Structure of tRNA methyltransferase complex of Trm7 and Trm734 reveals a novel binding interface for tRNA recognition.

The complex between Trm7 and Trm734 (Trm7-Trm734) from Saccharomyces cerevisiae catalyzes 2'-O-methylation at position 34 in tRNA. We report biochemical and structural studies of the Trm7-Trm734 complex. Purified recombinant Trm7-Trm734 preferentially methylates tRNAPhe transcript variants possessing two of three factors (Cm32, m1G37 and pyrimidine34). Therefore, tRNAPhe, tRNATrp and tRNALeu are specifically methylated by Trm7-Trm734. We have solved the crystal structures of the apo and S-adenosyl-L-methionine bound forms of Trm7-Trm734. Small angle X-ray scattering reveals that Trm7-Trm734 exists as a hetero-dimer in solution. Trm7 possesses a Rossmann-fold catalytic domain, while Trm734 consists of three WD40 ß-propeller domains (termed BPA, BPB and BPC). BPA and BPC form a unique V-shaped cleft, which docks to Trm7. The C-terminal region of Trm7 is required for binding to Trm734. The D-arm of substrate tRNA is required for methylation by Trm7-Trm734. If the D-arm in tRNAPhe is docked onto the positively charged area of BPB in Trm734, the anticodon-loop is located near the catalytic pocket of Trm7. This model suggests that Trm734 is required for correct positioning of tRNA for methylation. Additionally, a point-mutation in Trm7, which is observed in FTSJ1 (human Trm7 ortholog) of nosyndromic X-linked intellectual disability patients, decreases the methylation activity.

Prevalence of community-acquired respiratory tract infections associated with Q fever in Japan.

A multicenter prospective cohort study to assess the occurrence and characteristics of acute Q fever associated with community acquired respiratory infections was performed. Among the 400 patients enrolled for the study, 10 (2.50%) patients (5 out of 120 cases of pneumonia, 3 out of 131 cases of acute bronchitis, and 2 out of 149 cases of upper respiratory infections) were diagnosed as having acute Q fever. Contact with dogs or cats before the onset of the disease was confirmed in most of the patients. The clinical profiles of these 10 patients were generally similar to those reported from other countries, such as fever, general fatigue and liver dysfunction, except for the predominance of sporadic cases among the urban population. Our study demonstrates that Q fever is not uncommon cause of community-acquired respiratory infections even in Japan.

[Typings of Campylobacter jejuni isolated from patients of 2 outbreak cases by genotypic and phenotypic methods].

We compared Campylobacter jejuni strains isolated from the patient stools associated with two food-borne diarrheal outbreak cases by the serotypic methods (Lior and Penner systems) and the genotypic methods (restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of flaA gene and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE)). Fla-RFLP was based on the digestion of 410 bp DNA fragment by MboI restriction enzyme amplified from a 5' portion of C. jejuni flaA gene. Six distinctive fla-RFLP patterns were identified by examining 29 serotype reference strains and 58 strains isolated from the patients infected with C. jejuni independently. In the first outbreak case, 4 isolates were shown to be the same patterns each other by the fla-RFLP and PFGE, and by the Lior serotyping, except the Penner system that serotyped into 2 distinct types. On the other hand, in the second case, out of 10 isolates, 5 isolates were identical by the both genotypic and the both serotypic methods, and 4 isolates were not differentiated by the fla-RFLP and Penner system, but were separated into 4 types by PFGE in a little difference. The rest isolate was completely different from the other isolates by the all of methods used now. The findings suggest that the second case occurred by the infection of at least 3 different strains of C. jejuni.

Determination of molecular mass of acidic polysaccharides by capillary electrophoresis.

We developed a method for the determination of molecular mass of acidic polysaccharides based on their high-resolution separation by capillary electrophoresis. Polymers of N-acetylneuraminic acid (NeuAc) and polysulfated hyaluronic acid were separated into their molecular species up to 100 mono- and 20 disaccharide units, respectively. The relationship between the molecular mass of NeuAc-polymer and their electrophoretic mobilities showed good linearity, and was applied to the determination of molecular masses of larger NeuAc species unresolved by capillary electrophoresis under the same conditions. In the first step, the standard curve for the determination of molecular mass was constructed from the relationship between electrophoretic mobility and molecular mass. Subsequently, the mobility was extrapolated to the standard curve, and the molecular mass was calculated. Five different preparations of NeuAc polymers having different molecular masses showed smaller values than those determined by conventional chromatographic techniques. Further, molecular mass determined by the present method correlated with number-average molecular mass. The methodology presented here was applied to the determination of molecular mass of polysulfated hyaluronic acid. The data indicated that native hyaluronic acid was extensively degraded during sulfonation reaction.

Preparation of Substituted Alkylpyrroles via Samarium-Catalyzed Three-Component Coupling Reaction of Aldehydes, Amines, and Nitroalkanes.

Pyrroles were synthesized by three-component coupling reaction of aldehydes, amines, and nitroalkanes in the presence of a catalytic amount of a samarium species under mild conditions. The reaction is considered to involve the coupling of alpha,beta-unsaturated imines, which are provided by the samarium-catalyzed aldol-type condensation of imines generated from amines and aldehydes, with nitroalkanes. In the case of the three-component coupling of alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes (or ketones) with amines and nitroalkanes, alkylpyrroles were obtained by only heating in the absence of any catalyst. For instance, a mixture of butylamine, 2-butylidenecyclohexanone, and nitroethane, allowed to react at 60 degrees C for 15 h, produced isoindole, 4r, which is difficult to prepare by conventional methods, in 39% yield.