Affinity chromatography with collapsibly tethered ligands

We introduce a novel affinity chromatography mode in which affinity ligands are secured to the media surface via collapsible tethers. In traditional affinity chromatography, the immobilized ligands act passively, and their local concentration is static. In collapsibly tethered affinity chromatography, the ligand can move dynamically in response to external stimuli, a design that enables marked changes in both the local concentration of the ligand and its surrounding environment without exchange of solvent. Using the thermoresponsive polymer poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PIPAAm) as a scaffold for ligand and hapten attachment, we were able to achieve controlled mobility and microenvironment alteration of the affinity ligand Ricinus communis agglutinin (RCA120). The glycoprotein target, asialotransferrin, was loaded onto a column in which PIPAAm was partially substituted with both RCA120 and lactose. At 5 degrees C, the column retained the glycoprotein, but released most (95%) of the asialotransferrin upon warming to 30 degrees C. This temperature-induced elution was much greater than can be explained by temperature dependency of sugar recognition by RCA120. The simplest explanation is that upon thermally induced dehydration and collapse of the PIPAAm chains, coimmobilized RCA120 ligand and lactose hapten are brought into closer proximity to each other, enabling immobilized lactose to displace affinity-bound asislotransferrin from the immobilized RCA120 lectin.     

Preparation of functional liposomes with peptide ligands and their binding to cell membranes

Two novel lipopeptides, which have the peptide ligands [α-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH)] sequence and repeated [Gly-Arg-Gly-Asp-Se (GRGDS) sequence[, are designed, synthesized by the solid-phase method, and introduced into liposome membranes by the freeze-thaw method. These liposomes bearing the peptide ligands on their surface are expected to bind to cell membranes. We have confirmed that the lipopeptides are introduced into liposome membranes almost quantitatively, while such a high degree of incorporation has not been accomplished in conventional methods. In this respect, the present method is superior to prepare surface-modified liposomes that are applicable to drug carriers and so on. We have also confirmed by using immunoelectron microscopy that the peptide ligands are actually located in an aqueous phase. It has been shown by flow cytometry that the liposome bearing α-MSH peptide ligand binds to B16 cells and the liposome bearing the repeated GRGDS sequence binds to NIH3T3 cells.     

Modeling the patrol behavior of the Diacamma’s gamergate

The gamergate (generally called the “queen”) of the Diacamma sp. walks around in the nest and comes into contact with the workers. The gamergate informs the workers of its presence by physical contact. This behavior is called a “patrol.” In previous work, it was reported that the gamergate controls its patrolling time depending on the colony size. How does the gamergate know the colony size, and how does it control the patrolling time? In this article, we propose a simple dynamics to explain this behavior. We assume that the gamergate and the workers have internal states which interact by physical contacts. By numerical simulations, we confirm that the patrol time of the proposed model depends on the size of the colony.     

Fundamental studies on extraction of actinides from spent fuels using liquefied gases – Conversion of copper into nitrate with NO2 and extraction of Nd(III) nitrate by CO2 with TBP

The nitrate conversion with liquefied NO₂ and the nitrate extraction with SC-CO₂ were demonstrated for copper powder and neodymium nitrate instead of actinide compounds. Copper contacted with NO₂ in an autoclave at 353 K changed to water-soluble compounds. By XRD analysis of the product in the atmospheric condition, the formation of copper nitrate hydrate (Cu(NO₃)₂·2.5H₂O) was confirmed. As for the extraction, neodymium nitrate loaded in an autoclave was successfully extracted with the fluid of TBP and SC-CO₂ at 15 MPa, 313 K.     

Enzyme Replacement Therapy with Pabinafusp Alfa for Neuronopathic Mucopolysaccharidosis II: An Integrated Analysis of Preclinical and Clinical Data

Enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) improves somatic manifestations in mucopolysaccharidoses (MPS). However, because intravenously administered enzymes cannot cross the blood–brain barrier (BBB), ERT is ineffective against the progressive neurodegeneration and resultant severe central nervous system (CNS) symptoms observed in patients with neuronopathic MPS. Attempts to surmount this problem have been made with intrathecal and intracerebroventricular ERT in order to achieve CNS effects, but the burdens on patients are inimical to long-term administrations. However, since pabinafusp alfa, a human iduronate-2-sulfatase fused with a BBB-crossing anti-transferrin receptor antibody, showed both central and peripheral efficacy in a mouse model, subsequent clinical trials in a total of 62 patients with MPS-II (Hunter syndrome) in Japan and Brazil substantiated this dual efficacy and provided an acceptable safety profile. To date, pabinafusp alfa is the only approved intravenous ERT that is effective against both the somatic and CNS symptoms of patients with MPS-II. This article summarizes the previously obtained preclinical and clinical evidence related to the use of this drug, presents latest data, and discusses the preclinical, translational, and clinical challenges of evaluating, ameliorating, and preventing neurodegeneration in patients with MPS-II.     

Low‐temperature conversion of spent adsorbent to iodine sodalite by a mechanochemical route

The focus on a ball milling induced conversion as a possible synthesis route of iodine sodalite (Na₈Al₆Si₆O₂₄I₂) from zeolite‐based iodine adsorbents in order to treat a radioactive iodine filter for the off‐gas cleaning during nuclear facilities is presented. A mixture of silver iodide and zeolite 13X as a simulated adsorbent was mechanochemically milled using a laboratory‐scale planetary ball mill. The obtained powders were characterized by X‐ray diffraction to determine the effect of milling time on the conversion of the iodine sodalite. The crystal grain size and the lattice strain of the grounded phases were evaluated. After the ball milling, the milled samples were hydrothermally crystallized to form a sodalite phase with a sodium hydroxide solution for 48 h in an autoclave maintained at 150^°C. The iodine sodalite was successfully obtained after hydrothermal crystallization. A leaching test was carried out for the assessment of the order of iodine leachability and chemical durability under reducing conditions. The leaching amount was found to be low on the orders of 10^?4 ～10^?5 mol dm^?3 in sodium thiosulfate solution. © 2011 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 58: 2441–2447, 2012     

Prophylactic effect of Lactobacillus oral vaccine expressing a Japanese cedar pollen allergen

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) represent an attractive delivery vehicle for oral allergy vaccine because of their safety as a food microorganism as well as their potent adjuvant activity triggering anti-allergic immune response. Here, we report the generation of recombinant LAB expressing a major Japanese cedar pollen allergen Cry j 1 (Cry j 1-LAB), and their prophylactic effect in vivo. To facilitate heterologous expression, the codon usage in the Cry j 1 gene was optimized for the host LAB strain Lactobacillus plantarum by the recursive PCR-based exhaustive site-directed mutagenesis. Use of the codon-optimized Cry j 1 cDNA and a lactate dehydrogenase gene fusion system led to a successful production of recombinant Cry j 1 in L. plantarum NCL21. We also found that oral vaccination with the Cry j 1-LAB suppressed allergen-specific IgE response and nasal symptoms in a murine model of cedar pollinosis.     

Robust camera pose estimation by viewpoint classification using deep learning

Computational Visual Media - Camera pose estimation with respect to target scenes is an important technology for superimposing virtual information in augmented reality (AR). However, it is...     

Roll of the rhythmic component in the proactive control of a human hand

In terms of evolution, the strategy of catching prey would have been an important part of survival in a constantly changing environment. A prediction mechanism would have developed to compensate for any delay in the sensory-motor system. In a previous study, “proactive control” was found, in which the motion of the hands preceded the virtual moving target. These results implied that the positive phase shift of the hand motion represents the proactive nature of the visual-motor control system, which attempts to minimize the brief error in the hand motion when the target changes position unexpectedly. In our study, a visual target moves in circle (13 cm diameter) on a computer screen, and each subject is asked to keep track of the target’s motion by the motion of a cursor. As the frequency of the target increases, a rhythmic component was found in the velocity of the cursor in spite of the fact that the velocity of the target was constant. The generation of a rhythmic component cannot be explained simply as a feedback mechanism for the phase shifts of the target and cursor in a sensory-motor system. Therefore, it implies that the rhythmic component was generated to predict the velocity of the target, which is a feed-forward mechanism in the sensory-motor system. Here, we discuss the generation of the rhythmic component and its roll in the feed-forward mechanism.     

Analysis and modeling of ants’ behavior from single to multi-body

In order to shed light on the collective behavior of social insects, we analyzed the behavior of ants from single to multi-body. In an experimental set-up, ants are placed in hemisphere without a nest and food. Trajectory of ants is recorded. From this bottom-up approach, we found that collective behavior of ants as follows: 1. Activity of single ant increases and decreases periodically. 2. Spontaneous meeting process is observed between two ants and meeting spot of two ants is localized in hemisphere. 3. Result on division of labor is obtained between two ants. This work was presented in part at the 13th International Symposium on Artificial Life and Robotics, Oita, Japan, January 31–February 2, 2008