Induced pluripotent stem cells of endangered avian species.

The number of endangered avian-related species increase in Japan recently. The application of new technologies, such as induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), may contribute to the recovery of the decreasing numbers of endangered animals and conservation of genetic resources. We established novel iPSCs from three endangered avian species (Okinawa rail, Japanese ptarmigan, and Blakiston's fish owl) with seven reprogramming factors (M3O, Sox2, Klf4, c-Myc, Nanog, Lin28, and Klf2). The iPSCs are pluripotency markers and express pluripotency-related genes and differentiated into three germ layers in vivo and in vitro. These three endangered avian iPSCs displayed different cellular characteristics even though the same reprogramming factors use. Japanese ptarmigan-derived iPSCs have different biological characteristics from those observed in other avian-derived iPSCs. Japanese ptarmigan iPSCs contributed to chimeras part in chicken embryos. To the best of our knowledge, our findings provide the first evidence of the potential value of iPSCs as a resource for endangered avian species conservation.

Draft genome sequence of Japanese wood mouse, Apodemus speciosus.

The wood mouse (genus Apodemus) is one of the most common rodents in broad-leaf forests in the temperate zone of the Palaearctic region. Molecular studies of wood mice have critically enhanced the understanding of their evolution and ancestral biogeographic events. However, their molecular data are currently only limited to partial mitochondrial sequences and a few genes. Therefore, we sequenced the wood mouse genome to facilitate the acquisition of useful resources for inferring their molecular evolution. We sampled a wild wood mouse at Tsukuba, Japan, and sequenced its whole-genome using the Illumina Hiseq. 2000. To reduce the risk of non-randomness, three paired-end libraries (insert sizes: 150, 300, and 500 bp) and, two mate-pair reads (insert sizes: 8 and 20 kbp) were constructed. In total, we generated approximately 210 Gbp data. From these sequences, we reconstructed 336,124 scaffolds. These data will enhance our understanding of the evolution and ecological factors that affect their genetic constitution. The genome scaffolds generated are available in the National Center Biotechnology Information (NCBI) BioProject with accession number PRJDB5914.

Identification and functional characterization of novel feline cytochrome P450 2A.

1. Cytochrome P450s are the major metabolizing enzymes for xenobiotics in humans and other mammals. Although the domestic cat Felis catus, an obligate carnivore, is the most common companion animal, the properties of cytochrome P450 subfamilies are largely unknown. 2. We newly identified the feline CYP2A13, which consists of 494 deduced amino acids, showing the highest identity to CYP2As of dogs, followed by those of pigs, cattle and humans. 3. The feline CYP2A13 transcript and protein were expressed almost exclusively in the liver without particular sex-dependent differences. 4. The feline CYP2A13 protein heterogeneously expressed in Escherichia coli showed metabolic activity similar to those of human and canine CYP2As for coumarin, 7-ethoxycoumarin and nicotine. 5. The results indicate the importance of CYP2A13 in systemic metabolism of xenobiotics in cats.