Shape-dependent regulation of differentiation lineages of bone marrow-derived cells under cyclic stretch.

Multipotent stem cells are considered as a key material in regenerative medicine, and the understanding of the heterogeneity in the differentiation potentials of bone marrow-derived cells is important in the successful regenerative tissue repair. Therefore, the present study has been performed to investigate how the differentiation of post-harvest, native bone marrow-derived cells is regulated by cyclic stretch in vitro. Bone marrow-derived cells were obtained from mouse femur of both hind limbs and categorized into the following five categories: amebocytes, round cells, spindle cells, stellate cells and others.

Molecular cloning and functional characterization of the sex-determination gene doublesex in the sexually dimorphic broad-horned beetle Gnatocerus cornutus (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae).

Various types of weapon traits found in insect order Coleoptera are known as outstanding examples of sexually selected exaggerated characters. It is known that the sex determination gene doublesex (dsx) plays a significant role in sex-specific expression of weapon traits in various beetles belonging to the superfamily Scarabaeoidea. Although sex-specific weapon traits have evolved independently in various Coleopteran groups, developmental mechanisms of sex-specific expression have not been studied outside of the Scarabaeoidea.

Degradation of sphingoid long-chain base 1-phosphates (LCB-1Ps): functional characterization and expression of AtDPL1 encoding LCB-1P lyase involved in the dehydration stress response in Arabidopsis.

Sphingoid long-chain base (LCB) 1-phosphates are degradated by LCB 1-phosphate lyase to C(16) fatty aldehydes and phosphoethanolamine. Here, we confirmed that the At1g27980 gene product, AtDPL1, is a functional LCB-1-phosphate lyase. Expression of green fluorescent protein fusion products in suspension-cultured Arabidopsis cells showed that AtDPL1 is located to the endoplasmic reticulum.