A mitotic septin scaffold required for Mammalian chromosome congression and segregation

Coordination of cytokinesis with chromosome congression and segregation is critical for proper cell division, but the mechanism is unknown. Here, septins, a conserved family of polymerizing guanosine triphosphate-binding proteins, localized to the metaphase plate during mitosis. Septin depletion resulted in chromosome loss from the metaphase plate, lack of chromosome segregation and spindle elongation, and incomplete cytokinesis upon delayed mitotic exit. These defects correlated with loss of the mitotic motor and the checkpoint regulator centromere-associated protein E (CENP-E) from the kinetochores of congressing chromosomes. Mammalian septins may thus form a mitotic scaffold for CENP-E and other effectors to coordinate cytokinesis with chromosome congression and segregation.     

Angiotensin I Converting Enzyme Inhibitory Peptides Derived from Phycobiliproteins of Dulse Palmaria palmata

We examined the inhibitory activity of angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE) in protein hydrolysates from dulse, Palmaria palmata. The proteins extracted from dulse were mainly composed of phycoerythrin (PE) followed by phycocyanin (PC) and allophycocyanin (APC). The dulse proteins showed slight ACE inhibitory activity, whereas the inhibitory activity was extremely enhanced by thermolysin hydrolysis. The ACE inhibitory activity of hydrolysates was hardly affected by additional pepsin, trypsin and chymotrypsin treatments. Nine ACE inhibitory peptides (YRD, AGGEY, VYRT, VDHY, IKGHY, LKNPG, LDY, LRY, FEQDWAS) were isolated from the hydrolysates by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and it was demonstrated that the synthetic peptide LRY (IC₅₀: 0.044 μmol) has remarkably high ACE inhibitory activity. Then, we investigated the structural properties of dulse phycobiliproteins to discuss the origin of dulse ACE inhibitory peptides. Each dulse phycobiliprotein possesses α-subunit (Mw: 17,477–17,638) and β-subunit (Mw: 17,455–18,407). The sequences of YRD, AGGEY, VYRT, VDHY, LKNPG and LDY were detected in the primary structure of PE α-subunit, and the LDY also exists in the APC α- and β-subunits. In addition, the LRY sequence was found in the β-subunits of PE, PC and APC. From these results, it was suggested that the dulse ACE inhibitory peptides were derived from phycobiliproteins, especially PE. To make sure the deduction, we carried out additional experiment by using recombinant PE. We expressed the recombinant α- and β-subunits of PE (rPEα and rPEβ, respectively), and then prepared their peptides by thermolysin hydrolysis. As a result, these peptides showed high ACE inhibitory activities (rPEα: 94.4%; rPEβ: 87.0%). Therefore, we concluded that the original proteins of dulse ACE inhibitory peptides were phycobiliproteins.     

Correction to: Development of an efficient bioreactor system for delivering foreign proteins secreted from liver into eggs with a vitellogenin signal in medaka Oryzias latipes

Fisheries Science - The article "Development of an efficient bioreactor system for delivering foreign proteins secreted from liver into eggs with a vitellogenin signal in medaka Oryzias...     

Correlation between cytochrome P450 1A (cyp1a) mRNA expression and ambient phenanthrene and pyrene concentration in Javanese Medaka Oryzias javanicus

Fisheries Science - Cytochrome P450 1A (Cyp1a) catabolizes polycyclic organic compounds. In this study, we sequenced the cyp1a gene from two Javanese medaka Oryzias...     

Genotypic variation in the in vitro morphogenesis from leaf explants ofBeta vulgaris L. andB. maritima L.

Summary Leaf discs from sixBeta vulgaris lines and threeB. maritima accessions were tested for their morphogenic responses in Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with 0.25 mg/l benzyladenine (BA). Direct shoot formation took place in two genotypes:B. vulgaris line TA33-MS andB. maritima acc. France. Rooting of differentiated shoots was achieved by culturing the shoots on a medium containing 0.2 mg/l indolebutyric acid (IBA). Our results indicate that genotypes differ in the morphogenic potential of leaf explants.     

波流作用下网格锚泊的单个重力式网箱缆绳张力

以中国沿海常用的周长40 m×10 m的HDPE重力式网箱作为研究对象,采用渔具模型试验狄克生准则,选用大比例尺(λ=1/10)和小比例尺(λ′＝ 1/2)设计制作模型网箱.网箱锚泊系统采用的网格形式与实际使用的一致.模型试验于日本东京大学生产技术研究所海洋环境工程实验室风浪流水槽[50 m(L)×10 m(W)×5 ...