Optineurin deficiency impairs autophagy to cause interferon beta overproduction and increased survival of mice following viral infection

BACKGROUND

Optineurin (OPTN) is associated with several human diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and is involved in various cellular processes, including autophagy. Optineurin regulates the expression of interferon beta (IFNβ), which plays a central role in the innate immune response to viral infection. However, the role of optineurin in response to viral infection has not been fully clarified. It is known that optineurin-deficient cells produce more IFNβ than wild-type cells following viral infection. In this study, we investigate the reasons for, and effects of, IFNβ overproduction during optineurin deficiency both in vitro and in vivo.

METHODS

To investigate the mechanism of IFNβ overproduction, viral nucleic acids in infected cells were quantified by RT-qPCR and the autophagic activity of optineurin-deficient cells was determined to understand the basis for the intracellular accumulation of viral nucleic acids. Moreover, viral infection experiments using optineurin-disrupted (Optn-KO) animals were performed with several viruses.

RESULTS

IFNβ overproduction following viral infection was observed not only in several types of optineurin-deficient cell lines but also in Optn-KO mice and human ALS patient cells carrying mutations in OPTN. IFNβ overproduction in Optn-KO cells was revealed to be caused by excessive accumulation of viral nucleic acids, which was a consequence of reduced autophagic activity caused by the loss of optineurin. Additionally, IFNβ overproduction in Optn-KO mice suppressed viral proliferation, resulting in increased mouse survival following viral challenge.

CONCLUSION

Our findings indicate that the combination of optineurin deficiency and viral infection leads to IFNβ overproduction in vitro and in vivo. The effects of optineurin deficiency are elicited by viral infection, therefore, viral infection may be implicated in the development of optineurin-related diseases.

Analysis of genetic risk factors in Japanese patients with Parkinson's disease

Parkinson's disease (PD) is caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Notably, genetic risk factors vary according to ethnicity and geographical regions, and few studies have analyzed the frequency of PD causative genes in Japanese patients. Therefore, we performed genetic analyses of Japanese patients with PD. We recruited 221 participants, including 26 patients with familial PD. Genetic risk factors were evaluated by target sequencing and gene dosage analysis. We detected the genetic risk factors in 58 cases (26.2%) and classified patients into three groups to clarify the differences in genetic risk factors by age at onset (AAO). The early-onset group (AAO < 50 years) included 18 cases (44.7%), who tended to have a larger number of genetic risk factors than the later-onset groups. Regarding the AAO for each causative gene, patients with PRKN variants were significantly younger at onset than those bearing LRRK2 variants. LRRK2 variants showed similar frequency in each AAO group. Of note, we identified two novel variants. Patients with early-onset PD have more genetic risk factors than patients with late-onset PD. In Japanese patients with PD, PRKN, and LRRK2 were the major PD-related genes. Particularly, LRRK2 was a common genetic factor in all age groups because of the presence of the Asian-specific variant such as LRRK2 p.G2385R. Accumulation of genetic and clinical data can contribute to the development of treatments for PD.

Optineurin defects cause TDP43-pathology with autophagic vacuolar formation

We previously showed that optineurin (OPTN) mutations lead to the development of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The association between OPTN mutations and the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis remains unclear. To investigate the mechanism underlying its pathogenesis, we generated Optn knockout mice. We evaluated histopathological observations of these mice and compared with those of OPTN- amyotrophic lateral sclerosis cases to investigate the mechanism underlying the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis caused by OPTN mutations. The Optn (-/-) mice presented neuronal autophagic vacuoles immunopositive for charged multivesicular body protein 2b, one of the hallmarks of granulovacuolar degenerations, in the cytoplasm of spinal cord motor neurons at the age of 8 months and the OPTN- amyotrophic lateral sclerosis case with homozygous Q398X mutation. In addition, Optn (-/-) mice showed TAR-DNA binding protein 43/sequestosome1/p62 -positive cytoplasmic inclusions and the clearance of nuclear TAR-DNA binding protein 43. The axonal degeneration of the sciatic nerves was observed in Optn (-/-) mice. However, we could not observe significant differences in survival time, body weight, and motor functions, at 24 months. Our findings suggest that homozygous OPTN deletion or mutations might result in autophagic dysfunction and TAR-DNA binding protein 43 mislocalization, thereby leading to neurodegeneration of motor neurons. These findings indicate that the Optn (-/-) mice recapitulate both common and specific pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis associated with autophagic abnormalities. Optn (-/-) mice could serve as a mouse model for the development of therapeutic strategies.

The first Japanese case of primary familial brain calcification caused by an MYORG variant

Primary familial brain calcification (PFBC) is a hereditary neurological disorder characterized by idiopathic calcification of the bilateral basal ganglia and other areas of the brain. MYORG has been identified as the first causative gene of autosomal recessive PFBC in Chinese families. There have been several reports of PFBC associated with MYORG (MYORG-PFBC) in individuals of Middle Eastern, European, and Latin American ancestry but to date, there have been no reported Japanese cases. We report the first Japanese case of MYORG-PFBC. The patient was a 43-year-old Japanese woman who experienced mild headaches and cerebellar ataxia including dysarthria. Computed tomography showed calcification in the cerebral white matter, basal ganglia, cerebellum, and brainstem. Using exome sequencing, we identified a homozygous variant in the MYORG gene (NM_020702.4: c.794C>T,p.Thr265Met). Our patient presented dysarthria and extensive calcification affecting the pons, which are specific features of MYORG-PFBC. We report clinical symptoms and imaging findings of a case with p.Thr265Met variant.

Aggressive periodontitis and NOD2 variants

Aggressive periodontitis (AgP) occurs at an early age and causes rapid periodontal tissue destruction. Nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-containing protein 2 (NOD2) encodes a protein with two caspase recruitment domains and eleven leucine-rich repeats. This protein is expressed mainly in peripheral blood leukocytes and is involved in immune response. NOD2 variants have been associated with increased susceptibility to Crohn's disease, and recently, NOD2 was reported as a causative gene in AgP. The present study aimed to identify potential NOD2 variants in an AgP cohort (a total of 101 patiens: 37 patients with positive family histories and 64 sporadic patients). In the familial group, six patients from two families had a reported heterozygous missense variant (c.C931T, p.R311W). Four patients in the sporadic group had a heterozygous missense variant (c.C1411T, p.R471C), with no reported association to the disease. Overall, two NOD2 variants, were identified in 10% of our AgP cohort. These variants were different from the major variants reported in Crohn's disease. More cases need to be investigated to elucidate the role of NOD2 variants in AgP pathology.

Middle-age-onset cerebellar ataxia caused by a homozygous TWNK variant: a case report

Background

The TWNK gene encodes the twinkle protein, which is a mitochondrial helicase for DNA replication. The dominant TWNK variants cause progressive external ophthalmoplegia with mitochondrial DNA deletions, autosomal dominant 3, while the recessive variants cause mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome 7 and Perrault syndrome 5. Perrault syndrome is characterized by sensorineural hearing loss in both males and females and gonadal dysfunction in females. Patients with Perrault syndrome may present early-onset cerebellar ataxia, whereas middle-age-onset cerebellar ataxia caused by TWNK variants is rare.

Case presentation

A Japanese female born to consanguineous parents presented hearing loss at age 48, a staggering gait at age 53, and numbness in her distal extremities at age 57. Neurological examination revealed sensorineural hearing loss, cerebellar ataxia, decreased deep tendon reflexes, and sensory disturbance in the distal extremities. Laboratory tests showed no abnormal findings other than a moderate elevation of pyruvate concentration levels. Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed mild cerebellar atrophy. Using exome sequencing, we identified a homozygous TWNK variant (NM_021830: c.1358G>A, p.R453Q).

Conclusions

TWNK variants could cause middle-age-onset cerebellar ataxia. Screening for TWNK variants should be considered in cases of cerebellar ataxia associated with deafness and/or peripheral neuropathy, even if the onset is not early.

Biallelic mutation of HSD17B4 induces middle age-onset spinocerebellar ataxia

Objective

To determine the genetic underpinnings of slowly progressive spinocerebellar ataxia, autosomal recessive (SCAR), we performed exome analysis and examined the relationship between clinical severity and functional change induced by the mutation.

Methods

Homozygosity fingerprinting and exome sequencing were performed to identify causative mutations in 2 consanguineous families. We assessed the expression of D-bifunctional protein (DBP) and the amount of dimerized DBP in fibroblasts by immunoblot and quantitative reverse transcription PCR. The pathogenicity of the mutation was evaluated using the Combined Annotation-Dependent Depletion (CADD) scores; these results were compared with the scores of previously reported mutations.

Results

We identified a homozygous mutation as causative of middle age–onset SCAR: p.Ala175Thr, which is located in HSD17B4 that encodes peroxisomal DBP. The patients developed cerebellar ataxia, and the subsequent progression was slow. The symptoms presented were milder than those in previously reported cases. The messenger RNA expression levels were normal, but protein levels were diminished. Dimerization of DBP was also reduced. The CADD score of the identified mutation was lower than those of previously reported mutations.

Conclusions

This is the report of middle age–onset DBP deficiency. Residual functional DBP caused relatively mild symptoms in the affected patients, i.e., slowly progressive ataxia and hearing loss. This study broadens the scope of DBP deficiency phenotypes and indicates that CADD scores may be used to estimate the severity of DBP deficiencies.

Genetic screening for potassium channel mutations in Japanese autosomal dominant spinocerebellar ataxia

Spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) is a genetically heterogeneous disease characterized by cerebellar ataxia. Many causative genes have been identified to date, the most common etiology being the abnormal expansion of repeat sequences, and the mutation of ion channel genes also play an important role in the development of SCA. Some of them encode calcium and potassium channels. However, due to limited reports about potassium genes in SCA, we screened 192 Japanese individuals with dominantly inherited SCA who had no abnormal repeat expansions of causative genes for potassium channel mutations (KCNC3 for SCA13 and KCND3 for SCA19/SCA22) by target sequencing. As a result, two variants were identified from two patients: c.1973G>A, p.R658Q and c.1018G>A, p.V340M for KCNC3, and no pathogenic variant was identified for KCND3. The newly identified p.V340M exists in the extracellular domain, and p.R658Q exists in the intracellular domain on the C-terminal side, although most of the reported KCNC3 mutations are present at the transmembrane site. Adult-onset and slowly progressive cerebellar ataxia are the main clinical features of SCA13 and SCA19 caused by potassium channel mutations, which was similar in our cases. SCA13 caused by KCNC3 mutations may present with deep sensory loss and cognitive impairment in addition to cerebellar ataxia. In this study, mild deep sensory loss was observed in one case. SCA caused by potassium channel gene mutations is extremely rare, and more cases should be accumulated in the future to elucidate its pathogenesis due to channel dysfunction.

Mitochondrial DNA haplogroups and age at onset of Machado-Joseph disease/spinocerebellar ataxia type 3: a study in patients from multiple populations

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Mitochondrial dysfunction has been implicated in the pathogenesis of several neurodegenerative disorders, including Machado-Joseph disease (MJD), an autosomal dominant late-onset polyglutamine ataxia that results from an unstable expansion of a CAG tract in the ATXN3 gene. The size of the CAG tract only partially explains age at onset (AO), highlighting the existence of disease modifiers. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplogroups have been associated with clinical presentation in other polyglutamine disorders, constituting potential modifiers of MJD phenotype.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study, using 235 unrelated patients from Portugal, Brazil, India and Japan, was performed to investigate if mtDNA haplogroups contribute to AO of MJD. mtDNA haplogroups were obtained after sequencing the mtDNA hypervariable region I. Patients were classified in 15 phylogenetically related haplogroup clusters.

RESULTS

The AO was significantly different among populations, implying the existence of other non-CAG factors, which seem to be population specific. In the Portuguese population, patients classified as belonging to haplogroup JT presented the earliest onset (estimated onset 34.6 years of age). Haplogroups W and X seem to have a protective effect, causing a delay in onset (estimated onset 47 years of age). No significant association between haplogroup clusters and AO was detected in the other populations or when all patients were pooled. Although haplogroup JT has already been implicated in other neurodegenerative disorders, no previous reports of an association between haplogroups W and X and disease were found.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that haplogroups JT, W and X modify AO in MJD. Replication studies should be performed in European populations, where the frequency of the candidate modifiers is similar.

A mutation in the low voltage-gated calcium channel CACNA1G alters the physiological properties of the channel, causing spinocerebellar ataxia

BACKGROUND

Spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) is a genetically heterogeneous disease. To date, 36 dominantly inherited loci have been reported, and 31 causative genes have been identified.

RESULTS

In this study, we analyzed a Japanese family with autosomal dominant SCA using linkage analysis and exome sequencing, and identified CACNA1G, which encodes the calcium channel CaV3.1, as a new causative gene. The same mutation was also found in another family with SCA. Although most patients exhibited the pure form of cerebellar ataxia, two patients showed prominent resting tremor in addition to ataxia. CaV3.1 is classified as a low-threshold voltage-dependent calcium channel (T-type) and is expressed abundantly in the central nervous system, including the cerebellum. The mutation p.Arg1715His, identified in this study, was found to be located at S4 of repeat IV, the voltage sensor of the CaV3.1. Electrophysiological analyses revealed that the membrane potential dependency of the mutant CaV3.1 transfected into HEK293T cells shifted toward a positive potential. We established induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from fibroblasts of the patient, and to our knowledge, this is the first report of successful differentiation from the patient-derived iPSCs into Purkinje cells. There was no significant difference in the differentiation status between control- and patient-derived iPSCs.

CONCLUSIONS

To date, several channel genes have been reported as causative genes for SCA. Our findings provide important insights into the pathogenesis of SCA as a channelopathy.

Mutations in Twinkle primase-helicase cause Perrault syndrome with neurologic features

OBJECTIVE

To identify the genetic cause in 2 families of progressive ataxia, axonal neuropathy, hyporeflexia, and abnormal eye movements, accompanied by progressive hearing loss and ovarian dysgenesis, with a clinical diagnosis of Perrault syndrome.

METHODS

Whole-exome sequencing was performed to identify causative mutations in the 2 affected sisters in each family. Family 1 is of Japanese ancestry, and family 2 is of European ancestry.

RESULTS

In family 1, affected individuals were compound heterozygous for chromosome 10 open reading frame 2 (C10orf2) p.Arg391His and p.Asn585Ser. In family 2, affected individuals were compound heterozygous for C10orf2 p.Trp441Gly and p.Val507Ile. C10orf2 encodes Twinkle, a primase-helicase essential for replication of mitochondrial DNA. Conservation and structural modeling support the causality of the mutations. Twinkle is known also to harbor multiple mutations, nearly all missenses, leading to dominant progressive external ophthalmoplegia type 3 and to recessive mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome 7, also known as infantile-onset spinocerebellar ataxia.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study identifies Twinkle mutations as a cause of Perrault syndrome accompanied by neurologic features and expands the phenotypic spectrum of recessive disease caused by mutations in Twinkle. The phenotypic heterogeneity of conditions caused by Twinkle mutations and the genetic heterogeneity of Perrault syndrome call for genomic definition of these disorders.

At the intersection of non-coding transcription, DNA repair, chromatin structure, and cellular senescence

It is well accepted that non-coding RNAs play a critical role in regulating gene expression. Recent paradigm-setting studies are now revealing that non-coding RNAs, other than microRNAs, also play intriguing roles in the maintenance of chromatin structure, in the DNA damage response, and in adult human stem cell aging. In this review, we will discuss the complex inter-dependent relationships among non-coding RNA transcription, maintenance of genomic stability, chromatin structure, and adult stem cell senescence. DNA damage-induced non-coding RNAs transcribed in the vicinity of the DNA break regulate recruitment of the DNA damage machinery and DNA repair efficiency. We will discuss the correlation between non-coding RNAs and DNA damage repair efficiency and the potential role of changing chromatin structures around double-strand break sites. On the other hand, induction of non-coding RNA transcription from the repetitive Alu elements occurs during human stem cell aging and hinders efficient DNA repair causing entry into senescence. We will discuss how this fine balance between transcription and genomic instability may be regulated by the dramatic changes to chromatin structure that accompany cellular senescence.

A model to predict the frequency of integration of fitness-related QTLs from cultivated to wild soybean

With the proliferation of genetically modified (GM) products and the almost exponential growth of land use for GM crops, there is a growing need to develop quantitative approaches to estimating the risk of escape of transgenes into wild populations of crop relatives by natural hybridization. We assessed the risk of transgene escape by constructing a population genetic model based on information on fitness-related QTLs obtained from an F (2) population of wild soybean G. soja × cultivated soybean Glycine max. Simulation started with ten F (1) and 990 wild soybeans reproducing by selfing or outcrossing. Seed production was determined from the genetic effects of two QTLs for number of seeds (SN). Each seed survived winter according to the maternal genotype at three QTLs for winter survival (WS). We assumed that one neutral transgene was inserted at various sites and calculated its extinction rate. The presence of G. max alleles at SN and WS QTLs significantly decreased the probability of introgression of the neutral transgene at all insertion sites equally. The presence of G. max alleles at WS QTLs lowered the risk more than their presence at SN QTLs. Although most model studies have concentrated only on genotypic effects of transgenes, we show that the presence of fitness-related domestication genes has a large effect on the risk of transgene escape. Our model offers the advantage of considering the effects of both domestication genes and a transgene, and they can be widely applied to other wild × crop relative complexes.

Hydroxyapatite Coating on Thermal Titanium Substrate in Aqueous Solution

A hydroxyapatite, HAP, film was deposited on a titanium substrate in an aqueous solution, at an ambient temperature and ambient pressure. The solution included 3 mmoldm-3 Ca(H2PO4)2 and 7 mmol dm-3 CaCl2 at pH 5.5. The temperature of the substrate surface was controlled in both methods of applying alternative current through the Ti foil and high frequency induction heating using Ti ingot. In these methods, the substrate was heated up and the temperature gradient was formed between the substrate and the solution. The effects of surface temperature, fluoride ions, additive inhibitor and heating time on the morphology of HAP crystals formed on Ti substrate were investigated in various conditions. The morphology changed from compact layer to dendrite layer with the HAP growing time in AC current method and the HAP film with the thickness of 200 μm can be obtained on Ti foil with cross section of 30 μm × 2mm by heating for 20 min at 20 A-AC. On the other hand, the deposits consisted of algae-like whisker in the induction heating method. The HAP formation is found to take place only on the substrate surface by these substrate heating methods without HAP precipitation in aqueous solution

Epigenetic inheritance of an inducibly nucleosome-depleted promoter and its associated transcriptional state in the apparent absence of transcriptional activators

Background

Dynamic changes to the chromatin structure play a critical role in transcriptional regulation. This is exemplified by the Spt6-mediated histone deposition on to histone-depleted promoters that results in displacement of the general transcriptional machinery during transcriptional repression.

Results

Using the yeast PHO5 promoter as a model, we have previously shown that blocking Spt6-mediated histone deposition on to the promoter leads to persistent transcription in the apparent absence of transcriptional activators in vivo. We now show that the nucleosome-depleted PHO5 promoter and its associated transcriptionally active state can be inherited through DNA replication even in the absence of transcriptional activators. Transcriptional reinitiation from the nucleosome-depleted PHO5 promoter in the apparent absence of activators in vivo does not require Mediator. Notably, the epigenetic inheritance of the nucleosome-depleted PHO5 promoter through DNA replication does not require ongoing transcription.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that there may be a memory or an epigenetic mark on the nucleosome-depleted PHO5 promoter that is independent of the transcription apparatus and maintains the promoter in a nucleosome-depleted state through DNA replication.

Phase I clinical trial with VEGFR2-epitope peptide and gemcitabine for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer

2567

Background: The prognosis of pancreatic cancer patients is one of the most dismal of all cancers. Gemcitabine is a potent anticancer drug for pancreatic cancer, however, one should consider that the clinical benefit of anticancer drugs is limited and other potent therapeutic tool is eagerly awaited. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a glycoprotein which is predominantly related to the neoplastic angiogenesis. VEGF-receptor 2 (VEGFR2; Flk-1 and KDR) is an essential target for tumor angiogenesis. We first identify the epitope peptides of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) and confirmed that stimulation using these peptides induces CTLs with potent cytotoxicity in HLA class I-restricted fashion. Methods: We proceeded to Phase I clinical trial using gemcitabine and one of these peptides. Patients were sequentially allocated to cohorts of 6 patients per group receiving 0.5, 1.0, 2.0mg of peptides/body. No intra-patient dose escalation was permitted. The eligibility criteria are: being aged between 20- and 80- year old, expecting the survival more than 3 months after the initiation of this treatment, adequate organ function including bone marrow function, and having HLA-A*2402 (A24) genotype. The enrolled patients received 4 cycles of VEGFR2 peptide sc. and 3 cycles of 1,000 mg/m2 gemcitabine weekly. Results: No patients had grade 3 and 4 toxicity, and dose escalation was succeeded without any DLT. CTL response was observed in 50%, 67%, and 67% of 0.5mg, 1.0mg, and 2.0mg cohort, respectively. The delayed type hypersensitivity of the peptide-injection site was recognized in 83%, 67%, and 100% of 0.5mg, 1.0mg, and 2.0mg cohort, respectively. Therefore, we concluded that MTD should be 2.0mg of peptide. Disease control rate (>SD) was 67% (12/18 patients), and one patient had PR. The median survival time was 8.72 months. Conclusions: These results are promising to proceed the pivotal clinical trial, and the randomized phase II/III trial will start in 2009.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Regulation of retinal cell fate specification by multiple transcription factors

Retinal cell fate specification is strictly regulated by multiple transcription factors. Regarding regulation of cell proliferation and differentiation, basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) type repressors and activators function in an antagonistic manner. Repressor-type bHLH factors maintain retinal progenitor cells, whereas activator-type bHLH factors promote neuronal cell fate determination. However, bHLH genes alone are not sufficient for acquiring proper neuronal subtype identity. Recent findings have shown that retinal cell fate specification is regulated by combinations of bHLH and homeobox genes. It is conceivable that homeobox genes confer positional identity whereas bHLH genes regulate neuronal determination and differentiation. Moreover, it has been shown that bHLH genes implicated in retinal cell fate determination regulate expression of other bHLH genes, implying that there is a complicated transcription network regulating retinal development.

Hes1 and Hes5 control the progenitor pool, intermediate lobe specification, and posterior lobe formation in the pituitary development

The pituitary gland is composed of two distinct entities: the adenohypophysis, including the anterior and intermediate lobes, and the neurohypophysis, known as the posterior lobe. This critical endocrine organ is essential for homeostasis, metabolism, reproduction, and growth. The pituitary development requires the control of proliferation and differentiation of progenitor cells. Although multiple signaling molecules and transcription factors are required for the proper pituitary development, the mechanisms that regulate the fate of progenitor cells remain to be elucidated. Hes genes, known as Notch effectors, play a crucial role in specifying cellular fates during the development of various tissues and organs. Here, we report that mice deficient for Hes1 and Hes5 display severe pituitary hypoplasia caused by accelerated differentiation of progenitor cells. In addition, this hypoplastic pituitary gland (adenohypophysis) lacks the intermediate lobe and exhibits the features of the anterior lobe only. Hes1 and Hes5 double-mutant mice also lack the neurohypophysis (the posterior lobe), probably due to incomplete evagination of the diencephalon. Thus, Hes genes control not only maintenance of progenitor cells but also intermediate vs. anterior lobe specification during the adenohypophysis development. Hes genes are also essential for the formation of the neurohypophysis.

Sustained Notch signaling in progenitors is required for sequential emergence of distinct cell lineages during organogenesis

Mammalian organogenesis results from the concerted actions of signaling pathways in progenitor cells that induce a hierarchy of regulated transcription factors critical for organ and cell type determination. Here we demonstrate that sustained Notch activity is required for the temporal maintenance of specific cohorts of proliferating progenitors, which underlies the ability to specify late-arising cell lineages during pituitary organogenesis. Conditional deletion of Rbp-J, which encodes the major mediator of the Notch pathway, leads to premature differentiation of progenitor cells, a phenotype recapitulated by loss of the basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) factor Hes1, as well as a conversion of the late (Pit1) lineage into the early (corticotrope) lineage. Notch signaling is required for maintaining expression of the tissue-specific paired-like homeodomain transcription factor, Prop1, which is required for generation of the Pit1 lineage. Attenuation of Notch signaling is necessary for terminal differentiation in post-mitotic Pit1+ cells, and the Notch-repressed Pit1 target gene, Math3, is specifically required for maturation and proliferation of the GH-producing somatotrope. Thus, sustained Notch signaling in progenitor cells is required to prevent conversion of the late-arising cell lineages to early-born cell lineages, permitting specification of diverse cell types, a strategy likely to be widely used in mammalian organogenesis.

Mash1 and Math3 are required for development of branchiomotor neurons and maintenance of neural progenitors

Basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factors are known to play important roles in neuronal determination and differentiation. However, their exact roles in neural development still remain to be determined because of the functional redundancy. Here, we examined the roles of neural bHLH genes Mash1 and Math3 in the development of trigeminal and facial branchiomotor neurons, which derive from rhombomeres 2-4. In Math3-null mutant mice, facial branchiomotor neurons are misspecified, and both trigeminal and facial branchiomotor neurons adopt abnormal migratory pathways. In Mash1;Math3 double-mutant mice, trigeminal and facial branchiomotor neurons are severely reduced in number partly because of increased apoptosis. In addition, neurons with migratory defects are intermingled over the midline from either side of the neural tube. Furthermore, oligodendrocyte progenitors of rhombomere 4 are reduced in number. In the absence of Mash1 and Math3, expression of Notch signaling components is severely downregulated in rhombomere 4 and neural progenitors are not properly maintained, which may lead to intermingling of neurons and a decrease in oligodendrocyte progenitors. These results indicate that Mash1 and Math3 not only promote branchiomotor neuron development but also regulate the subsequent oligodendrocyte development and the cytoarchitecture by maintaining neural progenitors through Notch signaling.

Quantitative evaluation of the petal shape variation in Primula sieboldii caused by breeding process in the last 300 years

Primula sieboldii: (E. Morren) has been a popular garden plant at least since the Edo period, about 300 years ago. We compared petal form between cultivars and wild populations in order to characterise the changes that have occurred during domestication. The comparison was made using EF-PCA analysis, which describes overall petal shape mathematically by transforming petal contour coordinates into elliptic Fourier descriptors; it subsequently summarises these descriptors by principal component analysis (PCA). Rearing cultivars in a common-garden experiment identified the PCs with a substantial genetic element. A clear heritable component was detected for the PCs characterising symmetrical variation in flower shape, but not the asymmetrical variation. Wild populations of this species have become endangered owing to habitat destruction by human activity, and many lowland floodplain habitats have been lost. Variation within the remaining wild populations was significantly lower than in the cultivars for PC1 (aspect ratio), PC3 (curvature of proximal and distal parts) and petal area; but not for PC2 (depth of head notch) and PC4 (position of the centre of gravity). The shifts in petal form from the wild populations to the cultivars parallel those seen in other crop-types following domestication, including an increase in size and diversity of forms: cultivars have shallower head notches, more fan-shaped petals and larger petals than do wild P. sieboldii.

Roles of bHLH genes in neural stem cell differentiation

Neural stem cells change their characteristics over time during development: they initially proliferate only and then give rise to neurons first and glial cells later. In the absence of the repressor-type basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) genes Hes1, Hes3 and Hes5, neural stem cells do not proliferate sufficiently but prematurely differentiate into neurons and become depleted without making the later born cell types such as astrocytes and ependymal cells. Thus, Hes genes are essential for maintenance of neural stem cells to make cells not only in correct numbers but also in full diversity. Hes genes antagonize the activator-type bHLH genes, which include Mash1, Math and Neurogenin. The activator-type bHLH genes promote the neuronal fate determination and induce expression of Notch ligands such as Delta. These ligands activate Notch signaling and upregulate Hes1 and Hes5 expression in neighboring cells, thereby maintaining these cells undifferentiated. Thus, the activator-type and repressor-type bHLH genes regulate each other, allowing only subsets of cells to undergo differentiation while keeping others to stay neural stem cells. This regulation is essential for generation of complex brain structures of appropriate size, shape and cell arrangement.

Spatial genetic structure among and within populations of Primula sieboldii growing beside separate streams

We investigated the hierarchical genetic structure of SSR (simple sequence repeats) and cpDNA (chloroplast DNA) polymorphisms among and within populations of Primula sieboldii, a heterostylous clonal herb. Seven out of eight populations at the study site, located in a mountainous region of Nagano Prefecture, had each developed alongside a different stream, and the other occurred on a flat area 70 m from the nearest stream. The magnitude of genetic differentiation among streamside populations in maternally inherited cpDNA (Phi = 0.341) was much higher than that in biparentally inherited SSRs (Phi = 0.011). This result suggests that seed dispersal among streams was restricted, and pollen was the primary agent of gene flow among streamside populations. In contrast, genetic differentiation among subpopulations within streams were low at both markers (Phi = 0.053 for cpDNA, Phi = 0.025 for SSR). This low differentiation among subpopulations in cpDNA compared with that among streamside populations suggest that seed dispersal occur along the stream probably during flooding. This hypothesis was supported by the fact that in cpDNA haplotypes, no clear genetic structure was detected within the streamside population, while a significant genetic structure was found within 20 m in the nonstreamside population. Furthermore, within the streamside populations, two pairs of ramets with identical multilocus genotypes for eight SSR loci were distantly (> 50 m) distributed along the same streamside, suggesting dispersal of clonal propagule. Our study showed that the heterogeneity of the landscape can influence gene flow and hence spatial genetic structure.

Mapping QTLs influencing rice floral morphology using recombinant inbred lines derived from a cross between Oryza sativa L. and Oryza rufipogon Griff

To understand the genetic basis of floral traits associated with the mating system in rice, we analyzed pistil, stamen and glume traits using a recombinant inbred line population, derived from a cross between an Asian cultivated rice ( Oryza sativa L.), Pei-kuh, and a wild rice ( Oryza rufipogon Griff.), W1944. Quantitative trait loci (QTLs) affecting floral morphology were detected by composite interval mapping using a linkage map constructed using 147 markers, mostly RFLPs. A total of 7, 4, 14 and 6 QTLs were detected for traits related to pistil, stamen, and size and shape of the glume, respectively. Comparison of 31 QTLs affecting these organs revealed ten QTLs affecting the different organs in four adjacent regions on chromosomes 2, 4, 5 and 10, but most QTLs (68%) were located separately on the whole chromosomes. Although four QTLs for stigma breadth, anther length and thickness of lemma and palea explained more than 25% of the total phenotypic variance, most QTLs (87%) had smaller effects. These results suggest that quantitative variation observed for pistil, stamen and glume traits is controlled by several distinct genes with small effects.

[Studies on enrichment broth for verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC) O157]

Growth of verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC) O157 in conventionally recommended pre-enrichment broth media at different temperatures was evaluated. In addition, sensitivity of VTEC O157 isolates to several antibacterial drugs, which were added to the selective enrichment broth, was tested. All five isolates of VTEC O157 tested grew well in trypticase soy broth (TSB) at 36 degrees C and 42 degrees C, while the growth of one isolate was markedly suppressed in TSB supplemented with cefixime (CFIX), potassium tellurite (PT), and vancomycin (TSB-CTV) even at 36 degrees C. A significant growth suppression was also observed in three of the isolates cultured in novobiocin (NB)-supplemented modified EC broth (mEC-NB) at 42 degrees C. In mEC-NB after 24-hr incubation at 36 degrees C, the five VTEC O157 isolates grew well, although one isolate was slightly suppressed during the first 8 hours. Minimum growth inhibitory concentrations of CFIX, NB and PT for a total of 90 clinical and environmental isolates of VTEC O157 were all above the concentrations usually prescribed for mEC-NB and TSB-CTV. These findings suggest that mEC-NB and TSB-CTV should be used at 36 degrees C for growth of VTEC O157 and that use of a nonselective pre-enrichment broth medium (i.e. TSB) together with a selective one (i.e. TSB-CTV or mEC-NB) is necessary for successful isolation of VTEC O157 from various specimens.

Restriction fragments homologous to mitochondrial plasmid-like DNAs are located within limited chromosomal regions on the rice nuclear genome

The chromosomal locations of restriction fragments of nuclear DNA that were homologous to four mitochondrial plasmid-like DNAs, namely, B1, B2, B3 and B4, were analyzed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis in cultivated rice. Nine kinds of fragments homologous to plasmidlike DNAs were analyzed for their segregation in three different F2 populations derived from intercrosses between rice subspecies; these were found to be localized in three chromosomal regions: three, one and five kinds of nuclear homologues were situated on chromosomes 1,3 and 8, respectively. Nuclear homologues on a given chromosome were tightly linked even though they were homologous to different plasmid-like DNAs. The loci of nuclear homologues found commonly in two or three cultivars were found to be highly conserved, a result that is consistent with their stable transmission. These results and those of the Southern analysis suggest the independent integration of these sequences during the varietal differentiation of rice. The concentration of loci for nuclear homologues on chromosomes 1 and 8 suggests that these sequences were integrated non-randomly into these chromosomal regions.

[Purification and determination of human prostate specific antigen in the serum]

A human prostate specific antigen (PA) has been purified from an extract of prostatic tissue obtained during operation for benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH). The antigen, which can be demonstrated a single component by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), has an apparent molecular weight of about 34,000 and has lower mobility for the positive pole than prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP). Double antibody radioimmunoassay (RIA) for PA in serum was developed with the antiserum raised in rabbit against partially purified PA. In normal serum of 30 controls the concentration were studied by the RIA. The normal upper limit of the serum PA levels in assay was set at 2.5 ng/ml. Elevated levels were observed in serum from 19 out of 21 untreated patients with prostatic carcinoma and 9 out of 23 patients with BPH, but latter less than 10 ng/ml. The results indicate that the PA is a potentially useful marker as well as PAP for prostatic cancer.

Differential effect of cholesterol on two types of 5-hydroxytryptamine binding sites

The specific binding of [3H]5-hydroxytryptamine ([3H]5-HT, [3H]serotonin) to rat cerebral cortex is increased approximately 1.5 to 2.0 fold by cholesterol hydrogen succinate (CHS) and is solubilized into the supernatant fraction by 12 mM CHS. [3H]5-HT binding sites can be constituted by incubating the supernatant fraction obtained from CHS-treated cerebral cortex with cerebellum in which no significant [3H]5-HT binding is detectable. The constituted [3H]5-HT binding could be displaced by unlabeled 5-HT, d-lysergic acid diethylamide (d-LSD) and spiperone as could the binding to cortex membranes. Unlabeled 5-HT, d-LSD and spiperone each inhibited specific [3H]5-HT binding to constituted binding sites by 50% at about 1 X 10(-9) M. Specific [3H]spiperone binding was not detectable in the constituted membranes. Stearic acid which is reported to have similar effects on membrane fluidity as cholesterol also increased specific [3H]5-HT binding in cortical membranes. Stearic acid does not affect specific [3H]spiperone binding. These results suggest that [3H]5-HT and [3H]spiperone binding sites are affected differently by membrane fluidity.

Measuring thyroxine and thyrotropin simultaneously in a dried blood sample on filter paper, to screen for neonatal hypothyroidism

We have developed a highly sensitive radioimmunoassay of thyroxine and thyrotropin for mass screening for neonatal hypothyroidism. This assay involves a single disc (3 mm diameter) of dried blood on filter paper. The minimum detectable concentrations are 15 pg/tube (10 microgram/L) for thyroxine and 15 nano-int. units/tube (10 milli-int. units/L) for thyrotropin; intra- and interassay CV's are less than 15% in both assays. The high sensitivity of this method is due to use of labeled thyroxine with high specific activity (3 kCi/g) and of an anti-thyrotropin serum with high affinity (Keq = 7.8 x 10(11) L/mol). With this method, 11337 newborns were screened; a follow-up study revealed that only newborns with both high thyrotropin and low thyroxine concentrations had permanent hypothyroidism. We conclude that this method is sensitive, simple, and reliable and that the recall rate with this method is much lower than that of tests for measuring thyroxine or thyrotropin alone.

Measuring thyroxine and thyrotropin simultaneously in a dried blood sample on filter paper, to screen for neonatal hypothyroidism

We have developed a highly sensitive radioimmunoassay of thyroxine and thyrotropin for mass screening for neonatal hypothyroidism. This assay involves a single disc (3 mm diameter) of dried blood on filter paper. The minimum detectable concentrations are 15 pg/tube (10 microgram/L) for thyroxine and 15 nano-int. units/tube (10 milli-int. units/L) for thyrotropin; intra- and interassay CV’s are &lt; 15% in both assays. The high sensitivity of this method is due to use of labeled thyroxine with high specific activity (3 kCi/g) and of an anti-thyrotropin serum with high affinity (Keq = 7.8 × 10(11) L/mol). With this method, 11337 newborns were screened; a follow-up study revealed that only newborns with both high thyrotropin and low thyroxine concentrations had permanent hypothyroidism. We conclude that this method is sensitive, simple, and reliable and that the recall rate with this method is much lower than that of tests for measuring thyroxine or thyrotropin alone.

[The development of determining human prostatic acid phosphatase by radioimmunoassay (author's transl)]

We purified human prostatic acid phosphatase (hPAP) from prostatic tissues by affinity chromatography, DEAE cellulose and gel filtration and also examined physicochemical properties of highly purified PAP. We developed a double-antibody radioimmunoassay for hPAP in serum, with use of antiserum raised in rabbit against highly purified PAP. The antiserum did not cross react with acid phosphatase from platelets and red blood cells. Experimental detail are outlined to assess the reproducibility and reliability of the method under various conditions. The upper limit of the serum PAP levels in the present assay was set at 3.0 ng/ml by 162 determinations of samples. The serum PAP levels of 2 untreated patients with prostatic carcinoma were higher than 3.0 ng/ml and 39 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia were an average value of 1.9 ng/ml.