A functional variant in FCRL3, encoding Fc receptor-like 3, is associated with rheumatoid arthritis and several autoimmunities

Rheumatoid arthritis is a common autoimmune disease with a complex genetic etiology. Here we identify a SNP in the promoter region of FCRL3, a member of the Fc receptor-like family, that is associated with susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis (odds ratio = 2.15, P = 0.00000085). This polymorphism alters the binding affinity of nuclear factor-kappaB and regulates FCRL3 expression. We observed high FCRL3 expression on B cells and augmented autoantibody production in individuals with the disease-susceptible genotype. We also found associations between the SNP and susceptibility to autoimmune thyroid disease and systemic lupus erythematosus. FCRL3 may therefore have a pivotal role in autoimmunity.     

Thiamine diphosphatase in rat small intestine

Summary TDPase is located mostly in the proximal portion of the small intestine and its activity, like that of ALPase, decreased markedly in thiamine deficiency. The decreased enzyme activities were restored after thiamine or vitamin D₃. Kinetic and other studies of the purified enzyme indicated the identity of the two enzymes.Acknowledgment. We thank Miss.T. Yagura and Miss.H. Kuroda for technical assistance.     

b-nucleic acid,and the initial step of deoxyribonucleic acid-degradation by deoxyribonuclease I

Zusammenfassung Feulgen fand, dass die Degradation der Desoxyribonukleinsäure durch Pankreatin keine Mononucleotide bildete, jedoch auf der Stufe der Oligonucleotide (b-Nukleinsäure) blieb. In dieser Mitteilung wird die b-Säure mit dem ersten Degradationsprodukt identifiziert, welches aus Nukleinsäure unter Einwirkung von DNase 1 gebildet wird, und der Verlauf der Nukleinsäure-Degradation wird ausführlich verfolgt.     

The course of depolymerization of DNA by DNase I

Zusammenfassung Es wird beobachtet, dass während der Depolymerisation von DNA mit DN-ase I zur kleinmolekularen DNA (b-Nukleinsäure), ein bemerkenswertes Zwischenprodukt mit physico-chemischen Eigenschaften der b-Nukleinsäure mit doppelter Helix auftritt.     

The gene encoding a newly discovered protein, chorein, is mutated in chorea-acanthocytosis

Chorea-acanthocytosis is a neurodegenerative disorder with peripheral red cell acanthocytosis. Linkage of chorea-acanthocytosis to chromosome 9q21 has been found. We refined the locus region and identified a previously unknown, full-length cDNA encoding a presumably structural protein, which we called chorein. We found a deletion in the coding region of the cDNA leading to a frame shift resulting in the production of a truncated protein in both alleles of patients and in single alleles of obligate carriers.     

Effect of ethanol on taurine concentration in the brain

Summary The taurine concentration in the brain was decreased in ethanol-dependent rats, but returned to normal soon after withdrawal of ethanol. It was not affected by acute ethanol administration.This research was supported by a grant from the Taisho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Tokyo.