A dinuclear Ni(mu-H)Ru complex derived from H2

Models of the active site in [NiFe]hydrogenase enzymes have proven challenging to prepare. We isolated a paramagnetic dinuclear nickel-ruthenium complex with a bridging hydrido ligand from the heterolytic cleavage of H2 by a dinuclear NiRu aqua complex in water under ambient conditions (20 degrees C and 1 atmosphere pressure). The structure of the hexacoordinate Ni(mu-H)Ru complex was unequivocally determined by neutron diffraction analysis, and it comes closest to an effective analog for the core structure of the proposed active form of the enzyme.     

alpha-Klotho as a regulator of calcium homeostasis

alpha-klotho was identified as a gene associated with premature aging-like phenotypes characterized by short lifespan. In mice, we found the molecular association of alpha-Klotho (alpha-Kl) and Na+,K+-adenosine triphosphatase (Na+,K+-ATPase) and provide evidence for an increase of abundance of Na+,K+-ATPase at the plasma membrane. Low concentrations of extracellular free calcium ([Ca2+]e) rapidly induce regulated parathyroid hormone (PTH) secretion in an alpha-Kl- and Na+,K+-ATPase-dependent manner. The increased Na+ gradient created by Na+,K+-ATPase activity might drive the transepithelial transport of Ca2+ in cooperation with ion channels and transporters in the choroid plexus and the kidney. Our findings reveal fundamental roles of alpha-Kl in the regulation of calcium metabolism.     

Nitrogen Mineralization from Sugarcane Vinasse

Vinasse is a liquid residue applied as a fertilizer in sugarcane crops. However, in areas far away from sugarcane mills the cost of the distribution can be very high due, the large volume of water. So, one solution is to concentrate the vinasse by the evaporation process to reduce transport costs. Considering that the nitrogen mineralization kinetics is not known in concentrated vinasse, the objective of this study was to evaluate the net and potential nitrogen mineralization in soil that received vinasse concentrated and not concentrated. The treatments with concentrated vinasse provided the highest values of net mineralization and total nitrogen, which presented significant correlation each other, the same way as the potential mineralization values had a positive correlation with the doses and the amounts of total nitrogen. The total nitrogen values can be used as an index of nitrogen availability in soils that received concentrated vinasse.     

Three-dimensional structure of Hayabusa samples: origin and evolution of Itokawa regolith

Regolith particles on the asteroid Itokawa were recovered by the Hayabusa mission. Their three-dimensional (3D) structure and other properties, revealed by x-ray microtomography, provide information on regolith formation. Modal abundances of minerals, bulk density (3.4 grams per cubic centimeter), and the 3D textures indicate that the particles represent a mixture of equilibrated and less-equilibrated LL chondrite materials. Evidence for melting was not seen on any of the particles. Some particles have rounded edges. Overall, the particles' size and shape are different from those seen in particles from the lunar regolith. These features suggest that meteoroid impacts on the asteroid surface primarily form much of the regolith particle, and that seismic-induced grain motion in the smooth terrain abrades them over time.     

Entorhinal cortex layer III input to the hippocampus is crucial for temporal association memory

Associating temporally discontinuous elements is crucial for the formation of episodic and working memories that depend on the hippocampal-entorhinal network. However, the neural circuits subserving these associations have remained unknown. The layer III inputs of the entorhinal cortex to the hippocampus may contribute to this process. To test this hypothesis, we generated a transgenic mouse in which these inputs are specifically inhibited. The mutant mice displayed significant impairments in spatial working-memory tasks and in the encoding phase of trace fear-conditioning. These results indicate a critical role of the entorhinal cortex layer III inputs to the hippocampus in temporal association memory.     

Azaphilones, furanoisophthalides, and amino acids from the extracts of Monascus pilosus-fermented rice (red-mold rice) and their chemopreventive effects

Six azaphilones, monascin (1), ankaflavin (2), rubropunctatin (3), monascorburin (4), rubropunctamine (5), and monascorburamine (6), two furanoisophthalides, xanthomonasin A (7) and xanthomonasin B (8), and two amino acids, (+)-monascumic acid (9) and (-)-monascumic acid (10), isolated from the extracts of Monascus pilosus-fermented rice (red-mold rice) were evaluated for their inhibitory effects on 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced inflammation in mice, on the induction of Epstein-Barr virus early antigen (EBV-EA) by TPA in Raji cells, and on the activation of (+/-)-(E)-methyl-2[(E)-hydroxy-imino]-5-nitro-6-methoxy-3-hexemide (NOR 1), a nitric oxide (NO) donor. Among the compounds tested, seven compounds (1-6 and 10) on TPA-induced inflammation, and six compounds (1, 3-5, 9, and 10) on EBV-EA activation, exhibited potent inhibitory effects. All of the compounds tested showed moderate inhibitory effects on NOR 1 activation.     

Applicability of the quantification of genetically modified organisms to foods processed from maize and soy

The applicability of quantifying genetically modified (GM) maize and soy to processed foods was investigated using heat treatment processing models. The detection methods were based on real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. Ground seeds of insect resistant GM maize (MON810) and glyphosate tolerant Roundup Ready (RR) soy were dissolved in water and were heat treated by autoclaving for various time intervals. The calculated copy numbers of the recombinant and taxon specific deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) sequences in the extracted DNA solution were found to decrease with time. This decrease was influenced by the PCR-amplified size. The conversion factor (Cf), which is the ratio of the recombinant DNA sequence to the taxon specific DNA sequence and is used as a constant number for calculating GM% at each event, tended to be stable when the sizes of PCR products of two DNA sequences were nearly equal. The results suggested that the size of the PCR product plays a key role in the quantification of GM organisms in processed foods. It is believed that the Cf of the endosperm (3n) is influenced by whether the GM originated from a paternal or maternal source. The embryos and endosperms were separated from the F1 generation seeds of five GM maize events, and their Cf values were measured. Both paternal and maternal GM events were identified. In these, the endosperm Cf was lower than that of the embryo, and the embryo Cf was lower than that of the endosperm. These results demonstrate the difficulties encountered in the determination of GM% in maize grains (F2 generation) and in processed foods from maize and soy.     

Amelioration Effects of Pedogenetic Acidification Process on Physical Properties of Soils in Japanese Non-Volcanic Areas with Special Reference to Charge Characteristics

The charge characteristics and physical properties of acid soils were compared with those of reference clays to elucidate the effect of the pedogenetic acidification process on soil physicochemical properties. The soil physics such as clay dispersibility and aggregate stability of the acid soils are considered to be ameliorated by acidification process, which is attributable to the increase in amorphous Al hydroxides and interlayering of 2:1 clays. This means that the pedogenetic acidification process plays an important role in maintaining a desirable soil structure in Japanese non-volcanic areas from the aspect of environmental conservation. The involved mechanism was discussed with special reference to the modification of charge characteristics of clays and binding agents between soil particles.     

Inhibitory actions of several natural products on proliferation of rat vascular smooth muscle cells induced by Hsp60 from Chlamydia pneumoniae J138

Atherosclerosis is a vascular disorder involving inflammation, a narrowed vascular lumen in the entire tunica intima, and reduced elasticity of the arterial wall. It has been found that Hsp60 from Chlamydia pneumoniae, an obligate bacterial pathogen associated with atheroma lesions, mimics human Hsp60, thereby causing attacks by immune cells on stressed endothelial cells expressing endogenous Hsp60 on their surface. Furthermore, Hsp60 from C. pneumoniae has been shown to promote the growth of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). To explore probes that can be used for studying signal transduction elicited by the chlamydial Hsp60, we have tested several natural products for their inhibitory actions on the Hsp60-induced proliferation of rat arterial smooth muscle cells. Sesamol, vanillyl alcohol, and trans-ferulic acid exhibited moderate inhibitory actions on the Hsp60-induced cell proliferation; zerumbone, humulene, and caryophylene effectively inhibited it at low concentrations with IC(50) values of 529, 122, and 110 nM, respectively. The results indicated that the 11-membered alicyclic ring is favorable for interactions with receptors involved in the Hsp60-induced VSMC proliferation.