start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=6 cd-vols= no-issue=3 article-no= start-page=226 end-page=231 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2015 dt-pub=201509 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Effect of the new diagnostic criteria for gestational diabetes mellitus among Japanese women en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Background　 The new diagnostic criteria for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), proposed by the International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups in 2010, were recently accepted in Japan. Therefore, the frequency of GDM is four times higher than previously recorded. This means that GDM has become a more clinically important disease. This study aimed to assess how the number of patients with GDM as well as its complications have changed after adoption of the new criteria. Methods　 A total of 3,610 pregnant women in the Japan Assessment of GDM Screening Trial and Okayama University Hospital were included. We analyzed the prevalence of GDM and its complications using the old and new criteria. Results　 The prevalence of perinatal outcomes was increased by adopting the new criteria. There were many important perinatal complications in the additional new GDM criteria; therefore, patients with mild GDM, such as one-point disorder patients, should have careful interventions. Admission to the neonatal intensive care unit was significantly increased (p = 0.01) according to the new GDM criteria because the old criteria were stricter than the new ones. GDM patients with obesity (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2) had a high frequency of perinatal complications that could require active intervention and strict follow-up. Conclusions　 Because the new GDM criteria greatly affect perinatal complications, intervention for GDM starting at an early stage and strict follow-up (especially GDM with obesity) are important for reducing complications as well as the incidence of diabetes and metabolic syndrome in the mother and child. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=NobumotoEtsuko en-aut-sei=Nobumoto en-aut-mei=Etsuko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=MasuyamaHisashi en-aut-sei=Masuyama en-aut-mei=Hisashi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=HiramatsuYuji en-aut-sei=Hiramatsu en-aut-mei=Yuji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=SugiyamaTakashi en-aut-sei=Sugiyama en-aut-mei=Takashi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=KusakaHideto en-aut-sei=Kusaka en-aut-mei=Hideto kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=ToyodaNagayasu en-aut-sei=Toyoda en-aut-mei=Nagayasu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyOkayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyOkayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyOkayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyTohoku University School of Medicine kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of ObstetricsMie Chuo Medical Center kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Suzuka University of Medical ScienceSuzuka kn-affil= en-keyword=New GDM criteria kn-keyword=New GDM criteria en-keyword= Perinatal complications kn-keyword= Perinatal complications en-keyword= Obesity kn-keyword= Obesity en-keyword= 75-g oral glucose tolerance test kn-keyword= 75-g oral glucose tolerance test END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=15 cd-vols= no-issue=3 article-no= start-page=403 end-page=410 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2011 dt-pub=201105 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Characterization of an OmpA-like outer membrane protein of the acidophilic iron-oxidizing bacterium, Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=An OmpA family protein (FopA) previously reported as one of the major outer membrane proteins of an acidophilic iron-oxidizing bacterium Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans was characterized with emphasis on the modification by heat and the interaction with peptidoglycan. A 30-kDa band corresponding to the FopA protein was detected in outer membrane proteins extracted at 75A degrees C or heated to 100A degrees C for 10 min prior to sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). However, the band was not detected in outer membrane proteins extracted at a parts per thousand currency sign40A degrees C and without boiling prior to electrophoresis. By Western blot analysis using the polyclonal antibody against the recombinant FopA, FopA was detected as bands with apparent molecular masses of 30 and 90 kDa, suggesting that FopA existed as an oligomeric form in the outer membrane of A. ferrooxidans. Although the fopA gene with a sequence encoding the signal peptide was successfully expressed in the outer membrane of Escherichia coli, the recombinant FopA existed as a monomer in the outer membrane of E. coli. FopA was detected in peptidoglycan-associated proteins from A. ferrooxidans. The recombinant FopA also showed the peptidoglycan-binding activity. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=ManchurMohammed Abul en-aut-sei=Manchur en-aut-mei=Mohammed Abul kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=KikumotoMei en-aut-sei=Kikumoto en-aut-mei=Mei kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=KanaoTadayoshi en-aut-sei=Kanao en-aut-mei=Tadayoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakadaJun en-aut-sei=Takada en-aut-mei=Jun kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=KamimuraKazuo en-aut-sei=Kamimura en-aut-mei=Kazuo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil= kn-affil=Division of Bioscience, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University affil-num=2 en-affil= kn-affil=Division of Bioscience, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University affil-num=3 en-affil= kn-affil=Division of Bioscience, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University affil-num=4 en-affil= kn-affil=Division of Chemical and Biological Technology, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University affil-num=5 en-affil= kn-affil=Division of Bioscience, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University en-keyword=Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans kn-keyword=Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans en-keyword=Iron-oxidizing bacterium kn-keyword=Iron-oxidizing bacterium en-keyword=Acidophile kn-keyword=Acidophile en-keyword=Outer membrane protein kn-keyword=Outer membrane protein en-keyword=OmpA kn-keyword=OmpA END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol= cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page= end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2012 dt-pub=20120310 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Expression of ALDH1 in axillary lymph node metastases is a prognostic factor of poor clinical outcome in breast cancer patients with 1–3 lymph node metastases en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Background Recently, evidence in support of the cancer stem cell (CSC) hypothesis has been accumulating. On the other hand, it has been reported that the expression of aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1) in primary breast cancer is a powerful predictor of a poor clinical outcome, and that breast cancer stem cells express ALDH1. According to the CSC hypothesis, development of metastases requires the dissemination of CSC that may remain dormant and be reactivated to cause tumor recurrence. In this study, we investigated whether the detection of CSC in axillary lymph node metastases (ALNM) might be a significant prognostic factor in patients with breast cancer. Methods From 1998 to 2006, 40 primary breast cancer patients with ALNM, the number of metastatic nodes varying in number from 1 to 3, underwent surgery at Okayama University; of these, 15 patients developed tumor recurrence. We retrospectively evaluated the common clinicopathological features and the expression of ER, HER2, ALDH1, and Ki67 in both the primary lesions and the ALNM, and analyzed the correlations between the expression of these biological markers and the disease-free survival (DFS). Results Expression of ALDH1 in the ALNM was significantly associated with the DFS (P = 0.037). Conclusion Evaluation of biomarker expression in ALNM could be useful for prognosis in breast cancer patients with 1–3 metastatic lymph nodes. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=NogamiTomohiro en-aut-sei=Nogami en-aut-mei=Tomohiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=ShienTadahiko en-aut-sei=Shien en-aut-mei=Tadahiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=TanakaTakehiro en-aut-sei=Tanaka en-aut-mei=Takehiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=NishiyamaKeiko en-aut-sei=Nishiyama en-aut-mei=Keiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=MizooTaeko en-aut-sei=Mizoo en-aut-mei=Taeko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=IwamtoTakayuki en-aut-sei=Iwamto en-aut-mei=Takayuki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=IkedaHirokuni en-aut-sei=Ikeda en-aut-mei=Hirokuni kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=TairaNaruto en-aut-sei=Taira en-aut-mei=Naruto kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=DoiharaHiroyoshi en-aut-sei=Doihara en-aut-mei=Hiroyoshi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=MiyoshiShinichiro en-aut-sei=Miyoshi en-aut-mei=Shinichiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil= kn-affil=Department of General Thoracic Surgery and Breast and Endocrine Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences affil-num=2 en-affil= kn-affil=Department of General Thoracic Surgery and Breast and Endocrine Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences affil-num=3 en-affil= kn-affil=Department of Pathology, Okayama University Hospital affil-num=4 en-affil= kn-affil=Department of General Thoracic Surgery and Breast and Endocrine Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences affil-num=5 en-affil= kn-affil=Department of General Thoracic Surgery and Breast and Endocrine Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences affil-num=6 en-affil= kn-affil=Department of Breast and Endocrine Surgery, Okayama University Hospital affil-num=7 en-affil= kn-affil=Department of General Thoracic Surgery and Breast and Endocrine Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences affil-num=8 en-affil= kn-affil=Department of General Thoracic Surgery and Breast and Endocrine Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences affil-num=9 en-affil= kn-affil=Department of General Thoracic Surgery and Breast and Endocrine Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences affil-num=10 en-affil= kn-affil=Department of General Thoracic Surgery and Breast and Endocrine Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences en-keyword=Cancer stem cell kn-keyword=Cancer stem cell en-keyword=ALDH1 kn-keyword=ALDH1 en-keyword=Axillary lymph node metastases kn-keyword=Axillary lymph node metastases en-keyword=IHC kn-keyword=IHC END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=27 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=133 end-page=143 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2012 dt-pub=20120101 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Natural genetic variation in fluctuating asymmetry of wing shape in Drosophila melanogaster en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Fluctuating asymmetry (FA), defined as random deviation from perfect symmetry, has been used to assay the inability of individuals to buffer their developmental processes from environmental perturbations (i.e., developmental instability). In this study, we aimed to characterize the natural genetic variation in FA of wing shape in Drosophila melanogaster, collected from across the Japanese archipelago. We quantified wing shapes at whole wing and partial wing component levels and evaluated their mean and FA. We also estimated the heritability of the mean and FA of these traits. We found significant natural genetic variation in all the mean wing traits and in FA of one of the partial wing components. Heritability estimates for mean wing shapes were significant in two and four out of five wing traits in males and females, respectively. On the contrary, heritability estimates for FA were low and not significant. This is a novel study of natural genetic variation in FA of wing shape. Our findings suggest that partial wing components behave as distinct units of selection for FA, and local adaptation of the mechanisms to stabilize developmental processes occur in nature. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=TsujinoMasahiro en-aut-sei=Tsujino en-aut-mei=Masahiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakahashiKazuo H. en-aut-sei=Takahashi en-aut-mei=Kazuo H. kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil= kn-affil=Research Core for Interdisciplinary Sciences, Okayama University affil-num=2 en-affil= kn-affil=Research Core for Interdisciplinary Sciences, Okayama University en-keyword=Animal model kn-keyword=Animal model en-keyword=Geometric morphometrics kn-keyword=Geometric morphometrics en-keyword=Heritability kn-keyword=Heritability en-keyword=Natural genetic variation kn-keyword=Natural genetic variation en-keyword=Wing shape kn-keyword=Wing shape END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=52 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=61 end-page=68 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2017 dt-pub=201702 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Bacillus thuringiensis Cry11Ba works synergistically with Cry4Aa but not with Cry11Aa for toxicity against mosquito Culex pipiens (Diptera: Culicidae) larvae en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract= A 2,175-bp modified gene (cry11Ba-S1) encoding Cry11Ba from Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. jegathesan was designed and the recombinant protein was expressed as a fusion protein with glutathione S-transferase in Escherichia coli. The recombinant Cry11Ba was highly toxic against Culex pipiens mosquito larvae, being nine and 17 times more toxic than mosquitocidal Cry4Aa and Cry11Aa from Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis, respectively. Interestingly, a further increase in the toxicity of the recombinant Cry11Ba was achieved by mixing with Cry4Aa, but not with Cry11Aa. These findings suggested that Cry11Ba worked synergistically with Cry4Aa, but not with Cry11Aa, in exhibiting toxicity against C. pipiens larvae. On the other hand, the amount of Cry toxin bound to brush border membrane vesicles (BBMVs) did not significantly change between individual toxins and the toxin mixtures, suggesting that the increase in toxins binding to BBMVs was not a reason for the observed synergistic effect. It is generally accepted that synergism of toxins is a potentially powerful tool for enhancing insecticidal activity and managing Cry toxin resistance in mosquitoes. The mixture of Cry4Aa and Cry11Ba in order to increase toxicity would be very valuable in terms of mosquito control. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=HayakawaTohru en-aut-sei=Hayakawa en-aut-mei=Tohru kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=YonedaNaoya en-aut-sei=Yoneda en-aut-mei=Naoya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=OkadaKouji en-aut-sei=Okada en-aut-mei=Kouji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=HigakiAyuko en-aut-sei=Higaki en-aut-mei=Ayuko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=Mohammad Tofazzal Hossain Howlader en-aut-sei=Mohammad Tofazzal Hossain Howlader en-aut-mei= kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=IdeToru en-aut-sei=Ide en-aut-mei=Toru kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Graduate School of Natural Science and TechnologyOkayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Graduate School of Natural Science and TechnologyOkayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Graduate School of Natural Science and TechnologyOkayama University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Graduate School of Natural Science and TechnologyOkayama University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Graduate School of Natural Science and TechnologyOkayama University kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=Graduate School of Natural Science and TechnologyOkayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=Cry toxin kn-keyword=Cry toxin en-keyword=Synergistic toxicity kn-keyword=Synergistic toxicity en-keyword=Insect pest control kn-keyword=Insect pest control en-keyword=Biological control kn-keyword=Biological control en-keyword=Disease vector kn-keyword=Disease vector END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=53 cd-vols= no-issue=1 article-no= start-page=67 end-page=73 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2018 dt-pub=201802 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Potency of the mosquitocidal Cry46Ab toxin produced using a 4AaCter-tag, which facilitates formation of protein inclusion bodies in Escherichia coli en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract= A Cry46Ab toxin derived from Bacillus thuringiensis strain TK-E6 shows mosquitocidal activity against Culex pipiens pallens Coquillett (Diptera: Culicidae) larvae as well as preferential cytotoxicity against human cancer cells. In B. thuringiensis cells, Cry46Ab is produced and accumulates as a protein crystal that is processed into the active 29-kDa toxin upon solubilization in the alkaline environment of the insect midgut. The Cry46Ab protoxin is 30 kDa, and is therefore thought to require an accessory protein such as P20 and/or ORF2 for efficient crystal formation. In the present study, the potency of the 4AaCter-tag was investigated for the production of alkali-soluble inclusion bodies of recombinant Cry46Ab in Escherichia coli. The 4AaCter-tag is a polypeptide derived from the C-terminal region of the B. thuringiensis Cry4Aa toxin and facilitates the formation of alkali-soluble protein inclusion bodies in E. coli. Fusion with the 4AaCter-tag enhanced both Cry46Ab production and the formation of Cry46Ab inclusion bodies. In addition, upon optimization of protein expression procedures, the Cry46Ab–4AaCter inclusion bodies showed mosquitocidal activity and stability in aqueous environments comparable to Cry46Ab without the 4AaCter-tag. Our study suggests that use of the 4AaCter-tag is a straightforward approach for preparing formulations of smaller-sized Cry toxins such as Cry46Ab in E. coli. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=OkazakiTomoaki en-aut-sei=Okazaki en-aut-mei=Tomoaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=IchinoseJunya en-aut-sei=Ichinose en-aut-mei=Junya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakebeSo en-aut-sei=Takebe en-aut-mei=So kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=IdeToru en-aut-sei=Ide en-aut-mei=Toru kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=HayakawaTohru en-aut-sei=Hayakawa en-aut-mei=Tohru kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Graduate School of Natural Science and TechnologyOkayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Graduate School of Natural Science and TechnologyOkayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Graduate School of Biology-Oriented Science and TechnologyKindai University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Graduate School of Natural Science and TechnologyOkayama University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Graduate School of Natural Science and TechnologyOkayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=Bacillus thuringiensis kn-keyword=Bacillus thuringiensis en-keyword=Mosquitocidal Cry46Ab toxin kn-keyword=Mosquitocidal Cry46Ab toxin en-keyword=4AaCter-tag kn-keyword=4AaCter-tag en-keyword=Formation of protein inclusion kn-keyword=Formation of protein inclusion en-keyword=Escherichia coli kn-keyword=Escherichia coli END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=54 cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=459 end-page=464 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2019 dt-pub=20190913 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Effects of temperature during successive generations on life-history traits in a seed beetle Callosobruchus chinensis (Chrysomelidae: Coleoptera) en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract= Temperature is an important environmental factor for life-history traits in poikilothermic animals. Many of experiments on evolution have been conducted using Drosophila species, and effects on life-history traits vary depending on the study. On the other hand, few studies have been conducted on the effects of temperature on life-history traits in the other insect species. In the present study, we reared adzuki bean beetles under two different temperatures, high and low, for 2 years (20 generations), and compared life-history traits including body size of females, fecundity, egg size, rate of egg hatching, emergence rate, development time, and wing length. No differences in responses were found in these traits between selection strains, except the rate of egg hatching. That is, the rates of egg hatching in high-temperature (32 °C) selection strains were significantly higher than those in low-temperature (24 °C) selection strains. We discuss the cause of change in egg hatchability during successive generations under different temperature treatments from the following viewpoints including evolutionary adaptation to high temperature and the experimental protocol. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=TeradaKenji en-aut-sei=Terada en-aut-mei=Kenji kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=MatsumuraKentarou en-aut-sei=Matsumura en-aut-mei=Kentarou kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=MiyatakeTakahisa en-aut-sei=Miyatake en-aut-mei=Takahisa kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental and Life ScienceOkayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=Temperature kn-keyword=Temperature en-keyword=Experimental evolution kn-keyword=Experimental evolution en-keyword=Hatching rate Seed beetle kn-keyword=Hatching rate Seed beetle en-keyword=Callosobruchus chinensis kn-keyword=Callosobruchus chinensis END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=128 cd-vols= no-issue=6 article-no= start-page=875 end-page=891 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2015 dt-pub=201511 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Structure, function, and evolution of plant NIMA-related kinases: implication for phosphorylation-dependent microtubule regulation en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=icrotubules are highly dynamic structures that control the spatiotemporal pattern of cell growth and division. Microtubule dynamics are regulated by reversible protein phosphorylation involving both protein kinases and phosphatases. Never in mitosis A (NIMA)-related kinases (NEKs) are a family of serine/threonine kinases that regulate microtubule-related mitotic events in fungi and animal cells (e.g. centrosome separation and spindle formation). Although plants contain multiple members of the NEK family, their functions remain elusive. Recent studies revealed that NEK6 of Arabidopsis thaliana regulates cell expansion and morphogenesis through β-tubulin phosphorylation and microtubule destabilization. In addition, plant NEK members participate in organ development and stress responses. The present phylogenetic analysis indicates that plant NEK genes are diverged from a single NEK6-like gene, which may share a common ancestor with other kinases involved in the control of microtubule organization. On the contrary, another mitotic kinase, polo-like kinase, might have been lost during the evolution of land plants. We propose that plant NEK members have acquired novel functions to regulate cell growth, microtubule organization, and stress responses. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=TakataniShogo en-aut-sei=Takatani en-aut-mei=Shogo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=OtaniKento en-aut-sei=Otani en-aut-mei=Kento kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=KanazawaMai en-aut-sei=Kanazawa en-aut-mei=Mai kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakahashiTaku en-aut-sei=Takahashi en-aut-mei=Taku kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=MotoseHiroyasu en-aut-sei=Motose en-aut-mei=Hiroyasu kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil= kn-affil=Division of Bioscience, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University affil-num=2 en-affil= kn-affil=Division of Bioscience, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University affil-num=3 en-affil= kn-affil=Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Okayama University affil-num=4 en-affil=Division of Bioscience, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=NIMA-related kinase kn-keyword=NIMA-related kinase en-keyword=Phosphorylation kn-keyword=Phosphorylation en-keyword=Tubulin kn-keyword=Tubulin en-keyword=Microtubule kn-keyword=Microtubule en-keyword=Cell expansion kn-keyword=Cell expansion en-keyword=Cell division kn-keyword=Cell division END