Changes in the cell shape and actin organization accompanying primary ciliogenesis in Xenopus epithelial cells

Xenopus epithelial A6 cells produce primary cilia most readily when the confluent culture is serumdeprived, in contrast with various mammalian epithelial cells, which usually produce cilia in confluent cultures without serum starvation. Here, we observed A6 cells under the conditions that promote ciliogenesis, and found a few unusual features accompanying ciliogenesis including changes in cell shape and actin re-organization. Upon serum starvation, cells tended to reduce the area of attachment to the substratum and increase the height before ciliogenesis. Cells in highly ciliated areas formed thick actin bundles in their periphery. In addition, cells transiently formed a unique cone-shaped assembly of stress fibers, specifically in the basal region in the early phase of ciliogenesis. Although involvement of actin filaments in ciliogenesis has been widely recognized in recent studies, these actin structures have not been reported. Thus, ciliogenesis in A6 cells appears to reveal novel ciliogenesis-accompanying cellular changes that have been overlooked in studies using other cell lines

Discrete PIH proteins function in the cytoplasmic preassembly of different subsets of axonemal dyneins

Mot48, a PIH domain protein, assembles and stabilizes inner arm dynein complexes in the cytoplasm before they are transported into cilia

Clues from joint inversion of tsunami and geodetic data of the 2011 Tohoku-oki earthquake

The 2011 Tohoku-oki (Mw 9.1) earthquake is so far the best-observed megathrust rupture, which allowed the collection of unprecedented offshore data. The joint inversion of tsunami waveforms (DART buoys, bottom pressure sensors, coastal wave gauges, and GPS-buoys) and static geodetic data (onshore GPS, seafloor displacements obtained by a GPS/acoustic combination technique), allows us to retrieve the slip distribution on a non-planar fault. We show that the inclusion of near-source data is necessary to image the details of slip pattern (maximum slip ~48 m, up to ~35 m close to the Japan trench), which generated the large and shallow seafloor coseismic deformations and the devastating inundation of the Japanese coast. We investigate the relation between the spatial distribution of previously inferred interseismic coupling and coseismic slip and we highlight the importance of seafloor geodetic measurements to constrain the interseismic coupling, which is one of the key-elements for long-term earthquake and tsunami hazard assessment

Novel strategies in tendon and ligament tissue engineering: Advanced biomaterials and regeneration motifs

Tendon and ligaments have poor healing capacity and when injured often require surgical intervention. Tissue replacement via autografts and allografts are non-ideal strategies that can lead to future problems. As an alternative, scaffold-based tissue engineering strategies are being pursued. In this review, we describe design considerations and major recent advancements of scaffolds for tendon/ligament engineering. Specifically, we outline native tendon/ligament characteristics critical for design parameters and outcome measures, and introduce synthetic and naturally-derived biomaterials used in tendon/ligament scaffolds. We will describe applications of these biomaterials in advanced tendon/ligament engineering strategies including the utility of scaffold functionalization, cyclic strain, growth factors, and interface considerations. The goal of this review is to compile and interpret the important findings of recent tendon/ligament engineering research in an effort towards the advancement of regenerative strategies

Permian Calcareous Algae Found in the Matsumae Group, Matsumae Peninsula, Southwestern Hokkaido

Permian calcareous algae Gymnocodium bellerophontis and Mizzia velebitana were found in an algal limestone bed intercalated in the Matsumae Group exposed at the upper stream of Komatagawa River, about 5 km northwest of Fukushima town, Southwestern Hokkaido. The limestone is intercalated within the alternation of greenish gray basaltic tuff and slate, and the whole sequence is continuous at least about 2 km along its strike direction. Considerable part of the Matsumae group may be assigned to Permian in age