Land plants produce diverse flavonoids for growth, survival, and reproduction. Chalcone synthase is the first committed enzyme of the flavonoid biosynthetic pathway and catalyzes the production of 2′,4,4′,6′-tetrahydroxychalcone (THC). However, it also produces other polyketides, including p-coumaroyltriacetic acid lactone (CTAL), because of the derailment of the chalcone-producing pathway. This promiscuity of CHS catalysis adversely affects the efficiency of flavonoid biosynthesis, although it is also believed to have led to the evolution of stilbene synthase and p-coumaroyltriacetic acid synthase. In this study, we establish that chalcone isomerase-like proteins (CHILs), which are encoded by genes that are ubiquitous in land plant genomes, bind to CHS to enhance THC production and decrease CTAL formation, thereby rectifying the promiscuous CHS catalysis. This CHIL function has been confirmed in diverse land plant species, and represents a conserved strategy facilitating the efficient influx of substrates from the phenylpropanoid pathway to the flavonoid pathway.

Near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent imaging is a powerful tool for the non-invasive visualization of the inner structure of living organisms. Recently, NIR fluorescence imaging at 1000-1400 nm (second optical window) has been shown to offer better spatial resolution compared with conventional NIR fluorescence imaging at 700-900 nm (first optical window). Here we report lead sulfide (PbS) quantum dots (QDs) and their use for in vivo NIR fluorescence imaging of cerebral venous thrombosis in septic mice. Highly fluorescent PbS QDs with a 1100 nm emission peak (QD1100) were prepared from lead acetate and hexamethyldisilathiane, and the surface of QD1100 was coated with mercaptoundecanoic acid so as to be soluble in water. NIR fluorescence imaging of the cerebral vessels of living mice was performed after intravascular injection (200-300 µL) of QD1100 (3 µM) from a caudal vein. By detecting the NIR fluorescence of QD1100, we achieved non-invasive NIR fluorescence imaging of cerebral blood vessels through the scalp and skull. We also achieved NIR fluorescence imaging of cerebral venous thrombosis in septic mice induced by the administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). From the NIR fluorescence imaging, we found that the number of thrombi in septic mice was significantly increased by the administration of LPS. The formation of thrombi in cerebral blood vessels in septic mice was confirmed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). We also found that the number of thrombi significantly decreased after the administration of heparin, an inhibitor of blood coagulation. These results show that NIR fluorescence imaging with QD1100 is useful for the evaluation of the pathological state of cerebral blood vessels in septic mice.

Novel hybrid polymer hydrogels were prepared in a facile manner by simple mixing of a water-soluble copolymer having trimethoxysilyl side chains with silica nanoparticles used as multiple crosslinkers.

The plasma concentration and liver mRNA content of IGF-I are regulated by the quantity and quality of dietary proteins. To determine whether the synthesis of IGF-binding proteins (BPs) is also affected by protein nutrition, we assessed plasma concentration, tissue mRNA content and liver transcription rate of each BP after rats were fed either a 12% casein or a protein-free diet for 1 week. Protein deprivation reduced the plasma concentration of IGFBP-3 and IGFBP-4 and increased that of IGFBP-1 and IGFBP-2. The mRNA content in tissues and liver transcription rates of IGFBP-3 and IGFBP-4 did not change in response to protein deprivation although their plasma concentrations decreased. The increased plasma IGFBP-1 and IGFBP-2 concentrations were explained by the increased mRNA content and transcription rate of their genes in the liver. Although IGFBP-1 mRNA was increased by protein deprivation not only in liver but also in kidney, IGFBP-2 mRNA was increased only in liver and did not increase in any other tissue examined. In addition, the liver mRNA content of the acid-labile subunit, which can form a ternary complex with IGFs and IGFBP-3, was not affected by protein deprivation. These results show that tissue-specific synthesis of each BP is regulated in a distinct way in response to protein deprivation.

A distinctive characteristic of the reliquefaction behavior of soils is that there are instances where the phenomenon of a sharp decrease in liquefaction resistance occurs in spite of increases in soil density caused by drainage of water after liquefaction. On the other hand, there have also been examples of increased liquefaction resistance occurring throughout a soil's liquefaction history that cannot be explained merely by density increases. These facts point to the existence of factors other than density that sway the liquefaction resistance of soils. The current paper demonstrates that, in fact, anisotropy is an important factor in‰uencing liquefaction resistance. This is made clear through the results of systematic triaxial shear tests, which show that the higher the level of developed anisotropy, the lower the liquefaction resistance. In the process of verifying the above, we found that continuous and orderly changes in anisotropy are repeated with dizzying rapidity during liquefaction. Furthermore, we show herein that there is no intrinsic diŠer-ence between the inherent anisotropy acquired by soil during its sedimentation period and the induced anisotropy produced by plastic deformation developed through its stress history, although anisotropy has often been divided into these two types and has been considered separately in the past. We also show that what has been referred to as inherent anisotropy is nothing more than the initial state of induced anisotropy.