulatory activity groups. It is confirmed that ADL ability level in PD significantly relates to ambulatory level and becomes gradually higher as the ambulatory activity level advances. It is considered that in the G1, lower limb ability level is low, and the contribution of ability level regarding changing posture and manual activities to total ADL ability level is high. On the other hand, in the G3 the achievement levels in manual activities and high-difficulty ADLs using lower limbs reflects the differences in the ADL ability level among individuals. Gender differences for ADL ability are not found in any ADL domain, while age differences are found in only the G3. It is inferred that for the G1, the achievement levels of ADLs are largely influenced by disease morbidity and age contributes very little to the decline of ability level.

Transformation and morphological changes of murine L cells by transfection with a mutated form of beta-catenin

To shed light on the oncogenic nature of mutant beta-catenin, we introduced a form of the cDNA that lacked an entire exon 3 into L cells derived from murine s.c. tissue. Aberrant beta-catenin protein accumulated in the cytoplasm and nuclei of these cells (designated L-MT), whereas in L cells transfected with wild-type beta-catenin (designated L-N), normal beta-catenin protein was expressed at a level similar to that of parental cells. L-MT cells also changed morphologically from a fibroblast-like appearance to a more cuboidal shape. Their rate of proliferation was the same as that of L cells and L-N cells, but the saturation density of L-MT cells appeared to increase in association with a multilayer growth pattern. Furthermore, L-MT cells required a lower concentration of serum in the growth medium than did parental cells. These alterations in cell growth and morphology suggested that mutated beta-catenin was stabilized in the transfected cells and induced the oncogenic phenotype.

Isolation and characterization of a human cDNA homologous to the Xenopus laevis XCAP-C gene belonging to the structural maintenance of chromosomes (SMC) family

We have isolated a human cDNA encoding a protein of 1288 amino acids that shows 77% identity in amino acid sequence to XCAP-C, Xenopus chromosome-associated polypeptide-C, belonging to the family of structural maintenance of chromosomes (SMC), which is known to play a crucial role in the proper condensation and segregation of mitotic chromosomes. In particular, an almost 200-amino-acid domain in the N-terminal, including an NTP-binding motif and that in the C-terminal domain, including a DA-box, were well conserved and showed 95% identity between human and frog, indicating that these two domains are functionally very important. The transcript of this gene was expressed ubiquitously in various human tissues, but thymus, testis, and colon seemed to express this gene more abundantly. We also determined its chromosomal location at 3q26.1 by fluorescence in situ hybridization.

Comprehensive evaluation of selected methods for assessing human body composition

The present study investigated the validity, reliability, objectivity, and practicability of methods with skinfold caliper (SF), ultrasound (US), bioelectrical impedance (BI), and sulfur hexafluoride (SHD) using identical subjects, and evaluated comprehensive usefulness by comparing selected methods or equations. In examining validity, underwater weighing (UW) was employed to obtain the criterion of validity. The subjects were healthy Japanese, 16 males and 15 females, aged 18 to 32 years. The prediction equation developed by Nakadomo et al. (1990b) was considered to be suitable for BI. With respect to the validity, BI and SHD assessing total body when estimating body composition would be more valid than those assessing partial subcutaneous skinfold thickness. A comprehensive evaluation through an examination with respect to the validity, reliability, objectivity, and practicability suggests that the BI could be the best method to assess human body composition in vivo.