Domain Nucleation and Annihilation in Uniformly Magnetized State under Current Pulses in Narrow Ferromagnetic Wires

We investigate the current-driven magnetization dynamics in narrow Permalloy wires by means of Lorentz microscopy and electron holography. Current pulses are found to transform the magnetic structure in the uniformly magnetized state below the Curie temperature. A variety of magnetic states including reversed magnetic domains are randomly obtained in low probability. The dynamics of vortices found in most of observed magnetic states seems to play a key role in triggering the magnetization reversal.Comment: 11 pages, 3 figures, 1 video, to appear in Japanese Journal of Applied Physics (Express Letter

Par3 functions in the biogenesis of the primary cilium in polarized epithelial cells

Par3 is a PDZ protein important for the formation of junctional complexes in epithelial cells. We have identified an additional role for Par3 in membrane biogenesis. Although Par3 was not required for maintaining polarized apical or basolateral membrane domains, at the apical surface, Par3 was absolutely essential for the growth and elongation of the primary cilium. The activity reflected its ability to interact with kinesin-2, the microtubule motor responsible for anterograde transport of intraflagellar transport particles to the tip of the growing cilium. The Par3 binding partners Par6 and atypical protein kinase C interacted with the ciliary membrane component Crumbs3 and we show that the PDZ binding motif of Crumbs3 was necessary for its targeting to the ciliary membrane. Thus, the Par complex likely serves as an adaptor that couples the vectorial movement of at least a subset of membrane proteins to microtubule-dependent transport during ciliogenesis

The Amelioration of Renal Damage in Skp2-Deficient Mice Canceled by p27 Kip1 Deficiency in Skp2−/− p27−/− Mice

SCF-Skp2 E3 ubiquitin ligase (Skp2 hereafter) targets several cell cycle regulatory proteins for degradation via the ubiquitin-dependent pathway. However, the target-specific physiological functions of Skp2 have not been fully elucidated in kidney diseases. We previously reported an increase in Skp2 in progressive nephropathy and amelioration of unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) renal injury associated with renal accumulation of p27 in Skp2−/− mice. However, it remains unclear whether the amelioration of renal injury in Skp2−/− mice is solely caused by p27 accumulation, since Skp2 targets several other proteins. Using Skp2−/−p27−/− mice, we investigated whether Skp2 specifically targets p27 in the progressive nephropathy mediated by UUO. In contrast to the marked suppression of UUO renal injury in Skp2−/− mice, progression of tubular dilatation associated with tubular epithelial cell proliferation and tubulointerstitial fibrosis with increased expression of collagen and α-smooth muscle actin were observed in the obstructed kidneys in Skp2−/−p27−/− mice. No significant increases in other Skp2 target proteins including p57, p130, TOB1, cyclin A and cyclin D1 were noted in the UUO kidney in Skp2−/− mice, while p21, c-Myc, b-Myb and cyclin E were slightly increased. Contrary to the ameliorated UUO renal injure by Skp2-deficiency, the amelioration was canceled by the additional p27-deficiency in Skp2−/−p27−/− mice. These findings suggest a pathogenic role of the reduction in p27 targeted by Skp2 in the progression of nephropathy in UUO mice

Adjusted Anion Gap Is Associated with Glomerular Filtration Rate Decline in Chronic Kidney Disease

Background: Metabolic acidosis is known to accelerate the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, whether undetermined anions as indicated by the adjusted anion gap (aAG) are associated with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) decline in patients with CKD is unclear. Methods: Data from 42 patients with CKD (baseline eGFR, 7.1-52.0 ml/min/ 1.73 m2) without massive proteinuria (urinary protein-creatinine ratio, UPCR Results: The mean baseline eGFR was 27.5 ± 11.1 ml/min/1.73 m2 and the mean %ΔeGFR/6m was 13.8 ± 10.3. UPCR and aAG were 1.13 ± 0.93 and 9.48 ± 1.88, respectively. %ΔeGFR/6m was associated with aAG (r = 0.438, p 3- concentration. Conclusion: These data suggest that aAG appears to be associated with the progression of CKD. aAG might be an independent predictor of CKD progression