Fermentation and quality of yellow pigments from golden brown rice solid culture by a selected Monascus mutant

A single peak (λmax 370) yellow pigment-producing mutant derived from Monascus sp. TISTR 3179 was used for the pigment production in solid rice culture. Various factors affecting yellow tones were investigated. Hom-mali rice variety was the best amongst five Thai local varieties used for fungus culture. It was also better than corn, mungbean, soybean, potato, sweet potato, or cassava tubers. The moisture content and temperature were the key environmental factors affecting the color tones of creamy, tangerine, and golden brown rice solid cultures. The golden brown rice culture gave the highest yellow pigment concentration. Under an optimum room temperature of 28–32 °C, an initial moisture content of 42 %, and 7-day-old inoculum size of 2 % (v/w) the maximum yield at 2,224.63 A₃₇₀U/gdw of yellow pigment was produced. A mellow yellow powder at 550 A₃₇₀U/gdw could be obtained using spray-drying techniques. The powder had a moisture content of 5.15 %, a water activity value of 0.398, a hue angle of 73.70 ° (yellowish orange), high lightness (L*) of 74.63, color saturation (C*) of 28.97, a neutral pH of 7.42, 0.12 % acidity and solubility of 0.211 g/10 ml. It was noteworthy that the Chinese fresh noodle with spray-dried yellow powder showed no discoloration during 8-day storage.     

Application of Preserved Human Amniotic Membrane for Corneal Surface Reconstruction

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of preserved human amniotic membrane transplantation for reconstruction of the corneal surface diseases. Methods: Preserved human amniotic membrane transplantations were performed in 84 eyes of 78 patients for corneal surface reconstruction. The indications were limbal stem cell deficiency from Steven–Johnson syndrome, chemical burn and herpes keratitis (27 eyes), bullous keratopathy (26 eyes), persistent epithelial defect and dellen (17 eyes), band keratopathy (11 eyes), preparing for prosthesis (1 eye), corneal ulcer (1 eye) and acute chemical burn (1 eye). Results: Success was noted in 83.3% (70/84) eyes, partial success in 13.1% (11/84) eyes, and failure in 3.6% (3/84) eyes for an average follow-up of 10.5 months (3 – 29 months). No patient developed major immediate post-operative complications. Conclusion: Amniotic membrane transplantation can reduce inflammation, promote corneal epithelial healing, and decrease irritation in corneal surface problems.     

Coconut water as a medium additive for the production of docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6 n3) by Schizochytrium mangrovei Sk-02

The effect of coconut water (CW) on biomass and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6 n3) formation by Schizochytrium mangrovei Sk-02 was studied in a yeast extract-diluted sea water medium. Optimal CW-level was ca. 33% (v/v), resulting in a biomass level of 28 g/l with a DHA-content of 20% (w/w) or 6 g DHA/l, almost 50% higher than in non-supplemented cultures at the same initial sugar level. Study on the growth-promoting effects of coconut water suggested that it could be (partially) mimicked by addition of trace elements; the fatty acids present in CW did not appear to be incorporated or effect fatty acid formation by the organism. CW-addition was also effective in media with other nitrogen sources such as casitone, peptone and tryptone. Its inclusion (at 50% v/v) increased biomass levels two-to-three-fold with concomitant increases in the DHA-level.     

Neurochemical Changes in LPA<Subscript>1</Subscript> Receptor Deficient Mice – A Putative Model of Schizophrenia

LPA₁ is a G_i-coupled seven transmembrane receptor with high affinity for the ligand lysophosphatidic acid. We have investigated the effect of targeted deletion at the lpa₁ locus on evoked release of amino acids from hippocampal slices, using in vitro superfusion techniques, and evoked 5-HT efflux from the dorsal raphe nucleus, using in vitro fast cyclic voltammetry. Superfusion of hippocampal slices revealed that basal levels of tyrosine, aspartate and glutamate release were significantly increased while K⁺-evoked release of glutamate and GABA were significantly decreased in lpa₁^(–/–) mice. Fast cyclic voltammetry measurements in the dorsal raphe nucleus demonstrated significant decreases in electrically evoked 5-HT efflux in lpa₁^(–/–) mice. In summary, these data demonstrate that the lpa₁ mutation produces a number of changes in neurotransmitters that have been associated with a schizophrenic-like pathology.     

Absorption of mulberry root urease to the hemolymph of the silkworm, Bombyx mori

Mulberry leaves are the sole diet of the silkworm, Bombyx mori. The host urease is incorporated into the larval hemolymph and involved in nitrogen metabolism in the insect. To investigate the selective absorption of the host urease to the larvae, crude urease was prepared from mulberry leaves and roots. Root urease was identical to leaf urease on the basis of electrophoretic analyses: (1) the urease activity appeared in the same migration position in a native gel; (2) There was no difference in molecular mass of the subunit. The root urease was orally injected to the fifth instar larvae of the silkworm. Just before spinning, the larvae absorbed intact urease from the midgut lumen to the hemolymph without the loss of activity. The capacity to absorb urease occurred only at the specific stage. Localization of host urease in midgut tissue was observed using confocal laser scanning microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Based on spatial distribution of immunofluorescent signals and immunogold particles, host urease specifically attached to the surfaces of microvilli existing in the apical side of columnar cells and appeared in the cytoplasm of the cells for transport to the hemolymph. The incorporation efficiency of root urease into the hemolymph was significantly higher than for ureases from jack bean seeds and Bacillus pasteurii. The urease that was transported to the hemolymph was electrophoretically altered, compared with the host urease extracted.     

Molecular cloning and characterization of an allatostatin-like receptor in the cockroach Diploptera punctata

Two Drosophila receptors (AlstR/DAR-1 and DAR-2) with sequence similarity to mammalian galanin receptors have been previously identified. These receptors have been shown to form specific interactions with neuropeptides that resemble cockroach allatostatins (ASTs), which have a characteristic Tyr/Phe-Xaa-Phe-Gly-Leu-NH2 carboxyl-terminus. We hypothesized that similar allatostatin receptors exist in the cockroach Diploptera punctata that may regulate the numerous effects that this family of peptides exerts on a range of target tissues. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used, with primer design based on the Drosophila allatostatin receptor (AlstR). Using these primers, a putative allatostatin-like receptor cDNA was isolated from a lambda ZAP-cDNA library prepared from the corpora allata of the D. punctata. As an approach to testing the function of this receptor in vivo, the technique of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) gene interference was tested. Initial experiments suggest that the putative inhibition of receptor RNA expression may increase juvenile hormone (JH) production.