Preliminary experiments on mechanical stretch-induced activation of skeletal muscle satellite cells in vivo

We have shown in vitro that mechanical stretch triggers activation of quiescent satellite cells of skeletal muscle to enter the cell cycle through an intracellular cascade of events including nitric oxide (NO) synthesis that results in the release of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) from its extracellular association and its subsequent presentation to signaling receptors. In order to explore the activation mechanism in vivo, stretch experiments were conducted in the living animal using our suspension model developed. This system used the weight of the hind portion of rats to stretch the inside muscles of the left hind limb suspended for a period of 0.5–2.0 h. At the end of the stretch period, the rats received an intraperitoneal injection of bromodeoxyuridine followed by immunocytochemistry for its incorporation as an index of satellite cell activation in vivo. Depending on the period of stretch, bromodeoxyuridine labeling was increased significantly over the contralateral unstretched leg or control muscle from untreated rats. A stretched muscle extract prepared from the 2 h stretched tissue by incubating it in PBS, showed the active form of HGF as revealed by immunoblotting and it could stimulate the activation of unstretched satellite cells. Also, administering NO synthase inhibitor L‐NAME prior to muscle stretch abolished the stretch activation of satellite cells. Therefore, the results from these experiments demonstrate that stretching muscle triggers NO synthesis and HGF release, which could activate satellite cells in vivo.     

Chloroplast DNA diversity in eggplant (Solanum melongena) and its related species S. incanum and S. marginatum

Summary The potential of isozymes for distinguishing asparagus varieties was carried out by a survey on 21 varieties using 10 enzyme systems: GOT, SkDH, DIA, PGM, MDH, IDH, PGD, ACP, PGI, MR and ADH. Only 3 enzymes, SkDH, GOT and PGM, showed useful polymorphisms. The varieties were found heterogeneous according to their genetic structure: open pollinated varieties were more heterogeneous than clonal hybrids; the F1 hybrid and the vitroclones were homogeneous. As expected from the narrow genetic basis of the varieties, only a few alleles per isozyme locus were present. Moreover, for each enzyme, one allele or type was predominant so that the discriminating power of the method was low. However some of the varieties could be identified and different applications of the results are presented.Abbreviations D.U.S.- Distinction-Uniformity-Stability - ACO- aconitase - ACP- acid phosphatase - ADH- alcohol dehydrogenase - CAT- catalase - DIA- diaphorase - END- endopeptidase - GOT- glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase - IDH- isocitrate dehydrogenase - MDH- malate dehydrogenase - MR- menadione reductase - PGI- phosphoglucoisomerase - PGM- phosphoglucomutase - PGD- phosphoglucose dehydrogenase - POX- peroxidase - SkDH- shikimate dehydrogenase     

Dynamical superconducting order parameter domains in Sr2RuO4

We present direct evidence for complex p-wave order parameter symmetry and the presence of dynamical chiral order parameter domains of the form px +/- ipy in the ruthenate superconductor Sr2RuO4. The domain structure creates differences in the magnetic field modulation of the critical current of Josephson junctions fabricated on orthogonal faces of Sr2RuO4 single crystals. Transitions between the chiral states of a domain or the motion of domain walls separating them generates telegraph noise in the critical current as a function of magnetic field or time and is responsible for hysteresis observed in field sweeps of the critical current. The presence of such domains confirms the p-wave triplet spin and complex (broken time-reversal symmetry) nature of the superconducting pairing state in Sr2RuO4.     

Identification of a novel Bacillus species isolated from Calculus Bovis

A novel Bacillus species of Calculus Bovis (cow gallstone) was isolated and identified in this study. Morphological features, bacterial fatty acid analysis using a microbial identification system, carbon source utilization profiles using Biolog system and 16S rDNA sequencing were employed to identify the isolated bacterium. This isolated bacterium was observed to be Gram‐negative, aerobic growing, rod‐shaped and short chain. The results of bacterial fatty acid analysis and physiological characteristics were not matched to the database. The main fatty acids found in the bacterium were 65.96% branched chain saturated fatty acids (iso C_11:0, anteiso C_11:0 and iso C_13:0～anteiso C_19:0). The bacterium oxidized 35 carbon sources and weakly responded with 49 of the 95 different carbon sources analyzed with the Biolog identification system. Based on 16S rDNA sequence analysis, this bacterium was classified as a novel Bacillus species.     

N-acyl-homoserine lactones from Enterobacter sakazakii (Cronobacter spp.) and their degradation by Bacillus cereus enzymes

A chemical study of acyl-homoserine lactones (acyl-HSLs) produced by Enterobacter sakazakii resulted in the identification of three molecules: (S)-N-heptanoyl-HSL, (S)-N-dodecanoyl-HSL and (S)-N-tetradecanoyl-HSL. Mixed cultures of E. sakazakii and Bacillus cereus depleted E. sakazakii acyl-HSLs, suggesting acyl-HSL degradation by B. cereus hydrolases (hydrolysis of the lactone or amide moiety). The expression of B. cereus acyl-HSL lactonase and acyl-homoserine acylase was confirmed by monitoring the biotransformation of (S)-N-dodecanoyl-HSL into (S)-N-dodecanoyl-homoserine, dodecanoic acid and homoserine in the presence of B. cereus whole cells, using electrospray-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS).     

Migration of biological control agent Rhizobium vitis strain ARK-1 in grapevine stems and inhibition of galls caused by tumorigenic strain of R. vitis

Journal of General Plant Pathology - Nonpathogenic strain ARK-1 of Rhizobium vitis has antagonistic activity against a tumorigenic (Ti) strain of R. vitis and works as a biocontrol agent, but the...