SHARPIN is a component of the NF-κB-activating linear ubiquitin chain assembly complex

Cpdm (chronic proliferative dermatitis) mice develop chronic dermatitis and an immunodeficiency with increased serum IgM, symptoms that resemble those of patients with X-linked hyper-IgM syndrome and hypohydrotic ectodermal dysplasia (XHM-ED), which is caused by mutations in NEMO (NF-κB essential modulator; also known as IKBKG). Spontaneous null mutations in the Sharpin (SHANK-associated RH domain interacting protein in postsynaptic density) gene are responsible for the cpdm phenotype in mice. SHARPIN shows significant similarity to HOIL-1L (also known as RBCK1), a component of linear ubiquitin chain assembly complex (LUBAC), which induces NF-κB activation through conjugation of linear polyubiquitin chains to NEMO. Here, we identify SHARPIN as an additional component of LUBAC. SHARPIN-containing complexes can linearly ubiquitinate NEMO and activated NF-κB. Thus, we re-define LUBAC as a complex containing SHARPIN, HOIL-1L, and HOIP (also known as RNF31). Deletion of SHARPIN drastically reduced the amount of LUBAC, which resulted in attenuated TNF-α- and CD40-mediated activation of NF-κB in mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) or B cells from cpdm mice. Considering the pleomorphic phenotype of cpdm mice, these results confirm the predicted role of LUBAC-mediated linear polyubiquitination in NF-κB activation induced by various stimuli, and strongly suggest the involvement of LUBAC-induced NF-κB activation in various disorders.     

一种基于度量距离学习的图像检索方法

CBIR系统由于受图像低层特征的限制,制约了它的检索效果。机器学习和统计方法是一种有效的提高检索性能的方法,但通常需要大量的训练样本才能达到满意的检索精度。提出一种理想的距离度量函数,在对图像进行简单分类并提供少量训练样本的基础上,通过类的距离度量矩阵M的学习来考虑分量之间的相关性。这个度量导入二次最佳化问题的解,将训练样本类结构的倾斜最小化。试验结果表明,该方法能在学习样本极少的情况下提高检索的性能。     

Chromatosomes are not produced from Tetrahymena chromatin by micrococcal nuclease digestion

The subnucleosomal organization of Tetrahymena chromatin, which has an unusual H1 histone, was investigated by NaCl extraction and micrococcal nuclease digestion of nuclei. It was found that Tetrahymena histone H1 is extracted with 0.35 M NaCl, whereas bovine thyroid H1 is not. Micrococcal nuclease digestion of Tetrahymena nuclei did not yield chromatosomes as a stable intermediate, whereas digestion of bovine thyroid nuclei did.     

Potentiative effects of sulfhydryl compounds on carrageenin-induced oedema in rats and relationship to their potencies as inhibitors of angiostin-converting enzyme in vivo

Summary Carrageenin-induced oedema in rats was potentiated by oral administration of (4R)-3-[(2S)-3-mercapto-2-methylpropanoyl]-4-thiazolidinecarboxylic acid (SA291) and related sulfhydryl compounds, and the effect was closely correlated with their potencies as inhibitors of angiotensin-converting enzyme in vivo.Acknowledgment. The authors wish to thank Prof. H. Fujimura, Department of Pharmacology, Gifu University School of Medicine, for his helpful advice.     

Monitoring and phenomena observation during YAG laser lap welding of Zn-coated steel sheets

1　IntroductionZn coatedsteelsareusedinvariousindustryfieldsbecauseoflowpricesandhighcorrosionresistance .ItisalsoknownthatZncausesspattersorporosityeasilyinlaserlapwelding[1～ 3] .ItisthusexpectedtounderstandlaserweldingphenomenonofZn coatedsteels,tointe…     

A galaxy at a redshift z = 6.96

When galaxy formation started in the history of the Universe remains unclear. Studies of the cosmic microwave background indicate that the Universe, after initial cooling (following the Big Bang), was reheated and reionized by hot stars in newborn galaxies at a redshift in the range 6 < z < 14 (ref. 1). Though several candidate galaxies at redshift z > 7 have been identified photometrically, galaxies with spectroscopically confirmed redshifts have been confined to z < 6.6 (refs 4-8). Here we report a spectroscopic redshift of z = 6.96 (corresponding to just 750 Myr after the Big Bang) for a galaxy whose spectrum clearly shows Lyman-alpha emission at 9,682 A, indicating active star formation at a rate of approximately 10M(o) yr(-1), where M(o) is the mass of the Sun. This demonstrates that galaxy formation was under way when the Universe was only approximately 6 per cent of its present age. The number density of galaxies at z approximately 7 seems to be only 18-36 per cent of the density at z = 6.6.     

Insect signalling: components of giant hornet alarm pheromone

Up to 74 people die each year in Japan after being stung by Hymenopteran insects, with hornets (Vespa spp.) being among the worst offenders. Here we identify a volatile, multi-component alarm pheromone in the venom of the world's largest hornet, V. mandarinia, and use field bioassays to show that 2-pentanol is its principal active component, and that 3-methyl-1-butanol and 1-methylbutyl 3-methylbutanoate act synergistically with it. The compound 1-methylbutyl 3-methylbutanoate, which may also be a foraging-site-marking pheromone, elicits a strong defensive reaction in the sympatric prey hornet V. simillima xanthoptera. As these chemicals are sometimes used in food flavourings and as fragrances in cosmetics, it is possible that they might provoke a seemingly unwarranted hornet attack on humans.     

Phase-Plane Invariant Analysis of Pressure Fluctuations in Fluidized Beds

Partial agglomeration is a major problem in fluidized beds. A chaotic analytical method based on the phase-plane invariant of the pressure fluctuations in the fluidized beds has been used to warn of ag-glomeration at an early stage. Cold tests (no combustion) and hot tests (combustion) in fluidized beds show that the phase-plane invariant of the pressure fluctuations can distinguish the dynamic behavior of fluidized beds with different flow rates in cold tests. With combustion, when the flow rate was kept constant, agglom-eration was detected very early by looking at the phase-plane invariant. The phase-plane invariant can be used to distinguish changes in fluidized beds due to changes in the flow rate, agglomeration, or various other factors. Therefore, this reliable agglomeration early warning system can be used for better control of circulating fluidized beds.     

Disaccharidase rhythm in rat small intestine; no relationship with mitosis rhythm.

Same circadian difference in the specific activities of sucrase and maltase was observed in the purified brush border fraction as in the crude homogenate of the mucosa of rat small intestine, suggesting that the disaccharidase rhythm is not due to the mitosis rhythm of epithelial cells.