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M Teramoto

Publications and source records attributed to M Teramoto.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Induction of basic helix-loop-helix protein DEC1 (BHLHB2)/Stra13/Sharp2 in response to the cyclic adenosine monophosphate pathway.

DEC1 (BHLHB2)/Stra13/Sharp2, a basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor has been suggested to be involved in the control of proliferation and/or differentiation of several cells including nerve cells, fibroblasts and chondrocytes. In the present study, we examined the effect of parathyroid hormone (PTH), dibutyryl cAMP (Bt2cAMP) and forskolin on the expression of DEC1 in various cells. In rabbit chondrocyte cultures, PTH or Bt2cAMP increased the DEC1 mRNA level within 1 h. Thereafter, the DEC1 mRNA level rapidly decreased to the basal level at 3 h, and increased at 6-24 h. In cultures of a mouse embryo prechondrogenic cell line ATDC5, PTH or forskolin, an activator of adenylate cyclase, also increased the DEC1 mRNA level within 1 h. Furthermore, in all evaluated cell lines of human fibroblasts, canine epithelial cells, human carcinoma, human glioblastoma and human melanoma, Bt2cAMP increased the DEC1 mRNA level within 1-3 h. Studies with actinomycin D and cycloheximide indicated that the enhancement of DEC1 mRNA by cAMP was not due to mRNA stabilization and did not require new protein synthesis. These findings suggest that DEC1 is a novel direct target for cAMP in wide types of cells, and that the bHLH protein is involved in the control of gene expression in cAMP-activated cells.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Gene structure and chromosomal location of a human bHLH transcriptional factor DEC1 x Stra13 x SHARP-2/BHLHB2.

DEC1/BHLHB2 is a novel cAMP-inducible basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcriptional factor isolated from human chondrocyte cultures by the subtraction method [Shen et al. (1997) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 236, 294--298]. DEC1 seems to be involved in controlling the proliferation/differentiation of some cell lineages. We determined the structure of the human DEC1 gene and its chromosomal locus. Phylogenetic analysis and comparison of the gene structure showed that the DEC1 protein is a member of a new subgroup of the proline bHLH protein family that diverged earlier than other proline bHLH proteins including HES, hairy and E(spl). The human DEC1 gene spans approximately 5.7 kb and contains 5 exons. The putative promoter region contains multiple GC boxes but no TATA box. A primer extension study showed multiple transcriptional initiation sites. In the 5'-flanking region of the DEC1 gene, several transcriptional factor binding sites, including a cAMP-responsive element (CRE), were found using the transcription factor database. The DEC1 gene locates at Chromosome 3p25.3--26 by the FISH method. This is the first study to determine the genomic structure of the DEC1 gene subgroup.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2001

Phosphorylation of a bifunctional enzyme, 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphate 2-phosphatase, is regulated physiologically and developmentally in rosette leaves of Arabidopsis thaliana.

The phosphorylation status of 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphate 2-phosphatase (EC 2.7.1.105/ EC 3.1.3.46) in rosette leaves of Arabidopsis was examined. Immunoblotting with specific antisera detected 96-kDa and 92-kDa bands in the crude protein extracts from rosette leaves of Arabidopsis. Incubation of protein samples with alkaline phosphatase before SDS-PAGE reduced the 96-kDa band with concomitant increase of the 92-kDa band, suggesting that the former is a phosphorylated form of the latter. In accordance with this result, 96-kDa and 92-kDa bands were immuno-precipitated from the crude protein extracts from [(32)P]orthophosphate-labeled rosettes of Arabidopsis; and, the former was heavily labeled, the latter faintly labeled. Analysis of phospho-amino acid residues derived from the [(32)P]-labeled 96-kDa band revealed that the phosphorylation occurred on serine and threonine residues, excluding the possibility that the phosphorylated band represent a phospho-histidine intermediate that is known to form in the phosphatase reaction. The relative level of the 96-kDa band over the 92-kDa band in whole rosette extracts changed diurnally and was highest at the beginning of nighttime. Furthermore, the 96-kDa band was highly enriched in the extracts of very young rosette leaves, suggesting that the phosphorylation status of 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphate 2-phosphatase is regulated physiologically and developmentally in Arabidopsis.

Arabidopsis↗
PubMed2001

PhcS represses gratuitous expression of phenol-metabolizing enzymes in Comamonas testosteroni R5.

We identified an open reading frame, designated phcS, downstream of the transcriptional activator gene (phcR) for the expression of multicomponent phenol hydroxylase (mPH) in Comamonas testosteroni R5. The deduced product of phcS was homologous to AphS of C. testosteroni TA441, which belongs to the GntR family of transcriptional regulators. The transformation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1c (phenol negative, catechol positive) with pROR502 containing phcR and the mPH genes conferred the ability to grow on phenol, while transformation with pROR504 containing phcS, phcR, and mPH genes did not confer this ability. The disruption of phcS in strain R5 had no effect on its phenol-oxygenating activity in a chemostat culture with phenol. The phenol-oxygenating activity was not expressed in strain R5 grown in a chemostat with acetate. In contrast, the phenol-oxygenating activity in the strain with a knockout phcS gene when grown in a chemostat with acetate as the limiting growth factor was 66% of that obtained in phenol-grown cells of the strain with a knockout in the phcS gene. The disruption of phcS and/or phcR and the complementation in trans of these defects confirm that PhcS is a trans-acting repressor and that the unfavorable expression of mPH in the phcS knockout cells grown on acetate requires PhcR. These results show that the PhcS protein repressed the gratuitous expression of phenol-metabolizing enzymes in the absence of the genuine substrate and that strain R5 acted by an unknown mechanism in which the PhcS-mediated repression was overcome in the presence of the pathway substrate.

Acetates↗
PubMed2000

Anomalous stereochemistry of pyrazolato-3,5-dicarboxylato-bridged dinuclear chromate(III) complexes containing ethylenediamine-N,N'-dicarboxylates with entrapped unstable conformations: X-ray structure of Na[Cr2(eddp)(mu-pzdc)].6H2O.

Several new pyrazolato-3,5-dicarboxylato (pzdc) bridged dinuclear chromate(III) complexes containing linear tetradentate O-N-N-O type ligands were synthesized and structurally characterized. Among them, the X-ray structure of the eddp complex Na[Cr2(eddp)(mu-pzdc)].6H2O (eddp = ethylenediamine-N,N'-dipropionate) was determined to have a (sym-cis)-(unsym-cis) geometrical configuration with intramolecular three-center hydrogen bonds, entrapping the unfavored sym-cis configuration for the Cr(eddp) moiety as well as the favored unsym-cis one. As a pair of positional disorders, there were also found to be two conformational isomers with respect to the absolute configurations of the coordinated asymmetric nitrogen atom at the G (in-plane) ring for the unsym-cis moiety. Moreover, chiral pzdc-bridged dinuclear complexes with another type of O-N-N-O ligand, 1,2-cyclohexanediamine-N,N'-diacetate (cdda), were successfully synthesized, isolated, and characterized by column chromatographic behavior, elemental analysis, and chiroptical spectra. There were two diastereomers for Na[(R,R-cdda)Cr(mu-pzdc)Cr(S,S-cdda)] and only one isomer for Na[(R,R-cdda)Cr(mu-pzdc)Cr(R,S-cdda)] and Na[(R,R-cdda)Cr(mu-pzdc)Cr(edda)] (R,R- or S,S- and R,S-cdda = R,R-trans- or S,S-trans- and R,S-cis-1,2-cyclohexanediamine-N,N'-diacetate, and edda = ethylenediamine-N,N'-diacetate). From their circular dichroism (CD) spectra, these complexes could exhibit the delta-delta absolute configuration with ((sym-cis-R,R-cdda)-(unsym-cis-edda or S,S- or R,S-cdda)) geometrical configuration, indicating the abnormal eq-eq (N-Ceq) configuration for the R,R-cdda. The comparison among the CD spectra of the ((cdda)-(cdda)) complexes revealed that two diastereomers of the ((R,R-cdda)-(S,S-cdda)) complex correspond to the conformational isomers resulting from the difference in geometrical orientations of the secondary amine protons on two coordinated asymmetric nitrogen atoms with the opposite absolute configuration in the unsym-cis-S,S-cdda moiety. In a series of the pzdc-bridged Cr(III) complexes the anomalous conformations in two different geometrical configurations could be entrapped probably owing to stereognostic coordination through the intramolecular N-H...O hydrogen bond interaction.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1999

Membrane-bound transferrin-like protein (MTf): structure, evolution and selective expression during chondrogenic differentiation of mouse embryonic cells.

Mouse membrane-bound transferrin-like protein (MTf) cDNA was cloned to examine its expression during chondrogenic differentiation in the mouse embryonic cell line ATDC5, and to analyze the phylogenetic relationships among the MTfs of four animal species and 23 other transferrin members. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the MTf gene diverged from the common ancestor gene earlier than the genes of the other transferrins such as serum transferrin, lactoferrin and ovotransferrin, and that the divergence occurred after the divergence of vertebrates and invertebrates. MTf, as well as the other transferrins, consists of two repeated domains. The similarity between the N-terminal and the C-terminal domains of MTf is much higher than that of the other transferrins, although the five amino acid residues required for iron binding were not conserved in the C-terminal domain of MTf in contrast to the conservation of these residues in both domains of the other transferrins. Among various adult mouse tissues, MTf mRNA was expressed at the highest level in cartilage and at a moderate level in the testis. MTf mRNA was expressed only at very low levels in the brain, spleen, thymus, muscle, lung, skin and intestine, and hardly detected in the heart, kidney, stomach and liver. In cultures of the mouse ATDC5 cell line, MTf is developmentally expressed in parallel with the expression of type II collagen and aggrecan, in the pattern commensurate with the onset of chondrogenesis to form cartilage nodules. The structural characteristics and the expression pattern suggest that during development and in adult tissues, MTf has some functions that are different from those of other transferrins.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1999

Characterization of a high-affinity phenol hydroxylase from Comamonas testosteroni R5 by gene cloning, and expression in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1c.

Comamonas testosteroni strain R5 is a phenol-degrading bacterium which expresses a phenol-oxygenating activity that is characterized by low Ks (the apparent half-saturation constant in Haldane's equation) and low K(SI) (the apparent inhibition constant) values. We have now cloned the gene cluster encoding a phenol hydroxylase (phcKLMNOP) and its cognate regulator (phcR) from strain R5. Transformation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1c (Phenol Catechol+) with pROR502, a derivative of pRO1614 containing the cloned genes, confers the ability to grow on phenol as the sole carbon source. The Ks and K(SI) values for the phenol-oxygenating activity of PAO1c(pROR502) are almost identical to those of strain R5, suggesting that the phcKLMNOP genes encode the major phenol hydroxylase in strain R5. A phylogenetic analysis shows the phenol hydroxylase from strain R5 to be more closely related to toluene/benzene-2-monooxygenase (Tb2m) from Pseudomonas sp. JS150 than to the phenol hydroxylases from P. putida CF600 and BH, or to the phenol hydroxylase from Ralstonia eutropha E2. Analysis of the substrate specificity of PAO1c(pROR502) and PAO1c derivatives expressing phenol hydroxylase from P. putida BH or from R. eutropha E2 indicates that these phenol hydroxylases catalyze the oxidation not only of phenol and cresols but also of toluene and benzene.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1999

An outbreak of nonflocculating catabolic populations caused the breakdown of a phenol-digesting activated-sludge process.

Activated sludge was fed phenol as the sole carbon source, and the phenol-loading rate was increased stepwise from 0.5 to 1.0 g liter-1 day-1 and then to 1.5 g liter-1 day-1. After the loading rate was increased to 1.5 g liter-1 day-1, nonflocculating bacteria outgrew the sludge, and the activated-sludge process broke down within 1 week. The bacterial population structure of the activated sludge was analyzed by temperature gradient gel electrophoresis (TGGE) of PCR-amplified 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) fragments. We found that the population diversity decreased as the phenol-loading rate increased and that two populations (designated populations R6 and R10) predominated in the sludge during the last several days before breakdown. The R6 population was present under the low-phenol-loading-rate conditions, while the R10 population was present only after the loading rate was increased to 1.5 g liter-1 day-1. A total of 41 bacterial strains with different repetitive extragenic palindromic sequence PCR patterns were isolated from the activated sludge under different phenol-loading conditions, and the 16S rDNA and gyrB fragments of these strains were PCR amplified and sequenced. Some bacterial isolates could be associated with major TGGE bands by comparing the 16S rDNA sequences. All of the bacterial strains affiliated with the R6 population had almost identical 16S rDNA sequences, while the gyrB phylogenetic analysis divided these strains into two physiologically divergent groups; both of these groups of strains could grow on phenol, while one group (designated the R6F group) flocculated in laboratory media and the other group (the R6T group) did not. A competitive PCR analysis in which specific gyrB sequences were used as the primers showed that a population shift from R6F to R6T occurred following the increase in the phenol-loading rate to 1.5 g liter-1 day-1. The R10 population corresponded to nonflocculating phenol-degrading bacteria. Our results suggest that an outbreak of nonflocculating catabolic populations caused the breakdown of the activated-sludge process. This study also demonstrated the usefulness of gyrB-targeted fine population analyses in microbial ecology.

Bacteria↗
PubMed1998

Molecular detection, isolation, and physiological characterization of functionally dominant phenol-degrading bacteria in activated sludge.

DNA was isolated from phenol-digesting activated sludge, and partial fragments of the 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) and the gene encoding the largest subunit of multicomponent phenol hydroxylase (LmPH) were amplified by PCR. An analysis of the amplified fragments by temperature gradient gel electrophoresis (TGGE) demonstrated that two major 16S rDNA bands (bands R2 and R3) and two major LmPH gene bands (bands P2 and P3) appeared after the activated sludge became acclimated to phenol. The nucleotide sequences of these major bands were determined. In parallel, bacteria were isolated from the activated sludge by direct plating or by plating after enrichment either in batch cultures or in a chemostat culture. The bacteria isolated were classified into 27 distinct groups by a repetitive extragenic palindromic sequence PCR analysis. The partial nucleotide sequences of 16S rDNAs and LmPH genes of members of these 27 groups were then determined. A comparison of these nucleotide sequences with the sequences of the major TGGE bands indicated that the major bacterial populations, R2 and R3, possessed major LmPH genes P2 and P3, respectively. The dominant populations could be isolated either by direct plating or by chemostat culture enrichment but not by batch culture enrichment. One of the dominant strains (R3) which contained a novel type of LmPH (P3), was closely related to Valivorax paradoxus, and the result of a kinetic analysis of its phenol-oxygenating activity suggested that this strain was the principal phenol digester in the activated sludge.

Acinetobacter↗
PubMed1996

Distribution of nitric oxide synthase-containing nerves in the aganglionic intestine of mutant rats: a histochemical study.

We examined the distribution of nerves containing nitric oxide synthase in the intestine of congenitally aganglionic rats, using a reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate diaphorase histochemical method for whole-mount and cryostat specimens. A constricted intestinal segment extends from the terminal ileum to the anus in this mutant. No nerve elements with the activity were found in the affected terminal ileum, cecum and proximal colon. Although intrinsic ganglionic neurons were absent along the constricted intestine, nerve fibers with the activity were found in both the submucous and intermuscular layers distal to the proximal colon. These fibers increased in density towards the rectum, forming hypertrophic nerve bundles and unusual fiber networks. However, positive fibers were never seen within the circular and longitudinal musculature of the constricted lesion. Some of these hypertrophic nerve bundles were continuous with ectopic ganglia that were situated in the adventitial connective tissue around the lower rectum and in the submucosa near the anus. The hypertrophic nerve bundles seemed to have an extrinsic origin; some of them may have originated from ectopic ganglia. These results suggest that the defective distribution of nerves containing nitric oxide synthase may be involved in the pathogenesis of congenital colonic aganglionosis.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Origins of nerve fibers containing nitric oxide synthase in the rat celiac-superior mesenteric ganglion.

The origin of nitric oxide synthase-containing nerve fibers in rat celiac-superior mesenteric ganglion was examined using retrograde tracing techniques combined with the immunofluorescence method. Fluoro-Gold was injected into the celiac-superior mesenteric ganglion. Neuronal cell bodies retrogradely labeled with Fluoro-Gold in the thoracic spinal cord, the dorsal root ganglia at the thoracic level, the nodose ganglion, and the intestine from the duodenum to the proximal colon were examined for nitric oxide synthase immunoreactivity. About 60% of sympathetic preganglionic neurons in the intermediolateral nucleus projecting to the celiac-superior mesenteric ganglion were immunoreactive for nitric oxide synthase, as were approximately 27% of nodose ganglion neurons and about 65% of dorsal root ganglion neurons projecting to the celiac-superior mesenteric ganglion. Neurons projecting to the celiac-superior mesenteric ganglion were found in the myenteric plexus of the small and large intestine. In the proximal colon, about 23% of such neurons were immunoreactive for nitric oxide synthase. However, in the small intestine, no immunoreactivity was found in these neurons.

Amino Acid Oxidoreductases↗
PubMed1995

Effect of chronic vanadate administration in partially depancreatized rats.

The effects of vanadate on B-cell function and replication in rats after 90% partial pancreatectomy (Px) were compared with insulin therapy. At the age of 4 weeks, male Wistar rats were subjected to sham operation or Px. Vanadate (0.2 mg/ml) was given in drinking water for 3 weeks starting at 2 weeks after surgery. Regular insulin (2.4 units/day) was administered as a continuous subcutaneous infusion through an osmotic pump. Plasma glucose levels were significantly higher in the Px rats than in the sham rats from 1 week after surgery. Vanadate lowered plasma glucose levels to near normal values in the Px rats as early as 2 days. The effect was sustained throughout the experiment. The hypoglycemic effect of insulin was less than that of vanadate. During an i.p. glucose tolerance test, plasma glucose levels were decreased in the Px rats treated with vanadate or insulin, while plasma insulin levels were not affected. The insulin content in the Px rats treated with vanadate was significantly (P < 0.01) greater than in the insulin-treated Px rats. Histological examination showed fibrotic degeneration in the enlarged islets of Px rats, whereas the normal structure was retained in most islets of the Px rats treated with vanadate and insulin. In addition, B-cell areas within the islet were restored to normal levels not only in the insulin-treated Px rats but in the vanadate-treated Px rats. However, both vanadate and insulin failed to stimulate proliferative activity of the B-cells. These data suggest that vanadate is a new therapeutic option to ameliorate the diabetic state after Px.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1995

[Bone mineral density of the lumbar spine and its relation to biological and lifestyle factors in middle-aged and aged Japanese women (Part 3). Relationships of physical fitness and lifestyle factors to bone mineral density in premenopausal and postmenopausal women].

We recruited community-dwelling women for participation in a study to investigate the effects of risk factors in lifestyle on bone mineral density (BMD). The subjects were 177 women aged 35 years and over living in a rural area in Fukui Prefecture. Their BMD of the lumbar spine (L2-L4) was determined by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). In addition to measurements of height, body weight and grip strength, the lifestyles of the women, including physical load in work, sporting activities, smoking habits, calcium intake, and history of bone fracture were interviewed in detail. Adjusted for age, the BMD significantly correlated to body weight (r = 0.337, p < 0.05 for premenopausal women and r = 0.289, p < 0.01 for postmenopausal women) and body mass index (kg/m2) (r = 0.291, p < 0.05 for premenopausal women and r = 0.190, p < 0.05 for postmenopausal women). These results indicated the lower body weight to be a risk factor for the osteoporotic process in middle-aged and aged women. With respect to the grip strength as a physical fitness indicator, a significant correlation coefficient (r = 0.267, p < 0.01) with BMD was obtained for postmenopausal women independent of age and body weight. In univariate analysis, BMD showed no significant correlations with sporting activities, smoking habits, lower back pain and history of bone fracture for either premenopausal women or postmenopausal women.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Asian People↗
PubMed1995

[Multiparametric cytometric analysis of hepatocellular carcinoma and its allied lesions combining DNA ploidy analysis with morphometry using DAPI/HP double staining].

Hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) of various differentiation, Edmondson (Edm) grade I-IV, often based upon viral infectious hepatitis transformed through regeneration, nodular and/or dysplastic adenomatous hyperplasia. Aspiration cytology, even needle biopsy for such lesions, is very difficult to interpret. We have been studying multiparametric cytologic analysis using DAPI/Hematoporphyrin (HP) staining for the cece samples provided from exactly trimmed 50-microns thick paraffin sections, employing a new software program which we developed, combining DNA ploidy and cell protein content analysis with morphometry. DAPI indicates DNA content and nuclear size and HP indicates cell protein content and cell size. From 21 cases of HCC, 43 nodules or masses including multiple lesions and nodule in nodule were analyzed. Surrounding non-neoplastic hepatic tissues were examined as the control specimens. On DNA histogram, cases with the peak over 2.4 c are identified as aneuploid (Aneupl). Cases of Edm I, or II, 6 of 8 samples showed Aneupl., all of 11 cases of Edm II, 11 cases of Edm III, and one of Edm IV showed Aneupl. Multinodular foci in the same cases and also nodule in nodule often showed different modes of Aneupl. This suggested heterogenetic carcinogeneity. Noncarcinomatous foci often showed Aneupl. modes, which may indicate malignant transformation or malignant potential.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular↗
PubMed1994

Ultrastructural study on NOS-immunoreactive nerve terminals in the rat coeliac ganglion.

Nerve terminals immunoreactive for nitric oxide synthase (NOS) were studied in the rat coeliac-superior mesenteric ganglion by electron microscopy using a pre-embedding immunostaining method. The immunoreactive material was distributed in the axoplasmic matrix and was not specifically associated with any subcellular organelle. In most NOS-immunoreactive axon terminals numerous small clear vesicles (35-50 nm) were seen, and in some terminals a small number of large granular vesicles (70-120 nm) were intermingled with small clear vesicles. Most NOS-immunoreactive axon terminals formed axodendritic as well as axo-somatic synapses with non-immunoreactive ganglion neurones, and axo-axonic contacts were very scarce. These results suggest that NO may be released at the synaptic sites from the axon terminals and may affect ganglion neurones.

Amino Acid Oxidoreductases↗