Impaired female fertility in tubulointerstitial antigen-like 1-deficient mice

Tubulointerstitial nephritis antigen-like 1 (Tinagl1, also known as adrenocortical zonation factor 1 [AZ-1] or lipocalin 7) is a matricellular protein. Previously, we demonstrated that Tinagl1 expression was restricted to extraembryonic regions during the postimplantation period and detected marked expression in mouse Reichert’s membranes. In uteri, Tinagl1 is markedly expressed in the decidual endometrium during the postimplantation period, suggesting that it plays a physical and physiological role in embryo development and/or decidualization of the uterine endometrium during pregnancy. In the present study, in order to determine the role of Tinagl1 during embryonic development and pregnancy, we generated Tinagl1-deficient mice. Although Tinagl1^–/– embryos were not lethal during development to term, homologous matings of Tinagl1^–/– females and Tinagl1^–/– males showed impaired fertility during pregnancy, including failure to carry pregnancy to term and perinatal lethality. To examine ovarian function, ovulation was induced with equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG); the number of ovulated oocytes did not differ between Tinagl1^–/– and Tinagl1^flox/flox. In vitro fertilization followed by embryo culture also demonstrated the normal developmental potential of Tinagl1-null embryos during the preimplantation period. Our results demonstrate that Tinagl1 deficiency affects female mice and results in subfertility phenotypes, and they suggest that although the potential of Tinagl1^–/– oocytes is normal, Tinagl1 is related to fertility in adult females but is not essential for either fertilization or preimplantation development in vitro.     

Molecular characterization of coral sulfate transporter homolog that is up-regulated by the presence of symbiotic algae

Reef-building corals are in symbiosis with the dinoflagellates Symbiodinium spp. In our previous study, the expression of two mRNAs (AtSym-01 and 02) was up-regulated by the presence of Symbiodinium cells (strain PL-TS-1) in juveniles of the reef-building coral Acropora tenuis. In this study, the AtSym-01 mRNA was found to encode a cnidarian ortholog of the vertebrate SLC26A11 sulfate transporter. The AtSym-01 and human SLC26A11 proteins exhibited 46% identity over 542 amino acids. Real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis showed that the expression level of the AtSym-01 mRNA was also increased by the presence of Symbiodinium strain CCMP2467 cells. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed using polyclonal antibodies against the AtSym-01 protein, in order to study the distribution of the protein in A. tenuis tissues. Cell-specific immunoreaction was observed in diverse tissues in juvenile and adult specimens. Notable immunoreaction was observed in mucocytes (mucus cells) in the outer epithelium of juveniles, and gastrodermal cells located between the coelenteron and skeleton of the adult colony. These observations suggest the possibility that the AtSym-01 protein is involved in uptake of sulfate ion for synthesis of sulfated macromolecules that are contained in the mucus and organic matrix of the calcified skeleton.     

A plant vacuolar protease, VPE, mediates virus-induced hypersensitive cell death

Programmed cell death (PCD) in animals depends on caspase protease activity. Plants also exhibit PCD, for example as a response to pathogens, although a plant caspase remains elusive. Here we show that vacuolar processing enzyme (VPE) is a protease essential for a virus-induced hypersensitive response that involves PCD. VPE deficiency prevented virus-induced hypersensitive cell death in tobacco plants. VPE is structurally unrelated to caspases, although VPE has a caspase-1 activity. Thus, plants have evolved a regulated cellular suicide strategy that, unlike PCD of animals, is mediated by VPE and the cellular vacuole.     

An Improved Method for Isolating Violet Root Rot Fungus, Helicobasidium mompa, from Basidiocarps

Basidiocarps of the violet root rot fungus, Helicobasidium mompa, are less frequently used for isolation than are mycelial strands and sclerotia even though the basidiocarps are conspicuously produced at the trunk base of diseased plants. Basidiocarps are also more suitable for storage. This paper describes an improved method for obtaining pure cultures from basidiocarps using microcentrifuge tubes to facilitate the awkward steps of rinsing fungal materials under a dissecting microscope. Received 28 June 2000/ Accepted in revised form 4 August 2000     

Assignment of the 1H and 13C NMR spectra of 2-aminobenzamide-labeled galacto- and arabinooligosaccharides

1,4-Linked β-d-galactooligosaccharides with a degree of polymerization (DP) between 1 and 7 and 1,5-linked α-l-arabinooligosaccharides with a DP between 1 and 8 were labeled at their reducing ends with 2-aminobenzamide (2AB) in the presence of sodium cyanoborohydride. The 2AB-labeled oligosaccharides were shown to be homogeneous using high-performance anion-exchange chromatography (HPAEC) and by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). The signals in the ¹H and ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra of the 2AB-labeled oligosaccharides were then assigned using one- and two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy. These NMR data will be useful for the structural analysis of enzymatically synthesized galactan and arabinan side chains derived from rhamnogalacturonan I.     

The importance of mother–infant communication for social bond formation in mammals

Mother–infant bonding is a universal relationship of all mammalian species. Here, we describe the role of reciprocal communication between mother and infant in the formation of bonding for several mammalian species. Mother–infant bond formation is reinforced by various social cues or stimuli, including communicative signals, such as odor and vocalizations, or tactile stimuli. The mother also develops cross‐modal sensory recognition of the infant, during bond formation. Many studies have indicated that the oxytocin neural system plays a pivotal role in bond formation by the mother; however, the underlying neural mechanisms for infants have not yet been clarified. The comparative understanding of cognitive functions of mother and infants may help us understand the biological significance of mother–infant communication in mammalian species.