Takehisa Yamada

Gene structure and expression of rice seed allergenic proteins belonging to the α-amylase/trypsin inhibitor family

Genomic and two novel cDNA clones for rice seed allergenic protein (RA) belonging to the α-amylase/trypsin inhibitor family were isolated and their nucleotide sequences determined. Ten cysteine residues deduced from nucleotide sequences were completely conserved among three cDNA clones including a clone, RA17, reported previously. One genomic clone, λ4, contained two RA genes, RAG1 and RAG2. Although RAG1 was cloned at the 5′ portion only, two RA genes were arranged divergently. Nucleotide sequencing and DNA blotting analyses showed that RA are encoded by a multigene family consisting of at least four members. The transcriptional initiation site of RAG1 was localized at A, 26 bp upstream of the putative translational initiation codon, ATG, by the primer extension assay. The putative TATA box and CAAT box existed about 45 bp and 147 bp upstream of the transcription initiation site, respectively. A conserved sequence (ATGCAAAA) which was similar to the sequence (TGCAAAA) identified in rice glutelin promoters was observed in the 5′ region of the two genes. In addition, RNA blotting analyses provided that RA genes specifically expressed in ripening seed and their transcripts accumulated maximally between 15 and 20 days after flowering.

A study of sports-related mandibular angle fracture : relation to the position of the third molars

Mandibular angle fractures have been considered attributable to the presence of unerupted third molars. We examined the relationship between the incidence of sports‐related mandibular angle fractures and the presence of a mandibular third molar with emphasis on the position of the third molar. The incidence of angle fracture was significantly higher in the sports‐related injury group than in the group with fracture due to other causes (P<0.05). The incidence of angle fracture in the athletes with higher impaction scores was significantly higher than that in the subjects with higher scores who did not have sports‐related fractures (P<0.05). The percentage of rugby athletes with third molars was significantly higher than that of those without third molars (P<0.001), and a high proportion of young athletes (89.5%) was considered to belong to a potential high‐risk group for angle fractures. Our findings suggest that mandibular angle fractures are influenced by the presence and characteristics of the third molar in sports‐related injuries.

The same nuclear proteins bind to the 5′-flanking regions of genes for the rice seed storage protein: 16 kDa albumin, 13 kDa prolamin and type II glutelin

Expression of rice seed storage-protein genes is dramatically regulated over a short period of seed maturation. To characterize the expression mechanism of the rice seed storage protein genes, their expression of major storage protein genes (16 kDa albumin, 13 kDa prolamin and type II glutelin) were compared by RNA blot analysis. Their coordinate expression suggests that the transcriptional regulatory machinery is shared among the glutelin, prolamin and albumin-genes. We isolated two novel genomic genes for prolamins (PG5a and PG5b) and obtained the promoter region of the glutelin gene by PCR. The 5′-flanking regions of these three rice seed storage protein genes were found to contain some similar conserved sequences. Nuclear extract partially purified from maturing rice seeds was used for the gel shift assay of the 5′ region of the RA gene. We identified two DNA sequences of RA gene which were recognized by independent DNA-binding proteins. The complexes of these DNA sequences and DNA-binding proteins were inhibited by the fragments containing the 5′ regions of the prolamin and glutelin genes, suggesting that these three genes share transcription factors.

Malignant tumors metastasized to oral and maxillofacial regions from other organs; Report of two cases.

頭頸部以外に原発した悪性腫瘍が口腔領域に転移したものは比較的まれである。今回, 口腔領域に転移した悪性腫瘍の症例を2例経験したので報告した。症例1は左頬部の腫脹を主訴に当科来院した84歳の女性である。口腟内病変部の生検の結果は腺癌であった。患者は約10年以上前に左乳房腺癌の既往を有し, 病理組織学的検討などより, 乳癌の口腟内への転移と診断した。症例2は左頬部から顎下部にかけての腫脹と疼痛が主訴の71歳の男性である。臨床診断は下顎歯肉癌で, 生検の結果は大細胞癌であった。レントゲン, CT, 喀痰細胞診より肺の大細胞癌が疑われ, 肺癌の口腔内への転移と診断した。