Transcriptome map of plant mitochondria reveals islands of unexpected transcribed regions

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Plant mitochondria contain a relatively large amount of genetic information, suggesting that their functional regulation may not be as straightforward as that of metazoans. We used a genomic tiling array to draw a transcriptomic atlas of <it>Oryza sativa japonica </it>(rice) mitochondria, which was predicted to be approximately 490-kb long.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Whereas statistical analysis verified the transcription of all previously known functional genes such as the ones related to oxidative phosphorylation, a similar extent of RNA expression was frequently observed in the inter-genic regions where none of the previously annotated genes are located. The newly identified open reading frames (ORFs) predicted in these transcribed inter-genic regions were generally not conserved among flowering plant species, suggesting that these ORFs did not play a role in mitochondrial principal functions. We also identified two partial fragments of retrotransposon sequences as being transcribed in rice mitochondria.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The present study indicated the previously unexpected complexity of plant mitochondrial RNA metabolism. Our transcriptomic data (<it>Oryza sativa </it>Mitochondrial rna Expression Server: OsMES) is publicly accessible at [<url>http://bioinf.mind.meiji.ac.jp/cgi-bin/gbrowse/OsMes/#search</url>].</p

Enzymological studies on rheumatoid arthritis. 2. Relationship between collagenase activity and the clinical course of patients with rheumatoid arthritis

We examined the relationship between collagenase activity and the clinical course of the patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The activity of active and inactive collagenase (treated by 3M-KI) was assayed several times for synovial fluid from twelve RA patients and one patient with osteoarthritis (OA). Rheumatoid factor, C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), leukocyte counts and acid-phosphatase activity in the synovial fluid were measured simultaneously. In seven of twelve cases, the change of inactive collagenase activity was parallel by changes in synovial leukocyte counts or acid-phosphatase activity. In five of seven cases, the change in inactive collagenase activity was paralleled by acid-phosphatase activity and leukocyte counts. These findings suggest that collagenase activity is intimately correlated with the grade of local inflammation of RA and that the change of collagenase activity is closely correlated with the clinical course of RA patients

Enzymological studies on rheumatoid arthritis. 1. Studies on collagenase and monoamine-oxidase activities in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

We assayed the activities of collagenase and monoamine-oxidase (MAO) in the fluid of the patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and examined the relationship between collagenase, MAO activities and the grade of joint inflammation. The mean collagenase value of RA patients was significantly higher than that of osteoarthritis (OA) patients. A significant positive correlation was present between collagenase activity, leukocyte counts, and beta-glucuronidase activity in RA synovial fluid. These indices are considered to be parameters of the grade of joint inflammation. There was no correlation between collagenase activity, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), gamma-globulin level, C-reactive protein (CRP), rheumatoid factor, acid-phosphatase activity and the stage of RA (grade of joint destruction). The mean MAO value of RA synovial fluid was significantly higher than that of OA synovial fluid. The mean activity of the group of patients whose CRP values were below two positive was significantly higher than that of the group of patients whose CRP values were over two positive. The mean MAO activity in stage 3 or 4 group was significantly higher than that in stage 1 or 2. These findings suggest that collagenase activity is intimately correlated with the grade of local Inflammation in RA and that the MAO activity is closely correlated with the grade of joint fibrosis