Sunlight-driven synthesis of γ-diketones via oxidative coupling of enamines with silyl enol ethers catalyzed by [Ru(bpy)3]2+.

A photosensitizer [Ru(bpy)(3)](2+) catalyzes oxidative coupling reaction of enamines with silyl enol ethers under visible light irradiation by a Xe lamp or sunlight to produce γ-diketones. A 2e-oxidation process involved in this reaction is achieved by a combination of the photoexcited [Ru(bpy)(3)](2+) species and duroquinone, a 2e-acceptor.

Practical application of methanol-mediated mutualistic symbiosis between Methylobacterium species and a roof greening moss, Racomitrium japonicum.

Bryophytes, or mosses, are considered the most maintenance-free materials for roof greening. Racomitrium species are most often used due to their high tolerance to desiccation. Because they grow slowly, a technology for forcing their growth is desired.

Externalization of saw-tooth architecture in small serrated polyps implies the presence of methylation of IGFBP7.

Introduction: Serrated polyps have been considered to be precursors of colorectal cancer with microsatellite instability. However, the biological and/or morphological changes which occur during the course of serrated polyp to cancer remain to be elucidated.

Methods: Twenty-eight colorectal serrated polyps including five mixed polyps (MP) from 20 patients were observed by chromoendoscopy with magnification, and subsequently resected endoscopically.

Enhanced photocatalytic activity of α-methylstyrene oligomerization through effective metal-to-ligand charge-transfer localization on the bridging ligand.

A series of Pd complexes containing a visible-light harvesting moiety with various combination of substituents (R, X) were synthesized. The variation of the substituents resulted in significant change in the electrochemical and photophysical properties of the complexes. Additionally, photocatalytic activity drastically increased through the introduction of an electron-donating group on R and an electron-withdrawing group on X, respectively.

Involvement of a class III peroxidase and the mitochondrial protein TSPO in oxidative burst upon treatment of moss plants with a fungal elicitor.

Production of apoplastic reactive oxygen species (ROS), or oxidative burst, is among the first responses of plants upon recognition of microorganisms. It requires peroxidase or NADPH oxidase (NOX) activity and factors maintaining cellular redox homeostasis. Here, PpTSPO1 involved in mitochondrial tetrapyrrole transport and abiotic (salt) stress tolerance was tested for its role in biotic stress in Physcomitrella patens, a nonvascular plant (moss).

ppGpp inhibits peptide elongation cycle of chloroplast translation system in vitro.

Chloroplasts possess common biosynthetic pathways for generating guanosine 3',5'-(bis)pyrophosphate (ppGpp) from GDP and ATP by RelA-SpoT homolog enzymes. To date, several hypothetical targets of ppGpp in chloroplasts have been suggested, but they remain largely unverified. In this study, we have investigated effects of ppGpp on translation apparatus in chloroplasts by developing in vitro protein synthesis system based on an extract of chloroplasts isolated from pea (Pisum sativum).

Laterality of spinocerebellar neurons in the chicken spinal cord.

The aim in this study is to elucidate the laterality of chicken spinocerebellar (SC) neurons that originate from the caudal cervical to caudal lumbosacral spinal cord. SC neurons in the spinal segment (SS) 17-20 consisted of a mixture of crossed and uncrossed axons. SC neurons in the more cranial and caudal SS than SS 17-20 (transitional zone) were generally uncrossed and crossed, respectively.

In vitro protein import of a putative amino acid transporter from Arabidopsis thaliana into chloroplasts and its suborganellar localization.

We identified a gene product of At5g19500 (At5g19500p) from Arabidopsis thaliana that is homologous to EcTyrP, a tyrosine-specific transporter from Escherichia coli. Computational analyses of the amino acid sequence of At5g19500p predicted 11 transmembrane domains (TMDs) and a potential plastid targeting signal at its amino terminus. As a first step toward understanding the possible role of At5g19500p in plant cells, we attempted to determine the localization of At5g19500p by an in vitro chloroplastic import assay using At5g19500p translated in a cell-free wheat germ system (Madin et al.

Detectability of colorectal neoplasia with fluorine-18-2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography and computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT).

Background: The purpose of this study was to analyze the detectability of colorectal neoplasia with fluorine-18-2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT).

Methods: Data for a total of 492 patients who had undergone both PET/CT and colonoscopy were analyzed. After the findings of PET/CT and colonoscopy were determined independently, the results were compared in each of the six colonic sites examined in all patients.

In vitro fluorescent analysis of preprotein import into chloroplasts.

Despite recent progress in fluorescence techniques employed to observe protein localization in living cells, the in vitro chloroplastic protein transport assay remains a useful tool for determining the destinations of proteins. Although an in vitro synthesized, radiolabeled precursor protein is frequently used as the transport substrate, we have developed a transport assay system with a non-radiolabeled precursor protein that carries an epitope tag and is overexpressed in Escherichia coli. Thus, a transported protein can be detected by immunoblotting (Inoue et al.

Functional relationship between Claspin and Rad17.

Claspin was originally identified as a Check1 (Chk1)-interacting protein. Claspin and Rad17 are reportedly involved in the DNA damage-induced phosphorylation of Chk1, a hallmark of checkpoint activation. To understand the cellular functions of Claspin and the functional relationship between Claspin and Rad17, we generated Claspin(-/-) and Claspin(-/-)/RAD17(-) cells using chicken DT40 cells, which contain an exogenously introduced Claspin that can be suppressed by the addition of doxycycline (Dox).

Photo- and electro-chromic organometallics with dithienylethene (DTE) linker, L2CpM-DTE-MCpL2: dually stimuli-responsive molecular switch.

Photochromic dithienylethene (DTE) derivatives, M-DTE-M (M: M(η(5)-C(5)R(5))L(2); M = Fe, Ru; R = H, Me; L = CO, phosphine), with direct σ-bonded, redox-active organometallic attachments are prepared and their response to photo- and electro-chemical stimuli as well as wire-like and switching performance has been investigated. These properties turn out to be dependent on the metal and the auxiliary ligands. The DTE complexes with the MCp(CO)(2) and RuCp(CO)(PPh(3)) fragments undergo reversible photochemical ring-closing and -opening of the DTE moiety upon UV and visible-light irradiation, respectively, whereas the other FeCp(CO)(PPh(3)) and Fe(η(5)-C(5)R(5))(dppe) derivatives are virtually inert with respect to the photochemical ring closing process.

Making organometallic molecular wires via oxidative ligand coupling.

1e-Oxidation of heteroaryl-metal complexes, M-het-H (het-H(2) = thiophene, pyrrole, and furan) causes coupling at the heteroaryl moiety to furnish, after deprotonation, the organometallic molecular wire with the doubly elongated linker, M-het-het-M.

The histone chaperone facilitates chromatin transcription (FACT) protein maintains normal replication fork rates.

Ordered nucleosome disassembly and reassembly are required for eukaryotic DNA replication. The facilitates chromatin transcription (FACT) complex, a histone chaperone comprising Spt16 and SSRP1, is involved in DNA replication as well as transcription. FACT associates with the MCM helicase, which is involved in DNA replication initiation and elongation.

Highly fluorescent M2L4 molecular capsules with anthracene shells.

M(2)L(4) molecular capsules self-assembled from M(II) ions (where M = Zn, Ni, and Pd) and bent bidentate ligands constructed from anthracene fluorophores. The Ni(II) and Zn(II) capsules exhibited weak to strong blue emission unlike traditional Pd(II) cages and capsules.

An M2L4 molecular capsule with an anthracene shell: encapsulation of large guests up to 1 nm.

A new M(2)L(4) molecular capsule with an aromatic shell was prepared using two Pd(II) ions and four bisanthracene ligands. The self-assembled capsule possesses a cavity with a diameter of ~1 nm that can encapsulate medium-sized spherical and planar molecules as well as a very large molecule (C(60)) in quantitative yields. The encapsulated guests are fully segregated and shielded from the external environment by the large anthracene panels.

Enantioselective cyclization of 4-alkenoic acids via an oxidative allylic C-H esterification.

An enantioselective intramolecular oxidative cyclization of 4-alkenoic acids was developed. The reaction proceeded via a π-allyl Pd intermediate generated by an allylic C-H activation to give γ-lactone derivatives with moderate to good enantioselectivity. Spiro bis(isoxazoline) ligand, SPRIX, was indispensable for this asymmetric transformation.

Infection of the Sunagoke moss panels with fungal pathogens hampers sustainable greening in urban environments.

Drought and heat tolerance of the Sunagoke moss (Racomitrium japonicum) and the low thermal conductivity of the dry moss tissue offer novel greening and insulation possibilities of roofs and walls to mitigate the heat island phenomenon in urban environments. However, damage may appear in the moss panels under humid conditions in Japan. In this study we characterized fungi associated with the damaged areas of the Sunagoke moss panels.

Culturable bacteria in hydroponic cultures of moss Racomitrium japonicum and their potential as biofertilizers for moss production.

The use of Racomitrium japonicum, a drought resistant bryophyte used for roof-greening, is gradually increasing. However, its utilization is hampered by slow growth rate. Here we isolated culturable bacteria from hydroponic cultivation samples to identify isolates that could promote moss growth.

Colorectal endoscopic submucosal dissection for elderly patients at least 80 years of age.

Background: Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) has been used recently for successful en bloc resection of even large lesions, although no consensus appears in medical literature concerning its application to elderly patients. This prospective cohort study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of colorectal ESD for patients 80 years of age or older.

Methods: Colorectal ESD procedure findings were compared with clinical outcomes, including associated complications and mortalities, for two age groups totaling 196 consecutive patients with 202 colorectal lesions.

A novel mutation of ALK2, L196P, found in the most benign case of fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva activates BMP-specific intracellular signaling equivalent to a typical mutation, R206H.

Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP) is a rare autosomal dominant congenital disorder characterized by progressive heterotopic ossification in muscle tissues. Constitutively activated mutants of a bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) receptor, ALK2, have been identified in patients with FOP. Recently, a novel ALK2 mutation, L196P, was found in the most benign case of FOP reported thus far.

Analysis of K-ras, BRAF, and PIK3CA mutations in laterally-spreading tumors of the colorectum.

Background And Aims: Laterally-spreading tumors (LST) are a newly-recognized category of colorectal neoplasia, and are defined as lesions larger than 10 mm in diameter and extending circumferentially rather than vertically. However, genetic features of this new category of tumors are not fully elucidated. The aim of this study was to evaluate genetic alterations in LST.