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.

Organic electroluminescent device having a hole conductor as an emitting layer

Abstract: We have succeeded in fabricating a novel thin‐film electroluminescent device with a luminescent hole transport layer as an emitter. The cell structure is composed of an indium‐tin‐oxide substrate, a luminescent hole transport layer (emitter), an electron transport layer, and a MgAg electrode. The most essential feature of our device owes for adoption of an oxadiazole derivative as an electron transport layer. The emission intensity of 1000 cd/m2 was achieved at a current of 100 mA/cm2.

Mitofusin 1 and 2 play distinct roles in mitochondrial fusion reactions via GTPase activity.

Abstract: The mammalian homologues of yeast and Drosophila Fzo, mitofusin (Mfn) 1 and 2, are both essential for mitochondrial fusion and maintenance of mitochondrial morphology. Though the GTPase domain is required for Mfn protein function, the molecular mechanisms of the GTPase-dependent reaction as well as the functional division of the two Mfn proteins are unknown. To examine the function of Mfn proteins, tethering of mitochondrial membranes was measured in vitro by fluorescence microscopy using green fluorescence protein- or red fluorescent protein-tagged and Mfn1-expressing mitochondria, or by immunoprecipitation using mitochondria harboring HA- or FLAG-tagged Mfn proteins. These experiments revealed that Mfn1-harboring mitochondria were efficiently tethered in a GTP-dependent manner, whereas Mfn2-harboring mitochondria were tethered with only low efficiency. Sucrose density gradient centrifugation followed by co-immunoprecipitation revealed that Mfn1 produced oligomerized approximately 250 kDa and approximately 450 kDa complexes in a GTP-dependent manner. The approximately 450 kDa complex contained oligomerized Mfn1 from distinct apposing membranes (docking complex), whereas the approximately 250 kDa complex was composed of Mfn1 present on the same membrane or in the membrane-solubilized state (cis complex). These results were also confirmed using blue-native PAGE. Mfn1 exhibited higher activity for this reaction than Mfn2. Purified recombinant Mfn1 exhibited approximately eightfold higher GTPase activity than Mfn2. These findings indicate that the two Mfn proteins have distinct activities, and suggest that Mfn1 is mainly responsible for GTP-dependent membrane tethering.

ACCLIMATIVE RESPONSE TO TEMPERATURE STRESS IN HIGHER PLANTS: Approaches of Gene Engineering for Temperature Tolerance

Abstract: ▪ Abstract Temperature stresses experienced by plants can be classified into three types: those occurring at (a) temperatures below freezing, (b) low temperatures above freezing, and (c) high temperatures. This review outlines how biological substances that are deeply related to these stresses, such as heat-shock proteins, glycinebetaine as a compatible solute, membrane lipids, etc., and also detoxifiers of active oxygen species, contribute to temperature stress tolerance in plants. Also presented here are the uses of genetic engineering techniques to improve the adaptability of plants to temperature stress by altering the levels and composition of these substances in the living organism. Finally, the future prospects for molecular breeding are discussed.