Noxa, a BH3-only member of the Bcl-2 family and candidate mediator of p53-induced apoptosis

A critical function of tumor suppressor p53 is the induction of apoptosis in cells exposed to noxious stresses. We report a previously unidentified pro-apoptotic gene, Noxa. Expression of Noxa induction in primary mouse cells exposed to x-ray irradiation was dependent on p53. Noxa encodes a Bcl-2 homology 3 (BH3)-only member of the Bcl-2 family of proteins; this member contains the BH3 region but not other BH domains. When ectopically expressed, Noxa underwent BH3 motif-dependent localization to mitochondria and interacted with anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family members, resulting in the activation of caspase-9. We also demonstrate that blocking the endogenous Noxa induction results in the suppression of apoptosis. Noxa may thus represent a mediator of p53-dependent apoptosis.     

Growth stimulation of juvenile abalone <Emphasis Type="Italic">Haliotis discus hannai</Emphasis> by feeding with salmon growth hormone in sodium alginate gel

We examined the ability of salmon growth hormone (sGH) in sodium alginate (SA) gel to accelerate the somatic growth of juvenile abalone, Haliotis discus hannai, by feeding. After the feeding of sGH at 50 μg or 100 μg in 350 mg SA gel, immunoreactivity to sGH in body fluid was maximal after 12 h, and was still detectable at 24 h. No immunoreactivity was observed in the control group. Following the feeding of sGH at 0.5 mg or 5 mg/8 g of SA gel at 7- and 14-day intervals, there was a greater increase in shell length and body weight than in the control. In abalone, sGH can be transported from food into the circulatory system and subsequently improve somatic growth.     

Distribution of photoperiod-insensitive allele Ppd-A1a and its effect on heading time in Japanese wheat cultivars

The Ppd-A1 genotype of 240 Japanese wheat cultivars and 40 foreign cultivars was determined using a PCR-based method. Among Japanese cultivars, only 12 cultivars, all of which were Hokkaido winter wheat, carried the Ppd-A1a allele, while this allele was not found in Hokkaido spring wheat cultivars or Tohoku-Kyushu cultivars. Cultivars with a photoperiod-insensitive allele headed 6.9–9.8 days earlier in Kanto and 2.5 days earlier in Hokkaido than photoperiod-sensitive cultivars. The lower effect of photoperiod-insensitive alleles observed in Hokkaido could be due to the longer day-length at the spike formation stage compared with that in Kanto. Pedigree analysis showed that ‘Purple Straw’ and ‘Tohoku 118’ were donors of Ppd-A1a and Ppd-D1a in Hokkaido wheat cultivars, respectively. Wheat cultivars recently developed in Hokkaido carry photoperiod-insensitive alleles at a high frequency. For efficient utilization of Ppd-1 alleles in the Hokkaido wheat-breeding program, the effect of Ppd-1 on growth pattern and grain yield should be investigated. Ppd-A1a may be useful as a unique gene source for fine tuning the heading time in the Tohoku-Kyushu region since the effect of Ppd-A1a on photoperiod insensitivity appears to differ from the effect of Ppd-B1a and Ppd-D1a.     

Ability of salmon growth hormone to accelerate somatic growth of juvenil abalone Haliotis discus hannai

ABSTRACT:   The ability of salmon growth hormone (sGH) to accelerate the somatic growth of juvenile abalone Haliotis discus hannai by immersion was examined. After immersion for one hour into a sGH-rich solution at a concentration of 30 mg/L, the sGH immunoreactivity in the body fluid of abalone was maximal after one day, and levels were still detectable at two days. No immunoreactivity was observed in the control group. Following immersion for one hour at one or two-week intervals for 120 weeks into the sGH-rich solution at 30 mg/L, the sGH-immersed abalone exhibited a significant increase in shell length and body weight. On the other hand, abalone immersed into a salmon prolactin (sPRL)-rich solution at 30 mg/L for one hour showed a lower increase in both shell length and body weight than the sGH-immersed abalone. No increases in shell length and body weight were observed in either the bovine serum albumin-immersed abalone or untreated controls. These results provide evidence that sGH can be transported from ambient water into the circulatory system of abalone, and can subsequently improve the somatic growth of juveniles.     

Can fermented soybean meal and squid by‐product blend be used as fishmeal replacements for Japanese flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus)?

An experiment was carried out to evaluate fermented soybean meal and squid by‐product blend (1:1) (FP) as replacement of fishmeal (FM) for Japanese flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus. Five isocaloric (19 kJ g^?1) diets were prepared by replacing 0 (FP0), 12 (FP12), 24 (FP24), 36 (FP36) and 48% (FP48) FM protein with FP. Triplicate groups of juveniles (mean weight of 3.9 g) were delivered the test diets for 8 weeks in a flow‐through sea water system. The results showed that there were no significant differences (P > 0.05) among the growth rates of fish fed FP0, FP12, FP24 and FP36 diets. Growth and nutrient utilization parameters were significantly reduced in fish fed FP48 diet. Although, whole body proximate composition of fish were not significantly affected by the dietary treatments compared to the control; methionine and phenylalanine contents were significantly decreased in FP48 group. Protein retention was also significantly decreased in the similar group of fish. Dietary treatments did not alter most of the plasma metabolites, while some of the health parameters were improved in the replacement groups. Results suggested that FP is a potential candidate for alternative protein ingredient in aquafeed and can replace 36% FM protein in the diet of Japanese flounder.     

Myostatin down‐regulates the IGF‐2 expression via ALK‐Smad signaling during myogenesis in cattle

Myostatin (MSTN) is a negative regulator during muscle differentiation, whereas insulin‐like growth factors (IGFs) are essential for muscle development. MSTN and IGFs act oppositely during myogenesis, but there is little information on the mutual relationship of MSTN and IGFs. The present study was conducted to examine whether MSTN affects IGF expression during early myogenesis in cattle. IGF‐1 mRNA was similarly expressed in M. longissimus thoracis of double‐muscled (DM) and normal (NM) Japanese shorthorn cattle. IGF‐2 mRNA expression was consistently higher in the normal and regenerating muscle of DM cattle than those of NM cattle. When myoblasts were isolated from regenerating M. longissimus thoracis, IGF‐2 mRNA expression showed a significant increase in differentiating DM derived myoblasts (DM‐myoblasts) as compared with differentiating NM derived myoblasts (NM‐myoblasts). An addition of recombinant mouse myostatin (rMSTN) to myoblast cultures attenuated IGF‐2 mRNA expression and decreased myotube formation, but did not effect IGF‐1 mRNA expression. An activin‐like kinase (ALK) inhibitor, SB431542, mediates MSTN action, suppressed the translocation of Smad2/3 into the nucleus in DM‐myoblasts, and restored the attenuated IGF‐2 mRNA expression and the decreased myotube formation induced by rMSTN in myoblast cultures. The findings indicate that MSTN may negatively regulate myoblast differentiation by suppressing IGF‐2 expression via ALK‐Smad signaling.     

Post-exposure treatment of cats with mouse-cat chimeric antibodies against feline herpesvirus type 1 and feline calicivirus

In order to confirm the in vivo effectiveness of anti- feline herpesvirus type 1 (FHV-1) mouse-cat chimeric antibody (FJH2), and anti-feline calicivirus (FCV) mouse-cat chimeric antibody (F1D7), cats that had been experimentally infected with FHV-1 or FCV were administered intravenously with the chimeric antibodies, and observed for clinical manifestations. The symptoms due to FHV-1 or FCV infection in the cats administered FJH2 or F1D7 were obviously decreased when compared with those of the non-administered control cats. From these results, it was confirmed that both FJH2 and F1D7 were effective at reducing the appearance of symptoms due to FHV-1 and FCV infection, respectively.     

Age trends in the genetic parameters of wood density and the relationship with growth rates in hybrid larch (Larix gmelinii var. japonica × L. kaempferi) F1

Age trends in variance components and heritability of overall wood density, earlywood and latewood density, and latewood proportion were investigated in 29-year-old trees of 19 full-sib families of hybrid larch (Larix gmelinii var. japonica × Larix kaempferi) F₁. The age–age correlation and optimum selection age for these traits were also estimated and genetic and phenotypic correlations between wood density and radial growth rate were calculated for each growth ring. Intraring wood density data were obtained using X-ray densitometry. The coefficient of additive genetic variance was stable over all ages, whereas the coefficient of environmental variances gradually decreased with increasing age, resulting in increases in heritability estimates with age for overall density. The latewood proportion had the highest heritability estimates at all ages, ranging from 0.44 to 0.66. Overall density and its various components at 28 years of age showed strong genetic correlations with their respective traits at all younger ages. Optimum selection ages for the wood density traits ranged from 8 to 14 years, at which point maximum gain efficiencies per year were obtained. There were negative correlations between wood density and radial growth rate at early ages, although these relationships tended to be weaker with increasing age. These results suggest that selection at a young age is effective for wood density, but particular care must be taken in selecting trees with an improved radial growth rate because rapid growth will result in a low-density wood product, especially in the early growth period.     

Combination of serum phosphorylated neurofilament heavy subunit and hyperintensity of intramedullary T2W on magnetic resonance imaging provides better prognostic value of canine thoracolumbar intervertebral disc herniation

The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of concurrent measurement of serum phosphorylated neurofilament heavy subunit (pNF-H) concentration and intramedullary T2W hyperintensity in paraplegic to paraplegic dogs. Our hypothesis was that concurrent measurement of these would provide a more accurate prediction of functional outcome in dogs with thoracolumbar intervertebral disc herniation (IVDH). A prospective case-control clinical study was designed using 94 dogs with acute onset of thoracolumbar IVDH. The association of serum pNF-H concentration, T2W hyperintensity on sagittal MRI (T2H/L2), deep pain perception and surgical outcome were evaluated with logistic regression analysis after three months for all 94 surgically treated dogs. Sensitivity to predict non-ambulatory outcome was compared among pNF-H and T2H/L2 and combination of both. Logistic regression analysis indicated that serum pNF-H concentration and T2H/L2 were significantly correlated with surgical outcome (P<0.05); however, deep pain perception was not (P=0.41). The results of logistic regression analysis indicated that the odds ratios of unsuccessful long-term outcome were 2.6 for serum pNF-H concentration, 1.9 for T2H/L2 and 2.3 for deep pain sensation. The sensitivity and specificity to predict non-ambulatory outcome for using serum parameter pNF-H>2.6 ng/ml, using T2H/L2 value of>0.84 and using both serum pNF-H and T2H/L2, were 95% and 75.7%, 65% and 86.5%, and 90.0% and 97.5%, respectively. Therefore, combined measurements of serum pNF-H and T2H/L2 might be useful for predicting long-term outcome in dogs with thoracolumbar IVDH.