E2-25K/Hip2 is an unusual ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme that interacts with the frameshift mutant of ubiquitin B (UBB ؉1 ) and has been identified as a crucial factor regulating amyloid-␤ neurotoxicity. To study the structural basis of the neurotoxicity mediated by the E2-25K-UBB ؉1 interaction, we determined the three-dimensional structures of UBB ؉1 , E2-25K and the ), and polyglutamine-expanded huntingtin (2). UBB ϩ1 was first identified as a frameshift mutant of the ubiquitin (Ub) B protein in the brains of neurodegenerative disease patients (3) and is composed of a Ub moiety (75 residues) with a 19-residue C-terminal extension. Neither A␤ nor UBB ϩ1 is found in young patients not suffering from dementia, but they are observed in older Alzheimer disease patients (4). The genes from which UBB ϩ1 mRNAs are transcribed contain several GAGAG motifs, and dinucleotide deletions (⌬GA) from within the GAGAG motif result in an abnormal C-terminal sequence. Normally these aberrant proteins are removed by the Ub-proteasome system (UPS), which executes the proteolytic degradation of aberrant proteins via a Ub-tagging mechanism (3, 5). E2-25K/ubiquitin, and E2-25K/UBBWithin the UPS, Ub tagging of target molecules entails enzymatic reactions catalyzed by the E1 (Ub-activating), E2 (Ubconjugating), and E3 (Ub-ligating) enzymes. Once E3 tags a target molecule with mono-or polyUb, the tagged molecule is recognized by the 26 S proteasome and degraded (6). In the healthy brain both ␤-amyloid precursor protein and UBB ϩ1 molecules are targets for the UPS and are degraded by the 26 S proteasome (7,8). In the brains of Alzheimer patients, however, both UBB ϩ1 and Ub are present within aggregation plaques also containing ␤-amyloid precursor protein, which is indicative of UPS dysfunction (9, 10). When at normal basal levels, UBB ϩ1 can be removed by the UPS. But when its expression is up-regulated, UBB ϩ1 inhibits the 26 S proteasome in a dose-dependent manner, resulting in the accumulation of aberrant proteins (11). The aberrant C terminus of UBB ϩ1 prevents its activation and, therefore, subsequent ligation to substrates due to , the frame shift mutant of ubiquitin B; UPS, ubiquitin-proteasome system; HSQC, heteronuclear single quantum correlation; TROSY, transverse relaxation optimized spectroscopy; DsRed, Discosoma sp. red fluorescent protein.

Three moderately halophilic, spore-forming strains, designated BH030062T, BH030049 and BH030080, were isolated from a solar saltern in Korea. Phylogenetic analyses and comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence studies revealed that the isolates represent a novel distinct monophyletic lineage within the phyletic group classically defined as the genus Bacillus and are most closely related to members of the genera Gracilibacillus (93·7–95·1 % similarity), Virgibacillus (93·5–94·8 %), Halobacillus (94·8–95·9 %), Filobacillus (94·4–94·8 %) and Lentibacillus (93·3–93·7 %). Strain BH030062T was strictly aerobic, rod-shaped, Gram-positive and motile by means of peritrichous flagella. It grew in the presence of 1–15 % (w/v) NaCl and at temperatures of 15–45 °C. The cell wall peptidoglycan contained A1γ-meso-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid. The predominant cellular fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C15 : 0 and iso-C16 : 0. DNA G+C content was about 41 mol% and the major isoprenoid quinone was MK-7. On the basis of their physiological and molecular properties, the isolates represent a new genus, Pontibacillus gen. nov., and novel species, Pontibacillus chungwhensis sp. nov. The type strain is BH030062T (=KCTC 3890T=DSM 16287T).

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PurposeThe purpose of this study was to identify the necessity for professional urology treatment and the roles of urology in the treatment of inpatients referred to the urology department.Materials and MethodsThe subjects were patients referred to the department of urology among the inpatients of Chosun University Hospital from January 1, 2009, to December 31, 2011. The patients' sex and age, the referring department, and the disease group were extracted from the patients' medical records. Disease groups were classified as urination disorder, infection, tumor, calculus, trauma, pediatrics, andrology, and others. The urination disorder group was classified into the subcategories of neurogenic bladder, benign prostatic hypertrophy, urinary retention, urinary incontinence, and overactive bladder.ResultsThe total number of referrals was 3,261, and males made up 54.79%. In the age distribution, 2,321 patients (71.17%) were over 60 years of age and the largest population group was patients in their 70s (32.72%). According to the department referring the patients, internal medicine (34.06%) and orthopedic surgery (16.83%) made up a high percentage. Concerning the disease group, urination disorder was the highest, being 61.26%. In the subclassification of the urination disorder group, benign prostatic hypertrophy was the highest category at 32.23%.ConclusionsIn this urology cooperative behavior analysis of our hospital over 3 years, a high percentage of older patients over 60 years of age and a high percentage of urination disorders were found. Urination disorder-related diseases in persons of advanced age are expected to increase as Korea becomes an aged society, and doctors in other departments should be aware that professional treatment and management by a urologist is needed for the treatment of these disorders.