Modulation of cerebellar brain inhibition during temporal adaptive learning in a coincident timing task.

In the present study, we examined the role of the cerebellum in temporal adaptive learning during a coincident timing task, i.e., a baseball-like hitting task involving a moving ball presented on a computer monitor. The subjects were required to change the timing of their responses based on imposed temporal perturbations. Using paired-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation, we measured cerebellar brain inhibition (CBI) before, during, and after the temporal adaptive learning. Reductions in CBI only occurred during and after the temporal adaptive learning, regardless of the direction of the temporal perturbations. In addition, the changes in CBI were correlated with the magnitude of the adaptation. Here, we showed that the cerebellum is essential for learning about and controlling the timing of movements during temporal adaptation. Furthermore, changes in cerebellar-primary motor cortex connectivity occurred during temporal adaptation, as has been previously reported for spatial adaptation.

Barley NARROW LEAFED DWARF1 encoding a WUSCHEL-RELATED HOMEOBOX 3 (WOX3) regulates the marginal development of lateral organs.

Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is the fourth most-produced cereal in the world and is mainly utilized as animal feed and malts. Recently barley attracts considerable attentions as healthy food rich in dietary fiber. However, limited knowledge is available about developmental aspects of barley leaves. In the present study, we investigated barley narrow leafed dwarf1 (nld1) mutants, which exhibit thin leaves accompanied by short stature. Detailed histological analysis revealed that leaf marginal tissues, such as sawtooth hairs and sclerenchymatous cells, were lacked in nld1, suggesting that narrowed leaf of nld1 was attributable to the defective development of the marginal regions in the leaves. The defective marginal developments were also appeared in internodes and glumes in spikelets. Map-based cloning revealed that NLD1 encodes a WUSCHEL-RELATED HOMEOBOX 3 (WOX3), an ortholog of the maize NARROW SHEATH genes. In situ hybridization showed that NLD1 transcripts were localized in the marginal edges of leaf primordia from the initiating stage. From these results, we concluded that NLD1 plays pivotal role in the increase of organ width and in the development of marginal tissues in lateral organs in barley.

Germanium(II)-mediated reductive cross-aldol reaction of bromoaldehydes with aldehydes: NMR studies and ab initio calculations.

A highly practical reductive cross-aldol reaction of alpha-bromoaldehydes with various aldehydes has been developed using Ge(II)Cl 2 to produce aldehyde germanium(IV) aldolates, which were directly transformed to various multifunctionalized compounds. A remarkable change in stereoselectivity depended on the alpha-bromoaldehydes employed; secondary alpha-bromoaldehydes gave syn selectivities, while tertiary alpha-bromoaldehydes accomplished the synthesis of anti-selective aldol products with a quaternary carbon center. NMR studies and X-ray analysis strongly suggested the formation of germanium enolate in the reaction of alpha-bromoaldehyde 2h with GeCl 2-dioxane. Detailed mechanistic studies, including NMR analysis and ab initio calculations, revealed the generation of stable germanium aldolates, which was due to the remarkably low Lewis acidity of the germanium(IV).

Allograft inflammatory factor-1 augments macrophage phagocytotic activity and accelerates the progression of atherosclerosis in ApoE-/- mice.

Allograft inflammatory factor (AIF)-1, originally cloned from a rat heart allograft under chronic rejection, is induced in various inflammatory conditions including atherosclerosis. Using mouse AIF-1 transfected macrophages and AIF-1 transgenic (AIF-1 Tg) mice, we analyzed the influence of AIF-1 overexpression on macrophage phagocytosis and the development of atherosclerosis. The AIF-1 transfectants showed significantly increased phagocytosis of latex beads and E. coli BioParticles as well as incorporation of acetylated low-density lipoprotein (LDL) compared to those of vector controls. Concordant results were obtained with elicited peritoneal exudate cells from AIF-1 Tg mice. When AIF-1 Tg mice were crossbred with apolipoprotein E knockout mice (ApoE-/-), these AIF-1 Tg ApoE-/- mice developed significantly increased atherosclerotic lesions compared to ApoE-/- mice. These results suggest that enhanced AIF-1 expression leads to augmented incorporation of degenerated LDL by macrophages and promotes development of atherosclerotic vasculopathy.

Reductive cross-aldol reaction using bromoaldehyde and an aldehyde mediated by germanium(II): one-pot, large-scale protocol.

[reaction: see text] The reaction of alpha-bromoaldehyde with aldehyde in the presence of GeCl(2)-dioxane gave the syn-selective cross-aldol equivalent. A catalytic amount of Bu(4)NBr improved the yield and selectivity. The initially formed aldol adduct (beta-germoxyaldehyde) did not suffer from over-reaction. This system enabled an intramolecular aldol reaction to give cyclic compounds effectively. One-pot synthetic methodology including bromination of aldehyde followed by cross-aldol reaction with the second aldehyde was successful on a large-scale.

Characterization of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa Lol system as a lipoprotein sorting mechanism.

Escherichia coli lipoproteins are localized to either the inner or the outer membrane depending on the residue that is present next to the N-terminal acylated Cys. Asp at position 2 causes the retention of lipoproteins in the inner membrane. In contrast, the accompanying study (9) revealed that the residues at positions 3 and 4 determine the membrane specificity of lipoproteins in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Since the five Lol proteins involved in the sorting of E. coli lipoproteins are conserved in P. aeruginosa, we examined whether or not the Lol proteins of P. aeruginosa are also involved in lipoprotein sorting but utilize different signals. The genes encoding LolCDE, LolA, and LolB homologues were cloned and expressed. The LolCDE homologue thus purified was reconstituted into proteoliposomes with lipoproteins. When incubated in the presence of ATP and a LolA homologue, the reconstituted LolCDE homologue released lipoproteins, leading to the formation of a LolA-lipoprotein complex. Lipoproteins were then incorporated into the outer membrane depending on a LolB homologue. As revealed in vivo, lipoproteins with Lys and Ser at positions 3 and 4, respectively, remained in proteoliposomes. On the other hand, E. coli LolCDE released lipoproteins with this signal and transferred them to LolA of not only E. coli but also P. aeruginosa. These results indicate that Lol proteins are responsible for the sorting of lipoproteins to the outer membrane of P. aeruginosa, as in the case of E. coli, but respond differently to inner membrane retention signals.

Nitric oxide suppresses preadipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1 culture.

Nitric oxide (NO) is an important chemical messenger controlling many physiological functions, involving cell proliferation, and differentiation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of NO on adipocyte differentiation using a murine preadipocyte cell line, 3T3-L1. The treatment with a NO donor, 1-hydroxy-2-oxo-3,3-bis(2-aminoethyl)-1-triazene (NOC18), reduced some markers of adipocyte differentiation such as glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase activity, and intracellular lipid accumulation. To examine whether these effects of NOC18 on adipocyte differentiation markers are due to its cytotoxity, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release from the cells were measured. NOC18 did not affect LDH release into the culture medium. Thus, the suppressive actions of NO donor were unlikely to result from its cytotoxicity. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) gamma is a critical transcription factor for adipocyte differentiation and adipocyte fatty acid binding protein (aP2) gene is one of its targets. Protein expression of PPARgamma was not diminished by NOC18 treatment, although mRNA expression of aP2 was reduced. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay showed that NOC18 interfered with the DNA binding activity of PPARgamma. Therefore, the present experiment suggest that NO suppresses adipocyte differentiation through suppressing the transcriptional activity of PPARgamma, without suppressing its expression level.

Practical and simple synthesis of substituted quinolines by an HCl-DMSO system on a large scale: remarkable effect of the chloride ion.

[reaction: see text] A variety of substituted quinolines are synthesized from imines and enolizable carbonyl compounds under aerobic conditions, in which only water is a byproduct. In DMSO, a catalytic amount of HCl activates carbonyl compounds quite effectively to give the quinolines. A simple and practical procedure is demonstrated on a large scale.