The mitochondrial phylogeny of an ancient lineage of ray-finned fishes (Polypteridae) with implications for the evolution of body elongation, pelvic fin loss, and craniofacial morphology in Osteichthyes

BACKGROUND: The family Polypteridae, commonly known as "bichirs", is a lineage that diverged early in the evolutionary history of Actinopterygii (ray-finned fish), but has been the subject of far less evolutionary study than other members of that clade. Uncovering patterns of morphological change within Polypteridae provides an important opportunity to evaluate if the mechanisms underlying morphological evolution are shared among actinoptyerygians, and in fact, perhaps the entire osteichthyan (bony fish and tetrapods) tree of life. However, the greatest impediment to elucidating these patterns is the lack of a well-resolved, highly-supported phylogenetic tree of Polypteridae. In fact, the interrelationships of polypterid species have never been subject to molecular phylogenetic analysis. Here, we infer the first molecular phylogeny of bichirs, including all 12 recognized species and multiple subspecies using Bayesian analyses of 16S and cyt-b mtDNA. We use this mitochondrial phylogeny, ancestral state reconstruction, and geometric morphometrics to test whether patterns of morphological evolution, including the evolution of body elongation, pelvic fin reduction, and craniofacial morphology, are shared throughout the osteichthyan tree of life. RESULTS: Our molecular phylogeny reveals 1) a basal divergence between Erpetoichthys and Polypterus, 2) polyphyly of P. endlicheri and P. palmas, and thus 3) the current taxonomy of Polypteridae masks its underlying genetic diversity. Ancestral state reconstructions suggest that pelvic fins were lost independently in Erpetoichthys, and unambiguously estimate multiple independent derivations of body elongation and shortening. Our mitochondrial phylogeny suggested species that have lower jaw protrusion and up-righted orbit are closely related to each other, indicating a single transformation of craniofacial morphology. CONCLUSION: The mitochondrial phylogeny of polypterid fish provides a strongly-supported phylogenetic framework for future comparative evolutionary, physiological, ecological, and genetic analyses. Indeed, ancestral reconstruction and geometric morphometric analyses revealed that the patterns of morphological evolution in Polypteridae are similar to those seen in other osteichthyans, thus implying the underlying genetic and developmental mechanisms responsible for those patterns were established early in the evolutionary history of Osteichthyes. We propose developmental and genetic mechanisms to be tested under the light of this new phylogenetic framework

Immunoreactivity profiling of Anti-Chinese hamster ovarian host cell protein antibodies by isobaric labeled affinity purification-mass spectrometry reveals low-recovery proteins

We evaluated the immunoreactivity profiles of eight commercial anti-host cell protein (anti-HCP) antibodies from different host animals and their antigens used for immunization by an isobaric labeled affinity purification-mass spectrometry (AP-MS) method. As a result, 34 proteins with high abundance but low recovery from harvest cell culture fluid were identified. Since they are likely to be underestimated in biopharmaceutical quality assessment, the features common to these proteins were investigated. Compared to other immunoprecipitated HCP proteins, proteins exhibiting lower molecular weight (ΔMW = -14600), lower isoelectric point (ΔpI = -0.86), and lower hydrophobicity (ΔGRAVY = -0.13) were enriched. This AP-MS method provides important information for HCP control strategies using immunological methods and is expected to contribute to the development of safe biopharmaceutics

Near-Ultraviolet and Visible Spectroscopy of HAYABUSA Spacecraft Re-entry

HAYABUSA is the first spacecraft ever to land on and lift off from any celestial body other than the moon. The mission, which returned asteroid samples to the Earth while overcoming various technical hurdles, ended on June 13, 2010, with the planned atmospheric re-entry. In order to safely deliver the sample return capsule, the HAYABUSA spacecraft ended its 7-year journey in a brilliant "artificial fireball" over the Australian desert. Spectroscopic observation was carried out in the near-ultraviolet and visible wavelengths between 3000 and 7500 \AA at 3 - 20 \AA resolution. Approximately 100 atomic lines such as Fe I, Mg I, Na I, Al I, Cr I, Mn I, Ni I, Ti I, Li I, Zn I, O I, and N I were identified from the spacecraft. Exotic atoms such as Cu I, Mo I, Xe I and Hg I were also detected. A strong Li I line (6708 \AA) at a height of ~55 km originated from the onboard Li-Ion batteries. The FeO molecule bands at a height of ~63 km were probably formed in the wake of the spacecraft. The effective excitation temperature as determined from the atomic lines varied from 4500 K to 6000 K. The observed number density of Fe I was about 10 times more abundant than Mg I after the spacecraft explosion. N2+(1-) bands from a shock layer and CN violet bands from the sample return capsule's ablating heat shield were dominant molecular bands in the near-ultraviolet region of 3000 - 4000 \AA. OH(A-X) band was likely to exist around 3092 \AA. A strong shock layer from the HAYABUSA spacecraft was rapidly formed at heights between 93 km and 83 km, which was confirmed by detection of N2+(1-) bands with a vibration temperature of ~13000 K. Gray-body temperature of the capsule at a height of ~42 km was estimated to be ~2437 K which is matched to a theoretical prediction. The final message of the HAYABUSA spacecraft and its sample return capsule are discussed through our spectroscopy.Comment: Accepted for publication in PASJ, 22 pages, 7 figures, 6 table

Attenuation of atrial natriuretic peptide response to sodium loading after cardiac operation

To evaluate the role of cardiac operation and the atrial appendage in secretion of atrial natriuretic peptide in response to sodium loading, we studied 44 patients who underwent heart operations with (28 patients; group I) or without (16 patients; group II) right atrial appendectomy and 16 patients who underwent lobectomy (group III). Before and after operation 1 ml/kg of 10% NaCl was infused for 15 minutes. Blood samples were taken before NaCl infusion and immediately after infusion and at 60 minutes after infusion. There were no significant changes in hemodynamics or hematocrit level throughout the study. Plasma and urine sodium levels and the fractional excretion of sodium were significantly increased by sodium loading. Before operation, plasma mean atrial natriuretic peptide levels increased markedly in response to sodium infusion in all groups. After operation, this atrial natriuretic peptide response disappeared in groups I and II, but remained present in group III. Elution profiles of plasma atrial natriuretic peptide showed that the major peak coincided with α-atrial natriuretic peptide before sodium loading, whereas a β-atrial natriuretic peptide peak appeared 60 minutes after sodium loading in all groups both before and after operation. The mean plasma arginine vasopressin levels were significantly increased by sodium loading both before and after operation in all groups. Sodium loading decreased the mean plasma aldosterone levels in all groups before operation, but did not after operation in groups I and II. Plasma renin activity and angiotensin II concentrations were not changed by sodium loading. We conclude that atrial natriuretic peptide response to sodium loading is attenuated by cardiac operation irrespective of right appendectomy, but not by lobectomy. Sodium loading augments secretion of β-atrial natriuretic peptide even in reduced atrial natriuretic peptide response states after heart operations

Automation and crew time saving in the space experiment

We describe preliminary results of the feasibility study of automation and crew workload saving in space experiments on the space station. Some functions have been studied that can be automated within a single rack and without major impact to the development process and costs. In addition, we assume the following premises: (1) applicable as the second generation apparatuses; (2) maximum reduction of the crew workload; and (3) automation between racks including storage. Four apparatuses have been selected as the study case; results for three are summarized

RNA-seq Transcriptional Profiling of an Arbuscular Mycorrhiza Provides Insights into Regulated and Coordinated Gene Expression in Lotus japonicus and Rhizophagus irregularis

Gene expression during arbuscular mycorrhizal development is highly orchestrated in both plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. To elucidate the gene expression profiles of the symbiotic association, we performed a digital gene expression analysis of Lotus japonicus and Rhizophagus irregularis using a HiSeq 2000 next-generation sequencer with a Cufflinks assembly and de novo transcriptome assembly. There were 3,641 genes differentially expressed during arbuscular mycorrhizal development in L. japonicus, approximately 80% of which were up-regulated. The up-regulated genes included secreted proteins, transporters, proteins involved in lipid and amino acid metabolism, ribosomes and histones. We also detected many genes that were differentially expressed in small-secreted peptides and transcription factors, which may be involved in signal transduction or transcription regulation during symbiosis. Coregulated genes between arbuscular mycorrhizal and root nodule symbiosis were not particularly abundant, but transcripts encoding for membrane traffic-related proteins, transporters and iron transport-related proteins were found to be highly co-up-regulated. In transcripts of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, expansion of cytochrome P450 was observed, which may contribute to various metabolic pathways required to accommodate roots and soil. The comprehensive gene expression data of both plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi provide a powerful platform for investigating the functional and molecular mechanisms underlying arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.ArticlePLANT AND CELL PHYSIOLOGY. 56(8):1490-1511 (2015)journal articl

Ti–Pd Alloys as Heterogeneous Catalysts for Hydrogen Autotransfer Reaction and Catalytic Improvement by Hydrogenation Effects

Ti−Pd alloys were investigated as heterogeneous catalysts for hydrogen autotransfer reactions. This is the first reported study of alloys as catalysts for hydrogen‐borrowing reactions using alcohols. We improved the catalytic activities of alloys by increasing their specific surface areas via a hydrogenation−powdering process. The reactivities and selectivities of hydrogenated Ti−Pd alloys [Ti−Pd (Hy) ] were higher than those of non‐hydrogenated alloy catalysts in N‐alkylation by hydrogen autotransfer using alcohols. A plausible catalytic cycle is proposed based on control studies and deuterium labelling experiments

Effects of the Japanese Herbal Medicine “Sho-saiko-to” (TJ-9) on Interleukin-12 Production in Patients with HCV-Positive Liver Cirrhosis

Interleukin-12 (IL-12) is an important cytokine for maintainence of normal systemic defense and bioregulation. The Japanese herbal medicine Sho-saiko-to (TJ-9) has been administered to 1.5 million Japanese patients with chronic liver diseases. TJ-9 is known to significantly suppress cancer development in the liver and has macrobiotic effects. In the present study, we examined the in vitro production of IL-12 by circulating mononuclear cells from liver cirrhosis patients and the effects of TJ-9 on IL-12 production