Isolation and characterization of a novel anionic peroxidase cDNA found in poplar (Populus nigra) suspension cultured cells

A cDNA clone fromPopulus nigra L. var.italica Koehne, denoted PCY2-6, coding for an anionic peroxidase has been isolated, cloned, and characterized. PCY2-6 is 1160 bp long; and its deduced product, PnC26, contains 343 amino acid residues. The mature protein has a calculated isoelectric point of 4.09. The protein contains two motifs typical of peroxidase and 10 potentialN-glycosylation sites. PnC26 is therefore classified as an anionic peroxidase. The mRNA of the PCY2-6 gene family was detected in immature and mature leaves and in two parts of current-year stems: the shoot tip and the older stem. The mRNA of PCY2-6 gene family was found to localize in the phloem and cortex of the current-year stems. We therefore conclude that expression of the PCY2-6 gene family is related to bark development.     

Chemical constituents ofInonotus obliquus II: a new triterpene, 21,24-cyclopentalanosta-3β,21,25-triol-8-ene from sclerotium

A new lanostane-type triterpene with a cyclopentanol partial structure in the side chain was isolated from the sclerotium of the wood rotting fungusInonotus obliquus along with four known compounds: lanosterol, inotodiol, trametenolic acid, and 3-hydroxy-8,24-dienlanosta-21,23-lactone. The new compound was determined to be 21,24-cyclopentalanosta-3,21,25-triol-8-ene by spectroscopic analyses.An outline of this study was presented at the 50th Annual Meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, Kyoto     

Transient appearance of the epithelial invagination in the olfactory pit of chick embryos

In this study, immunohistochemical analysis has been performed using neuronal markers (GAP43, NCAM and PGP 9.5) to characterize the epithelial invagination in the medial wall of the olfactory pit in the chick embryos. At stages 26–27, the epithelial invagination was primarily composed of characteristic round-shaped cells, which were negative for neuronal markers. These cells were also found in the medial wall of the olfactory pit at stage 24, whereas the epithelial invagination was not observed at any stages other than stages 26–27. The possible relationship between the round-shaped cells and the migratory cells is discussed.     

Effect of shelter acclimation on the post-release survival of hatchery-reared black-spot tuskfish <Emphasis Type="Italic">Choerodon schoenleinii</Emphasis>: laboratory experiments using the reef-resident predator white-streaked grouper <Emphasis Type="Italic">Epinephelus ongus</Emphasis>

A critical component of many releasing projects is the identification and subsequent implementation of optimal release strategies that can decrease post-release predation mortalities. We performed laboratory experiments to investigate whether acclimation to shelters affects the post-release survival of hatchery-reared black-spot tuskfish Choerodon schoenleinii in the presence of a reef-resident predator, the white-streaked grouper Epinephelus ongus. Tuskfish were exposed to groupers under three different experimental conditions/treatments: (1) acclimation of fish to shelters prior to their exposure to groupers; (2) no acclimation of fish to shelters, but with shelters available during their exposure to groupers; (3) fish not acclimated to shelters and no shelters available during their exposure to groupers. Tuskfish that were acclimated to shelters utilized shelters more frequently than did non-acclimated fish, and the survival rate of acclimated fish was higher than those of fish in the other treatments. These results suggest that pre-release acclimation to shelters improves the post-release survival of hatchery-reared black-spot tuskfish.     

Horizontal movement and emigration of juvenile spotted halibut <Emphasis Type="Italic">Verasper variegatus</Emphasis> released in a shallow brackish lagoon: Matsukawa-ura,northeastern Japan,revealed by acoustic telemetry

To elucidate the post-release movement and emigration of juvenile spotted halibut Verasper variegatus, ten hatchery-reared age-0 individuals (10 months old, 17.0–19.7 cm total length) surgically implanted with acoustic transmitters were released near the center of Matsukawa-ura, a shallow brackish lagoon, on 25 November 2009 (water temperature 13.8 °C). They were monitored by ten acoustic receivers for 5 months. Of ten individuals, eight left the release site during December–March. Three of these emigrated to the outer ocean on 17 and 29 January and 30 March 2010, respectively. Juveniles probably started wintering migration in December and January when water temperatures decreased considerably in the lagoon (mean 9.5 and 6.0 °C, respectively). They stopped their migration in the coldest month, February (mean 5.7 °C), and restarted it in March when water temperatures frequently exceeded a plausible threshold for movement (≥6 °C). Statistical analyses revealed that the fish started migration significantly more frequently at nighttime. The migration track of an individual recorded from 11 to 30 March showed gradual nocturnal movements and a slow migration speed (estimated maximum speed 2.2 m/min). Our results revealed that water temperature primarily governed the seasonal timing of nocturnal migratory movements of juvenile spotted halibut.     

Feeding,somatic condition and survival of sand lance <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ammodytes</Emphasis> sp. larvae in Mutsu Bay,Japan

To clarify the recruitment process of sand lance Ammodytes sp., we investigated larval condition factor, relative gut fullness (%GF), prey abundance and oceanographic structure in Mutsu Bay, Japan, during 1999–2001. Ammodytes sp. larvae, which were collected by horizontal hauls of Motoda nets and a ring net at depths of 1, 10, 20, 30 and 40 m, were mainly distributed at 10–30 m. Larvae at the first feeding time until 12 mm in body length (BL) fed predominantly on copepod nauplii, whereas large larvae with BL of 12.1–14.0 mm fed on a mixture of copepod nauplii, copepodites and appendicularians from late February to April. A path analysis showed that difference in water density between 35- and 5-m depths negatively affected naupliar abundance at 10–30-m depth (standardised path coefficient β = ?0.71, p = 0.005 for 3.3–8.0-mm BL larvae and β = ?0.78, p < 0.001 for 8.1–12.0-mm BL larvae). Naupliar abundance positively affected the %GF of Ammodytes sp. larvae (β = 0.75, p < 0.001 for 3.3–8.0-mm BL larvae and β = 0.66, p < 0.001 for 8.1–12.0-mm BL larvae), whereas it was negatively affected by water temperature (β = ?0.45, p = 0.008 for 3.3–8.0-mm BL larvae and β = ?0.56, p = 0.002 for 8.1–12.0-mm BL larvae), and the temperature effect was weak compared with that of naupliar abundance. In turn, %GF positively affected larval somatic weight (β = 0.91, p < 0.001 for 6.0-mm BL larvae and β = 0.70, p = 0.005 for 10.0-mm BL larvae). The recruitment failure in 1999 was likely caused by a reduced condition factor, which resulted from low naupliar abundance. In contrast, the abundance of nauplii and Oithona similis copepodites was high in 2000 and 2001. It is possible that the higher recruitment success in 2001 was because of the higher water temperatures in Mutsu Bay, sustaining faster growth of the larvae than in 2000 under the high-prey abundance conditions.     

Reproductive biology of<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Pasiphaea japonica</Emphasis> females in Toyama Bay,central Japan

The reproductive biology of female Pasiphaea japonica, including the minimum size of females carrying embryos, spawning and hatching seasons, and brood size, was examined in Toyama Bay, central Japan, during 2004 through 2007. Sampling was conducted onboard a commercial seiner and a fisheries research vessel. The minimum size of ovigerous females was 47.7 mm body length. The percent occurrence of ovigerous females increased with body size, reaching 50% at 57.9 mm body length. Ovigerous females occurred all year round with a seasonal change in percent occurrence, ranging between 41.5 and 94.3% of the total observed females. Consequently, reproduction in females seems to occur throughout the year in Toyama Bay, with seasonal differences in reproductive intensity. Spawning intensity was high during April–July and October–January based on the occurrence of the early developmental stage of embryos, while hatching intensity was high in October–May based on the occurrence of embryos just before hatching. Brood sizes were similar at the same size of body length regardless of embryo stage, except just after spawning.     

Factors associated with canine skin extensibility in toy poodles

To assess factors for canine skin extensibility, our study investigated associations between the dogs’ skin extension index and the following factors, gender, age, neuter status, weight, coat color and six coat color related gene polymorphisms. Swab samples were collected from 69 toy poodles to extract DNA. The skin extension indices of the lower back and the neck were measured using the following formula: vertical height of the skin fold divided by body length multiplied by 100. The dogs’ age, weight, gender, neuter status and coat color were also recorded, as well as polymorphisms of the following six selected coat color related genes, Melanocortin 1 receptor, Tyrosinase-related protein 1, Melanophilin, Canine β-defensin-1, Major Facilitator Superfamily Domain Containing 12 and Agouti-signaling protein (ASIP). Univariable analysis showed there was a meaningful association between the lower back skin extension index and both gender and age (P<0.001 and P=0.048, respectively). Also, there was a possible association between the lower back skin extension index and ASIP Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) (R96C) (P=0.078). Linear model analysis showed there was a significant association between the lower back skin extension index and gender (P<0.001), and there was a tendency of the association between the lower back skin extension index and ASIP SNP (R96C) (P=0.098). In addition, there was an association between gender and age for the skin extension index. (P=0.048). Therefore, these results suggest that a greater risk of skin extensibility in toy poodle could be related to being female and the ASIP SNP (R96C), because these factors were associated with higher lower back skin extension index.     

Occurrence of a temperate coastal flatfish,the marbled flounder Pseudopleuronectes yokohamae,at high water temperatures in a shallow bay in summer detected by acoustic telemetry

Fisheries Science - The marbled flounder Pseudopleuronectes yokohamae, a flatfish found in temperate coastal waters, is an important commercial species in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, but little...     

Effect of moisture content of a wood matrix on a small-scale biodegradation system for organic solid waste

The optimum working moisture content of a wood matrix for the garbage automatic decomposer-extinguisher (GADE) machine was investigated using a small-scale degradation reactor. A formula feed for rabbits was used as the model waste. The degradation experiment was conducted under controlled conditions such as moisture content, environmental temperature, and airflow rate. The degradation rate was estimated precisely from weight loss and the CO₂ evolution rate. The degradation rate were nearly constant at a moisture content of 30%–80% on a-wet-weight basis. Microorganisms from the environment propagated in the reactor with no inoculums added. The number of microorganisms showed a trend similar to that of the degradation rate. The microorganism community changed according to the moisture content of the matrix and were considered to attain a constant degradation rate at a wide range of moisture content of a matrix.Part of this report was presented at the 49th annual meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, Tokyo, April 1999