Allelic variation in high-molecular-weight glutenin subunit Loci of Glu-1 in Japanese common wheats

Seed storage proteins of 131 Japanese Norin wheat (Triticum aestivum) varieties were fractionated by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis to determine allelic make-up in varieties at each of three loci that control high-molecular-weight (HMW) glutenin subunits. Three alleles were identified at the Glu-A1 locus, six at the Glu-B1 locus and five at the Glu-D1 locus. Twenty-four different, major glutenin HMW subunits were identified and each contained three to five subunits and seventeen different glutenin subunit patterns were observed for 19 subunits in the 131 Japanese Norin varieties. Fourteen alleles were identified by comparison of subunit mobility with that previously found in hexaploid wheat. Japanese Norin varieties showed a specific pattern of allelic variation in glutenin HMW subunits, different from that of Chinese and other country common wheats in allelic frequency at Glu-1 loci. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Binding activity of substituted benzyl derivatives of chloronicotinyl insecticides to housefly‐head membranes,and its relationship to insecticidal activity against the housefly Musca domestica

Variously substituted benzyl derivatives of chloronicotinyl insecticides were synthesized with a wide range of substituents including halogens, NO₂, CN, CF₃ and small alkyl and alkoxy groups at the ortho, meta and para positions, as well as multiple‐substituted benzyl analogues. Their binding activity to the α‐bungarotoxin binding site in housefly (Musca domestica) head membrane preparations was measured. Among the compounds tested, the activity of the meta‐CN derivative was the highest, being 20–100 times higher than those of imidacloprid, acetamiprid and nitenpyram. The synergized insecticidal activity against houseflies was also measured for selected compounds with the metabolic inhibitor, NIA16388 (propargyl propyl phenylphosphonate). For the nitromethylene analogues, including both benzyl and pyridylmethyl analogues, higher binding activity usually resulted in higher insecticidal activity. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry     

Prediction of the binding mode of imidacloprid and related compounds to house-fly head acetylcholine receptors using three-dimensional QSAR analysis

The binding activity of imidacloprid and related compounds to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR) of house flies was measured by use of radioactive α-bungarotoxin as a ligand. Variations in the activity were examined three-dimensionally using comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA). The CoMFA results suggest that one conformer among the four stable ones is active and provide support for one of the proposed binding models for this class of compound, in which the nitrogen atom of the pyridine ring and the nitrogen atom at the 1-position of the imidazolidine ring interact with the hydrogen-donating and electron-rich sites of nAChR, respectively. The CoMFA field map showed that the nitroimino moiety and a portion of the imidazolidine ring were mainly surrounded by a sterically and electrostatically sensitive region of nAChR. © 1998 Society of Chemical Industry     

Substitute and complement relations among various fish species in the Japanese market: implications for fishery resource management

A demand system analysis was conducted to examine the substitute relationships between tuna and skipjack tuna in the Japanese market. Data from the Annual Report on Family Income and Expenditure Survey from 1965 to 2006 were used for the analysis using the almost ideal demand system (AIDS). Results suggest that skipjack tuna can be a strong substitute for tuna, while other fish groups are not a clear substitute. Our analysis of substitute relationships among fish species in a market indicates that this is a factor that should be considered for better fisheries resource management. For instance, even under a situation where one fish species is underexploited, proper attention to its fishery management is necessary if the fish is a strong substitute for another popular fish species in the market.     

Relationship Between Allelopathic Effects and Functional Traits of Different Allelopathic Potential Rice Accessions at Different Growth Stages

In this study,effects of temperature,light and their interactions on allelopathic effects and the functional traits specific leaf area(SLA)and stem mass fraction(SMF)of different allelopathic potential rice accessions at different growth stages were analyzed.The main results were as follows:Allelopathic responses to temperature and light varied with different allelopathic potential rice accessions at different growth stages.With the rise of temperature and the extension of photoperiod,allelopathic effect increased firstly and then decreased at 2–3 leaf stage,but increased constantly at the 4–5 and 7–8 leaf stages in strong allelopathic rice accessions[O.longistaminata,F1(O.longistaminata×RD23),F2(RL159 and RL169)].Temperature had significant impact on allelopathic effect without considering light factors,but light showed little effect on rice allelopathy at the same temperature conditions.The greatest allelopathic effect was attained with moderate temperature and long photoperiod at 2–3 leaf stage in strong allelopathic rice accessions,but all the rice accessions showed weak allelopathic effects at the low temperature condition(15oC/10oC),and the influence of different factors on allelopathy followed a general trend as temperatureleaf stagelight,indicating that among the multiple factors impacting rice allelopathy,temperature was the main factor.Allelopathic characteristics of F1 and F2 to various temperature and light were similar to O.longistaminata,showing that allelopathic genes from wild rice can be expressed in its descendants.Temperature and light also had significant effects on SLA and SMF,and rice allelopathy was closely correlative to SLA in strong allelopathic rice accessions at the 4–5 and 7–8 leaf stages,but there was no correlation between rice allelopathy and SMF at different growth stages.These results suggested that rice adjust the relationship between allelopathy and SLA and adapt to the varied environments,and that high temperature and long photoperiod can enhance rice allelopathic activity.     

家蚕性别相关血液蛋白质组的一维电泳-液相色谱-质谱分析

分别从家蚕5龄幼虫和蛹期不同发育阶段提取雌、雄蚕血液总蛋白质,采用一维电泳-液相色谱-质谱(1DE-LC-MS)技术分析家蚕血液蛋白质的差异性表达及差异蛋白组分。在家蚕血液蛋白质含量与种类方面检测到与性别及发育相关的差异性表达,数据库检索结果共获得96个相匹配的候选蛋白质,剔除冗余部分后鉴定其中的27个蛋白质组分,分别属于13种蛋白质或其亚基。雌、雄蚕之间的差异组分主要出现在分子质量70~100 kD之间,其中芳基贮存蛋白、卵黄蛋白原、抗胰凝乳蛋白酶因子为雌特异性表达组分。30K蛋白家族是家蚕血液中高丰度表达的蛋白组分。这些差异蛋白质的鉴定与功能分析为研究家蚕性别发育调控机制提供了新的信息。     

Process integration of ethanol production from Japanese beech as treated with hot-compressed water followed by enzymatic treatment

Ethanol was produced from the hydrolysate collected as a water-soluble (WS) portion and a residue after hot-compressed water (HCW) treatment of Japanese beech with and without fractionation. Simultaneous saccharification with β-xylosidase and isomerization with xylose isomerase followed by fermentation with Saccharomyces cerevisiae were applied to the WS portion; simultaneous saccharification with cellulase and fermentation with S. cerevisiae was applied to the residue. Integration of the processes for the WS portion and the residue was investigated to improve the conversion efficiency throughout the whole process. The ethanol yield in the integrated process without fractionation was comparable with that for the process with fractionation. Ethanol yields were improved for both of the processes by modifying the operation pattern in which cellulase was added prior to fermentation of the residue.