Generation of 10,154 expressed sequence tags from a leafy gametophyte of a marine red alga, Porphyra yezoensis

A total of 10,154 5'-end expressed sequence tags (EST) were established from the normalized and size-selected cDNA libraries of a marine red alga, Porphyra yezoensis. Among the ESTs, 2140 were unique species, and the remaining 8014 were grouped into 1127 species. Database search of the 3267 non-redundant ESTs by BLAST algorithm showed that the sequences of 1080 species (33.1%) have similarity to those of registered genes from various organisms including higher plants, mammals, yeasts, and cyanobacteria, while 2187 (66.9%) are novel. Codon usage analysis in the coding regions of 101 non-redundant EST groups showing significant similarity to known genes indicated the higher GC contents at the third position of codons (79.4%) than the first (62.2%) and the second position (45.0%), suggesting that the genome has been exposed to high GC pressure during evolution. The sequence data of individual ESTs are available at the web site http://www.kazusa.or.jp/en/plant/porphyra/EST/.

Structural features of a gene encoding the vacuolar H+-ATPase c subunit from a marine red alga, Porphyra yezoensis

We report the nucleotide sequence of a gene encoding the c ('16 kDa') subunit of the vacuolar-type H+-ATPase (V-ATPase) from a marine red alga, Porphyra yezoensis. A cDNA clone was isolated from a leafy gametophyte cDNA library and analyzed for the sequence. The genomic DNA sequence was directly determined by nested PCR. The structural gene contained four introns within a coding sequence of 483 base pairs which encodes a polypeptide of 161-amino acids with four hydrophobic transmembrane-spanning regions. Comparison of the deduced amino acid sequences showed higher similarity to the land plant Oryza sativa (69.1%) than to the Ulvophyceae Acetabularia acetabulum (64.1%). The mRNA was detected both in the leafy gametophytes and filamentous sporophytes.

Requisite Morphologic Interaction for Attachment between Ulva pertusa (Chlorophyta) and Symbiotic Bacteria

: In order to understand the morphogenesis-inducing mechanism of Ulva pertusa by symbiotic bacteria, we observed the requisite conditions of bacteria for attachment to U. pertusa for algal morphogenesis. Non-morphogenesis-inducing bacterial mutants derived by ultraviolet irradiation did not attach onto the surface of this alga. Scanning electron microscopic observation during the process of morphogenesis in U. pertusa revealed a network-like structure formed on the algal surface within 1 week after application of bacteria. The bacteria attached onto the alga after 2 weeks of incubation. After this attachment process the morphologic change was observed in U. pertusa.

Phalangeal intraosseous well-differentiated osteosarcoma of the hand

A case of intraosseous well-differentiated osteosarcoma in one phalanx of the hand is reported. A 78-year-old man noticed swelling in the little finger of his right hand approximately 7 years before referral. Imaging disclosed a tumour with a "ground glass" appearance and irregular mottled calcification occupying almost all of the phalanx marrow and suggested slight invasion into the soft tissue. Open biopsy suggested a diagnosis of well-differentiated fibroblastic osteosarcoma. The finger and its metacarpal bone were amputated and a tumour measuring 3.5 x 2.2 x 2.0 cm and with an indistinct soft tissue margin was found in the bone marrow. Histologically, the tumour was composed of fibroblastic cells with few mitoses, and neoplastic bone formation was apparent. Although the tumour appeared to be a fibrous dysplasia, the presence of nuclear atypia, hypercellularity, and the absence of a typical woven bone pattern in addition to the soft tissue invasion indicated otherwise. Ultrastructural examination showed focal myofibroblastic differentiation, and immunohistochemistry revealed smooth muscle actin, vimentin, osteocalcin, osteonectin and MIBI in the tumour cells. This ultrastructural and immunohistochemical study is believed to be the first detailed report of an intraosseous well-differentiated osteosarcoma of phalangeal bone.

Improvement of first-service pregnancy rate in cows with gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog

The effect of an intramuscular injection of a new analog of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), fertirelin, on the first-service pregnancy rate in cows was investigated by a double blind experiment. A total of 1,194 cows was injected intramuscularly either with 100 mug of GnRH or placebo (physiological saline solution) at the time of first insemination postpartum. Pregnancy rate (number of cows calved/ number of cows serviced) was 57.2 % in 605 cows treated with GnRH, while the performance was 49.7 % in 589 cows of the placebo group. The difference of pregnancy rates in both groups was significant (P<0.05). GnRH injected at insemination was effective, especially in cows at the first and third lactations, cows at 101 days postpartum or later, cows with daily milk yield of 26-30 kg, and also in cows from the area where a regional average fertility was relatively low.

Use of milk progesterone enzyme immunoassay for differential diagnosis of follicular cyst, luteal cyst, and cystic corpus luteum in cows

In 160 cows with ovarian cysts as determined by rectal palpation, differentiation was made of follicular cyst, luteal cyst, and cystic corpus luteum on the basis of milk progesterone concentrations estimated by an enzyme immunoassay before and at 10 days after cows were treated with gonadotropin-releasing hormone. Cows having a progesterone concentration in skim milk less than 1.0 ng/ml were considered to have follicular cysts and those with concentrations of 1.0 ng/ml or higher were regarded as the cases of luteal cyst or cystic corpus luteum. Luteal cyst was characterized by progesterone values remaining high in the cows for 10 days after treatment, and cystic corpus luteum was characterized by a decrease in progesterone concentration after cows were treated. By the rectal palpation procedure it was impossible to differentiate luteal cyst and cystic corpus luteum from follicular cyst. The frequencies of follicular cyst, luteal cyst, and cystic corpus luteum were 65%, 19%, and 16%, respectively. Of 104 cows with follicular cysts as defined by milk progesterone assay result, 73 (70%) responded to the treatment with gonadotropin-releasing hormone, the milk progesterone concentration increasing from 0.7 +/- 0.2 ng/ml (mean +/- SD) to 1.8 +/- 1.1 ng/ml. The accuracy of rectal palpation 10 days after treatment for judgment of luteinization of follicular cyst confirmed by milk progesterone analysis was only 30% (48 cows of 160).

The nucleotide sequence of 5S rRNA from a red alga, Porphyra yezoensis

The nucleotide sequence of 5S rRNA from Porphyra yezoensis has been determined to be: pACGUACGGCCAUAUCCGAGACACGCGUACCGGAACCCAUUCCGAAUUCCGAAGUCAAGCGUCCGCGAGUUGGGUUAGU - AAUCUGGUGAAAGAUCACAGGCGAACCCCCAAUGCUGUACGUC. This 5S rRNA sequence is most similar to that of Euglena gracilis (63% homology).

Diffraction of a Gaussian beam through a finite aperture lens and the resulting heterodyne efficiency

The diffraction field of a Gaussian beam through a finite aperture lens is investigated. The field distributions at the position where the field is most focused are shown and compared with those obtained by an infinite aperture lens. The results are applied to an optical heterodyne detection system with Gaussian fields, and the optimum conditions that maximize the heterodyne efficiency are obtained numerically.