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Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling plays a central role in vascular development and maintenance of vascular homeostasis. In endothelial cells (ECs), VEGF activates the gene expression of angiogenic transcription factors (TFs), followed by induction of downstream angiogenic responsive genes. Recent findings support that histone modification dynamics contribute to the transcriptional control of genes that are important for EC functions. Lysine demethylase 2B (KDM2B) demethylates histone H3K4me3 and H3K36me2/3 and mediates the monoubiquitination of histone H2AK119. KDM2B functions as a transcriptional repressor in somatic cell reprogramming and tumor development. However, the role of KDM2B in VEGF signaling remains to be elucidated. Here, we show that KDM2B knockdown enhances VEGF-induced angiogenesis in cultured human ECs via increased migration and proliferation. In contrast, ectopic expression of KDM2B inhibits angiogenesis. The function of KDM2B may depend on its catalytic Jumonji C domain. Genome-wide analysis further reveals that KDM2B selectively controls the transcription of VEGF-induced angiogenic TFs that are associated with increased H3K4me3/H3K36me3 and decreased H2AK119ub. These findings suggest an essential role of KDM2B in VEGF signaling in ECs. As dysregulation of VEGF signaling in ECs is involved in various diseases, including cancer, KDM2B may be a potential therapeutic target in VEGF-mediated vasculopathic diseases., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

In the first-in-human PET study, we evaluated the biodistribution and tumor accumulation of the novel PET probe, (S)-2-amino-3-[3-(2- 18 F-fluoroethoxy)-4-iodophenyl]-2-methylpropanoic acid ( 18 F-FIMP), which targets the tumor-related L-type amino acid transporter 1 (LAT1), and compared it with L-[methyl- 11 C]methionine ( 11 C-MET) and 2-Deoxy-2- 18 F-fluoro-D-glucose ( 18 F-FDG). 18 F-FIMP biodistribution was revealed by whole-body and brain scans in 13 healthy controls. Tumor accumulation of 18 F-FIMP was evaluated in 7 patients with a brain tumor, and compared with those of 11 C-MET and 18 F-FDG. None of the subjects had significant problems due to probe administration, such as adverse effects or abnormal vital signs. 18 F-FIMP was rapidly excreted from the kidneys to the urinary bladder. There was no characteristic physiological accumulation in healthy controls. 18 F-FIMP PET resulted in extremely clear images in patients with suspected glioblastoma compared with 11 C-MET and 18 F-FDG. 18 F-FIMP could be a useful novel PET probe for LAT1-positive tumor imaging including glioblastoma., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest All authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway (CAP) describes a neuronal-inflammatory reflex centered on systemic cytokine regulation by α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAChR) activation of spleen-residue macrophage. However, the CAP mechanism attenuating distal tissue inflammation, inducing a low level of systemic inflammation, is lesser known. In this study, we hypothesized that CAP regulates monocyte accessibility by influencing their adhesion to endothelial cells. Using RNA-seq analysis, we identified that α1,3-Fucosyltransferase 7 (FucT-VII), the enzyme required for processing selectin ligands, was significantly downregulated by α7nAChR agonist among other cell-cell adhesion genes. The α7nAChR agonist inhibited monocytic cell line U-937 binding to P-selectin and adhesion to endothelial cells. Furthermore, α7nAChR agonist selectivity was confirmed by α7nAChR knockdown assays, showing that FUT7 inhibition and adhesion attenuation by the agonist was abolished by siRNA targeting α7nAChR encoding gene. Consistently, FUT7 knockdown inhibited the adhesive properties of U-937 and prevented them to adhere to endothelial cells. Overexpression of FUT7 also abrogated the adhesion attenuation induced by GTS-21 indicating that FUT7 inhibition was sufficient for inhibiting adhesion by α7nAChR activation. Our work demonstrated that α7nAChR activation regulates monocyte adhesion to endothelial cells through FUT7 inhibition, providing a novel insight into the CAP mechanism., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest Tsuyoshi Inoue reports financial support was provided by Kyowa Kirin Co Ltd., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Most viruses inhibit the innate immune system and/or the RNA degradation processes of host cells to construct an advantageous intracellular environment for their survival. Characteristic RNA sequences within RNA virus genomes or RNAs transcribed from DNA virus genomes contribute toward this inhibition. In this study, we developed a method called "Fate-seq" to comprehensively identify the RNA sequences derived from RNA and DNA viruses, contributing RNA stability in the cells. We examined the stabilization activity of 5,924 RNA fragments derived from 26 different viruses (16 RNA viruses and 10 DNA viruses) using next-generation sequencing of these RNAs fused 3' downstream of GFP reporter RNA. With the Fate-seq approach, we detected multiple virus-derived RNA sequences that stabilized GFP reporter RNA, including sequences derived from severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus (SARS-CoV). Comparative genomic analysis revealed that these RNA sequences and their predicted secondary structures are highly conserved between SARS-CoV and the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, which is responsible for the global outbreak of the coronavirus-associated disease that emerged in December 2019 (COVID-19). These sequences have the potential to enhance the stability of viral RNA genomes, thereby augmenting viral replication efficiency and virulence., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Coenzyme Q 10 (CoQ 10 ) plays a key role not only as an essential electron carrier in the mitochondrial electron transport chain, but also as an antioxidant to protect cells from oxidative stress. CoQ 10 supplementation is expected to be effective for a variety of diseases. The predominant forms of CoQ 10 are the ubiquinol-10 (reduced form) and ubiquinone-10 (oxidized form). Both forms of CoQ 10 supplements are commercially available, however, their kinetic difference is still unclear. In order to conduct in vivo analysis of the kinetics of ubiquinol-10 and ubiquinone-10, we succeeded in synthesizing 11 C-labeled ubiquinol-10 ([ 11 C]UQL) and ubiquinone-10 ([ 11 C]UQN), respectively. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the kinetics of [ 11 C]UQL and [ 11 C]UQN, both of which were administered via the tail vein of 8-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats. Whole-body positron emission tomography (PET) imaging was performed to follow the time course of accumulation in the liver, spleen, brain, and other organs. Then, at the two typical time points at 20 or 90 min after injection, we conducted the biodistribution study. Various organs/tissues and blood were collected, weighed and counted with a gamma counter. Percent injected dose per gram of tissue (%ID/g) was calculated as the indicator of the accumulation of each compound. As the results, at both time points, %ID/g of [ 11 C]UQL in the cerebrum, cerebellum, white adipose tissue, muscle, kidney, and testis were higher (P < 0.05) than that of [ 11 C]UQN: at 90-min time point, %ID/g of [ 11 C]UQL in the brown adipose tissue was higher (P < 0.05) than that of [ 11 C]UQN: on the contrary, %ID/g of [ 11 C]UQL in the spleen was lower (P < 0.05) than that of [ 11 C]UQN at 90 min. In a separate study of the metabolite analysis in the plasma, UQL injected into the tail vein of rats was almost unchanged during the PET scanning time, but UQN was gradually converted to the reduced form UQL. Therefore, the uptake values of UQL into the tissues and organs were rather accurate but those of UQN might be the sum of UQN uptake and partly converted UQL uptake. These studies suggested that the accumulation level of administered CoQ 10 differs depending on its redox state, and that CoQ 10 redox state could be crucial for optimization of the effective supplementation., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is the most common form of primary glomerulonephritis, and disease recurrence often occurs after transplantation. On the other hands, Asymptomatic IgA deposition (IgAD) is occasionally observed in donated kidney. It is recognized that IgAD does not progress to IgAN, but the mechanism has not demonstrated yet. In IgAN, aberrant IgA1 O-glycan structure in the hinge region (HR) of serum IgA is suggested as one of the most convincing key mediators. However, little is known about IgA1 O-glycan structure in IgAD patients. Herein, we investigated the prevalence of IgAD in living renal transplant donors in our cohort. IgAD was observed in 21(13.0%) among 161 renal transplant donors and have statistically significant blood relationship with IgAN recipients (28.6% in relatives vs. 9.8% in non-relatives, respectively; p = 0.0073). Next, we evaluated the IgA1 O-glycan structure of serum IgA from IgAN recipients (n = 26), IgAD donors (n = 17), and non-IgAD helthy donors (n = 27) using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). The numbers of GalNAc and Gal and the Gal/GalNAc ratio in the HR of the IgAN recipients had significantly lower comparing to the IgAD and non-IgAD healthy donors. The decreased Gal/GalNAc ratio in IgAN recipients means the increased ratio of galactose-deficient IgA1. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report to compare the O-glycan structures in IgAN recipients and IgAD donors using MALDI-TOF MS. We concluded that IgAD was more common in IgAN related donors. Overall, decreased GalNAc and Gal contents in HR could play a material pathogenic role in IgAN., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Human herpesvirus 6B (HHV-6B) causes exanthema subitum in infants and is known to be mildly pathogenic. However, HHV-6B infection can induce febrile seizures in a high percentage of patients, and in rare cases, result in encephalitis. We detected higher levels of interleukin (IL)-1β and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CFS) of patients with HHV-6B encephalitis when compared to those in patients with non-HHV-6B-induced febrile seizures. In vitro, IL-1β and bFGF enhanced HHV-6B gene expression in infected U373 astrocytes during the initial and maintenance phases of infection, respectively. These findings indicated that IL-1β and bFGF contribute to HHV-6B growth and the onset of encephalitis., (Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia, and the loss or dysfunction of pancreatic beta cells has been reported before the appearance of clinical symptoms and hyperglycemia. To evaluate beta cell mass (BCM) for improving the detection and treatment of DM at earlier stages, we focused on somatostatin receptors that are highly expressed in the pancreatic beta cells, and developed a positron emission tomography (PET) probe derived from octreotide, a metabolically stable somatostatin analog. Octreotide was conjugated with 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid (DOTA), a chelating agent, and labeled with (68)Gallium ((68)Ga). After intravenous injection of (68)Ga-DOTA-octreotide, a 90-min emission scan of the abdomen was performed in normal and DM model rats. The PET studies showed that (68)Ga-DOTA-octreotide radioactivity was highly accumulated in the pancreas of normal rats and that the pancreatic accumulation was significantly reduced in the rats administered with an excess amount of unlabeled octreotide or after treatment with streptozotocin, which was used for the chemical induction of DM in rats. These results were in good agreement with the ex vivo biodistribution data. These results indicated that the pancreatic accumulation of (68)Ga-DOTA-octreotide represented specific binding to the somatostatin receptors and reflected BCM. Therefore, PET imaging with (68)Ga-DOTA-octreotide could be a potential tool for evaluating BCM., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Sensitive detection and qualitative analysis of atherosclerotic plaques are in high demand in cardiovascular clinical settings. The leukocyte-endothelial interaction mediated by an adhesion molecule P-selectin participates in arterial wall inflammation and atherosclerosis., Methods and Results: A (64)Cu-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid conjugated anti-P-selectin monoclonal antibody ((64)Cu-DOTA-anti-P-selectin mAb) probe was prepared by conjugating an anti-P-selectin monoclonal antibody with DOTA followed by (64)Cu labeling. Thirty-six hours prior to PET and CT fusion imaging, 3MBq of (64)Cu-DOTA-anti-P-selectin mAb was intravenously injected into low density lipoprotein receptor-deficient Ldlr-/- mice. After a 180min PET scan, autoradiography and biodistribution of (64)Cu-DOTA-anti-P-selectin monoclonal antibody was examined using excised aortas. In Ldlr-/- mice fed with a high cholesterol diet for promotion of atherosclerotic plaque development, PET and CT fusion imaging revealed selective and prominent accumulation of the probe in the aortic root. Autoradiography of aortas that demonstrated probe uptake into atherosclerotic plaques was confirmed by Oil red O staining for lipid droplets. In Ldlr-/- mice fed with a chow diet to develop mild atherosclerotic plaques, probe accumulation was barely detectable in the aortic root on PET and CT fusion imaging. Probe biodistribution in aortas was 6.6-fold higher in Ldlr-/- mice fed with a high cholesterol diet than in those fed with a normal chow diet. (64)Cu-DOTA-anti-P-selectin mAb accumulated selectively in aortic atherosclerotic plaques and was detectable by PET and CT fusion imaging in Ldlr-/- mice., Conclusions: P-selectin is a candidate target molecule for early-phase detection by PET and CT fusion imaging of atherosclerotic plaques., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Aberrant O-glycosylation in the hinge region of serum IgA is suggested to be involved in the pathogenesis of IgA nephropathy (IgAN), because the hypoglycosylation including N-acetylneuraminic acid or galactose has been reported in the mucin-type O-glycan of the hinge portion (HP) of IgA deposited in the IgAN patients' kidney. These aberrant glycosylation has been assessed in most of the previous reports by qualitative but not quantitative methods. In the present study, the molar ratios of GalNAc or Gal to HP were analyzed for serum IgA from IgAN patients. The GalNAc/HP ratio was increased in the patients who achieved remission after a combination therapy of tonsillectomy and intravenous corticosteroid, suggesting any non-innate factors to affect the IgA O-glycosylation in IgAN that is thought to be inherently determined. Furthermore, the O-glycosylation status was different among three groups: IgAN patients in the pretreatment stage, IgAN patients in the remission stage after treatment and healthy controls. These results indicated that aberrant O-glycosylation of serum IgA in the IgAN patients would be inherently present and, to some extent, affected by therapeutic intervention. Finally, the quantitative change of O-glycan composition is a novel marker of therapeutic response of IgAN., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

To understand genetic programs controlling mammalian central nervous system (CNS) development, we have identified one transgene-inserted mutation, which showed embryonic lethality during neurulation. Determination of the transgene integration site and rescue experiments revealed that the Brd2 gene, whose products specifically bind acetylated histone H4 and can mediate transcription, was the cause of this mutation. Expression studies with specific markers demonstrated that cell cycle progression was accelerated and neuronal differentiation as well as cell cycle exit were impaired in Brd2-deficient neruoepithelial cells. To investigate whether Brd2 regulates neuronal differentiation through a E2F1 transcriptional factor, which directly binds Brd2 and controls genes expression for cell cycle progression and exit, we analyzed Brd2;E2F1 double mutant phenotypes and, consequently found that abnormalities in neuronal differentiation and cell cycle progression due to Brd2-deficiency were restored by removing the E2F1 gene. These findings suggest that Brd2 is required for cell cycle exit and neuronal differentiation of neuroepithelial cells through the E2F1 pathway during mouse CNS development., (Crown Copyright © 2012. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

B7-DC is a costimulatory molecule belonging to the B7 family. We previously found that treatment with anti-B7-DC mAb during the effector phase enhances asthma phenotypes in mice. We investigated the mechanisms of B7-DC induction and how B7-DC regulates asthma phenotypes. In allergen-challenged IFN-gamma-deficient mice, anti-B7-DC mAb failed to enhance the asthma phenotypes although the induction of B7-DC on dendritic cells of the mice was comparable with that on dendritic cells of wild-type mice. B7-DC on dendritic cells was up-regulated by IL-13 in vitro. The induction of B7-DC on dendritic cells after allergen challenge was attenuated by blockade of IL-13 in vivo. The asthma phenotypes were enhanced in B7-DC-deficient mice, more than in wild-type mice. The enhancement was concurrent with the down-regulation of IFN-gamma and up-regulation of IL-13. These results suggest that B7-DC induced by IL-13 works as a feedback regulator by up-regulating IFN-gamma production during the effector phase of allergic asthma.

It has been reported that ligands of the macrophage scavenger receptor (MSR) induce a range of cellular responses including urokinase-type plasminogen activator and the production of inflammatory cytokines. Although nitric oxide (NO) is an important regulatory molecule in physiological functions such as vascular homeostasis, neurotransmission, and host defense, the effect of MSR ligands on NO production from macrophages was unknown. Here, we demonstrate that the MSR ligand, fucoidan, but neither oxidized low-density lipoprotein, acetylated LDL, maleylated bovine serum albumin nor dextran sulfate induces activation of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) promoter or NO production in RAW264.7 cells. Furthermore, we investigated the molecular mechanism by which fucoidan induces iNOS promoter activation. Using different inhibitors, we showed that the stimulation of fucoidan was mediated by both the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and the NF-kappaB-dependent pathways. Although these two pathways were independent, heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) played a significant role in both pathways. Our previous study showed that HSP90 directly interacts with the cytoplasmic domain of MSR. These results provide the evidence that HSP90 bound to the cytoplasmic domain of MSR is implicated in MSR-mediated signal transduction. Moreover, fucoidan-induced NO production by peritoneal macrophages from MSR-knockout (MSR-/-) mice significantly decreases compared with those from wild-type mice. This is the first indication that MSR transduces the signal of fucoidan to iNOS gene expression.

In mouse pancreatic insulin-producing betaTC cells, oxidative stress due to H(2)O(2) causes tyrosine phosphorylation in various proteins. To identify proteins bearing phosphotyrosine under stress, the proteins were affinity purified using an anti-phosphotyrosine antibody-conjugated agarose column. A protein of 180kDa was identified as clathrin heavy chain (CHC) by electrophoresis and mass spectrometry. Immunoprecipitated CHC showed tyrosine phosphorylation upon H(2)O(2) treatment and the phosphorylation was suppressed by the Src kinase inhibitor, PP2. The phosphorylation status of CHC affected the intracellular localization of CHC and the clathrin-dependent endocytosis of transferrin under oxidative stress. In conclusion, CHC is a protein that is phosphorylated at tyrosine by H(2)O(2) and this phosphorylation status is implicated in the intracellular localization and functions of CHC under oxidative stress. The present study demonstrates that oxidative stress affects intracellular vesicular trafficking via the alteration of clathrin-dependent vesicular trafficking.

The macrophage scavenger receptor (MSR) is a trimeric membrane protein which binds to modified low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and has been indicated in the development of atherosclerosis. It has recently been demonstrated that the N-terminal cytoplasmic domain of MSR has an important role in the efficient internalization and cell-surface expression of the receptor. This study shows that the N-terminal cytoplasmic domain in bovine was constructed using a peptide architecture technique in which the peptide chain was bundled at their C-terminus to yield a trimeric form and that this did not form an ordered structure. Furthermore, the binding proteins to the cytoplasmic domain of MSR were determined for the first time using a peptide affinity column. Sequence analyses of the specific binding proteins in bovine revealed that heat shock protein 90 (HSP90), heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), leucine aminopeptidase (LAP), adenocylhomocysteinase, and glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) were included. GST-pull-down assay and immunoprecipitation analyses on HSP90, HSP70, and GAPDH showed that all these proteins could bind to the cytoplasmic domain of MSR in vitro and in vivo. These proteins interact with the cytoplasmic domain directly and may have an effect on the functions of MSR such as internalization, cell-surface expression, and signal transduction.

A mass screening program for congenital hypothyroidism has markedly improved prognosis of children with congenital hypothyroidism and also revealed several cases with unknown pathogenesis. We here report two independent Japanese multigeneration families with multinodular goiter (MNG) with euthyroidism and with high TSH. The propositi, 3- and 8-year-old girls in two families, were found during a mass screening. An autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance was suggested in both families. The clinical examinations suggested impaired hormonogenesis but discarded known defects in iodine transport, organification, deficiency of hydrogen peroxide, and thyroid peroxidase. Linkage analysis of the two families including 10 members each using 343 microsatellite markers mapped a single locus independently at D3S1618 (theta = 0) on 3q26.1-q26.3 with a two-point LOD score 3.62 (1.81 for each family) and multipoint LOD score of 3.61 (1.80 for each family). Haplotype inspection delimited an 18-cM interval between D3S1565 and D3S3686., (Copyright 2001 Academic Press.)

Hartnup disorder is an autosomal recessive phenotype involving a transporter for monoamino-monocarboxylic acids. Genetic analysis of the mouse model mapped its locus to human chromosome 11q13 (8). We report here the results of linkage analysis in two Japanese first cousin-marriage families. In the first family, the proband had Hartnup disorder and his deceased older brother was reported to have had typical Hartnup symptoms. The younger brother of the proband was shown to have decreased tryptophan absorption by oral loading test. In the second family, a 6-year-old girl, the proband, had specific hyperaminoaciduria. DNA was isolated from either blood samples or umbilical cord stumps. Genome-wide screening by homozygosity mapping was conducted. Taking into account that the older brother was affected and the younger brother was a carrier in the first family, homozygosity mapping (LOD score = 3.55) and GENEHUNTER (LOD score = 3.28) locates the locus of the Hartnup disorder on 5p15., (Copyright 2001 Academic Press.)

Rho-associated kinase (Rho-kinase), the putative target of the small GTP-binding protein Rho, phosphorylated neurofilament protein (NF-L) in vitro with approximately 1 mole phosphate per mole NF-L. Phosphorylated NF-L no longer formed the 10 nm filaments, and NF-L filaments were phosphorylated with a result of nearly complete disassembly. NF-L phosphorylated by Rho-kinase was digested with trypsin, and digested fragments were assigned by MALDI/TOF. Unique phosphorylation sites were found at Ser-26 and Ser-57 in the head domain of NF-L. These results indicate that domain- and site-specific phosphorylation by Rho-kinase may regulate the assembly-disassembly of NF-L filaments.

Human decorin was expressed in Spodoptera frugiperda 21 (Sf21) insect cells. A full-length cDNA encoding preprodecorin of 359 amino acids from a human fibroblast library was cloned into baculovirus transfer vector pVL1392, and transfected into Sf21 insect cells. The infected cells secreted the mature decorin into the culture medium. The secreted decorin lacked glycosaminoglycan but was N-glycosylated, whereas the unmodified decorin was present in the cell lysates, suggesting that N-glycosylation is required for decorin secretion from Sf21 cells. The recombinant decorin was then efficiently purified from the conditioned medium by two chromatographic procedures, hydroxyapatite Sepharose and Con A-Agarose, under nondenaturing conditions. The purified decorin was more potent, as evaluated by the inhibition of collagen fibrillogenesis, than that obtained from bovine tissues under denaturing conditions. The final yield of recombinant decorin was 1.5 mg in 200 ml culture medium of 3 x 10(8) cells. The biologically active decorin produced in Sf21 cells is a potentially useful probe for investigating the molecular interactions of this protein with other extracellular matrix proteins and may also have therapeutic applications.

The effects of bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) on osteoblastic differentiation of bone marrow stromal cells were investigated using two bone marrow stromal cell lines, ST2 and MC3T3-G2/PA6 (PA6). BMP-2 stimulated ALP activity and induced parathyroid hormone (PTH)-dependent production of cAMP in both ST2 and PA6 cells, but these effects were more apparent in ST2 cells than in PA6 cells. BMP-2 induced the production of osteocalcin in ST2 cells, but not in PA6 cells. BMP-4 and BMP-6 stimulated ALP activity in ST2 cells, but the effect of BMP-6 was less marked than that of BMP-2 and BMP-4. BMP-4 induced PTH-dependent cAMP production of cAMP in ST2 cells, but BMP-6 did not. When ST2 cells were transplanted into the peritoneal cavities of athymic mice with BMP-2 in diffusion chambers, these cells generated mineralized bone in the chambers. These results indicate that BMPs induce the differentiation of bone marrow stromal cells into osteoblasts. However, the effects differ among the BMPs and among the types of cell exposed to these proteins.

The regulation of fatty acid synthase (FAS) expression by sterols in a cultured human hepatoblastoma cell line, Hep G2, was studied. When cells were treated with compactin in a medium containing lipoprotein deficient serum, FAS mRNA level increased 1.6-fold. A squalene synthase inhibitor, TAN1607A, decreased both free and esterified cholesterol contents in Hep G2 cells and increased mRNA levels for FAS, HMG-CoA reductase, squalene synthase and LDL receptor. However, for the increment of FAS mRNA, a 10-fold higher concentration of this inhibitor was needed. These results demonstrate that the concentration of cellular cholesterol which regulates FAS expression is necessarily lower than the levels which regulate other sterol sensitive genes. FAS mRNA was also increased by an inhibitor of SREBP degradation as well as chenodeoxycholic acid. These results indicate that FAS mRNA expression is regulated by cholesterol and is mediated through SREBPs. The implications of the different modes of sterol regulation of FAS and LDL receptor expression are discussed.

The structure of the defective transferrin in carbohydrate-deficient glycoprotein syndrome was characterized. Structurally abnormal sugar chains were not found in reversed phase chromatograms of pyridylaminated derivatives from the transferrin of two patients in different families. Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry of the whole transferrin molecules revealed an abnormal species that was smaller than normal tetrasialotransferrin by 2,200 daltons, just the size of the disialylated biantennary sugar chain. These data indicated that the disialotransferrin specifically found in this syndrome is missing either of two N-linked sugar chains, suggesting a metabolic error in the early steps of protein glycosylation.

The total sequence data for mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) revealed distinct clustering of point mutations (pms) in mtDNA among one patient with myoclonus epilepsy with ragged-red fibers (MERRF), two patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), two patients with mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes (MELAS), and one patient with fatal infantile cardiomyopathy (FICM). Among 33 to 62 pms found in each patients, sequentially diverged five clusters of pms were detected and designated as C-1 to C-5. C-1, consisted of fourteen pms, existed in the MERRF patient, C-1 and C-2 (nine pms) in one PD patient, C-1 to C-3 (seven pms) in another PD patient, C-1 to C-4 (one pm) in one MELAS patient and C-1 to C-5 (three pms) in another MELAS patient and the FICM patient. From these clustering of pms, a phylogenetic tree of mitochondrial encephalomyopathies (ME) was constructed. This tree clearly indicated that the ME and PD patients are members of the same gene family, and the MELAS and FICM patients are each others' closest relative. Each patient's unique pms (14 to 28 pms) were detected and, from their characteristic features, the types of the mutations specific for the disease were classified as mit- + syn- for MERRF, mit- + p- for PD, and syn- + mit- for MELAS. An inverse relation was found between the total number of pms and life span of the MELAS and FICM patients.

The total sequences of mitochondrial DNA were determined in two patients with juvenile-onset mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes (MELAS) due to Complex I deficiency. Patients 1 and 2 had three and two unique point mutations, respectively, causing replacement of phylogenically conserved amino acids. A transition from G to A was found at nucleotide position 5601 in the alanine tRNA gene of Patient 2, and a transition from A to G was found at 3243 in the leucine (UUR) tRNA gene of both patients. The latter mutation located at the phylogenically conserved 5' end of the dihydrouridine loop of the tRNA molecule, and was present in two patients with adult-onset MELAS and absent in controls. These results indicate that a mass of mtDNA mutations including the A-to-G transition in the tRNA(Leu) gene is a genetic cause of MELAS.

Until this report, there have been no detailed analyses of the mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) loci in the mammary tumor prone strain SHN. Using a probe, which hybridizes to the env sequence of MMTV, Southern blotting of genomic DNA from the brain after digestion with EcoRI revealed 5 endogenous proviruses: Mtv-1 (4.5kb), Mtv-2 (11 kb), Mtv-8 (6.7kb), Mtv-17 (8.3kb) and a newly-found 6.5-kb fragment. F1-hybrid mice (C3H/He female x SHN male) also possessed the 6.5-kb fragment. Thus, we conclude that the 6.5-kb fragment is unique to SHN mice. Genomic DNA from mammary tumors of SHN mice showed MMTV insertions, suggesting that activation of an oncogene(s) occurred in this strain.

The C-terminal alpha-amide formation of the peptides is one of the most important events of prohormone processing. We have recently isolated an alpha-amidating enzyme, AE-I, from Xenopus laevis skin, which is the only enzyme ever purified to homogeneity. In this study, we report cloning and sequence of cDNA encoding AE-I. Our results indicate that enzyme AE-I is initially synthesized as a precursor with 400 amino acid residues, which is further processed to the mature enzyme consisting of 344 residues. Preliminary expression in E. coli of the cDNA corresponding to AE-I was found to produce an enzyme with appreciable alpha-amidating activity.

A cDNA clone encoding a precursor of a peptide C-terminal alpha-amidating enzyme (AE-I) from Xenopus laevis skin was recently isolated and sequenced in our laboratory. In this study, by using the restriction fragment of this clone as a hybridization probe, we have identified the cDNA encoding another new peptide C-terminal alpha-amidating enzyme (tentatively named AE-II) distinct from AE-I. The cDNA encodes a polypeptide of 875 amino acid residues, which contains a region extensively homologous to AE-I precursor at N-terminus. The encoded protein characteristically has a putative membrane-spanning domain near C-terminus. Our results indicate that C-terminal alpha-amide formation of peptides in Xenopus skin is regulated by at least two distinct alpha-amidating enzymes.

NAD (P) H-dependent reduction of nicotinamide N-oxide was investigated with rabbit liver preparations. Microsomes, microsomal NADPH-cytochrome c reductase or cytosolic aldehyde oxidase alone exhibited no nicotinamide N-oxide reductase activity in the presence of NADPH or NADH. However, when the microsomal preparations were combined with the cytosolic enzyme, a significant N-oxide reductase activity was observed in the presence of the reduced pyridine nucleotide. The activity was enhanced by FAD or methyl viologen. Cytosol alone supplemented with NADPH or NADH exhibited only a slight, but when combined with microsomes, a significant N-oxide reductase activity. Based on these facts, we propose a new electron transfer system consisting of NADPH-cytochrome c reductase and aldehyde oxidase, which exhibits nicotinamide N-oxide reductase activity in the presence of the reduced pyridine nucleotide.