CD38, a transmembrane glycoprotein with ADP-ribosyl cyclase activity, catalyses the formation of Ca2+ signalling molecules, but its role in the neuroendocrine system is unknown. Here we show that adult CD38 knockout (CD38-/-) female and male mice show marked defects in maternal nurturing and social behaviour, respectively, with higher locomotor activity. Consistently, the plasma level of oxytocin (OT), but not vasopressin, was strongly decreased in CD38-/- mice. Replacement of OT by subcutaneous injection or lentiviral-vector-mediated delivery of human CD38 in the hypothalamus rescued social memory and maternal care in CD38-/- mice. Depolarization-induced OT secretion and Ca2+ elevation in oxytocinergic neurohypophysial axon terminals were disrupted in CD38-/- mice; this was mimicked by CD38 metabolite antagonists in CD38+/+ mice. These results reveal that CD38 has a key role in neuropeptide release, thereby critically regulating maternal and social behaviours, and may be an element in neurodevelopmental disorders.

Bone marrow stromal cells (MSCs) have great potential as therapeutic agents. We report a method for inducing skeletal muscle lineage cells from human and rat general adherent MSCs with an efficiency of 89%. Induced cells differentiated into muscle fibers upon transplantation into degenerated muscles of rats and mdx-nude mice. The induced population contained Pax7-positive cells that contributed to subsequent regeneration of muscle upon repetitive damage without additional transplantation of cells. These MSCs represent a more ready supply of myogenic cells than do the rare myogenic stem cells normally found in muscle and bone marrow.

Pigeon pea was shown to be more efficient at utilizing iron-bound phosphorus (Fe-P) than several other crop species. This ability is attributed to root exudates, in particular piscidic acid and its p-O-methyl derivative, which release phosphorus from Fe-P by chelating Fe(3+). Pigeon pea is normally intercropped with cereals under low-input conditions in the Indian subcontinent. Although pigeon pea can utilize the relatively insoluble Fe-P, intercropped cereals must rely on the more soluble calcium-bound phosphorus. This finding suggests that cultivation of pigeon pea increases total phosphorus availability in cropping systems with low available phosphorus.

S UMM -4 R Y:The molecular structure of polyethylene oxide (1-Z; j, ( -CH2CH,0-)n, was studied by the X-ray diffraction and infrared absorption spectroscopic methods. The X-ray diffraction data were observed for the highly oriented PEO samples and were analyzed by use of the method of FOURIER transform of the helix proposed by COCHRAN et al. Fully deuterated PEO was synthesized, and the polarized infrared spectra of PEO and PEO-d, were measured in the 4000-80 cm-l region. The factor group analysis and the normal wordinate treatments were carried out. From the results ef these studies, it was concluded as follows.1) The PEO molecule in the crystalline state has a helical structure which contains seven 2) The internal rotation angles of this molecule are -(OCCO) = 64"58' and .r(CCOC) = 188"15', and this corresponds t o the succession of nearly trans, trans, and gauche conformations. chemical units and two turns in the fiber identity period 19.3 A. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG: Die Molekiilstruktur des Polyathylenoxyds (PEO), ( -CH2CH20-)n, wurde durch EONTGENbeugung und mittels infrarotspektroskopischer Methoden studiert. Die an hochorientierten PEO-Proben erhaltenen RoNTGENbeugungsdaten wurden nach der Methode der FOURIERtransformation der von COCHRAN et al. vorgeschlagenen Helix analysiert. W ollstandig deuteriertes PEO wurde hergestellt, und die polarisierten IR-Spektren von P'EO und PEO-d, im Gebiet von 4000-80 cm-l wurden gemessen. Die Gruppenfaktoranalyse und die normale Koordinatenbehandlung wurden durchgefiihrt. Aus den Ergebnissen der Untersuchungen wurde folgendes geschlossen: 1 . Das PEO-Molekul besitzt im kristallinen Zustand eine Helixstruktur, welche sieben monomere Einheiten und zwei Windungen in der Faseridentitatsperiode von 19,3 A enthalt . 2 . Die inneren Rotationswinkel dieses Molekuls sind T(OCCO) = 64"58' und T(CCOC) = 188"15'. Dies entspricht nahezu einer Folge von trans, trans und gauche Konformationen.

Polarized infrared spectra of polyethylene oxide (PEO), —(CH2CH2O)n— and PEO-d4, —(CD2CD2O)n—, have been measured in the region from 4000 to 80 cm—1. The spectra of PEO at various temperatures (about —130°, 20°, 65°, and 80°C) were also observed, and splittings of some perpendicular bands were found at the low temperature. The selection rules for the PEO molecule are derived under the factor group D(4π/7). The normal vibrations of PEO and PEO-d4 are calculated for the Raman-active A1 symmetry species, the infrared-active A2 species, and the Raman- and infrared-active E1 species, by use of the GF matrix method with the Urey—Bradley force field taking into account the torsional displacement coordinates of the skeleton. The results show fairly good agreement between the observed and calculated frequencies, and give strong support to the 72 helix conformation proposed by the authors previously. The assignments of the bands are given and discussed.

CD157, known as bone marrow stromal cell antigen-1, is a glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored ADP-ribosyl cyclase that supports the survival and function of B-lymphocytes and hematopoietic or intestinal stem cells. Although CD157/Bst1 is a risk locus in Parkinson's disease (PD), little is known about the function of CD157 in the nervous system and contribution to PD progression. Here, we show that no apparent motor dysfunction was observed in young knockout (CD157−/−) male mice under less aging-related effects on behaviors. CD157−/− mice exhibited anxiety-related and depression-like behaviors compared with wild-type mice. These behaviors were rescued through treatment with anti-psychiatric drugs and oxytocin. CD157 was weakly expressed in the amygdala and c-Fos immunoreactivity in the amygdala was less evident in CD157−/− mice than in wild-type mice. These results demonstrate for the first time that CD157 plays a role as a neuro-regulator and suggest a potential role in pre-motor symptoms in PD.

To clarify the processes involved in plant immunity, we have isolated and characterized a single recessive Arabidopsis mutant, cad1 (constitutively activated cell death 1), which shows a phenotype that mimics the lesions seen in the hypersensitive response (HR). This mutant shows spontaneously activated expression of pathogenesis-related (PR) genes, and leading to a 32-fold increase in salicylic acid (SA). Inoculation of cad1 mutant plants with Pseudomonas syringae pv tomato DC3000 shows that the cad1 mutation results in the restriction of bacterial growth. Cloning of CAD1 reveals that this gene encodes a protein containing a domain with significant homology to the MACPF (membrane attack complex and perforin) domain of complement components and perforin proteins that are involved in innate immunity in animals. Furthermore, cell death is suppressed in transgenic cad1 plants expressing nahG, which encodes an SA-degrading enzyme. We therefore conclude that the CAD1 protein negatively controls the SA-mediated pathway of programmed cell death in plant immunity.

Compared with the knowledge of maternal care, much less is known about the factors required for paternal parental care. Here we report that new sires of laboratory mice, though not spontaneously parental, can be induced to show maternal-like parental care (pup retrieval) using signals from dams separated from their pups. During this interaction, the maternal mates emit 38-kHz ultrasonic vocalizations to their male partners, which are equivalent to vocalizations that occur following pheromone stimulation. Without these signals or in the absence of maternal mates, the sires do not retrieve their pups within 5 min. These results show that, in mice, the maternal parent communicates to the paternal parent to encourage pup care. This new paradigm may be useful in the analysis of the parental brain during paternal care induced by interactive communication.