Proton-switchable vapochromic behaviour of a platinum(II)-carboxy-terpyridine complex

We synthesized a carboxy-substituted Pt(II)-terpyridine complex, i.e. [PtCl(Hctpy)] Cl ([1H] Cl; Hctpy = 4'-carboxy-2,2': 6',2''-terpyridine), that shows interesting switchable vapochromic behaviour upon protonation/deprotonation of the carboxy group. The as-synthesized dark-blue amorphous-like solid [1H] Cl center dot 3H(2)O was converted to a yellow crystalline solid, [1H] Cl center dot H2O, upon exposure to various polar organic solvent vapours (e.g., acetonitrile, ethanol, 1-propanol, and dichloromethane), which promote the removal of water molecules. The reaction of [1H] Cl center dot 3H(2)O with aqueous ammonia afforded a deprotonated bright-yellow crystalline complex, i.e. [PtCl(ctpy)]center dot H2O (1 center dot H2O), which exhibits red luminescence with an emission maximum at 622nm. Although the colour of 1 center dot H2O was not affected by exposure to various polar organic solvent vapours, interesting vapochromic luminescence with a remarkable red-shift of the emission maximum from 622 to 652 nm was observed upon exposure to saturated water vapour to form orange crystalline 1 center dot 3.5H(2)O X-ray structural analysis revealed that the planar and neutral complex molecule 1 forms a one-dimensional columnar structure with an intermolecular Pt center dot center dot center dot Pt distance of 3.518(2) angstrom in the orange crystall 1 center dot 3.5H(2)O, while the cationic molecule [1H](+) in the protonated form, [1H] Cl center dot H2O, generates a dimeric structure with an intermolecular Pt center dot center dot center dot Pt distance of 3.439(2) angstrom. This difference suggests that the vapochromic behaviours of the protonated and deprotonated forms could be caused by structural changes induced by water-vapour adsorption/desorption, which affect the intermolecular Pt. Pt distance, thereby changing the energy of the metal-metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MMLCT) transition. These contrasting results for the protonated and deprotonated complexes clearly indicate that the hydrophilicity of complex 1 is significantly affected by protonation/deprotonation of the carboxy group. In addition, quasi-reversible conversion between [1H] Cl center dot 3H(2)O and 1 center dot H2O was achieved by exposure of the protonated and deprotonated forms to triethylamine and humid hydrochloric acid vapours, respectively

Purification, molecular cloning and functional characterization of flavonoid C-glucosyltransferases from Fagopyrum esculentum M. (buckwheat) cotyledon

C-Glycosides are characterized by their C-C bonds in which the anomeric carbon of the sugar moieties is directly bound to the carbon atom of aglycon. C-Glycosides are remarkably stable, as their C-C bonds are resistant to glycosidase or acid hydrolysis. A variety of plant species are known to accumulate C-glycosylflavonoidshowever, the genes encoding for enzymes that catalyze C-glycosylation of flavonoids have been identified only from Oryza sativa (rice) and Zea mays (maize), and have not been identified from dicot plants. In this study, we identified the C-glucosyltransferase gene from the dicot plant Fagopyrum esculentumM. (buckwheat). We purified two isozymes from buckwheat seedlings that catalyze C-glucosylation of 2-hydroxyflavanones, which are expressed specifically in the cotyledon during seed germination. Following purification we isolated the cDNA corresponding to each isozyme [FeCGTa (UGT708C1) and FeCGTb (UGT708C2)]. When expressed in Escherichia coli, both proteins demonstrated C-glucosylation activity towards 2-hydroxyflavanones, dihydrochalcone, trihydroxyacetophenones and other related compounds with chemical structures similar to 2,4,6-trihydroxyacetophenone. Molecular phylogenetic analysis of plant glycosyltransferases shows that flavonoid C-glycosyltransferases form a different clade with other functionally analyzed plant glycosyltransferases.ArticlePLANT JOURNAL. 80(3):437-448 (2014)journal articl

The Relationship between Symptom Flare of Atopic Dermatitis and Airborne Japanese Cedar and Cypress Pollen Counts: A Self-Scoring Diary Study

Background. With an increase in Japanese cedar and cypress (JC) pollinosis, the relationship between JC pollen and atopic dermatitis (AD) has been studied. Some reports suggest that JC pollen can be one exacerbating factor for AD, but there has been no report that discusses JC pollen counts relating to AD symptom flare although actual airborne JC pollen counts can widely fluctuate throughout the pollen season. Objective. The relationship between symptom flare of AD and airborne JC pollen counts was examined. Methods. We monitored JC pollen counts in real time and divided the counts into low and high level. We then analyzed self-scored “itch intensity” recorded by 14 AD patients through a self-scoring diary. Results. Among the 14 patients, 7 had significantly higher itch intensity while the pollen counts were high. Conclusion. Even during the pollen season, actual airborne pollen counts can widely fluctuate. Our study suggested that symptom flare of AD could be influenced by the actual pollen counts

Analysis of Pharmacist-Patient Communication using the Roter Method of Interaction Process Analysis System

Background: Effective communication between pharmacists and patients is a crucial factor in ensuring thatmedications are used properly. However, few studies have examined the contents of actual on-sitecommunications between pharmacists and patients.Objective: To identify the characteristics of and problems with routine communications betweenpharmacists and patients using the Roter Method of Interaction Process Analysis System (RIAS).Methods: Conversations between pharmacists and simulated patients (SPs) were recorded and transcribed.Using the RIAS technique, their utterances were classified into 42 categories, and these were furtherdivided into 11 clusters, such as open- and closed-ended questions, and analyzed. Furthermore, theinfluence that the different scenarios performed by the pharmacists may have had on the structure of theircommunication was investigated. All of the transcripts were double-coded by two certified coders.Results: A total of 57 pharmacists took part in the study. The mean ratio of utterances made by SPs andpharmacists were 44% and 56%, respectively. The percentage of pharmacists’ questions was more thandouble that of SPs’ for both open- and closed-ended questions. In the influence that the different scenarios,the scenarios for patients with cancer was significantly higher ratio of utterances by the pharmacists.Conclusions: Pharmacists’ communications tended to focus more on information-gathering activities thatconcentrated on closed-ended questions and frequent counseling, or directing utterances about themedication than on considering the patient’s background. On the other hand, the pharmacists didcommunicate in ways that matched each patient’s disease. This study identified the structure ofpharmacists’ on-site communications, and revealed the associated characteristics and problems

大泉町における在住外国人と地域住民（日本人）を対象として 実施した災害想定訓練の成果と課題 : 桐生大学ボランティアサークルの活動報告から

2011年3月11日に発生した東日本大震災では，多くの外国人も被災者となった．これを機に，各自治体では災 害弱者に対する避難支援体制作りが急務となった．在住外国人が町の人口の15% 以上を占める，群馬県大泉町で は，在住外国人を災害弱者としてではなく，地域の担い手としての有力な人材になってもらうため，地域住民とと もに災害想定訓練を実施することにした．桐生大学ボランティサークルの学生は，この企画に協力スタッフとして 参加し，想定訓練の運営に携わった．訓練実施後に参加した在住外国人を対象に，この訓練がどうだったか，聞き 取り調査を行った．その結果，ほとんどの人から「よかった」と回答が得られた．また，訓練を企画した主務者間 で訓練を振り返り，意見交換会を行い，そこでは，救急法などは繰り返し行うことで，いざというときの行動判断 につながることや1回だけのイベントではなくて，継続して取り組むことが重要であるといった意見が出された． また，災害時には地域住民と在住外国人が同じ地域の構成員として助け合うことが大切である．このような訓練の 経験を通して，顔見知りになり，お互いの文化や生活習慣を理解するよい機会になったことがわかった．ボラン ティサークルの学生は，このイベントの企画を通して多くのことを学んだ．また，言語的コミュニケーションの大 切さもあらためて感じた．The victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11, 2011, included a large number of foreigners living in Japan.　Since then, local governments have been required to establish evacuation-support systems for people who will be disadvantaged in the event of a disaster.　With the aim of training foreigners as valuable members and leaders of the community, rather than potential disaster victims, the Town of Oizumi, Gunma, in which foreign residents account for more than 15% of the total population, conducted a disaster drill in collaboration with the community residents.　Students of the Kiryu University Volunteer Circle became involved in this project as support staff to operate the disaster drill.　A questionnaire survey involving foreign residents who had participated in the disaster drill was conducted to ask their opinions of the drill, and the majority of them stated that it was meaningful.　The organizers of the drill held a meeting to review it and exchange opinions.　The meeting participants stated that they should repeatedly undergo training to learn first-aid procedures so that they can make appropriate decisions in the event of a disaster, and that it is necessary to hold such an event on a regular basis.　 It is also important for Japanese and foreign residents to help each other as members of the same community in the event of a disaster.　The disaster drill was a valuable opportunity for them to get to know each other and learn foreign cultures and customs through training.　The students of the volunteer circle learned many things through organizing the event, including the importance of verbal communication

STING signalling is terminated through ESCRT-dependent microautophagy of vesicles originating from recycling endosomes

STING炎症シグナルの終結分子機構 --新規細胞内分解システムの発見--. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2023-03-14.Stimulator of interferon genes (STING) is essential for the type I interferon response against a variety of DNA pathogens. Upon emergence of cytosolic DNA, STING translocates from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi where STING activates the downstream kinase TBK1, then to lysosome through recycling endosomes (REs) for its degradation. Although the molecular machinery of STING activation is extensively studied and defined, the one underlying STING degradation and inactivation has not yet been fully elucidated. Here we show that STING is degraded by the endosomal sorting complexes required for transport (ESCRT)-driven microautophagy. Airyscan super-resolution microscopy and correlative light/electron microscopy suggest that STING-positive vesicles of an RE origin are directly encapsulated into Lamp1-positive compartments. Screening of mammalian Vps genes, the yeast homologues of which regulate Golgi-to-vacuole transport, shows that ESCRT proteins are essential for the STING encapsulation into Lamp1-positive compartments. Knockdown of Tsg101 and Vps4, components of ESCRT, results in the accumulation of STING vesicles in the cytosol, leading to the sustained type I interferon response. Knockdown of Tsg101 in human primary T cells leads to an increase the expression of interferon-stimulated genes. STING undergoes K63-linked ubiquitination at lysine 288 during its transit through the Golgi/REs, and this ubiquitination is required for STING degradation. Our results reveal a molecular mechanism that prevents hyperactivation of innate immune signalling, which operates at REs

Transcriptional Activation of Low-Density Lipoprotein Receptor Gene by DJ-1 and Effect of DJ-1 on Cholesterol Homeostasis

DJ-1 is a novel oncogene and also causative gene for familial Parkinson’s disease park7. DJ-1 has multiple functions that include transcriptional regulation, anti-oxidative reaction and chaperone and mitochondrial regulation. For transcriptional regulation, DJ-1 acts as a coactivator that binds to various transcription factors, resulting in stimulation or repression of the expression of their target genes. In this study, we found the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) gene is a transcriptional target gene for DJ-1. Reduced expression of LDLR mRNA and protein was observed in DJ-1-knockdown cells and DJ-1-knockout mice and this occurred at the transcription level. Reporter gene assays using various deletion and point mutations of the LDLR promoter showed that DJ-1 stimulated promoter activity by binding to the sterol regulatory element (SRE) with sterol regulatory element binding protein (SREBP) and that stimulating activity of DJ-1 toward LDLR promoter activity was enhanced by oxidation of DJ-1. Chromatin immunoprecipitation, gel-mobility shift and co-immunoprecipitation assays showed that DJ-1 made a complex with SREBP on the SRE. Furthermore, it was found that serum LDL cholesterol level was increased in DJ-1-knockout male, but not female, mice and that the increased serum LDL cholesterol level in DJ-1-knockout male mice was cancelled by administration with estrogen, suggesting that estrogen compensates the increased level of serum LDL cholesterol in DJ-1-knockout female mice. This is the first report that DJ-1 participates in metabolism of fatty acid synthesis through transcriptional regulation of the LDLR gene

女子大生の咀嚼の実態と心身の各種因子との関係について

咀嚼を含めた食行為が女子大生の心身に与える影響を把握するため、マシュマロとチャーハンにおける咀嚼回数の測定並びに、生活習慣および心理状況調査を実施した。また、咀嚼回数の測定と併せて口腔部のサイズや容量、1口の食物投入量、咀嚼数、咀嚼スピード、スプーンの移動回数を測定し、体重や体脂肪量などの各種身体情報の調査も行った。　咀嚼の状況と身体特性との関係性を相関分析により検討したところ、相関関係は確認できなかった。咀嚼の状況と生活習慣との関連の検討において、メタボリックシンドロームに対するリスクと有意な負の相関関係が見られた項目は、スプーン移動回数、チャーハン摂取量、1分あたりの摂取量であった。　以上のように咀嚼の状況と生活習慣および心理状況調査結果との関係については、関連性が示唆される傾向が見られた