A nested leucine rich repeat (LRR) domain: The precursor of LRRs is a ten or eleven residue motif

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Leucine rich repeats (LRRs) are present in over 60,000 proteins that have been identified in viruses, bacteria, archae, and eukaryotes. All known structures of repeated LRRs adopt an arc shape. Most LRRs are 20-30 residues long. All LRRs contain LxxLxLxxNxL, in which "L" is Leu, Ile, Val, or Phe and "N" is Asn, Thr, Ser, or Cys and "x" is any amino acid. Seven classes of LRRs have been identified. However, other LRR classes remains to be characterized. The evolution of LRRs is not well understood.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Here we describe a novel LRR domain, or nested repeat observed in 134 proteins from 54 bacterial species. This novel LRR domain has 21 residues with the consensus sequence of LxxLxLxxNxLxxLDLxx(N/L/Q/x)xx or LxxLxCxxNxLxxLDLxx(N/L/x)xx. This LRR domain is characterized by a nested periodicity; it consists of alternating 10- and 11- residues units of LxxLxLxxNx(x/-). We call it "IRREKO" LRR, since the Japanese word for "nested" is "IRREKO". The first unit of the "IRREKO" LRR domain is frequently occupied by an "SDS22-like" LRR with the consensus of LxxLxLxxNxLxxLxxLxxLxx or a "Bacterial" LRR with the consensus of LxxLxLxxNxLxxLPxLPxx. In some proteins an "SDS22-like" LRR intervenes between "IRREKO" LRRs.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Proteins having "IRREKO" LRR domain are almost exclusively found in bacteria. It is suggested that IRREKO@LRR evolved from a common ancestor with "SDS22-like" and "Bacterial" classes and that the ancestor of IRREKO@LRR is 10 or 11 residues of LxxLxLxxNx(x/-). The "IRREKO" LRR is predicted to adopt an arc shape with smaller curvature in which β-strands are formed on both concave and convex surfaces.</p

Prolonged maturation of prefrontal white matter in chimpanzees

Delayed maturation in the prefrontal cortex, a brain region associated with complex cognitive processing, has been proposed to be specific to humans. However, we found, using a longitudinal design, that prefrontal white matter volume in chimpanzees increased gradually with age, and the increase appears to continue beyond the onset of puberty, as in humans. This provides the first evidence for a prolonged period of prefrontal connection elaboration in great apes

Comparative sequence analysis of leucine-rich repeats (LRRs) within vertebrate toll-like receptors

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play a central role in innate immunity. TLRs are membrane glycoproteins and contain leucine rich repeat (LRR) motif in the ectodomain. TLRs recognize and respond to molecules such as lipopolysaccharide, peptidoglycan, flagellin, and RNA from bacteria or viruses. The LRR domains in TLRs have been inferred to be responsible for molecular recognition. All LRRs include the highly conserved segment, LxxLxLxxNxL, in which "L" is Leu, Ile, Val, or Phe and "N" is Asn, Thr, Ser, or Cys and "x" is any amino acid. There are seven classes of LRRs including "typical" ("<b><it>T</it></b>") and "bacterial" ("<b><it>S</it></b>"). All known domain structures adopt an arc or horseshoe shape. Vertebrate TLRs form six major families. The repeat numbers of LRRs and their "phasing" in TLRs differ with isoforms and species; they are aligned differently in various databases. We identified and aligned LRRs in TLRs by a new method described here.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The new method utilizes known LRR structures to recognize and align new LRR motifs in TLRs and incorporates multiple sequence alignments and secondary structure predictions. TLRs from thirty-four vertebrate were analyzed. The repeat numbers of the LRRs ranges from 16 to 28. The LRRs found in TLRs frequently consists of LxxLxLxxNxLxxLxxxxF/LxxLxx ("<b><it>T</it></b>") and sometimes short motifs including LxxLxLxxNxLxxLPx(x)LPxx ("<b>S</b>"). The <it>TLR7 </it>family (TLR7, TLR8, and TLR9) contain 27 LRRs. The LRRs at the N-terminal part have a super-motif of <b><it>STT </it></b>with about 80 residues. The super-repeat is represented by <b><it>STTSTTSTT </it></b>or <b><it>_TTSTTSTT</it></b>. The LRRs in TLRs form one or two horseshoe domains and are mostly flanked by two cysteine clusters including two or four cysteine residue.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Each of the six major TLR families is characterized by their constituent LRR motifs, their repeat numbers, and their patterns of cysteine clusters. The central parts of the <it>TLR1 </it>and <it>TLR7 </it>families and of TLR4 have more irregular or longer LRR motifs. These central parts are inferred to play a key role in the structure and/or function of their TLRs. Furthermore, the super-repeat in the <it>TLR7 </it>family suggests strongly that "bacterial" and "typical" LRRs evolved from a common precursor.</p

新卒看護職員の早期離職防止に関する一考察 : 看護学生の職場およびプリセプターに望むことの分析から

本研究は,看護師への予期的社会化を通し得られた職場観やプリセプター像に望むものについての自由記述をBerelson,B.の手法を用いて分析し,新卒看護職員の早期離職予防に関する一考察を得ることを目的とした質的研究である。分析の結果,学生の望む職場観はコアカテゴリー《職場の人間関係が良い》《新人教育体制が充実している》《看護の質を求めている》《看護師ロールモデルが存在する》で構成され,人間関係の良い仲間の基で基看護師ロールモデルを参考にしながら,充実した新人教育体制のバックアップを受け専門能力を発達させていける職場を望んでいることがわかった。又,プリセプターに望むものはコアカテゴリー《指導方法》《精神的な支援》《新人教育・指導の視点》で構成され指導者の視点より援助者の視点を求めていた。新卒看護職員の就業継続には組織内社会化と看護師への社会化の両方を支援することが必要であり,早期離職予防には精神的支援の必要が示唆された。Qualitative analysis was carried out to review data pertaining to the prevention of newly graduated nursing personnel from resigning at an early stage. In the course of this study, which used the method developed by Berelson (1957), we analyzed reports in which nursing students, via a process of anticipatory socialization, freely described their views on the workplace and their expectations regarding preceptors.The results revealed that the students\u27 desires for the workplace are comprised of core categories such as "good interpersonal relationships in the workplace," "enhancement of the educational system for new personnel,""demand for high quality nursing," and "availability of a role model for nurses." Thus, we found that nursing students expect a workplace that enables them to improve their expertise through the support of an enhanced educational system for new personnel, they desire the help of nursing role models, and they hope for an environment in which they can form good interpersonal relationships.As for their hopes regarding their preceptors, they are comprised of core categories such as "instruction method","moral support," and "training for new personnel/educational viewpoints," which shows that they view their preceptors more as supporters or advisors than as supervisors. In order to promote the steady employment of newly graduated nursing personnel,it is suggested that it is necessary to provide support both for socialization within the organization as well as socialization as nurses,and to extend moral support for new nurses in order to avert their leaving the job at an early stage

Coincidence of HPV11-Positive Urethral Condyloma Acuminatum and HPV-Negative Multiple Bladder Papillomas in a Female

Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are associated with proliferative lesions in a variety of human epithelial types. A 38-year-old female presented with a diagnosis of urethral condyloma acuminatum. She underwent transurethral resection of the urethral condyloma. At that time, multiple (five) bladder tumors were simultaneously found and also removed by transurethral resection. Four of the bladder tumors were diagnosed as squamous papilloma, and the other was urothelial inverted papilloma. Postoperative course was uneventful. Genomic DNA was extracted from 10 μm thick sections of each bladder tumor as well as urethral condyloma. Then, 16 types of HPV DNA sequences were assessed with the PapiPlex method using genomic DNA samples extracted from each bladder tumor as well as urethral condyloma. HPV-11 was detected in DNA extracted from the urethral condyloma, while no HPV DNA sequences were positive in any of the genomic DNA samples extracted from the bladder tumors

Place of death trends among patients with dementia in Japan: a population-based observational study

Dementia is a major public health concern in ageing societies. Although the population of Japan is among the most aged worldwide, long-term trends in the place of death (PoD) among patients with dementia is unknown. In this Japanese nationwide observational study, we analysed trends in PoD using the data of patients with dementia who were aged >= 65 years and died during 1999-2016. Trends in the crude death rates and PoD frequencies were analysed using the Joinpoint regression model. Changes in these trends were assessed using the Joinpoint regression analysis in which significant change points, the annual percentage change (APC) and average APCs (AAPC) in hospitals, homes, or nursing homes were estimated. During 1999-2016, the number of deaths among patients with dementia increased from 3,235 to 23,757 (total: 182,000). A trend analysis revealed increased mortality rates, with an AAPC of 8.2% among men and 9.3% among women. Most patients with dementia died in the hospital, although the prevalence of hospital deaths decreased (AAPC: -1.0%). Moreover, the prevalence of nursing home deaths increased (AAPC: 5.6%), whereas the prevalence of home deaths decreased (AAPC: -5.8%). These findings support a reconsideration of the end-of-life care provided to patients with dementia

Genetic polymorphisms related to muscular strength and flexibility are associated with artistic gymnastic performance in the Japanese population

departmental bulletin pape