Spray Application of Nonpathogenic Fusaria onto Rice Flowers Controls Bakanae Disease (Caused by Fusarium fujikuroi) in the Next Plant Generation.

Bakanae disease, caused by , is an economically important seed-borne disease of rice. is horizontally transmitted to rice flowers and vertically transmitted to the next generation via seeds. The fungus induces typical symptoms such as abnormal tissue elongation and etiolation.

Raman spectroscopic signatures of carotenoids and polyenes enable label-free visualization of microbial distributions within pink biofilms.

Pink biofilms are multispecies microbial communities that are commonly found in moist household environments. The development of this pink stain is problematic from an aesthetic point of view, but more importantly, it raises hygienic concerns because they may serve as a potential reservoir of opportunistic pathogens. Although there have been several studies of pink biofilms using molecular analysis and confocal laser scanning microscopy, little is known about the spatial distributions of constituent microorganisms within pink biofilms, a crucial factor associated with the characteristics of pink biofilms.

AIM-deficient mouse fed a high-trans fat, high-cholesterol diet: a new animal model for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Owing to changes in lifestyle, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is becoming a common form of chronic liver injury. NAFLD comprises a wide variety of disease stages, from simple steatosis to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, which is a risk factor for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Because animal models for NAFLD are needed to investigate the precise pathogenesis, we aimed to establish a new mouse model employing mice deficient for apoptosis inhibitor of macrophage (AIM), which exhibit accelerated lipid storage in the liver and high susceptibility to developing HCC in response to a high-fat diet (HFD).

Probing structure-function relationships in early events in photosynthesis using a chimeric photocomplex.

The native core light-harvesting complex (LH1) from the thermophilic purple phototrophic bacterium requires Ca for its thermal stability and characteristic absorption maximum at 915 nm. To explore the role of specific amino acid residues of the LH1 polypeptides in Ca-binding behavior, we constructed a genetic system for heterologously expressing the LH1 complex in an engineered mutant strain. This system contained a chimeric gene cluster ( from and from ) and was subsequently deployed for introducing site-directed mutations on the LH1 polypeptides.

Total Synthesis of (+)-Goniodenin.

Goniodenin is a lipophilic polyketide originating from plant sources and which possesses a potent cytotoxic activity against cancer cell lines. The first total synthesis of (+)-goniodenin has been achieved in 23 steps from (R)-glycidol. The synthetic sequence featured a cross metathesis for the formation of the C-C bond and installation of the terminal γ-butenolactone ring unit by the alkylation of α-phenylthio-γ-butyrolactone with the corresponding C-O-triflate.

Construction of Iterative Tetrahydrofuran Ring Units and Total Synthesis of (+)-Goniocin.

Cytotoxic acetogenin (+)-goniocin has been synthesized in 17 steps from (R)-O-tritylglycidol. The core structure of the contiguous C22-C10 threo-trans-threo-trans-threo-trans-tris-tetrahydrofuran (THF) ring involving an iterative THF-ring unit was synthesized. An iterative THF ring unit was constructed from an alkenyl-substituted THF ring in four steps including a Pd(II)-catalyzed ring-closing reaction and cross-metathesis.

Effect of myofilament Ca(2+) sensitivity on Ca(2+) wave propagation in rat ventricular muscle.

Background: The propagation velocity of Ca(2+) waves determines delayed afterdepolarization and affects the occurrence of triggered arrhythmias in cardiac muscle. We focused on myofilament Ca(2+) sensitivity, investigating how the velocity of Ca(2+) waves responds to its increased sensitivity resulting from muscle stretch or the addition of a myofilament Ca(2+) sensitizer, SCH00013. We further investigated whether production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) may be involved in the change in velocity.

DJ-1-dependent protective activity of DJ-1-binding compound no. 23 against neuronal cell death in MPTP-treated mouse model of Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is caused by dopaminergic cell death in the substantia nigra, leading to a reduced level of dopamine in the striatum. Oxidative stress is one of the causes of PD. Since symptomatic PD therapies are used, identification of compounds or proteins that inhibit oxidative stress-induced neuronal cell death is necessary.

Telmisartan ameliorates fibrocystic liver disease in an orthologous rat model of human autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease.

Human autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD) produces kidneys which are massively enlarged due to multiple cysts, hypertension, and congenital hepatic fibrosis characterized by dilated bile ducts and portal hypertension. The PCK rat is an orthologous model of human ARPKD with numerous fluid-filled cysts caused by stimulated cellular proliferation in the renal tubules and hepatic bile duct epithelia, with interstitial fibrosis developed in the liver. We previously reported that a peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR)-γ full agonist ameliorated kidney and liver disease in PCK rats.

Perinadine A, a novel tetracyclic alkaloid from marine-derived fungus Penicillium citrinum.

[structure: see text] A novel tetracyclic alkaloid, perinadine A (1), was isolated from the cultured broth of the fungus Penicillium citrinum, which was separated from the gastrointestine of a marine fish, and the structure was elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data including 2D NMR spectra. Biogenetically, perinadine A (1) may be derived from citrinin (4), a well-known mycotoxin, and a scalusamide A-type pyrrolidine alkaloid.

Scalusamides A-C, new pyrrolidine alkaloids from the marine-derived fungus Penicillium citrinum.

Three new pyrrolidine alkaloids, scalusamides A-C (1-3), were isolated from the cultured broth of the fungus Penicillium citrinum, which was separated from the gastrointestine of a marine fish, and the structures were elucidated by spectroscopic data. The absolute stereochemistry of C-2 in the pyrrolidine unit was determined by HPLC analysis of a Marfey's derivative of the hydrolysate of 1, while that of 2 and 3 was assigned by comparison of spectroscopic data of 3 and reductive products of 1 and 2. On the other hand, each of 1-3 was found to be a mixture of epimers at C-7.

Inhibitory effects of bucillamine on increased blood-retinal barrier permeability in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Purpose: To investigate the effect of bucillamine for prevention of increasing blood-retinal barrier (BRB) permeability in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats.

Methods: The groups included control and STZ-induced diabetic rats treated with or without bucillamine. Six months after intervention, the concentrations of reduced and oxidative glutathione (GSH and GSSG) in the retina were measured biochemically.

Inhibitory effect of bucillamine on laser-induced choroidal neovascularization in rats.

Purpose: We investigated the inhibitory effects of bucillamine on formation of laser-induced choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in a rat model.

Methods: Bucillamine administration (approximately 150 mg/kg/day) was started 1 week before photocoagulation and continued to the end of the study. Control groups received drinking water.