Apoptosis Ensures Spacing Pattern Formation of Drosophila Sensory Organs

SummaryBackgroundIn both vertebrates and invertebrates, developing organs and tissues must be precisely patterned. One patterning mechanism is Notch/Delta-mediated lateral inhibition. Through the process of lateral inhibition, Drosophila sensory organ precursors (SOPs) are selected and sensory bristles form into a regular pattern. SOP cell fate is determined by high Delta expression and following expression of neurogenic genes like neuralized. SOP selection is spatially and temporally regulated; however, the dynamic process of precise pattern formation is not clearly understood.ResultsIn this study, using live-imaging analysis, we show that the appearance of neuralized-positive cells is random in both timing and position. Excess neuralized-positive cells are produced by developmental errors at several steps preceding and accompanying lateral inhibition. About 20% of the neuralized-positive cells show aberrant cell characteristics and high Notch activation, which not only suppress neural differentiation but also induce caspase-dependent cell death. These cells never develop into sensory organs, nor do they disturb bristle patterning.ConclusionsOur study reveals the incidence of developmental errors that produce excess neuralized-positive cells during sensory organ development. Notch activation in neuralized-positive cells determines aberrant cell fate and typically induces caspase-dependent cell death. Apoptosis is utilized as a mechanism to remove cells that start neural differentiation at aberrant positions and timing and to ensure robust spacing pattern formation

Log-aesthetic Curves as Similarity Geometric Analogue of Euler's Elasticae

In this paper we consider the log-aesthetic curves and their generalization which are used in CAGD. We consider those curves under similarity geometry and characterize them as stationary integrable flow on plane curves which is governed by the Burgers equation. We propose a variational formulation of those curves whose Euler-Lagrange equation yields the stationary Burgers equation. Our result suggests that the log-aesthetic curves and their generalization can be regarded as the similarity geometric analogue of Euler's elasticae

Right Upper-lower Bilobectomy for Double Primary Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

Introduction: Right upper-lower bilobectomy is rarely performed for non-small cell lung cancer. The prevention of middle lobe torsion is an important aspect of this procedure.Presentation of case: The patient was 68-year-old man. He had double primary Stage1B non-small cell lung cancer, and requiring right upper-lower bilobectomy. The residual middle lobe was rotated approximately 90° in spite of sutured to the diaphragm. This event leads to pooling of sputum and the subsequent development of bacterial pneumonia in the middle lobe. Moreover, acute respiratory distress syndrome developed in the left lung arising secondarily to bacterial pneumonia. The patient died on postoperative day 42 due to respiratory failure.Conclusion: Fixation of the residual middle lobe is important during right upper-lower bilobectomy

A STRIPAK component Strip regulates neuronal morphogenesis by affecting microtubule stability

During neural development, regulation of microtubule stability is essential for proper morphogenesis of neurons. Recently, the striatin-interacting phosphatase and kinase (STRIPAK) complex was revealed to be involved in diverse cellular processes. However, there is little evidence that STRIPAK components regulate microtubule dynamics, especially in vivo. Here, we show that one of the core STRIPAK components, Strip, is required for microtubule organization during neuronal morphogenesis. Knockdown of Strip causes a decrease in the level of acetylated α-tubulin in Drosophila S2 cells, suggesting that Strip influences the stability of microtubules. We also found that Strip physically and genetically interacts with tubulin folding cofactor D (TBCD), an essential regulator of α- and β-tubulin heterodimers. Furthermore, we demonstrate the genetic interaction between strip and Down syndrome cell adhesion molecule (Dscam), a cell surface molecule that is known to work with TBCD. Thus, we propose that Strip regulates neuronal morphogenesis by affecting microtubule stability.This work was supported by grants from the Japanese Ministry of Education, Science, Sports, Culture and Technology (MEXT), the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science and the Japan Science and Technology Agency (to C.S., M.O., M.M. and T.C.)

Amino acid residues in the transmembrane domain of the type 1 sigma receptor critical for ligand binding

AbstractThe type 1 sigma receptor expressed in Xenopus oocytes showed binding abilities for the sigma-1 ligands, [3H](+)pentazocine and [3H]NE-100, with similar kinetic properties as observed in native tissue membranes. Amino acid substitutions (Ser99Ala, Tyr103Phe and di-Leu105,106di-Ala) in the transmembrane domain did not alter the expression levels of the type 1 sigma receptor as determined by immunoblot analysis using an anti-type 1 sigma receptor antiserum. By contrast, ligand binding was significantly suppressed by the substitutions. These findings provide evidence that the transmembrane domain of the type 1 sigma receptor plays a critical role in ligand binding of this receptor