Bioinformatics and Functional Analyses Implicate Potential Roles for EOGT and L-fringe in Pancreatic Cancers

Notch signaling receptors, ligands, and their downstream target genes are dysregulated in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), suggesting a role of Notch signaling in pancreatic tumor development and progression. However, dysregulation of Notch signaling by post-translational modification of Notch receptors remains poorly understood. Here, we analyzed the Notch-modifying glycosyltransferase involved in the regulation of the ligand-dependent Notch signaling pathway. Bioinformatic analysis revealed that the expression of epidermal growth factor (EGF) domain-specific O-linked N-acetylglucosamine (EOGT) and Lunatic fringe (LFNG) positively correlates with a subset of Notch signaling genes in PDAC. The lack of EOGT or LFNG expression inhibited the proliferation and migration of Panc-1 cells, as observed by the inhibition of Notch activation. EOGT expression is significantly increased in the basal subtype, and low expression of both EOGT and LFNG predicts better overall survival in PDAC patients. These results imply potential roles for EOGT- and LFNG-dependent Notch signaling in PDAC.     

Photodynamic Diagnosis Using 5‐Aminolevulinic Acid in 41 Biopsies for Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma

We evaluated the feasibility of 5‐aminolevulinic acid (5‐ALA)‐mediated photodynamic diagnosis (PDD) in the biopsy for primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL). 5‐ALA (20 mg kg^?1) was administered orally 4 hours preoperatively. Forty‐one biopsies obtained under PDD in 47 consecutive biopsies (46 patients) that were finally pathologically diagnosed as PCNSL were evaluated. Positive fluorescence was observed in 34 of those 41 biopsies (82.9%). An intraoperative pathological diagnosis (IOD) of suspected PCNSL was made in 21 of the biopsies with positive fluorescence (61.8%). However, the eight IODs in the remaining 13 biopsies (23.5%) were not correct (atypical cell, 4; high‐grade glioma, 1; gliosis, 1; unremarkable, 2). In those 8 biopsies, PCNSL was confirmed by the final pathological diagnosis. There was no difference in the mean Mib‐1 labeling index between the biopsies with positive fluorescence (86.5%) and those without positive fluorescence (90.0%). IOD was not performed in 6 biopsies; however, 5 of those biopsies (83.3%) showed positive fluorescence and were finally pathologically diagnosed as PCNSL. Use of PDD in biopsies for patients with suspected PCNSL is a reliable way of obtaining specimens of adequate quality for the final pathological diagnosis and may lead to improved diagnostic yield in the biopsy of PCNSL.     

Polyol-responsive pseudopolyrotaxanes based on phenylboronic acid-modified polyethylene glycol and cyclodextrins

Phenylboronic acid (PBA), which reacts with polyols to form cyclic esters, was attached to the amino terminal of polyethylene glycol (PEG) via amide bonds. PBA-PEG was used to prepare pseudopolyrotaxanes (pPRXs) by combining it with cyclodextrins (CyDs). In the case of α-CyD, a single stranded pPRX formed that disintegrated in the presence of catechol (CA), d-fructose (Fru), and d-glucose (Glc). The order of response was CA?>?Fru?>?Glc, which corresponds with the affinities between the PBA moiety and the polyols. In contrast, a pPRX using γ-CyD, which has a double-stranded structure, showed sugar-induced disintegration but did not show a response to CA. We explained these apparently curious responses of the pPRXs using a mechanism based on the penetrability of the polyol-bound PBA toward the cavities of the CyDs. The pPRXs, which are a class of molecular machine, show two selectivities; one is derived from polyol selectivity, and the other is based on the penetrability for CyDs.     

Double-armed and tetra-armed cyclen-based cryptands

Double-armed and tetra-armed cyclen-based cryptands (1a–1d and 2) that bridge two aromatic rings by diethyleneoxy and triethyleneoxy units were prepared. The CSI-MS of 1:1 mixtures ([Ag⁺]/[ligand]) indicated that these new cryptands form 1:1 complexes with Ag⁺. The log K values for the interaction between Ag⁺ and 2 was greater than those of 1a–1d, double-armed cyclens (3a–3c and 4), and tetra-armed cyclen (5). The Ag⁺-ion-induced ¹H NMR spectral changes suggest that the Ag⁺–π interactions of the Ag⁺ complexes with the cryptands (1a–1d and 2) are stronger than those in Ag⁺/double-armed and tetra-armed cyclens. To visualise the Ag⁺?π interactions, the isosurfaces of the LUMO and HOMOs of the Ag⁺ complexes were calculated at the B3LYP/3–21G(*) theoretical level. The LUMO of the Ag⁺ ion is distorted by interaction with the HOMOs of the aromatic side arms. The calculations reveal Ag⁺?π interactions between the Ag⁺ ion and the aromatic side arms, and these are shown graphically.     

A real-valued block conjugate gradient type method for solving complex symmetric linear systems with multiple right-hand sides

We consider solving complex symmetric linear systems with multiple right-hand sides. We assume that the coefficient matrix has indefinite real part and positive definite imaginary part. We propose a new block conjugate gradient type method based on the Schur complement of a certain 2-by-2 real block form. The algorithm of the proposed method consists of building blocks that involve only real arithmetic with real symmetric matrices of the original size. We also present the convergence property of the proposed method and an efficient algorithmic implementation. In numerical experiments, we compare our method to a complex-valued direct solver, and a preconditioned and nonpreconditioned block Krylov method that uses complex arithmetic.     

Novel and practical asymmetric synthesis of β2,3-amino esters using asymmetric Michael addition of chiral amine

A practical method for the synthesis of chiral β^2,3-amino esters having various substituents was developed, which is characterized by an asymmetric Michael addition reaction of a chiral lithium amide with trisubstituted (E)-α,β-unsaturated esters. We found that a highly face-selective protonation occurred by the quick addition of water to the enolate intermediate derived from the Michael addition reaction to afford N-protected β^2,3-amino esters in moderate to excellent yields. This finding was made possible by the facile preparation of geometrically pure trisubstituted (E)-α,β-unsaturated esters, which was established recently by our group. The subsequent deprotection of the amino group in the Michael adduct by using N-iodosuccinimide (NIS) efficiently provided β^2,3-amino esters having various substituents.     

Interference between Compton scattering and x-ray parametric down-conversion

Parametric down-conversion of x rays into extreme ultraviolet and accompanying nonlinear x-ray diffraction were investigated both theoretically and experimentally. The theory predicted a rocking curve having a Lorentzian signal peak; however, the experiments revealed a peak followed by an unexpected dip. Together with the scattering angle dependence of the signal, the experimental results implied a possibility of interference between the Compton scattering and the parametric down-conversion. The similarity to the Fano effect is discussed.     

Asymptotic formalism for ultraflat optical frequency comb generation using a Mach-Zehnder modulator

We theoretically prove that a conventional Mach-Zehnder modulator can generate an optical frequency comb with excellent spectral flatness. The modulator is asymmetrically dual driven by large amplitude sinusoidal signals with different amplitudes. The driving condition to obtain spectral flatness is analytically derived and optimized, yielding a simple formula. This formula also predicts the conversion efficiency and bandwidth of the generated frequency comb.     

Dependence of electron transfer among alpha cages on the chemical compositions of zeolite LTAs including K clusters

K atoms are loaded in diluted amount into K-form LTA zeolites whose framework compositions are Al(x)Si(24-x)O(48) (6相似文献   

Direct measurement of isotopomer of intracellular metabolites using capillary electrophoresis time-of-flight mass spectrometry for efficient metabolic flux analysis

We have developed a metabolic flux analysis method that is based on (13)C-labeling patterns of the intracellular metabolites directly measured by capillary electrophoresis time-of-flight mass spectrometry (CE-TOFMS). The flux distribution of the central carbon metabolism in Escherichia coli was determined by this new approach and the results were compared with findings obtained by conventional GC-MS analysis based on isotopomer of the proteinogenic amino acids. There were some differences in estimation results between new approach using CE-TOFMS and conventional approach using GC-MS. These were thought to be attributable to variations in measured mass distributions between amino acids and the corresponding precursors and to differences in the sensitivity of the exchange coefficients to mass distributions. However, our CE-TOFMS method facilitates high-throughput flux analysis without requiring complicated sample preparation such as hydrolysis of proteins and derivatization of amino acids.