Reconstitution of Arachin from Isolated Subunits

Six subunits of arachin were isolated in urea solution. They were then reassociated by removing urea by co-dialysis against 20 mM sodium phosphate buffer (pH 7.9), containing 30% sucrose, 0.1 M> sodium chloride and 7 mM β-mercaptoethanol, without agitation at 25°C. The reconstitution yield was greater than 90%. The reconstituted molecule was indistinguishable from intact arachin in disc electrophoretic mobility, subunit composition, sedimentation behavior depending upon ionic strength, circular dichroism, ultraviolet absorption and fluorescence emission spectra, and stabilities against heating, proteases and guanidine hydrochloride. The reconstituted arachin was, therefore, suggested to be in native state.

On the other hand, we found that co-dialysis of four or five subunits of arachin formed hexamer which contained the corresponding four or five subunits. These hexamers were more labile than intact arachin against heating. These facts suggest that the assembly of all six subunits to a hexamer will most advantage the quaternary structure of arachin.     

Growth of Yeasts on n-Alkanes: Inhibition by a Lactonic Sophorolipid Produced by

The effects of amino acids on IMP production were examined with a mutant strain, KY10895, derived from Corynebacterium ammoniagenes KY13374. l-Proline improved the productivity of IMP more than any other amino acid. The optimum concentration of l-proline for IMP production was 1–2% and the IMP productivity was about 70% more than that in the control medium. The effects of l-proline analogs on IMP production were also examined with the mutant KY10895. DL-3,4-Dehydroproline inhibited IMP production. Mutants resistant to growth inhibition by dl-3,4-dehydroproline were derived from strain KY10895. Among mutants thus obtained, strain H-7335 had the highest productivity. The intracellular concentrations of l-proline in strain H-7335 were higher than those of the parental strain, KY10895. These findings indicated that an increase in intracellular l-proline was linked with an increase of IMP productivity and strengthening the l-proline synthesis of a strain was an effective method for obtaining a hyper-producer of IMP.     

The Effects of Proteins and Phospholipids on the Mobility of Wheat Doughs

Penicillium strains (n=394) preserved at NBRC (the NITE Biological Resource Center) were compared as to groupings (11 species-clusters) based on phylogeny and the production of bioactive compounds. The strains in two clusters, of which P. chrysogenum and P. citrinum are representative, showed higher rates of positive strains with multi-biological activities.     

Characterization of d-Alanyl-(d)-meso-2,6-diaminopimelic Acid Endopeptidase from Streptomyces globisporus 1829

d-Alanyl-(d)-meso-2,6-diaminopimelic acid endopeptidase was purified 47.4-fold with a yield of 40.5% from mutanolysin, which was partially purified from the cultural supernatant of Streptomyces globisporus 1829, by using ion exchange column chromatographies and a molecular sieve column. The purified enzyme was electrophoretically homogeneous. This enzyme had a molecular weight of 13,500 and an isoelectric point of pI 9.0. This enzyme was most active at pH 8.5 and stable between pHs 8.0 and 9.0. The hydrolyzing activity of this enzyme was enhanced by Co^{+ +} and Ca^{+ +} but inhibited appreciably by Zn^{+ +}, Cu^{+ +} and EDTA. The enzyme activity was not affected by β-lactam antibiotics and vancomycin. The Km values for bisdisaccharide heptapeptide and its derivative modified chemically by BOC-S were calculated to be 5.7 × 10^-4 and 4.0 × 10^-4 m, respectively.     

Purification and Properties of Lytic Enzymes from Streptomyces globisporus 1829

Two lytic enzymes capable of lysing Streptococcus mutans have been purified to give a single band on disc-gel electrophoresis, respectively. The M–1 and M–2 enzymes were both proved to be N-acetylmuramidases. However, these enzymes were entirely different on their enzymatic properties. The molecular weights were about 20,000 and 11,000 for M–1 and M–2 enzymes, respectively, The maximal lytic activity of M–1 enzyme was obtained at ionic strength 0.05, while lytic activity of M–2 enzyme did not change within the ionic strength range of 0 to 0.05. The M–1 enzyme constituted the majority of the total lytic activity against the cell walls of Streptococcus mutans BHT of cultured filtrate. The M–2 enzyme showed less specific lytic activity on the cell walls of Streptococcus mutans BHT than M–1 enzyme.     

Isolation and Structure Elucidation of Growth Inhibitors on Silkworm Larvae from Magnolia kobus DC

Two lignans were isolated from leaves of Magnolia kobus DC. as growth inhibitors on silkworm larvae and structurally elucidated as sesamin (I) and kobusin (II) which has been hitherto unknown.     

A Transport System for C4-Dicarboxylic Acids in Isolated Membrane Preparations from Escherichia coli

To investigate the mechanism of succinate transport system in Escherichia coli, the isolated membranes were prepared from E. coli W2252 and T5, a mutant defective in succinate uptake derived from W2252. Uptakes of ¹⁴C-substrates by W2252 and T5 membranes and the dilution of accumulated radioactivity by unlabeled C₄-dicarboxylic acids, indicated that C₄-dicarboxylic acids in the tricarboxylic acid cycle are transported by the same system in E. coli which requires a suitable energy source such as NADH, D-lactate or reduced phenazine methosulfate. The uptakes of succinate by W2252 membranes were inhibited by an anaerobic incubation or some of the inhibitors of electron transport chain. Difference spectra of reduced versus oxidized membranes from W2252 and T5 indicated the reduction of flavoproteins and cytochromes by dithionite, NADH or D-lactate. From these results it was concluded that the uptake of the C₄-dicarboxylic acids in isolated membranes is coupled to an electron transport chain involving a specific dehydrogenase system.     

Additional Volatile Compounds Produced by Pyrolysis of Sulfur-containing Amino Acids

Bacillus circulans WL-12, a yeast and fungal cell wall lytic bacterium, secretes a variety of polysaccharide degrading enzymes into the culture medium. When β-1,3-glucanase was induced with pachyman, a β-1,3-glucose polymer obtained from the tree fungus Poria cocus Wolf, six distinct active molecules of the enzyme with different molecular weights were detected in the culture supernatant of this bacterium. Molecular cloning of one of the β,3-gIucanase genes into E. coli was achieved by transforming E. coli HB101 cells with recombinant plasmids composed of chromosomal DNA fragments prepared from B. circulans WL-12 and the plasmid vector pUC 19. A recombinant plasmid containing 4.4 kb of inserted DNA in the Pst I site of pUC 19, designated as pNT003, conferred the ability to degrade pachyman on E. coli cells. The presence of pNT003 was harmful for E. coli cells and caused cell lysis, especially at higher temperatures of cultivation. β,3-Glucanase activity detected in E. coli was mainly recovered in the periplasmic fraction when cell lysis did not occur. SDS-PAGE analysis revealed that the periplasmic fraction contained four active molecules of β-1,3-glucanase which corresponded to four of the six active molecules produced by B. circulans WL-12.     

Single‐Walled Carbon Nanotubes in Emerging Solar Cells: Synthesis and Electrode Applications

Emerging solar cells, namely, organic solar cells and perovskite solar cells, are the thin‐film photovoltaics that have light to electricity conversion efficiencies close to that of silicon solar cells while possessing advantages in having additional functionalities, facile‐processability, and low fabrication cost. To maximize these advantages, the electrode components must be replaced by materials that are more flexible and cost‐effective. Researchers around the globe have been looking for the new electrodes that meet these requirements. Among many candidates, single‐walled carbon nanotubes have demonstrated their feasibility as the new alternative to conventional electrodes, such as indium tin oxide and metals. This review discusses various growth methods of single‐walled carbon nanotubes and their electrode applications in thin‐film photovoltaics.