Showing papers by "Nagoya University published in 1986"

The complete nucleotide sequence of the tobacco chloroplast genome: its gene organization and expression.

Abstract: The complete nucleotide sequence (155 844 bp) of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum var. Bright Yellow 4) chloroplast DNA has been determined. It contains two copies of an identical 25 339 bp inverted repeat, which are separated by a 86 684 bp and a 18 482 bp single-copy region. The genes for 4 different rRNAs, 30 different tRNAs, 39 different proteins and 11 other predicted protein coding genes have been located. Among them, 15 genes contain introns. Blot hybridization revealed that all rRNA and tRNA genes and 27 protein genes so far analysed are transcribed in the chloroplast and that primary transcripts of the split genes hitherto examined are spliced. Five sequences coding for proteins homologous to components of the respiratory-chain NADH dehydrogenase from human mitochondria have been found. The 30 tRNAs predicted from their genes are sufficient to read all codons if the ;two out of three' and ;U:N wobble' mechanisms operate in the chloroplast. Two sequences which autonomously replicate in yeast have also been mapped. The sequence and expression analyses indicate both prokaryotic and eukaryotic features of the chloroplast genes.

Scale-invariant hypercolor model and a dilaton.

Abstract: We propose a scale-invariant hypercolor model with a nontrivial ultraviolet fixed point having large anomalous dimension, which resolves the notorious flavor-changing neutral-current problem in hypercolor models, and at the same time predicts a ${J}^{\mathrm{PC}}={0}^{++}$ Nambu-Goldstone boson (dilaton) associated with the spontaneous breakdown of the scale invariance.

Genetic control of melatonin synthesis in the pineal gland of the mouse.

Abstract: Pineal melatonin may play an important role in regulation of vertebrate circadian rhythms and in human affective disorders. In some mammals, such as hamsters and sheep, melatonin is involved in photoperiodic time measurement and in control of reproduction. Although wild mice (Mus domesticus) and some wild-derived inbred strains of mice have melatonin in their pineal glands, several inbred strains of laboratory mice (for example, C57BL/6J) were found not to have detectable melatonin in their pineal glands. Genetic analysis suggests that melatonin deficiency in C57BL/6J mice results from mutations in two independently segregating, autosomal recessive genes. Synthesis of melatonin from serotonin in the pineal gland requires the enzymes N-acetyltransferase (NAT) and hydroxyindole-O-methyltransferase (HIOMT). Pineal glands from C57BL/6J mice have neither NAT nor HIOMT activity. These results suggest that the two genes involved in melatonin deficiency are responsible for the absence of normal NAT and HIOMT enzyme activity.

Contribution of lignan analogues to antioxidative activity of refined unroasted sesame seed oil

Abstract: A lignan compound, P3, having strong antioxidative activity was found to be formed in high concentration during the industrial bleaching process of unroasted sesame seed oil. P3 (named sesaminol) was identical to a minor constituent previously isolated from acetone extract of sesame seed. It was shown that sesamolin in unprocessed sesame oil is the source of seaseminol, and the formation of seasaminol was confirmed by the model experiment with corn oil to which sesamolin had been added. Sesaminol was not so greatly removed by the deodorization process that follows bleaching as was sesamol, and it was shown to be at a concentration of ca. 100 mg/100g in commercial refined unroasted seed oil. The antioxidative activity of sesaminol was foughly equal to those of sesamol and γ-tocopherol by the thiocyanate method. Therefore, it seems that the antionxidative activity of refined unroasted seed oil is mainly attributed to sesaminol.

A Novel Sucrose Synthase Pathway for Sucrose Degradation in Cultured Sycamore Cells

Abstract: Enzymes of sucrose degradation and glycolysis in cultured sycamore ( Acer pseudoplatanus L.) cells were assayed and characterized in crude extracts and after partial purification, in an attempt to identify pathways for sucrose catabolism. Desalted cell extracts contained similar activities (20-40 nanomoles per milligram protein per minute) of sucrose synthase, neutral invertase, glucokinase, fructokinase, phosphofructokinase, and UDPglucose pyrophosphorylase (assayed with 2 micromolar pyrophosphate (PPi). PPi-linked phosphofructokinase activity was virtually dependent upon fructose 2,6-bisphosphate, and the maximum activity exceeded that of ATP-linked phosphofructokinase. Hexokinase activity, with glucose as substrate, was highly specific for ATP, whereas fructokinase activity was relatively nonspecific. At 1 millimolar nucleoside triphosphate, fructokinase activity decreased in the order: UTP > ATP > CTP > GTP. We propose two pathways for sucrose degradation. One involves invertase action, followed by classical glycolysis of hexose sugars, and the other is a novel pathway initiated by sucrose synthase. The K m for sucrose of sucrose synthase was severalfold lower than that of neutral invertase (15 versus 65 millimolar), which may determine carbon partitioning between the two pathways. The sucrose synthase pathway proposed involves cycling of uridylates and PPi. UDPglucose pyrophosphorylase, which is shown to be an effective `PPi-scavenger,9 would consume PPi and form UTP. The UTP could be then utilized in the UTP-linked fructokinase reaction, thereby forming UDP for sucrose synthase. The source of PPi is postulated to arise from the back reaction of PPi-linked phosphofructokinase. Sycamore cells contained a substantial endogenous pool of PPi (about 3 nanomoles per gram fresh weight, roughly 1/10 the amount of ATP in these cells), and sufficient fructose 2,6-bisphosphate (0.09 nanomole per gram fresh weight) to activate the PPi-linked phosphofructokinase. Possible regulation and energetic differences between the sucrose synthase and invertase pathways are discussed.

Aboveground biomass of tropical rain forest stands in Indonesian Borneo

Abstract: Aboveground plant biomass was examined in a tall virgin tropical lowland evergreen rain forest dominated by Dipterocarpaceae in Sebulu, East Kalimantan, Indonesia, with special reference to the gap-, building- and mature phases of the forest growth cycle. From the records of dimensions of sample trees examined by the stratified clip technique and DBH inventory data of trees in a study plot, the biomass of larger trees (DBH ≥4.5 cm) was estimated by the allometric correlation method. The biomass of smaller plants (DBH < 4.5 cm) was estimated by harvesting the plants in small quadrat plots. Although large differences were found between aboveground-biomass-estimates in different patches of different growth stages, the aboveground biomass in a 1.0 ha plot was 509 t/ha, and the one-sided LAI was 7.3 ha/ha. These values seem to result from the tall forest architecture with huge emergent trees (over 70 m high) and a moderate packing of plant mass indicated by the basal area value of 38.8 m2/ha for trees with DBH ≥4.5 cm.

Transport and Thermal Properties of Heavy-Fermion Superconductors: A Unified Picture

Abstract: The transport and thermal properties of heavy-fermion superconductors are explained in terms of (i) an anisotropic order parameter with a line or lines of nodes and (ii) an effective mean free path which, except for the lowest temperatures, is approximately temperature independent and of a similar magnitude as in the normal state. Such a mean free path is shown to arise in a consistent treatment of impurity scattering close to the unitarity limit.

The complete nucleotide sequence of the tobacco chloroplast genome

Abstract: The c o m p l e t e n u c i e o t i d e sequence [155 ,844 bp) o f t o b a c c o ( N i c o t i a n a tabecum v a r . B r i g h t y e l l o w 4) c h l o r o p l a s t DNA [ S h i n o z a k i e t e l . 1986) is p r e s e n t e d . The c i r c u l a r DNA [see F ig . 1) i8 i nea r zed by c u t t i n g a t the j u n c t i o n JLA between IR A and LSC JLA is d e s i g n a t e d ze ro and numbered p r o c e e d i n g t owa rds LSC The DNA s t r a n d which codes f o r the l a r g e s u b u n i t of r i b u l o s e l , % b 8phospha te c a r b o x y l a s e is d e s i g n a t e d as A s t r a n d and the comp lemen ta ry s t r a n d as B s t r a n d . The B s t r a n d i8 shown he re . 6enes are boxed . The n o m e n c l a t u r e f o r genes f o l l o w s the p r o p o s a l s of H a l l i c k and B o t t o m l e y [1983, see Tab le 1) . A s t e r i s k s i n d i c a t e s p l i t genes and [C) deno tes genes l o c a t e d on the comp lemen ta ry s t r a n d ( t h e A s t r a n d ) .

Genotypic variability for callus formation and plant regeneration in rice (Oryza sativa L.).

Abstract: Sixty rice varieties (Oryza sativa L.), belonging to three subspecies, japonica, indica and javanica (some japonicaXindica hybrids were included), were compared for their capacity for callus growth and plant regeneration. Tissue cultures initiated from mature seeds on Murashige and Skoog's (1962) medium with 2 mg/l 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) were transferred to a medium containing 0.02 mg/l 2,4-D and 10 mg/l kinetin, from which plantlets were regenerated. Large variabilities in callus growth and plant regeneration potentials were revealed among the varieties tested. Most japonica varieties formed a callus that weighed more than 100 mg per seed 30 days after inoculation, and showed a relatively high regenerative potential, whereas indica varieties, japonica-indica hybrids and javanica varieties showed poor callus growth and plant regeneration, although considerable varietal variation was observed in each subspecies. The callus growth potential was not correlated with the plant regeneration potential. Histological observations revealed that the epithelium cells of the scutellum mainly proliferated to form a callus, from which shoot and root primordia were differentiated independently from each other. The shoot primordia developed into plantlets when roots were formed adventitiously. In a few cases, shoots and roots were bilaterally initiated from a single primordium.

Mass production of poly-β-hydroxybutyric acid by fed-batch culture with controlled carbon/nitrogen feeding

Abstract: The effect of the ratio of methanol to ammonia, in the feeding solution the C/N ratio, on microbial PHB production was investigated. A constant C/N ratio regulated both the PHB content and the specific rate of PHB production. The results indicated that to produce the maximum PHB effectively in a short time the C/N ratio should be controlled automatically according to the increase in PHB content. Variation of the PHB content was estimated by tracing the timecourse of CO2 concentration in exhaust gas. When the cell concentration reached 70 g/l, C/N ratio was gradually increased from the initial C/N ratio of 10 (mol methanol/mol ammonia). At 121 h, concentration of PHB reached 136 g/l, which was the maximum level so far obtained. The reaction time was considerably shortened compared with our previous study (175 h). Furthermore, PHB concentration reached 149 g/l at 170 h and total cell concentration became 233 g/l. PHB yield from methanol was 0.20 (g PHB/g methanol), which was also superior to the previous result of 0.18.

A least-squares smooth fitting for irregularly spaced data; finite-element approach using the cubic B-spline basis

Abstract: A new method of multivariate smooth fitting of scattered, noisy data using cubic B-splines was developed. An optimum smoothing function was defined to minimize the 𝓁2 norm composed of the data residuals and the first and the second derivatives, which represent the total misfit, fluctuation, and roughness of the function, respectively. The function is approximated by a cubic B‐spline expansion with equispaced knots. The solution can be interpreted in three ways. From the stochastic viewpoint, it is the maximum‐likelihood estimate among the admissible functions under the a priori information that the first and second derivatives are zero everywhere due to random errors, i.e., white noise. From the physical viewpoint, it is the finite‐element approximation for a lateral displacement of a bar or a plate under tension which is pulled to the data points by springs. From a technical viewpoint, it is an improved spline‐fitting algorithm. The additional condition of minimizing the derivative norms stabilizes the l...

A new similarity rule for fluidized bed scale‐up

Abstract: A rule of hydrodynamic similarity for a scale change of fluidized beds has been developed based on the governing equations of bubble and interstitial gas dynamics. When geometrically similar scale-up is to be carried out maintaining hydrodynamic similarity, the proposed similarity rule requires that two conditions be satisfied. The first condition assures a similarity in bubble coalescence. The second assures the similarities in bubble splitting and in the interstitial flow pattern. The present work proves theoretically that these two conditions are the necessary, and almost sufficient, conditions for hydrodynamic similarity. They consider not only bubble coalescence but also bubble splitting. The theory proposed was first tested by previous correlations for bubble diameter and grid zone structure, and second by experiment. It has been proved that as long as the present rule is satisfied, the longitudinal distribution of the average bubble diameter, stochastic variation around it, and the radial distribution of superficial bubble velocity can be maintained similar for a scale change. Application of the present rule to predict the bubbling and solid circulation characteristics in a large-scale unit by a small-scale experiment has thus proved promising, at least for Geldart group B particles. In order to further study the possibility of a similarity in mass transfer and chemical reactions, computation was carried out using the three-phase bubble assemblage model. If the effect of molecular diffusion is negligible, as in the case of fluidized bed combustion, even a chemical similarity is found to be possible.

Mass production of poly-β-hydroxybutyric acid by fully automatic fed-batch culture of methylotroph

Abstract: Fifty-one methylotrophs were checked with respect to their ability of poly-β-hydroxybutyric acid (PHB) production from methanol One of them, Pseudomonas sp K, was chosen from its good growth on a minimum synthetic medium Optimal temperature and pH for its growth were 30° C and 70, respectively Concentrations of PO 4 3- and NH 4 + in the medium should be kept at low levels PHB formation was stimulated by deficiency of nutrient such as NH 4 + , SO 4 2- , Mg2+, Fe2+ or Mn2+ Among them, nitrogen deficiency was chosen from its effectiveness and easiness for PHB accumulation The microorganism was cultivated to produce a large amount of poly-β-hydroxybutyric acid (PHB) from methanol by means of microcomputer-aided fully automatic fed-batch culture technique During the cultivation, temperature, dissolved oxygen concentration (DO), and methanol concentration in the culture broth were maintained at 30° C 25±05 ppm and 05±02 g/l, respectively Other nutrients, nitrogen source and mineral ions, were also controlled to maintain their initial concentrations in the medium during cell growth phase When the high cell concentration was achieved (160 g/l), feedings of ammonia and minerals were stopped and only methanol was supplied successively to accumulate PHB At 175 h, high concentration of PHB (136 g/l) was obtained and total cell concentration became 206 g/l DO must be maintained above the critical level during the PHB formation phase, too PHB yield from methanol (g PHB/g methanol) was 018 and the maximum PHB content reached 66% of dry weight Solid PHB produced by the strain had the melting point of 176° C and the average molecular weight of 30x105

Chemical Aspects of the Antioxidative Activity of Roasted Sesame Seed Oil, and the Effect of Using the Oil for Frying

Abstract: Antioxidative constituents in roasted sesame seed oil were studied mainly by an antioxidative assay and HPLC analysis, in comparison with unroasted sesame seed oil. The main active constituent in fresh roasted seed oil was γ-tocopherol, but after heating at frying temperature for 1 ~ 2 hr, this was identified as sesamol, which was produced by hydrolysis of sesamolin that is present to a large degree in roasted sesame seed oil. This conversion of sesamolin to sesamol is catalyzed by acids.

Production of Tropane Alkaloids by Hairy Root Cultures of Scopolia japonica

Abstract: Hairy root clones of Scopolia japonica were established by selection of adventitious roots formed on the root segments inoculated with Agrobacterium rhizogenes strain 15834. Twenty-nine isolated hairy root clones displayed various phenotypes characterized by growth rate, opine production and tropane alkaloid production. Of these, two highly alkaloid productive clones SI and S22 were examined for their growth rate and alkaloid productivity under various cultural conditions. When the most scopolamine-productive clone SI was cultured for 4 weeks at 25°C in the dark, the weight of the root tissue was increased by 40 times and the content of scopolamine reached a level of 0.5% on a dry weight basis in each optimum medium. On culture of the most hyoscyamine-productive clone S22 under the same conditions as with S1, the weight was increased by 102 times and the content of hyoscyamine was 1.3% on a dry weight basis in each optimum medium.

An interpretation of airplane general motion and contol as inverse problem

Abstract: A theoretical study for the inverse problem of the airplane general motion, that is, the problem of how an airplane should be controlled, when its flight maneuver is given, is described An interpretation of this problem is made, and a general and practical method to solve the problem is developed The distinctive features of this approach are to transform all the state variables of the airplane motion into the functions of the angle of attack a, sideslip angle p and bank angle

Limits to nu micro, nu e--> nu tau oscillations and nu micro, nu e--> tau - direct coupling.

Abstract: We have located 3886 neutrino interactions in the fiducial volume of a hybrid emulsion spectrometer installed in the Fermilab wide-band neutrino beam. A search for tau/sup -/ decays yielded no candidate, resulting in an upper limit of 0.002 (0.073) for direct coupling of ..nu../sub ..mu../ (..nu../sub e/) to tau/sup -/. The ..nu../sub ..mu../ (..nu../sub e/) to ..nu../sub tau/ limits to mass differences and mixing angles (..cap alpha..) between the neutrinos are at maximum mixing ..delta..M/sup 2/<0.9 (9.0) ev/sup 2/, and at maximum sensitivity sin/sup 2/(2..cap alpha..)<0.004 (0.12). The direct-coupling limits are also used to show that most tau/sup -/ decays must contain a neutral lepton other than ..nu../sub ..mu../ or ..nu../sub e/.