Substitution of Lysine for Arginine in the N-Terminal 217th Amino Acid Residue of the HγII of Staphylococcall γ-Hemolysin Lowers the Activity of the Toxin

The staphyloccocal toxin γ-hemolysin consists of two protein components, LukF and HyII. Staphylococcus aureus P83 was found to have five components, LukF, LukF-PV, LukM, LukS, and HγII for leukocidin or γ-hemolysin. HγII of S. aureus P83 was demonstrated to be a naturally-occurring analogous molecule of HγII [HγII(P83)], in which the 217th arginine residue was replaced by lysine. The HγII(P83) showed about 50% of the hemolytic activity of normal HyII in the presence of LukF.     

Structure-Dependent Photodegradation of Carotenoids Accelerated by Dimethyl Tetrasulfide under UVA Irradiation

Carotenoids are used in wide-ranging food applications, but they are susceptible to degradation by many factors including light. We examined the photodegradation of five kinds of carotenoids and three kinds of anthocyanins to clarify which structures of pigments were favorable to accelerated degradation by sulfides under UVA irradiation. Under UVA irradiation, crocetin and crocin were decomposed more rapidly in the presence of dimethyl tetrasulfide than in the absence of the sulfide, but not as rapidly as β-carotene, zeaxanthin and β-cryptoxanthin were. However, cyanidin was decomposed more slowly in the presence of sulfide than in the absence of sulfide. Moreover, the photodegradation of kuromanin and keracyanin was not affected by the addition of a sulfide. We also examined the mechanism for this accelerated degradation. Normal hexane was more favorable to the photodegradation of β-carotene than methanol and ethanol. The accelerated degradation was inhibited by free radical scavengers, but enhanced by the addition of deuterium oxide. These results suggest that conjugated double bonds were favorable to the accelerated photodegradation by sulfide and that this reaction was mediated by free radicals.     

Bioavailability of Astaxanthin in Haematococcus Algal Extract: The Effects of Timing of Diet and Smoking Habits

Astaxanthin is a caroteonid that possesses strong antioxidant activity. Recently, many studies on biological activity have been reported. In general, the absorption of carotenoids is affected greatly by diet and by smoking. In this report, we investigated astaxanthin pharmacokinetics after administration of Haematococcus algal extract, a source of astaxanthin, to smokers and nonsmokers before and after a meal; astaxanthin was given before the meal to nonsmokers (n=7), after the meal to nonsmokers (n=6), and after the meal to smokers (n=7), then serum samples were analyzed. The timing of administration greatly affected astaxanthin bioavailability including the area under the curve (AUC_0–168, 2,968±959 μg h/l in the before-meal group vs. 7,219±3,118 μg h/l in the after-meal group), indicating high availability in the after-meal group. Smoking also affected the pharmacokinetic parameters and reduced the half-life (t_1?2) of astaxanthin elimination significantly.     

Mutations in the CCD4 Carotenoid Cleavage Dioxygenase Gene of Yellow-Flesh Peaches

Peach trees bear either white- or yellow-flesh fruit. We found that Japanese peach cultivars have two types of mutation in a carotenoid catabolic gene, CCD4: the insertion of a retrotransposon, and a frame shift in the microsatellite sequences of the first exon. CCD4 in yellow-flesh peaches was disrupted by these mutations.     

Quantification of carotenoids in cells of Phaffia rhodozyma by autofluorescence

The distribution and intensity of autofluorescence caused by carotenoids in the yeast Phaffia rhodozyma was examined by laser confocal fluorescence microscopy. Carotenoid contents of individual yeast cells could be calculated from the value of autofluorescence/unit volume of yeast cell. The average level of fluorescence in highly fluorescing yeast cells was 15 mg carotenoid g^–1 yeast which was accepted as the maximum yield of carotenoid in P. rhodozyma. The method developed in this study is useful for the research of cell biology associated with the biological functions of carotenoids in individual cells.     

Reproductive success in a natural population of male three‐spined stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus: effects of nuptial colour,parasites and body size

The effects of nuptial colour, parasites and body size on reproductive success were examined in a natural population of three‐spined stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus. Reproductive males were collected, with the contents of their nests, during the embryo‐guarding stage from Lynne Lake (Cook Inlet, Alaska, U.S.A.), and nuptial colour, infection status and body size were recorded. Regression analysis revealed that male body size was the only predictor, of those measured, of reproductive success in nature.     

沼泽生红冬孢酵母生长及产类胡萝卜素培养条件的研究

通过单因素实验和正交实验对沼泽生红冬孢酵母生长和产类胡萝卜素的培养条件进行研究,最适培养条件为葡萄糖40 g/L,牛肉膏10 g/L,酵母膏10 g/L,NaCl 10 g/L,MgSO4.7H2O 0.1 g/L,K2HPO4 2 g/L,KH2PO4 2 g/L,初始pH 6.3,装液量为50 mL/250 mL,摇床转速170 r/min,培养温度为28℃,接种量为10%。在此发酵条件下,培养72 h后,沼泽生红冬孢酵母生物量和类胡萝卜素产量分别达到11.72 g/L和3.55 mg/L。     

Perceiving polarization with the naked eye: characterization of human polarization sensitivity

Like many animals, humans are sensitive to the polarization of light. We can detect the angle of polarization using an entoptic phenomenon called Haidinger''s brushes, which is mediated by dichroic carotenoids in the macula lutea. While previous studies have characterized the spectral sensitivity of Haidinger''s brushes, other aspects remain unexplored. We developed a novel methodology for presenting gratings in polarization-only contrast at varying degrees of polarization in order to measure the lower limits of human polarized light detection. Participants were, on average, able to perform the task down to a threshold of 56%, with some able to go as low as 23%. This makes humans the most sensitive vertebrate tested to date. Additionally, we quantified a nonlinear relationship between presented and perceived polarization angle when an observer is presented with a rotatable polarized light field. This result confirms a previous theoretical prediction of how uniaxial corneal birefringence impacts the perception of Haidinger''s brushes. The rotational dynamics of Haidinger''s brushes were then used to calculate corneal retardance. We suggest that psychophysical experiments, based upon the perception of polarized light, are amenable to the production of affordable technologies for self-assessment and longitudinal monitoring of visual dysfunctions such as age-related macular degeneration.