Protein kinase C-mediated phosphorylation of transient receptor potential melastatin type 2 Thr738 counteracts the effect of cytosolic Ca and elevates the temperature threshold.

The transient receptor potential melastatin type 2 (TRPM2) channel is a non-selective cation channel that has high Ca permeability. TRPM2 is sensitive to warm temperatures and is expressed in cells and tissues that are maintained at core body temperature. TRPM2 activity is also regulated by endogenous factors including redox signalling, cytosolic Ca and adenosine diphosphate ribose.

Lattice-patterned collagen fibers and their dynamics in axolotl skin regeneration.

The morphology of collagen-producing cells and the structure of produced collagen in the dermis have not been well-described. This lack of insights has been a serious obstacle in the evaluation of skin regeneration. We succeeded in visualizing collagen-producing cells and produced collagen using the axolotl skin, which is highly transparent.

Emerging Perspectives on Pain Management by Modulation of TRP Channels and ANO1.

Receptor-type ion channels are critical for detection of noxious stimuli in primary sensory neurons. Transient receptor potential (TRP) channels mediate pain sensations and promote a variety of neuronal signals that elicit secondary neural functions (such as calcitonin gene-related peptide [CGRP] secretion), which are important for physiological functions throughout the body. In this review, we focus on the involvement of TRP channels in sensing acute pain, inflammatory pain, headache, migraine, pain due to fungal infections, and osteo-inflammation.

Characteristics of interactions at protein segments without non-local intramolecular contacts in the Protein Data Bank.

The principle of three-dimensional protein structure formation is a long-standing conundrum in structural biology. A globular domain of a soluble protein is formed by a network of atomic contacts among amino acid residues, but regions without intramolecular non-local contacts are often observed in the protein structure, especially in loop, linker, and peripheral segments with secondary structures. Although these regions can play key roles for protein function as interfaces for intermolecular interactions, their nature remains unclear.

Higher primate-like direct corticomotoneuronal connections are transiently formed in a juvenile subprimate mammal.

The corticospinal (CS) tract emerged and evolved in mammals, and is essentially involved in voluntary movement. Over its phylogenesis, CS innervation gradually invaded to the ventral spinal cord, eventually making direct connections with spinal motoneurons (MNs) in higher primates. Despite its importance, our knowledge of the origin of the direct CS-MN connections is limited; in fact, there is controversy as to whether these connections occur in subprimate mammals, such as rodents.

Identity of neocortical layer 4 neurons is specified through correct positioning into the cortex.

Many cell-intrinsic mechanisms have been shown to regulate neuronal subtype specification in the mammalian neocortex. However, how much cell environment is crucial for subtype determination still remained unclear. Here, we show that knockdown of Protocadherin20 (Pcdh20), which is expressed in post-migratory neurons of layer 4 (L4) lineage, caused the cells to localize in L2/3.

A robust transcriptional program in newts undergoing multiple events of lens regeneration throughout their lifespan.

Newts have the ability to repeatedly regenerate their lens even during ageing. However, it is unclear whether this regeneration reflects an undisturbed genetic activity. To answer this question, we compared the transcriptomes of lenses, irises and tails from aged newts that had undergone lens regeneration 19 times with the equivalent tissues from young newts that had never experienced lens regeneration.

TNFα is required for the production of T-type Ca(2+) channel-dependent long-term potentiation in visual cortex.

Monocular deprivation produces depression and potentiation of visual responses evoked in visual cortical neurons by stimulation of deprived and nondeprived eyes, respectively, during the critical period of ocular dominance plasticity. Our previous studies suggested that T-type Ca(2+) channel-dependent long-term potentiation (LTP), induced by 2 Hz stimulation, mediates the potentiation of visual responses. However, it was proposed that the experience-dependent response potentiation is mediated by tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα)-dependent homeostatic synaptic scaling but not by Hebbian synaptic plasticity, because the potentiation was absent in TNFα knockout (TNFα-KO) mice.

Ni(2+)-sensitive T-type Ca(2+) channel currents are regulated in parallel with synaptic and visual response plasticity in visual cortex.

Visual cortical neurons undergo depression and potentiation of their visual responses to stimulation of the deprived and non-deprived eyes, respectively, after monocular deprivation. This modification occurs predominantly during an early postnatal period in normal development, and this critical period is postponed until adulthood in animals reared in darkness from birth. We have proposed that Ni(2+)-sensitive T-type Ca(2+) channel-dependent long-term potentiation (T-LTP) mediates the potentiation of non-deprived eye responses.

Injection-seeded optical parametric amplifier for generating chirped nanosecond pulses.

We constructed an optical parametric amplifier with BiBO crystals, which was injection seeded by a phase-modulated cw beam in the 1,040-1,070 nm region. Two-stage pre-amplification by Yb-doped fibers were implemented for stable injection to the OPA. The frequency chirp in the OPA pulse was actively controlled by adjusting the RF wave for the phase modulation and its synchronization to the OPA firing.

Reconstitution of the water-oxidizing complex in manganese-depleted photosystem II preparations using synthetic Mn complexes: a fluorine-19 NMR study of the reconstitution process.

Reconstitution of Mn-depleted photosystem II (PSII) particles was examined with synthetic trinuclear Mn complexes of newly developed tripod ligands. Rates of the electron transfer and oxygen evolution were up to 74-86 and 52-56% of those measured in native PSII. These values are higher than those for the PSII reconstituted by MnCl(2).

Reconstitution of the water-oxidizing complex in manganese-depleted photosystem II preparations using synthetic binuclear Mn(II) and Mn(IV) complexes: production of hydrogen peroxide.

Reconstitution of Mn-depleted PSII particles with synthetic binuclear Mn complexes (one Mn(II)(2) complex and one Mn(IV)(2) complex) was examined. In both cases the electron-transfer rates in the reconstituted systems were found to be up to 75-82% of that measured in native PSII but the oxygen evolution activity remained lower (<5-40%). However, hydrogen peroxide was also produced by the reconstituted samples.

Synthesis of a peptide nucleic acid oligomer with pyrimido[4,5-d]pyrimidine-2,4,5,7-(1H,3H,6H,8H)-tetraone as a nucleobase.

A peptide nucleic acid (PNA) oligomer containing pyrimido[4,5-d]pyrimidine-2,4,5,7-(1H,3H,6H,8H)-tetraone (PPT) as a nucleobase, which is expected to serve as a universal base, was synthesized.

Pyrimido[4,5-d]pyrimidine-2,4,5,7-(1H, 3H, 6H, 8H)-tetraone as a novel universal base.

A derivative of pyrimido[4,5-d]pyrimidine-2,4,5,7-(1H,3H,6H,8H)-tetraone (PPT), which may form various keto-enol tautomers suitable for forming base pairs with all natural bases, and is thus expected to serve as a universal base, was synthesized. The ability of PPT to form base pairs with natural bases was evaluated by UV analysis.