FZL, a dynamin-like protein localized to curved grana edges, is required for efficient photosynthetic electron transfer in Arabidopsis

Photosynthetic electron transfer and its regulation processes take place on thylakoid membranes, and the thylakoid of vascular plants exhibits particularly intricate structure consisting of stacked grana and flat stroma lamellae. It is known that several membrane remodeling proteins contribute to maintain the thylakoid structure, and one putative example is FUZZY ONION LIKE (FZL). In this study, we re-evaluated the controversial function of FZL in thylakoid membrane remodeling and in photosynthesis. We investigated the sub-membrane localization of FZL and found that it is enriched on curved grana edges of thylakoid membranes, consistent with the previously proposed model that FZL mediates fusion of grana and stroma lamellae at the interfaces. The mature fzl thylakoid morphology characterized with the staggered and less connected grana seems to agree with this model as well. In the photosynthetic analysis, the fzl knockout mutants in Arabidopsis displayed reduced electron flow, likely resulting in higher oxidative levels of Photosystem I (PSI) and smaller proton motive force (pmf). However, nonphotochemical quenching (NPQ) of chlorophyll fluorescence was excessively enhanced considering the pmf levels in fzl, and we found that introducing kea3-1 mutation, lowering pH in thylakoid lumen, synergistically reinforced the photosynthetic disorder in the fzl mutant background. We also showed that state transitions normally occurred in fzl, and that they were not involved in the photosynthetic disorders in fzl. We discuss the possible mechanisms by which the altered thylakoid morphology in fzl leads to the photosynthetic modifications

Cerebellar Ataxia and Overactive Bladder after Encephalitis Affecting the Cerebellum

The cerebellum is one of the regions that contribute to urinary dysfunction in humans. A 43-year-old woman at age 35 had an acute onset of encephalitis that led to fever, generalized convulsion and coma. Six months after the disease onset, she regained consciousness and developed generalized myoclonus, cerebellar ataxia and overactive bladder, e.g., urinary urgency, daytime urinary frequency, and urinary incontinence. Eight years after the disease onset, she was revealed to have cerebellar atrophy on MRI, cerebellar hypoperfusion on SPECT, and detrusor overactivity on urodynamic study. Selective inflammation in the cerebellum seemed to produce cerebellar ataxia and overactive bladder in our case

A molecular neuromorphic network device consisting of single-walled carbon nanotubes complexed with polyoxometalate

In contrast to AI hardware, neuromorphic hardware is based on neuroscience, wherein constructing both spiking neurons and their dense and complex networks is essential to obtain intelligent abilities. However, the integration density of present neuromorphic devices is much less than that of human brains. In this report, we present molecular neuromorphic devices, composed of a dynamic and extremely dense network of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) complexed with polyoxometalate (POM). We show experimentally that the SWNT/POM network generates spontaneous spikes and noise. We propose electron-cascading models of the network consisting of heterogeneous molecular junctions that yields results in good agreement with the experimental results. Rudimentary learning ability of the network is illustrated by introducing reservoir computing, which utilises spiking dynamics and a certain degree of network complexity. These results indicate the possibility that complex functional networks can be constructed using molecular devices, and contribute to the development of neuromorphic devices

A Case of Gallbladder Metastasis of Malignant Melanoma

In the clinical course of malignant melanoma, which can metastasize to multiple organs, gallbladder metastases are rarely detected. A 69-year-old man who underwent resection of a primary malignant melanoma was subsequently treated with nivolumab for lung metastases and achieved complete response. Seven years after surgery, multiple nodules were found in the gallbladder, and he underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The postoperative diagnosis was metastases of malignant melanoma. He has been recurrence-free 8 months after surgery. If radical resection is possible, such surgery should be performed for gallbladder metastases found in patients with other controlled lesions of malignant melanoma

EPR based Estimation of Radiation-Induced Reactive Oxygen Species

Generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is considered as essential trigger of biological effects of ionizing radiations, and may be deeply linked with the radiation quality.Amounts of total oxidation reactions (i.e. oxidative free radical species, •OH and HO2•), H2O2 generations, Oxygen consumptions, and •OH generations induced by X-ray, 20 keV/μm carbon beam, and 80 keV/μm carbon beam were estimated using EPR based techniques.Total oxidation reactions were estimated as 3, 1.3, and 0.66 μmol/L/Gy, amount of H2O2 generations were 0.2, 0.57, and 0.35 μmol/L/Gy, oxygen consumptions were 0.4, 0.39, and 0.15 μmol/L/Gy for X-ray, 20 keV/μm carbon beam, and 80 keV/μm carbon beam, respectively. The ratio of H2O2 generation per oxygen consumption were increased with LET, and were 0.5, 1.46, 2.33 for X-ray, 20 keV/μm carbon beam, and 80 keV/μm carbon beam, respectively. The •OH generations expected to be localized on the track/range of the radiation beam/ray, and both sparse (≈ 3.3 mM) and very dense (> 1.7 M) •OH generations were suggested. Percentage of sparse •OH generation decreased with LET becoming higher.The SFRBM\u27s 23rd Annual Meeting, a joint meeting with the Society for Free Radical Research International (SFRBM/SFRRI 2016