Analysis of fecal nutrients and particle size in captive proboscis monkeys (Nasalis larvatus) fed seasonal dietary foliage at a Japanese zoo

One male and three female captive proboscis monkeys (Nasalis larvatus) were used as test animals to compare fecal nutrients after being fed seasonal foliage. Foliage and fecal samples were collected during three seasons (spring, summer, and winter). We analyzed crude ash (CA), ether extract (EE), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), and acid detergent lignin (ADL). In addition to the above components, for the fecal samples, we examined total fecal nitrogen (TFN), nitrogen in fecal NDF (NDF-N), metabolic fecal nitrogen (MFN), and particle size distribution (MPS). Seasonal differences in foliage components were observed, with NDF and ADF being lowest in spring (p < 0.05). Fecal NDF and ADF also tended to be lowest in spring. Further, the distribution of fecal particle size indicated that MPS tended to increase in winter. The mean fecal NDF content (47.4%) for all three seasons measured in this study was as much as 1.3 times lower than previously reported values in free-ranging specimens. These data provide useful information that can be used to find some suitable food items for the endangered highly folivorous monkeys in captivity.     

Baryons at the edge of the X-ray-brightest galaxy cluster

Studies of the diffuse x-ray-emitting gas in galaxy clusters have provided powerful constraints on cosmological parameters and insights into plasma astrophysics. However, measurements of the faint cluster outskirts have become possible only recently. Using data from the Suzaku x-ray telescope, we determined an accurate, spatially resolved census of the gas, metals, and dark matter out to the edge of the Perseus Cluster. Contrary to previous results, our measurements of the cluster baryon fraction are consistent with the expected universal value at half of the virial radius. The apparent baryon fraction exceeds the cosmic mean at larger radii, suggesting a clumpy distribution of the gas, which is important for understanding the ongoing growth of clusters from the surrounding cosmic web.     

Characteristics of an aminopeptidase from Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) pollen

A peptidase from Japanese cedar pollen, Jc-peptidase, was clarified to preferentially hydrolyze an MCA substrate of Phe-MCA (L-phenylalanyl-4-methylcoumaryl-7-amide). This study examined substrate specificities of Jc-peptidase using oligopeptides. Jc-peptidase hydrolyzed Phe-Phe and Tyr-Phe effectively and hydrolyzed Leu-Phe, Met-Phe, and Arg-Phe moderately. Other substrates such as Ala-Phe, Asp-Phe, and Pro-Phe were not hydrolyzed with the peptidase. Results obtained with a series of aminoacyl-Phe peptides were compatible with the facts obtained for MCA substrates except for Arg-MCA. Effects of amino acid residues in the P1' position were also examined using Phe-amino acids. An N-terminal phenylalanine residue was actually released from bioactive peptides such as molluscan cardioexcitatory neuropeptide (FMRF-NH(2)). Because the activity was inhibited with Zn(2+) and EDTA, Jc-peptidase was inferred to belong to the metalloproteases. The N-terminal amino acid sequence was determined to be APIGVQLEIEENYVHMYNGF and an internal sequence to be EIFAATFNVDEETEA, but no homology with other proteins was found.     

Human lysozyme possesses novel antimicrobial peptides within its N-terminal domain that target bacterial respiration

Human milk lysozyme is thought to be a key defense factor in protecting the gastrointestinal tract of newborns against bacterial infection. Recently, evidence was found that pepsin, under conditions relevant to the newborn stomach, cleaves chicken lysozyme (cLZ) at specific loops to generate five antimicrobial peptide motifs. This study explores the antimicrobial role of the corresponding peptides of human lysozyme (hLZ), the actual protein in breast milk. Five peptide motifs of hLZ, one helix-loop-helix (HLH), its two helices (H1 and H2), and two helix-sheet motifs, H2-β-strands 1-2 (H2-S12) or H2-β-strands 1-3 (H2-S13), were synthesized and examined for antimicrobial action. The five peptides of hLZ exhibit microbicidal activity to various degrees against several bacterial strains. The HLH peptide and its N-terminal helix (H1) were significantly the most potent bactericidal to Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and the fungus Candida albicans . Outer and inner membrane permeabilization studies, as well as measurements of transmembrane electrochemical potentials, provided evidence that HLH peptide and its N-terminal helix (H1) kill bacteria by crossing the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria via self-promoted uptake and are able to dissipate the membrane potential-dependent respiration of Gram-positive bacteria. This finding is the first to describe that hLZ possesses multiple antimicrobial peptide motifs within its N-terminal domain, providing insight into new classes of antibiotic peptides with potential use in the treatment of infectious diseases.     

Molecular relationships between Australian annual wild rice,Oryza meridionalis,and two related perennial forms

Background

The perennial, Oryza rufipogon distributed from Asia to Australia and the annual O. meridionalis indigenous to Australia are AA genome species in the Oryza. However, recent research has demonstrated that the Australian AA genome perennial populations have maternal genomes more closely related to those of O. meridionalis than to those found in Asian populations of O. rufipogon suggesting that the Australian perennials may represent a new distinct gene pool for rice.

Results

Analysis of an Oryza core collection covering AA genome species from Asia to Oceania revealed that some Oceania perennials had organellar genomes closely related to that of O meridionalis (meridionalis-type). O. rufipogon accessions from New Guinea carried either the meridionalis-type or rufirpogon-type (like O. rufipogon) organellar genomes. Australian perennials carried only the meridionalis-type organellar genomes when accompanied by the rufipogon-type nuclear genome. New accessions were collected to better characterize the Australian perennials, and their life histories (annual or perennial) were confirmed by field observations. All of the material collected carried only meridionalis-type organellar genomes. However, there were two distinct perennial groups. One of them carried an rufipogon-type nuclear genome similar to the Australian O. rufipogon in the core collection and the other carried an meridionalis-type nuclear genome not represented in the existing collection. Morphologically the rufipogon-type shared similarity with Asian O. rufipogon. The meridionalis-type showed some similarities to O. meridionalis such as the short anthers usually characteristic of annual populations. However, the meridionalis-type perennial was readily distinguished from O. meridionalis by the presence of a larger lemma and higher number of spikelets.

Conclusion

Analysis of current accessions clearly indicated that there are two distinct types of Australian perennials. Both of them differed genetically from Asian O. rufipogon. One lineage is closely related to O. meridionalis and another to Asian O. rufipogon. The first was presumed to have evolved by divergence from O. meridionalis becoming differentiated as a perennial species in Australia indicating that it represents a new gene pool. The second, apparently derived from Asian O. rufipogon, possibly arrived in Australia later.     

Ethylene-enhanced chlorophyllase activity during degreening of Citrus unshiu Marc.

Ethylene induces the degreening of the peel of Citrus unshiu Marc. and simultaneously the increase of chlorophyllase activity, indicating that ethylene accelerates the chlorophyll destruction through the enhancement of chlorophyllase activity. Cycloheximide inhibited the ethylene-enhanced chlorophyll degradation and repressed the enhancement of the chlorophyllase activity, while chloramphenicol did not affect the chlorophyll degradation nor the chlorophyllase activity. Based on these results, the role of ethylene in the chlorophyllase activation and the chloroplast senescence is discussed.     

In situ ruminal degradation and in vitro fermentation characteristics,and antioxidative activities of the lotus rhizome

We evaluated the lotus rhizome as a potential ruminant feed by investigating its compositional properties, in situ degradation profile and in vitro fermentation characteristics with ruminal microbes, in comparison with cereal grains (corn, barley and wheat). The antioxidative activities in the lotus rhizome were also estimated. The soluble fraction of dry matter in lotus tuber was >70%, which was higher than those in the grains. The insoluble fraction in lotus tuber was not degraded by ruminal microbes in accord with a first‐order reaction. In an in vitro experiment, lotus tuber showed lower fermentation at 8 hr compared to the grains, but exhibited higher productions of gas and VFA at 48 hr along with a lower lactate and higher pH. The lower value of final lactate production in lotus tuber, indicating the metabolic capacity for lactate utilization retained, suggests a lower risk of ruminal acidosis compared to grains. Lotus rhizome had high antioxidant activities, with the foliar bud showing the strongest ferric reducing antioxidant power, followed in order by the apical bud, node, residual tuber, edible tuber, and nodal root. For ruminants, the lotus rhizome could thus be not only an energy feed but also the source of natural antioxidants.     

Genotyping of isolates ofTaylorella equigenitalis from thoroughbred brood mares in Japan

Profiles of the genomic DNA of 104 strains ofT. equigenitalis isolated from brood mares with contagious equine metritis in Hokkaido during the breeding seasons from 1980 to 1993, as well as those of five strains (SS28, EQ56, EQ59, EQ70 and HH139) previously isolated in Japan were examined after restriction digestion and crossed-field gel electrophoresis. These profiles were essentially identical to each other and the various isolates and strains appeared to have a common genotype, designated genotype J, with respect to two restriction enzymes,ApaI andNotI. These results suggest a common source for all these isolates obtained over the course of more than 10 years in Japan.Abbreviations CEM contagious equine metritis - CFGE crossed-field gel electrophoresis - PFGE pulsed-field gel electrophoresis     

Development of NILs from heterogeneous inbred families for validating the rust resistance QTL in peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

Heterogeneous inbred families segregating for rust resistance were identified from the two crosses involving susceptible (TAG 24 and TG 26) and resistant (GPBD 4) varieties of peanut. Rust‐resistant (less than score 5) and rust‐susceptible (more than score 5) plants were identified in each HIF and evaluated under rust epiphytotic conditions. The set of plants belonging to the same HIF, but differing significantly in rust resistance, not in other morphological and productivity traits, was regarded as near‐isogenic lines (NILs). Largely, rust‐resistant NILs had GPBD 4‐type allele, and susceptible NILs carried either TAG 24 or TG 26‐type allele at the three SSR loci (IPAHM103, GM1536 and GM2301) linked to a major genomic region governing rust resistance. Comparison of the remaining genomic regions between the NILs originating from each of the HIFs using transposon markers indicated a considerably high similarity of 86.4% and 83.1% in TAG 24 × GPPBD 4 and TG 26 × GPBD 4, respectively. These NILs are useful for fine mapping and expression analysis of rust resistance.