A novel non-coding DNA family in Caenorhabditis elegans

Many repetitive elements, for example, SINEs, LINEs, LTR-retrotransposons and other SSRs are dispersed throughout eukaryotic genomes. To understand the biological function of these repetitive elements is of great current research interest. previous termInnext term this study, we report on the identification of previous terma novel non-coding DNA family,next term designated CE1 previous termfamily, innext term the nematode C. previous termelegansnext term genome. Some CE1 elements constituted previous termanext term large palindrome sequence. The CE1 elements were interspersed at 95 sites previous terminnext term the C. previous termelegansnext term genome. Most of the CE1 elements were associated with, or were within, protein-coding genes. The sequence of the CE1 elements indicated that some could form previous termanext term hairpin structure. One of the CE1 previous termfamily,next term CE1(bs258), is located previous terminnext term the first intron of previous terma novelnext term gene, C46H11.6 which encodes previous termanext term PDZ/DHR/GLGF domain protein. previous termInnext term gfp and lacZ reporter gene assays the CE1(bs258) element appeared to behave as an enhancer element for the expression of C46H11.6 but no effect on the expression of the opposite direction gene, pat-10 which encodes the body-wall muscle troponin C. The CE1(bs258) RNA transcript was detected by RT-PCR even when CE1(bs258) was located previous terminnext term an intron. We conclude that CE1 elements are involved previous terminnext term the expression of adjacent genes and are therefore selectively retained previous terminnext term the C. previous termelegansnext term genome. We discussed previous termanext term biological function of the CE1(bs258) having many transcription factor-binding sites.</p

Enhancer of zeste plays an important role in photoperiodic modulation of locomotor rhythm in the cricket, Gryllus bimaculatus

Introduction: Insects show daily behavioral rhythms controlled by an endogenous oscillator, the circadian clock. The rhythm synchronizes to daily light–dark cycles (LD) and changes waveform in association with seasonal change in photoperiod. Results: To explore the molecular basis of the photoperiod-dependent changes in circadian locomotor rhythm, we investigated the role of a chromatin modifier, Enhancer of zeste (Gb’E(z)), in the cricket, Gryllus bimaculatus. Under a 12 h:12 h LD (LD 12:12), Gb’E(z) was constitutively expressed in the optic lobe, the site of the biological clock; active phase (α) and rest phase (ρ) were approximately 12 h in duration, and α/ρ ratio was approximately 1.0. When transferred to LD 20:4, the α/ρ ratio decreased significantly, and the Gb’E(z) expression level was significantly reduced at 6 h and 10 h after light-on, as was reflected in the reduced level of trimethylation of histone H3 lysine 27. This change was associated with change in clock gene expression profiles. The photoperiod-dependent changes in α/ρ ratio and clock gene expression profiles were prevented by knocking down Gb’E(z) by RNAi. Conclusions: These results suggest that histone modification by Gb’E(z) is involved in photoperiodic modulation of the G. bimaculatus circadian rhythm

Role of BMP signaling in leg regeneration

The cricket, Gryllus bimaculatus, is a classic model of leg regeneration following amputation. We previously demonstrated that Gryllus decapentaplegic (Gb’dpp) is expressed during leg regeneration, although it remains unclear whether it is essential for this process. In this study, double-stranded RNA targeting the Smad mathers-against-dpp homolog, Gb’mad, was employed to examine the role of Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling in the leg regeneration process of Gryllus bimaculatus. RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated knockdown of Gb’mad led to a loss of tarsus regeneration at the most distal region of regenerating leg segments. Moreover, we confirmed that the phenotype obtained by knockdown of Dpp type I receptor, Thick veins (Gb’tkv), closely resembled that observed for Gb’mad RNAi crickets, thereby suggesting that the BMP signaling pathway is indispensable for the initial stages of tarsus formation. Interestingly, knockdown of Gb’mad and Gb’tkv resulted in significant elongation of regenerating tibia along the proximodistal axis compared with normal legs. Moreover, our findings indicate that during the regeneration of tibia, the BMP signaling pathway interacts with Dachsous/Fat (Gb’Ds/Gb’Ft) signaling and dachshund (Gb’dac) to re-establish positional information and regulate determination of leg size. Based on these observations, we discuss possible roles for Gb’mad in the distal patterning and intercalation processes during leg regeneration in Gryllus bimaculatus

Survey of ICT use for students with developmental disabilities by type of disability and class

This study was conducted to investigate whether information and communication technology (ICT) devices are used differently for students with developmental disabilities in elementary schools, depending on the type of disability (learning disabilities, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and autism spectrum disorder) and class (regular classes, resource rooms, and classes for special needs education). A questionnaire survey was administered to elementary school teachers to identify the extent of use of different ICT devices for students with developmental disabilities in their schools by type of disability and class. Results did not show differences in the extent of ICT device use by type of disability, although relative ICT scarcity in resource rooms was found. For supporting students with developmental disabilities, a need exists for more effective use of ICT devices depending on different types of developmental disability and class

The role of clockwork orange in the circadian clock of the cricket Gryllus bimaculatus

The circadian clock generates rhythms of approximately 24 h through periodic expression of the clock genes. In insects, the major clock genes period (per) and timeless (tim) are rhythmically expressed upon their transactivation by CLOCK/CYCLE, with peak levels in the early night. In Drosophila, clockwork orange (cwo) is known to inhibit the transcription of per and tim during the daytime to enhance the amplitude of the rhythm, but its function in other insects is largely unknown. In this study, we investigated the role of cwo in the clock mechanism of the cricket Gryllus bimaculatus. The results of quantitative RT-PCR showed that under a light/dark (LD) cycle, cwo is rhythmically expressed in the optic lobe (lamina-medulla complex) and peaks during the night. When cwo was knocked down via RNA interference (RNAi), some crickets lost their locomotor rhythm, while others maintained a rhythm but exhibited a longer free-running period under constant darkness (DD). In cwo(RNAi) crickets, all clock genes except for cryptochrome 2 (cry2) showed arrhythmic expression under DD; under LD, some of the clock genes showed higher mRNA levels, and tim showed rhythmic expression with a delayed phase. Based on these results, we propose that cwo plays an important role in the cricket circadian clock

Self-esteem and responses to ambiguous feedback from others : Are you absolutely sure others dislike you?

本研究の目的は、自尊感情水準による他者からのフィードバックの解釈に及ぼす影響を検討することである。実験参加者は、大学生134名で、受容条件(AC)と拒絶条件(RC)とにランダムに割り当てられた。その後、ノートを貸してもらえるように要請する仮想場面を想起させるビニエットを読ませた。ACのビニエットでは、友人の反応を"うん、後でね"と提示し、RCのビニエットでは、友人の反応を"今もってないから、ごめんね"と提示した。ビニエットを読ませた後、受容期待、自己関連感情、対人方略について評定させた。自尊感情高群はフィードバックのネガティブさに応じて、ネガティブな感情を強く喚起する。しかし、自尊感情低群において、フィードバックのポジティブさと関わりなく、ネガティブな感情を強く喚起する傾向が示唆された。そこで、自尊感情水準による否定的評価の捉え方について考察がなされた。The purpose of the present study was to investigate the interpersonal function of self-esteem on the interpretation of other\u27s feedback to an individual. A hundred and thirty-four university students were randomly assigned to either an acceptance condition (AC) or rejection condition (RC). They then read a vignette which described a hypothetical situation where a person asked to borrow a notebook from a classmate, and were asked to put their feet into the main character\u27s shoes. In the vignette of AC, the classmate replied "OK, later". In the vignette of RC, the classmate answered "Sorry, I don\u27t have it now." After reading vignettes, participants completed questionnaires about expected acceptance, self-relevant feelings and interpersonal strategy in the future. Participants with higher self-esteem tended to have more negative feelings when they had negative feedback from others. However, participants with lower self-esteem tended to find negative information and arouse negative feelings, regardless whether they were in the AC or in the RC. Our discussion focuses on the function of low self-esteem as a negative interpreter of others\u27 ambiguous responses

The role of clockwork orange in the circadian clock of the cricket Gryllus bimaculatus

The circadian clock generates rhythms of approximately 24 h through periodic expression of the clock genes. In insects, the major clock genes period (per) and timeless (tim) are rhythmically expressed upon their transactivation by CLOCK/CYCLE, with peak levels in the early night. In Drosophila, clockwork orange (cwo) is known to inhibit the transcription of per and tim during the daytime to enhance the amplitude of the rhythm, but its function in other insects is largely unknown. In this study, we investigated the role of cwo in the clock mechanism of the cricket Gryllus bimaculatus. The results of quantitative RT-PCR showed that under a light/dark (LD) cycle, cwo is rhythmically expressed in the optic lobe (lamina-medulla complex) and peaks during the night. When cwo was knocked down via RNA interference (RNAi), some crickets lost their locomotor rhythm, while others maintained a rhythm but exhibited a longer free-running period under constant darkness (DD). In cwoRNAi crickets, all clock genes except for cryptochrome 2 (cry2) showed arrhythmic expression under DD; under LD, some of the clock genes showed higher mRNA levels, and tim showed rhythmic expression with a delayed phase. Based on these results, we propose that cwo plays an important role in the cricket circadian clock

Dkk3/REIC, an N-glycosylated Protein, Is a Physiological Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Inducer in the Mouse Adrenal Gland

Dickkopf 3 (Dkk3) is a secreted protein belonging to the Dkk family and encoded by the orthologous gene of REIC. Dkk3/REIC is expressed by mouse and human adrenal glands, but the understanding of its roles in this organ is still limited. To determine the functions of Dkk3 in the mouse adrenal gland, we first identified that the mouse Dkk3 protein is N-glycosylated in the adrenal gland as well as in the brain. We performed proteome analysis on adrenal glands from Dkk3-null mice, in which exons 5 and 6 of the Dkk3 gene are deleted. Twodimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of adrenal proteins from wild-type and Dkk3-null mice revealed 5 protein spots whose intensities were altered between the 2 genotypes. Mass spectrometry analysis of these spots identified binding immunoglobulin protein (BiP), an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) chaperone. To determine whether mouse Dkk3 is involved in the unfolded protein response (UPR), we carried out a reporter assay using ER-stress responsive elements. Forced expression of Dkk3 resulted in the induction of distinct levels of reporter expression, showing the UPR initiated by the ER membrane proteins of activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6) and inositol-requring enzyme 1 (IRE1). Thus, it is possible that Dkk3 is a physiological ER stressor in the mouse adrenal gland