Correction: Water pre-filtration methods to improve environmental DNA detection by real-time PCR and metabarcoding.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

Water pre-filtration methods to improve environmental DNA detection by real-time PCR and metabarcoding.

Environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis is a novel approach for biomonitoring and has been mostly used in clear water. It is difficult to detect eDNA in turbid water as filter clogging occurs, and environmental samples contain various substances that inhibit the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and affect the accuracy of eDNA analysis. Therefore, we applied a pre-filtration method to better detect the fish species (particularly pale chub, Opsariichthys platypus) present in a water body by measuring eDNA in environmental samples containing PCR inhibitors.

Cathepsin D in pancreatic acinar cells is implicated in cathepsin B and L degradation, but not in autophagic activity.

Cathepsin D (CD) is the major lysosomal aspartic protease and is widely distributed in the cells of various mammalian tissues. CD participates in various physiological events such as regulation of programmed cell death, activation of enzymatic precursors, and metabolic degradation of intracellular proteins through macroautophagy. To investigate the role of CD in pancreatic acinar cells, which constitute the exocrine pancreas, we generated and examined mice specifically deficient for CD in pancreatic acinar cells.

Novel enzymatic properties of DNA-Pt complexes.

DNA-Pt complexes have shown novel enzymatic activity as a peroxidase similar to that of horseradish peroxidase in the colorimetric reaction with its substrate. The enzymatic activity of these complexes increased with increasing reaction time and pH in reaction solutions of DNA and K2[PtCl4]. This enhanced enzymatic activity was attributed to the increase in Pt conjugated to DNA in the complex.

Defective smooth muscle development in qkI-deficient mice.

The qkI gene encodes an RNA binding protein which was identified as a candidate for the classical neurologic mutation, qkv. Although qkI is involved in glial cell differentiation in mice, qkI homologues in other species play important roles in various developmental processes. Here, we show a novel function of qkI in smooth muscle cell differentiation during embryonic blood vessel formation.