PGC7 binds histone H3K9me2 to protect against conversion of 5mC to 5hmC in early embryos

The modification of DNA by 5-methylcytosine (5mC) has essential roles in cell differentiation and development through epigenetic gene regulation. 5mC can be converted to another modified base, 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC), by the tet methylcytosine dioxygenase (Tet) family of enzymes. Notably, the balance between 5hmC and 5mC in the genome is linked with cell-differentiation processes such as pluripotency and lineage commitment. We have previously reported that the maternal factor PGC7 (also known as Dppa3, Stella) is required for the maintenance of DNA methylation in early embryogenesis, and protects 5mC from conversion to 5hmC in the maternal genome. Here we show that PGC7 protects 5mC from Tet3-mediated conversion to 5hmC by binding to maternal chromatin containing dimethylated histone H3 lysine 9 (H3K9me2) in mice. In addition, imprinted loci that are marked with H3K9me2 in mature sperm are protected by PGC7 binding in early embryogenesis. This type of regulatory mechanism could be involved in DNA modifications in somatic cells as well as in early embryos.     

UDP acting at P2Y6 receptors is a mediator of microglial phagocytosis

Microglia, brain immune cells, engage in the clearance of dead cells or dangerous debris, which is crucial to the maintenance of brain functions. When a neighbouring cell is injured, microglia move rapidly towards it or extend a process to engulf the injured cell. Because cells release or leak ATP when they are stimulated or injured, extracellular nucleotides are thought to be involved in these events. In fact, ATP triggers a dynamic change in the motility of microglia in vitro and in vivo, a previously unrecognized mechanism underlying microglial chemotaxis; in contrast, microglial phagocytosis has received only limited attention. Here we show that microglia express the metabotropic P2Y6 receptor whose activation by endogenous agonist UDP triggers microglial phagocytosis. UDP facilitated the uptake of microspheres in a P2Y6-receptor-dependent manner, which was mimicked by the leakage of endogenous UDP when hippocampal neurons were damaged by kainic acid in vivo and in vitro. In addition, systemic administration of kainic acid in rats resulted in neuronal cell death in the hippocampal CA1 and CA3 regions, where increases in messenger RNA encoding P2Y6 receptors that colocalized with activated microglia were observed. Thus, the P2Y6 receptor is upregulated when neurons are damaged, and could function as a sensor for phagocytosis by sensing diffusible UDP signals, which is a previously unknown pathophysiological function of P2 receptors in microglia.     

Between Two Worlds: Yamanouchi Shigeo and Eugenics in Early Twentieth‐Century Japan

The 1935 conflict on the nature of relativistic degeneracy that pitted Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar against Arthur Stanley Eddington is part of astronomical lore. In recountings of the events surrounding the dispute, the complaint is frequently aired that Chandrasekhar, who faced the pre-eminent astrophysicist of his time, did not enjoy the support of the astronomical community, which opted to side instead with Eddington. We reconsider these statements in the light of the published record and argue that the reception of Chandrasekhar's ideas was, if anything, rather favourable and that any perceived lack of support may have been due in great part to the inability to distinguish, on an observational basis, between the predictions of the competing theories. We further argue that the observational situation improved little over the subsequent thirty years, but that this did not prevent Chandrasekhar's version of relativistic degeneracy, and associated theory of electron-degenerate stars, from gaining a central position within the realm of stellar structure and evolution. We briefly compare this status to that enjoyed by general relativity before 1960.     

Al-Pd-Mn-Mg、Al-Pd-Mn-Zn和Al-Pd-Mn-Mg-Zn系准晶态合金的研究

本文研究了Al-Pd-Mn-Mg、Al-Pd-Mn-Zn和Al-Pd-Mn-Mg-Zn三种多元系合金的准晶形成规律、准晶态合金的成分范围和热稳定性。研究结果表明,Al-Pd-Mn-Mg系准晶态合金的成分范围基本上可按以下范围选择构成,Al:60～80(at％)、Pd:0～20(at％)、Mn:0～10(a％)、Mg:0～10(at％),而Al-Pd-Mn-Zn为Al:60～75(at％)、Pd:0～20(at％)、Mn:0～10(at％)、Zn:0～10(at％),Al-Pd-Mn-Mg-Zn为Al:60～5(at％)、Pd:0～20(at％)、Mg:0～5(at％)、Zn:0～5(at％)。三种系列的准晶态合金均为非热稳定性准晶,其晶化温度约为673～873K左右。     

Specific determination of arylsulfatase A activity

Arylsulfatase activities in biological materials are too low to be detected by the methods available hitherto. A sensitive and specific assay method for arylsulfatase A (AS-A) has been developed in the present study. Ascorbate-2-sulfate is known to be a specific natural substrate of AS-A; the ascorbic acid liberated by the action of AS-A was quantitatively determined using HPLC equipped with an amperometric detector. The method was used to analyze the activity of AS-A in biological materials.     

Early death of mice cloned from somatic cells

Here we report that the lifespan of mice cloned from somatic cells is significantly shorter than that of genotype- and sex-matched controls, most likely due to severe pneumonia and hepatic failure. This finding demonstrates the possibility of long-term deleterious effects of somatic-cell cloning, even after normal birth.