De novo CNV analysis implicates specific abnormalities of postsynaptic signalling complexes in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia.

A small number of rare, recurrent genomic copy number variants (CNVs) are known to substantially increase susceptibility to schizophrenia. As a consequence of the low fecundity in people with schizophrenia and other neurodevelopmental phenotypes to which these CNVs contribute, CNVs with large effects on risk are likely to be rapidly removed from the population by natural selection. Accordingly, such CNVs must frequently occur as recurrent de novo mutations. In a sample of 662 schizophrenia proband-parent trios, we found that rare de novo CNV mutations were significantly more frequent in cases (5.1% all cases, 5.5% family history negative) compared with 2.2% among 2623 controls, confirming the involvement of de novo CNVs in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. Eight de novo CNVs occurred at four known schizophrenia loci (3q29, 15q11.2, 15q13.3 and 16p11.2). De novo CNVs of known pathogenic significance in other genomic disorders were also observed, including deletion at the TAR (thrombocytopenia absent radius) region on 1q21.1 and duplication at the WBS (Williams-Beuren syndrome) region at 7q11.23. Multiple de novos spanned genes encoding members of the DLG (discs large) family of membrane-associated guanylate kinases (MAGUKs) that are components of the postsynaptic density (PSD). Two de novos also affected EHMT1, a histone methyl transferase known to directly regulate DLG family members. Using a systems biology approach and merging novel CNV and proteomics data sets, systematic analysis of synaptic protein complexes showed that, compared with control CNVs, case de novos were significantly enriched for the PSD proteome (P=1.72 × 10⁻6. This was largely explained by enrichment for members of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) (P=4.24 × 10⁻6) and neuronal activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein (ARC) (P=3.78 × 10⁻8) postsynaptic signalling complexes. In an analysis of 18 492 subjects (7907 cases and 10 585 controls), case CNVs were enriched for members of the NMDAR complex (P=0.0015) but not ARC (P=0.14). Our data indicate that defects in NMDAR postsynaptic signalling and, possibly, ARC complexes, which are known to be important in synaptic plasticity and cognition, play a significant role in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia.

Participation of elderly patients in registration trials for oncology drug applications in Japan.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to evaluate the age-based enrollment of cancer patients into registration trials of new drug applications or expanding the indications for use. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The data from 234 registration trials in Japan and overseas of 43 drugs, which were reviewed by the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency and approved by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in Japan between 1999 and 2008, were retrospectively analyzed according to the age distribution of enrolled patients. The age distribution of the Japanese cancer population was derived from Cancer Statistics in Japan 2003 and Annual Report on Health, Labour and Welfare 2003-2004. RESULTS: In the Japanese cancer population, the estimated median age of cancer patients is 70 years, and 66% of cancer patients are aged 65 years or more. The estimated median age of cancer patients in all registration trials conducted in Japan was 59 years, whereas it was 55 years in the registration trials conducted overseas. The proportion of patients aged 65 years or more enrolled in registration trials conducted in Japan was 35%; this number was 28% in registration trials conducted overseas. CONCLUSION: Elderly patients are underrepresented in oncology registration trials in Japan.

Dlgap1 knockout mice exhibit alterations of the postsynaptic density and selective reductions in sociability.

The scaffold protein DLGAP1 is localized at the post-synaptic density (PSD) of glutamatergic neurons and is a component of supramolecular protein complexes organized by PSD95. Gain-of-function variants of DLGAP1 have been associated with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), while haploinsufficient variants have been linked to autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and schizophrenia in human genetic studies. We tested male and female Dlgap1 wild type (WT), heterozygous (HT), and knockout (KO) mice in a battery of behavioral tests: open field, dig, splash, prepulse inhibition, forced swim, nest building, social approach, and sucrose preference. We also used biochemical approaches to examine the role of DLGAP1 in the organization of PSD protein complexes. Dlgap1 KO mice were most notable for disruption of protein interactions in the PSD, and deficits in sociability. Other behavioral measures were largely unaffected. Our data suggest that Dlgap1 knockout leads to PSD disruption and reduced sociability, consistent with reports of DLGAP1 haploinsufficient variants in schizophrenia and ASD.

Standardized experiments in mutant mice reveal behavioural similarity on 129S5 and C57BL/6J backgrounds.

Behavioural analysis of mice carrying engineered mutations is widely used to identify roles of specific genes in components of the mammalian behavioural repertoire. The reproducibility and robustness of phenotypic measures has become a concern that undermines the use of mouse genetic models for translational studies. Contributing factors include low individual study power, non-standardized behavioural testing, failure to address confounds and differences in genetic background of mutant mice. We have examined the importance of these factors using a statistically robust approach applied to behavioural data obtained from three mouse mutations on 129S5 and C57BL/6J backgrounds generated in a standardized battery of five behavioural assays. The largest confounding effect was sampling variation, which partially masked the genetic background effect. Our observations suggest that strong interaction of mutation with genetic background in mice in innate and learned behaviours is not necessarily to be expected. We found composite measures of innate and learned behaviour were similarly impacted by mutations across backgrounds. We determined that, for frequently used group sizes, a single retest of a significant result conforming to the commonly used P < 0.05 threshold results in a reproducibility of 60% between identical experiments. Reproducibility was reduced in the presence of strain differences. We also identified a P-value threshold that maximized reproducibility of mutant phenotypes across strains. This study illustrates the value of standardized approaches for quantitative assessment of behavioural phenotypes and highlights approaches that may improve the translational value of mouse behavioural studies.

Homozygous mutation of focal adhesion kinase in embryonic stem cell derived neurons: normal electrophysiological and morphological properties in vitro.

BACKGROUND: Genetically manipulated embryonic stem (ES) cell derived neurons (ESNs) provide a powerful system with which to study the consequences of gene manipulation in mature, synaptically connected neurons in vitro. Here we report a study of focal adhesion kinase (FAK), which has been implicated in synapse formation and regulation of ion channels, using the ESN system to circumvent the embryonic lethality of homozygous FAK mutant mice. RESULTS: Mouse ES cells carrying homozygous null mutations (FAK-/-) were generated and differentiated in vitro into neurons. FAK-/- ESNs extended axons and dendrites and formed morphologically and electrophysiologically intact synapses. A detailed study of NMDA receptor gated currents and voltage sensitive calcium currents revealed no difference in their magnitude, or modulation by tyrosine kinases. CONCLUSION: FAK does not have an obligatory role in neuronal differentiation, synapse formation or the expression of NMDA receptor or voltage-gated calcium currents under the conditions used in this study. The use of genetically modified ESNs has great potential for rapidly and effectively examining the consequences of neuronal gene manipulation and is complementary to mouse studies.

Feasibility of in vivo intravascular ultrasound tissue characterization in the detection of early vascular transplant rejection.

BACKGROUND: Unprocessed ultrasound radiofrequency (RF) signal analysis has been shown to distinguish different tissue structures more reliably than gray-scale interpretation of conventional ultrasound images. METHODS AND RESULTS: The objective of this study was to test the feasibility of in vivo intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) RF signal analysis in an animal model of allograft rejection. Six cynomolgus monkeys underwent transplantation of 3-cm aortic allograft segments distal to the renal arteries from immunologically mismatched donors. IVUS imaging with a 30-MHz system was performed 84 to 105 days after the operation. RF signals were acquired from cross sections of the recipient and the allograft aortas in real time with a digitizer at 500 MHz with 8-bit resolution. Sixty-five cross sections and 68 regions of interest (31 in host aorta and 37 in allograft) were analyzed in the adventitial layer with a total number of 8568 vectors processed. For each region of interest, a weighted-average attenuation was calculated on the basis of the attenuation and length for each individual vector. Histological examination was performed at every cross section imaged by IVUS. When the gray-scale images of conventional IVUS scored by an independent observer were compared, no distinction between adventitia of the native aorta and allograft was possible. Analysis of the average RF backscatter power also showed no significant difference (70.32+/-3.55 versus 70.72+/-3.38 dB). However, the average attenuation of allografts was significantly lower than that of the host aortas (2.64+/-1.38 versus 4.02+/-1.16 dB/mm, P<0.001). Histology demonstrated a marked adventitial inflammatory response in all allografts, with no inflammation observed in the host aortas. CONCLUSIONS: In vivo IVUS tissue characterization can be performed during routine imaging. In this model of transplant vasculopathy, RF attenuation measurements were more sensitive than visual or quantitative gray-scale analysis.

Increased production of a knotted form of plasmid pBR322 DNA in Escherichia coli DNA topoisomerase mutants.

Plasmid pBR322 prepared from Escherichia coli strains carrying deletion of the DNA topoisomerase I gene (delta topA) with a compensatory mutation of the DNA gyrase gene (gyrA or gyrB) and from their TopA+ transductants was analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis followed by electron microscopy, and compared with that from isogenic wild-type strains. It was found that about 1% of the plasmid DNA molecules was a knotted species in the topA+ gyr+ strains W3110 and DM4100, while strains DM750 (delta topA gyrA224), DM800 (delta topA gyrB225), SD275 (topA+ gyrA224) and SD108 (topA+ gyrB225) produced six to ten times as much knotted DNA as the topA+ gyr+ controls. The results suggest that the increased production of knotted pBR322 DNA is closely related to mutations of the gyrase genes.

Structure of deoxyhaemoglobin of the antarctic fish Pagothenia bernacchii with an analysis of the structural basis of the root effect by comparison of the liganded and unliganded haemoglobin structures.

We have determined the structure of deoxyhaemoglobin from the antarctic fish Pagothenia bernacchii at pH 6.2 to a resolution of 2.2 A with X-ray data from a twinned crystal deconvoluted so as to approximate data from a single crystal. The R-factor between the (twinned) model and the observed data is 16% for reflections used in refinement and 22% for reflections not used in refinement. The T (deoxy) structure was compared with the R (liganded) structure at pH 8.0 in an attempt to understand the structural basis of the greater affinity for hydrogen ions of T, relative to R, that comprises the Root effect. Up to half of the effect can be attributed to interaction of the residues Asp95 (G1)alpha and Asp101 (G3)beta: in R the residues are far apart and their carboxyl groups are unprotonated, but the shift at the alpha 1 beta 2 interface that accompanies the R to T transition brings them so close that they appear to share a proton between them. The proximity of Asp99 (G1)beta may contribute to the required raising of the pKa values of the other two Asp residues. These and neighbouring residues are sufficiently conserved in the haemoglobins of trout (component IV), carp and bluefin tuna, all of which exhibit the Root effect, for the same mechanism to apply. However, the environment is equally conserved in haemoglobins of Trematomus newnesi (major component) and trout (component I), which do not exhibit the Root effect, so that the structural factors controlling the Asp-Asp interaction remain unclear. No other residue appears to undergo an R to T change in the immediate neighbourhoods that could account for any significant portion of the Root effect, so at least half of the effect must result either from long-range electrostatic interactions or from a large number of local interactions.

Purification, characterization and molecular cloning of Cha o 1, a major allergen of Chamaecyparis obtusa (Japanese cypress) pollen.

Pollen of Chamaecyparis obtusa (Japanese cypress) is one of the causes of allergic pollinosis in Japan. A major allergen of the pollen designated Cha o 1, was purified by two-step ion exchange chromatography. Cha o 1 was separated into four components with molecular masses of 48.5 kDa and 52.0 kDa, each with pIs of 6.77 and 6.82. The 23-residue N-terminal sequence of Cha o 1 was determined and shown to have high identity with that of Cry j 1, a major allergen of Cryptomeria japonica pollen. cDNA coding for Cha o 1 was cloned by hybridization screening using Cry j 1 cDNA as a probe. One of the cDNA clones, pCHA-1 was sequenced and found to code for a putative 21-residue signal peptide and a 354-residue native protein with a derived molecular mass of 38.1 kDa. The deduced amino acid sequence of Cha o 1 showed 79-80% identity with those of Cry j 1. These findings were consistent with observations of a close crossreaction between the two allergens. Homology analyses revealed that Cha o 1 had 46-49% identity with Amb a 1 families and Amb a 2, the major allergens of short ragweed. Cry j 1 has pectate lyase enzyme activity, suggesting that Cha o 1 may have the same enzyme activity as Cry j 1.

An infrequent generation of catenated network of pBR322 in Escherichia coli.

It was demonstrated that Escherichia coli infrequently generates the catenated network of pBR322. This complex pBR322 form was detected when DNA molecules could hardly enter the agarose gel during electrophoresis and was found to comprise monomers and dimers of the plasmid.

Tissue characterization of atherosclerotic plaques by intravascular ultrasound radiofrequency signal analysis: an in vitro study of human coronary arteries.

BACKGROUND: Conventional gray-scale images of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) cannot accurately differentiate histologic subtypes of sonolucent coronary plaques with or without a lipid core. METHODS: We analyzed radiofrequency signals obtained in vitro from 24 regions of interest (ROI) of noncalcified (sonolucent) plaques in 10 atherosclerotic coronary artery specimens pressure-fixed by formalin. Radiofrequency signals were sampled with a 30-MHz IVUS catheter and digitized at 500 MHz in 8-bit resolution. The ROIs were histologically categorized into 12 plaques with a lipid core and 12 plaques without it. Integrated backscatter and statistical parameters of the radiofrequency envelope (mean/SD ratio [MSR], skewness, and kurtosis) within the ROI were calculated offline, and their ability to detect a lipid core was compared with visual analysis of the IVUS video images. In the group with lipid cores, percent area of a lipid core in each ROI was measured in a digitized histologic image by a computerized planimeter. RESULTS: Sensitivity and specificity of MSR, skewness, and kurtosis for lipid core detection were substantially greater than visual video image analysis (83.3% and 91.7%, 100% and 91.7%, 100% and 91.7% vs 53.3% and 71.7%). Furthermore, the parameters of integrated backscatter, MSR, skewness, and kurtosis were significantly correlated to percent of core area (r = -0.64, -0.73, 0.78, and 0.63, respectively; P<.05). CONCLUSIONS: Compared with IVUS video images, the parameters of radiofrequency signal analysis may be used to aid in more accurate detection and quantitative evaluation of a lipid core, which is one of the major factors of a vulnerable coronary plaque.

Nucleotide sequences of gag and env genes of a Japanese isolate of HIV-1 and their expression in bacteria.

A DNA clone of HIV-1, JH3, was isolated from a Japanese patient with hemophilia and the gag and env genes were sequenced. The nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences were similar to those reported and showed high divergence in the env gene, particularly in the extracellular domain of the env. The genetic variation of JH3 isolated from a Mongolian was within the range of those of isolates from whites and blacks. The gag and env polypeptides were efficiently expressed in E. coli as fusion proteins with beta-galactosidase, and the products were shown to be useful as diagnostic reagents.

Activation of coagulation in C57BL/6 mice given verotoxin 2 (VT2) and the effect of co-administration of LPS with VT2.

To obtain better insight into the pathogenesis of verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli-associated diseases, in this study, we explored the effect of verotoxin 2 (VT2) on coagulation in an animal model. After being given VT2 (50 ng/kg, lethal dose), C57BL/6 mice showed progressively increasing expression of TF mRNA in the kidney and brain and elevated plasma levels of thrombin-antithrombin III complex (TAT), normotest, fibrinogen, and PAI-1 paralleling the disease course over 24 hours; platelet counts were decreased at 48 hours with hemorrhage in the kidney and brain. Co-administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 0.5 mg/kg) with VT2 (50 ng/kg) exhibited more prominant and/or prolonged increase in not only expression of TF and PAI-1 mRNAs in the kidney and brain but also plasma levels of TAT, fibrinogen, and PAI-1 and was associated with more remarkable hemorrhage in the tissues. Although VT2 (5 ng/kg) was not a lethal dose, co-administration of LPS (0.5 mg/kg) with VT2 (5 ng/kg) enhanced the susceptibility to VT2, resulting in more prolonged elevation of TAT levels during the first 24 hours than that in the LPS group and a second elevation at 72 hours, followed by death. Plasma IL-1beta level reached a maximum at 24 hours after VT2 (50 ng/kg) injection prior to the increase in TAT levels, whereas the increase in TNFalpha level immediately after injection was associated with the increase in PAI-1 mRNA. These observations indicate that the activation of coagulation by VT2 may occur through a mechanism different from that used by LPS, since plasma TAT levels rose in the mice immediately after LPS injection and returned to normal over 36 hours.

The progression of thrombus in an ex-vivo shunt model evaluated by intravascular ultrasound radiofrequency analysis.

We tested the ability of ultrasound radiofrequency (RF) signal analysis to characterize thrombus accumulation in a Dacron graft incorporated into the exteriorized arteriovenous shunt in 3 baboons with constant blood flow for 60 min. Thrombus formation was quantified by sequential measurements of 111Indium-labeled platelet deposition. RF signals were acquired every 15 min at 2 sites in the graft, using a 2.9 Fr intravascular ultrasound catheter-based transducer (30 MHz) and digitized at 250 MHz in 8-bit resolution. Regions of interest were placed within a 0.5-mm perimeter adjacent to the graft wall. Integrated backscatter increased significantly (p < 0.001) with increasing platelet deposition. However, mean-to-standard deviation ratio of the RF envelope showed no significant change and the distribution pattern of the RF probability function remained constant and consistent with a Rayleigh scattering process. These results provide a basis for using RF analysis to monitor the time-course of thrombus formation.

Butyrolactols A and B, new antifungal antibiotics. Taxonomy, isolation, physico-chemical properties, structure and biological activity.

New antifungal antibiotics, butyrolactols A and B, have been isolated from the culture broth of Streptomyces rochei S785-16. They are novel type of molecules containing a common 2,3-dihydroxybutyrolactone nucleus substituted with a different long hydroxyalkyl side chain. Butyrolactol A showed good antifungal activity against Aspergillus fumigatus and Trichophyton mentagrophytes, and moderately inhibited the growth of yeasts.

New antiviral antibiotics, cycloviracins B1 and B2. I. Production, isolation, physico-chemical properties and biological activity.

Kibdelosporangium albatum No. R761-7 (ATCC 55061) produced new antiviral antibiotics, cycloviracins B1 and B2. They show weak activity against Gram-positive bacteria and potent antiviral activity against herpes simplex virus type 1. Unique acylsaccharide structures were established for cycloviracins B1 and B2 by degradation and spectroscopic analysis.

Biosynthesis of the pradimicin family of antibiotics. I. Generation and selection of pradimicin-nonproducing mutants.

Germinated spores of Actinomadura verrucosospora subsp. neohibisca E-40, a high pradimicins producer, were mutagenized by N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine and/or UV treatment. Thirty-seven mutants which did not produce pradimicin were selected to test for cosynthesis ability, and classified into nine classes. On the basis of their cosynthesis ability and bioconversion results, we concluded that strain JN-213 (class III) was a true converter and that strains JN-219 (class IV), JN-47 (class V) and JNU-46 (class VI) were secretors accumulating biosynthetic intermediates of pradimicin, and that strains JN-59 (class VII), JN-58 (class VIII) and JN-207 (class IX) were producers of shunt metabolites of pradimicin biosynthesis. TLC and HPLC analyses of the fermentation broths of individual strains showed that 8 new compounds were produced along with pradinone I, pradimicinone I, 11-O-demethylpradimicinone II and 7-O-methylpradimicinone II.

Lactimidomycin, a new glutarimide group antibiotic. Production, isolation, structure and biological activity.

Streptomyces amphibiosporus R310-104 (ATCC 53964) produced a novel antibiotic lactimidomycin which showed inhibitory activity against fungi and prolonged the survival time of mice transplanted with experimental tumors. Structural studies clarified that lactimidomycin is a new glutarimide antibiotic having a unique unsaturated 12-membered lactone ring.

Eurystatins A and B, new prolyl endopeptidase inhibitors. I. Taxonomy, production, isolation and biological activities.

Eurystatins A and B, were isolated from the cultured broth of Streptomyces eurythermus R353-21. They showed specific and potent inhibitory activity against prolyl endopeptidase and did not show antimicrobial activity. No lethal toxicity was observed for the two compounds after ip administration in mice at 200 mg/kg.

Comparison of regional myocardial technetium-99m-MIBI uptake between ECG-gated and ungated SPECT imaging.

UNLABELLED: Technetium-99m-MIBI uptake was compared between ECG-gated and ungated SPECT images in 10 normal subjects and 10 patients with coronary artery disease to investigate the effects of wall motion on regional myocardial uptake. METHODS: Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and wall motion were evaluated using the first-pass data acquired immediately after injection of 1110 MBq 99mTc-MIBI. A transaxial ungated image was reconstructed with cumulative data during a cardiac cycle. For transaxial gated images, data during a cardiac cycle were divided into eight frames and the first seven frames were used. The lateral/septal ratios for ungated and gated images were obtained using the counts in the ROIs drawn in the lateral and the septal walls. RESULTS: In 10 normal subjects, the lateral/septal ratio for gated increased during end-systole. The mean of the lateral/septal ratio was significantly lower for ungated than for gated (1.025 vs. 1.077, p < 0.05). In patients with septal wall asynergy and a normokinetic lateral wall, the mean of the lateral/septal ratios was significantly lower for ungated than for gated (1.267 vs. 1.325, p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Ungated SPECT acquisition may underestimate regional myocardial uptake when myocardial wall motion is good, therefore, ECG-gated data should be acquired for accurate assessment of regional myocardial uptake of 99mTc-MIBI.