Sequence of the Gonium pectorale mating locus reveals a complex and dynamic history of changes in volvocine algal mating haplotypes

Citation: Hamaji, T., Mogi, Y., Ferris, P. J., Mori, T., Miyagishima, S., Kabeya, Y., . . . Nozaki, H. (2016). Sequence of the Gonium pectorale mating locus reveals a complex and dynamic history of changes in volvocine algal mating haplotypes. G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics, 6(5), 1179-1189. doi:10.1534/g3.115.026229Additional Authors: Nozaki, H.Sex-determining regions (SDRs) or mating-type (MT) loci in two sequenced volvocine algal species, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and Volvox carteri, exhibit major differences in size, structure, gene content, and gametolog differentiation. Understanding the origin of these differences requires investigation of MT loci from related species. Here, we determined the sequences of the minus and plus MT haplotypes of the isogamous 16-celled volvocine alga, Gonium pectorale, which is more closely related to the multicellular V. carteri than to C. reinhardtii. Compared to C. reinhardtiiMT, G. pectoraleMT is moderately larger in size, and has a less complex structure, with only two major syntenic blocs of collinear gametologs. However, the gametolog content of G. pectoraleMT has more overlap with that of V. carteriMT than with C. reinhardtiiMT, while the allelic divergence between gametologs in G. pectorale is even lower than that in C. reinhardtii. Three key sex-related genes are conserved in G. pectorale MT: GpMID and GpMTD1 in MT-, and GpFUS1 in MT+. GpFUS1 protein exhibited specific localization at the plus-gametic mating structure, indicating a conserved function in fertilization. Our results suggest that the G. pectorale-V. carteri common ancestral MT experienced at least one major reformation after the split from C. reinhardtii, and that the V. carteri ancestral MT underwent a subsequent expansion and loss of recombination after the divergence from G. pectorale. These data begin to polarize important changes that occurred in volvocine MT loci, and highlight the potential for discontinuous and dynamic evolution in SDRs. © 2016 Hamaji et al

Post-intervention Status in Patients With Refractory Myasthenia Gravis Treated With Eculizumab During REGAIN and Its Open-Label Extension

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether eculizumab helps patients with anti-acetylcholine receptor-positive (AChR+) refractory generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) achieve the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America (MGFA) post-intervention status of minimal manifestations (MM), we assessed patients' status throughout REGAIN (Safety and Efficacy of Eculizumab in AChR+ Refractory Generalized Myasthenia Gravis) and its open-label extension. METHODS: Patients who completed the REGAIN randomized controlled trial and continued into the open-label extension were included in this tertiary endpoint analysis. Patients were assessed for the MGFA post-intervention status of improved, unchanged, worse, MM, and pharmacologic remission at defined time points during REGAIN and through week 130 of the open-label study. RESULTS: A total of 117 patients completed REGAIN and continued into the open-label study (eculizumab/eculizumab: 56; placebo/eculizumab: 61). At week 26 of REGAIN, more eculizumab-treated patients than placebo-treated patients achieved a status of improved (60.7% vs 41.7%) or MM (25.0% vs 13.3%; common OR: 2.3; 95% CI: 1.1-4.5). After 130 weeks of eculizumab treatment, 88.0% of patients achieved improved status and 57.3% of patients achieved MM status. The safety profile of eculizumab was consistent with its known profile and no new safety signals were detected. CONCLUSION: Eculizumab led to rapid and sustained achievement of MM in patients with AChR+ refractory gMG. These findings support the use of eculizumab in this previously difficult-to-treat patient population. CLINICALTRIALSGOV IDENTIFIER: REGAIN, NCT01997229; REGAIN open-label extension, NCT02301624. CLASSIFICATION OF EVIDENCE: This study provides Class II evidence that, after 26 weeks of eculizumab treatment, 25.0% of adults with AChR+ refractory gMG achieved MM, compared with 13.3% who received placebo

Minimal Symptom Expression' in Patients With Acetylcholine Receptor Antibody-Positive Refractory Generalized Myasthenia Gravis Treated With Eculizumab

The efficacy and tolerability of eculizumab were assessed in REGAIN, a 26-week, phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody-positive (AChR+) refractory generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG), and its open-label extension

Brief Summary of Questionnaire Survey on Quality of ECEC and Child Development <Research Note>

少子高齢化の進展などから、近年保育・幼児教育への関心が高まりをみせている。端緒となったのは、量的な解決を迫られた保育所待機児童問題だが、現在ではその内容を問う質的問題へと論点は移りつつある。しかし、これまでのところ保育・教育の質に関するデータは、ほとんど蓄積されていない。本稿では、2013年9月、東広島市と札幌市の保育所、幼稚園を対象とし、保育・幼児教育の質と子どもの発達との関連について包括的な調査をおこなった資料をもとに、基礎的事項を概観する。施設長調査からは、保育士と幼稚園教諭との間に、学歴、勤務年数、経験年数など人的資本要因で違いがあることや、どちらも賃金カーブの傾きが小さく、保育者の間に就業継続のモチベーションが失われている可能性があることなどが明らかになった。保護者調査からは、保育士や幼稚園教諭のスキルや知識、子どもへの接し方には満足していない一方で、保育料への支払い意志額は低いことなど、保護者の行動に矛盾があることが示された。Due to a rapidly aging population, ECEC (Early Childhood Education and Care) has become an important policy priority for Japan. Although the issue can be traced back to a shortage of publicly certified nurseries, the main issue at hand has been moved from quantitative issues to qualitative enhancement. However, there isn't enough data currently available that can be used to develop a quantitative analysis of the situation in Japan. This report provides a brief summary of a survey conducted in Sapporo and Higashi-Hiroshima in September 2013 which aims to clarify the correlation between the quality of ECEC and child developments with a comprehensive approach. The survey on institutions identified that while kindergarten teachers tend to have a better educational background, more experience, there is a possibility to lose their motivation to develop their professional career because their wage curve is flat same as care giver at nursery. The survey on parents indicates several inconsistent stances as well. For example, while parents are not satisfied with both the kindergarten teacher's qualification and skills, when asked if they would pay a higher tuition they responded that they would not.本研究は、科研費・基盤(C)「子どもの教育格差と就学前教育の質的保障(研究課題番号:24530254)」の助成による

学力の生産関数の推定 : 底上げをどう図るか

本研究では、2007年から2009 年に文部科学省が実施した「全国学力・学習状況調査」の公表された結果を用いて、3 か年分の都道府県別パネルデータを作成し、公立小学校児童のテスト結果を従属変数、小学校教育費や教員一人あたり児童数などの学校投入資源を独立変数として、学力の生産関数を推定した。2000 年代に入ってから日本において学力の低下問題に関心が集まっていることに鑑み、分析の対象として、テスト結果の平均点に加え下位成績層のばらつきに着目したことが本研究の特徴である。具体的には、テスト結果の50パーセンタイルと10 パーセンタイルの比を「下位分散」と定義し、これらがどの学校投入資源と関係があるのかを検証した。分析の結果、教育関連予算と平均点との間には有意な関係が見られない一方で、教育関連予算と下位成績層のばらつきとの間には有意な関係が見られることが明らかとなった

Systemic depletion of WWP1 improves insulin sensitivity and lowers triglyceride content in the liver of obese mice

Obesity is a metabolic disorder associated with many diseases. WW domain‐containing E3 ubiquitin protein ligase 1 (WWP1) is a HECT‐type E3 ubiquitin ligase involved in several diseases. Recently, we found that the level of WWP1 is increased in white adipose tissue in a mouse model of obesity and that obese Wwp1 knockout (KO) mice exhibit improved whole‐body glucose metabolism. Here, to determine which insulin‐sensitive tissues contribute to this phenotype, we investigated the levels of several insulin signaling markers in white adipose tissue, liver, and skeletal muscle of Wwp1 KO mice, which were fed a normal or high‐fat diet and transiently treated with insulin. In obese Wwp1 KO mice, phosphorylated Akt levels were increased in the liver but not in white adipose tissue or skeletal muscle. Moreover, the weight and triglyceride content of the liver of obese Wwp1 KO mice were decreased. These results suggest that systemic deletion of WWP1 improves glucose metabolism via enhanced hepatic insulin signaling and suppressed hepatic fat accumulation. In summary, WWP1 participates in obesity‐related metabolic dysfunction and pathologies related to hepatic steatosis via suppressed insulin signaling