A novel mutant with triple the dietary fiber content in white rice

Dietary fiber has high functional value in relation to gut flora. We searched for a high-lysine mutant of the most popular rice cultivar in Japan, ‘Koshihikari’, as a route to a higher dietary fiber content like a success case in new barley cultivar, ‘Beau-fiber’. We found several promising high-lysine mutants with high dietary fiber content. One of these, ‘WFE5’, has three times the dietary fiber content in white rice. Two rounds of backcrossing to Koshihikari produced a near-isogenic line with a high fiber content. The line’s agronomic traits were close to those of Koshihikari except for yield and eating quality. As these two traits are critical, we discuss how to improve them.     

Freshwater migration and feeding habits of juvenile temperate seabass <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lateolabrax japonicus</Emphasis> in the stratified Yura River estuary,the Sea of Japan

Juvenile temperate seabass Lateolabrax japonicus were sampled along the Yura River estuary from April to July 2008 to determine their distribution and feeding habits during migration within a microtidal estuary. Throughout the sampling period, juvenile seabass were distributed not only in the surf zone, but also in the freshwater zone, and they were particularly abundant in areas with aquatic vegetation in the freshwater zone. This distribution pattern suggests that the early life history of the temperate seabass depends more intensively on the river (freshwater) than previously considered. Small juveniles in the freshwater zone fed on copepods and chironomid larvae and upon reaching a standard length (SL) of approximately 20 mm did they fed on mysids. In contrast, juveniles (approx. 17–80 mm SL) in the surf zone fed mainly on mysids.     

Characterization of tea cultivated at four different altitudes using 1H NMR analysis coupled with multivariate statistics

The taste of black tea differs according to the different areas in which the tea is grown, even for the same species of tea. A combination of (1)H NMR spectroscopy and partial least-squares discriminate analysis (PLS-DA) was used to assess the quality differences of tea leaves from four cultivation areas with different elevations, RAN > 1800 m, UDA = 1200 m, MEDA = 600 m, and YATA < 300 m, in Sri Lanka. As a result of a statistical analysis, PLS-DA showed a separation between high- and low-quality black teas derived from the four different tea cultivation areas. RAN from the highest elevation showed characteristic trends in the levels of theaflavin and theaflavin 3,3'-digallate that were found only in RAN, and the levels of theanine and caffeine were higher, and the levels of thearubigins, especially thearubigin 3,3'-digallate, were lower in RAN than in UDA, MEDA, and YATA. The structures of these components were determined by 1D and 2D NMR analyses. These results demonstrate that this method can be used to evaluate black tea quality according to the chemical composition or metabolites, which are characteristic of the tea leaves cultivated in four regions with different elevations in Sri Lanka.     

Sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 2 attenuates influenza A virus-induced viral pneumonia through PI3K/AKT/eNOS pathway

AIM: To investigate the effects of sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 2 (S1PR2) on influenza A virus-induced viral pneumonia.METHODS: The animal model of influenza A virus pneumonia was established by infecting wild-type C57BL/6 mice and S1pr2^-/- mice with influenza virus subtype FM1 mouse lung adaptable strain through nose drops. The pathological changes of the lung tissues of wild-type mice (model group), JTE-013 (S1PR2 effective antagonist)-challenged mice and S1pr2^-/- mice were observed, and the protein concentration, total cell number, and interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels were determined in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) at 4 d and 6 d after virus infection. The phosphorylation levels of AKT and eNOS in the lung tissues were determined by Western blot. RESULTS: Compared with the wild-type mice of control group, the influenza A virus pneumonia in JTE treatment group and S1pr2^-/- mice were more serious, and the protein concentration, total cell number and inflammatory cytokines in the BALF were remarkably increased. Moreover, the phosphorylation levels of AKT and eNOS, the downstream targets of PI3K, were significantly increased (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: S1PR2 mediates PI3K/AKT/eNOS signaling transduction pathway to regulate NO generation, and inhibit vascular permeability and inflammatory cytokine release, thus attenuating the viral pneumonia induced by influenza A virus.     

Effects of wood species on degradation rates and bacterial communities in a small-scale biodegradation system for garbage using wood matrices

Simulated organic waste was biodegraded in a laboratory-scale machine using matrices prepared from four wood species to investigate the effects of wood species on the degradation rate and the bacterial community. The degradation rate, estimated by measuring weight loss and CO₂ evolution, was found to be equal among the four wood species. Changes in viable cell counts and microbial communities over time were examined. Viable cell counts were also similar among the wood species, but initial bacterial communities differed owing to differences in wood species, although these communities became similar with time. The sensitivity of isolates to wood extractives was examined using paper discs. The extractive-insensitive bacteria species were dominant at the initial stage of biodegradation. However, occupancy of sensitive bacteria increased with time. It was thought that antibacterial extractives were degraded or inactivated after some time.Part of this report was presented at the 50th annual meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, Kyoto. Japan, April 2000     

Isolation and characterization of a novel anionic peroxidase cDNA found in poplar (Populus nigra) suspension cultured cells

A cDNA clone fromPopulus nigra L. var.italica Koehne, denoted PCY2-6, coding for an anionic peroxidase has been isolated, cloned, and characterized. PCY2-6 is 1160 bp long; and its deduced product, PnC26, contains 343 amino acid residues. The mature protein has a calculated isoelectric point of 4.09. The protein contains two motifs typical of peroxidase and 10 potentialN-glycosylation sites. PnC26 is therefore classified as an anionic peroxidase. The mRNA of the PCY2-6 gene family was detected in immature and mature leaves and in two parts of current-year stems: the shoot tip and the older stem. The mRNA of PCY2-6 gene family was found to localize in the phloem and cortex of the current-year stems. We therefore conclude that expression of the PCY2-6 gene family is related to bark development.     

Cardiopulmonary bypass influences the plasma levels of calcitonin gene-related peptides in dogs: effects of hemofiltration and hemodilution

Calcitonin gene-related peptides (CGRP), which are potent vasodilators, are elevated during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) in humans. We evaluated the plasma levels of CGRP in dogs during CPB with hemofiltration with and without hemodilution. Female beagles were divided into control (n=5) and hemodilution (n=5) groups. The CPB with hemofiltration was performed with or without hemodilution. For the measurement of CGRP, blood samples were collected pre-CPB, during CPB, and post-CPB. The concentrations of CGRP in the hemofiltration solution were measured. Although the CPB elevated the plasma CGRP levels in both groups, its elevation was significant in the hemodilution group when compared to the pre-CPB levels. CGRP levels returned to normal post-CPB. Significant differences were found between the two groups in the CGRP amount in hemofiltration. The results show that hemofiltration should be used during CPB to decrease the plasma levels of CGRP.     

Bioaccumulation of PCDD/Fs and Co-PCBs in Lower-Trophic-Level Organisms in Sendai Bay,Japan

In Sendai Bay, Japan, the total PCDD, PCDF, and Co-PCB (dioxins) concentrations in phytoplankton were equivalent to 150, 12, and 51 pg/g wet weight (ww), respectively. The average concentrations in seaweed were 3, 0.095, and 2.1 pg/g ww, respectively. The total concentrations in phytoplankton were much higher than those in seaweed, even though both groups are algae. The concentrations in zooplankton were 11, 1.1, and 110 pg/g ww, respectively. The total PCDD/F concentrations in zooplankton (primary consumers and lower-trophic-level invertebrates) were lower than in phytoplankton (primary producers), but the total Co-PCB concentration in zooplankton was higher than that in phytoplankton. The concentrations in mysids (secondary consumers and higher-trophic-level invertebrates) were 190, 18, and 290 pg/g ww, respectively. The average concentrations in shrimp (secondary consumers and higher-trophic-level invertebrates) were 120, 17, and 410 pg/g ww, respectively. The concentrations in higher-tropic-level invertebrates were higher than those in lower-trophic-level invertebrates. The average concentrations in sand lance were 4.5, 1.7, and 550 pg/g ww, respectively. The total PCDD concentration in sand lance was lower than that in zooplankton (prey of sand lance), but the total Co-PCB concentration in sand lance was higher than that in zooplankton. The bioaccumulation of PCDD congeners in sand lance differed from that of Co-PCB congeners. The bioaccumulation of PCDD/Fs from lower- to higher-trophic-level invertebrates through the food web differed from that from lower-trophic-level invertebrates to fish.