Development of luciferase-based highly sensitive reporters that detect ER-associated protein biogenesis abnormalities.

Localization to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and subsequent disulfide bond formation are crucial processes governing the biogenesis of secretory pathway proteins in eukaryotes. Hence, comprehending the mechanisms underlying these processes is important. Here, we have engineered firefly luciferase (FLuc) as a tool to detect deficiencies in these processes within mammalian cells.

Zinc homeostasis governed by Golgi-resident ZnT family members regulates ERp44-mediated proteostasis at the ER-Golgi interface.

Many secretory enzymes acquire essential zinc ions (Zn) in the Golgi complex. ERp44, a chaperone operating in the early secretory pathway, also binds Zn to regulate its client binding and release for the control of protein traffic and homeostasis. Notably, three membrane transporter complexes, ZnT4, ZnT5/ZnT6 and ZnT7, import Zn into the Golgi lumen in exchange with protons.

Immune response elicited in the tumor microenvironment upon rMV-SLAMblind cancer virotherapy.

Oncolytic virotherapy is a promising therapy for cancer. We previously established a recombinant measles virus (rMV-SLAMblind) that targets NECTIN4-expressing cancer cells and demonstrated its antitumor effects using a xenograft model in an immunodeficient mouse. In the current study, to investigate the immune response after rMV-SLAMblind therapy, we developed an immunocompetent cancer mouse model by introducing the NECTIN4 gene into mouse cancer cell lines.

Estimation of breeding population size using DNA-based pedigree reconstruction in brown bears.

Robust estimates of demographic parameters are critical for effective wildlife conservation and management but are difficult to obtain for elusive species. We estimated the breeding and adult population sizes, as well as the minimum population size, in a high-density brown bear population on the Shiretoko Peninsula, in Hokkaido, Japan, using DNA-based pedigree reconstruction. A total of 1288 individuals, collected in and around the Shiretoko Peninsula between 1998 and 2020, were genotyped at 21 microsatellite loci.