The Influence of Polyploidy and Genome Composition on Genomic Imprinting in Mice

Genomic imprinting is an epigenetic mechanism that switches the expression of imprinted genes involved in normal embryonic growth and development in a parent-of-origin-specific manner. Changes inDNAmethylation statuses from polyploidization are a well characterized epigenetic modification in plants. However, how changes in ploidy affect both imprinted gene expression and methylation status in mammals remains unclear. To address this, we used quantitative real time PCR to analyze expression levels of imprinted genes in mouse tetraploid fetuses. We used bisulfite sequencing to assess the methylation statuses of differentially methylated regions (DMRs) that regulate imprinted gene expression in triploid and tetraploid fetuses. The nine imprinted genes H19, Gtl2, Dlk1, Igf2r, Grb10, Zim1, Peg3, Ndn, and Ipw were all unregulated; in particular, the expression of Zim1 was more than 10-fold higher, and the expression of Ipw was repressed in tetraploid fetuses. The methylation statuses of four DMRs H19, intergenic (IG), Igf2r, and Snrpn in tetraploid and triploid fetuses were similar to those in diploid fetuses. We also performed allele-specific RT-PCR sequencing to determine the alleles expressing the three imprinted genes Igf2, Gtl2, and Dlk1 in tetraploid fetuses. These three imprinted genes showed monoallelic expression in a parent-of-origin-specific manner. Expression of non-imprinted genes regulating neural cell development significantly decreased in tetraploid fetuses, which might have been associated with unregulated imprinted gene expression. This study provides the first detailed analysis of genomic imprinting in tetraploid fetuses, suggesting that imprinted gene expression is disrupted, but DNA methylation statuses of DMRs are stable following changes in ploidy in mammals

An experimental study of metaphor comprehension

There are two theories of metaphor comprehension that assume (1) base and target in a metaphor are processed simultaneously (Alignment-first model); (2) properties of base are projected to target (Abstraction-first model). We conducted an experiment which replicates Gentener & Wolff (1997)\u27s experiment 1 with Japanese equivalents. In experiment 2,We showed that similar result is also found with literal comparison sentences. Correlational analysis of RT data suggested that more detailed analysis of processes is needed

カラマツ ヒノキ ニダンリン ニ オケル ヒノキ ノ セイチョウ モデル コウチク ト ケントウ

近年,長伐期林施業とともに複層林施業が重要視されている。しかし,複層林に関する情報が不足している。そのなかでも複層林の収穫予測については,上木・下木の生育条件,施業方法が一様でないことに加えてデータ不足から手探り状態にある。本研究では,カラマツ・ヒノキ二段林の成長予測をするために密度管理図,収量比数,相対照度,成長抑制率を取り入れた成長予測モデルを提案した。そのモデルによっていくつかのタイプのモデル林を想定して上木と樹下植栽木(下木)の成長を予測した。それらの推定された値の信頼度をみるために,東京都水源林で調査したカラマツ・ヒノキ二段林の実測値と比較した。その結果,推定値は実測値と大きな差はなく,提案したモデルは信頼でき,下木の成長過程を求めることに有効であることが示唆された。It is difficult to predict the yield of multiple- layered stands, because there are differences in the growth process between under-storied trees and over-storied trees. The purpose of this study is to clarify the amount of growth in Larix leptolepis-Chamaecyparis obtusa multiple-layered stand by the simulation of growth prediction model. The simulation models were made under the control of four elements ; the yield-density diagram, yield index, relative illumination and the rate of growth. The actual growth was measured in the water conservation forests of Tokyo Metropolis. Approximately , the growth prediction model agreed with result of the actual stands. Therefore, the model was considered to be effective for estimating the growth of under-storied trees with multiple- layered stands

1-year tolvaptan efficacy in ADPKD

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) develops into end-stage kidney disease by 65 years of age in an estimated 45%-70% of patients. Recent trials revealed that tolvaptan inhibits disease progression both in early-stage or late-stage ADPKD ; however, stratified analysis showed a difference of favorable factors correlated with tolvaptan efficacy between early-stage and late-stage ADPKD. Thus, we examined the efficacy of tolvaptan in ADPKD with a wide range of estimated glomerular filtration rates (eGFR). We enrolled 24 patients with eGFR 35.3 (28.0-65.5) ml / min / 1.73m2 and evaluated treatment effect as ΔΔeGFR (ml / min / 1.73m2 / year) or ΔΔtotal kidney volume (TKV) (% / year) that was calculated as post-treatment annual change - pre-treatment annual change. Pre ΔeGFR was significantly low in eGFR responders, defined as ΔΔeGFR > 0 ml / min / 1.73m2 / year. In eGFR responders, pre ΔeGFR, post ΔeGFR, eGFR, TKV, and proteinuria were significantly correlated with ΔΔeGFR. In TKV responders defined as ΔΔTKV > 5 % / year, we identified hypertension history, proteinuria, TKV, and post ΔTKV as significantly correlated factors with ΔΔTKV. In conclusion, pre ΔeGFR may be a predictive factor of therapeutic efficacy on kidney function. Tolvaptan may have greater efficacy in early-stage ADPKD with rapid GFR decline or with well-controlled blood pressure

Maternity swimming at M isasa Hospital of Okayama University Medical School-Fourth report. The growth and development of babies who were born from the mothers who experienced the maternity swimming

第1報において妊婦水泳に関する妊婦の認識について報告し，第2報において妊婦水泳の現状とその適応について報告し，第3報にて妊婦水泳が循環器系に与える影響について報告した。今回は，母親が妊婦水泳を行い出生後1年以上経過した児の発育，発達状況についてアンケート調査を行った。その結果，発育e発達状況は艮好であった。現時点で全例正常な発達をしていた。このことより我々の行っている妊婦水泳は児の発育，発達に悪影響を及ぼさないことが確かめられた。Seventy babies were born from the mothers who experienced maternity swimming in our hospital. The growth and development of 31 babies that were over 1 years old were investigated by means of a questionnaire survey. 62.5% of the total were answered. This survey showed that no babies had problems with their growth and development. These results suggest that maternal Swimmingmight have no hazardous effects on the fetus

Influence of genetic factors on the ephedrine alkaloid composition ratio of Ephedra plants

We investigated the ephedrine alkaloid [(-)-ephedrine and (+)-pseudoephedrine] composition ratio of a crude Chinese herbal drug described in the Japanese Pharmacopoeia \u27Ephedra herb (Chinese name: Mahuang)\u27. There were marked changes in the alkaloid composition ratio of wild plants in areas where both male and female clusters coexisted. However, in genetically homogeneous areas with the growth of male or female clusters alone, all of the coefficients of the regression lines were positive, but each gradient varied. This suggests that the alkaloid composition ratio has a clear tendency in each individual. Based on this, we cultivated individuals for vegetative propagation, and evaluated the alkaloid content ratio. Those propagated by separating the roots showed a specific tendency regardless of the cultivation area (Wakayama, Tanegashima). Those propagated by separating the herbaceous stem showed a specific tendency regardless of the soil or harvest time. In addition, we surveyed the (-)-ephedrine content ratio of 3- to 6-year-old strains. There was a high positive correlation coefficient between the previous and subsequent years. These findings suggest that the ephedrine alkaloid composition ratio of Ephedra herb depends on genetic factors, but not on environmental factors or the growth period

X-Ray Study of Temperature and Abundance Profiles of the Cluster of Galaxies Abell 1060 with Suzaku

We carried out observations of the central and 20' east offset regions of the cluster of galaxies Abell 1060 with Suzaku. Spatially resolved X-ray spectral analysis has revealed temperature and abundance profiles of Abell 1060 out to 27' ~ 380; /h_70 kpc, which corresponded to ~ 0.25; r_180. Temperature decrease of the intra cluster medium from 3.4 keV at the center to 2.2 keV in the outskirt region are clearly observed. Abundances of Si, S and Fe also decrease by more than 50% from the center to the outer, while Mg shows fairly constant abundance distribution at ~ 0.7 solar within r < 17'. O shows lower abundance of ~ 0.3 solar in the central region (r~ 6'), and indicates a similar feature with Mg, however it is sensitive to the estimated contribution of the Galactic components of kT_1 ~ 0.15 keV and kT_2 ~ 0.7 keV in the outer annuli (r ~ 13'). Systematic effects due to the point spread function tails, contamination on the XIS filters, instrumental background, cosmic and/or Galactic X-ray background, and the assumed solar abundance tables are carefully examined. Results on temperature and abundances of Si, S, and Fe are consistent with those derived by XMM-Newton at r < 13'. Formation and metal enrichment process of the cluster are discussed based on the present results.Comment: 20 pages, 19 figures, accepted for publication in PAS

Calreticulin and integrin alpha dissociation induces anti-inflammatory programming in animal models of inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, is a chronic intestinal inflammatory condition initiated by integrins-mediated leukocyte adhesion to the activated colonic microvascular endothelium. Calreticulin (CRT), a calcium-binding chaperone, is known as a partner in the activation of integrin α subunits (ITGAs). The relationship between their interaction and the pathogenesis of IBD is largely unknown. Here we show that a small molecule, orally active ER-464195-01, inhibits the CRT binding to ITGAs, which suppresses the adhesiveness of both T cells and neutrophils. Transcriptome analysis on colon samples from dextran sodium sulfate-induced colitis mice reveals that the increased expression of pro-inflammatory genes is downregulated by ER-464195-01. Its prophylactic and therapeutic administration to IBD mouse models ameliorates the severity of their diseases. We propose that leukocytes infiltration via the binding of CRT to ITGAs is necessary for the onset and development of the colitis and the inhibition of this interaction may be a novel therapeutic strategy for the treatment of IBD