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Temperate plants enhance their freezing tolerance before winter to survive in freezing environment. Plants use the cytosolic transient Ca2+ concentration change as a kind of signal to regulate gene expression in cold acclimation process. We developed the experimental system for observation of Ca2+ signal during cooling, and observed Ca2+ signal to understand “how plants sense cold and seasonal changes.” We found several characteristics of Ca2+ signal and cold sensing. For example, plants adjust the Ca2+ signal to the ambient temperature to response small temperature decrease, and then small temperature fluctuation induces the cold-inducive transcription factor DREB1/ CBFs expression via Ca2+ signals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND：Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have been widely used for the management of pain and inflammation. However, little remains known about the effects of NSAIDs on synovitis of the human temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitor are one of main NSAIDs. This study investigate the effects of COX inhibitor on fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) derived from the human TMJ. METHODS：Human synovial tissue was obtained from a patient with internal derangement who underwent arthroscopy of the TMJ. FLSs were prepared from the tissues using the outgrowth method. A COX inhibitor (indometacin or celecoxib) was added to the IL-1β stimulating cells in culture. Gene expression profiling was performed using microarray analysis. RESULTS：The expressions of IL-23A, IL-11, and IL-33, which were up-regulated in FLSs stimulated by IL-1xxxwere down-regulated in the cells treated by COX inhibitors. CONCLUSION：COX inhibitors such as indomethacin and celecoxib reduce the gene expression of inflammatory cytokines induced by IL-1β Our results suggest that these COX inhibitors are useful for treating synovitis in TMJ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The term “RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq)” often means the sequencing of cDNA generated from RNA as well as the direct sequencing of RNA. RNA-Seq has become well known as next generation sequencers emerge, particularly because their high throughput nature of data collection makes RNA-Seq a powerful tool for genome-wide gene expression analysis. In this review, I introduce, mainly from a technical point of view, a basic scheme of RNA sequencing, its development, and its application in several interesting studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy-conversion systems mediated by bacterial metabolism have recently attracted much attention, and therefore, demands for tuning of bacterial metabolism are increasing. It is widely recognized that intracellular redox atmosphere is one of the important factors influencing on bacterial metabolism. Although intracellular redox atmosphere had been conventionally tuned by dissolved oxygen concentration or by appropriate selection of an electron acceptor for respiration, we are developing novel method based on electrochemical technique for on-line (dynamic) tuning. Here we review our recent studies on electrochemical tuning of intracellular redox environment toward the control of bacterial metabolic pathway and activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SCG is a 6-branched 1,3-β-D-glucan, and is a major cell wall structural component in fungi. The leukocytes from DBA/1 and DBA/2 mice are highly sensitive to SCG, producing cytokines, such as GM-CSF, IFN-γ nd TNF-α. GM-CSF plays a key biological role in this activity. We analyzed factors induced by SCG in splenocytes from DBA/2 mice by DNA microarray analysis on the condition of high sensitivity to β-glucan. Splenocytes were stimulated with SCG at 0, 24 or 30 h, and then supernatant was collected at 48 h to measure cytokines. SCG stimulated splenocytes to produce GM-CSF, IFN-γ and TNF-αin all the supernatants of 0, 24, and 30h. The amount of IFN-γ production thus stimulated at 24 h was comparable to that at 0 h. Cytokine induction was observed at 4 h after SCG-stimulation even in the splenocytes pre-cultured for 36 h. The gene expression induced by SCG was analyzed with DNA microarray in the splenocytes in this condition. SCG up-regulated the expression of genes including Edn1 and Ptgs2 as well as genes associated with cytokine and chemokine. PGE2 was detected in the medium of splenocytes stimulated with SCG. Taken together, these results indicated that splenocytes enhanced the sensitivity to SCG in earlier culture periods, and then responded to SCG to induce not only the cytokines but also various other factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molecular biological approaches have recently begun to be applied to molecular genetics studies of dermatophytes. High-throughput gene analysis methodologies, such as EST sequencing, differential cDNA screening, and cDNA based microarray analysis have been used to obtain information on many dermatophyte genes and their expression profiles under different experimental conditions. In addition, whole genome sequencing projects are underway for several important dermatophytes, such as Trichophyton rubrum and Microsporum canis. These studies will provide large amounts of valuable information for elucidating the molecular basis of host invasion by dermatophytes and their virulence. Targeted gene disruption by homologous recombination is one of the most common approaches for determining the functions and roles of numerous genes isolated from pathogenic fungi. However, the difficulty genetic manipulation due to low transformation frequency of dermatophytes may limit the successful production of null mutants by targeted gene disruption via holologous recombination. To overcome these problems, our group has developed useful genetic manipulation systems for dermatophytes using the clinically important dermatophyte, T. mentagrophytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the major goals in evolutionary developmental biology is to elucidate the relationship between gene regulatory networks and the diverse morphologies. Segmentation in arthropod embryogenesis represents a well-known example of body plan diversity. Striped patterns of gene expression that lead to the future body segments appear simultaneously or sequentially, respectively. To reveal the basic differences in the network structure, we have numerically evolved hundreds of gene regulatory networks. By analyzing the topologies of the generated networks, we show that the characteristics of striped pattern are determined by Feed-Forward Loops (FFLs) and negative Feed-Back Loops (nFBLs). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]