Accumulation mechanism of γ-aminobutyric acid in tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.) under low O2 with and without CO2

The storage of ripe tomatoes in low-O(2) conditions with and without CO(2) promotes γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) accumulation. The activities of glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) and α-ketoglutarate-dependent GABA transaminase (GABA-TK) were higher and lower, respectively, following storage under hypoxic (2.4 or 3.5% O(2)) or adjusted aerobic (11% O(2)) conditions compared to the activities in air for 7 days at 25 °C. GAD activity was consistent with the expression level of mRNA for GAD. The GABA concentration in tomatoes stored under hypoxic conditions and adjusted aerobic conditions was 60-90% higher than that when they are stored in air on the same day. These results demonstrate that upregulation of GAD activity and downregulation of GABA-TK activity cause GABA accumulation in tomatoes stored under low-O(2) conditions. Meanwhile, the effect of CO(2) on GABA accumulation is probably minimal.     

The NOD mouse: recessive diabetogenic gene in the major histocompatibility complex

Examination of the histocompatibility region of the nonobese diabetic (NOD) mouse with antibodies against class II glycoproteins (products of immune response genes of the major histocompatibility complex I-A and I-E), hybrid T-cell clones, and mixed-lymphocyte cultures and analysis of restriction fragment length polymorphisms indicate that the NOD mouse has a unique class II major histocompatibility complex with no expression of surface I-E, no messenger RNA for I-E alpha, and an I-A not recognized by any monoclonal antibodies or hybrid T-cell clones studied. In crosses of NOD mice with control C3H mice, the development of diabetes was dependent on homozygosity for the NOD mouse's unique major histocompatibility region.     

Mixed Type of Malignant Mesothelioma in an Aged Male ICR Mouse

Multiple whitish nodules in the thoracic cavity at the site of the thymus were observed in a 101-week-old male ICR mouse. In a histopathological examination, the neoplastic cells were predominantly fusiform in shape and proliferated in sarcomatoid growth patterns. Some neoplastic cells showed epithelial growth patterns, such as the ductal structures. Mitotic figures were frequently seen, and small necrotic foci and invasion to adjacent thoracic organs were noted. In Alcian blue staining, bluish materials were observed between fusiform-shaped cells and in some of the lumens of the ductal structures. In immunohistochemistry, both fusiform-shaped and ductal structure-forming cells were positive for vimentin and weakly positive to positive for cytokeratin. Based on the aforementioned findings, the thoracic nodules were diagnosed as a mixed type of malignant mesothelioma. This case was thought to be rare because of the very low occurrence of spontaneous mesothelioma in mice.     

Intracellular topography of rhodopsin bleaching

In a vertebrate eye, the photoreceptor cells are aligned so that most of the light passes through them lengthwise. At the light-transducing outer segment region of the photoreceptor, photons are absorbed in a time-varying, spatially dependent fashion. Because the transduction event is spatially localized around the site of photon absorption, the spatiotemporal patterns of light absorption in outer segments are an important receiver input characteristic. This aspect of receptor biophysics has now been measured; the results were consistent with a theoretical model proposed for bleaching of a pigment in an unstirred layer.     

fgf20 is essential for initiating zebrafish fin regeneration

Epimorphic regeneration requires the presence or creation of pluripotent cells capable of reproducing lost organs. Zebrafish fin regeneration is mediated by the creation of blastema cells. Here, we characterize the devoid of blastema (dob) mutant that fails fin regeneration during initial steps, forms abnormal regeneration epithelium, and does not form blastema. This mutation has no impact on embryonic survival. Dob results from an fgf20a null mutation, Y148S. Fgf20a is expressed during initiation of fin regeneration at the epithelial-mesenchymal boundary and later overlaps with the blastema marker msxb. Thus, fgf20a has a regeneration-specific requirement, initiating fin regeneration, and controlling blastema formation.     

Improvement of the NH2OH-HCl-HOAc method for extracting manganese and iron oxides in Japanese Andisols and other soil types in Japan

Abstract

We evaluated the validity of Tessier’s method as applied to the extraction of manganese (Mn) and iron (Fe) oxides in Japanese Andisols and other soil types in Japan. Using the original Tessier’s extractant mixture, 0.04 mol L^?1 hydroxylamine hydrochloride in 25% acetic acid (0.04 mol L^–1 NH₂OH-HCl in 25% HOAc), we found that substantial amounts of short-range-ordered Fe oxides were not extracted from allophanic Andisol samples and that considerable amounts of total Fe oxides were not extracted from all soil types. Relatively high extraction pH and large amounts of short-range-ordered Fe oxides in the Andisol samples might be responsible for incomplete extraction. Stoichiometric calculation indicated that the concentration of NH₂OH-HCl might be insufficient for complete extraction of Fe oxides. The extracted amounts of Mn and Fe increased with increasing concentration of NH₂OH-HCl in the extractant, and most of the Mn and Fe oxides in the soil samples, including samples with as much as 5.6% Fe, were extracted with 0.6 mol L^–1 NH₂OH–HCl in 25% HOAc. As judged from the simultaneous dissolution of aluminum (Al) and silicon (Si) minerals, extraction selectivity of Fe oxides with 0.6 mol L^–1 NH₂OH-HCl in 25% HOAc was comparable to that of the original Tessier’s method and better than that of a modified Community Bureau of Reference (BCR) sequential extraction procedure or a method using an extractant consisting of a mixture of oxalate and ascorbate, especially for Andisol samples.     

Comparative analysis of the relationship between Cs and K in soil and plant parts toward control of Cs accumulation in rice

The effect of soil exchangeable potassium (K) and cesium (Cs) levels on Cs uptake and accumulation in different parts of rice (Oryza sativa L.) plants were examined using paddy soils with diverse exchangeable K and Cs in pot experiments. Aboveground Cs uptake decreased with higher exchangeable K and was linearly correlated with exchangeable Cs/K ratios, indicating competitive absorption of these elements by roots. Variation in Cs concentration in brown rice among soils was also related to the exchangeable Cs/K ratio. The exchangeable Cs/K ratio was positively reflected in the Cs/K concentration ratio in each plant part, with a specific slope, suggesting that Cs transport was coordinated with K transport and that there were regulated discriminations of Cs against K in the translocation process among parts. The Cs/K ratio was higher in brown rice and dead leaves than in active leaves, stems and husks. The distribution of Cs accumulation in brown rice was 14.5% on average, but it was variable and negatively related to K concentration in the stem. The Cs distribution in aboveground plant parts also decreased with higher K concentration in the root. These results imply the importance of the competitiveness with K in the root absorption and translocation of Cs within the plant. Based on the observed relationship between Cs and K, effective K management and other measures to control Cs accumulation in plant parts are discussed.     

Heavy metal contamination of agricultural soil and countermeasures in Japan

Many heavy metals exist in minute amounts in natural agricultural soil. However, when their amounts exceed a certain level due to pollutants brought from outside, soil contamination occurs and agricultural products become contaminated. There have been many cases in Japan of heavy metal contamination originating from old mines and smelters, and soil contamination of agricultural land has become a social issue. In particular, cadmium (Cd) is one of the most harmful heavy metals. If agricultural products absorb an excessive amount of Cd, they may adversely affect people’s health, and therefore allowable concentrations are regulated by law. If agricultural land has become contaminated with Cd, measures for minimizing the absorption of Cd by agricultural crops are necessary; these include: (1) soil dressing, (2) water management (paddy field), (3) chemical cleaning of soil, (4) phytoextraction, and (5) use of different varieties and rootstock. Other heavy metals such as arsenic, lead, copper, zinc, and mercury also sometimes cause contamination of agricultural soil.     

Towards integrated research in fisheries science

In this paper we present a call for a re-directing fisheries science towards an integrated scientific activity which includes the trajectory of fish from eggs and their life underwater to consumption on the table. We propose that integrated research in fisheries science be defined as “interdisciplinary research for society and human well-being which deals with the sustainability of dynamic fisheries systems, taking various knowledge, values, and needs into account.” As an integrative discipline, fisheries science offers many advantages to overcoming the limitations of the traditional sciences. The ability to conduct traditional research activities based on each academic discipline is a prerequisite to participating in integrated research. However, “additional processes” are needed, such as the introduction of new integrated thinking, joint determination of the research framework, mutual learning by participating researchers, interaction with stakeholders, among others. Integrated research in fisheries science would allow overall influences to be analyzed, including exogenous factors such as environmental changes and other marine industries. Walleye pollock Theragra chalcogramma provides a good model species for analyzing future scenarios of the structure of the industry as well as potential strategies for addressing and considering the effects of other highly fluctuating resources. One of the most challenging topics is identifying possible paths from a depleted stock to its future recovery. Scientific analyses on “How fast?” “Who should bear the costs?” “When it will occur”, etc., should be conducted by close interactions with stakeholders.     

Structural and physiological responses of the C4 grass Sorghum bicolor to nitrogen limitation

Nitrogen (N) is one of the major nutrients influencing photosynthesis and productivity of C₄ plants as well as C₃ plants. C₄ photosynthesis operates through close coordination between mesophyll (M) and bundle sheath (BS) cells. However, how the development of structural and physiological traits in leaves of C₄ plants is regulated under N limitation remains uncertain. We investigated structural and physiological responses of leaves of the NADP-ME-type C₄ grass Sorghum bicolor to N limitation. Plants were grown under four levels of N supply (.05 to .6 g N per 5-L pot). Decreasing N supply resulted in decreases in net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, leaf N and chlorophyll contents, and the activity ratio of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase to ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase and increases in δ¹³C values and photosynthetic N use efficiency. Low-N leaves were thinner and had smaller photosynthetic cells, especially in M, resulting in lower M/BS tissue area ratio, and contained smaller and fewer chloroplasts. The BS chloroplasts in the low-N leaves accumulated abundant starch grains. The number of thylakoids per granal stack was reduced in M chloroplasts but not in BS chloroplasts. The low-N leaves had thicker cell walls, especially in the BS cells, which might be associated with less negative δ¹³C values, and fewer plasmodesmata in the BS cells. These data reveal structural and physiological responses of C₄ plants to N limitation, most of which would be related to cellular N allocation, light use, CO₂ diffusion and leakiness, and metabolite transport under N limitation.