Bioinformatic Annotation of Transposon DNA Processing Genes on the Long-Read Genome Assembly of s.

Transposable elements (TEs) or transposons are thought to play roles in animal physiological processes, such as germline, early embryonic, and brain development, as well as aging. However, their roles have not been systematically investigated through experimental studies. In this study, we created a catalog of genes directly involved in replication, excision, or integration of transposon-coding DNA, which we refer to as transposon DNA processing genes (TDPGs).

Galectin-2 Agglutinates via Lipopolysaccharide Containing H Type I Under Weakly Acidic Conditions.

Galectins are β-galactoside-binding animal lectins involved in various biological functions, such as host defense. Galectin-2 and -3 are members of the galectin family that are expressed in the stomach, including the gastric mucosa and surface mucous cells. Galectin-3 exhibits aggregation and bactericidal activity against in a β-galactoside-dependent manner.

Surgical Video Projection onto a Mannequin: An Educational Tool for Simulation Practice of Perioperative Anesthetic Management.

Simulation practice is known to be effective in anesthesiology education. In our simulation practice of general anesthesia for open cholecystectomy at the Tohoku University simulation center, we projected a surgical video onto a mannequin's abdomen. In this observational study, we investigated whether video-linked simulation practice improved students' performance.

Analysis of the Interaction Between Mucin and Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP)-Tagged Galectin-2 Using a 96-Well Plate.

Due to a significant proportion of glycans binding to the peptide (constituting approximately 50-90% of the molecular weight), analyzing the interaction between the entire mucin molecule and its recognition protein (lectin) can be challenging. To address this, we propose a semiquantitative approach for measuring the interaction between mucin and lectin, which involves immobilizing mucin in a 96-well plate and subsequently adding lectin tagged with green fluorescent protein.

Quantitation of Mucin by Densitometry of an Alcian Blue-Stained Membrane.

It is a challenging task to quantify mucin using conventional protein quantification methods due to the large number of glycans attached to the peptide, which make up approximately 50-90% of its molecular weight. To address this issue, we propose a simple quantification method that involves spotting mucins onto a membrane and staining them with Alcian blue.

Reduced form of Galectin-1 Suppresses Osteoclastic Differentiation of Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells and Murine RAW264 Cells In Vitro.

Galectin-1 (Gal-1) is an evolutionarily conserved sugar-binding protein found in intra- and extracellular spaces. Extracellularly, it binds to glycoconjugates with β-galactoside(s) and functions in various biological phenomena, including immunity, cancer, and differentiation. Under extracellular oxidative conditions, Gal-1 undergoes oxidative inactivation, losing its sugar-binding ability, although it exhibits sugar-independent functions.

Method for Preparing Recombinant Galectin-2 Protein without Escherichia coli-Specific Post-translational Modifications.

Galectin-2 (Gal-2) is an animal lectin with specificity for β-galactosides. It is predominantly expressed and suggested to play a protective function in the gastrointestinal tract; therefore, it can be used as a protein drug. Recombinant proteins have been expressed using Escherichia coli and used to study the function of Gal-2.

Rapid assessment of the immunogenicity potential of engineered antibody therapeutics through detection of CD4 T cell interleukin-2 secretion.

Therapeutic antibodies sometimes elicit anti-drug antibodies (ADAs) that can affect efficacy and safety. Engineered antibodies that contain artificial amino acid sequences are potentially highly immunogenic, but this is currently difficult to predict. Therefore, it is important to efficiently assess immunogenicity during the development of complex antibody-based formats.

Strain-Induced Modulation of Resistive Switching Temperature in Epitaxial VO Thin Films on Flexible Synthetic Mica.

The resistive switching temperature associated with the metal-insulator transition (MIT) of epitaxial VO thin films grown on flexible synthetic mica was modulated by bending stress. The resistive switching temperature of polycrystalline VO and VO thin films, initially grown on synthetic mica without a buffer layer, was observed not to shift with bending stress. By inserting a SnO buffer layer, epitaxial growth of the VO (010) thin film was achieved, and the MIT temperature was found to vary with the bending stress.

Lysophosphatidylinositol Induced Morphological Changes and Stress Fiber Formation through the GPR55-RhoA-ROCK Pathway.

We previously reported that lysophosphatidylinositol (LPI) functions as an endogenous agonist of GPR55, a novel cannabinoid receptor. However, the physiological roles of LPI-GPR55 have not yet been elucidated in detail. In the present study, we found that LPI induced morphological changes in GPR55-expressing HEK293 cells.

Feasibility and effectiveness of cardiac auscultation training with a cardiology patient simulator for first-year medical students.

Background: The effectiveness of cardiac auscultation training with a cardiology patient simulator for medical students is still unclear. Starting such training earlier may help students improve their proficiency. We investigated whether cardiac auscultation training using a simulator for first-year students is feasible and effective.

Insulin signaling shapes fractal scaling of C. elegans behavior.

Fractal scaling in animal behavioral activity, where similar temporal patterns appear repeatedly over a series of magnifications among time scales, governs the complex behavior of various animal species and, in humans, can be altered by neurodegenerative diseases and aging. However, the mechanism underlying fractal scaling remains unknown. Here, we cultured C.

Preferential freezing avoidance localised in anthers and embryo sacs in wintering Daphne kamtschatica var. jezoensis flower buds visualised by magnetic resonance imaging.

To explore diversity in cold hardiness mechanisms, high resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to visualise freezing behaviours in wintering Daphne kamtschatica var. jezoensis flower buds, which have naked florets and no bud scales. MRI images showed that anthers remained stably supercooled to the range from -14 to -21°C or lower while most other tissues froze by -7°C.

Employment of color Doppler echocardiographic video clips in a cardiac auscultation class with a cardiology patient simulator: discrepancy between students' satisfaction and learning.

Background: We have provided fourth-year medical students with a three-hour cardiac auscultation class using a cardiology patient simulator since 2010. The test results of 2010-2012 revealed that as compared with aortic stenosis murmur, students correctly identified murmurs of other valvular diseases less often. We investigated whether employment of color Doppler echocardiographic video clips would improve proficiency in identifying murmurs of aortic regurgitation and mitral regurgitation, and whether students' favorable responses to a questionnaire were associated with improved proficiency.

Osteoclast Differentiation Is Suppressed by Increased O-GlcNAcylation Due to Thiamet G Treatment.

Osteoclasts are the only bone-resorbing cells in organisms and understanding their differentiation mechanism is crucial for the treatment of osteoporosis. In the present study, we investigated the effect of Thiamet G, an O-GlcNAcase specific inhibitor, on osteoclastogenic differentiation. Thiamet G treatment increased global O-GlcNAcylation in murine RAW264 cells and suppressed receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL)-dependent formation in tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP)-positive multinuclear cells, thereby suppressing the upregulation of osteoclast specific genes.

Enhanced O-GlcNAcylation Mediates Cytoprotection under Proteasome Impairment by Promoting Proteasome Turnover in Cancer Cells.

The proteasome is a therapeutic target in cancer, but resistance to proteasome inhibitors often develops owing to the induction of compensatory pathways. Through a genome-wide siRNA screen combined with RNA sequencing analysis, we identified hexokinase and downstream O-GlcNAcylation as cell survival factors under proteasome impairment. The inhibition of O-GlcNAcylation synergistically induced massive cell death in combination with proteasome inhibition.

Expression, S-Nitrosylation, and Measurement of S-Nitrosylation Ratio of Recombinant Galectin-2.

S-nitrosylation, which involves the coupling of an NO group to the reactive thiol of Cys residue(s) in a polypeptide, is an important posttranslational modification detected in a variety of proteins. Here, we present the S-nitrosylation of recombinant galectin-2 (Gal-2) using S-nitrosocysteine and the measurement of the molecular ratio of S-nitrosylation of Cys residues in the Gal-2 protein.

Galectin-2 Has Bactericidal Effects against in a β-galactoside-Dependent Manner.

is associated with the onset of gastritis, peptic ulcers, and gastric cancer. Galectins are a family of β-galactoside-binding proteins involved in diverse biological phenomena. Galectin-2 (Gal-2), a member of the galectin family, is predominantly expressed in the gastrointestinal tract.

Potential Interaction between Galectin-2 and MUC5AC in Mouse Gastric Mucus.

Galectins are a group of animal lectins characterized by their specificity for β-galactosides. Of these, galectin-2 (Gal-2) is predominantly expressed in the gastrointestinal tract. In the current study, we used a mouse gastric mucous fraction to investigate whether Gal-2 is secreted from epithelial cells and identify its potential ligands in gastric mucus.