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Tohru Takarada

Publications and source records attributed to Tohru Takarada.

14 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

FRET-based monitoring of conformational change of the beta2 adrenergic receptor in living cells.

The beta(2) adrenergic receptor (beta(2)AR) is a G protein-coupled receptor that is selective to epinephrine. We demonstrate herein monitoring of an agonist-induced conformational change of beta(2)AR in living cells. The monitoring method is based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer from a cyan fluorescent protein (CFP) to a biarsenical fluorophore, FlAsH, attached to the C-terminus, and the third intracellular loop (ICL3), respectively. Recombinant beta(2)ARs exhibited agonist-induced increases in the FlAsH/CFP emission ratio, indicating that the ICL3 approached the C-terminus upon activation. Since the emission ratio changes were on a time scale of seconds, the conformational change of beta(2)AR in living cells was more rapid than that of purified beta(2)AR measured in vitro. Interestingly, the direction of the emission ratio change of beta(2)AR was opposite to that of the norepinephrine-responsive alpha(2A) adrenergic receptor reported recently. It was suggested that this discrepancy corresponds directly to the diametric biological functions, i.e., the activation or inactivation of adenylyl cyclase.

Adrenergic beta-2 Receptor Agonists↗
PubMed2006

A MutS protein-immobilized au electrode for detecting single-base mismatch of DNA.

A novel electrochemical biosensor was developed to detect gene mutation by using a DNA-mismatch binding protein: MutS from Escherichia coli. The MutS protein was immobilized onto an Au-electrode surface via complex formation between a histidine tag of the MutS protein and a thiol-modified nitrilotriacetic acid chemically adsorbed on the Au-electrode surface. When a target double-stranded DNA having a single-base mismatch was captured by the MutS protein on the electrode, some electrostatic repulsion arose between polyanionic DNA strands and anionic redox couple ions. Consequently, their redox peak currents on a cyclic voltammogram with the Au electrode drastically decreased, depending on the concentration of the target DNA, according to the redox couple-mediated artificial ion-channel principle. By using this assay, one can detect all types of single-base mismatch and single-base deletion.

Base Pair Mismatch↗
PubMed2005

Capillary electrophoretic discrimination of single nucleotide polymorphisms using an oligodeoxyribonucleotidepolyacrylamide conjugate as a pseudo-immobilized affinity ligand: optimum ligand length predicted by the melting temperature values.

We developed a weak-affinity separation system for single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) based on capillary electrophoresis. In this approach, single-stranded DNA (ssDNA)-polyacrylamide (polyAAm) conjugate was used as a pseudo-immobilized affinity ligand to separate the target DNA, cytochrome P450 2C9 (CYP2C9), and its point mutant. The ligand DNA was designed to be complementary to the normal DNA, and the target DNA was electrophoretically separated by the difference in the affinity with the pseudo-immobilized ligand in the capillary. We showed that the separation efficiency was closely associated with the Tm value of double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) consisting of the target and ligand DNA, which depends on the measurement conditions, such as the base number of the ligand DNA and the concentration of Mg2+ in the buffer solution.

Acrylic Resins↗
PubMed2004

Photoactivation of a substrate for cell adhesion under standard fluorescence microscopes.

Cell-culturing substrates where cell adhesion can be switched on by external stimuli during cell cultivation are useful scaffolds for tissue engineering, cell-based drug screening, and fundamental cellular studies. Here, we show a new strategy for photoactivation of a substrate for cell adhesion under standard fluorescence microscopes. A glass substrate chemically modified with an alkylsiloxane having a photocleavable 2-nitrobenzyl group was coated with bovine serum albumin to prevent cell adhesion. Upon irradiation under a fluorescence microscope, the protein was replaced with fibronectin, which made the irradiated region cell-adhesive. Subsequent seeding of HEK293 or COS7 cells produced patterns corresponding to the irradiated patterns. We succeeded for the first time in positioning single cells in proximity to cultivating single cells. The present method provides a general strategy for positioning single cells of same or different types at any locations on the substrate and will be useful for studying cell-cell interactions.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

DNA-dye conjugates for controllable H aggregation(1).

Methyl Red H aggregate of predetermined size is successfully synthesized from the DNA conjugate involving multiple Methyl Red moieties in sequence. In the single stranded state, hypsochromicity monotonically increases with the number of incorporated dyes: the peak maximum of the conjugate involving six Methyl Reds appears at 415 nm, and the shift is as great as 69 nm (3435 cm(-)(1)) with respect to the monomeric transition. This large hypsochromicity accompanied by the narrowing of the band clearly demonstrates that H aggregate is formed in the single strand. H aggregation is further promoted at higher ionic strength. Upon addition of complementary DNA below the T(m), however, this H band disappears and a new peak appears at 448 nm, indicating that aggregated structure is changed by the duplex formation. This spectral change is completely reversible so that the H band at 415 nm appears again above T(m). Thus, aggregated structure can be reversibly controlled by the formation and dissociation of the DNA duplex.

Azo Compounds↗
PubMed2003

Metal-ion-assisted hydrolysis of dipeptides involving a serine residue in a neutral aqueous solution.

Dipeptides having a serine residue at the C-terminus, X-Ser, where X is an appropriate amino acid residue, were efficiently hydrolyzed in the presence of ZnCl2 at pH 7.0. The rapid hydrolysis of X-Ser is due to an autocatalysis of the hydroxy group in the serine residue, and is found to be accelerated by a metal ion, in particular by ZnCl2. Roles of the metal ion in the hydrolysis of peptides involving a serine residue, in relation to the recently reported protein cleavages, are discussed.

Chlorides↗
PubMed2003

Propofol-induced anesthesia in mice is mediated by gamma-aminobutyric acid-A and excitatory amino acid receptors.

UNLABELLED: To elucidate the role of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)(A) receptor complex and excitatory amino acid receptors (N-methyl-D-aspartate [NMDA] and non-NMDA receptors) in propofol-induced anesthesia, we examined behaviorally the effects of GABAergic and glutamatergic drugs on propofol anesthesia in mice. All drugs were administered intraperitoneally. General anesthetic potencies were evaluated using a righting reflex assay. The GABA(A) receptor agonist muscimol potentiated propofol (140 mg/kg; 50% effective dose for loss of righting reflex) induced anesthesia. Similarly, the benzodiazepine receptor agonist diazepam and the NMDA receptor antagonist MK-801 augmented propofol anesthesia, but the non-NMDA receptor antagonist CNQX did not. In contrast, the GABA(A) receptor antagonist bicuculline antagonized propofol (200 mg/kg; 95% effective dose for loss of righting reflex) induced anesthesia. However, neither the benzodiazepine receptor antagonist flumazenil, the GABA synthesis inhibitor L-allylglycine, nor the NMDA receptor agonist NMDA reversed propofol anesthesia. Conversely, the non-NMDA receptor agonist kainate enhanced propofol anesthesia. These results suggest that propofol-induced anesthesia is mediated, at least in part, by both GABA(A) and excitatory amino acid receptors. IMPLICATIONS: We examined behaviorally the effects of GABAergic and glutamatergic drugs on propofol-induced anesthesia in mice. The results suggest that propofol anesthesia is mediated, at least in part, by both GABA(A) and excitatory amino acid receptors.

Anesthesia, General↗
PubMed2003

Oligodeoxynucleotide-modified capillary for electrophoretic separation of single-stranded DNAs with a single-base difference.

We describe here a method of affinity capillary electrophoresis in which oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) was immobilized onto the inner surface of the capillary. The immobilized ODN functioned successfully as an affinity ligand for sequence-based DNA separation. Six- or 12-mer ODN with a sequence complementary to one of the c-K-ras gene was used as an immobilized ligand. When the 12-mer ODN was used, the detection peak for the complementary ODN disappeared selectively, while the single-base mutant was detected as usual. In contrast, when the 6-mer ODN was used as the affinity ligand with a mixture of the complementary ODN and its single-base mutant, it was possible to detect both as completely separate peaks. That is, the separation mode was dependent on the base number of the immobilized ODN used as an affinity ligand.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed2002

The separation of oligodeoxynucleotides having a single-base difference by affinity capillary electrophoresis using oligodeoxynucleotide- polyacrylamide conjugate.

We have developed an affinity capillary electrophoresis for gene mutation assay. We show a method for separating a mixture of oligodeoxynucleotides having single-base difference using oligodeoxynucleotide-polyacrylamide conjugate. Because the conjugate behaved similarly to nonionic polyacrylamide in terms of migration rate, it can be used as a pseudoimmobilized affinity ligand in a polyacrylamide-coated capillary. Oligodeoxynucleotide having an oncogene sequence and a version with one base substituted were completely separated by this method. The magnesium-ion concentration was found to be a key factor in achieving efficient separation of oligodeoxynucleotides with the same chain length.

Acrylic Resins↗
PubMed2002

Effects of GABAergic agents on anesthesia induced by halothane, isoflurane, and thiamylal in mice.

The effects of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor modulators and GABA uptake inhibitors on volatile and intravenous anesthetic-induced anesthesia were examined in male ICR mice, as assessed by the loss of righting reflex (LORR). The GABA uptake inhibitors, NO-711 and SKF89976A, which are permeable to the blood-brain barrier (BBB), but not nipecotic acid or guvacine, which poorly permeate BBB, shortened the onset of LORR but did not affect the duration of LORR induced by 1.5% halothane and 2% isoflurane. NO-711 and SKF89976A shortened the onset of and prolonged the duration of LORR induced by thiamylal (45 mg/kg i.p.). The GABA mimetics, muscimol and diazepam, shortened the onset of and prolonged the duration of LORR induced by halothane, isoflurane, and thiamylal. On the other hand, picrotoxin, a GABAA receptor antagonist, prolonged the onset of LORR induced by all anesthetics tested. Another GABAA receptor antagonist, bicuculline, prolonged the onset of LORR induced by halothane, but not by isoflurane or thiamylal. Both antagonists failed to affect the duration of LORR induced by halothane, isoflurane, or thiamylal. Baclofen, a GABAB receptor agonist, enhanced both volatile anesthetics- and thiamylal-induced anesthesia. These results suggest that anesthesia induced by volatile and intravenous anesthetics might be correlated with the modification of the pre- and/or postsynaptic GABAergic activities.

Anesthesia↗
PubMed2002

Gene mutation assay using a MutS protein-modified electrode.

A novel electrochemical biosensor for gene mutation detection was developed using a DNA mismatch recognizing protein MutS from E. coli. The MutS protein was immobilized onto an Au electrode by coordination of His-tag at its C-terminus to vacant sites of Ni(II)-nitrilotriacetato complex attached to the surface of electrode. When a target DNA duplex having a mismatch site was captured by the MutS protein on the electrode, the electrostatic repulsion arose between polyanionic DNA duplexes and negatively-charged ferrocyanide/ferricyanide redox couple ions. Consequently, their redox peak currents on a cyclic voltammogram with the Au electrode drastically decreased depending on the concentration of the target DNA according to the redox couple-mediated artificial ion-channel principle. Using this assay, we could detect GT mismatch and deletion mutation in the double-stranded DNA.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗
PubMed2002

Clinical recovery time from conscious sedation for dental outpatients.

For dental outpatients undergoing conscious sedation, recovery from sedation must be sufficient to allow safe discharge home, and many researchers have defined "recovery time" as the time until the patient was permitted to return home after the end of dental treatment. But it is frequently observed that patients remain in the clinic after receiving permission to go home. The present study investigated "clinical recovery time," which is defined as the time until discharge from the clinic after a dental procedure. We analyzed data from 61 outpatients who had received dental treatment under conscious sedation at the Hiroshima University Dental Hospital between January 1998 and December 2000 (nitrous oxide-oxygen inhalation sedation [n = 35], intravenous sedation with midazolam [n = 10], intravenous sedation with propofol [n = 16]). We found that the median clinical recovery time was 40 minutes after nitrous oxide-oxygen sedation, 80 minutes after midazolam sedation, and 52 minutes after propofol sedation. The clinical recovery time was about twice as long as the recovery time described in previous studies. In a comparison of the sedation methods, clinical recovery time differed (P = .0008), being longer in the midazolam sedation group than in the nitrous oxide-oxygen sedation group (P = .018). These results suggest the need for changes in treatment planning for dental outpatients undergoing conscious sedation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Enantioselective Incorporation of Azobenzenes into Oligodeoxyribonucleotide for Effective Photoregulation of Duplex Formation This work was partially supported by a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan (Molecular Synchronization for Design of New Materials System). The support by the Grant from "Research for the Future" Program of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS-RFTF97I00301) is also acknowledged.

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Journal Article↗