Light–dark condition regulates sirtuin mRNA levels in the retina

AbstractSirtuins (Sirt1–7) are nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD)-dependent protein deacetylases/ADP-ribosyltransferases that modulate many metabolic responses affecting aging. Sirtuins expressed in tissues and organs involved in systemic metabolism have been extensively studied. However, the characteristics of sirtuins in the retina, where local energy expenditure changes dynamically in response to light stimuli, are largely unknown. Here we analyzed sirtuin mRNA levels by real-time PCR, and found that all seven sirtuins are highly expressed in the retina compared with other tissues, such as liver. We then analyzed the sirtuin mRNA profiles in the retina over time, under a 12-h light/12-h dark cycle (LD condition) and in constant darkness (DD condition). All seven sirtuins showed significant daily variation under the LD condition, with all except Sirt6 being increased in the dark phase. The expression patterns were different under the DD condition, suggesting that sirtuin mRNA levels except Sirt6 are affected by light–dark condition. These findings were not obtained in the brain and liver. In addition, the mRNA expression patterns of Nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (Nampt), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator (PGC1α), and transcription factor A, mitochondrial (Tfam) in the retina, were similar to those of the sirtuins except Sirt6. Our observations provide new insights into the metabolic mechanisms of the retina and the sirtuins' regulatory systems

The phosphate clamp: a small and independent motif for nucleic acid backbone recognition

The 1.7 Å X-ray crystal structure of the B-DNA dodecamer, [d(CGCGAATTCGCG)]2 (DDD)-bound non-covalently to a platinum(II) complex, [{Pt(NH3)3}2-µ-{trans-Pt(NH3)2(NH2(CH2)6NH2)2}](NO3)6 (1, TriplatinNC-A,) shows the trinuclear cation extended along the phosphate backbone and bridging the minor groove. The square planar tetra-am(m)ine Pt(II) units form bidentate N-O-N complexes with OP atoms, in a Phosphate Clamp motif. The geometry is conserved and the interaction prefers O2P over O1P atoms (frequency of interaction is O2P > O1P, base and sugar oxygens > N). The binding mode is very similar to that reported for the DDD and [{trans-Pt(NH3)2(NH2(CH2)6(NH3+)}2-µ-{trans-Pt(NH3)2(NH2(CH2)6NH2)2}](NO3)8 (3, TriplatinNC), which exhibits in vivo anti-tumour activity. In the present case, only three sets of Phosphate Clamps were found because one of the three Pt(II) coordination spheres was not clearly observed and was characterized as a bare Pt2+ ion. Based on the electron density, the relative occupancy of DDD and the sum of three Pt(II) atoms in the DDD-1 complex was 1:1.69, whereas the ratio for DDD-2 was 1:2.85, almost the mixing ratio in the crystallization drop. The high repetition and geometric regularity of the motif suggests that it can be developed as a modular nucleic acid binding device with general utility

Reliability and properties of core materials for all-ceramic dental restorations

Various core materials have been used as all-ceramic dental restorations. Since many foreign zirconia product systems were introduced to the Japanese dental market in the past few years, the researches and the papers on zirconia for ceramic biomaterials have immediately drawn considerable attention. Recently, most of the manufactures supply zirconia blocks available to multi-unit posterior bridges using CAD/CAM, because zirconia has excellent mechanical properties comparable to metal, due to its microstructures. The properties of conventional zirconia were further improved by the composite in nano-scale such as zirconia/alumina nanocomposite (NANOZR). There are many interesting behaviors such as long-term stability related to low temperature degradation, effect of sandblasting and heat treatment on the microstructure and the strength, bonding to veneering porcelains, bonding to cement, visible light translucency related to esthetic restoration, X-ray opacity, biocompatibility, fracture load of clinical bridge as well as lifetime and clinical survival rates of the restoratives made with zirconia. From the recent material researches on zirconia not only in Japan but also in the world, this review takes into account these interesting properties of zirconia and reliability as core material for all-ceramic dental restorations

Classification and Properties of Dental Zirconia as Implant Fixtures and Superstructures

Various types of zirconia are widely used for the fabrication of dental implant superstructures and fixtures. Zirconia–alumina composites, such as ATZ and NanoZR, are adequate for implant fixtures because they have excellent mechanical strength in spite of insufficient esthetic properties. On the other hand, yttria-stabilized zirconia has been used for implant superstructures because of sufficient esthetic properties. They are classified to 12 types with yttria content, monochromatic/polychromatic, uniform/hybrid composition, and monolayer/multilayer. Zirconia with a higher yttria content has higher translucency and lower mechanical strength. Fracture strength of superstructures strongly depends on the strength on the occlusal contact region. It suggests that adequate zirconia should be selected as the superstructure crown, depending on whether strength or esthetics is prioritized. Low temperature degradation of zirconia decreases with yttria content, but even 3Y zirconia has a sufficient durability in oral condition. Although zirconia is the hardest dental materials, zirconia restorative rarely subjects the antagonist teeth to occlusal wear when it is mirror polished. Furthermore, zirconia has less bacterial adhesion and better soft tissue adhesion when it is mirror polished. This indicates that zirconia has advantageous for implant superstructures. As implant fixtures, zirconia is required for surface modification to obtain osseointegration to bone. Various surface treatments, such as roughening, surface activation, and coating, has been developed and improved. It is concluded that an adequately selected zirconia is a suitable material as implant superstructures and fixtures because of mechanically, esthetically, and biologically excellent properties