Preparation of sulfuric acid-catalyzed phenolated wood resin

Summary Birch wood meal was phenolated in the presence of sulfuric acid used as a catalyst by changing several reaction conditions, such as, phenol-to-wood ratio, temperature, time, and catalyst concentration to make novolak-type resin. A phenol-to-wood ratio of 2–5, reaction temperature of 60–150 °C, time of 60–120 min, and acid concentration of 1–3% were found to be usable values for obtaining good enough amounts of combined phenol and less amounts of unreacted wood residue. The flow properties (flow temperature and apparent melt-viscosity) of the phenolated wood obtained increased with the increase in the amount of combined phenol, however, decreased with the increase in the moisture content and free phenol in the phenolated wood. Furthermore, it was found that the solubility of the phenolated wood in the organic solvents depended, greatly, on the hydrogen bonding strength of the solvents.     

Comparison of visual acuity and visual axis of three flatfish species with different ecotypes

ABSTRACT:   The visual acuity, visual axis and visual accommodation of pointhead flounder, slime flounder, and red halibut were determined to obtain basic knowledge for developing appropriate fishing gear and fishing methods for sustainable fisheries. Each of these species has a different ecotype in terms of habitat, depth and prey species. Thus, it was hypothesized that they may differ in terms of visual acuity, visual axis and visual accommodation. Few studies have compared these characters in flatfishes from different ecotypes. We used histological methods to determine visual acuity (i.e. cone cell density) and visual axis (i.e. cone cell distribution) in each of these species. The maximum visual acuity was 0.127 in pointhead flounder (total length, TL 344 mm), 0.092 in slime flounder (TL 372 mm) and 0.109 in red halibut (TL 336 mm). Based on the cone cell distribution in the retina, the visual axis was upward and forward in pointhead flounder, forward and downward in slime flounder, and downward in red halibut. Finally, the mean angle of lens movement was −2° in pointhead flounder, −13° in slime flounder and −32° in red halibut. This measurement of lens movement indicated that the average near-point distance was 0.87 × TL in pointhead flounder, 0.65 × TL in slime flounder and 1.02 × TL in red halibut. At similar TL (336–355 mm), the visual acuity of these species differs depending on the direction in which they are looking.     

Tetrahydrofolate-dependent vanillate and syringateO-demethylation links tightly to one-carbon metabolic pathway associated with amino acid synthesis and DNA methylation in the lignin metabolism ofSphingomonas paucimobilis SYK-6

Sphingomonas paucimobilis SYK-6 strain can degrade various lignin-related compounds. In the lignin metabolic pathway of this bacterium, vanillate and syringate are demethylated by the tetrahydrofolate (THF)-dependentO-demethylation system, which requires the enzymatic function of LigH. Upstream of theligH gene is the 5,10-methylene-THF reductase gene. Its gene product was essential for one-carbon metabolism involved in the amino acid synthesis and DNA methylation in all organisms. When themetF gene was inactivated in the genome of SYK-6, the resultant mutant, DLmetF, could not grow on vanillate and syringate as a sole carbon source. Furthermore, DLmetF showed significant accumulation of methyl-THF as a result of vanillate and syringateO-demethylation. We report here that THF-dependent vanillate and syringateO-demethylation links tightly to the one-carbon metabolic pathway that is associated with amino acid synthesis and DNA methylation, and the methyl group is the sole one-carbon source inS. paucimobilis SYK-6.     

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.     

Genotypic diversity of Theileria orientalis detected from cattle grazing in Kumamoto and Okinawa prefectures of Japan

Theileria orientalis is a benign protozoan species that is widely distributed in Japan, yet sometimes causes serious economic losses in the livestock industry. In this study, we conducted a molecular survey based on genes encoding the major piroplasm surface protein (MPSP) and p23 for T. orientalis detected in cattle grazing in southern areas of Japan, consisting of 2 farms in Kumamoto prefecture (Aso and Kuma districts) and 3 farms in Okinawa prefecture (Ishigaki, Iriomote, and Yonaguni Islands). High prevalence rates of T. orientalis infection were shown in all the cattle populations using the diagnostic MPSP- and p23-PCR assays. Phylogenetic analyses revealed 4 MPSP genotypes and 3 p23 genotypes. Furthermore, MPSP genotype-specific PCR methods were developed in this study and wide distributions of 5-district genotypes of T. orientalis were observed for the examined farms. Our results indicate that at least 5 types of T. orientalis exist in Kumamoto and Okinawa prefectures of Japan and that genotype-specific PCR assays are highly applicable for the quarantine of transported cattle and for epidemiological surveys of bovine theileriosis in Japan.     

Suppression of mRNAs for lipoxygenase (LOX), allene oxide synthase (AOS), allene oxide cyclase (AOC) and 12-oxo-phytodienoic acid reductase (OPR) in pea reduces sensitivity to the phytotoxin coronatine and disease development by Mycosphaerella pinodes

Using a recently developed model pathosystem involving Medicago truncatula and Mycosphaerella pinodes, causal agent of Mycosphaerella blight on pea to understand host molecular response to a fungal suppressor, we applied the suppressor to leaves of M. truncatula and identified 151 nonredundant cDNA fragments as newly expressed genes. These included genes encoding lipoxygenase (LOX) and enoyl-CoA hydratase, which are presumably involved in jasmonic acid (JA) synthesis. Potential genes encoding plastidic enzymes, including allene oxide synthase (AOS) and allene oxide cyclase (AOC), and other peroxisomal enzymes involved in β-oxidation were predicted from the Medicago Gene Index EST database and tested for altered expression by semiquantitative RT-PCR. The coordinated expression of genes encoding both plastidic and peroxisomal enzymes showed that the suppressor likely conditions certain cellular process(es) through the JA synthesis in M. truncatula. To explore the role of JA or JA-regulated cellular process(es) in conditioning susceptibility, we used an Apple latent spherical virus (ALSV)-based virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) technology to silence pea genes including LOX, AOS, AOC and 12-oxo-phytodienoic acid reductase (OPR). In LOX-, AOS-, AOC- or OPR-silenced pea plants, disease development induced by M. pinodes was remarkably reduced. Similarly, silencing of mRNA for LOX, AOS, AOC or OPR reduced the sensitivity to a phytotoxin, coronatine, which is believed to act through a JA-dependent process. On the basis of these results, it is conceivable that M. pinodes has evolved a strategy to condition susceptibility by manipulating the physiology of host cells, in particular JA-regulated cellular process(es), to promote disease development in pea.     

Plant cell walls as suppliers of potassium and sodium ions for induced resistance in pea (Pisum sativum L.) and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.)

When an elicitor is applied to plants to induce resistance, one of the first detectable events is the efflux of ions from the treated tissue. Here we are the first to demonstrate that an elicitor from Mycosphaerella pinodes evokes leakage of Na⁺ and K⁺ ions from isolated cell walls of pea and cowpea in vitro, as observed for epicotyl tissues. Pharmacological experiments showed that this elicitor-stimulated leakage was sensitive to vanadate and N-(3-methylphenyl)biphenyl-4-sulfonamide (NGXT-191), that inhibit a cell wall-associated ATPase (apyrase). Vanadate or NGXT-191 suppressed elicitor-induced superoxide generation and expression of defense genes in vivo. On the basis of these results, we assume that the leakage of these ions, probably associated with an ATP-dependent process(es) in the cell wall, is likely associated with induced defenses of pea and cowpea.     

Characteristics of a Pacific herring Clupea pallasii spawning bed off Minedomari, Hokkaido, Japan

ABSTRACT:   The spawning bed selection of herring Clupea pallasii off Minedomari, Atsuta, on the west coast of Hokkaido, Japan, is discussed in relation to the topography of the rocky shore and wave conditions during the spawning season. From 1998 to 2003, herring have spawned their eggs mainly on the leaves of the seagrass Phyllospadix iwatensis Makino in almost the same site on the rocky shore off Minedomari in the Atsuta area. The site is connected to a valley-like feature offshore. Wave conditions were surveyed at Minedomari during the spawning season in 2000 and the wave height was estimated from 1998 to 2003, except for in 2000, using the correlation of wave height between Minedomari and Ishikari Bay New Port, approximately 18 km south-west of Minedomari. Herring spawned under calm conditions, during which the wave height was approximately 0.5 m off Atusta and Aoshima and was 0.18–1.28 m off Minedomari. The distribution of water particle velocity on the sea bottom surface as a result of ocean waves off the Minedomari area, which was estimated based on the wave height and the topography of the coast, suggested herring could swim easily into the shallower area along the valley-like feature off Minedomari. Therefore, topographical features are thought to be one of the reasons why herring have used Minedomari as a spawning bed. Additionally, seepage of freshwater from the bottom, which was observed in this area, could also be the reason why herring spawn in Minedomari repeatedly.