Gata is ubiquitously required for the earliest zygotic gene transcription in the ascidian embryo

In ascidian embryos, the earliest transcription from the zygotic genome begins between the 8-cell and 16-cell stages. Gata.a, a maternally expressed Gata transcription factor, activates target genes specifically in the animal hemisphere, whereas the complex of β-catenin and Tcf7 antagonizes the activity of Gata.a and activates target genes specifically in the vegetal hemisphere. Here, we show that genes zygotically expressed at the 16-cell stage have significantly more Gata motifs in their upstream regions. These genes included not only genes with animal hemisphere-specific expression but also genes with vegetal hemisphere-specific expression. On the basis of this finding, we performed knockdown experiments for Gata.a and reporter assays, and found that Gata.a is required for the expression of not only genes with animal hemisphere-specific expression, but also genes with vegetal hemisphere-specific expression. Our data indicated that weak Gata.a activity that cannot induce animal hemisphere-specific expression can allow β-catenin/Tcf7 targets to be expressed in the vegetal cells. Because genes zygotically expressed at the 32-cell stage also had significantly more Gata motifs in their upstream regions, Gata.a function may not be limited to the genes expressed specifically in the animal or vegetal hemispheres at the 16-cell stage, and Gata.a may play an important role in the earliest transcription of the zygotic genome

Laboratory Experiments on Thermally Induced Currents in Lake Biwa

Laboratory simulations of the surface gyres which have been stationally observed in Lake Biwa under the stratified condition were conducted by using a rectangular tank of small size and a distorted topographical model. The experimental gyres were generated by heaters installed in water. Through the rectangular tank experiments, the Rossby number, the vertical Ekman number, the densimetric Froude number and the relative upper layer depth were proved to be similar to those of the lake. The distorted model was built taking the similarities of these parameters into account and was employed under heating conditions corresponding to the annual variation of net surface heat (bouyancy) flux. The process of development and decay of the gyres is discussed in relation to heating stratification, and it is shown that the larger scale currents in lakes such as the gyres in Lake Biwa are formed by heat accumulation due to the solar radiation

Interaction Potential between Biological Sensing Nanoparticles Determined by Combining Small-Angle X‑ray Scattering and Model-Potential-Free Liquid Theory

Biological sensing technology utilizing nanoparticles extends through a diverse range of fields. The nanosensing is controlled using the assembly/disassembly of nanoparticles dominated by interaction forces between them. Although the interaction potential surface gives decisive information on the sensing mechanism, evaluating the quantitative profile has been impossible due to extremely complicated interactions of conjugated soft matter. In this study, a model-potential-free determination of the interaction potential surfaces was devised by combining small-angle scattering and liquid-state theory. The model-potential-free liquid theory was developed for colloidal nanoparticles inherently with strong van der Waals attraction forces by their nanoscopic size. The present method extracts interaction potential between nanoparticles even in systems with complicated interactions due to conjugated soft matter. By applying this determination method to a glutathione-triggered biosensing reaction, interaction potential curves between biosensing nanoparticles were realized for the first time. The analysis revealed peculiar potential surfaces of the sensing nanoparticles. The mechanism of colorimetric nanosensing function based on surface plasmon resonance is discussed from the viewpoint of the assembly/disassembly of nanoparticles in nanocomposites dominated by the interaction potential surfaces

Good response to leucovorin and fluorouracil plus oxaliplatin and cetuximab therapy in a patient with metastatic ascending colon cancer harboring a KRAS p.G13D mutation

The effectiveness of cetuximab (Cmab) against KRAS p.G13D mutant-type tumors has been reported. In this study, we report a case of metastatic ascending colon cancer harboring a KRAS p.G13D mutation in a 65-year-old female. Considering the absence of symptoms and the post-operative risk of respiratory system complications due to multiple lung metastases, particularly at the entrance to the left main bronchus, anticancer drug therapy was selected as first-line therapy. With informed consent, FOLFOX4 [folinic acid (FOL), fluorouracil (F) plus oxaliplatin (OX)] + Cmab therapy was administered as preoperative chemotherapy. A good preoperative response was obtained to the chemotherapy, with a metastatic lesion disappearing from the entrance to the left main bronchus. Subsequent resection was performed successfully with no post-operative complications. Although a histopathological examination of the resected tissue specimen revealed residual cancer cells, it also showed the marked efficacy of the chemotherapy regimen used. In this study, we describe a case of metastatic ascending colon cancer harboring a KRAS p.G13D mutation in which the patient responded well to first-line therapy with FOLFOX4 + Cmab