A nascent polypeptide synthesized on the rough endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is translocated and folded with the assistance of molecular chaperones and other folding factors such as glycosylation ⁄ modification enzymes and disulfide oxidoreductases within the ER. However, the folding of nascent polypeptides occasionally does not occur, resulting in the accumulation of unfolded or misfolded proteins in the ER (ER stress). To solve this problem, eukaryotic cells sense ER stress and induce a set of genes called unfolded protein response (UPR) genes. In the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, ER transmembrane protein kinase ⁄ riboendonuclease Ire 1p is activated by ER stress [1,2], and nonconventionally splices mRNA of basic leucine zipper transcription factor Hac 1p [3][4][5]. Hac 1p is translated from the spliced mRNA and induces the UPR genes, having a UPR cis-acting regulatory element [6][7][8]. On DNA microarray analysis, 381 genes have been identified as UPR ones induced by both tunicamycin (TM) and dithiothreitol [9]. These comprise 6% of the total yeast genes encoding 173 unknown proteins and 208 proteins related to folding, glycosylation ⁄ modification, translocation, protein degradation, Eukaryotic cells respond to the accumulation of unfolded proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). In this case, so-called unfolded protein response (UPR) genes are induced. We determined the transcriptional expression of Arabidopsis thaliana UPR genes by fluid microarray analysis of tunicamycin-treated plantlets. Two hundred and fifteen up-regulated genes and 17 down-regulated ones were identified. These genes were reanalyzed with functional DNA microarrays, using DNA fragments cloned through fluid microarray analysis. Finally, 36 up-regulated and two downregulated genes were recognized as UPR genes. Among them, the up-regulation of genes related to protein degradation (HRD1, SEL-1L ⁄ HRD3 and DER1), regulation of translation (P58 IPK ), and apoptosis (BAX inhibitor-1) was reconfirmed by real-time reverse transcriptase-PCR. The induction of SEL-1L protein in an Arabidopsis membrane fraction on tunicamycin-treatment was demonstrated. Phosphorylation of initiation factor-2a, which was inhibited by P58 IPK , was decreased in tunicamycin-treated plantlets. However, regulatory changes in translation caused by ER stress were not detected in Arabidopsis. Plant cells appeared to have a strategy for overcoming ER stress through enhancement of protein folding activity, degradation of unfolded proteins, and regulation of apoptosis, but not regulation of translation.Abbreviations AARE, amino acid response element; ATF6, activating transcription factor 6; AZC, L-azetidine-2-carboxylic acid; BI-1, Bax inhibitor-1; eIF2a, initiation factor-2a; Endo H, endoglycosidase H; ER, endoplasmic reticulum; ERAD, ER-associated protein degradation; ERSE, ER stress response element; MS, Murashige and Skoog medium; PDI, protein disulfide isomerase; PKR, double stranded RNA-activated protein kinase; P-UPRE, plant-specific UPR element; RAMP4, riboso...

TAF10 is one of the TATA box-binding protein-associated factors (TAFs), which constitute the TFIID complex. We isolated a plant TAF10 ortholog from a Flaveria trinervia cDNA library, and named it ftTAF10. The ftTAF10 polypeptide contains a histone-fold motif, which is highly conserved among the TAF10s of other organisms. A transiently expressed green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusion protein was translocated into the nuclei of onion epidermal cells, suggesting that the ftTAF10 functions in nuclei. The transcript level was higher in stems and roots than in leaves, and in situ hybridization of F. trinervia seedlings revealed that the ftTAF10 transcript is accumulated abundantly in vascular tissues of hypocotyls, in the central cylinder of roots, and slightly in bundle sheath cells of leaves. Overexpression of ftTAF10 in Arabidopsis under the cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter caused two kinds of abnormal morphology, limitation of the indeterminate inflorescence and production of deformed leaves. These results indicate the possibility that ftTAF10 is a plant 'selective TAF' involved in the expression of a subset of vascular abundant genes, and that its appropriate gene expression is necessary for normal development.

SUMMARY— Investigations on the physico‐chemical properties and a sensory evaluation as a component of Shiitake flavor were carried out with lenthionine, a substance which was isolated from dried Shiitake mushroom. Lenthionine is practically insoluble in water but soluble in non‐polar solvents. Its stability in an aqueous solution changes greatly with the pH of the solution. Lenthionine was identified as a significant component in the aroma of Shiitake mushroom and its detectable threshold level is at a concentration between 0.27 and 0.53 porn in water. This new aroma‐bearing substance will be used as a flavor additive in various foods.

TAF10 is one of the TATA box-binding protein (TBP)-associated factors (TAFs) which constitute a TFIID with a TBP. Initially most TAFs were thought to be necessary for accurate transcription initiation from a broad group of core promoters. However, it was recently revealed that several TAFs are expressed in limited tissues during animal embryogenesis, and are indispensable for normal development of the tissues. They are called 'selective' TAFs. In plants, however, little is known as to these 'selective' TAFs and their function. Here we isolated the Arabidopsis thaliana TAF10 gene (atTAF10), which is a single gene closely related to the TAF10 genes of other organisms. atTAF10 was expressed transiently during the development of several organs such as lateral roots, rosette leaves and most floral organs. Such an expression pattern was clearly distinct from that of Arabidopsis Rpb1, which encodes a component of RNA polymerase II, suggesting that atTAF10 functions in not only general transcription but also the selective expression of a subset of genes. In a knockdown mutant of atTAF10, we observed several abnormal phenotypes involved in meristem activity and leaf development, suggesting that atTAF10 is concerned in pleiotropic, but selected morphological events in Arabidopsis. These results clearly demonstrate that TAF10 is a 'selective' TAF in plants, providing a new insight into the function of TAFs in plants.

Ultrasonic cleaning in aqueous solutions was performed using various plain-woven fabrics soiled with oleic acid and/or carbon black as model oily and particulate contaminants. Detergency, which was evaluated from the change in the surface reflectance of the soiled fabrics due to cleaning, was promoted by applying ultrasound as the mechanical action for soil removal in the absence and the presence of anionic surfactant. Both soils were removed easily from the filament fabrics compared with the spun fabrics. Ultrasound, as mechanical action, was favorable for removing carbon black even in the absence of surfactant, whereas the addition of surfactant was effective for removing oleic acid without and with ultrasound. In most cases of soiled fabrics, the detergency obtained with ultrasonic washing for 1 min was comparable to that obtained with a drum-type washer, the Wascator (normal and gentle procedures). Heavy fabric damage was observed after washing with the Wascator, especially for the wool and silk fabrics, whereas there was little damage after ultrasonic washing for all fabrics. Conclusively, ultrasound can be effective in laundering for delicate textiles from the viewpoints of the processing time as well as detergency performance.