The C-terminal sequence of human and porcine antithrombin III and its homology with human α-1-proteinase inhibitor

Summary The C-terminal amino acid sequences of human and of porcine antithrombin III have been determined as Gly-Arg-Val-Ala-Asn-Pro-Cys-Val-Lys and Gly-Arg-Val-Ala-Asn-Pro-Cys, respectively. These sequences are highly homologous with the C-terminal sequence of human -1-proteinase inhibitor.     

The medaka draft genome and insights into vertebrate genome evolution

Teleosts comprise more than half of all vertebrate species and have adapted to a variety of marine and freshwater habitats. Their genome evolution and diversification are important subjects for the understanding of vertebrate evolution. Although draft genome sequences of two pufferfishes have been published, analysis of more fish genomes is desirable. Here we report a high-quality draft genome sequence of a small egg-laying freshwater teleost, medaka (Oryzias latipes). Medaka is native to East Asia and an excellent model system for a wide range of biology, including ecotoxicology, carcinogenesis, sex determination and developmental genetics. In the assembled medaka genome (700 megabases), which is less than half of the zebrafish genome, we predicted 20,141 genes, including approximately 2,900 new genes, using 5'-end serial analysis of gene expression tag information. We found single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at an average rate of 3.42% between the two inbred strains derived from two regional populations; this is the highest SNP rate seen in any vertebrate species. Analyses based on the dense SNP information show a strict genetic separation of 4 million years (Myr) between the two populations, and suggest that differential selective pressures acted on specific gene categories. Four-way comparisons with the human, pufferfish (Tetraodon), zebrafish and medaka genomes revealed that eight major interchromosomal rearrangements took place in a remarkably short period of approximately 50 Myr after the whole-genome duplication event in the teleost ancestor and afterwards, intriguingly, the medaka genome preserved its ancestral karyotype for more than 300 Myr.     

Circadian change of sweating rate measured locally by the resistance hygrometry method in man.

There existed circadian change in the sweating rate locally measured from the anterior of the left thigh: the sweating rate showed a remarkable decline during the period 2.00--5.00 h, while at other times throughout the day it generally remained high. This reduction seemed to be independent of sleep or sleeplessness.     

The effect of sulfhydryl compounds on the catalytic activity of Cu, Zn-superoxide dismutase purified from rat liver

Sulfhydryl compounds such as reduced glutathione, cysteine and 2-mercaptopropionylglycine, a hepato-protective agent, activated Cu, Zn-superoxide dismutase purified from rat liver at low concentrations (below 10 microM). Furthermore we found evidence indicating that this activation is achieved by reducing Cu2+ present in the catalytic site of the dismutase, and thereby promoting the dismutation of superoxide anions.     

Pro-sequence of subtilisin can guide the refolding of denatured subtilisin in an intermolecular process

Subtilisin E, an alkaline serine protease consisting of a single polypeptide chain of 275 amino acids is produced from a pre-pro-protein. The pre-sequence functions as the signal peptide for protein secretion across the membrane. Deletion of the pro-sequence yields mature but inactive subtilisin: the 77-amino acid pro-sequence must precede the mature subtilisin to guide the latter into an active conformation. Pro-subtilisin denatured in 6 M guanidine-HCl can be self-processed to the active enzyme intramolecularly, with concomitant cleavage of the pro-sequence, when dialysed against renaturing buffer. We have constructed an active-centre mutant of pro-subtilisin (Asp 32----Asn) which is not processed to active enzyme, unlike the wild-type pro-subtilisin, because intramolecular processing is prevented. Here we report an intermolecular pathway for the refolding of the inactive mature protein to an active enzyme in vitro with the aid of exogenously added pro-sequence. We establish conditions under which the mature inactive form, as well as acid-denatured subtilisins Carlsberg and BPN', can be renatured by the mutant pro-subtilisin.     

Reactions of Benzo[ b ]cyclobuta[ d ]pyran-3-one Derivatives with Sulfur Ylide

1 Introduction Small ring size cycloalkanes such as cyclopropanes and cyclobutanes have been found as a basic structural constituent in a wide rang of natural products~([1]). In organic synthesis, their cycloalkanes also play an important role owing to their diversity of reaction.1IntroductionSmall ring size cycloalkanes such as cyclopropanes and cyclobutanes have beenfound as a basic structuralconstituent in a wide rang of natural products[1].In organic synthesis ,their cycloalkanes also pla…     

HLA-DQ is epistatic to HLA-DR in controlling the immune response to schistosomal antigen in humans

Antigens that produce an antibody response in some members of a species may fail to do so in others. The response to an antigen is controlled by a gene termed the immune response (Ir) gene, which is transmitted as a single dominant trait. We have provided evidence for similar immune suppression (Is) genes which control non-responsiveness through the antigen specific suppressor T cell. The non-responsiveness is also dominantly inherited and the Is genes are linked to the histocompatibility (HLA) antigen system. Here we report that the HLA-DR2 molecule from a non-responder haplotype (HLA-Dw12-DR2-DQwl) is required for the proliferative T cell response to schistosoma japonicum (Sj) antigen, as a restriction element, indicating that the HLA-DR2 is the product of the Ir gene, and that the HLA-DQwl molecule of the non-responder haplotype is important in the antigen-specific suppression of the response to this antigen, suggesting that it is the product of the Is gene. We therefore conclude that the HLA-DR and DQ molecules, which are controlled by the distinct genes in the MHC multigene family, regulate immune response and immune suppression and that the gene for HLA-DQ is epistatic to that for HLA-DR in controlling the immune response to schistosomal antigen in humans.     

Ultrastructural changes in uterine myometrium of mice with experimentally-induced adenomyosis

Summary Ectopic pituitary transplantation induced a high incidence of adenomyosis in SHN mice. Early signs of the development of adenomyosis were the penetration of stromal connective tissue into myometrium followed by uterine gland invasion. Associated with these changes, the inner layer of myometrium showed the involution of smooth muscle cells and distended intercellular spacesThis work was supported in part by Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture of Japan     

Circadian change of sweating rate measured locally by the resistance hygrometry method in man

Summary There existed circadian change in the sweating rate locally measured from the anterior of the left thigh: the sweating rate showed a remarkable decline during the period 2.00–5.00 h, while at other times throughout the day it generally remained high. This reduction seemed to be independent of sleep or sleeplessness.Acknowledgment. The authors thank sincerely the late Prof. S. Mizunashi for her constant encouragement throughout the work. This research was aided by a grant from Japan Chemical Fiber Association.