Light activates a 46-kDa MAP kinase-like protein kinase in soybean cell culture.

Light induced rapid and transient activation of a 46-kDa protein kinase in soybean photomixotrophic cell culture. This kinase was designated as LAP kinase (light signal-activated protein kinase). Activation of LAP kinase in response to light was associated with tyrosine phosphorylation of the kinase, and treatment of the kinase with protein tyrosine phosphatase abolished its activity. The LAP kinase efficiently phosphorylated myelin basic protein and histone, but did not phosphorylate casein. Phospho-amino acid analysis indicated that the LAP kinase was a serine/threonine protein kinase. These results indicated that the LAP kinase is related to the MAP kinase family of protein kinases.

Molecular cloning and characterization of a cDNA and a gene for subtilisin-like serine proteases from rice (Oryza sativa L.) and Arabidopsis thaliana.

The complete nucleotide sequences of a cDNA (RSP1) that encodes a subtilisin-like serine protease (subtilase) of rice (Oryza sativa L.) and a gene (ASP48) for Arabidopsis subtilase were analyzed. The RSPI cDNA and ASP48 DNA encoded 736- and 757-residue pre-pro-polypeptides including a signal peptide with molecular masses of 78,668 Da and 79,414 Da, respectively. RSP1 is the first known serine protease in rice, and ASP48 is a gene for ara12 cDNA. Sequence comparison and phylogenetic analysis showed that RSP1 is distantly related to all other plant subtilases and ASP48 is closely related to a tomato subtilase, SBT1. The ASP48 gene was found to lack introns. The Arabidopsis subtilase gene appears to consist of a small gene family. The RSP1 was found to be expressed in seed and shoots of seedlings while ASP48 transcripts was found to be accumulated in immature silique and flowers, indicating that both RSP1 and ASP48 are organ-specific and may be involved in the specific proteolytic events that occur during organ development.

Type II Monteggia lesion with fracture-separation of the distal physis of the radius.

We report a rare case of a type II Monteggia lesion with fracture-separation of the distal physis of the radius in a 12-year-old boy and discuss the mechanism of this injury.

Does the sequence of onset of rigor mortis depend on the proportion of muscle fibre types and on intra-muscular glycogen content?

We examined the postmortem changes in the levels of ATP, glycogen and lactic acid in two masticatory muscles and three leg muscles of rats. The proportion of fibre types of the muscles was determined with NIH image software. The ATP levels in the white muscles did not decrease up to 1 h after death, and the ATP levels 1 and 2 h after death in the white muscles were higher than those in the red muscles with a single exception. The glycogen level at death and 1 h after death and the lactic acid level 1 h after death in masticatory muscles were lower than in the leg muscles. It is possible that the differences in the proportion of muscle fibre types and in glycogen level in muscles influences the postmortem change in ATP and lactic acid, which would accelerate or retard rigor mortis of the muscles.

[Biomechanical analysis of scoliosis and back muscles using CT evaluation and the finite element method].

The CT observation of back muscles of an idiopathic scoliosis patient showed increased muscle volume and high CT value on the convex side. Following these muscles by digitizer showed that convex muscle volume increased as the vertebra shifted to convexity. These back muscles were suggested to be transversospinalis muscles. Biomechanical analysis using finite element method (FEM) was done to further investigate this increasing volume of back muscles. A Risser experiment using FEM revealed that initial lordosis configuration model only produces rotation to the convex side by unilateral loading. We, therefore, made the model adding posterior element, regarding contraction of M. transversospinalis. In a normal case, the upper vertebra is rotated over the lower towards the side opposite the muscle contraction. The scoliosis model, however, showed rotation towards the side of muscle contraction. M. transversospinalis can be considered as the agent of this rotation force.

Cell regeneration and sustained division of protoplasts from cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.).

Protoplasts were isolated from 12 day old subcultured phytohormone habituated callus tissue of Gossypium hirsutum L. (0.5% cellulysin-Calbiochem, 0.6% macerase-Calbiochem, 0.7M mannitol, and pH 5.0). After separation and purification (0.35M sucrose floatation medium), the protoplasts were cultured (K3 media of Kao et al., 1974 with 0.9 µM BAP, 5 µM IAA and 0.35M sucrose) in both liquid and solid medium at a density of 5×10(5) protoplasts/ml. Four weeks after isolation, cell regeneration and callus formation was observed.

Agenesis of bilateral iliac bone. A case report.

In a boy one year eight months of age, absence of the entire ilium was associated with spinal and rib anomalies. The ischium and pubis were present. Arthrograms of the hip joint revealed a normal configuration of the femoral head with the joint capsule attached proximally to the ischium and pubis.