Background: Endoglycoceramidase-related protein 1 (EGCrP1) is a glucocerebrosidase in Cryptococcus neoformans; however, the functions of its paralogue, EGCrP2, remain unknown. Results: EGCrP2, but not EGCrP1, hydrolyzed steryl-␤-glucosides. Disruption of egcrp2 accumulated ergosteryl-3␤-glucoside in C. neoformans. Conclusion: EGCrP2 degraded steryl-␤-glucosides both in vivo and in vitro.Significance: EGCrP2 is a missing link in steryl-␤-glucoside metabolism in fungi. In addition, EGCrP2 is a potential target for antifungal drugs.

The photoluminescence (PL) spectra from Al0.98Gd0.02N and Al0.87Gd0.13N consisting of Gd3+ related 3.95 eV sharp emission lines and other bands, and the PL excitation (PLE) spectra from 3 to 7 eV have been investigated by using a highly linear polarized synchrotron radiation light source. The Gd related 3.95 eV sharp lines in the PL spectra are similar to those in other cathodoluminescence (CL) and PL research works. However, the broad emission bands around 3.95 eV lines which are normally found in other CL works are not observed. Other broad emission bands are clearly observed in the energy region of 1.5 ∼ 3.5 eV. PLE spectra monitored at both the 3.95 eV sharp line and the broad emission band of Al0.98Gd0.02N clearly indicate that these emission processes are host excitations which are reflected by an AlN‐like band structure and crystalline anisotropy. On the other hand, the PLE and optical reflectance spectra of Al0.87Gd0.13N reveal an unclear band structure with a long band tail to in the lower energy side (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

Experimental animal life span with dietary oil administration has been found to differ for stroke-prone spontaneously hypersensitive (SHRSP) rats and senescence-accelerated mouse (SAM-P8), but this parameter for the latter given rapeseed oil and perilla oil has yet to be examined in detail and hence the present study was carried out. Male SAM-P8 mice were provided a test diet prepared from soybean oil, rapeseed oil, perilla oil or olive oil, which served as 10% weight of fat intake. Body weight and food intake were found essentially the same in all animal groups, as was also mean life span. The effects of dietary oils on life span would thus appear to differ according to animal strain.