Structural changes in Nelumbo flower petals during opening and closing.

Premise: Nelumbo nucifera is one of several plant species with flowers that typically open in the early morning and close by noon. This movement normally repeats for 3 days, with all petals falling off on day 4. However, detailed observations of flower movement in Nelumbo species are limited.

Bile acids acting as a feeding signal and functional foods mimicking bile acid function.

To elucidate the function of the bile acid-binding receptor TGR5 in skeletal muscle, we developed transgenic mice expressing human TGR5 in the skeletal muscle tissue. A significant increase in muscle mass was observed in these transgenic mice, whereas a decrease in muscle mass was observed in the TGR5-deficient mice. Following treadmill exercise, TGR5 gene expression increased in response to ER stress induced in skeletal muscle via an ER stress response motif present in its promoter region.

Phase diagram of SiO crystallization upon rice husk combustion to control silica ash quality.

Rice husk (RH), which is an abundant agricultural waste, consists of ca. 20 % silica (SiO·nHO). Upon RH combustion, a large amount of silica ash is generated.

Development of subtype-selective estrogen receptor modulators using the bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)silanol core as a stable isostere of bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)methanol.

In this study, we synthesized and evaluated silanol-based bisphenol derivatives as stable isosteres of bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)methanol. The developed silanols exhibited estrogen receptor (ER)-modulating activity. Among them, bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)(methyl)silanol (5a) showed a characteristic ER subtype selectivity, namely, antagonistic activity toward ERα and agonistic activity toward ERβ.

Dethiobiotin uptake and utilization by bacteria possessing bioYB operon.

Biotin is an essential vitamin for all organisms. Some bacteria cannot synthesize biotin and live by acquiring biotin from the environment. Bacterial biotin transporters (BioY) are classified into three mechanistic types.

characterization of nonribosomal peptide synthetase-dependent -(2-hydrazineylideneacetyl)serine synthesis indicates a stepwise oxidation strategy to generate the α-diazo ester moiety of azaserine.

Azaserine, a natural product containing a diazo group, exhibits anticancer activity. In this study, we investigated the biosynthetic pathway to azaserine. The putative azaserine biosynthetic gene () cluster, which contains 21 genes, including those responsible for hydrazinoacetic acid (HAA) synthesis, was discovered using bioinformatics analysis of the genome.

Growth, Toxin Content and Production of Dinophysis Norvegica in Cultured Strains Isolated from Funka Bay (Japan).

The successful cultivation of Claparède & Lachmann, 1859, isolated from Japanese coastal waters, is presented in this study, which also includes an examination of its toxin content and production for the first time. Maintaining the strains at a high abundance (>2000 cells per mL) for more than 20 months was achieved by feeding them with the ciliate Lohmann, 1908, along with the addition of the cryptophyte (W.Conrad) D.

Recent progress in the use of diaziridine-based sweetener derivatives to elucidate the chemoreception mechanism of the sweet taste receptor.

All sweeteners are recognized by the sweet taste receptor (T1R2-T1R3). The elucidation of the chemoreception mechanism of receptor-ligand interactions is an attractive topic for researchers. Molecular biology and computational biology techniques can reveal the proposed mechanisms for this topic.

Acetylation-modulated communication between the H3 N-terminal tail domain and the intrinsically disordered H1 C-terminal domain.

Linker histones (H1s) are key structural components of the chromatin of higher eukaryotes. However, the mechanisms by which the intrinsically disordered linker histone carboxy-terminal domain (H1 CTD) influences chromatin structure and gene regulation remain unclear. We previously demonstrated that the CTD of H1.

Synthetic hyperacetylation of nucleosomal histones.

We report combinations of a DMAP-based catalyst and phenyl acetate with optimal electron density as a new chemical system for high-yield, selective synthetic acetylation of histone lysine residues. The utility of this chemical system as a unique biologic tool is demonstrated by applying it to sperm chromatin.

Biosynthesis of (R)-(-)-1-Octen-3-ol in Recombinant with Lipoxygenase-1 and Hydroperoxide Lyase Genes from .

is an ectomycorrhizal fungus, related with the host of . Most of studies on have focused on mycelial growth, genes and genomics, phylogenetics, symbiosis, and immune activity of this strain. is known for its unique fragrance in Eastern Asia.

An analysis on the electrophoretic mobility of cellulose nanocrystals as thin cylinders: relaxation and end effect.

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) are extracted from cellulosic fibers sulfuric acid hydrolysis and found to exhibit unique properties due to their nanoscale, ordered structure, and surface morphology. The dispersion stability of a CNC suspension is a significant factor when CNCs are applied for reinforcement of a composite or ink jet printing. Since sulfuric acid hydrolysis introduces sulfate groups on CNC surfaces, we considered that charging conditions needed to be characterized, typically based on electrophoretic mobility.

Biochemical characterization and biocatalytic application of a novel d-tagatose 3-epimerase from sp.

sp. d-tagatose 3-epimerase (sDTE) catalyzes the conversion of d-tagatose to d-sorbose. It also recognizes d-fructose as a substrate for d-allulose production.

Effect of Proteolytic Modification on Texture and Mastication of Heat-Treated Egg White Gels.

Unlabelled: Raw egg white undergoes sol-gel transition by heat treatment, which changes it to an elastic gel. Here, protease treatment to render a new texture to heated egg white gel was applied. Protease-treated gels exhibited ductile flow without obvious rupture points.

Cellulose nanofiber backboned Prussian blue nanoparticles as powerful adsorbents for the selective elimination of radioactive cesium.

On 11 March 2011, the day of the unforgettable disaster of the 9 magnitude Tohoku earthquake and quickly followed by the devastating Tsunami, a damageable amount of radionuclides had dispersed from the Fukushima Daiichi's damaged nuclear reactors. Decontamination of the dispersed radionuclides from seawater and soil, due to the huge amounts of coexisting ions with competitive functionalities, has been the topmost difficulty. Ferric hexacyanoferrate, also known as Prussian blue (PB), has been the most powerful material for selectively trapping the radioactive cesium ions; its high tendency to form stable colloids in water, however, has made PB to be impossible for the open-field radioactive cesium decontamination applications.

Quercetin represses apolipoprotein B expression by inhibiting the transcriptional activity of C/EBPβ.

Quercetin is one of the most abundant polyphenolic flavonoids found in fruits and vegetables and has anti-oxidative and anti-obesity effects. Because the small intestine is a major absorptive organ of dietary nutrients, it is likely that highly concentrated food constituents, including polyphenols, are present in the small intestinal epithelial cells, suggesting that food factors may have a profound effect in this tissue. To identify novel targets of quercetin in the intestinal enterocytes, mRNA profiling using human intestinal epithelial Caco-2 cells was performed.

Asymmetric dispersal structures a riverine metapopulation of the freshwater pearl mussel Margaritifera laevis.

Unidirectional water flow results in the downstream-biased, asymmetric dispersal of many riverine organisms. However, little is known of how asymmetric dispersal influences riverine population structure and dynamics, limiting our ability to properly manage riverine organisms. A metapopulation of the freshwater pearl mussel Margaritifera laevis may be sensitive to river currents because mussels are repeatedly exposed to downstream drift during floods-a parasitic life stage is the only, limited period (∼40 days) during which larvae (glochidia) can move upstream with the aid of host fish.

Evaluating the "recovery level" of endangered species without prior information before alien invasion.

For maintaining social and financial support for eradication programs of invasive species, quantitative assessment of recovery of native species or ecosystems is important because it provides a measurable parameter of success. However, setting a concrete goal for recovery is often difficult owing to lack of information prior to the introduction of invaders. Here, we present a novel approach to evaluate the achievement level of invasive predator management based on the carrying capacity of endangered species estimated using long-term monitoring data.

Evaluation of protein-protein docking model structures using all-atom molecular dynamics simulations combined with the solution theory in the energy representation.

We propose a method to evaluate binding free energy differences among distinct protein-protein complex model structures through all-atom molecular dynamics simulations in explicit water using the solution theory in the energy representation. Complex model structures are generated from a pair of monomeric structures using the rigid-body docking program ZDOCK. After structure refinement by side chain optimization and all-atom molecular dynamics simulations in explicit water, complex models are evaluated based on the sum of their conformational and solvation free energies, the latter calculated from the energy distribution functions obtained from relatively short molecular dynamics simulations of the complex in water and of pure water based on the solution theory in the energy representation.

Functions of interferon tau as an immunological regulator for establishment of pregnancy.

The establishment of a successful pregnancy requires a "fine quality embryo", "maternal recognition of pregnancy", and a "receptive uterus" during the period of conceptus implantation to the uterine endometrium. In ruminants, a conceptus cytokine, interferon tau (IFNT), a major cytokine produced by the peri-implantation trophectoderm, is known as a key factor for maternal recognition of pregnancy. IFNT can be considered one of the main factors in conceptus-uterus cross-talk, resulting in the rescue of ovarian corpus luteum (CL), induction of endometrial gene expressions, activation of residual immune cells, and recruitment of immune cells.

Immunohistochemical observation of canine degenerative myelopathy in two Pembroke Welsh Corgi dogs.

Immunohistochemistry was performed to assess whether oxidative stress and/or denatured proteins play roles in the pathogenesis of canine degenerative myelopathy (DM). Two Pembroke Welsh Corgi (PWC) dogs with a homozygous mutation (c.118G>A) in the canine superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) gene were examined.

Nitrogen induction of sugar catabolic gene expression in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803.

Nitrogen starvation requires cells to change their transcriptome in order to cope with this essential nutrient limitation. Here, using microarray analysis, we investigated changes in transcript profiles following nitrogen depletion in the unicellular cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803.

Hematopoietic cells in cultures of the murine embryonic aorta-gonad-mesonephros region are induced by c-Myb.

Definitive hematopoiesis begins in the para-aortic, splanchnopleural (P-Sp) and aorta-gonad-mesonephros (AGM) regions of mouse embryos and then switches to the fetal liver [1] [2] [3]. Gene-targeted mice lacking the c-Myb transcription factor have severe hematopoietic defects in the fetal liver [4]. The role of c-Myb, if any, in P-Sp/AGM hematopoiesis has not been examined, however.

Effect of fetal mass, number and stage of gestation on pregnancy-specific protein B concentrations in the bovine.

In this study we characterized the peripheral plasma pregnancy-specific protein-B (PSPB) profile throughout gestation and examined the effect of stage of gestation, fetal mass and number on this profile in Holstein cows after non surgical embryo transfer. Cows (n = 12) were divided into 2 groups: Group 1 = single embryo recipient cows (n = 5), Group 2 = twin-embryo recipient cows (n = 7). Blood was collected approximately every third day from Day 0 (Day 0 = first day of standing estrus), then daily for the last 10 d of gestation, and sampling was stopped 1 d post partum.