Calponin phosphatase from smooth muscle: a possible role of type 1 protein phosphatase in smooth muscle relaxation

Smooth muscle myosin bound phosphatase (MBP) purified from chicken gizzard, which is a holoenzyme of type 1 delta protein phosphatase and dephosphorylated intact myosin, catalyzed the dephosphorylation of calponin phosphorylated by protein kinase C (PK-C). The Km of MBP for calponin was 0.6 microM and the Vmax was 350 nmol/min/mg. All of the multiple sites of phosphorylation by PK-C of calponin were completely dephosphorylated by MBP. Functionally, calponin dephosphorylated by MBP recovered its inhibitory effect on the actin-activated Mg(2+)-ATPase activity of myosin. Therefore, these results suggest that a type 1 delta protein phosphatase causes relaxation of smooth muscle by the dephosphorylation not only of myosin but also of calponin.     

Synthesis of polymer having β,β-triketone unit in the main chain and its copper (II) complex

Summary A novel polymer having β,β-triketone unit in the main chain was prepared by polycondensation of triethylene glycol bis(p-butoxycarbonylphenyl) ether (1) with triethylene glycol bis(p-acetylacetophenyl) ether (4). The obtained polymer was soluble in CHCl₃, DMF, and DMSO. The structure of the polymer was confirmed by ¹H-NMR. Insoluble brownish yellow copper (II) chelate was obtained by adding a methanol solution of copper (II) acetate to a chloroform solution of the polymer. The IR analysis and the measurement of copper content by iodometric titration showed the quantitative formation of binuclear copper (II) complex. Received: 20 March 1998/Accepted: 17 April 1998     

Simulation of I–V characteristics of a PV module with shaded PV cells

The authors are studying a diagnostic method of a PV power generating system. We consider that the change of I–V characteristics can be utilized for the diagnosis. However, the report on the change of I–V characteristics is very little. In this paper, we investigate the relation between the output lowering due to shaded PV cells and the change of I–V characteristics, utilizing the computer simulation. It was proven from the simulation that I–V characteristics are changed by the condition of the shadow, which covered the module. The change of I–V characteristics of a PV module with shaded PV cells is discussed by the shift of the avalanche breakdown voltage of shaded PV cells.     

In-situ cathodoluminescence spectroscopy of silicon oxide thin film under uniaxial tensile loading

In this paper, in-situ cathodoluminescence (CL) stress analysis of a silicon oxide (SiO(x)) thin film prepared by wet thermal oxidation is described. The specially-developed uniaxial tensile loading jig was used to apply tensile displacement to the SiO(x) film specimen. CL spectra of the specimen during tensile loading were obtained, and the peak position of around 1.85 eV emission band was monitored for tensile stress analysis. The peak position gradually shifted towards higher/lower energy side when tensile displacement increased/decreased. The tensile stress-to-emission energy ratio of 6.21-8.97 x 10(2) GPa/eV was estimated on the basis of linear elastic theory, which demonstrated that CL is able to provide information on stress induced in the film. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that the fracture of SiO(x) and SCS laminated structure occurred at the vicinity of SiO(x) film surface.     

Identification of Conjugated Pentadecadienals as Sex Pheromone Components of the Sphingid Moth, Dolbina tancrei

Homologs of bombykal, (10E,12Z)-10,12-hexadecadienal, have been reported to be sex pheromones or sexual attractants of several species of sphingid moths. In this study, we identified novel bombykal analogs as sex pheromone components from a Japanese sphingid moth, Dolbina tancrei. Staudinger (Sphingidae: Lepidoptera). Sex pheromone gland extracts from calling female moths were subjected to gas chromatography/electroantennograhic detection (GC/EAD), gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), and gas chromatography (GC) analyses. GC/EAD analyses showed two active components in the crude pheromone extracts. GC/MS analysis determined these two components to be pentadecadienals. GC/MS of their MTAD derivatives showed conjugated double bonds at the 9- and 11-positions, indicating 9,11-pentadecadienals. The isomeric configurations of these candidates were determined by comparison of their Kováts retention indices with those of synthetic compounds. Field bioassays with the four isomers of 9,11-pentadecadienal and their mixtures confirmed that the two sex pheromone components of D. tancrei are (9E,11Z)-9,11-pentadecadienal and (9Z,11Z)-9,11-pentadecadienal, with the highest male catches observed for a 90:10 blend. This is the first report of 9,11-pentadecadienals as sex pheromone components in lepidopteran species.     

Neurite outgrowths of neurons using neurotrophin-coated nanoscale magnetic beads

Neurotrophin-coated nanoscale magnetic beads were used to regulate the differentiation and survival of neurons. The beads coated with nerve growth factor (NGF) or brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) promoted neurite outgrowths of neurons in the same manner as soluble NGF or soluble BDNF, but beads coated with bovine serum albumin did not promote neurite outgrowths. When the volume of NGF-coated bead solution was increased, the number of neurons with neurite outgrowths increased. The addition of anti-NGF antibodies decreased the numbers of neurons with neurite outgrowths in proportion to the volume of anti-NGF antibodies added. NGF-coated beads appeared to bind to soma with neurite outgrowths as determined using fluorescence. In addition, hybrid beads coated with both NGF and BDNF promoted neurite outgrowths of PC12h cells, although the cells did not produce neurite outgrowths in response to BDNF. Neurons with neurite outgrowths could be concentrated within a particular area when NGF-coated beads were immobilized in a particular area of the culture plate surface using a magnet. The results demonstrate that neurotrophin-coated nanoscale magnetic beads allow us to cultivate neurons in a selected area of the culture plate surface by using a magnet. Thus, neurotrophin-coated nanoscale magnetic beads are applicable to micro-integrated systems and biosensors.     

Long Non-Coding RNA CRNDE Is Involved in Resistance to EGFR Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor in EGFR-Mutant Lung Cancer via eIF4A3/MUC1/EGFR Signaling

(1) Background: Acquired resistance to epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) is an intractable problem for many clinical oncologists. The mechanisms of resistance to EGFR-TKIs are complex. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) may play an important role in cancer development and metastasis. However, the biological process between lncRNAs and drug resistance to EGFR-mutated lung cancer remains largely unknown. (2) Methods: Osimertinib- and afatinib-resistant EGFR-mutated lung cancer cells were established using a stepwise method. A microarray analysis of non-coding and coding RNAs was performed using parental and resistant EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells and evaluated by bioinformatics analysis through medical-industrial collaboration. (3) Results: Colorectal neoplasia differentially expressed (CRNDE) and DiGeorge syndrome critical region gene 5 (DGCR5) lncRNAs were highly expressed in EGFR-TKI-resistant cells by microarray analysis. RNA-protein binding analysis revealed eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4A3 (eIF4A3) bound in an overlapping manner to CRNDE and DGCR5. The CRNDE downregulates the expression of eIF4A3, mucin 1 (MUC1), and phospho-EGFR. Inhibition of CRNDE activated the eIF4A3/MUC1/EGFR signaling pathway and apoptotic activity, and restored sensitivity to EGFR-TKIs. (4) Conclusions: The results showed that CRNDE is associated with the development of resistance to EGFR-TKIs. CRNDE may be a novel therapeutic target to conquer EGFR-mutant NSCLC.     

Fabrication of composite films with poly(methyl methacrylate) and incompletely condensed cage‐silsesquioxane fillers

Polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) is a promising nanofiller for tuning properties of optically transparent polymer materials. On the other hand, traditional completely condensed POSS (CC‐POSS) has a fundamental problem for fabricating optically transparent composite films; CC‐POSS has high crystallinity due to its symmetrical structure, resulting in aggregation in the polymer matrices. In this work, we have demonstrated that incompletely‐condensed POSS (IC‐POSS), which has an open‐cage structure, can be well dispersed in a poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) matrix. IC‐POSS with various substituents were readily synthesized, and their composite films of PMMA were fabricated by solution‐casting method. High transparency was achieved with up to 30 wt % of the IC‐POSS fillers, while the CC‐POSS analogues caused phase separation with 10 wt % loading. Addition of the IC‐POSS fillers can improve thermal stability and control glass transition temperature by the substituent structure. Additionally, refractive index was tuned from 1.485 to 1.513. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018 , 135, 46033.     

A follow-up survey of Staphylococcus aureus contamination of commercial raw minced meat at supermarkets and characteristics of isolates

A survey of Staphylococcus aureus contamination of commercial raw minced meat at 3 supermarkets in Hyogo Prefecture was conducted over a period of half a year (January to June 2006). In total, the contamination rate was 77.8% (28/36) for beef, 91.7% (33/36) for pork and 91.7% (33/36) for chicken samples. In supermarket A, half or more of the positive samples had MPN values of >/=110/g for all 3 kinds of meat samples. In supermarkets B and C, most of the positive samples were less than 46/g for all 3 kinds of meat samples. Of the 94 isolates examined, 50 (53.2%) belonged to the human biotype, and 44 (46.8%) to animal biotypes. By coagulase typing, 64 (77.1%) of the 83 typable isolates were classified into types V (n=32) and VII (n=32). Seventeen (18.1%) of the 94 isolates produced staphylococcal enterotoxins C (n=16) and B (n=1). Pulse-field gel electrophoresis was applied for epidemiological analysis of the isolates in the 3 supermarkets. In supermarket A, the predominant type shifted during the term of the investigation. In supermarket B, the same type was isolated repeatedly from the meat throughout the investigation. In supermarket C, a variety of genotypes were detected from the meat throughout the investigation.