Recent intensive studies of the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana have revealed the molecular mechanisms underlying circadian rhythms in detail. Results of phylogenetic analyses indicated that some of core clock genes are widely conserved throughout the plant kingdom. For another model plant the legume Lotus japonicus, we have reported that it has a set of putative clock genes highly homologous ...

First identified in three North American states in 1998, Aedes japonicus japonicus, the Asian bush mosquito, has since spread to 21 states, plus Ontario in Canada, northern France, and Belgium. Analyses of the introduction and expansion of this potentially deadly disease vector will be radically improved by including powerful genetic markers like microsatellites. Useful microsatellite loci have...

The hypolipidemic and hypoglycemic effects of two dietary dosages (0.1% and 0.5%) of water and 80% ethanol extracts from hot-air dried Orostachys japonicus A. Berger were evaluated in the serum and organ tissues of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. The STZ-induced diabetic groups supplemented with the O. japonicus extracts showed significantly higher body weight compared to a diabetic contr...

Chitinolytic activities were measured in two fish species having different feeding habits, chub mackerel (Scomber japonicus) and silver croaker (Pennahia argentata). Chitinase (an endo-type chitinolytic enzyme) activity was measured using pNP-(GlcNAc)n (n = 2, 3) as substrates; its level was significantly high in the stomachs of both species, as well as in the gills, intestine, pyloric appendag...

The intertidal copepod Tigriopus japonicus has been recognized as a potential model species for toxicity testing of marine pollutants. In last five years or so sequence information and expression pattern of several genes critical in detoxification, stress, growth and reproduction have been described from T. japonicus. A number of genes, especially those representing antioxidant and detoxificati...

The root of Ophiopogon japonicus has been used as a traditional Chinese medicine and also a functional food ingredient for a long time in China. In the present study, 17 different homoisoflavonoid compounds were identified in the root extract of O. japonicus by HPLC–DAD and LCMS/MS analyses. The antioxidant activity of the of chloroform/methanol (1:1, v/v), methanol and 70% ethanol extracts, an...

Ophiopogon japonicus is a perennial, ornamental foliage plant, whichbelongs to the family Liliaceae. It has a high demand in the local andinternational export market due to the presence of glossy white-green stripped lanceolate leaves. Improved leaves and plants of O. japonicus will be more popular in the floriculture industry. Hence, objective was to investigate the growth responses of O. japo...

Ochlerotatus japonicus japonicus is reported for the 1st time south of the Mason-Dixon Line, in Frederick County, Maryland. Fifty-seven oviposition trap samples were collected throughout the county between June 30 and August 24, 2000. From 971 larvae reared from the oviposition traps, 5 species were identified: Ochlerotatus triseriatus (45%), Oc. j. japonicus (43%), Aedes albopictus (7%), Culex...