Fermentation of protopanaxadiol type ginsenosides (PD) with probiotic Bifidobacterium lactis and Lactobacillus rhamnosus

Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology - Ginsenosides are believed to be the principal components behind the pharmacological actions of ginseng, and their bioactive properties are closely related...     

SCA8 RAN polySer protein preferentially accumulates in white matter regions and is regulated by eIF3F

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 8 (SCA8) is caused by a bidirectionally transcribed CTG·CAG expansion that results in the in vivo accumulation of CUG RNA foci, an ATG‐initiated polyGln and a polyAla protein expressed by repeat‐associated non‐ATG (RAN) translation. Although RAN proteins have been reported in a growing number of diseases, the mechanisms and role of RAN translation in disease are poorly understood. We report a novel toxic SCA8 polySer protein which accumulates in white matter (WM) regions as aggregates that increase with age and disease severity. WM regions with polySer aggregates show demyelination and axonal degeneration in SCA8 human and mouse brains. Additionally, knockdown of the eukaryotic translation initiation factor eIF3F in cells reduces steady‐state levels of SCA8 polySer and other RAN proteins. Taken together, these data show polySer and WM abnormalities contribute to SCA8 and identify eIF3F as a novel modulator of RAN protein accumulation.     

Rapid transient expression of cholera toxin B subunit (CTB) in Nicotiana benthamiana

Cholera toxin B subunit (CTB) has the potential to be an effective adjuvant for mucosal vaccines because of its ability to increase antigen uptake and presentation by antigen-presenting cells through GM1-ganglioside binding. CTB has been produced using different recombinant protein expression systems. This study used the geminiviral replicon system to transiently express CTB in Nicotiana benthamiana. The plant-optimized CTB gene was cloned into a geminiviral vector and infiltrated into N. benthamiana leaves. The highest CTB protein level was observed on day 4 with approximately 4 μg/g fresh weight. The Western blot analysis using anti-CTB suggests assembly of CTB into oligomers. Based on the GM1-ELISA results, this CTB transiently expressed in plants showed biological activity for binding the intestinal epithelial cell membrane glycolipid receptor, GM1-glanglioside, which implies its potential as an adjuvant for mucosal vaccines.