Myosin: Formation and maintenance of thick filaments

Skeletal muscle consists of bundles of myofibers containing millions of myofibrils, each of which is formed of longitudinally aligned sarcomere structures. Sarcomeres are the minimum contractile unit, which mainly consists of four components: Z‐bands, thin filaments, thick filaments, and connectin/titin. The size and shape of the sarcomere component is strictly controlled. Surprisingly, skeletal muscle cells not only synthesize a series of myofibrillar proteins but also regulate the assembly of those proteins into the sarcomere structures. However, authentic sarcomere structures cannot be reconstituted by combining purified myofibrillar proteins in vitro, therefore there must be an elaborate mechanism ensuring the correct formation of myofibril structure in skeletal muscle cells. This review discusses the role of myosin, a main component of the thick filament, in thick filament formation and the dynamics of myosin in skeletal muscle cells. Changes in the number of myofibrils in myofibers can cause muscle hypertrophy or atrophy. Therefore, it is important to understand the fundamental mechanisms by which myofibers control myofibril formation at the molecular level to develop approaches that effectively enhance muscle growth in animals.     

Occurrence of New Powdery Mildew on Greenhouse Tomato Cultivars

During a year-round survey on the occurrence of powdery mildew on greenhouse-cultivated tomato plants, the disease was most severe in June and July. All tomato plants (45 commercial cultivars and 11 breeding lines) tested were infected with the pathogen but had different degrees of susceptibility. The pathogen was epiphytic and produced white, round pustules mainly on leaves of tomato plants. The pathogen produced conidia singly on conidiophores and forked appressoria on inoculated tomato leaves and seemed to be an Oidium sp. of Erysiphe polygoni type. Received 18 December 2000/ Accepted in revised form 22 July 2001     

Maximum permissible load for Kiso horses trotting over a short,straight course

This study aimed to determine the load‐bearing capacity of trotting Kiso horses using gait analysis. Ten Kiso horses with a height at withers of 128 cm were included. Their riders were fitted with a marker (70 mm in diameter placed on their chest) recorded by two digital DVD cameras while trotting along a short, straight course. In total, eight tests were performed for each horse: the first with a 70 kg load; six with randomly loaded weights ranging 80–130 kg; and then a final test again with a 70 kg load. Three‐dimensional movement of the marker was analyzed using a motion capture system. The time series of vertical displacement of the marker underwent spectrum analysis by the maximum entropy method, and the autocorrelation coefficient was calculated. The first two peaks of the autocorrelation were defined as symmetry and regularity, and their sum was defined as stability. Regularity in the 120 kg test (0.54) was lower than that in the first 70 kg test (0.61), and stability in the 120 kg test (1.31) was lower than that in the first 70 kg test (1.42). We concluded that the maximum permissible load for a trotting Kiso horse is < 120 kg, which represents 31% of its bodyweight.     

Genetic evaluation of the longevity of the Holstein population in Japan using a Weibull proportional hazard model

The objective of this study was to confirm the stability of the genetic estimation of longevity of the Holstein population in Japan. Data on the first 10 lactation periods were obtained from the Livestock Improvement Association of Japan. Longevity was defined as the number of days from first calving until culling or censoring. DATA1 and DATA2 included the survival records for the periods 1991–2003 and 1991–2005, respectively. The proportional hazard model included the effects of the region-parity-lactation stage-milk yield class, age at first calving, the herd–year–season, and sire. The heritabilities on an original scale of DATA1 and DATA2 were 0.119 and 0.123, respectively. The estimated transmitting abilities (ETAs) of young sires in DATA1 may have been underestimated, but coefficient δ, which indicated the bias of genetic trend between DATA1 and DATA2, was not significant. The regression coefficient of ETAs between DATA1 and DATA2 was very close to 1. The proportional hazard model could steadily estimate the ETA for longevity of the sires in Japan.     

Potassium distribution in black heartwood of sugi (Cryptomeria japonica) I: Localization in axial parenchyma cells

This is the first report to ascertain potassium location in black heartwood of sugi (Cryptomeria japonica). The objective of this study was to understand the distribution of potassium in sugi black heartwood in connection with anatomical morphology. Scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM-EDXA) was used to investigate the distribution of inorganic elements, especially potassium. In black heartwood, potassium was detected in all tissues (tracheids, ray parenchyma, and axial parenchyma), but its concentrations were different in each xylem tissue. Potassium was particularly accumulated in the droplets in axial parenchyma cells. In addition, calcium was also detected in all tissues. Phosphorus sometimes existed in the granules in ray parenchyma cells. From optical microscopy, the axial parenchyma cells were observed to be arranged in a tangential direction on transverse section and the droplets in these cells were distributed in areas of high ash and green moisture content. For red heartwood, potassium detected by SEM-EDXA was far lower in all tissues than in the black heartwood, while the trend for calcium was the converse. Potassium in axial parenchyma cells was more abundant in black heartwood than in typical pale red heartwood.     

Effects of climatic conditions on tree-ring widths of three deciduous broad-leaved tree species at their northern distribution limit in Mont St. Hilaire,eastern Canada

This study examined the effects of climatic conditions on tree-ring widths of red oak (Quercus rubra), sugar maple (Acer saccharum) and American beech (Fagus grandifolia) at their northern distribution limit in Mont St. Hilaire, eastern Canada. A residual chronology of tree-ring width index was developed for each species. The tree-ring width of Q. rubra showed negative and positive correlations with May temperature and June precipitation in the current year, respectively. A. saccharum also showed similar patterns with Q. rubra, i.e., negative and positive correlations with June temperature and precipitation in the current year, respectively. F. grandifolia showed neither positive nor negative correlations with temperature and precipitation. The expressed population signals of tree-ring width chronologies of the three species indicated that climatic factors more greatly influenced the variations in tree-ring widths in the order Q. rubra > A. saccharum > F. grandifolia. Therefore, the radial growth of Q. rubra was most restricted by drought stress in early summer among the three species. Global warming is suggested to affect the radial growth of the three species differently by increasing drought stress at Mont St. Hilaire in eastern Canada.     

Identifying causes of death of companion dogs in Japan using data from pet cemeteries

This study aimed to identify the causes of death in dogs that were buried at pet cemeteries. Using data obtained from a questionnaire completed by 5,118 dog owners from 1 April 2016 to 31 March 2017, we estimated the life expectancy and the odds ratio for principal causes of death using multiple logistic regression analysis with potential risk factors as independent variables. The life expectancy determined at birth was 13.98 years. The commonest cause of death was senility. The odds ratios of dying of senility being significantly higher in Labrador Retrievers and Shiba breeds and aged dogs, and significantly lower in Chihuahuas, dogs living indoors and neutered dogs.     

2'-epi-orobanchol and solanacol, two unique strigolactones, germination stimulants for root parasitic weeds, produced by tobacco

Germination stimulants for root holoparasitic weeds broomrapes ( Orobanche and Phelipanche spp.) produced by tobacco ( Nicotiana tabacum L.) were purified and characterized. The root exudates of tobacco contained at least five different stimulants, and LC-MS/MS analyses revealed that four of them were strigolactones; a tetradehydrostrigol isomer, a didehydrostrigol isomer, and two strigol isomers. The two isomers of strigol were identified as (+)-orobanchol and its 2'-epimer by comparison of NMR and GC- and LC-MS data with those of synthetic standards. The structure of the tetradehydrostrigol isomer, the major stimulant of the bright yellow tobacco cultivars, was determined as 4-alpha-hydroxy-5,8-dimethyl-GR24 [( E)-4-alpha-hydroxy-5,8-dimethyl-3-(4-methyl-5-oxo-2,5-dihydrofuran-2-yloxy)methylene)-3a,4-dihydro-3 H-indeno[1,2- b]furan-2(8b H)-one] and named solanacol. 2'-Epi-orobanchol and solanacol are the first natural strigolactones having a 2'-epi stereochemistry and a benzene ring, respectively.     

Effect of melatonin injected into the third ventricle on growth hormone secretion in Holstein steers

The effects of melatonin (MEL) injection into the third ventricle (3V) on growth hormone (GH) secretion were investigated in conscious Holstein steers. A stainless steel cannula was stereotaxically implanted in the 3V based on the ventriculogram. In Exp. 1, three doses of MEL (100, 300 or 600 microg) were injected into the 3V through the cannula and the GH concentration after the injection was determined. In Exp. 2, intracerebroventricular (icv) and intravenous (iv) injections of MEL (100 microg) and GH-releasing hormone (GHRH; 0.25 microg/kg body weight), respectively, were performed simultaneously to examine the effect of MEL on GHRH-induced GH release. The icv injection of MEL significantly stimulated GH release at 100 microg. The increase in GH concentrations by 100 microg of MEL was persistent. Intravenous injection of GHRH dramatically increased GH release. The injection of MEL did not alter GHRH-induced GH release. These results suggest that MEL stimulates GH secretion possibly through the hypothalamus in cattle.     

iRhom2 regulation of TACE controls TNF-mediated protection against Listeria and responses to LPS

Innate immune responses are vital for pathogen defense but can result in septic shock when excessive. A key mediator of septic shock is tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα), which is shed from the plasma membrane after cleavage by the TNFα convertase (TACE). We report that the rhomboid family member iRhom2 interacted with TACE and regulated TNFα shedding. iRhom2 was critical for TACE maturation and trafficking to the cell surface in hematopoietic cells. Gene-targeted iRhom2-deficient mice showed reduced serum TNFα in response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and could survive a lethal LPS dose. Furthermore, iRhom2-deficient mice failed to control the replication of Listeria monocytogenes. Our study has identified iRhom2 as a regulator of innate immunity that may be an important target for modulating sepsis and pathogen defense.