Kagawa University

About: Kagawa University is a education organization based out in Takamatsu, Japan. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Cancer & Population. The organization has 6028 authors who have published 11918 publications receiving 224111 citations. The organization is also known as: Kagawa Daigaku.

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

Abstract: 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.

Trehalose-induced drought stress tolerance: a comparative study among different Brassica species.

Abstract: Comparative responses of three Brassica species including B. napus, B. campestris and B. juncea under polyethylene glycol induced drought stress and the protective effects of exogenous Trehalose were investigated. Although drought reduced fresh, dry weight, chlorophyll (chl) contents; increased proline (Pro) content and oxidative stresses (lipoxygenase, LOX activity; malondealdehyde, MDA; H2O2 contents) along with altered antioxidant and glyoxalase systems in all Brassica species, B. juncea seems to be the most drought tolerant species showing the least oxidative damage due to enhancement of some non-enzymatic and enzymatic antioxidants. Combination of Tre and drought improved performance of all species, but responses were different. In B. juncea, combination of Tre with drought improved seedlings’ fresh weight, dry weight, leaf relative water content (RWC), chl a, chl b, ascorbate (AsA), glutathione (GSH) contents, AsA/DHA (ratio of AsA and dehydroascorbate) and GSH/GSSG (reduced to oxidized GSH) ratios; enhanced ascorbate peroxidase (APX), dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and glyoxalase II (Gly II) activities; reduced MDA, H2O2, Pro (proline), LOX activity. Brassica napus seedlings with Tre addition under drought showed improved seedlings’ fresh weight, dry weight, GSH/GSSG ratio; upregulated catalase (CAT), glutathione S-transferase (GST), glyoxalase I (Gly I) activities; reduced MDA, H2O2 contents and LOX activity. In B. campestris Tre supplementation with drought improved fresh weight, RWC, chl a, chl b, chl (a+b) contents; AsA/DHA ratio, MDHAR activity. The results suggest that B. juncea is naturally drought tolerant species and moreover, its drought tolerance capability is further enhanced by exogenous Tre application.

Recovery of parathyroid function after total thyroidectomy: Long-term follow-up study

Abstract: Background: To prevent postoperative hypoparathyroidism following total thyroidectomy, the parathyroid glands are preserved in situ and/or resected or devascularized parathyroid glands are autotransplanted. A retrospective investigation was conducted utilizing biochemical and specific endocrine assessments to evaluate the difference in recovery of parathyroid function in the long term. Methods: A total of 103 patients underwent total thyroidectomy at Second Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Kagawa University between 1990 and 1998. These patients were divided into a preservation group (n = 17), with only preserved glands in situ; a combination group (n = 72), consisting of patients with one or more parathyroid glands preserved in situ and one or more autotransplanted parathyroid glands; and an autotransplantation group (n = 14), with only transplanted glands. Results: The overall incidence of permanent hypoparathyroidism in the preservation group, the combination group, and the autotransplantation group was 0%, 1.4%, and 21.4%, respectively. The mean levels of intact parathyroid hormone in the preservation group, the combination group, and the autotransplantation group recovered to 102%, 107%, and 50% of the preoperative levels at 5-year follow up. Conclusion: The results of the present study suggest that parathyroid glands should be preserved in situ whenever possible, to promote better recovery of postoperative function, and that only autotransplantation produces inadequate recovery of long-term function.

Oxidative Damage and Antioxidant Defense in Sesamum indicum after Different Waterlogging Durations

Abstract: The present study was designed to investigate the duration-dependent changes in the biochemical attributes of sesame in response to waterlogging stress. Sesame plants (Sesamum indicum L. cv. BARI Til-4) were subjected to waterlogging for 2, 4, 6, and 8 days during the vegetative stage and data were measured following waterlogging treatment. The present study proves that waterlogging causes severe damage to different attributes of the sesame plant. The plants showed an increasing trend in lipid peroxidation as well as hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and methylglyoxal contents that corresponded to increased stress duration. A prolonged period of waterlogging decreased leaf relative water content and proline content. Photosynthetic pigments, like chlorophyll (chl) a, b, and chl (a+b) and carotenoid contents, also decreased over time in stressed plants. Glutathione (GSH) and oxidized glutathione (GSSG) contents increased under waterlogging, while the GSH/GSSG ratio and ascorbate content decreased, indicating the disruption of redox balance in the cell. Ascorbate peroxidase, monodehydroascorbate reductase, and glutathione peroxidase activity increased under waterlogging, while dehydroascorbate reductase, glutathione reductase, and catalase activity mostly decreased. Waterlogging modulated the glyoxalase system mostly by enhancing glyoxalase II activity, with a slight increase in glyoxalase I activity. The present study also demonstrates the induction of oxidative stress via waterlogging in sesame plants and that stress levels increase with increased waterlogging duration.