Relationships between immunoglobulin M and immunoglobulin G or A in colostrum of Japanese black multiparous cows

This study was conducted to clarify the relationships among immunoglobulin (Ig)M, IgG, IgA, β‐carotene, vitamin A and α‐tocopherol contents in colostrum of 24 Japanese Black multiparous cows in order to evaluate the role of IgM on colostral IgG and IgA production. Compared with colostral IgG, colostral IgM and IgA were very low but varied widely. There was positive correlation between colostral IgM and IgG, but colostral IgM was not related with colostral IgA. There was no relationship between colostral IgM and age of cows, although colostral IgG was increased with aging. There were positive correlations among colostral β‐carotene, vitamin A and α‐tocopherol and these vitamins were positively correlated with colostral IgM and IgG. These results indicate that fat‐soluble vitamins may affect colostral IgG and IgM in cows and colostral IgG increases with the increase of colostral IgM.     

Cadmium adsorption on hydroxyaluminosilicate-montmorillonite complex as influenced by oxalate and citrate

The hydroxyaluminosilicate (HAS)-montmorillonite (Mt) and hydroxyaluminum (HyA)-Mt complexes are important constituents of soil colloidal complexes in acidic environments. Oxalate and citrate are dominant organic acids in the root exudates of many plants. These acids, among other factors, strongly influence the adsorption behavior of HAS-Mt and HyA-Mt complexes. In this study, we investigated the adsorption phenomena of Cd on the HAS-Mt and HyA-Mt complexes as influenced by oxalate and citrate. Without addition of oxalate and citrate, the adsorption of Cd on Mt was easy. However, in the presence of oxalate and citrate, the adsorption was strongly inhibited. In contrast, the HAS-Mt and HyA-Mt complexes in the absence of oxalate and citrate hardly adsorbed Cd. In the presence of oxalate, the HAS-Mt and HyA-Mt complexes were able to adsorb Cd. Thus, optimal concentration of oxalate for Cd adsorption on both complexes could be determined. Similarly, the HyA-Mt complex showed an optimal concentration of citrate for Cd adsorption. However, the HAS-Mt complex did not adsorb Cd in the presence of citrate. We concluded that the optimal concentrations of oxalate and citrate for Cd adsorption depended on the form of Cd ions and their proportion in the solution. Based on the amount of Cd adsorbed and the distribution of Cd species in the solution, the adsorption of Cd on the HAS-Mt and HyA-Mt complexes took place in various chemical forms.     

Genetic analysis of variations in the sugar chain composition at the C-3 position of soybean seed saponins

Saponins are sterols or triterpene glycosides that are widely distributed in plants. The biosynthesis of soybean saponins is thought to involve many kinds of glycosyltransferases, which is reflected in their structural diversity. Here, we performed linkage analyses of the Sg-3 and Sg-4 loci, which may control the sugar chain composition at the C-3 sugar moieties of the soybean saponin aglycones soyasapogenols A and B. The Sg-3 locus, which controls the production of group A saponin Af, was mapped to chromosome (Chr-) 10. The Sg-4 locus, which controls the production of DDMP saponin βa, was mapped to Chr-1. To elucidate the preference of sugar chain formation at the C-3 and C-22 positions, we analyzed the F₂ population derived from a cross between a mutant variety, Kinusayaka (sg-1⁰), for the sugar chain structure at C-22 position, and Mikuriya-ao (sg-3), with respect to the segregation of the composition of the group A saponins, and found that the formation of these sugar chains was independently regulated. Furthermore, a novel saponin, predicted to be A0-γg, 3-O-[β-d-galactopyranosyl (1→2)-β-d-glucuronopyranosyl]-22-O-α-l-arabinopyranosyl-soyasapogenol A, appeared in the hypocotyl of F₂ individuals with genotype sg-1⁰/sg-1⁰ sg-3/sg-3.     

Small variation of glucosinolate composition in Japanese cultivars of radish (Raphanus sativus L.) requires simple quantitative analysis for breeding of glucosinolate component

To reveal varietally differing glucosinolate (GSL) contents in radish (Raphanus sativus L.) cultivated in Japan, the total and individual GSLs of 28 cultivars were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography. In these cultivars, GSL types including three aliphatic GSLs (glucoraphenin, glucoerucin, and 4-methylthio-3-butenyl GSL (4MTB-GSL)) and three indolyl GSLs (4-hydroxyglucobrassicin, glucobrassicin, and 4-methoxy-glucobrassicin) were detected. No cultivar-specific type of GSL was identified. The dominant GSL was 4MTB-GSL, but its contents differed remarkably: 8.6 μmol/g in ‘Koushin’ to 135.7 μmol/g in ‘Karami 199’. Over about 90% of all GSLs in Japanese radish type are 4MTB-GSL, a higher percentage than in Chinese or European garden radish cultivars. A simple, rapid method for estimating total GSL contents in crude extracts was established because of the small variation of glucosinolate composition in Japanese cultivars. The total GSL content can be estimated using an equation for prediction with absorbance at 425 nm in a mixture of GSL crude extract and palladium (II) chloride solution: Total GSL (μmol/g) = 305.47 × A₄₂₅ − 29.66. Its coefficient of determination (R²) and standard error of prediction (SEP) are 0.968 and 8.052. This method enables total GSL content estimation from more than 200 samples per person per day.     

Expressed sequence tags from organ-specific cDNA libraries of tea (Camellia sinensis) and polymorphisms and transferability of EST-SSRs across Camellia species

Tea is one of the most popular beverages in the world and the tea plant, Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze, is an important crop in many countries. To increase the amount of genomic information available for C. sinensis, we constructed seven cDNA libraries from various organs and used these to generate expressed sequence tags (ESTs). A total of 17,458 ESTs were generated and assembled into 5,262 unigenes. About 50% of the unigenes were assigned annotations by Gene Ontology. Some were homologous to genes involved in important biological processes, such as nitrogen assimilation, aluminum response, and biosynthesis of caffeine and catechins. Digital northern analysis showed that 67 unigenes were expressed differentially among the seven organs. Simple sequence repeat (SSR) motif searches among the unigenes identified 1,835 unigenes (34.9%) harboring SSR motifs of more than six repeat units. A subset of 100 EST-SSR primer sets was tested for amplification and polymorphism in 16 tea accessions. Seventy-one primer sets successfully amplified EST-SSRs and 70 EST-SSR loci were polymorphic. Furthermore, these 70 EST-SSR markers were transferable to 14 other Camellia species. The ESTs and EST-SSR markers will enhance the study of important traits and the molecular genetics of tea plants and other Camellia species.     

Follicle formation in the canine ovary after autografting to a peripheral site

This study reports about follicular development on the surface of canine ovarian tissue after autografting under the fascia of the thoracolumbar muscle and about meiotic resumption of follicle-derived oocyte after maturation culture. After ovarian excision from a bitch, each ovary of the pairs was cut approximately into half. The hemi-ovaries were transplanted into the bitch of origin at three different body sites (under the fascia of the quadriceps femoris muscle and the thoracolumbar muscle, and in the deltoid muscle in the scapular region). All grafted ovaries were recovered from the bitch at 35 days post-transplantation. A visible antral follicle was observed on the surface of the ovary grafted under the thoracolumbar fascia. Histological examination revealed viable follicles at different stages of development irrespective of graft site. Most granulosa cells in the follicles at different stages of development expressed proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). A total of three oocytes were collected from an ovary grafted under the fascia of the thoracolumbar muscle, wherein an oocyte reached metaphase I after maturation culture. This is the first report to demonstrate follicular development and meiotic resumption of oocytes recovered from autografted canine ovarian tissues.     

Glycoconjugate in rat taste buds.

The taste buds of the fungiform papillae, circumvallate papilla, foliate papillae, soft palate and epiglottis of the rat oral cavity were examined by lectin histochemistry to elucidate the relationships between expression of glycoconjugates and innervation. Seven out of 21 lectins showed moderate to intense staining in at least more than one taste bud. They were succinylated wheat germ agglutinin (s-WGA). Dolichos biflorus agglutinin (DBA), Bandeiraea simplicifolia lectin-I (BSL-I), Ricinus communis agglutinin-I (RCA-I), peanut agglutinin (PNA), Ulex europaeus agglutinin-I (UEA-I) and Phaseolus vulgaris agglutinin-L (PHA-L). UEA-I and BSL-I showed moderate to intense staining in all of the taste buds examined. They strongly stained the taste buds of the epiglottis, which are innervated by the cranial nerve X. UEA-I intensely stained the taste buds of the fungiform papillae and soft palate, both of which are innervated by the cranial nerve VII. The taste buds of circumvallate papilla and foliate papillae were innervated by the cranial nerve IX and strongly stained by BSL-I. Thus, UEA-I and BSL-I binding glycoconjugates, probably alpha-linked fucose and alpha-D-galactose, respectively, might be specific for taste buds. Although the expression of these glycoconjugates would be related to the innervation of the cranial nerve X, the differential expression of alpha-linked fucose and alpha-D-galactose might be related to the innervation of the cranial nerve VII and IX, respectively.     

New multilocus genotypes of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phytophthora infestans</Emphasis> in Japan

Twelve isolates of Japanese Phytophthora infestans, which differed from the major genotypes US-1, JP-1, JP-2, and JP-3, were analyzed for RG57 fingerprints, mtDNA haplotypes, two allozyme genotypes, and mating types. Genotypes JP-1.1, JP-2.1, JP-2.2, JP-3.1, and JP-4 were newly defined. JP-1.1 and JP-2.1 were isolated discontinuously from potato fields in several years, and JP-1.1 was found in Hokkaido and Kagoshima. These results show that some minor genotypes can overwinter and disperse from their original site.