Involvement of S-adenosylmethionine-dependent halide/thiol methyltransferase (HTMT) in methyl halide emissions from agricultural plants: isolation and characterization of an HTMT-coding gene from Raphanus sativus (daikon radish)

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Biogenic emissions of methyl halides (CH₃Cl, CH₃Br and CH₃I) are the major source of these compounds in the atmosphere; however, there are few reports about the halide profiles and strengths of these emissions. Halide ion methyltransferase (HMT) and halide/thiol methyltransferase (HTMT) enzymes concerning these emissions have been purified and characterized from several organisms including marine algae, fungi, and higher plants; however, the correlation between emission profiles of methyl halides and the enzymatic properties of HMT/HTMT, and their role in vivo remains unclear.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Thirty-five higher plant species were screened, and high CH₃I emissions and HMT/HTMT activities were found in higher plants belonging to the Poaceae family, including wheat (<it>Triticum aestivum </it>L.) and paddy rice (<it>Oryza sativa </it>L.), as well as the Brassicaceae family, including daikon radish (<it>Raphanus sativus</it>). The in vivo emission of CH₃I clearly correlated with HMT/HTMT activity. The emission of CH₃I from the sprouting leaves of <it>R. sativus</it>, <it>T. aestivum </it>and <it>O. sativa </it>grown hydroponically increased with increasing concentrations of supplied iodide. A gene encoding an <it>S</it>-adenosylmethionine halide/thiol methyltransferase (HTMT) was cloned from <it>R. sativus </it>and expressed in <it>Escherichia coli </it>as a soluble protein. The recombinant <it>R. sativus </it>HTMT (RsHTMT) was revealed to possess high specificity for iodide (I^-), bisulfide ([SH]^-), and thiocyanate ([SCN]^-) ions.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The present findings suggest that HMT/HTMT activity is present in several families of higher plants including Poaceae and Brassicaceae, and is involved in the formation of methyl halides. Moreover, it was found that the emission of methyl iodide from plants was affected by the iodide concentration in the cultures. The recombinant RsHTMT demonstrated enzymatic properties similar to those of <it>Brassica oleracea </it>HTMT, especially in terms of its high specificity for iodide, bisulfide, and thiocyanate ions. A survey of biogenic emissions of methyl halides strongly suggests that the HTM/HTMT reaction is the key to understanding the biogenesis of methyl halides and methylated sulfur compounds in nature.</p

Isolation of a Parainfluenza Virus Type 3-like Agent from Guinea Pigs

Guinea pig (GP) sera seropositive to human parainfluenza virus type 3 (PIV-3) antigen were found previously in our laboratory. In the present study, we attempted to isolate and characterize a new agent from GP colonies. The new agent was isolated from lung homogenate of sentinel GPs, which were maintained in the GP room containing the serologically positive GP breeding colony. This new agent was found to be comparable to human and bovine PIV-3 strains in regard to its moderate cytopathic effects, hemagglutinating activity, and neutralizing activity, and moreover, it was found to produce antigens cross-reactive to both of the latter PIV-3s. The resemblance between the new isolates and the other PIV-3s was supported by the SDS-PAGE and Western blot analysis of the viral proteins. This is the first report of the isolation of a type 3-like parainfluenza virus from GP. This finding is significant, insofar as an inapparent infection with the virus may concern animal experimentation in the use of GP

Variation in floral scent compounds recognized by honeybees in Brassicaceae crop species

Floral scent attracts pollinators. We investigated the floral scent compounds recognized by pollinators in six Brassica crop species, including allogamous species with different genomes and autogamous species with two parental genomes and radish (Raphanus sativus). Biologically active compounds recognized by honeybees were screened from all floral compounds by combined gas chromatography–electroantennogram analysis and their profiles were determined by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Fourteen of the 52 compounds were active. All accessions had more than two active compounds, but the compounds greatly differed between the two genera. On the basis of similarities in whether active compounds were presence or absence, their amount and their composition ratio, we divided the Brassica accessions into three to five groups by cluster analyses. Most groups were composed of a mixture of allogamous and autogamous species sharing same genome, indicating that the variation depended on genome, not species. These results suggest that all species require pollinator visits for reproduction, despite their different reproductive systems. However, the inter-genus and intra-specific variations shown by the multiple groups within a species might cause different visitation frequencies by pollinators between genera and among accessions within a species, resulting in insufficient seed production in some accessions or species

Guideline for Hereditary Angioedema (HAE) 2010 by the Japanese Association for Complement Research - Secondary Publication

ABSTRACTThis guideline was provided by the Japanese Association for Complement Research targeting clinicians for making an accurate diagnosis of hereditary angioedema (HAE), and for prompt treatment of the HAE patient in Japan. This is a 2010 year version and will be updated according to any pertinent medical advancements

Angioscopic Evaluation of Stabilizing Effects of Bezafibrate on Coronary Plaques in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease

Background Since long-term administrations of anti-hyperlipidemic agents result in reduction in % stenosis or increase in minimum lumen diameter (MLD) of stenotic coronary segments, it is generally believed that anti-hyperlipidemic agents stabilize vulnerable coronary plaques. However, recent pathologic and angioscopic studies revealed that vulnerability of coronary plaques is not related to severity of stenosis and the rims rather than top of the plaques disrupt, and therefore, angiography is not adequate for evaluation of vulnerability

Factors that contribute to long-term survival in patients with leukemia not in remission at allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>There has been insufficient examination of the factors affecting long-term survival of more than 5 years in patients with leukemia that is not in remission at transplantation.</p> <p>Method</p> <p>We retrospectively analyzed leukemia not in remission at allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) performed at our institution between January 1999 and July 2009. Forty-two patients with a median age of 39 years received intensified conditioning (n = 9), standard (n = 12) or reduced-intensity conditioning (n = 21) for allo-HCT. Fourteen patients received individual chemotherapy for cytoreduction during the three weeks prior to reduced-intensity conditioning. Diagnoses comprised acute leukemia (n = 29), chronic myeloid leukemia-accelerated phase (n = 2), myelodysplastic syndrome/acute myeloid leukemia (MDS/AML) (n = 10) and plasma cell leukemia (n = 1). In those with acute leukemia, cytogenetic abnormalities were intermediate (44%) or poor (56%). The median number of blast cells in bone marrow (BM) was 26.0% (range; 0.2-100) before the start of chemotherapy for allo-HCT. Six patients had leukemic involvement of the central nervous system. Stem cell sources were related BM (7%), related peripheral blood (31%), unrelated BM (48%) and unrelated cord blood (CB) (14%).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Engraftment was achieved in 33 (79%) of 42 patients. Median time to engraftment was 17 days (range: 9-32). At five years, the cumulative probabilities of acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and chronic GVHD were 63% and 37%, respectively. With a median follow-up of 85 months for surviving patients, the five-year Kaplan-Meier estimates of leukemia-free survival rate and overall survival (OS) were 17% and 19%, respectively. At five years, the cumulative probability of non-relapse mortality was 38%. In the univariable analyses of the influence of pre-transplant variables on OS, poor-risk cytogenetics, number of BM blasts (>26%), MDS overt AML and CB as stem cell source were significantly associated with worse prognosis (p = .03, p = .01, p = .02 and p < .001, respectively). In addition, based on a landmark analysis at 6 months post-transplant, the five-year Kaplan-Meier estimates of OS in patients with and without prior history of chronic GVHD were 64% and 17% (p = .022), respectively.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Graft-versus-leukemia effects possibly mediated by chronic GVHD may have played a crucial role in long-term survival in, or cure of active leukemia.</p

Initial growth and texture formation during reactive magnetron sputtering of TiN on Si(111)

The initial growth and texture formation mechanism of titanium nitride (TiN) films were investigated by depositing TiN films on (111) silicon substrates by using reactive magnetron sputtering of a Ti metallic target under a N2/Ar atmosphere, and then analyzing the films in detail by using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and x-ray diffraction (XRD). Two power sources for the sputtering, dc and rf, were compared. At the initial growth stage, a continuous amorphous film containing randomly oriented nuclei was observed when the film thickness was about 3 nm. The nuclei grew and formed a polycrystalline layer when the film thickness was about 6 nm. As the film grew further, its orientation changed depending on the deposition conditions. For dc sputtering, the appearance of (111) or (200)-preferred orientations depended on the N2 partial pressure, and the intensity of the preferred orientation increased with increasing film thickness. For rf sputtering, however, when the film thickness was small (for instance, about 20 nm), the film showed (200) orientation, independent of the N2 partial pressure, and further growth caused the film to orient to the (111) orientation when the N2 partial pressure was low (about 0.015 Pa). The results indicated that preferred orientation of TiN films is controlled by a competition between kinetic and thermodynamic effects