Oscillation of cAMP and Ca(2+) in cardiac myocytes: a systems biology approach.

Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and Ca(2+) levels may oscillate in harmony within excitable cells; a mathematical oscillation loop model, the Cooper model, of these oscillations was developed two decades ago. However, in that model all adenylyl cyclase (AC) isoforms were assumed to be inhibited by Ca(2+), and it is now known that the heart expresses multiple AC isoforms, among which the type 5/6 isoforms are Ca(2+)-inhibitable whereas the other five (AC2, 3, 4, 7, and 9) are not. We used a computational systems biology approach with CellDesigner simulation software to develop a comprehensive graphical map and oscillation loop model for cAMP and Ca(2+).

Phosphatidylglucoside: a novel marker for adult neural stem cells.

We investigated the expression of a novel glycophospholipid, phosphatidylglucoside (PtdGlc), in adult mouse brains. Immunohistochemical analysis with DIM21 antibody, a monoclonal anti-PtdGlc antibody, revealed robust PtdGlc staining in the two primary neurogenic regions of the adult rodent brain, the subventricular zone (SVZ) lining the lateral ventricle and the subgranular zone of the dentate gyrus. Intriguingly, the staining pattern of PtdGlc appeared to overlap that of glial fibrillary acidic protein, an adult neural stem cell marker in these regions.

Selective upregulation of 3-phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (Phgdh) expression in adult subventricular zone neurogenic niche.

In the adult rodent brain, constitutive neurogenesis occurs in two restricted regions, the subventricular zone (SVZ) of the lateral ventricle and the subgranular zone of the hippocampal dentate gyrus, where multipotent neural stem/progenitor cells generate new neurons. Using Western blotting and immunohistochemistry for established markers, we demonstrated that the expression of 3-phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (Phgdh), an enzyme involved in de novo synthesis of l-serine, was upregulated in the SVZ. The expression was selective to cells having morphological features and expressing markers of astrocyte-like primary neural stem cells (type B cells) and their progeny, actively proliferating progenitors (type C cells).

Lipid rafts enriched in phosphatidylglucoside direct astroglial differentiation by regulating tyrosine kinase activity of epidermal growth factor receptors.

Membrane lipid rafts provide a specialized microenvironment enriched with sphingolipids and phospholipids containing saturated fatty acids and serve as a platform for various intracellular signalling pathways. PtdGlc (phosphatidylglucoside) is a type of glycophospholipid localized in the outer leaflet of the plasma membrane. Owing to PtdGlc's unique fatty acid composition, exclusively composed of C(18:0) at sn-1 and C(20:0) at sn-2 of the glycerol backbone, it tends to form PGLRs (PtdGlc-enriched lipid rafts).

Quantitative analysis of a novel glucosylated phospholipid by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Building upon the demonstrated presence of a new glyceroglycolipid, phosphatidylglucoside (PtdGlc), in rat embryonic brain tissues, we have developed a method to identify minute amounts of PtdGlc in cultured cells by using nano-flow high-performance liquid chromatography and negative-ion-mode electrospray linear-ion trap time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-MS). A normal-phase silica gel-based column enabled us to separate PtdGlc from other lipid classes. PtdGlc was identified from its tandem mass spectrometry spectrum and from its retention time in the column.

[Analysis of the macrolide resistance gene in penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae].

We examined the penicillin and macrolide resistance of 496 strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae) isolated at Showa University Hospital from November 2004 to May 2005. According to the classification established by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute, the ratio of penicillin susceptible S.

[Analysis of the metallo-beta-lactamase gene in multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated at Showa University Hospital].

We conducted a molecular epidemiological analysis of multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MDRP) isolated at Showa University Hospital. The ratio of MDRP to total P. aeruginosa was 0.

Phosphatidylglucoside exists as a single molecular species with saturated fatty acyl chains in developing astroglial membranes.

We previously found that phosphatidylglucoside (PtdGlc), a novel glycolipid expressed in HL60 cells, plays a role in forming signaling microdomains involved in cellular differentiation. Because cells contain minute levels of PtdGlc, pure PtdGlc is very difficult to isolate. Thus, its complete structure has never been assessed.

[The positivity of specific IgE to salmon roe and cod roe in outpatients].

Purpose: To clarify the positivity of specific IgE to salmon and cod roe in outpatients.

Methods: Specific IgE were assayed using CAP RAST system in 91 pediatric outpatients. They were 47 males and 44 females, including 22 allergic, 29 infectious, 10 neurological, 8 gastrointestinal, 7 urological, 6 hematologic, 3 metabolic disease and 6 other disorders.

Neurodegeneration augments the ability of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells to fuse with Purkinje neurons in Niemann-Pick type C mice.

After transplantation, adult bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) may undergo transdifferentiation and/or cell fusion in response to new environments. However, the mechanism(s) that govern these cell fate switches remain unknown. Here we demonstrate that the pathology associated with murine Niemann-Pick disease type C (NP-C) cerebellum augments the ability of BM-MSCs to fuse with Purkinje neurons.

Mouse 3-phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase gene: genomic organization, chromosomal localization, and promoter analysis.

d-3-Phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (Phgdh; EC 1.1.1.

Functional analysis of mouse 3-phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (Phgdh) gene promoter in developing brain.

D-3-Phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (Phgdh; EC 1.1.1.

Targeted disruption of the mouse 3-phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase gene causes severe neurodevelopmental defects and results in embryonic lethality.

D-3-Phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (Phgdh; EC 1.1.1.