Small RNA-Mediated Quiescence of Transposable Elements in Animals

Transposable elements (TEs) are major components of the intergenic regions of the genome. However, TE transposition has the potential to threaten the reproductive fitness of the organism; therefore, organisms have evolved specialized molecular systems to sense and repress the expression of TEs to stop them from jumping to other genomic loci. Emerging evidence suggests that Argonaute proteins play a critical role in this process, in collaboration with two types of cellular small RNAs: PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) of the germline and endogenous small interfering RNAs (endo-siRNAs) of the soma, both of which are transcribed from TEs themselves

How selfish retrotransposons are silenced in Drosophila germline and somatic cells

AbstractTransposable elements (TEs) are DNA elements found in the genomes of various organisms. TEs have been highly conserved during evolution, suggesting that they confer advantageous effects to their hosts. However, due to their ability to transpose into virtually any locus, TEs have the ability to generate deleterious mutations in the host genome. In response, a variety of different mechanisms have evolved to mitigate their activities. A main defense mechanism is RNA silencing, which is a gene silencing mechanism triggered by small RNAs. In this review, we address RNA silencing mechanisms that silence retrotransposons, a subset of TEs, and discuss how germline and somatic cells are equipped with different retrotransposon silencing mechanisms

Fabrication of a 64-Pixel TES Microcalorimeter Array with Iron Absorbers Uniquely Designed for 14.4-keV Solar Axion Search

If a hypothetical elementary particle called an axion exists, to solve the strong CP problem, a 57Fe nucleus in the solar core could emit a 14.4-keV monochromatic axion through the M1 transition. If such axions are once more transformed into photons by a 57Fe absorber, a transition edge sensor (TES) X-ray microcalorimeter should be able to detect them efficiently. We have designed and fabricated a dedicated 64-pixel TES array with iron absorbers for the solar axion search. In order to decrease the effect of iron magnetization on spectroscopic performance, the iron absorber is placed next to the TES while maintaining a certain distance. A gold thermal transfer strap connects them. We have accomplished the electroplating of gold straps with high thermal conductivity. The residual resistivity ratio (RRR) was over 23, more than eight times higher than a previous evaporated strap. In addition, we successfully electroplated pure-iron films of more than a few micrometers in thickness for absorbers and a fabricated 64-pixel TES calorimeter structure.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figures, published in IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity on 8 March 202

Analysis of different complexes of type IIa sodium-dependent phosphate transporter in rat renal cortex using blue-native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis

Type IIa sodium-dependent phosphate transporter (NaPi-IIa) can be localized in the apical plasma membrane of renal proximal tubule to carry out a rate-limiting step of phosphate reabsorption. For the apical localization, NaPi-IIa is required to form a macromolecular complex with some adaptor proteins such as Na+/H+ exchanger regulatory factor 1 (NHERF-1) and ezrin. However, the detail of macromolecular complex containing NaPi-IIa in the apical membrane of the renal proximal tubular cells has not been clarified. In this study, we identified at least four different complexes (220, 480, 920, 1,100 kDa) containing NaPi-IIa by using blue-native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Interestingly, LC-MS/MS analysis and immunoprecipitation analysis reveal that megalin is a component of larger complexs (920 and 1,100 kDa). In addition, NaPi-IIa can be heterogeneously co-localized with ezrin and megalin on the apical membrane of renal proximal tubuler cells by fluorescence microscopy analysis. These results suggest that NaPi-IIa can form some different complexes on the apical plasma membrane of renal proximal tubular cells

YbはpiRNA前駆体とpiRNA生合成因子を核周辺部位に形成される顆粒体に局在させることによってpiRISC形成を促進する

PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) direct Piwi to repress transposons and maintain genome integrity in Drosophila ovarian somatic cells. piRNA maturation and association with Piwi occur at perinuclear Yb bodies, the centers of piRNA biogenesis. Here, we show that piRNA intermediates arising from the piRNA cluster flamenco (flam) localize to perinuclear foci adjacent to Yb bodies, termed Flam bodies. RNAi-based screening of piRNA factors revealed that Flam body formation depends on Yb, the core component of Yb bodies, while Piwi and another Yb body component, Armitage, are dispensable for formation. Abolishing the RNA-binding activity of Yb disrupts both Flam bodies and Yb bodies. Yb directly binds flam, but not transcripts from neighboring protein-coding genes. Thus, Yb integrates piRNA intermediates and piRNA processing factors selectively into Flam bodies and Yb bodies, respectively. We suggest that Yb is a key upstream factor in the cytoplasmic phase of the piRNA pathway in ovarian somatic cells

地域看護実習指導者が必要とする保健師基礎教育のあり方

本研究は、第一線で活動している保健師の学生の実習をとおした意見をもとに、保健師基礎教育の今後の課題を明らかにすることを目的とした。S県にて就業中の行政保健師を対象とし、実習指導において気づいた点についてアンケート調査を行った。その結果、学生は日頃からの対人関係づくり、目的・問題意識、社会情勢への関心、生活力や積極性の習得、講義内容の再学習、教員は、実習ラウンド時の指導内容強化、現場学習、指導者は、学生実習の業務への位置づけ、実習指導手引きの作成、学生指導からの学びが課題であった。教育体制については、 1年以上の保健師教育の必要性、実習内容の充実、実習指導に関する研修の開催が今後の課題であることが明らかになった

テレビ会議システムを用いた在宅ケア支援システムの開発II

高齢化社会における在宅ケアの手法の一つとしてマルチメディアを活用した在宅支援システムの導入が各地で行われている。今回在宅テレケアの活用により、次のような効果が明らかになった。在宅テレケアは、要介護者にとって自宅に居ながら外との交流ができ、無理なく徐々に社会との交流が広がる。さらに、要介護者の孤独感・不安感の解消にもなる。又、定期的に実施することにより、生活にリズムをつけ、生活に張りをもたらす効果がある。介護者にとっても、介護負担の軽減を図ることが可能である