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Hiroyuki Yamamoto

Publications and source records attributed to Hiroyuki Yamamoto.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2007

Overexpression of citrus polygalacturonase-inhibiting protein in citrus black rot pathogen Alternaria citri.

The rough lemon (Citrus jambhiri) gene encoding polygalacturonase-inhibiting protein (RlemPGIPA) was overexpressed in the pathogenic fungus Alternaria citri. The overexpression mutant AcOPI6 retained the ability to utilize pectin as a sole carbon source, and the overexpression of polygalacturonase-inhibiting protein did not have any effect on the growth of AcOPI6 in potato dextrose and pectin medium. The pathogenicity of AcOPI6 to cause a black rot symptom in citrus fruits was also unchanged. Polygalacturonase-inhibiting protein was secreted together with endopolygalacturonase into culture filtrates of AcOPI6, and oligogalacturonides were digested from polygalacturonic acid by both proteins in the culture filtrates. The reaction mixture containing oligogalacturonides possessed activity for induction of defense-related gene, RlemLOX, in rough lemon leaves.

Alternaria↗
PubMed2007

cDNA analysis of gene expression associated with DNA-dependent protein kinase activity.

DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) is thought to play a pivotal role in DNA double-strand break repair. We recently demonstrated the association of DNA-PK activity in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) with the incidence of chromosomal aberrations and the risk of cancer. In this study, we applied cDNA array technology to find the expression of genes which are associated with DNA-PK activity in PBLs with various levels of DNA-PK activity. Most genes correlated with DNA-PK activity involved cell cycle regulation. Moreover, the transcription factor E2F1, which plays an important role in cell cycle progression, exhibited strong correlation with the DNA-PK activity and Rbp130, which is considered a negative regulator of E2F, showed inverse correlation with DNA-PK activity. In silico promoter analyses showed the presence of at least one E2F binding site in the promoter regions of Ku70, Ku86, DNA-PKcs and genes associated with DNA-PK activity. In order to examine the relationship among the E2F1 expression, the expression of genes related with DNA-PK activity, and DNA-PK activity, we activated PMLs by PHA to progress the cell cycle. After PHA activation of PML, the expression of E2F1 and DNA-PK activity increased. The expression of most genes in PHA-stimulated PBLs had a similar relationship with DNA-PK activity to that without PHA stimulation. These results indicate that the E2F transcription factor may regulate the concerted expression of genes related with DNA-PK activity.

Antigens, Nuclear↗
PubMed2006

A new conceptualization for Mikulicz's disease as an IgG4-related plasmacytic disease.

Mikulicz's disease (MD) has been included within the diagnosis of primary Sjögren's syndrome (SS), but it represents a unique condition involving persistent enlargement of the lacrimal and salivary glands characterized by few autoimmune reactions and good responsiveness to glucocorticoids, leading to the recovery of gland function. Mikulicz's disease was recently reported to be associated with elevated immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4) concentrations in the serum and prominent infiltration of plasmacytes expressing IgG4 into the lacrimal and salivary glands. The following features were used for diagnosis: (1) visual confirmation of symmetrical and persistent swelling in more than two lacrimal and major salivary glands; (2) prominent mononuclear cell infiltration of lacrimal and salivary glands; and (3) exclusion of other diseases that present with glandular swelling, such as sarcoidosis and lymphoproliferative disease. These features are not observed in most SS cases. The complications of MD include autoimmune pancreatitis, retroperitoneal fibrosis, tubulointerstitial nephritis, autoimmune hypophysitis, and Riedel's thyroiditis, all of which show IgG4 involvement in their pathogenesis. Mikulicz's disease thus differs from SS and may be a systemic IgG4-related plasmacytic disease.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Genetic and epigenetic profiling in early colorectal tumors and prediction of invasive potential in pT1 (early invasive) colorectal cancers.

Morphologically, early colorectal tumors are divided into two groups, protruded-type tumors and flat-type tumors. Although some studies have shown genetic alterations in protruded-type tumors, little is known about genetic and epigenetic alterations in flat-type tumors, as well as pT1 (early invasive) colorectal cancers (CRCs). In the current study, we compared the frequencies of genetic and epigenetic alterations of the RAS-RAF and Wnt signaling pathways in flat-type and protruded-type tumors. In addition, we investigated the relationship between those alterations and invasive potential of pT1 CRCs. Methylations of RASSF2, O-6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT), Wnt inhibitory factor-1 (WIF-1), EPHB2, CDKN2A and MLH1 were detected in 44.3, 30.3, 81.4, 7.5, 43.6 and 13.4% of the 307 early colorectal tumors, respectively. Mutations of KRAS, BRAF, catalytic subunit alpha of phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase (PIK3CA) and beta-catenin were detected in 25.4, 4.6, 1.6 and 9.4% of those tumors, respectively. Methylations of MGMT, WIF-1 and CDKN2A were detected in significantly higher percentages of protruded-type tumors than in flat-type tumors. Mutation of at least one gene was detected in a significantly higher percentage of flat-type tumors than in protruded-type tumors. RASSF2 methylation was correlated significantly with KRAS, BRAF or PIK3CA mutation. Multiple logistic analysis showed that lymphatic invasion and RASSF2 methylation with KRAS, BRAF or PIK3CA mutation were independent risk factors for venous invasion in pT1 CRCs. In conclusion, since genetic alterations of these pathways have frequently occurred in flat-type tumors, flat-type tumors seem to have a distinct genetic profile different from that of protruded-type tumors. RASSF2 methylation with oncogenic activation is a promising biomarker for predicting invasive potential of pT1 CRCs.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

Insulin-like growth factor-I receptor as a marker for prognosis and a therapeutic target in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I receptor (IGF-Ir) signaling is required for tumorigenicity and progression of many tumors but this pathway has not been well studied as a prognostic factor or potential therapeutic target in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). In this paper, the association between the expression of IGF-Ir and IGF-II ligand and prognosis was investigated immunohistochemically in 100 surgically resected ESCC. We then assessed the therapeutic effect of blocking IGF receptor signaling using dominant negative IGF-Ir (IGF-Ir/dn) in ESCC in vitro. Expression of IGF-Ir and IGF-II were detected in 60 and 50% of tumors, respectively, and were associated with invasion depth, metastasis, advanced tumor stage and recurrence. Patients with tumors expressing both IGF-Ir and IGF-II had a significantly shorter survival than those expressing either alone or neither in both single and multivariate analysis. IGF-Ir/dn suppressed proliferation and motility as well as upregulating chemotherapy-induced apoptosis through blocking ligand-induced Akt activation. We propose that detection of IGF-Ir/IGF-II in ESCC may be useful for the prediction of recurrence and poor prognosis and for selecting patients for IGF-Ir-targeted therapy. Therapeutic blockade of IGF-Ir may be a useful anticancer therapeutic for ESCC.

Adenoviridae↗
PubMed2006

Adenovirus expressing shRNA to IGF-1R enhances the chemosensitivity of lung cancer cell lines by blocking IGF-1 pathway.

RNA interference is a phenomenon whereby small double-stranded RNA knocks down the expression of a sequence-specific gene. Double-stranded siRNA transfection, as currently used, is considered to have transient and low transfection efficiency. We constructed an adenoviral vector-based short hair-pin(sh)RNA system to overcome the limitations of the genetic blockade of IGF-1R, one of most important cancer therapy targets. We constructed three different IGF-1R specific shRNAs (612, 801, and 3425) and generated three ad-shIGF-1Rs using BD Adeno-X expression system. We assessed the effect of ad-shIGF-1R on signal transduction, induction of apoptosis, and in vitro tumorigenicity of lung cancer cell lines. Western blot and FACS assays demonstrated that endogenous IGF-1R expression was efficiently suppressed after transduction of lung cancer cell lines with the three different ad-shIGF-1Rs. IGF-1R blockade by ad-shIGF-1R inhibited ligand induced phosphorylation of pAkt and pErk, and ad-shIGF-1R effectively blocked the in vitro tumorigenicity of lung cancer cell lines. Moreover, the transduction of a human lung cancer cell line with ad-IGF-1R(3425) enhanced chemosensitivity to anticancer drugs. We conclude that the adenoviral vector-based approach to the RNA interference of IGF-1R induced effective IGF-1R silencing in lung cancer cell lines as manifested by effective blocking of the downstream pathway of IGF-1R and by an antitumor effect. We believe that this system can be usefully applied to other cancer targets.

Adenoviridae↗
PubMed2006

Flat-type colorectal advanced adenomas (laterally spreading tumors) have different genetic and epigenetic alterations from protruded-type advanced adenomas.

Morphologically, colorectal adenomas can be divided into two groups, protruded-type and flat-type. However, the accurate frequencies of genetic and epigenetic alterations in flat-type colorectal advanced adenomas (laterally spreading tumors) have remained largely unknown. In the current study, we investigated genetic and epigenetic alterations in 101 flat-type colorectal advanced adenomas and 68 protruded-type colorectal advanced adenomas by using direct DNA sequencing and quantitative real-time PCR (MethyLight), respectively. KRAS mutation was detected in a significantly higher percentage of flat-type adenomas (35%) than in protruded-type adenomas (13%). When the samples were limited to the tumors in the distal colon, the difference of KRAS mutation was still significant. KRAS mutation in G-to-A transitions at codons 12 and 13 was detected in a significantly higher percentage of flat-type adenomas (26%) than in protruded-type adenomas (9%). BRAF and beta-catenin mutations were detected in 3 and 8% of the 101 flat-type adenomas, respectively. No significant difference was found between frequencies of those mutations in flat-type adenomas and protruded-type adenomas. Methylations of MGMT, CDKN2A (p16) and MLH1 were detected in 28, 33 and 9% of the 101 flat-type adenomas, respectively. CDKN2A methylation was detected in a significantly lower percentage of flat-type adenomas than in protruded-type adenomas (63%). Methylation of at least one gene was detected in a significantly lower percentage of flat-type adenomas (54%) than in protruded-type adenomas (78%). In conclusion, KRAS mutation was frequently detected in flat-type advanced adenomas and the mutational patterns in most of them with KRAS mutations were a transition from G-to-A. Therefore, these genetic alterations seem to play an important role in the development of flat-type advanced adenomas, especially in the distal colon. Epigenetic alterations infrequently occurred in flat-type advanced adenomas, suggesting that they have different genetic and epigenetic alterations from those of protruded-type advanced adenomas.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗
PubMed2006

Mutational analysis of beta-catenin and the RAS-RAF signalling pathway in early flat-type colorectal tumours.

Morphologically, early colorectal tumours can be divided into two groups, protruded-type and flat-type. However, little is known about genetic mechanisms of the latter. We investigated mutations of beta-catenin, KRAS, BRAF, and PIK3CA in 310 early colorectal tumours. beta-catenin mutation was detected in 7.1% of 310 tumours. beta-catenin mutation was detected in a significantly higher percentage of flat-type tumours with depressed areas (4/17, 23.5%) than in other tumours (18/293, 6.1%; p=0.0246). KRAS, BRAF, and PIK3CA mutations were detected in 21.6%, 5.4%, and 1.0% of 310 tumours, respectively. Concomitant mutations of beta-catenin and KRAS or BRAF were detected in seven tumours. Mutation of at least one gene was detected in a significantly higher percentage of flat-type tumour tissues (75/193, 38.9%) than in protruded-type tumour tissues (25/117, 21.4%; p=0.0014), and it was correlated significantly with size (p=0.0001). In conclusion, beta-catenin mutation seemed to play an important role in flat-type tumours, especially in those with depressed areas. The genetic abnormalities could arise and accumulate in the early stage of colorectal tumourigenesis, and seem to contribute to the development of flat-type tumour.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

Chain conformations of poly(gamma-benzyl-L-glutamate) pre and post an electrospinning process.

In order to reveal mechanisms for the electrospinning of proteins, this study focuses on the polymer chain conformation, which is considered to be a critical factor for successful electrospinning. Poly(gamma-benzyl-L-glutamate) (PBLG) is employed and the relationships between the chain conformations of the pre-spun PBLG molecules and the morphologies of the post-spun PBLG fibers are investigated. By combining viscosity measurements, and circular dichroism and FT-IR spectroscopies, chain conformations of the pre- and post-spun PBLG are characterized. The chain conformations of the pre-spun PBLG changes from an alpha-helix to a random coil upon changing the solvent ratios of dichloromethane (CH(2)Cl(2)) and trifluoroacetic acid (CF(3)COOH) from 100:0 to 0:100. In an alpha-helix conformation, the morphology of PBLG fibers is relatively thick, while that of the random coil is thin and homogenous. The mean fiber diameters decrease when the chain conformations change from an alpha-helix to a random coil. FT-IR spectroscopy and wide-angle X-ray diffraction measurements reveal that electrospinning predominantly induces an alpha-helical conformation in post-spun PBLG fibers, and more highly crystallized fibers are generated as the alpha-helical content in the pre-spun solution increases.

Electrochemistry↗
PubMed2006

Tumour selection advantage of non-dominant negative P53 mutations in homozygotic MDM2-SNP309 colorectal cancer cells.

BACKGROUND: Mdm2 is a natural inhibitor of p53 function and its overexpression impairs p53 transcriptional activity. T-->G single-nucleotide polymorphism at position 309 (SNP309) of mdm2 induces overexpression of mdm2, but inhibits p53. OBJECTIVES: To determine whether SNP309 is a risk-modifier polymorphism in colorectal cancer (CRC) and whether tumour selection of P53 mutations are influenced by SNP309. METHODS: Single-stranded conformation polymorphism and automatic sequencing were performed. RESULTS: SNP309 is not associated with the risk of CRC or recurrence of tumours. These data do not over-ride the tumour-selection capabilities of P53 mutations in CRC. However, a significant association with non-dominant-negative P53 mutations (p = 0.02) was found. CONCLUSIONS: MDM2-SNP309 favours tumour selection of non-dominant negative P53 mutations in CRC, which also show an earlier age of tumour onset.

Age of Onset↗
PubMed2006

Overexpression of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) in the early stage of colorectal carcinogenesis.

Colorectal carcinogenesis is initiated mainly by aberrant activation of the Wnt signaling pathway, caused by mutation of either APC or beta-catenin (CTNNB1) gene. Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) is a highly conserved nuclear enzyme, which binds tightly to DNA and plays a role in DNA repair, recombination, proliferation and genomic stability. It has recently been shown that PARP-1 is a novel co-activator of TCF-4/beta-catenin-evoked gene transactivation and may play a role in colorectal carcinogenesis. The aim of this study was to examine the PARP-1 expression and determine whether it is correlated with the expression of beta-catenin and its target genes such as c-myc, cyclin D1 and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-7 in the early stage of sporadic colorectal carcinogenesis. Using the semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), 91 colorectal tumours, including 65 adenomas and 26 submucosal (pT1) cancers, were analysed for the expression of PARP-1, beta-catenin, c-myc, cyclin D1 and MMP-7. Immunohistochemical analysis of PARP-1 and beta-catenin was also performed. PARP-1 mRNA overexpression was detected in 64 (70.3%) of the 91 tumours. PARP-1 overexpression was significantly correlated with tumour size and histopathology. Overexpression of beta-catenin, c-myc, cyclin D1 and MMP-7 mRNA expression was observed in 39.6%, 78.0%, 83.5% and 72.5% of the 91 tumours, respectively. PARP-1 overexpression was correlated significantly with overexpression of beta-catenin, c-myc, cyclin D1 and MMP-7. Correlation of PARP-1 expression with beta-catenin overexpression was also demonstrated by immunohistochemistry. The results suggest that PARP-1, in conjunction with beta-catenin, c-myc, cyclin D1 and MMP-7, plays an important role in the early stage of colorectal carcinogenesis.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed2006

Glycosaminoglycan modification of neuropilin-1 modulates VEGFR2 signaling.

Neuropilin-1 (NRP1) is a co-receptor for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) that enhances the angiogenic signals cooperatively with VEGFR2. VEGF signaling is essential for physiological and pathological angiogenesis through its effects on vascular endothelial cells (ECs) and smooth muscle cells (SMCs), but the mechanisms coordinating this response are not well understood. Here we show that a substantial fraction of NRP1 is proteoglycan modified with either heparan sulfate or chondroitin sulfate on a single conserved Ser. The composition of the NRP1 glycosaminoglycan (GAG) chains differs between ECs and SMCs. Glycosylation increased VEGF binding in both cell types, but the differential GAG composition of NRP1 mediates opposite responsiveness to VEGF in ECs and SMCs. Finally, NRP1 expression and its GAG modification post-transcriptionally regulate VEGFR2 protein expression. These findings indicate that GAG modification of NRP1 plays a critical role in modulating VEGF signaling, and may provide new insights into physiological and pathological angiogenesis.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2006

Mechanical behavior of cellulose microfibrils in tension wood, in relation with maturation stress generation.

A change in cellulose lattice spacing can be detected during the release of wood maturation stress by synchrotron x-ray diffraction experiment. The lattice strain was found to be the same order of magnitude as the macroscopic strain. The fiber repeat distance, 1.033 nm evaluated for tension wood after the release of maturation stress was equal to the conventional wood values, whereas the value before stress release was larger, corresponding to a fiber repeat of 1.035 nm, nearly equal to that of cotton and ramie. Interestingly, the fiber repeat varied from 1.033 nm for wood to 1.040 nm for algal cellulose, with an increasing order of lateral size of cellulose microfibrils so far reported. These lines of experiments demonstrate that, before the stress release, the cellulose was in a state of tension, which is, to our knowledge, the first experimental evidence supporting the assumption that tension is induced in cellulose microfibrils.

Biophysics↗
PubMed2006

A truncating mutation of HDAC2 in human cancers confers resistance to histone deacetylase inhibition.

Disruption of histone acetylation patterns is a common feature of cancer cells, but very little is known about its genetic basis. We have identified truncating mutations in one of the primary human histone deacetylases, HDAC2, in sporadic carcinomas with microsatellite instability and in tumors arising in individuals with hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer syndrome. The presence of the HDAC2 frameshift mutation causes a loss of HDAC2 protein expression and enzymatic activity and renders these cells more resistant to the usual antiproliferative and proapoptotic effects of histone deacetylase inhibitors. As such drugs may serve as therapeutic agents for cancer, our findings support the use of HDAC2 mutational status in future pharmacogenetic treatment of these individuals.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2006

Random and sequential copolypeptides containing O-phospho-L-threonine and L-aspartic acid; roles in CaCO3 biomineralization.

The present study describes the synthesis of novel polypeptides containing O-phospho-L-threonine [Thr(PO(3)H(2))] and L-aspartic acid. Random copolypeptides copoly[Thr(PO(3)H(2))(X)Asp(Y)] (X:Y = 25:75, 50:50, 75:25), were conventionally prepared by copolymerization of Thr(PO(3)Ph(2)) N-carboxyanhydride (NCA) and Asp(OBzl) NCA followed by deprotection of the phenyl and benzyl groups by catalytic hydrogenolysis over PtO(2). Polycondensation of the protected peptide p-nitrophenyl esters [Thr(PO(3)Ph(2))](Z)-Asp(OBzl)-ONp and subsequent deprotection yielded the sequential polypeptides poly[Thr(PO(3)H(2))(Z)-Asp] (Z = 1-4). By using the synthetic polypeptides, their effects on the growth of CaCO(3) crystals were examined. In the poly[Thr(PO(3)H(2))(Z)-Asp]/CaCO(3) systems, brushlike calcite and spherical vaterite were formed, with the former being found at [Ca(2+)]/[Res] ratios of > or =180, > or =140, > or =120, and > or =100 for Z = 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. These results indicate that an increase of Thr(PO(3)H(2)) residues in the repetitive unit induces the characteristic brushlike calcite, a fact indicating that Thr(PO(3)H(2)) residues can modify the CaCO(3) crystal morphology.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2006

Characterization of cDNAs encoding two distinct miraculin-like proteins and stress-related modulation of the corresponding mRNAs in Citrus jambhiri lush.

Two distinct full-length cDNAs from rough lemon that encoded miraculin-like proteins were isolated by random amplification of cDNA ends (RACEs), based on sequence information from subtractive PCR previously described, and designated as RlemMLP1 and RlemMLP2. The transcripts of both RlemMLP1 and RlemMLP2 were not detected in leaves, or stems but accumulated in fruits. Transcripts accumulated to higher levels in leaves after wounding, inoculation with conidia of Alternaria alternata, or treatment with methyl jasmonate vapors. Treatment with methyl salicylate antagonized the signaling pathway of wounding. Treatment with methyl salicylate at 2 h after wounding significantly reduced wounding-induced gene expression of both RlemMLP1 and RlemMLP2. Protein products of these genes were obtained by using a prokaryotic expression system, and had protease inhibitor activity. RlemMLP2, but not RlemMLP1, contained a thaumatin motif, and only RlemMLP2 showed anti-fungal activity against Alternaria citri. Cellular localization analysis with RlemMLP1 or RlemMLP2 fused to a green fluorescence protein gene following transient translation using a particle bombardment in onion cells indicated that both RlemMLP1 and RlemMLP2 were localized to the cytosol. These evidences revealed that rough lemon RlemMLPs are likely to have defensive function against pathogens at least when host cells are broken by their infections.

Acetates↗