グアー豆タンパク質の分画と大豆タンパク質との性質の比較

The proteins of the guar (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba) meal left after the extraction of gum were exam-ined with reference to soy bean proteins. 1) The total protein of the guar meal was obtained by extracting the meal with a 2% SDS solution, and analyzed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The molecular weights of guar meal proteins ranged from 8 kDa to 74 kDa and those of soy bean proteins obtained by the same method 15 kDa to 96 kDa. 2) The guar meal was treated successively with five different solvents, i.e, water, 1 M NaCI, 70% ethanol, 0.025% NaOH, and 1% SDS. The extracted protein fraction in each treatment was analyzed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and the amount of the proteins was quantified. Most proteins were recovered in the water fraction and the NaCI fraction with yields of 29% and 43% of the total protein, respectively. The water fraction contains proteins with lower molecular weights (8 kDa to 12 kDa) whereas the NaCI fraction those with higher molecular weights (20 kDa to 74 kDa). 3) The amino acid compositions of both the water and NaCI fractions were characterized by high contents of Ser, Glu, and Gly. The amino acid scores of the water and NaCI fractions were calculated to be 48 and 50, respectively, which were comparable with those of ordinary grains and lower than those of soy bean proteins

Perspectives on a Seamless Marine-lake Sediment Coring Study in East Antarctica

The Antarctic Ice Sheet (AIS) is one of the largest potential contributors to future sea-level changes. Recently, an acceleration of AIS volume loss through basal melting and iceberg calving has been reported based on several studies using satellite observations, including radar altimetry, interferometer, and gravity measurements. A recent model that couples ice sheet and climate dynamics and incorporates hydrofracturing mechanism of buttressing ice shelves predicts a higher sea-level rise scenario for the next 500 years. However, the calibration and reproducibility of the sea-level rise projection from these models relies on geological sea-level reconstructions of past warm intervals. This suggests that a highly reliable reconstruction of the past AIS is essential for evaluating its stability and anticipating its contribution to future sea-level rise. In particular, a relative sea-level reconstruction in East Antarctica is the key to solving the problems and refining future projections. The current understanding of sea-level change along the East Antarctic margin is reviewed, including Glacial Isostatic Adjustment (GIA) effects, and a new strategy is proposed to address this topic based on seamless sediment coring from marine to lake in the East Antarctic margin. This project will provide essential data on AIS change since the last interglacial period

MAP3K19 Affects TWEAK-Induced Response in Cultured Bronchial Epithelial Cells and Regulates Allergic Airway Inflammation in an Asthma Murine Model

The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway is involved in the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) and asthma; however, the role of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase 19 (MAP3K19) remains uncertain. Therefore, we investigated the involvement of MAP3K19 in in vitro EMT and ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthma murine models. The involvement of MAP3K19 in the EMT and the production of cytokines and chemokines were analyzed using a cultured bronchial epithelial cell line, BEAS-2B, in which MAP3K19 was knocked down using small interfering RNA. We also evaluated the involvement of MAP3K19 in the OVA-induced asthma murine model using Map3k19-deficient (MAP3K19−/−) mice. Transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) and tumor necrosis factor-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) induced the MAP3K19 messenger RNA (mRNA) expression in the BEAS-2B cells. The knockdown of MAP3K19 enhanced the reduction in E-cadherin mRNA and the production of regulated upon activation normal T cell express sequence (RANTES) via stimulation with TWEAK alone or with the combination of TGF-β1 and TWEAK. Furthermore, the expression of MAP3K19 mRNA was upregulated in both the lungs and tracheas of the mice in the OVA-induced asthma murine model. The MAP3K19−/− mice exhibited worsened eosinophilic inflammation and an increased production of RANTES in the airway epithelium compared with the wild-type mice. These findings indicate that MAP3K19 suppressed the TWEAK-stimulated airway epithelial response, including adhesion factor attenuation and RANTES production, and suppressed allergic airway inflammation in an asthma mouse model, suggesting that MAP3K19 regulates allergic airway inflammation in patients with asthma