ブドウの芽の休眠打破に伴う生理的変化

Changes in CO2 and C2H4 production and water content of bud associated with breaking in ‘Pione’ grapevine (Vitis labrusca ×V. vinifera) were investigated throughout dormancy. Buds were collected monthly from August to December, during dormancy induction and maintenance, and CO2 and C2H4 production were determined by GC after incubation. Both CO2 and C2H4 production, especially for the latter, were low throughout the experiment. Water content of bud gradually increased until October ; thereafter it was constant. When CO2 and C2H4 production was determined from December to April, during dormancy maintenance to release, CO2 production was low from beginning of experiment to early April, prior to bursting, then rapidly increased to April 13, the bursting date. C2H4 production was almost undetectable throughout the experiment. Cuttings obtained at 3 different stages of dormancy were applied with 2% H2CN2 or distilled water (control), and budbreak was monitored in a plastic house kept at 20℃ or more. The CO2 and C2H4 production of bud were also determined weekly until budbreak. Regardless of treatment time H2CN2 significantly promoted budbreak compared to the control. Significantly higher production of CO2 was observed in cuttings treated with H2CN2 at 3 to 9 days before bursting for all the treatment times. C2H4 production was very low throughout the experiment for all the treatments. Irrespective of chemical application and treatment time, water content of bud decreased to the bursting stage, H2CN2 treatment especially showing a large decline. When dormant cuttings were treated with ACC, GSH (reduced glutathione) and GSSG (oxidized glutathione), only ACC promoted budbreak. Budbreak in cuttings treated with cyanamides such as CaCN2 and H2CN2 and cyanides such as KCN and NaCN was significantly accelerated except for H2CN2. Based on these results, the relationship between budbreak of grapevine buds and physiological changes in buds, and the roles of substances related to ethylene biosynthesis on breaking bud dormancy are discussed.ブドウ‘ピオーネ’について，休眠の導入と覚醒の過程における芽の生理的変化を調査した．休眠導入期の8月から覚醒初期の12月まで露地で栽培されている個体から芽を採取し，呼吸量，エチレン生成量および含水率を測定し た．調査期間を通して呼吸量は低く，エチレンもほとんど検出されなかった．芽の含水率は8月から10月まで僅かに上昇し，その後は変化がみられなかった．休眠覚醒初期の12月から発芽期の4月中旬まで，芽の呼吸量とエチレン生成量を測定した．呼吸量は4月上旬までは低く推移し，発芽（4月13日）の直前に急上昇した．エチレンは測定期間を通して低かった．休眠期の12月，1月および2月に採取した穂木を2% H2CN2 または蒸留水（対照）で処理し，25℃以上に保ったプラスチックハウスに入れて発芽を調査するとともに，経時的に芽の呼吸量，エチレン生成量および含水率を測定した．両時期とも対照区よりも H2CN2 処理区の発芽が早く，しかも休眠の深い12月処理で区による差が大きかった．両区いずれの時期とも，芽の呼吸量は発芽直前に急上昇したのに対し，エチレン生成量は調査期間を通して低いままであった．芽の含水率は，いずれの時期および処理区とも発芽期に低下し，特に H2CN2 処理区の低下が大きかった．休眠最深期の10月に採取した穂木に ACC，GSH（還元型グルタチオン）および GSSG（酸化型グルタチオン）を処理し，発芽に及ぼす影響を調査したところ，ACC だけが発芽を促進した．同様に，4種のシアン化合物（CaCN2，H2CN2，KCN，NaCN）を処理したところ，H2CN2を除き有意に発芽を促した．これらの結果を基に，ブドウの発芽と生理的変化との関係および休眠覚醒に及ぼすエチレン生合成関連物質の作用性について考察した

Clinical Significance of Telomerase Activity and Telomere Length in Various Liver Diseases

We investigated the clinical significance of telomerase activity and telomere length in hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) and chronic liver diseases. Telomerase activity was assessed quantitatively using \u27Stretch PCR\u27 assay and telomere length by Southern blotting in 24 HCCs, 2 focal nodular hyperplasia, 8 liver cirrhosis, 10 chronic hepatitis and 8 histologically normal livers. The latter were obtained from normal sections of resected specimens of cholangiocellular carcinoma, metastatic liver tumor or hemangioma. The relative titers of telomerase activity (RTA) were significantly higher in HCCs (average, 54 units) than in chronic liver diseases (average, 0.6 units) (P<0.001). In comparison, RTA was less than 2 units in non-malignant liver tissues. Telomere length in cirrhotic liver tissues was significantly shorter than in normal livers and tended to be shorter than those in chronic hepatitis. Telomere length and RTA correlated with the grading of tissue derangement in chronic liver diseases. Our results suggest that RTA estimated by Stretch PCR assay might be clinically useful for accurate diagnosis of liver diseases, particularly HCCs. In addition, telomere length seems to having a possibility as a useful predictor for risk of hepatocarcinogenesis

Finishing the euchromatic sequence of the human genome

The sequence of the human genome encodes the genetic instructions for human physiology, as well as rich information about human evolution. In 2001, the International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium reported a draft sequence of the euchromatic portion of the human genome. Since then, the international collaboration has worked to convert this draft into a genome sequence with high accuracy and nearly complete coverage. Here, we report the result of this finishing process. The current genome sequence (Build 35) contains 2.85 billion nucleotides interrupted by only 341 gaps. It covers ∼99% of the euchromatic genome and is accurate to an error rate of ∼1 event per 100,000 bases. Many of the remaining euchromatic gaps are associated with segmental duplications and will require focused work with new methods. The near-complete sequence, the first for a vertebrate, greatly improves the precision of biological analyses of the human genome including studies of gene number, birth and death. Notably, the human enome seems to encode only 20,000-25,000 protein-coding genes. The genome sequence reported here should serve as a firm foundation for biomedical research in the decades ahead

Stable isotopic studies on the origin of magnesite deposits in the Setogawa Group, Shizuoka, central Japan(MEMORIAL VOLUME TO THE LATE PROFESSOR TERUHIKO SAMESHIMA)

Massive magnesite deposits in the Setogawa Group in Shizuoka were formed by an extensive carbonation of serpentinite in an ancient accretionary prism. Stable isotopic investigations of the origin of massive magnesite deposits revealed that a homogeneous deep-seated magmatic carbon mixing with marine limestones may be the main source of the carbon. Many calcite and dolomite veins occur in the serpentines, basaltic and pelitic rocks and based upon carbon and oxygen isotopes are supposed to be of similar origin to carbonate veins found in modern serpentine diapirs of the Izu-Bonin and Mariana is-land arc. In contrast, massive magnesite deposits were formed during the subduction of an active volcano and/or an active ridge, with circulation of magmatic carbon providing the carbon source for the serpentine diapirs.publishe

Tumor location affects the results of simple excision for multiple osteochondromas in the forearm.

Background: The effectiveness of excision of osteochondromas in controlling the progression of forearm and wrist deformity remains an issue of controversy. The purpose of this study was to analyze the effectiveness of tumor excision in the correction of forearm and wrist deformity due to multiple osteochondromas in children, with an interpretation of the results based on different patterns of deformity. Methods: Fourteen forearms in thirteen children with a follow-up of more than twenty-four months (average, fifty-three months) were included in the study. The forearms were divided into two groups on the basis of the location of the tumor and the pattern of deformity. In Group 1 (six forearms), the osteochondroma was only in the distal aspect of the ulna and caused compression of the radius. In Group 2 (eight forearms), tumors were in both the distal aspect of the ulna and the ulnar side of the distal part of the radius and were in contact with each other. Radial length, ulnar shortening, radial bowing, the radial articular angle, and carpal slip were measured as radiographic parameters. Ulnar shortening and radial bowing were expressed as a percentage of the radial length to make it possible to compare data between the individuals. Each parameter was evaluated before surgery and at the time of final follow-up. Results: In Group 1, the percentage of ulnar shortening and the percentage of radial bowing had improved at the time of final follow-up; however, in Group 2, both the radial articular angle and the percentage of radial bowing had deteriorated significantly after the tumor excision (p = 0.049 and p = 0.017, respectively), even though the percentage of ulnar shortening showed no change. Conclusions: The effectiveness of simple excision of osteochondromas of the distal aspect of the forearm is influenced by the tumor location and is related to the pattern of the deformity. Simple tumor excision can correct the forearm deformity in patients with an isolated tumor of the distal part of the ulna. Conversely, in patients with tumors involving the distal part of the ulna and the ulnar side of the distal end of the radius, tumor excision alone is a less promising procedure for the correction of the deformity. Level of Evidence: Prognostic Level IV. See Instructions to Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence