Changes in Some Properties of Starch Granules of Maize Having Amylose-extender Gene by Amylase Attack

Properties of residual starch by glucoamylase attack were investigated in starch granules of maize (Zea mays L.) of amylose-extender (ae) type (commercial “High Amylose-7”; HA-7). As increasing extent of hydrolysis, the amylose and amylopectin fractions decreased and low-molecular-weight materials were accumulated. Decrease in absorption intensity and sift to a range of shorter wavelength in γmax. of absorption spectra of iodine-starch complexes were observed. The minified fractions had a peak of about 22 average glucose-units and were nearly linear chains. It was suggested that the minified materials consisted of portion resisted to amylases in starch granules according to hydrolysis curves by glucoamylase. The fractions concerned to crystalline area of ae starch were suggested from X-ray diffraction patterns.     

Dynamics of subcellular organelles, growth hormone, Rab3B, SNAP-25, and syntaxin in rat pituitary cells caused by growth hormone releasing hormone and somatostatin

Rab3B is involved in the exocytosis of synaptic vesicles and secretory granules in the central nervous system and the anterior pituitary cells. The aim of this study was to elucidate both the role of rab3B in GH secretion and the mutual relationship of rab3B and SNARE proteins. Adult male rats were injected intravenously with 10 microg of growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH) or 10 microg of somatostatin (SRIF). Untreated rats were used as controls, and their pituitary glands were sectioned for histochemical examination. Rab3B is localized on the limiting membrane of the secretory granules and the cytosol. Confocal laser scanning microscopic observation of immunohistochemical double staining of rab3B and GH revealed that immunoreactivity of rab3B increased in GHRH-treated rats and decreased in SRIF-treated rats. Confocal laser scanning microscopic observation of immunohistochemical double staining of SNAP-25, syntaxin, and rab3B revealed the co-localization of rab3B and these SNARE proteins in GHRH-treated rats, and their dissociation in SRIF-treated rats. These results suggest that rab3B plays a principal role in GH secretion in the anterior pituitary cells and that SNAP-25 and syntaxin act as co-workers with rab3B in the functional regulation of GH secretion.     

Physical properties and structure of silk. III. The glass transition and conformational changes of tussah silk fibroin

The glass transition, crystallization, and α–β transition of the Tussah silk fibroin were studied by means of DSC (differential scanning calorimetry) and infrared spectroscopy. The endothermic shift due to the glass transition was observed at 162°C. The endothermic peak at 220°C was attributed to the α–β conformational transition from the infrared spectra. The exothermic peak due to the crystallization occurred at 230°C.     

Shadows of the Past in International Cooperation: Collaboration Profiles of the Top Five Producers of Science

This article aims at a characterization of the cooperation behavior among five large scientific countries (France, Germany, Japan, United Kingdom and United States of America) from 1986 to 1996. It looks at the cooperation profiles of these countries using classical measures such as the Probabilistic Affinity. The results show the major influence which historical, cultural and linguistic proximities may have on patterns of cooperation, with few changes over the period of time studied.A lack of specific affinities among the three largest European countries is revealed, and this contrasts with the strong linkage demonstrated between United States and Japan. The ensuing discussion raises some questions as to the process of Europeanization in science. The intensity of bilateral cooperation linkages is then studied with regard to field specialization by country, and this analysis yields no general patterns at the scale studied. Specific bilateral behaviors are also analyzed.     

Specific Gut Microbial Environment in Lard Diet-Induced Prostate Cancer Development and Progression

Lard diet (LD) is a risk factor for prostate cancer (PCa) development and progression. Two immunocompetent mouse models fed with isocaloric specific fat diets (LD) enriched in saturated and monounsaturated fatty acid (SMFA), showed significanftly enhanced PCa progression with weight gain compared with a fish oil diet (FOD). High gut microbial divergency resulted from difference in diets, and the abundance of several bacterial species, such as in the orders Clostridiales and Lactobacillales, was markedly altered in the feces of LD- or FOD-fed mice. The proportion of the order Lactobacillales in the gut was negatively involved in SMFA-induced body weight gain and PCa progression. We found the modulation of lipid metabolism and cholesterol biosynthesis pathways with three and seven commonly up- and downregulated genes in PCa tissues, and some of them correlated with the abundance of the order Lactobacillales in mouse gut. The expression of sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor 2, which is associated with the order Lactobacillales and cancer progression in mouse models, was inversely associated with aggressive phenotype and weight gain in patients with PCa using the NCBI Gene Expression Omnibus database. Therefore, SMFA may promote PCa progression with the abundance of specific gut microbial species and overexpression of lipogenic genes in PCa. Therapeutics with alteration of gut microbiota and candidate genes involved in diet-induced PCa progression may be attractive in PCa.     

Characterization of miRNAs in Milk Small Extracellular Vesicles from Enzootic Bovine Leukosis Cattle

Enzootic bovine leukosis (EBL) is a B-cell lymphosarcoma caused by the bovine leukemia virus (BLV). Most BLV-infected cattle show no clinical signs and only some develop EBL. The pathogenesis of EBL remains unclear and there are no methods for predicting EBL before its onset. Previously, it was reported that miRNA profiles in milk small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) were affected in cattle in the late stage of BLV infection. It raised a possibility that miRNA profile in milk sEVs from EBL cattle could be also affected. To characterize the difference in milk of EBL cattle and healthy cattle, we examined the miRNA profiles in milk sEVs from four EBL and BLV-uninfected cattle each using microarray analysis. Among the detected miRNAs, three miRNAs—bta-miR-1246, hsa-miR-1290, and hsa-miR-424-5p—which were detectable using quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) and are associated with cancers in humans—were selected as biomarker candidates for EBL. To evaluate the utility of these miRNAs as biomarkers for EBL, their levels were measured using milk that was freshly collected from 13 EBL and seven BLV-uninfected cattle. bta-miR-1246 and hsa-miR-424-5p, but not hsa-miR-1290, were detected using qPCR and their levels in milk sEVs from EBL cattle were significantly higher than those in BLV-uninfected cattle. bta-miR-1246 and hsa-miR-424-5p in sEVs may promote metastasis by targeting tumor suppressor genes, resulting in increased amounts in milk sEVs in EBL cattle. These results suggest that bta-miR-1246 and hsa-miR-424-5p levels in milk sEVs could serve as biomarkers for EBL.