Epigenomic regulation of human T-cell leukemia virus by chromatin-insulator CTCF

Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is a retrovirus that causes an aggressive T-cell malignancy and a variety of inflammatory conditions. The integrated provirus includes a single binding site for the epigenomic insulator, CCCTC-binding protein (CTCF), but its function remains unclear. In the current study, a mutant virus was examined that eliminates the CTCF-binding site. The mutation did not disrupt the kinetics and levels of virus gene expression, or establishment of or reactivation from latency. However, the mutation disrupted the epigenetic barrier function, resulting in enhanced DNA CpG methylation downstream of the CTCF binding site on both strands of the integrated provirus and H3K4Me3, H3K36Me3, and H3K27Me3 chromatin modifications both up- and downstream of the site. A majority of clonal cell lines infected with wild type HTLV-1 exhibited increased plus strand gene expression with CTCF knockdown, while expression in mutant HTLV-1 clonal lines was unaffected. These findings indicate that CTCF binding regulates HTLV-1 gene expression, DNA and histone methylation in an integration site dependent fashion

Structural basis of Sec-independent membrane protein insertion by YidC

[プレスリリース]バイオサイエンス研究科膜分子複合機能学研究室の塚崎智也准教授らの研究グループが、タンパク質を細胞膜に組み込むメカニズムを解明しました（2014/04/17）Newly synthesized membrane proteins must be accurately inserted into the membrane, folded and assembled for proper functioning. The protein YidC inserts its substrates into the membrane, thereby facilitating membrane protein assembly in bacteria; the homologous proteins Oxa1 and Alb3 have the same function in mitochondria and chloroplasts, respectively1, 2. In the bacterial cytoplasmic membrane, YidC functions as an independent insertase and a membrane chaperone in cooperation with the translocon SecYEG3, 4, 5. Here we present the crystal structure of YidC from Bacillus halodurans, at 2.4 Å resolution. The structure reveals a novel fold, in which five conserved transmembrane helices form a positively charged hydrophilic groove that is open towards both the lipid bilayer and the cytoplasm but closed on the extracellular side. Structure-based in vivo analyses reveal that a conserved arginine residue in the groove is important for the insertion of membrane proteins by YidC. We propose an insertion mechanism for single-spanning membrane proteins, in which the hydrophilic environment generated by the groove recruits the extracellular regions of substrates into the low-dielectric environment of the membrane

Notes of the Teaching practice on the Japanese language education (4) : For the time to come

本研究は, より優れた中等教育授業者を育成する国語科教育実習のあり方を求めて, 実習現場で生起している出来事の記述, 分析, 考察を行い, それを通じて, ①中等国語科教員養成プログラム(学部教育+附属実習)の教育内容の体系化, ②中等国語科教育実習指導体制の確立, にかかわる提言を試みることを目的としている 2008年度は, 単元及び教材と授業の具体に即した記述, 分析を積み重ねてより実践的なモデルを構築していく研究の2年次として, 「小説」単元の実習授業を取り上げた。分析・考察の第1は, 「小説単元における授業力獲得のための課題と指導のポイント」として, ①「主題把握」から「問題領域の焦点化」への転換, ②「登場人物の心情把握と共感」から「問題を引き受ける読み」への転換, ③作品と学習者の接点, ④ワークシート作業の陥穽, ⑤読みの交流の成否。分析・考察の第2は, 授業力向上における「経験の転換・飛躍ポイント」として, ①授業経験の上に指導教員の授業を観察する, ②授業者自身のことばを具体的に考察する, ③学習者を受け止め学習者に働きかける意識。また, 「『単元別 授業力獲得モデル(II)-小説』-授業力獲得のための指導ポイント-」を提案

Results of the search for inspiraling compact star binaries from TAMA300's observation in 2000-2004

We analyze the data of TAMA300 detector to search for gravitational waves from inspiraling compact star binaries with masses of the component stars in the range 1-3Msolar. In this analysis, 2705 hours of data, taken during the years 2000-2004, are used for the event search. We combine the results of different observation runs, and obtained a single upper limit on the rate of the coalescence of compact binaries in our Galaxy of 20 per year at a 90% confidence level. In this upper limit, the effect of various systematic errors such like the uncertainty of the background estimation and the calibration of the detector's sensitivity are included.Comment: 8 pages, 4 Postscript figures, uses revtex4.sty The author list was correcte

Observation results by the TAMA300 detector on gravitational wave bursts from stellar-core collapses

We present data-analysis schemes and results of observations with the TAMA300 gravitational-wave detector, targeting burst signals from stellar-core collapse events. In analyses for burst gravitational waves, the detection and fake-reduction schemes are different from well-investigated ones for a chirp-wave analysis, because precise waveform templates are not available. We used an excess-power filter for the extraction of gravitational-wave candidates, and developed two methods for the reduction of fake events caused by non-stationary noises of the detector. These analysis schemes were applied to real data from the TAMA300 interferometric gravitational wave detector. As a result, fake events were reduced by a factor of about 1000 in the best cases. The resultant event candidates were interpreted from an astronomical viewpoint. We set an upper limit of 2.2x10^3 events/sec on the burst gravitational-wave event rate in our Galaxy with a confidence level of 90%. This work sets a milestone and prospects on the search for burst gravitational waves, by establishing an analysis scheme for the observation data from an interferometric gravitational wave detector

Endobronchial electrocautery wire snare prior to wedge bronchoplastic lobectomy for central-type lung cancer: A case report

AbstractIntroductionOccasionally, it is difficult to design an appropriate treatment plan for central-type lung cancer. We present the usefulness of combined treatment with a bronchoscopic electrocautery wire snare prior to wedge bronchoplastic lobectomy for patients with central-type lung cancer.Presentation of caseA 64-year-old man, who was a long-term corticosteroid user, complicated with left obstructive pneumonia. Chest CT scan showed total atelectasis of the left lung due to obstruction of the left main bronchus by an endobronchial tumor, which protruded from the left lower lobe. He was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of c-T3N0M0 Stage IIB. Endobronchial tumor resection of the left main bronchus was initially performed, which resulted in an improvement of the patient’s symptoms; the patient’s pulmonary function was evaluated and bronchial extension of the tumor was also observed. He subsequently underwent elective bronchoplastic left lower lobectomy and lymphadenectomy, with no recurrence 2 years after surgery.DiscussionA variety of therapeutic bronchoscopic intervention are available for the treatment of advanced central-type lung cancer. The effectiveness of endobronchial electrocautery using the snare wire has been reported for the treatment of respiratory tract tumors, which allowed planning of the following treatment procedure.ConclusionThe combination of a bronchoscopic electrocautery wire snare and bronchoplastic surgical procedure was useful for the treatment of central-type lung cancer such as in our case