Development of an automatic observation system for Fabry-Perot interferometers

The importance of automatic observation systems for ground-based optical instruments is increasing since clustered measurements are being made with only a few operators. We have developed an automatic observation system for use with both a scanning and an all-sky Fabry-Perot interferometer. This paper describes the optical system of the instrument, its performance when observing auroras, and the details of the automatic observation system. The S/N ratio of the observed fringe exceeds 500, even if the auroral activity is low. Using the Internet or telephone lines, an operator can monitor and control multiple optical instruments from a remote site. In addition, we introduce a new analysis software for estimating the emission intensity, wind velocity and temperature. Once the system is further improved by modifying it to enable radio communication, the construction of remote-controlled, relocatable observatories will become feasible, representing a remarkable evolution in optical measurement technology

C6/36 Aedes albopictus Cells Have a Dysfunctional Antiviral RNA Interference Response

Mosquitoes rely on RNA interference (RNAi) as their primary defense against viral infections. To this end, the combination of RNAi and invertebrate cell culture systems has become an invaluable tool in studying virus-vector interactions. Nevertheless, a recent study failed to detect an active RNAi response to West Nile virus (WNV) infection in C6/36 (Aedes albopictus) cells, a mosquito cell line frequently used to study arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses). Therefore, we sought to determine if WNV actively evades the host's RNAi response or if C6/36 cells have a dysfunctional RNAi pathway. C6/36 and Drosophila melanogaster S2 cells were infected with WNV (Flaviviridae), Sindbis virus (SINV, Togaviridae) and La Crosse virus (LACV, Bunyaviridae) and total RNA recovered from cell lysates. Small RNA (sRNA) libraries were constructed and subjected to high-throughput sequencing. In S2 cells, virus-derived small interfering RNAs (viRNAs) from all three viruses were predominantly 21 nt in length, a hallmark of the RNAi pathway. However, in C6/36 cells, viRNAs were primarily 17 nt in length from WNV infected cells and 26–27 nt in length in SINV and LACV infected cells. Furthermore, the origin (positive or negative viral strand) and distribution (position along viral genome) of S2 cell generated viRNA populations was consistent with previously published studies, but the profile of sRNAs isolated from C6/36 cells was altered. In total, these results suggest that C6/36 cells lack a functional antiviral RNAi response. These findings are analogous to the type-I interferon deficiency described in Vero (African green monkey kidney) cells and suggest that C6/36 cells may fail to accurately model mosquito-arbovirus interactions at the molecular level

Nucleophosmin deposition during mRNA 3' end processing influences poly(A) tail length and mRNA export

2011 Spring.Includes bibliographical references.During polyadenylation the multi-functional protein nucleophosmin is deposited onto all cellular mRNAs analyzed. Premature termination of poly(A) tail synthesis using cordycepin abrogates deposition of the protein onto the mRNA, indicating natural termination of poly(A) addition is required for nucleophosmin binding. Nucleophosmin appears to be a bona fide member of the complex involved in 3' end processing as it is directly associated with the AAUAAA-binding CPSF-160 protein and can be co-immunoprecipitated with other polyadenylation factors. Furthermore, reduction in the levels of nucleophosmin results in hyperadenylation of mRNAs, consistent with alterations in poly(A) tail chain termination. Finally, knock down of nucleophosmin results in retention of poly(A)+ RNAs in the cell nucleus, indicating that nucleophosmin binding influences mRNA export. Collectively these data suggest that nucleophosmin plays an important role in poly(A) tail length determination and helps network 3' end processing with other aspects of nuclear mRNA maturation

Cell-surface receptor control that depends on the size of a synthetic equilateral-triangular RNA-protein complex.

A human cell surface displays many complex-structured receptors for receiving extracellular signals to regulate cellular functions. The use of precisely regulated signal-controls of the receptors could have possibilities beyond the current synthetic biology research that begins with the transfection of exogenous molecules to rewire intracellular circuits. However, by using a current ligand-receptor technique, the configuration of the artificially assembled cell surface molecules has been undefined because the assemblage is an unsystematic molecular clustering. Thus, the system bears improvements for precisely regulating receptor functions. We report here a new tool that refines stereochemically-controlled positioning of an assembled surface receptor. The tool performs rationally as an ON/OFF switch and is finely tunable so that a 3 to 6 nm size difference of the device precisely distinguishes the efficiency of apoptosis induced via cell-surface receptor binding. We discuss the potential use of the device in next-generation synthetic biology and in cell surface studies

A Purification Method for a Molecular Complex in Which a Scaffold Molecule Is Fully Loaded with Heterogeneous Molecules

<div><p>An affinity resin-based pull-down method is convenient for the purification of biochemical materials. However, its use is difficult for the isolation of a molecular complex fully loaded with multiple components from a reaction mixture containing the starting materials and intermediate products. To overcome this problem, we have developed a new purification procedure that depends on sequential elimination of the residues. In practice, two affinity resins were used for purifying a triangular-shaped RNP (RNA-protein complex) consisting of three ribosomal proteins (L7Ae) bound to an RNA scaffold. First, a resin with immobilized L7Ae protein captured the incomplete RNP complexes and the free RNA scaffold. Next, another resin with an immobilized chemically modified RNA of a derivative of Box C/D motif, the binding partner of L7Ae, was used to capture free protein. The complete triangular RNP was successfully purified from the mixture by these two steps. Obviously, the purified triangular RNP displaying three protein-binding peptides exhibited an improved performance when compared with the unrefined product. Conceptually, this purification procedure should be applicable for the purification of a variety of complexes consisting of multiple components other than RNP.</p></div

Relationship of masked obesity to self-reported lifestyle habits, ideal body image, and anthropometric measures in Japanese university students: A cross-sectional study

Introduction Masked obesity (MO) is defined as a normal body mass index (BMI) with a high body fat percentage (%BF), and is associated with the onset of lifestyle-related diseases. However, little is known about the current status of MO. Therefore, we investigated the relationship of MO to physical characteristics and lifestyle habits among Japanese university students. Methods Between 2011 and 2019, we conducted a survey of 10,168 males and 4,954 females with BMI within the normal range (18.5 ≤ BMI Results The proportion of students with MO in 2019 was 13.4% in males and 25.8% in females, and the proportion of females increased over time. MO was associated with desire for weight loss (odds ratio, 95% confidence interval: 1.76, 1.53–2.02), intake of five macronutrients (0.79, 0.67–0.93), rice and wheat intakes (1.22, 1.01–1.47), sleep duration of Conclusion The percentage of female students with MO increased during the study period, and in males, MO may be a risk factor for hypertension. These results suggest that intervention for MO is needed in Japanese university students

AFM analysis of the triangular RNP purification.

<p>AFM was used to visualize Tri26L/S RNA (A), L7Ae protein (B), the crude RNP sample composed of 25 nM Tri26L/S RNA and 75 nM L7Ae (C), the RNP sample after the treatment with L7Ae-immobilized resin (D), and the RNP sample after the treatment with the L7Ae- and fBCD35g-immobilized resins (E). The white bars indicate 100 nm.</p

Kinetic parameters of the original and modified box C/D motifs.

<p>Kinetic parameters of the original and modified box C/D motifs.</p

Schematic diagram of the purification procedures for the triangular RNP.

<p>Left and Right lines indicate the sequential affinity purification and the sequential affinity elimination procedures, respectively. The sequential affinity purification of the triangular RNP is performed with a metal (<i>i</i>.<i>e</i>., Ni²⁺ or Co²⁺)-chelated resin to capture the hexa-histidine-tagged L7Ae, followed by treatment with a triplex-forming oligonucleotide-immobilized resin to capture the RNA (left line). The sequential affinity elimination is performed with the L7Ae-immobilized resin to eliminate the incomplete RNP complexes and the free RNA component, followed by elimination of the free L7Ae protein with the box C/D RNA-immobilized resin (right line). Gray and black regions on the RNA indicate the box C/D motif and the stem, respectively.</p