Continuous ATP Regeneration Using Immobilized Yeast Cells

Arthrobacter simplex was screened as an α-keto-δ-guanidinovalerate (ketoarginine) assimilating organism. A characteristic feature was its growth on ketoarginine as a carbon source; it began to grow after an extremely long lag. Its growth was stimulated by addition of 0.02% yeast extract to the medium.

The results indicated the transamination of arginine-α-ketoglutarate (α-KGA) and the hydrolyzing reaction of ketoarginine into α-keto-δ-aminovalerate and urea. Two intermediates, ketoarginine and α-keto-δ-aminovalerate, were isolated and identified by various procedures. Coupling of the two reactions was demonstrated in cell-free extracts of arginine-grown cells; ketoarginine formed from arginine by transamination with α-KGA was hydrolyzed directly to α-keto-δ-aminovalerate and urea. The metabolic routes of arginine in microorganisms were discussed.     

The Effects of Caffeine and Caffeine-containing Beverages on the Disposition of Brain Serotonin in Rats

Caffeine and caffeine-containing beverages (instant coffee, black tea, green tea, or oolong tea) caused a significant decrease in serum tryptophan, and significant increases in brain tryptophan, serotonin, and 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid over those in rats fed a control diet. Adenosine supplementation partially counteracted the increase of brain serotonin caused by caffeine. These results are interpreted as indicating that caffeine-containing beverages may have some nutritional and behavioral effects.     

Investigation of Volatile Components in Wines from Koshu and Zenkoji Grapes

A 3-hydroxyethyl-4-cyanoazetidin-2-one derivative (2) was synthesized from (2R,3R)-potassium 2,3-epoxybutyrate through two steps, and it was then further converted to a diazo derivative (7).     

Gene expression profiling of coelomic cells and discovery of immune-related genes in the earthworm,Eisenia andrei,using expressed sequence tags

The coelomic cells of the earthworm consist of leukocytes, chlorogocytes, and coelomocytes, which play an important role in innate immunity reactions. To gain insight into the expression profiles of coelomic cells of the earthworm, Eisenia andrei, we analyzed 1151 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) derived from the cDNA library of the coelomic cells. Among the 1151 ESTs analyzed, 493 ESTs (42.8%) showed a significant similarity to known genes and represented 164 unique genes, of which 93 ESTs were singletons and 71 ESTs manifested as two or more ESTs. From the 164 unique genes sequenced, we found 24 immune-related and cell defense genes. Furthermore, real-time PCR analysis showed that levels of lysenin-related proteins mRNA in coelomic cells of E. andrei were upregulated after the injection of Bacillus subtilis bacteria. This EST data-set would provide a valuable resource for future researches of earthworm immune system.     

Suppression of Rice Immunity by Xanthomonas oryzae Type III Effector Xoo2875

Single-stranded plasmid DNA of pPF1 from Phormidium foveolarum that was specifically degraded by S1 nuclease was detected by Southern hybridization. This is also the case of the homologous plasmid pPBl from Plectonema boryanum. These observations suggest that such small cryptic plasmids as pPF1 and pPB1, both from Gram-negative and filamentous cyanobacteria, replicate by a rolling circle mechanism in their living cells.     

植物性发酵乳杆菌对免疫系统的生理活性、抗高血糖和促进肠蠕动的影响

研究植物源性发酵乳杆菌对免疫系统生理活性、抗高血糖和促进肠蠕动的影响.β-内啡肽对免疫系统有重要作用,阿片-促黑素细胞皮质素原(POMC)是β-内啡肽的前体物质,为了探讨发酵乳杆菌对免疫功能的影响,检测小鼠下丘脑和脑垂体中POMC的基因表达水平.通过喂食发酵乳杆菌时间和浓度的不同及测量β一内啡肽表达水平的方式,来分析血液中B-内啡肽的变化情况.此外,测定了三种小鼠模型的血糖变化,即常规的WT小鼠模型、D-葡萄糖诱导的急性高血糖模型和链唑霉素(STZ)诱导的糖尿病模型,以证实发酵乳杆菌的降血糖效果,并对降血糖效果进行了验证.通过检测血糖随喂食发酵乳杆菌浓度和时间而变化的情况,已证实给药浓度和时间对血糖浓度有很好的影响.另外,为证实发酵乳杆菌对肠蠕动的影响测定了胃肠通过时间,证明发酵乳杆菌对肠蠕动有极好的促进作用.通过此项研究,证实发酵乳杆菌对提高人体免疫系统的生理活性、抗高血糖和促进小肠蠕动有极佳的效果.     

消化道屏障与树突状细胞免疫研究进展

肠相关淋巴组织在防御病毒、细菌、寄生虫等有害物质入侵中发挥着重要作用,是消化道屏障的组成部分,其中肠道树突状细胞尤为重要,作为目前所知的机体内功能最强的专职性抗原呈递细胞,在肠道内,树突状细胞不但能对病原菌产生免疫应答,还能对肠腔内的正常菌群和各种食物蛋白产生免疫耐受,因此了解树突状细胞的功能及相关作用机制有着重要意义.现就对树突状细胞的生物学特性,以及其在肠道免疫中的作用进行综述.     

水生无脊椎动物中的免疫球蛋白超家族

适应性免疫一直被认为是脊椎动物特有的免疫机制,然而近年来许多研究表明 ,无脊椎动物体内也存在许多在结构或功能上与脊椎动物适应性免疫分子类似的免 疫成分. 免疫球蛋白超家族是适应性免疫的重要组成部分,本文主要综述近年来关 于水生无脊椎动物中肌联蛋白、唐氏综合症细胞黏着分子、特异性凝集素、几丁质 结合蛋白和185/133基因家族以及含有V和C结构域的蛋白等免疫球蛋白超家族成员研 究进展,这有助于深入理解无脊椎动物的免疫系统并揭示脊椎动物适应性免疫起源 与进化.