Fine-tuning in gauge mediated supersymmetry breaking models and induced top Yukawa coupling

It is shown that fine-tuning of the Higgs parameters stronger than a few % is required at the best in the models with gauge mediated supersymmetry breaking. With the aim of solving this problem, we consider a new type of models in which the top Yukawa coupling is induced at TeV scale through mass mixing with unknown matter fields. Then it is found that the fine-tuning problem can be eliminated essentially. We discuss some phenomenological features of this model and also consider the extension to the next-to-minimal models.Comment: 14 pages, 9 Postscript figures, uses revtex4.sty, Some comments and a reference added, to appear in Phys. Rev.

Higgs及びスカラー場に関する微調整問題とその解消する機構についての考察

取得学位：博士(理学)，学位授与番号：博甲第1070号，学位授与年月日：平成21年3月23

Role of STAT4 polymorphisms in systemic lupus erythematosus in a Japanese population: a case-control association study of the STAT1-STAT4 region

IntroductionRecent studies identified STAT4 (signal transducers and activators of transcription-4) as a susceptibility gene for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). STAT1 is encoded adjacently to STAT4 on 2q32.2-q32.3, upregulated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from SLE patients, and functionally relevant to SLE. This study was conducted to test whether STAT4 is associated with SLE in a Japanese population also, to identify the risk haplotype, and to examine the potential genetic contribution of STAT1. To accomplish these aims, we carried out a comprehensive association analysis of 52 tag single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) encompassing the STAT1-STAT4 region.MethodsIn the first screening, 52 tag SNPs were selected based on HapMap Phase II JPT (Japanese in Tokyo, Japan) data, and case-control association analysis was carried out on 105 Japanese female patients with SLE and 102 female controls. For associated SNPs, additional cases and controls were genotyped and association was analyzed using 308 SLE patients and 306 controls. Estimation of haplotype frequencies and an association study using the permutation test were performed with Haploview version 4.0 software. Population attributable risk percentage was estimated to compare the epidemiological significance of the risk genotype among populations.ResultsIn the first screening, rs7574865, rs11889341, and rs10168266 in STAT4 were most significantly associated (P < 0.01). Significant association was not observed for STAT1. Subsequent association studies of the three SNPs using 308 SLE patients and 306 controls confirmed a strong association of the rs7574865T allele (SLE patients: 46.3%, controls: 33.5%, P = 4.9 × 10-6, odds ratio 1.71) as well as TTT haplotype (rs10168266/rs11889341/rs7574865) (P = 1.5 × 10-6). The association was stronger in subgroups of SLE with nephritis and anti-double-stranded DNA antibodies. Population attributable risk percentage was estimated to be higher in the Japanese population (40.2%) than in Americans of European descent (19.5%).ConclusionsThe same STAT4 risk allele is associated with SLE in Caucasian and Japanese populations. Evidence for a role of STAT1 in genetic susceptibility to SLE was not detected. The contribution of STAT4 for the genetic background of SLE may be greater in the Japanese population than in Americans of European descent

PTP1B Inhibition Causes Rac1 Activation by Enhancing Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Signaling

Background/Aims: The present study investigated the signaling pathway underlying Rac1 activation induced by the linoleic acid derivative 8-[2-(2-pentyl-cyclopropylmethyl)-cyclopropyl]-octanoic acid (DCP-LA). Methods: Activity of protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) was assayed under cell-free conditions. Western blot was carried out to quantify phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) and Akt in PC-12 cells. Rac1 activity was monitored in the föerster resonance energy transfer (FRET) analysis using living and fixed PC-12 cells. Results: DCP-LA markedly suppressed PTP1B activity in a concentration (100 pM-100 µM)-dependent manner. In the DCP-LA binding assay, fluorescein-conjugated DCP-LA produced a single fluorescent signal band at 60 kDa, corresponding to the molecule of PTP1B, and the signal was attenuated or abolished by co-treatment or pretreatment with non-conjugated DCP-LA. DCP-LA significantly enhanced nerve growth factor (NGF)-stimulated phosphorylation of IRS-1 at Tyr1222 and Akt1/2 at Thr308/309 and Ser473/474 in PC-12 cells. In the FRET analysis, DCP-LA significantly enhanced NGF-stimulated Rac1 activation, which is abrogated by the phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K) inhibitor wortmannin, the 3-phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase-1 (PDK1) inhibitor BX912, or the Akt inhibitor MK2206. Conclusion: The results of the present study show that DCP-LA-induced PTP1B inhibition, possibly through its direct binding, causes Rac1 activation by enhancing a pathway along a receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK)/IRS-1/PI3K/Akt/Rac1 axis

Effects of Newly Synthesized DCP-LA-Phospholipids on Protein Kinase C and Protein Phosphatases

Background/Aims: The linoleic acid derivative DCP-LA selectively activates PKCε and inhibits protein phosphatase 1 (PP1). In the present study, we have newly synthesized phosphatidyl-ethanolamine, -serine, -choline, and -inositol containing DCP-LA at the α and β position (diDCP-LA-PE, -PS, PC, and -PI, respectively), and examined the effects of these compounds on activities of PKC isozymes and protein phosphatases. Methods: Activities of PKC isozymes PKCα, -β&#x0399;, -β&#x0399;&#x0399;, -&#947;, -δ, -ε-, &#x03B9;, and -&#x03B6; and protein phosphatases PP1, PP2A, and protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) were assayed under the cell-free conditions. Results: All the compounds activated PKC, with the different potential, but only PKC&#947; inhibition was obtained with diDCP-LA-PC. Of compounds diDCP-LA-PE alone significantly activated PKC&#x03B9; and -&#x03B6;. diDCP-LA-PE and diDCP-LA-PI suppressed PP1 activity, but otherwise diDCP-LA-PI enhanced PP2A activity. diDCP-LA-PE, diDCP-LA-PS, and diDCP-LA-PI strongly reduced PTP1B activity, while diDCP-LA-PC enhanced the activity. Conclusion: All the newly synthesized DCP-LA-phospholipids serve as a PKC activator and of them diDCP-LA-PE alone has the potential to activate the atypical PKC isozymes PKC&#x03B9; and -&#x03B6;. diDCP-LA-PE and diDCP-LA-PI serve as an inhibitor for PP1 and PTP1B, diDCP-LA-PS as a PTP1B inhibitor, diDCP-LA-PI as a PP2A enhancer, and diDCP-LA-PC as a PTP1B enhancer

DCP-LA Activates Cytosolic PKCε by Interacting with the Phosphatidylserine Binding/Associating Sites Arg50 and Ile89 in the C2-Like Domain

Background/Aims: The linoleic acid derivative DCP-LA selectively and directly activates PKCε. The present study aimed at understanding the mechanism of DCP-LA-induced PKCε activation. Methods: Point mutation in the C2-like domain on PKCε was carried out, and each kinase activity was monitored in PC-12 cells using a föerster resonance energy transfer (FRET) probe with cyan fluorescent protein (CFP) and yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) at the N- and C-terminal ends of PKCε, respectively, or in the cell-free systems using a reversed phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Intracellular PKCε mobilization was monitored in PC-12 cells using mRuby-conjugated PKCε. DCP-LA binding to PKCε was assayed using a fluorescein conjugated to DCP-LA at the carboxyl-terminal end (Fluo-DCP). Uptake of DCP-LA into cells was measured in PC-12 ells. Results: In the FRET analysis, DCP-LA decreased the ratio of YFP signal intensity/CFP signal intensity in PC-12 cells and in the cell-free kinase assay, DCP-LA increased area of phosphorylated PKC substrate peptide, indicating DCP-LA-induced PKCε activation. These effects were significantly suppressed by replacing Arg50 and Ile89 by Ala or Asn in the C2-like domain of PKCε. In the fluorescent cytochemistry, DCP-LA did not affect intracellular PKCε distribution. In the cell-free binding assay, Fluo-DCP, that had no effect on the potential for PKCε activation, bound to PKCε, and the binding was inhibited only by mutating Ile89. Extracellularly applied DCP-LA was taken up into cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Although no activation was obtained in the cell-free kinase assay, the broad PKC activator PMA activated PKCε in PC-12 cells in association with translocation towards the cell surface, which was inhibited by mutating I89A. Conclusion: Unlike PMA DCP-LA activates cytosolic PKCε by binding to the phosphatidylserine binding/associating sites Arg50 and Ile89, possibly at the carboxyl-terminal end and the cyclopropane rings, respectively