Mitofusins and Drp1 are key components in mitochondrial membrane fusion and division, but the molecular mechanism underlying the regulation of their activities remains to be clarified. Here, we identified human membrane-associated RING-CH (MARCH)-V as a novel transmembrane protein of the mitochondrial outer membrane. Immunoprecipitation studies demonstrated that MARCH-V interacts with mitofusin 2 (MFN2) and ubiquitinated forms of Drp1. Overexpression of MARCH-V promoted the formation of long tubular mitochondria in a manner that depends on MFN2 activity. By contrast, mutations in the RING finger caused fragmentation of mitochondria. We also show that MARCH-V promotes ubiquitination of Drp1. These results indicate that MARCH-V has a crucial role in the control of mitochondrial morphology by regulating MFN2 and Drp1 activities.
A new type of optical waveguide utilizing an antiresonant reflector is described. Implementation in the SiO2-Si system gave losses as low as 0.4 dB/cm for the TE mode. The TM mode loss is >60 dB/cm, making the device an excellent planar technology integrated optic polarizer.
Band bending is a fundamental issue for discussing organic devices. Band bending with Fermi level alignment between semiconductors and metals are often assumed, although the validity of this scheme in the case of organic semiconductors has been not yet established. In this paper, our recent efforts to examine band bending in organic semiconductors using Kelvin probe method (KPM) are reported. After discussing the applicability of KPM to organic thick film -metal substrate system, the results for C 60 , TPD, and Alq 3 are shown to discuss band bending of the films without intentional doping in ultrahigh vacuum condition. Gradual band bending was observed for C 60 /metal interfaces although the width of the space charge layer is in the order of 100 nm. In contrast, flat band feature was observed for TPD/metal interfaces probably because of its high purity. These results demonstrate that the frame work of band bending used in inorganic semiconductor interfaces is still valid for organic semiconductors although much thicker films are often necessary to achieve bulk Fermi level alignment. For Alq 3 / metal interfaces formed in dark condition, we found a new type of band bending where the energy levels change as a linear function of the distance from the interface. The observed location of the vacuum level was far below the Fermi level of the metal substrates, clearly indicating that Fermi level varies place by place in the system. Such electronically non-equilibrium state was quite stable for the order of years. The concept of Fermi level alignment is also discussed in relation to the observed energy diagrams.
There is a relationship between perceived chewing ability (number of foods considered chewable) and physical fitness in this 80-year-old population. Chewing ability may be an independent predictor of physical fitness, thus preventative dental care aimed at preserving chewing ability may be able to enhance activities of daily life and quality of life in very elderly individuals.
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