Cartilage acidic protein-1B (LOTUS), an endogenous Nogo receptor antagonist for axon tract formation

Neural circuitry formation depends on the molecular control of axonal projection during development. By screening with fluorophore-assisted light inactivation in the developing mouse brain, we identified cartilage acidic protein-1B as a key molecule for lateral olfactory tract (LOT) formation and named it LOT usher substance (LOTUS). We further identified Nogo receptor-1 (NgR1) as a LOTUS-binding protein. NgR1 is a receptor of myelin-derived axon growth inhibitors, such as Nogo, which prevent neural regeneration in the adult. LOTUS suppressed Nogo-NgR1 binding and Nogo-induced growth cone collapse. A defasciculated LOT was present in lotus-deficient mice but not in mice lacking both lotus- and ngr1. These findings suggest that endogenous antagonism of NgR1 by LOTUS is crucial for normal LOT formation.     

CTLA-4 control over Foxp3+ regulatory T cell function

Naturally occurring Foxp3+CD4+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) are essential for maintaining immunological self-tolerance and immune homeostasis. Here, we show that a specific deficiency of cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4) in Tregs results in spontaneous development of systemic lymphoproliferation, fatal T cell-mediated autoimmune disease, and hyperproduction of immunoglobulin E in mice, and it also produces potent tumor immunity. Treg-specific CTLA-4 deficiency impairs in vivo and in vitro suppressive function of Tregs-in particular, Treg-mediated down-regulation of CD80 and CD86 expression on dendritic cells. Thus, natural Tregs may critically require CTLA-4 to suppress immune responses by affecting the potency of antigen-presenting cells to activate other T cells.     

Control mechanism of the circadian clock for timing of cell division in vivo

Cell division in many mammalian tissues is associated with specific times of day, but just how the circadian clock controls this timing has not been clear. Here, we show in the regenerating liver (of mice) that the circadian clock controls the expression of cell cycle-related genes that in turn modulate the expression of active Cyclin B1-Cdc2 kinase, a key regulator of mitosis. Among these genes, expression of wee1 was directly regulated by the molecular components of the circadian clockwork. In contrast, the circadian clockwork oscillated independently of the cell cycle in single cells. Thus, the intracellular circadian clockwork can control the cell-division cycle directly and unidirectionally in proliferating cells.     

自然养蜂管理与蜂产品质量管理的探讨Ⅰ 现代养蜂存在的问题与如何自然养蜂

 近几年,欧洲各国的养蜂中发现有残留抗生素的问题,提出了世界养蜂行业必须要解决的诸多课题。笔者通过多年的养蜂实践,提出了关于现代养蜂的问题:不适宜的环境下养蜂,对蜜蜂过多采蜜,人工近亲交配导致蜂群种性和抗病性降低,不正确的采蜜时间、方法、措施,使蜂产品的品质降低。为了解决上述问题,提出按蜜蜂的生态、自然养蜂,比如确保蜜源丰富,有大量和无污染的水源和蜜源的养蜂环境,由蜂群的轮流休息来强化蜂群,在无药剂污染的地区养蜂,开发附加值高的蜂产品生产,加强质量管理等措施。     

Antibody-mediated bacteriorhodopsin orientation for molecular device architectures

A rational method for constructing highly oriented films of purple membrane (PM) has been established by using two kinds of bispecific antibodies with different antigen-binding sites, one binding to a specific side of bacteriorhodopsin and the other to a phospholipid hapten. A hapten monolayer deposited on a metal electrode was treated with a bispecific antibody solution and incubated with a PM suspension to produce a highly oriented PM film, as confirmed by electron microscopy in which an immunogold labeling technique was used. This antibody-mediated PM monolayer was then used in the construction of a light-sensing photoelectric device. A comparison of the two incorporated PM monolayers showed that highly efficient photocurrents were produced by the PM monolayer whose unidirectionally oriented cytoplasmic surface faces the electrode.     

Emission of coherent THz radiation from superconductors

Compact solid-state sources of terahertz (THz) radiation are being sought for sensing, imaging, and spectroscopy applications across the physical and biological sciences. We demonstrate that coherent continuous-wave THz radiation of sizable power can be extracted from intrinsic Josephson junctions in the layered high-temperature superconductor Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8. In analogy to a laser cavity, the excitation of an electromagnetic cavity resonance inside the sample generates a macroscopic coherent state in which a large number of junctions are synchronized to oscillate in phase. The emission power is found to increase as the square of the number of junctions reaching values of 0.5 microwatt at frequencies up to 0.85 THz, and persists up to approximately 50 kelvin. These results should stimulate the development of superconducting compact sources of THz radiation.     

自然养蜂管理与蜂产品质量管理的探讨Ⅱ 蜂产品的品质管理与附加价值

 在前文已指出了现代养蜂业存在的问题。一方面,蜂群生产负担过重,造成蜂产品的质量下降。为了解决这个问题,提出根据蜜蜂本身具备的生物学能力,必须恢复自然养蜂的想法。另一方面,养蜂是一种产业,因此,做好生产附加价值比较高的蜂产品是很重要的。因此本文介绍关于提高蜂王浆所具有的抗酸化作用,应用蜂王浆抗菌物质的转基因代替生产,以及作者最新的基础研究成果,提出了自然养蜂与近代科学技术的关系,以及养蜂学和养蜂产业的展望。     

Prediction of Soil Acidification Using a Dymanic Model at a Bamboo Forest in Osaka Prefecture

This study is based on research of throughfall formation and soil chemistry processes. Through the experimental verification of the cation exchange part of the simulation model; making use of results of the flux of acid deposition on the forest and the chemical weathering of soil mineral, we predicted the future soil acidification. The result indicated that chemical weathering occupies the important portion of acid neutralization capacity of the soil and that significant soil acidification will not occur in this field within 40 years, even if the present acid load continues in the future.