Fibulin-5/DANCE is essential for elastogenesis in vivo.

The elastic fibre system has a principal role in the structure and function of various types of organs that require elasticity, such as large arteries, lung and skin. Although elastic fibres are known to be composed of microfibril proteins (for example, fibrillins and latent transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta-binding proteins) and polymerized elastin, the mechanism of their assembly and development is not well understood. Here we report that fibulin-5 (also known as DANCE), a recently discovered integrin ligand, is an essential determinant of elastic fibre organization. fibulin-5-/- mice generated by gene targeting exhibit a severely disorganized elastic fibre system throughout the body. fibulin-5-/- mice survive to adulthood, but have a tortuous aorta with loss of compliance, severe emphysema, and loose skin (cutis laxa). These tissues contain fragmented elastin without an increase of elastase activity, indicating defective development of elastic fibres. Fibulin-5 interacts directly with elastic fibres in vitro, and serves as a ligand for cell surface integrins alphavbeta3, alphavbeta5 and alpha9beta1 through its amino-terminal domain. Thus, fibulin-5 may provide anchorage of elastic fibres to cells, thereby acting to stabilize and organize elastic fibres in the skin, lung and vasculature.     

Karyotypes of seven species of bats from Thailand (Chiroptera,Mammalia)

Summary Karyotypes ofMyotis siligorensis, Myotis mystacinus, Pipistrellus pulveratus, Tylonycteris robustula, Miniopterus schreibersi fuliginosus, Hipposideros fulvus andAselliscus stoliczkanus from Thailand are investigated.Acknowledgment. The authors are very grateful to Dr N. Ratanawarabhan, Mrs S. Sittilert, P. Noonpakdee and S. Kuanchalern of Thailand Institute of Scientific and Technological Research for their valuable advice and assistance during our field survey in Thailand.     

An increase in Sendai virus-induced cell fusion of erythrocytes infected with Plasmodium chabaudi

The extent of cell fusion induced by Sendai virus was examined in erythrocytes infected with Plasmodium chabaudi. An increase in cell fusion of erythrocytes with Ehrlich tumor cells and of erythrocytes with erythrocytes was observed with the infected erythrocytes. However, agglutination by the virus was not changed between erythrocytes of normal and malarial mice. These results indicate that the increase in cell fusion occurred in the process of membrane fusion, suggesting that some membrane property of Plasmodium-parasitized erythrocytes is changed in terms of Sendai virus-induced cell fusion.     

Fibronectin receptor structures in the VLA family of heterodimers

Multiple cell surface proteins of relative molecular mass 115,000-155,000 (Mr 115K-155K) have been implicated as receptors mediating adhesion to extracellular matrix proteins. But the organization and relatedness of these peptides has remained unclear. In separate studies, the 'very late antigens' VLA-1 (Mr 210K/130K) and VLA-2 (Mr 160K/130K) were initially characterized as surface heterodimers appearing 2-4 weeks after in vitro stimulation of human T cells. Three more VLA heterodimers have since been discovered, which, like VLA-1 and VLA-2, are each composed of unique alpha-subunits in association with a common 130K beta subunit. This paper shows that the common VLA beta-subunit is equivalent to subunits found in structures with known fibronectin and laminin receptor activity, and that VLA-3 and VLA-5 are similar or identical to these previously defined receptors for adhesion molecules. Antibody blocking studies confirmed that at least some of the widely distributed VLA proteins of previously unknown function are involved in cell adhesion to fibronectin and laminin. We suggest that the VLA family of receptors may provide cells with multiple independent substrate adhesion capabilities.     

Large Scale Finite Element Modeling,Simulation and Visualization for Wind Flows in Urban Area Using Virtual Reality

A large-scale finite element modeling, simulation and visualization for wind flows are presented. The modeling method using GIS/CAD data is employed. The stabilized parallel finite element method based on SUPG/PSPG method is employed for the analysis of wind flows. The present method is applied to the simulation of wind flow and contaminant spread in urban area. The visualization based on virtual reality is employed to evaluate the mesh quality and computational results. The computed results are qualitatively in agreement with the experimental results and actual phenomena. The present method is shown to be a useful tool to simulate the wind flows in urban area.     

Karyotypes of two species of insectivora from Taiwan (Insectivora,Soricidae)

Summary The karyotypes of two Insectivora species from Taiwan are described here for the first time.Soriculus caudatus fumidas has 2n=40 chromosomes, FN=52 andAnourosorex squamipes yamashinai has 2n=50 chromosomes, FN=96. ForA. s. yamashinai the G- and C-banding pattern are presented.Acknowledgment. The authors are grateful to Dr P. T. Tseng, and Mr H. M. Lin of Taiwan Provincial Institute of Infectious Diseases and to Prof. I. Sawada of Nara University of Education for their help during the collection of the material and their encouragement.