Comparative sequence analysis of four myosin heavy chain isoforms expressed in porcine skeletal muscles: Sequencing and characterization of the porcine myosin heavy chain slow isoform

A nucleotide sequence including the full coding region for the myosin heavy chain (MyHC) slow isoform was determined from the longissimus skeletal muscle. The deduced amino acid sequence was 1935 residues, which was the same length as the human and rat MyHC-slow isoforms. The porcine MyHC-slow isoform showed 97.6% and 97.4% amino acid identities to the human and rat isoforms on their entire regions, respectively. The functional regions were also highly conserved among mammalian MyHC-slow isoforms. Amino acid substitutions between the porcine MyHC-slow and MyHC-fast isoforms were concentrated on the functional regions. Loop 1, the controlling region of nucleotide binding and release, was conserved among the fast isoforms, but not between the slow and fast isoforms. Loop 2, a part of the actin binding region, was not conserved among any of the isoform types, and the most substitutions in this region were found in the slow isoform. The myosin essential light chain binding region was conserved among the fast isoforms, except for some substitutions in the 2b isoform, but was clearly different in the slow isoform. The myosin regulatory light chain binding region was conserved among the fast isoforms, but not between the slow and fast isoforms. These results indicate that the functional difference between the porcine MyHC-slow and -fast isoforms are controlled by the sequence diversity at the four functional regions compared.     

牛体外受精时老化卵对受精率与染色体异常发生的影响

通过延长体外培养时间得到牛老化卵，对其体外受精率与染色体的异常发生进行了研究，体外受精48h后的受精率，46h培养组与22h和34h培养组之间差异显著（P＜0．05），随着老化时间的延长，受精率及胚胎发育速度明显降低。染色体分析结果表明，46h组的受精卵的染色体异常发生率为61．6％，22h组44．6％，2组之间差异显著（P＜0．05），单倍体（n=31)的发生率也随着老化时间的延长而增加，这些单倍体的性染色体的构成表明，含有X－性染色体的胚的出现率显著高于含有Y－染色体的胚的出现率（P＜0．05）。单倍体的发生是由卵的老化而引起单一配子的孤雌发生，体外培养时间的延长对正常的2倍体的性别无明显影响。     

Growth characteristics of canine distemper virus in a new cell line CCT cells originated from canine malignant histiocytosis

Canine distemper virus (CDV) growth and the morphological characterization were examined in a cell line established from a canine malignant histiocytosis (CCT cell line). The susceptibility of the CCT cells to 3 CDV strains, FXNO, YSA-TC and MD-77 was shown by detection of the antigen in the indirect fluorescent assay. After passaging 4 and 9 times through the CCT cells, only FXNO strain could produce the syncytia where demonstrated the antigens. Titers of 9 passaged viruses through the CCT cells showed slightly higher in the CCT cells than those in Vero cells. Morphological characterization of karyorrhexis and specific DNA ladder by extracted DNA electrophoresis indicated apoptosis in the CDV infected CCT cells.     

Drilling to gabbro in intact ocean crust

Sampling an intact sequence of oceanic crust through lavas, dikes, and gabbros is necessary to advance the understanding of the formation and evolution of crust formed at mid-ocean ridges, but it has been an elusive goal of scientific ocean drilling for decades. Recent drilling in the eastern Pacific Ocean in Hole 1256D reached gabbro within seismic layer 2, 1157 meters into crust formed at a superfast spreading rate. The gabbros are the crystallized melt lenses that formed beneath a mid-ocean ridge. The depth at which gabbro was reached confirms predictions extrapolated from seismic experiments at modern mid-ocean ridges: Melt lenses occur at shallower depths at faster spreading rates. The gabbros intrude metamorphosed sheeted dikes and have compositions similar to the overlying lavas, precluding formation of the cumulate lower oceanic crust from melt lenses so far penetrated by Hole 1256D.     

First report of fig mosaic virus infecting common fig (Ficus carica) in Japan

For the first time, fig mosaic virus (FMV) was detected in common fig (Ficus carica) trees in Shimane, Japan. These trees exhibited mosaic, ringspots, or distortion, accompanied by chlorosis on leaves and yellow spots on fruits. Some of the symptomatic trees were infested with the eriophyid mite Aceria ficus. The virus was detected based on RT-PCR, followed by sequencing. The amplified 300 base-pair fragments shared 83.5–91.5% identity with the corresponding region of RNA-dependent RNA polymerase gene of FMV isolates previously reported in Turkey, Iran, and Italy.     

Unique viral capsid assembly protein gene (g20) of cyanophages in the floodwater of a Japanese paddy field

In order to evaluate the genetic diversity of cyanophage communities of rice fields, viral capsid assembly protein gene (g20) was amplified with primers CPS1 and CPS8. The DNA was extracted three times from viral concentrates obtained from floodwater samples collected in each of four different plots (no fertilizer; P and K chemical fertilizers; N, P, and K chemical fertilizers; and chemical fertilizers with compost). Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) gave different g20 clones. The sequencing of DGGE bands revealed that the g20 genes of the floodwater were divergent and that the majority of clones formed several unique groups. However, they were more closely related to g20 sequences from freshwaters than to those from marine waters, suggesting that g20 genes in terrestrial aquatic environments are different from those in marine environments.     

Eukaryotic communities associated with the decomposition of rice straw compost in a Japanese rice paddy field estimated by DGGE analysis

To estimate the succession and phylogenetic composition of the eukaryotic communities responsible for the decomposition of rice straw compost under flooded conditions during the cultivation period of paddy rice, denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analysis targeting 18S rDNA followed by sequencing was conducted in a Japanese paddy field. The eukaryotic communities in rice straw compost incorporated into the flooded paddy field were influenced by the mid-season drainage and mainly composed of fungi (Ascomycota, Zygomycota, and Chytridiomycota) and protozoa (Ciliophora, Euglyphida, and Dactylopodida), most of which existed continuously during the cultivation period of paddy rice. The results indicated that these eukaryotic members were associated with the decomposition of rice straw compost in paddy field soil directly or indirectly.     

Spatial–temporal variations in the composition of two <Emphasis Type="Italic">Zostera</Emphasis> species in a seagrass bed: implications for population management of a commercially exploited grass shrimp

We examined spatial and temporal variations in the species composition of two seagrass species, Zostera marina and Z. caespitosa, in a lagoon facing the Sea of Okhotsk. We also considered how those variations affected habitat quality for motile epifauna, especially for a commercial shrimp. A long-interval comparison between 1996 and 2013 showed that seagrass species composition in the lagoon did not vary, while their relative abundances did. A survey in 2012 revealed that the abundance of Z. caespitosa was affected by the abundance of Z. marina, water depth, and location in the lagoon. Although these seagrass species have similar aboveground morphology, differences in their fine structures were detected. Diversities of motile animals inhabiting the seagrass species were the same. Differences in seagrass utilization were observed when we focused on a commercial shrimp, Pandalus latirostris. This shrimp always preferred higher densities of shoots irrespective of the species and seasonally changed their preference for the number of leaves per shoot. They were therefore more abundant in Z. caespitosa, which had those structural characteristics. The results suggest that the management of shrimp resources could be improved by flexibly changing protected areas in accordance with the dynamics of seagrass distribution in the lagoon.     

Rice <Emphasis Type="Italic">terpene synthase 18</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">OsTPS18</Emphasis>) encodes a sesquiterpene synthase that produces an antibacterial (<Emphasis Type="Italic">E</Emphasis>)-nerolidol against a bacterial pathogen of rice

Plant volatile compounds, including terpenes, are known to be involved in the rice defense system. In the present analysis of a terpene synthase, OsTPS18, in rice, we found that OsTPS18 was localized in the cytoplasm and synthesized the sesquiterpenes (E)-nerolidol and (E)-β-farnesene. The amounts of (E)-nerolidol and (E)-β-farnesene increased after jasmonic acid (JA) treatment. (E)-Nerolidol had significant antibacterial activity against Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo). These results suggest that (E)-nerolidol plays an important role in JA-induced resistance against Xoo and that it functions as an antibacterial compound in rice.