National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology

5 ARTICLES PUBLISHED IN JoVE

Chemistry

Determining the Ice-binding Planes of Antifreeze Proteins by Fluorescence-based Ice Plane Affinity

Koli Basu¹, Christopher P. Garnham², Yoshiyuki Nishimiya³, Sakae Tsuda³, Ido Braslavsky⁴, Peter Davies¹

¹Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University, ²National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Porter Neuroscience Research Center, ³Research Institute of Genome-Based Biofactory, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, ⁴The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Institute of Biochemistry, Food Science, and Nutrition, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Antifreeze proteins (AFPs) bind to specific planes of ice to prevent or slow ice growth. Fluorescence-based ice plane affinity (FIPA) analysis is a modification of the original ice-etching method for determination of AFP-bound ice planes. AFPs are fluorescently labeled, incorporated into macroscopic single ice crystals, and visualized under UV light.

Biochemistry

Detection of Phospholipase C Activity in the Brain Homogenate from the Honeybee

Shota Suenami^1,2, Ryo Miyazaki¹, Takeo Kubo²

¹Bioproduction Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, ²Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo

To test the inhibitory effects of pharmacologic agents on phospholipase C (PLC) in different regions of the honeybee brain, we present a biochemical assay to measure PLC activity in those regions. This assay could be useful for comparing PLC activity among tissues, as well as among bees exhibiting different behaviors.

Engineering

Electroantennography-based Bio-hybrid Odor-detecting Drone using Silkmoth Antennae for Odor Source Localization

Daigo Terutsuki¹, Tomoya Uchida², Chihiro Fukui³, Yuji Sukekawa¹, Yuki Okamoto⁴, Ryohei Kanzaki¹

¹Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, The University of Tokyo, ²Department of Mechano-Informatics, Graduate School of Information Science and Technology, The University of Tokyo, ³Department of Applied Biological Science, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, ⁴Sensing System Research Center, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology

This study introduces experimental protocols for a bio-hybrid odor-detecting drone based on silkmoth antennae. The operation of an experimental electroantennogram device with silkmoth antennae is presented, in addition to the structure of a bio-hybrid drone designed for odor source localization using the spiral-surge algorithm.

Developmental Biology

Stab Wound Injury Model of the Adult Optic Tectum Using Zebrafish and Medaka for the Comparative Analysis of Regenerative Capacity

Yuki Shimizu^1,2, Takashi Kawasaki¹

¹Biomedical Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, ²DBT-AIST International Laboratory for Advanced Biomedicine, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology

A mechanical brain injury model in the adult zebrafish is described to investigate the molecular mechanisms regulating their high regenerative capacity. The method explains to create a stab wound injury in the optic tectum of multiple species of small fish to evaluate the regenerative responses using fluorescent immunostaining.

Biochemistry

Rapid Glyco-Qualitative Assessment of Recombinant Proteins Using a Fully Automated System

Sayaka Fuseya¹, Ayaka Ono¹, Hiromi Ootani¹, Saho Mizukado¹, Tomomi Obayashi², Nana Tanaka², Hiroko Shimazaki^1,2, Kenji Kajiyama², Moe Ashitomi², Shiori Yasuda², Takenori Miyabe², Kazuhiro Nakamura², Osamu Segawa², Kazumi Sawakami², Atsushi Kuno¹

¹Molecular & Cellular Glycoproteomics Research Group, Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, ²Precision System Science Co., Ltd.

A system for the automated and rapid analysis of glycans on proteins was previously developed. This article presents the protocol for "glyco-qualitative analysis," optimized for a broad spectrum of users, such as those engaged in analyzing glycan structures in biopharmaceuticals and other glycoconjugate materials.