Kumamoto University

About: Kumamoto University is a education organization based out in Kumamoto, Kumamoto, Japan. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Cancer & Population. The organization has 19602 authors who have published 35513 publications receiving 901260 citations. The organization is also known as: Kumamoto Daigaku.

Unstable expansion of CAG repeat in hereditary dentatorubral–pallidoluysian atrophy (DRPLA)

Abstract: Hereditary dentatorubral–pallidoluysian atrophy (DRPLA) is an autosomal dominant neurologic disorder characterized by variable combinations of myoclonus, epilepsy, cerebellar ataxia, choreoathetosis and dementia. By specifically searching published brain cDNA sequences for the presence of CAG repeats we identified unstable expansion of a CAG in a gene on chromosome 12 in all the 22 DRPLA patients examined. A good correlation between the size of the CAG repeat expansion and the ages of disease onset is found in this group. Patients with earlier onset tended to have a phenotype of progressive myoclonus epilepsy and larger expansions. We propose that the wide variety of clinical manifestations of DRPLA can now be explained by the variable unstable expansion of the CAG repeat.

The Japanese Society of Hypertension guidelines for the management of hypertension (JSH 2014)

Abstract: Kazuaki SHIMAMOTO, Katsuyuki ANDO, Toshiro FUJITA, Naoyuki HASEBE, Jitsuo HIGAKI, Masatsugu HORIUCHI, Yutaka IMAI, Tsutomu IMAIZUMI, Toshihiko ISHIMITSU, Masaaki ITO, Sadayoshi ITO, Hiroshi ITOH, Hiroshi IWAO, Hisashi KAI, Kazuomi KARIO, Naoki KASHIHARA, Yuhei KAWANO, Shokei KIM-MITSUYAMA, Genjiro KIMURA, Katsuhiko KOHARA, Issei KOMURO, Hiroo KUMAGAI, Hideo MATSUURA, Katsuyuki MIURA, Ryuichi MORISHITA, Mitsuhide NARUSE, Koichi NODE, Yusuke OHYA, Hiromi RAKUGI, Ikuo SAITO, Shigeyuki SAITOH, Kazuyuki SHIMADA, Tatsuo SHIMOSAWA, Hiromichi SUZUKI, Kouichi TAMURA, Norio TANAHASHI, Takuya TSUCHIHASHI, Makoto UCHIYAMA, Shinichiro UEDA, Satoshi UMEMURA, on behalf of The Japanese Society of Hypertension Committee for Guidelines for the Management of Hypertension

Insulin resistance and growth retardation in mice lacking insulin receptor substrate-1.

Abstract: INSULIN receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) is the major substrate of insulin receptor and IGF-1 receptor tyrosine kinases; it has an apparent relative molecular mass of 160–190,000 (Mr, 160–190K) on SDS polyacrylamide gel1–3. Tyrosine-phosphorylated IRS-1 binds the 85K subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase4,5 which may be involved in the translocation of glucose transporters6,7 and the abundant src homology protein (ASH)/Grb28,9 which may be involved in activation of p2lras and MAP kinase cascade10. IRS-1 also has binding sites for Syp11 and Nck12 and other src homology 2 (SH2) signalling molecules10. To clarify the physiological roles of IRS-1 in vivo, we made mice with a targeted disruption of the IRS-1 gene locus. Mice homozygous for targeted disruption of the IRS-1 gene were born alive but were retarded in embryonal and postnatal growth. They also had resistance to the glucose-lowering effects of insulin, IGF-1 and IGF-2. These data suggest the exis-tence of both IRS-1-dependent and IRS-1-independent pathways for signal transduction of insulin and IGFs.

Genome sequence of the ultrasmall unicellular red alga Cyanidioschyzon merolae 10D

Abstract: Small, compact genomes of ultrasmall unicellular algae provide information on the basic and essential genes that support the lives of photosynthetic eukaryotes, including higher plants. Here we report the 16,520,305-base-pair sequence of the 20 chromosomes of the unicellular red alga Cyanidioschyzon merolae 10D as the first complete algal genome. We identified 5,331 genes in total, of which at least 86.3% were expressed. Unique characteristics of this genomic structure include: a lack of introns in all but 26 genes; only three copies of ribosomal DNA units that maintain the nucleolus; and two dynamin genes that are involved only in the division of mitochondria and plastids. The conserved mosaic origin of Calvin cycle enzymes in this red alga and in green plants supports the hypothesis of the existence of single primary plastid endosymbiosis. The lack of a myosin gene, in addition to the unexpressed actin gene, suggests a simpler system of cytokinesis. These results indicate that the C. merolae genome provides a model system with a simple gene composition for studying the origin, evolution and fundamental mechanisms of eukaryotic cells.

Persistence of a small subpopulation of cancer stem-like cells in the C6 glioma cell line

Abstract: Both stem cells and cancer cells are thought to be capable of unlimited proliferation. Paradoxically, however, some cancers seem to contain stem-like cells (cancer stem cells). To help resolve this paradox, we investigated whether established malignant cell lines, which have been maintained for years in culture, contain a subpopulation of stem cells. In this article, we show that many cancer cell lines contain a small side population (SP), which, in many normal tissues, is thought to contain the stem cells of the tissue. We demonstrate that in the absence of serum the combination of basic fibroblast growth factor and platelet-derived growth factor maintains SP cells in the C6 glioma cell line. Moreover, we show that C6 SP cells, but not non-SP cells, can generate both SP and non-SP cells in culture and are largely responsible for the in vivo malignancy of this cell line. Finally, we provide evidence that C6 SP cells can produce both neurons and glial cells in vitro and in vivo. We propose that many cancer cell lines contain a minor subpopulation of stem cells that is enriched in an SP, can be maintained indefinitely in culture, and is crucial for their malignancy.