Kyushu University

About: Kyushu University is a education organization based out in Fukuoka, Japan. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Catalysis. The organization has 68284 authors who have published 135190 publications receiving 3055928 citations. The organization is also known as: Kyūshū Daigaku.

Primary structure of α -subunit precursor of Torpedo californica acetylcholine receptor deduced from cDNA sequence

Abstract: DNA sequences complementary to the Torpedo californica electroplax mRNA coding for the α-subunit precursor of the acetylcholine receptor were cloned. The nucleotide sequence of the cloned cDNA indicates that the precursor consists of 461 amino acids including a prepeptide of 24 amino acids. Possible sites for acetylcholine binding and antigenic determinants on the α-subunit molecule are discussed.

Mutational landscape and clonal architecture in grade II and III gliomas

Abstract: Grade II and III gliomas are generally slowly progressing brain cancers, many of which eventually transform into more aggressive tumors Despite recent findings of frequent mutations in IDH1 and other genes, knowledge about their pathogenesis is still incomplete Here, combining two large sets of high-throughput sequencing data, we delineate the entire picture of genetic alterations and affected pathways in these glioma types, with sensitive detection of driver genes Grade II and III gliomas comprise three distinct subtypes characterized by discrete sets of mutations and distinct clinical behaviors Mutations showed significant positive and negative correlations and a chronological hierarchy, as inferred from different allelic burdens among coexisting mutations, suggesting that there is functional interplay between the mutations that drive clonal selection Extensive serial and multi-regional sampling analyses further supported this finding and also identified a high degree of temporal and spatial heterogeneity generated during tumor expansion and relapse, which is likely shaped by the complex but ordered processes of multiple clonal selection and evolutionary events

Involvement of interleukin-8, vascular endothelial growth factor, and basic fibroblast growth factor in tumor necrosis factor alpha-dependent angiogenesis.

Abstract: Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) is a macrophage/monocyte-derived polypeptide which modulates the expression of various genes in vascular endothelial cells and induces angiogenesis. However, the underlying mechanism by which TNF-alpha mediates angiogenesis is not completely understood. In this study, we assessed whether TNF-alpha-induced angiogenesis is mediated through TNF-alpha itself or indirectly through other TNF-alpha-induced angiogenesis-promoting factors. Cellular mRNA levels of interleukin-8 (IL-8), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), and their receptors were increased after the treatment of human microvascular endothelial cells with TNF-alpha (100 U/ml). TNF-alpha-dependent tubular morphogenesis in vascular endothelial cells was inhibited by the administration of anti-IL-8, anti-VEGF, and anti-bFGF antibodies, and coadministration of all three antibodies almost completely abrogated tubular formation. Moreover, treatment with Sp1, NF-kappaB, and c-Jun antisense oligonucleotides inhibited TNF-alpha-dependent tubular morphogenesis by microvascular endothelial cells. Administration of a NF-kappaB antisense oligonucleotide almost completely inhibited TNF-alpha-dependent IL-8 production and partially abrogated TNF-alpha-dependent VEGF production, and an Sp1 antisense sequence partially inhibited TNF-alpha-dependent production of VEGF. A c-Jun antisense oligonucleotide significantly inhibited TNF-alpha-dependent bFGF production but did not affect the production of IL-8 and VEGF. Administration of an anti-IL-8 or anti-VEGF antibody also blocked TNF-alpha-induced neovascularization in the rabbit cornea in vivo. Thus, angiogenesis by TNF-alpha appears to be modulated through various angiogenic factors, both in vitro and in vivo, and this pathway is controlled through paracrine and/or autocrine mechanisms.

Aspects of grand unified models with softly broken supersymmetry

Abstract: The minimal S U(3)× S U(2)× U(1) gauge model with softly broken supersymmetry is studied in the framework of the standard grand unification. It is assumed that the supersymmetry is left intact at an energy scale μ≃ M_X, the grand unification mass scale, except for Majorana masses of gauge fermions. The other soft breaking parameters at low energies are shown to be generated by renormalization effects. The gauge symmetry breaking S U(2)× U(1)→ U(1)em is also caused through radiative corrections. The super-GIM mechanism apparently works well to suppress flavor changing neutral interactions. The mass of the top quark is remarkably found to be constrained as 60 GeV ≾ mt ≾ 180 GeV. Futhermore various mass relations for unconventional particles are obtained as well as crude estimates for numerical masses of them. It is found that there is a plethola of new particles in a mass range from a few tens of GeV to a few hundred GeV.