Solvent effects on the cooperative order-disorder transition of aqueous solutions of schizophyllan, a triple-helical polysaccharide

A triple helical polysaccharide schizophyllan in aqueous solution exhibited a highly cooperative transition between ordered and disordered states associated with the conformation of its side chains and nearby water molecules. The transition was followed by optical rotation and calorimetry using water containing additives such as NaOH and DMSO as solvents. The ordered state was stabilized or destabilized depending on the kind and amount of the additive employed; in particular, the addition of DMSO had a remarkable stabilizing effect. This effect was analyzed by means of a statistical mechanical theory of linear cooperative transitions, where DMSO was assumed to interact favorably with the ordered side chains. A small amount of NaOH in a solvent mixture stabilized the ordered state and made the transition curve very gradual. No molecular mechanism was elucidated to account for the role of NaOH.     

Electrostatic interactions and complement activation on the surface of phospholipid vesicle containing acidic lipids: Effect of the structure of acidic groups

Anionic vesicles containing acidic phospholipids are known complement activators. To clarify which negative physicochemical electrostatic charges on vesicles and structural specificities of acidic lipids are critical to complement activation, the electrostatic properties and activity to complement of two anionic vesicles modified with a carboxylic acid derivative or a conventional acidic phospholipid were compared. Electrophoretic mobility measurements indicated that the negative zeta potential and the electrostatic interactivity of these two anionic vesicles were equal at pH 7.4. However, the infusion of vesicles containing acidic phospholipid induced significant complement activation, while vesicles containing the carboxylic acid derivative failed to activate complement. These results indicate that the negative charge on the surface of vesicles is not critical for the activation complement, suggesting that complement activation is specific to the structure of acidic groups. This finding is likely to be important to the design of anionic biointerfaces and may support the promising medical applications of this anionic vesicle modified with a carboxylic acid derivative.     

Legionella hijacks the host Golgi-to-ER retrograde pathway for the association of Legionella-containing vacuole with the ER

Legionella pneumophila (L. pneumophila) is a gram-negative bacterium that replicates in a compartment that resembles the host endoplasmic reticulum (ER). To create its replicative niche, L. pneumophila manipulates host membrane traffic and fusion machineries. Bacterial proteins called Legionella effectors are translocated into the host cytosol and play a crucial role in these processes. In an early stage of infection, Legionella subverts ER-derived vesicles (ERDVs) by manipulating GTPase Rab1 to facilitate remodeling of the Legionella-containing vacuole (LCV). Subsequently, the LCV associates with the ER in a mechanism that remains elusive. In this study, we show that L. pneumophila recruits GTPases Rab33B and Rab6A, which regulate vesicle trafficking from the Golgi to the ER, to the LCV to promote the association of LCV with the ER. We found that recruitment of Rab6A to the LCV depends on Rab33B. Legionella effector SidE family proteins, which phosphoribosyl-ubiquitinate Rab33B, were found to be necessary for the recruitment of Rab33B to the LCV. Immunoprecipitation experiments revealed that L. pneumophila facilitates the interaction of Rab6 with ER-resident SNAREs comprising syntaxin 18, p31, and BNIP1, but not tethering factors including NAG, RINT-1, and ZW10, which are normally required for syntaxin 18-mediated fusion of Golgi-derived vesicles with the ER. Our results identified a Rab33B-Rab6A cascade on the LCV and the interaction of Rab6 with ER-resident SNARE proteins for the association of LCV with the ER and disclosed the unidentified physiological role of SidE family proteins.     

Antibacterial activity of disodium succinoyl glycyrrhetinate,a derivative of glycyrrhetinic acid against Streptococcus mutans

Streptococcus mutans is a cariogenic bacterium that localizes in the oral cavity. Glycyrrhetinic acid (GRA) is a major component of licorice extract. GRA and several derivatives, including disodium succinoyl glycyrrhetinate (GR‐SU), are known to have anti‐inflammatory effects in humans. In this study, the antimicrobial effect of GRA and its derivatives against the S. mutans UA159 strain were investigated. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of GRA and GR‐SU showed antibacterial activity against the S. mutans strain, whereas other tested derivatives did not. Because GR‐SU is more soluble than GRA, GR‐SU was used for further experiments. The antibacterial activity of GR‐SU against 100 S. mutans strains was evaluated and it was found that all strains are susceptible to GR‐SU, with MIC values below 256 µg/mL. A cell viability assay showed that GR‐SU has a bacteriostatic effect on S. mutans cells. As to growth kinetics, sub‐MICs of GR‐SU inhibited growth. The effect of GR‐SU on S. mutans virulence was then investigated. GR‐SU at sub‐MICs suppresses biofilm formation. Additionally, GR‐SU greatly suppresses the pH drop caused by the addition of glucose and glucose‐induced expression of the genes responsible for acid production (ldh and pykF) and tolerance (aguD and atpD). Additionally, expression of enolase, which is responsible for the carbohydrate phosphotransferase system, was not increased in the presence of GR‐SU, indicating that GR‐SU suppresses incorporation of sugars into S. mutans. In conclusion, GR‐SU has antibacterial activity against S. mutans and also decreases S. mutans virulence.     

The genes for human alcohol dehydrogenases beta 1 and beta 2 differ by only one nucleotide

Allelic differences at the alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase loci may have an important role in an individual's alcohol sensitivity. We have cloned and sequenced all nine exons of an ADH2(2) allele which codes for an 'atypical' ADH, ADH beta 2. Our sequence data shows that the histidine at residue 47 of ADH beta 2 is encoded by CAC. Surprisingly, no silent substitution was found between the coding regions of ADH2(1) [Duester, G., Smith, M., Bilanchone, V. & Hatfield, G. W. (1986) J. Biol. Chem. 261, 2027-2033.] and ADH2(2) alleles over the 1122 nucleotide sites.