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Previous studies suggest a negative relationship between hepatic oxidative stress and productivity in beef cattle. Uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) is involved in the disappearance of reactive oxygen species, suggesting the defensive role of UCP2 against oxidative stress. The present study examined the relationship between oxidative stress and expression levels of UCP2/Ucp2 in cultured human and mouse liver-derived cells. We also explored factors regulating bovine Ucp2 transcription. As oxidative stress inducers, hydrogen peroxide, ethanol, and cumene hydroperoxide (CmHP) were used. Expression levels of hemoxygenase 1 (HMOX1), a representative gene induced by oxidative stress, were not affected by any oxidative stress inducers in HepG2 human liver-derived cells. The levels of UCP2 mRNA were also unaffected by the oxidative stress inducers. Treatment with CmHP increased expression of Hmox1 in Hepa1-6 mouse liver-derived cells, but Ucp2 expression was not changed. Stimulus screening for regulator of transcription (SSRT) revealed that expression of p50 or p65, transcription factors conferring response to oxidative stress, did not stimulate bovine Ucp2 transcrition in HepG2 cells. SSRT also showed 11 molecules that induced Ucp2 transcription more than 4-fold; among them, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-related transcription factors such as XBP1, c-JUN, JUNB, and C/EBPβ were identified. However, treatment with ER stress inducers did not increase Ucp2 expression in HepG2 and Hepa1-6 cells. The present results suggest that 1) neither oxidative stress nor ER stress induces Ucp2 expression in liver-derived cells, and 2) Ucp2 transcription is stimulated by several transcription factors.

Background Expression of hepcidin, a hormone produced by hepatocytes which negatively regulates the circulating iron levels, is known to be positively regulated by BMP6, a member of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β family. Previous studies have shown that iron status is sensed by sinusoidal endothelial cells of hepatic lamina, leading to the modulation of BMP6 expression. Methods ISOS-1, HUVEC, F-2, and SK-HEP1 endothelial cells were treated with either iron or 2,2′-dipyridyl (2DP), a cell-permeable iron-chelator, and expression level of Bmp6 was examined. To identify factors affecting Bmp6 transcription, stimulus screening for regulator of transcription (SSRT) was developed. Results Treatment with iron slightly increased the expression levels of Bmp6, while 2DP unexpectedly increased Bmp6 expression in a dose-dependent manner. 2DP-induced Bmp6 expression was resistant to co-treatment with iron. 2DP-induced Bmp6 expression was also detected in HUVEC, F-2 cells, and SK-HEP1 cells. Luciferase-based reporter assays indicated that forced expression of JunB increased the transcription of Bmp6. 2DP induced phosphorylation of JunB; co-treatment with SP600125 blocked the 2DP-induced Bmp6 expression partially. JunB-induced Bmp6 transcription was not affected by mutations of putative JunB-responsive elements. Some endoplasmic reticulum stress inducers increased the expression of Bmp6. SSRT revealed pathways regulating Bmp6 transcription positively and negatively. Hepa1–6 liver cells and C2C12 myogenic cells were prone to 2DP induced Bmp6 expression. Conclusions The present study reveals non‑iron-regulated Bmp6 expression in endothelial cells. General significance Regulatory expression of Bmp6 may be important as a key step for fine tuning of BMP activity.

Recently, biogas detection has been received much attention in order to identify the specific disease such as lung cancer. In this work, we focus on a molecular sieve effect of a zeolite to detect biogases in real time. Zeolite nanoparticles of a ZSM-5 type were chosen as a molecular screening of an acetone gas. We propose a new gas sensing method based on a surface plasmon resonance using a metal-zeolite hybrid structure.

The first synthesis of (-)-pericosine E (6), a metabolite of the Periconia byssoides OUPS-N133 isolated originally from the sea hare Aplysia kurodai, has been achieved. Efficient and regioselective synthetic procedures for the synthesis of key intermediates, anti- and syn-epoxides 9 and 10, were developed using an anti-epoxidation of diene 12 with TFDO and a bromohydrination of 12 with NBS in CH(3)CN/H(2)O (2:3), respectively. In addition, comparison of the specific optical rotations between synthetic 6 and natural 6 elucidated that the naturally preferred enantiomer of pericosine E had the same absolute configuration as (-)-6 synthesized from chlorohydrin (-)-8 and anti-epoxide (+)-9.

Identification of alleles that improve crop production and lead to higher-yielding varieties are needed for food security. Here we show that the quantitative trait locus WFP (WEALTHY FARMER'S PANICLE) encodes OsSPL14 (SQUAMOSA PROMOTER BINDING PROTEIN-LIKE 14, also known as IPA1). Higher expression of OsSPL14 in the reproductive stage promotes panicle branching and higher grain yield in rice. OsSPL14 controls shoot branching in the vegetative stage and is affected by microRNA excision. We also demonstrate the feasibility of using the OsSLP14(WFP) allele to increase rice crop yield. Introduction of the high-yielding OsSPL14(WFP) allele into the standard rice variety Nipponbare resulted in increased rice production.

Controlling the grain number in rice panicles is essential for increasing the yield potential. Because this trait depends on some complicated panicle branching structures, we prepared a newly developed software, PASTAR (PAnicle STructure Analyzer for Rice) and PASTA Viewer, to automatically extract values of the length and number of various branches and grain number from scanned photographic images of panicles. Furthermore, PASTA Viewer could draw panicle branching patterns based on actually measured values. Using this image analyzing method, we analyzed some extra numerous grain rice cultivars and performed quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis for 18 panicle traits in the F2 segregated population derived from a cross between a japonica rice cultivar, Koshihikari, and an extra numerous grain cultivar, NP-6, classified as a “New Plant Type”. The results revealed that QTLs enhanced by NP-6 alleles for some panicle traits were concentrated on a few regions of chromosomes 1, 6 and 8, although some single QTLs were also detected in various chromosomal regions. This suggests that the NP-6 panicle and extra numerous grain traits are predominantly controlled by a few gene loci acting pleiotropically, along with some partially effective panicle structure genes.

The first synthesis of (−)-pericosine E (6), a metabolite of the Periconia byssoides OUPS-N133 isolated originally from the sea hare Aplysia kurodai, has been achieved. Efficient and regioselective synthetic procedures for the synthesis of key intermediates, anti- and syn-epoxides 9 and 10, were developed using an anti-epoxidation of diene 12 with TFDO and a bromohydrination of 12 with NBS in CH3CN/H2O (2:3), respectively. In addition, comparison of the specific optical rotations between synthetic 6 and natural 6 elucidated that the naturally preferred enantiomer of pericosine E had the same absolute configuration as (−)-6 synthesized from chlorohydrin (−)-8 and anti-epoxide (+)-9.

Breeding of high-yielding rice is crucial for meeting the food demand of the increasing world population. New technologies have facilitated identification of genes involved in quantitative traits, and many genes underpinning quantitative trait loci involved in rice crop yield have been isolated. Meanwhile, various kinds of mutants have been intensively studied, leading to characterization of many genes related to yield traits. A combination of quantitative trait locus analysis and studies of such mutants has made it possible to compile a list of genes available for breeding rice with higher yield.

The use of fertilizer results in tall rice plants that are susceptible to lodging and results in reduced plant yields. In this study, using chromosome segment substitution lines, we identified an effective quantitative trait loci (QTL) for culm strength, which was designated STRONG CULM2 (SCM2). Positional cloning of the gene revealed that SCM2 was identical to ABERRANT PANICLE ORGANIZATION1 (APO1), a gene previously reported to control panicle structure. A near-isogenic line carrying SCM2 showed enhanced culm strength and increased spikelet number because of the pleiotropic effects of the gene. Although SCM2 is a gain-of-function mutant of APO1, it does not have the negative effects reported for APO1 overexpression mutants, such as decreased panicle number and abnormal spikelet morphology. The identification of lodging-resistance genes by QTL analysis combined with positional cloning is a useful approach for improving lodging resistance and overall productivity in rice., Much effort has been devoted to the generation of rice plants with short stature to improve grain yield and increased resistance to lodging. Through quantitative trait analysis, these authors identify a gene—STRONG CULM2—that confers increased grain yield, culm strength and spikelet number in rice.