Correlation Analysis between Eating Quality,Rheological Property and Amylose Content of Starch

A screening was designed to isolate microorganisms having poly(γ-glutamic acid) (PGA) endohydrolase activity. Of the strains screened, TM-4222, from a soil sample, showed the highest viscosity decrement ability on PGA. It was identified to be a Myrothecium sp. The fungal production of the enzyme was slightly promoted with yeast extract and greatly promoted with· both yeast extract and PGA. The fungus was evaluated to produce PGA hydrolase of an endo-type specificity by analyzing of the reaction products.     

Relation of Rheological Properties with Starch Components among Glutinous,Sticky, Less-sticky Non-glutinous Rice Starches

Varoius piericidin analogues (PS-I, -II and -III in Fig. 2) were synthesized from three 4-acetoxy-6-formylpyridines by Wittig reaction to determine the structure-activity relationships. New type inhibitors, 5-alkenyl-2, 3-dimethoxy-4-hydroxy-6-methylpyridines (PS-IV) were synthesized by intramolecular cyclization.     

Studies on the Utilization of Hydrocarbons by Microorganisms

In the course of investigation of alicyclic hydrocarbon-utilizing microorganisms, five strains of ethylcyclohexane-utilizing bacteria were isolated from soil samples.

Among those bacteria, the strain S6B1 that was identified as Alcaligenes faecalis, showed the best growth in shaking culture.

The strain S6B1 was found to produce 4-ethylcyclohexanol from ethylcyclohexane.

This substance separated from culture broth was purified and identified to be trans-4-ethylcyclohexanol by the use of NMR.     

Formation of Glutaric and Adipic Acids from n-Alkanes with Odd and Even Numbers of Carbons by Candida tropicalis OH23

Many strains of yeast which can utilize n-alkanes as the sole source of carbon were isolated from flowers and fruits. Among them, a strain, OH23, identified as Candida tropicalis, formed acidic substances from n-alkanes. The principal products from n-alkanes with odd and even numbers of carbons were identified as glutaric and adipic acids, respectively. The culture conditions for their formation were investigated. n-Pentadecane and n-hexadecane were the best substrates for the formation of glutaric and adipic acids, respectively. Yields of 170 mg of glutaric and 64 mg of adipic acid were obtained from 100 ml of media containing 4% (v/v) n-pentadecane and n-hexadecane, respectively, and 0.5% casamino acids.     

Studies on the Polyuronide of Oh-gyo-tye (The Achine of Ficus awkeotsang MAKINO)

A polyuronide, main component of the water extract of achine of Ficus awkeotsang MAKINO (on-gyo-tye), was purified by ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose. The polyuronide (Fraction IB) is homogeneous electrophoretically and consists mainly of galacturonic acid. Optical rotation of Fraction IB is and content of methoxyl group is trace. In periodate oxidation of Fraction IB, molar ratio of galacturonic acid residue and periodate consumption was 1, and formic acid formation was very small. Periodate oxidation product of Fraction IB was oxidized further with bromine and the resulted substance was hydrolyzed. In the hydrolyzate, presence of large amount of tartaric and glyoxylic acids and small amount of tartronic acid were detected by paper chromatography. Reduced viscosity of aquous solution of Fraction IB increased with decreasing of the concentration of Fraction IB solution. From these results, it was deduced that Fraction IB has a linear structure of 1→4 linkage of d-galacturonic acid, probably α-linkage.     

A Novel Synthesis of 3-Substituted Furans: Synthesis of Perillen and Dendrolasin

A novel synthetic method of 3-substituted furans was developed and syntheses of perillen and dendrolasin are described.     

Structural Analysis of an Extracellular Polysaccharide of Porodisculus pendulus

The aroL gene, encoding shikimate kinase of Brevibacterium lactofermentum, a coryneform glutamic acid-producing bacterium, was cloned. Recombinant plasmids containing the aroL gene caused elevated levels of shikimate kinase synthesis in B. lactofermentum. It was found that in addition to the aroL gene, the aroB and aroE genes, encoding dehydroquinate synthase and shikimate dehydrogenase, respectively, also existed on these recombinant plasmids, in complementation tests with various Escherichia coli and B. lactofermentum aromatic amino acid auxotrophs. The aroL, aroB and aroE genes of B. lactofermentum are located closely on the cloned DNA fragment, in that order. It was shown that at least these three aro genes form a cluster on the chromosome of B. lactofermentum.     

Total synthesis of aurachins C,D, and L,and a structurally simplified analog of aurachin C

The quinoline antibiotics aurachins C, D, and L, and a structurally simplified analog of aurachin C were synthesized from 1-(2-nitrophenyl)butane-1,3-dione via reductive cyclizations of δ-nitro ketone intermediates, with zinc or iron as key steps. The results of antimicrobial tests indicate that the N-hydroxyquinolone nucleus mimics the electron carrier in the respiratory chain more strongly than the quinoline N-oxide nucleus.     

A low trophic position of Japanese eel larvae indicates feeding on marine snow

What eel larvae feed on in the surface layer of the ocean has remained mysterious. Gut contents and bulk nitrogen stable isotope studies suggested that these unusual larvae, called leptocephali, feed at a low level in the oceanic food web, whereas other types of evidence have suggested that small zooplankton are eaten. In this study, we determined the nitrogen isotopic composition of amino acids of both natural larvae and laboratory-reared larvae of the Japanese eel to estimate the trophic position (TP) of leptocephali. We observed a mean TP of 2.4 for natural leptocephali, which is consistent with feeding on particulate organic matter (POM) such as marine snow and discarded appendicularian houses containing bacteria, protozoans and other biological materials. The nitrogen isotope enrichment values of the reared larvae confirm that the primary food source of natural larvae is consistent only with POM. This shows that leptocephali feed on readily available particulate material originating from various sources closely linked to ocean primary production and that leptocephali are a previously unrecognized part of oceanic POM cycling.     

Forest restoration following a windthrow: how legacy retention versus plantation after salvaging alters the trajectory of initial recovery

Recently, the conversion of plantations into natural forests has attracted increasing attention, but little is known about how to convert a windthrown plantation into a natural forest. We examined the initial 3-year effects of salvage logging, site preparation, planting, and weeding in comparison with the effects of legacy retention after a typhoon blowdown on the changes in terrestrial environments and plant compositions and the similarity of the species composition to that of the intact natural forest. Our major findings are as follows: (1) A homogeneous, sunny, and flat environment continued for 3 years in the planted and weeded plot, whereas a heterogeneous environment was observed in the legacy retention plot; however, the light environment changed slightly in the planted plot. (2) The species composition in the planted plots changed greatly due to invasion by annual, biennial, and perennial herbs and early successional trees. Alien species also invaded the planted row. Conversely, the species composition changed little in the legacy retention, which was likely due to the presence of residual plants that prevented shade-intolerant species from being established. (3) The legacy retention, followed by the residual row, was the closest to the natural forest with respect to species composition, whereas the planted row was the most dissimilar from the natural forest. Legacy retention appears to be the most appropriate way to restore a natural forest immediately after a windthrow, yet supplemental planting may be necessary to restore the desired broadleaved species.