Inhibitory tripeptide,Lys-Phe-Tyr,as a fragment of physalaemin

Summary Several peptides were separated from-chymotrypsin-treated physalaemin by high voltage paper electrophoresis, and inhibition of the excitability of a molluscan giant neurone (tonically autoactive neurone) by the tripeptide, Lys-Phe-Tyr, was demonstrated.We thank Dr Sadaaki Iwanaga of Osaka University and Dr Atsuo Inoue of Daiichi Pharmaceutical CO for their helpful advice and the donation of the tripeptide (Lys-Phe-Tyr).     

Effects of physalaemin, a vaso-active peptide from amphibian skin, on the excitability of an identifiable molluscan giant neurone of Achatina fulica Férussac.

We examined effects of several vasoactive peptides (substance P, physalaemin, neurotensin, bradykinin, angiotensin etc.) on the excitability of molluscan giant neurones identified in the subesophageal ganglia of Achatina fulica Férussac. Of these peptides, only physalaemin showed a remarkable excitatory effect on a giant tonically autoactive neurone.     

Regulation of IgA production by naturally occurring TNF/iNOS-producing dendritic cells

Immunoglobulin-A has an irreplaceable role in the mucosal defence against infectious microbes. In human and mouse, IgA-producing plasma cells comprise approximately 20% of total plasma cells of peripheral lymphoid tissues, whereas more than 80% of plasma cells produce IgA in mucosa-associated lymphoid tissues (MALT). One of the most biologically important and long-standing questions in immunology is why this 'biased' IgA synthesis takes place in the MALT but not other lymphoid organs. Here we show that IgA class-switch recombination (CSR) is impaired in inducible-nitric-oxide-synthase-deficient (iNOS-/-; gene also called Nos2) mice. iNOS regulates the T-cell-dependent IgA CSR through expression of transforming growth factor-beta receptor, and the T-cell-independent IgA CSR through production of a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL, also called Tnfsf13) and a B-cell-activating factor of the tumour necrosis factor (TNF) family (BAFF, also called Tnfsf13b). Notably, iNOS is preferentially expressed in MALT dendritic cells in response to the recognition of commensal bacteria by toll-like receptor. Furthermore, adoptive transfer of iNOS+ dendritic cells rescues IgA production in iNOS-/- mice. Further analysis revealed that the MALT dendritic cells are a TNF-alpha/iNOS-producing dendritic-cell subset, originally identified in mice infected with Listeria monocytogenes. The presence of a naturally occurring TNF-alpha/iNOS-producing dendritic-cell subset may explain the predominance of IgA production in the MALT, critical for gut homeostasis.     

Deficiency of fibrinolytic enzyme activities in the serum of patients with Alzheimer-type dementia

Previously we reported that there is a kallikrein deficiency in the cerebral tissue of patients with Alzheimer-type dementia. The present study was performed to investigate protease changes in the serum of these patients. The results showed that the kallikrein activity was normal, but that the activities of plasmin and urokinase were significantly low. The present findings indicate a derangement in the clotting and fibrinolytic systems in Alzheimer patients.     

Effects of some oligopeptides,consisting of aromatic amino acids,on the excitability of an identifiable giant neurone of an African giant snail (Achatina fulica Férussac)

Summary L-Phe-L-Tyr and L-Lys-L-Phe-L-Tyr showed a marked inhibitory effect (not chloride-dependent) on the excitability of an identifiable giant neurone (the TAN) of Achatina fulica Férussac, while L-Tyr-L-phe, L-Tyr-L-Tyr, L-Phe-L-Phe, L-Lys-L-Phe and Z-L-Phe-L-Tyr (Z-: carbobenzoxy) had no effect.Authors wish to thank Dr Atsuo Inoue of Daiichi Pharmaceutical Co. for his helpful advice, and Miss Hiroko Tamura for her technical assistance.     

Critical period for induction of congenital hydrocephalus and dysplasia of subcommissural organ by prenatal X-irradiation in rats

A single whole-body X-irradiation of pregnant Wistar rats at a dose of 1.05 Gy at 10.30, 12.30 and 14.30 h respectively, of gestational day 10 resulted in significantly high incidences of hydrocephalic offspring. No hydrocephalic offspring resulted from X-irradiation of pregnant rats with 1.05 Gy at 16.30 h, whereas a dose of 1.22 Gy at 16.30 h resulted in a low but statistically significant incidence of hydrocephalus. Neither 1.05 Gy nor 1.22 Gy X-irradiation of pregnant rats at 18.30 h resulted in any hydrocephalic offspring. Dysplasia of the subcommissural organ was noticed in all the hydrocephalic brains histologically examined.     

Genome sequencing and analysis of Aspergillus oryzae

The genome of Aspergillus oryzae, a fungus important for the production of traditional fermented foods and beverages in Japan, has been sequenced. The ability to secrete large amounts of proteins and the development of a transformation system have facilitated the use of A. oryzae in modern biotechnology. Although both A. oryzae and Aspergillus flavus belong to the section Flavi of the subgenus Circumdati of Aspergillus, A. oryzae, unlike A. flavus, does not produce aflatoxin, and its long history of use in the food industry has proved its safety. Here we show that the 37-megabase (Mb) genome of A. oryzae contains 12,074 genes and is expanded by 7-9 Mb in comparison with the genomes of Aspergillus nidulans and Aspergillus fumigatus. Comparison of the three aspergilli species revealed the presence of syntenic blocks and A. oryzae-specific blocks (lacking synteny with A. nidulans and A. fumigatus) in a mosaic manner throughout the genome of A. oryzae. The blocks of A. oryzae-specific sequence are enriched for genes involved in metabolism, particularly those for the synthesis of secondary metabolites. Specific expansion of genes for secretory hydrolytic enzymes, amino acid metabolism and amino acid/sugar uptake transporters supports the idea that A. oryzae is an ideal microorganism for fermentation.     

Deficiency of kallikrein-like enzyme activities in cerebral tissue of patients with alzheimer's disease

Summary We examined the changes in the intracerebral activities, at the time of postmortem autopsy, in patients with Alzheimer's disease. When compared with the control group, the activity of kallikrein-like enzyme was significantly decreased, while prolyl endopeptidase activity increased, in the patients group. Aprotinin inhibited 50% of the activity of the former enzyme at 2×10^–7M. Taken together with the results of a multivariate study, the above findings may indicate that intracerebral kallikrein deficiency plays an important role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease.     

The role of sex steroid in two avian song behaviours differing in ontogenetic process

The male Bengalese finch,Lonchura striata, has two types of song behaviour (directed song, DS and undirected song, US). DS and US share a basically identical syllable repertoire, sequence pattern and tempo, but differ in the time course of appearance during the maturational process. In order to examine whether this results from a difference in testosterone (T) dependency, we studied developmental changes in the fecal T level and the amounts of DS and US during the 2–4 month period (N=7). DS appeared between 83 and 94 days of age, 4–16 days after a rise in the fecal T level. In contrast, US appeared earlier and at high frequency even when T was still at a very low level. These results suggest that DS is more dependent on the T level than US, and is not activated until the T level rises during the maturational process.     

Effects of various hormones and adrenalectomy on the levels of amylase in rat pancreas and parotid gland.

Dexamethasone, adrenocorticotropic hormone and thyroxine increased the amylase activities in both the pancreas and the parotid gland of infant rats. After adrenalectomy, the amylase activities of the pancreas and parotid gland were about half the control levels, suggesting that both glucocorticoid and thyroxine are involved in maintaining the amylase activities in these organs.