Isolation of a transcriptionally active element of high copy number retrotransposons in sweetpotato genome

Many plant retrotransposons have been characterized, but only three families (Tnt1, Tto1 and Tos17) have been demonstrated to be transpositionally competent. We followed a novel approach that enabled us to identify an active element of the Ty1-copia retrotransposon family with estimated 400 copies in the sweetpotato genome. DNA sequences of Ty1 -copia reverse transcriptase (RTase) from the sweetpotato genome were analyzed, and a group of retrotransposon copies probably formed by recent transposition events was further analyzed. 3’RACE on callus cDNA amplified transcripts containing long terminal repeats (LTR) of this group. The sequence -specific amplification polymorphism (S-SAP) patterns of the LTR sequence in the genomic DNA were compared between a normal plant and callus lines derived from it. A callus -specific S-SAP product was found into which the retrotransposon detected by the 3’RACE had been transposed apparently during cell culture. We conclude that our approach provides an effective way to identify active elements of retrotransposons with high copy numbers.</p

Effects of one hour daily outdoor access on lying and sleeping postures, and immune traits of tethered cows

Objective We investigated the effects of outdoor access for 1 h per day on the animal welfare (AW) of tethered cows, in terms of lying and sleeping postures, and immune function. Methods A total of five dry cows were tethered all day indoors (tethering) for 30 days and then tethered indoors with 1 h daily outdoor access (ODA-1h) for 30 days. To analyze the effects of ODA-1h, we calculated the total duration and bout frequency per day, and bout duration of lying and sleeping postures during the last five days of each treatment period. We also analyzed the populations of T cells, B cells, and NK cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) by fluorescence-activated cell sorting and determined the concanavalin A (Con A) -induced proliferation rate of T cells. Results The mean total time per day of lying during the ODA-1h treatment was significantly shorter than that during the tethering treatment (p<0.001). The Con A-induced proliferation rate of T cells during the ODA-1h treatment was significantly higher than that during the tethering treatment (p = 0.007). The proportion of NK cells in PBMC during the ODA-1h treatment tended to be higher than that during the tethering treatment (p = 0.062). Conclusion Although ODA-1h may decrease lying time, it increases the available space for tethered cows towards that typically found in grazing and free barn feeding systems. This increased available space promotes the expression of normal behaviors such as walking and social behaviors except lying and may also improve the immune function of tethered dry cows, thereby improving their overall welfare

Anterior Pituitary Progenitor Cells Express Costimulatory Molecule 4Ig-B7-H31

Abstract Stem/Progenitor cells in the postnatal pituitary gland are embedded in a marginal cell layer around Rathke’s pouch. However, the nature and behavior of anterior pituitary progenitor cells remain unclear. We established bovine anterior pituitary progenitor cell line (BAPC)-1 from the anterior pituitary gland, which expressed stem/progenitor cell-related genes and several inflammatory cytokines. To characterize and localize these pituitary progenitor cells, we produced a mAb (12B mAb) against BAPC-1. The 12B mAb recognized the 4Ig-B7-H3 molecule, which is a costimulatory molecule and negative regulator in T cell activation. WC1+ γδ T cells in young bovine PBMC express the 4Ig-B7-H3 molecule, but few or no 4Ig-B7-H3-immunoreactive cells are expressed in PBMC in adult cattle. The 12B-immunoreactive cells in the bovine anterior pituitary gland were localized around Rathke’s pouch and expressed IL-18 and MHC class II. However, the number of 12B-immunoreactive cells was lower in adult than in young cattle. BAPC-1 expressed IL-18 and MHC class II, and demonstrated phagocytotic activity. BAPC-1 also had the ability to promote CD25 expression in PBMC after 5 days of coculture, and blocking 4Ig-B7-H3 × 12B mAb enhanced their expression of CD25. In addition, the 12B-immunoreactive cells were observed around the pars tuberalis closely bordering the median eminence and in the blood vessels of the primary portal plexus in the anterior pituitary gland. These results suggest that an established BAPC-1 may originate from these progenitor cells, and that the progenitor cells with 4Ig-B7-H3 may play a critical role in the immunoendocrine network.</jats:p

Vorstellung der Magisterarbeit 2013

八亀徳也教授 武市修教授 古稀・退職記念

Inhibitory/Suppressive oligodeoxynucleotide nanocapsules as simple oral delivery devices for preventing atopic dermatitis in mice

Advance online publication 6 January 2015Here, we report a simple and low-cost oral oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) delivery system targeted to the gut Peyer's patches (PPs). This system requires only Dulbecco's modified eagle's medium, calcium chloride, ODNs, and basic laboratory equipment. ODN nanocapsules (ODNcaps) were directly delivered to the PPs through oral administration and were taken up by macrophages in the PPs, where they induced an immune response. Long-term continuous oral dosing with inhibitory/suppressive ODNcaps (iODNcaps, "iSG3caps" in this study) was evaluated using an atopic dermatitis mouse model to visually monitor disease course. Administration of iSG3caps improved skin lesions and decreased epidermal thickness. Underlying this effect is the ability of iSG3 to bind to and prevent phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 6, thereby blocking the interleukin-4 signaling cascade mediated by binding of allergens to type 2 helper T cells. The results of our iSG3cap oral delivery experiments suggest that iSG3 may be useful for treating allergic diseases.ArticleMOLECULAR THERAPY. 23(2):297-309 (2015)journal articl

A Pilot Study of Analyzing Rhetorical Functions and Writing Styles of Books

会議名: 言語資源ワークショップ2023, 開催地: オンライン, 会期: 2023年8月28日-29日, 主催: 国立国語研究所 言語資源開発センター本発表は、人手により文体的な観点の印象評定が付与されたテキストについて、修辞機能と脱文脈度の観点によって検討する研究のパイロットスタディである。分析対象は、文体の分類指標 (柏野 2013)が付与された『現代日本語書き言葉均衡コーパス』（BCCWJ）の図書館サブコーパスのうちの４サンプルである。修辞機能分析の分類情報を付与し、修辞機能と脱文脈度を特定した。その結果、４つのサンプルに共通する修辞機能があること、また、それぞれのサンプルに特徴的な修辞機能を確認することができ、アノテーションの有効性を示すことができた。しかしながら、少数のサンプルでは文体情報と修辞機能の対応を確認するまでには至らなかった。今後は、文体指標別に選定した分析対象データを増やし、アノテーションを進める。application/pdf国立国語研究所国立国語研究所目白大学National Institute for Japanese Language and LinguisticsNational Institute for Japanese Language and LinguisticsMejiro Universityconference pape

Transformation of tea catechins and flavonoid glycosides by treatment with Japanese post-fermented tea acetone powder

Japanese post-fermented teas are produced by a combination of aerobic and anaerobic microbial fermentation of the leaves of tea plant. Recently, it was revealed that tea products contain characteristic polyphenols identical to the tea catechin metabolites produced by mammalian intestinal bacteria, such as (2S)-1-(3′,4′,5′-trihydroxyphenyl)-3-(2″,4″,6″-trihydroxyphenyl)-propan-2-ol (EGC-M1). In the present study, degradation of epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate (EGCg) and epigallocatechin (EGC) with acetone powder prepared from Japanese post-fermented tea was examined. Under aerobic conditions, EGCg was hydrolysed to EGC and gallic acid, which were further converted to gallocatechin (GC) and pyrogallol, respectively. Under anaerobic conditions, EGCg was hydrolysed to EGC, which was further metabolised to GC, EGC-M1 and (4R)-5-(3,4,5-trihydroxyphenyl)-4-hydroxypentanoic acid (EGC-M2). Gallic acid was degraded to pyrogallol and then further decomposed. Anaerobic treatment of EGC with the acetone powder yielded EGC-M1, EGC-M2, (4R)-5-(3,4,5-trihydroxyphenyl)-γ-valerolactone, and (4R)-5-(3,4 -dihydroxyphenyl)-γ-valerolactone. Furthermore, similar anaerobic treatment of rutin and hesperidin yielded 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid and 3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)propanoic acid, respectively

『現代日本語書き言葉均衡コーパス』の文境界修正

国立国語研究所 コーパス開発センター 非常勤研究員マンパワーグループ株式会社国立国語研究所 理論・構造研究系 非常勤研究員国立国語研究所 コーパス開発センター 非常勤研究員国立国語研究所 言語資源研究系国立国語研究所 コーパス開発センター 技術補佐員(元)国立国語研究所 コーパス開発センター プロジェクト研究員文部科学省国立国語研究所 言語資源研究系国立国語研究所 言語資源研究系国立国語研究所 言語資源研究系国立国語研究所 言語資源研究系国立国語研究所 言語資源研究系Adjunct Researcher, Center for Corpus Development, NINJALManpower Group Co., LtdAdjunct Researcher, Department of Linguistic Theory and Structure, NINJALAdjunct Researcher, Center for Corpus Development, NINJALDepartment of Corpus Studies, NINJAL(former) Technical Staff, Center for Corpus Development, NINJALPostdoctoral Research Fellow, Center for Corpus Development, NINJALMinistry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and TechnologyDepartment of Corpus Studies, NINJALDepartment of Corpus Studies, NINJALDepartment of Corpus Studies, NINJALDepartment of Corpus Studies, NINJALDepartment of Corpus Studies, NINJAL『現代日本語書き言葉均衡コーパス』第1.0版(Maekawa et al. 2014)(以下BCCWJ)には「文境界」の情報がアノテーションされているが,その認定基準の妥当性について従来から様々な指摘がある(小西ほか2014,長谷川2014,田野村2014)。この問題に対処するために,国立国語研究所コーパス開発センターでは2013年から2014年にかけて,BCCWJの修正を行った。本稿ではその修正作業について報告する。第1.0版におけるBCCWJ 文境界情報の問題は,コーパス構築の過程において文境界を含む文書構造タグの整備と形態素列レベルの情報の整備とを並行して行ったために,文字情報を用いる文境界処理にとどまったことに由来する。今回,形態論情報に基づいた文境界基準を策定し,問題の解消を試みた。文境界修正の指針を示すとともに,文境界修正に用いた作業環境と,修正件数について報告する。In December 2011, the National Institute for Japanese Language and Linguistics (NINJAL) released a 100-million-word balanced corpus - the Balanced Corpus of Contemporary Written Japanese (BCCWJ) DVD Version 1.0 - which was compiled from 2006 through 2011. Some users have pointed out some issues concerning sentence delimitation in the BCCWJ. To address these issues, we - NINJAL - performed a complete survey and correction, beginning in 2013 and ending in 2014. This article reports the revision work on sentence delimitation in the BCCWJ. The problems with the BCCWJ DVD Version 1.0 derive from the string-based definition. We could not obtain any morpheme information for the sentence delimitation task because of the task parallelism between sentence delimitation annotation and morpheme annotation. The method used this time was morpheme based. We present the morpheme-based annotation guidelines, annotation environment, and basic statistics of the corpus correction