Improved development of mouse somatic cell nuclear transfer embryos by chlamydocin analogues, class I and IIa histone deacetylase inhibitors†.

In mammalian cloning by somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), the treatment of reconstructed embryos with histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors improves efficiency. So far, most of those used for SCNT are hydroxamic acid derivatives-such as trichostatin A-characterized by their broad inhibitory spectrum. Here, we examined whether mouse SCNT efficiency could be improved using chlamydocin analogues, a family of newly designed agents that specifically inhibit class I and IIa HDACs.

Emulsifiers and thickeners on extrusion-cooked instant rice product.

Extrusion-cooked instant rice was prepared by optimizing the formulation with emulsifiers, glycerol monostearate (GMS), soybean lecithin (LC), and sodiumstearoyl lactylate (SSL), and thickeners, gum Arabic (GA), sodium alginate (SA), and sticky rice (SR). The emulsifiers addition caused increase of degree of gelatinization (DG), and decrease of water soluble carbohydrate (WSC), α-amylase sensitivity, water soluble index (WAI) and adhesive for extrudates, while the thickeners addition increased extrudates DG, bulk density (BD), WSC, α-amylase sensitivity, WAI, hydration rate (HR) and adhesiveness. Based on the data generated by a single additive at various levels, optimum formulation was obtained employing orthogonal matrix system with combination of the selected additives for extrusion cooking.

Nutritional evaluation of protein from Clanis bilineata (Lepidoptera), an edible insect.

Background: This study was carried out to determine the nutritive quality of protein from Clanis bilineata (CB), an edible insect.

Results: The protein content of dried CB was 685.3 g kg(-1) and its essential amino acid content was 528.

Preparation of glucosamine by hydrolysis of chitosan with commercial α-amylase and glucoamylase.

Objective: In order to overcome the defects of chemical hydrolysis approach to prepare glucosamine, an enzymatic hydrolysis method was developed.

Methods: Glucosamine was prepared by hydrolyzing chitosan, employing α-amylase initially, and subsequently, glucoamylase.

Results: The optimal hydrolyzing conditions were as follows: reaction time, 4 h; pH, 5.

Licochalcone E has an antidiabetic effect.

Licochalcone E (lico E) is a retrochalcone isolated from the root of Glycyrrhiza inflata. Retrochalcone compounds evidence a variety of pharmacological profiles, including anticancer, antiparasitic, antibacterial, antioxidative and superoxide-scavenging properties. In this study, we evaluated the biological effects of lico E on adipocyte differentiation in vitro and obesity-related diabetes in vivo.

Konjac glucomannan as a carrier material for time--temperature integrator.

Hardness, springiness and water retention of konjac glucomannan gel (g-KGM) as a novel carrier material for time-temperature integrator (TTI) in aseptic processing were determined and compared with those of sodium alginate gel (g-SA). Hardness of both g-KGM and g-SA increased with temperature: values of g-SA were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than those of g-KGM at all temperatures.

Estimation of pullulan by hydrolysis with pullulanase.

A novel method for the estimation of pullulan was developed in which pullulan was hydrolysed by pullulanase. The hydrolysed product was mainly maltotriose and was determined colorimetrically using 3,5-dimethylsalicylic acid. This gave good linearity with respect to the concentration of pullulan in the fermentation broth.

Wogonin inhibits osteoclast formation induced by lipopolysaccharide.

To evaluate the inhibitory activity of wogonin against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced bone resorption, we investigated the effect of wogonin on osteoclastogenesis induced by LPS. Wogonin inhibited LPS-induced osteoclastogenesis in co-cultures of mouse calvaria-derived osteoblasts and bone marrow-derived pre-osteoclasts. Wogonin also suppressed osteoclastogenesis in LPS-injected mouse calvaria.

Changes in allele-specific association of histone modifications at the imprinting control regions during mouse preimplantation development.

Allele-specific association of histone modification is observed at the regulatory region of imprinted genes and has been suggested to work as an epigenetic marker for monoallelic gene expression, along with the allelic CpG methylation of DNA. Although the parent-origin-specific epigenetic status in imprinted genes is thought to be established during preimplantation development, little is known about the allelic specificity of histone modifications during this period because of the limited volume of material available for analysis. In this study, we first revealed the allelic enrichment of histone modifications and variant histones at the imprinting control regions (ICRs) of four-cell to blastocyst stage preimplantation embryos by using carrier chromatin immunoprecipitation and sequence polymorphism analysis of immunoprecipitated DNA.

Mouse strain-dependent osteoclastogenesis in response to lipopolysaccharide.

Bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a potent stimulator of bone resorption in periodontitis. Co-culture systems of mouse calvaria-derived osteoblasts and bone marrow-derived preosteoclasts were used as an in vitro osteoclast differentiation. This study revealed that co-cultures using ddY or ICR mouse strain responded differently to LPS while responded equally to 1alpha,25(OH)2D3.

Inefficient reprogramming of the hematopoietic stem cell genome following nuclear transfer.

In general, cloning undifferentiated preimplantation embryos (blastomeres) or embryonic stem cells is more efficient than cloning differentiated somatic cells. Therefore, there has been an assumption that tissue-specific stem cells might serve as efficient donors for nuclear transfer because of the undifferentiated state of their genome. Here, we show that this is not the case with adult hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs).

Regulation of histone acetylation during meiotic maturation in mouse oocytes.

Histone acetylation is an important epigenetic modification implicated in the regulation of chromatin structure and, subsequently, gene expression. Global histone deacetylation was reported in mouse oocytes during meiosis but not mitosis. The regulation of this meiosis-specific deacetylation has not been elucidated.

Regulation of histone H3 lysine 9 methylation in oocytes and early pre-implantation embryos.

Epigenetic modifications of the genome, such as covalent modification of histone residues, ensure appropriate gene activation during pre-implantation development, and are probably involved in the asymmetric reprogramming of the parental genomes after fertilization. We investigated the methylation patterns of histone H3 at lysine 9 (H3/K9), and the regulatory mechanism involved in the asymmetric remodeling of parental genomes during early preimplantation development in mice. Immunocytochemistry with an antibody that specifically recognizes methylated H3/K9 showed a very weak or absent methylation signal in the male pronucleus, whereas a distinct methylation signal was detected in the female pronucleus.

Significance of chin-brow vertical angle in correction of kyphotic deformity of ankylosing spondylitis patients.

Study Design: A prospective study.

Objectives: To assess the significance of chin-brow vertical angle in planning and evaluating the correction of kyphotic deformity with ankylosis of the cervical spine in ankylosing spondylitis patients.

Summary Of Background Data: Accurate assessment and measurement of spinal kyphotic deformity is required when planning treatment and assessing its results.

Changes in histone acetylation during mouse oocyte meiosis.

We examined global changes in the acetylation of histones in mouse oocytes during meiosis. Immunocytochemistry with specific antibodies against various acetylated lysine residues on histones H3 and H4 showed that acetylation of all the lysines decreased to undetectable or negligible levels in the oocytes during meiosis, whereas most of these lysines were acetylated during mitosis in preimplantation embryos and somatic cells. When the somatic cell nuclei were transferred into enucleated oocytes, the acetylation of lysines decreased markedly.

Analysis of the mechanism for chromatin remodeling in embryos reconstructed by somatic nuclear transfer.

The objective of the present study was to understand the molecular/biochemical nature of chromatin remodeling that occurs in the somatic nuclei transferred into oocytes. We produced the reconstructed mouse embryos by two different protocols of nuclear transfer. The nucleus of a cumulus cell was transferred into enucleated unfertilized oocytes (transferred before activation, TA protocol) or activated oocytes (activated before transfer, AT protocol).