Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M Watanabe

Publications and source records attributed to M Watanabe.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources

Identification of S-genotypes by PCR-RFLP in breeding lines of Brassica.

We developed a molecular method for the identification of the S-alleles of Brassicaceae, which belongs to the inbred line. This method is quicker and more precise than the existing methods. The genotype of the S-allele for 20 S-haplotypes of cabbage and 20 S-haplotypes of broccoli was determined by a pollination test. In order to identify the S-alleles, we performed PCR-RFLP with a mixture of the primers that are related to the S-locus glycoprotein (SLG) gene, which corresponds to the results of the pollination test. The selected primers amplified all of the single bands of about 1,150 bp in all 40 lines of cabbage and broccoli. Three out of 20 lines of cabbage were amplified by class I SLG specific primers, whereas all of the lines of the cabbage were amplified by class II SLG specific primers. Therefore, we could not classify class I and class II precisely by the class I and class II primers. However, 15 out of 20 lines of broccoli were amplified by the class I SLG specific primers. The remaining 5 lines were amplified with the class II SLG specific primers. We then digested the amplified PCR products with various restriction endonucleases and chose a restriction endonuclease, which accords exactly with the results of the diallel cross. The best one was HinfI. Its RFLP result was the same as that of the nucleotide sequence analysis. The 40 lines of cabbage and broccoli consisted of 16 different S-haplotypes. Therefore, the PCR-RFLP analysis was quicker and more precise in identifying the characteristics of S-haplotypes that are used in breeding. Also, we were able to check whether the lines could be mixed. The S-genotypes were difficult to determine due to the different flowering time.

Alleles↗

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis of the archaeosine tRNA-guanine transglycosylase from Pyrococcus horikoshii.

The archaeosine tRNA-guanine transglycosylase from the hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrococcus horikoshii was crystallized and preliminary X-ray characterization was performed. Single crystals were grown by the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion method, using sodium/potassium phosphate and sodium acetate as precipitants. The space group is P4(1)2(1)2 or P4(3)2(1)2, with unit-cell parameters a = b = 99.28 (14), c = 363.74 (56) A. The cryocooled crystals diffracted X-rays beyond 2.2 A resolution using synchrotron radiation from station BL44XU at SPring-8 (Harima). Selenomethionine-substituted protein crystals were prepared in order to solve the structure by the MAD phasing method.

Crystallization↗

Synthesis and redox behavior of azulene-substituted benzene derivatives and (eta(5)-cyclopentadienyl)[tetra- and di(6-azulenyl)cyclobutadiene]cobalt complexes.

1,2-Di(6-azulenyl)tetraphenylbenzenes and (6-azulenyl)pentaphenylbenzenes were synthesized by Diels-Alder reactions of di(6-azulenyl)acetylenes and 6-(phenylethynyl)azulenes with tetraphenylcyclopentadienone. Cobalt-mediated cyclooligomerization of mono- and di(6-azulenyl)acetylenes afforded 1,3,5- and 1,2,4-tri(6-azulenyl)benzene derivatives together with (eta(5)-cyclopentadienyl)[tetra- and di(6-azulenyl)cyclobutadiene]cobalt complexes. The redox behavior of these novel (6-azulenyl)benzene derivatives and [tetra- and di(6-azulenyl)cyclobutadiene]cobalt complexes was examined by cyclic voltammetry (CV). Mono(6-azulenyl)benzenes exhibited a reduction wave upon CV. In contrast, 1,2-di(6-azulenyl)benzenes showed a two-step reduction wave at the similar potential region upon CV, which revealed the formation of a dianion stabilized by 6-azulenyl substituents under electrochemical reduction conditions. Three 6-azulenyl substituents on benzene in a 1,2,4 relationship also increased electron-accepting properties because of the formation of a closed-shell dianionic structure, whereas 1,3,5-tri(6-azulenyl)benzenes were reduced stepwise.

Journal Article↗

Upstream stimulatory factors regulate aortic preferentially expressed gene-1 expression in vascular smooth muscle cells.

The phenotypic modulation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) plays a central role in the pathogenesis of arteriosclerosis. Aortic preferentially expressed gene-1 (APEG-1), a VSMC-specific gene, is expressed highly in differentiated but not in dedifferentiated VSMC. Previously, we identified an E-box element in the mouse APEG-1 proximal promoter, which is essential for VSMC reporter activity. In this study, we investigated the role of upstream stimulatory factors (USF) in the regulation of APEG-1 transcription via this E-box element. By electrophoretic mobility shift assays, recombinant USF1 and USF2 homo- and heterodimers bound specifically to the APEG-1 E-box. Nuclear extracts prepared from primary cultures of rat aortic smooth muscle cells exhibited specific USF1 and USF2 binding to the APEG-1 E-box. To investigate the binding properties of USF during VSMC differentiation, nuclear extracts were prepared from the neural crest cell line, MONC-1, which differentiates into VSMC in culture. Maximal USF1 and USF2 protein levels and binding to the APEG-1 E-box occurred 3 h after the differentiation of MONC-1 cells was initiated. Co-transfection experiments demonstrated that dominant negative USF repressed APEG-1 promoter activity, and USF1, but not USF2, transactivated the APEG-1 promoter. Our studies demonstrate that USF factors contribute to the regulation of APEG-1 expression and may influence the differentiation of VSMC.

Animals↗

Mono(ADP-ribosyl)ation of 2'-deoxyguanosine residue in DNA by an apoptosis-inducing protein, pierisin-1, from cabbage butterfly.

Pierisin-1 is a potent apoptosis-inducing protein derived from the cabbage butterfly, Pieris rapae. It has been shown that pierisin-1 has an A small middle dotB structure-function organization like cholera or diphtheria toxin, where the "A" domain (N-terminal) exhibits ADP-ribosyltransferase activity. The present studies were designed to identify the target molecule for ADP-ribosylation by pierisin-1 in the presence of beta-[adenylate-(32)P]NAD, and we found DNA as the acceptor, but not protein as is the case with other bacteria-derived ADP-ribosylating toxins. ADP-ribosylation of tRNAs from yeast was also catalyzed by pierisin-1, but the efficiency was around 110 of that for calf thymus DNA. Pierisin-1 efficiently catalyzed the ADP-ribosylation of double-stranded DNA containing dG small middle dotdC, but not dA small middle dotdT pairs. The ADP-ribose moiety of NAD was transferred to the amino group at N(2) of 2'-deoxyguanosine to yield N(2)-(alpha-ADP-ribos-1-yl)-2'-deoxyguanosine and its beta form, which were determined by several spectral analyses including (1)H- and (13)C-NMR and mass spectrometry. The chemical structures were also ascertained by the independent synthesis of N(2)-(D-ribos-1-yl)-2'-deoxyguanosine, which is the characteristic moiety of ADP-ribosylated dG. Using the (32)P-postlabeling method, ADP-ribosylated dG could be detected in DNA from pierisin-1-treated HeLa cells, in which apoptosis was easily induced. Thus, the targets for ADP-ribosylation by pierisin-1 were concluded to be 2'-deoxyguanosine residues in DNA. This finding may open a new field regarding the biological significance of ADP-ribosylation.

ADP Ribose Transferases↗

Direct ligand-receptor complex interaction controls Brassica self-incompatibility.

Many higher plants have evolved self-incompatibility mechanisms to prevent self-fertilization. In Brassica self-incompatibility, recognition between pollen and the stigma is controlled by the S locus, which contains three highly polymorphic genes: S-receptor kinase (SRK), S-locus protein 11 (SP11) (also called S-locus cysteine-rich protein; SCR) and S-locus glycoprotein (SLG). SRK encodes a membrane-spanning serine/threonine kinase that determines the S-haplotype specificity of the stigma, and SP11 encodes a small cysteine-rich protein that determines the S-haplotype specificity of pollen. SP11 is localized in the pollen coat. It is thought that, during self-pollination, SP11 is secreted from the pollen coat and interacts with its cognate SRK in the papilla cell of the stigma to elicit the self-incompatibility response. SLG is a secreted stigma protein that is highly homologous to the SRK extracellular domain. Although it is not required for S-haplotype specificity of the stigma, SLG enhances the self-incompatibility response; however, how this is accomplished remains controversial. Here we show that a single form of SP11 of the S8 haplotype (S8-SP11) stabilized with four intramolecular disulphide bonds specifically binds the stigma membrane of the S8 haplotype to induce autophosphorylation of SRK8, and that SRK8 and SLG8 together form a high-affinity receptor complex for S8-SP11 on the stigma membrane.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Hypermethylation of the CD44 gene is associated with progression and metastasis of human prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND: CD44 is a metastasis suppressor gene for prostate cancer and the down-regulation of CD44 and its variants is associated with the progression of prostate cancer. Also, hypermethylation of the CpG islands of the CD44 gene is closely associated with transcriptional inactivation, resulting in the decreased expression of CD44. To clarify the exact role of methylation status of CpG islands of CD44 gene in the progression and metastasis of prostate cancer, we investigated the methylation status of this gene in primary and metastatic human prostate tumors obtained from surgery or autopsy. METHODS: We examined 97 samples from 40 Japanese patients with adenocarcinoma of the prostate. Tumor tissues were obtained from radical prostatectomy specimens from eight patients with stage B, 12 patients with stage C and three patients with stage D1 and at autopsy from 17 hormone-refractory metastatic cases, who had initially responded to the therapy and thereafter relapsed. Distant metastatic tissues were also obtained at autopsy (i.e., liver, lung, kidney, mammary gland, and pelvic lymph nodes) from 10 of 17 hormone-refractory cases. We analyzed the hypermethylation status of CD44 promotor region by PCR using genomic DNAs digested with the m(5)C-sensitive restriction enzyme HpaII. RESULTS: The correlation between the methylation status of CD44 gene and the stage progression of prostate cancer was statistically significant (P = 0.0438). In two of 10 hormone-refractory cases, a comparison of the methylation status of the CD44 gene in metastases to that in primary tumors revealed interfocal heterogeneity of CD44 methylation status. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate an important role of CD44 methylation in the progression and metastasis of prostate cancer, although the amount of methylational heterogeneity is substantial among metastatic sites within the same patient.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Intraspinal cyst communicating with the intervertebral disc in the lumbar spine: discal cyst.

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective case study of patients with intraspinal cyst having a distinct connection with the corresponding intervertebral disc. OBJECTIVES: To propose a new clinical entity, "discal cyst," by clarifying the clinical, radiographic, and histologic aspects of the disease. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Several types of intraspinal cysts with different pathogenesis, causing symptoms indistinguishable from those of lumbar disc herniation, have been reported, such as perineural cysts, synovial cysts, and ganglion cysts. However, to the authors' knowledge, no detailed analysis has been made of cysts that have a distinct connection with the corresponding intervertebral disc. METHODS: Clinical pictures, radiographic findings, and surgical and histologic findings in eight surgically treated patients with intraspinal cyst having a distinct connection with the intervertebral disc were reviewed. Possible pathogenesis and a proposal for nomenclature were also discussed. RESULTS: This disease can be characterized by (1) clinical symptoms indistinguishable from those of typical disc herniation, manifesting as a unilateral single nerve root lesion; (2) incidence at slightly younger age and at upper intervertebral levels than with typical disc herniation; (3) T1 low signal and T2 high signal intensity, round to oval mass lesion on magnetic resonance imaging, compatible with a liquid-containing cyst; (4) minimal degeneration of the involved disc, either on discography/computed tomographic discography or magnetic resonance imaging; (5) a connection between the cyst and the corresponding intervertebral discs on discograms with severe radiating pain in the affected leg at the time of injection; (6) immediate relief of symptoms after simple removal of the cyst; (7) cyst wall consisting of dense fibrous connective tissue containing bloody to clear serous discharge; and (8) absence of disc materials and a specific lining cell layer on histologic examination. Although the exact cause is unknown, underlying minor disc injury may serve as a basis for cyst formation. CONCLUSION: Eight cases of intraspinal cysts communicating with the intervertebral disc presenting symptoms identical to those of disc herniation are presented. Because all cysts were connected to the corresponding disc and the development of the cyst was assumed to be related to underlying disc injury, it is proposed to name this clinical entity discal cyst.

Adult↗

3-Phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase, a key enzyme for l-serine biosynthesis, is preferentially expressed in the radial glia/astrocyte lineage and olfactory ensheathing glia in the mouse brain.

l-Serine is synthesized from glycolytic intermediate 3-phosphoglycerate and is an indispensable precursor for the synthesis of proteins, membrane lipids, nucleotides, and neuroactive amino acids d-serine and glycine. We have recently shown that l-serine and its interconvertible glycine act as Bergmann glia-derived trophic factors for cerebellar Purkinje cells. To investigate whether such a metabolic neuron-glial relationship is fundamental to the developing and adult brain, we examined by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry the cellular expression of 3-phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (3PGDH), the initial step enzyme for de novo l-serine biosynthesis in animal cells. At early stages when the neural wall consists exclusively of the ventricular zone, neuroepithelial stem cells expressed 3PGDH strongly and homogeneously. Thereafter, 3PGDH expression was downregulated and eventually disappeared in neuronal populations, whereas its high expression was transmitted to the radial glia and later to astrocytes in the gray and white matters. In addition, 3PGDH was highly expressed throughout development in the olfactory ensheathing glia, a specialized supporting cell that thoroughly ensheathes olfactory nerves. These results establish a fundamental link of the radial glia/astrocyte lineage and olfactory ensheathing glia to l-serine biosynthesis in the brain. We discuss this finding in the context of the hypothesis that 3PGDH expression in these glia cells contributes to energy metabolism in differentiating and differentiated neurons and other glia cells, which are known to be vulnerable to energy loss.

Aging↗

Expression of amphiphysin I in Sertoli cells and its implication in spermatogenesis.

Amphiphysin I is a protein concentrated in nerve terminals and involved in the endocytosis of synaptic vesicle membrane. We show here that amphiphysin I is expressed in the rat testis, localized exclusively in the Sertoli cells. In the postnatal testicular development, expression of amphiphysin I was not evident at birth, but became significant at postnatal day 15 (P15), coinciding with the onset of spermatogenesis. The expression level of amphiphysin I increased 10-fold between P15 and P25 to reach the adult level. In adult testes reversibly damaged by ethane dimethane sulphonate administration, expression of amphiphysin I did not change following the damage, whereas the protein was transiently converted into its phosphorylated form. The increase in levels of phosphorylated amphiphysin I was closely associated with the severe histological damage to germ cells. The present findings suggest that amphiphysin I in Sertoli cells is involved in spermatogenesis, probably through endocytic processes.

Animals↗

Increase of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells after spinal cord injury.

The reaction of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) after spinal cord injury (SCI) is poorly understood. In this study, we examined oligodendroglial reactions after contusion SCI in adult rats by immunohistochemistry. OPCs were identified by staining with monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) A2B5 and O4. Each of the A2B5-, O4-positive OPCs and galactocerebroside-positive oligodendrocytes dramatically increased in the lesion of the dorsal posterior funiculus. Bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation studies showed that most O4-positive cells in the lesion were labeled with BrdU, suggesting that these OPCs were proliferative. In contrast, the expression of myelin basic protein was decreased in the lesion compared with controls that received laminectomy only. From the injured cord, OPCs were isolated by immunopanning with mAb A2B5. We observed an increased number of OPCs from the injured spinal cords compared with those isolated from controls and unoperated animals. After several days in culture, the OPCs from the lesion expressed galactocerebroside. These results suggest that OPCs are induced and can differentiate following SCI in the adult rat.

Animals↗

Induction of transplantable mouse renal cell cancers by streptozotocin: in vivo growth, metastases, and angiogenic phenotype.

Interleukin-2-based regimens of biological therapy have shown some clinical promise for the treatment of kidney cancer in humans, although the mechanisms responsible for tumor regression occurring in these patients remain unclear. Preclinical insight into these mechanisms is limited by a paucity of orthotopic animal models of kidney cancer. We have used streptozotocin, an antibiotic and diabetogenic nitrosamine compound derived from Streptomyces achromogenes to induce new kidney tumors in BALB/c mice. Single or multiple doses of streptozotocin induced kidney tumors in up to 25% of mice by 50-90 weeks of age, with up to 18% characterized as renal cell carcinomas (RCCs). Several transplantable lines were obtained from the RCCs, and one of these lines was subsequently cloned. The initial tumor isolates and sublines were histologically reconfirmed to be RCCs, and all grew progressively but slowly (mean survival times, 57 to >100 days) in vivo after intrarenal implant. None of the primary isolates or sublines revealed mutations in either the VHL or Ras genes, although karyotype analysis and chromosome painting revealed the consistent presence of a submetacentric chromosome resulting from the fusion of chromosomes 16 and 19. Biological characterization of these tumors revealed several features analogous to the growth of human kidney cancers, including a propensity for the formation of lung metastases and high vascularity. This hypervascularity is evident by both gross and microscopic analysis and correlates with the expression of several proangiogenic genes. Overall, the features of orthotopic transplantability, slower in vivo growth (relative to the rapid growth rates of other transplantable mouse kidney tumors), propensity for lung metastases, and hypervascularity may make these tumors valuable models for the study of new therapeutic strategies based on antineovascular agents and antitumor cytokines.

Animals↗

Colon cancer cell adhesion to endothelial E-selectin inhibits detachment of endothelial cells through activation of beta(1)-integrin.

Previous studies have implicated a role for E-selectin in carcinoma cell adhesion to vascular endothelium. We examined the role of colon cancer cell adhesion to vascular endothelium via E-selectin using adenoviral vector-mediated transfection in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). We found that the amount of HUVEC detachment from the gelatin matrix 24 h after LS-180 cell adhesion was inhibited only when the HUVECs were transduced with wild-type E-selectin, but not with a cytoplasmic domain truncated mutant E-selectin or the control Lac-Z vector. We also found that the adhesion of LS-180 cells to wild-type E-selectin transduced HUVEC-induced activation of beta(1)-integrin receptors without affecting MMP activity. These results indicate that colon cancer cell adhesion via E-selectin inhibits HUVEC detachment from the monolayer, at least in part by modulating beta(1)-integrin activity in HUVECs. In addition, they indicate the importance of the cytoplasmic domain of E-selectin with this phenomenon.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Identification and characterization of a synaptojanin 2 splice isoform predominantly expressed in nerve terminals.

We have previously identified synaptojanin 1, a phosphoinositide phosphatase predominantly expressed in the nervous system, and synaptojanin 2, a broadly expressed isoform. Synaptojanin 1 is concentrated in nerve terminals, where it has been implicated in synaptic vesicle recycling and actin function. Synaptojanin 2A is targeted to mitochondria via a PDZ domain-mediated interaction. We have now characterized an alternatively spliced form of synaptojanin 2 that shares several properties with synaptojanin 1. This isoform, synaptojanin 2B, undergoes further alternative splicing to generate synaptojanin 2B1 and 2B2. Both amphiphysin and endophilin, two partners synaptojanin 1, bind synaptojanin 2B2, whereas only amphiphysin binds synaptojanin 2B1. Sequence similar to the endophilin-binding site in synaptojanin 1 is present only in synaptojanin 2B2, and this sequence was capable of affinity purifying endophilin from rat brain. The Sac1 domain of synaptojanin 2 exhibited phosphoinositide phosphatase activity very similar to that of the Sac1 domain of synaptojanin 1. Site-directed mutagenesis further illustrated its functional similarity to the catalytic domain of Sac1 proteins. Antibodies raised against the synaptojanin 2B-specific carboxyl-terminal region identified a 160-kDa protein in brain and testis. Immunofluorescence showed that synaptojanin 2B is localized at nerve terminals in brain and at the spermatid manchette in testis. Active Rac1 GTPase affects the intracellular localization of synaptojanin 2, but not of synaptojanin 1. These results suggest that synaptojanin 2B has a partially overlapping function with synaptojanin 1 in nerve terminals, with additional roles in neurons and other cells including spermatids.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

MKP-7, a novel mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase, functions as a shuttle protein.

Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphatases (MKPs) negatively regulate MAPK activity. In the present study, we have identified a novel MKP, designated MKP-7, and mapped it to human chromosome 12p12. MKP-7 possesses a long C-terminal stretch containing both a nuclear export signal and a nuclear localization signal, in addition to the rhodanese-like domain and the dual specificity phosphatase catalytic domain, both of which are conserved among MKP family members. When expressed in mammalian cells MKP-7 protein was localized exclusively in the cytoplasm, but this localization became exclusively nuclear following leptomycin B treatment or introduction of a mutation in the nuclear export signal. These findings indicate that MKP-7 is the first identified leptomycin B-sensitive shuttle MKP. Forced expression of MKP-7 suppressed activation of MAPKs in COS-7 cells in the order of selectivity, JNK p38 > ERK. Furthermore, a mutant form MKP-7 functioned as a dominant negative particularly against the dephosphorylation of JNK, suggesting that MKP-7 works as a JNK-specific phosphatase in vivo. Co-immunoprecipitation experiments and histological analysis suggested that MKP-7 determines the localization of MAPKs in the cytoplasm.

Active Transport, Cell Nucleus↗

Modulated structure of the pseudohexagonal InFe(1--x--4 delta)Ti(x+3 delta)O(3+x/2) (x = 0.61) composite crystal.

The structure of pseudohexagonal-type InFe(1--x--4 delta)Ti(x+3 delta)O(3+x/2) (x = 0.61, delta = 0.04), indium iron titanium oxide, was refined on the basis of a four-dimensional superspace group. The crystal has a compositely modulated structure consisting of two orthorhombic subsystems mutually incommensurate in b. The first subsystem InFe(1-x-4 delta)Ti(x+3 delta)O(2) has a delafossite structure with lattice parameters a = 5.835 (3), b(1) = 3.349 (1) and c = 12.082 (7) A. The second subsystem with b(2) = 2.568 (6) A consists of O atoms. The superspace group of the overall structure is Ccmm(1, 1.305, 0)s00, which can be converted to Amam(0, 0, 0.305)0s0 (No. 63.8). Refinement on 1105 unique reflections converged to R = 0.0303 and wR = 0.0325 with 63 structural parameters. The structure of the first subsystem is the alternate stacking of an edge-shared InO(6) octahedral layer and an Fe/Ti triangle-lattice plane along c. A sheet of O atoms in the second subsystem is also extending on the Fe/Ti plane, where displacive modulation of atoms is prominent.

Journal Article↗

Analysis of differentially expressed genes in human hepatocellular carcinoma using suppression subtractive hybridization.

The genetic basis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has not yet been fully understood. Although various methods have been developed to detect differentially expressed genes in malignant diseases, efficient analysis from clinical specimens is generally difficult to perform due to the requirement of a large amount of samples. In the present study, we analysed differentially expressed genes with a small amount of human HCC samples using suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH). Total RNA were obtained from the hepatitis C virus-associated HCC and adjacent non-HCC liver tissues. cDNA was synthesized using modified RT-PCR, and then tester cDNA was ligated with 2 different kinds of adaptors and hybridized with an excess amount of driver cDNA. Tester specific cDNA was obtained by suppression PCR and the final PCR product was subcloned and sequenced. We identified 7 known genes (focal adhesion kinase, deleted in colon cancer, guanine binding inhibitory protein alpha, glutamine synthetase, ornithine aminotransferase, M130, and pepsinogen C) and 2 previously unknown genes as being overexpressed in HCC, and 1 gene (decorin) as suppressed in HCC. Quantitative analysis of gene expression using quantitative RT-PCR demonstrated the differential expression of these genes in the original and other HCC samples. These findings demonstrated that it is possible to identify the previously unknown, differential gene expression from a small amount of clinical samples. Information about such alterations in gene expression could be useful for elucidating the genetic events in HCC pathogenesis, developing the new diagnostic markers, or determining novel therapeutic targets.

Amino Acid Sequence↗