Breakage of Chromosomal DNA with Aromatic Reductones

Strand breakages of mammalian cellular chromosomal DNA with aromatic reductones were ascertained by use of a cultured cell strain of the rat fetal lung (RFL). The mode of the breakages was investigated by ultracentrifugal analyses. The reductones induced the breakages of the cellular DNA in two different fashions; one is single strand breaks and another double strand breaks. Although the single strand breaks were rapidly repaired, double strand breaks were only partially repaired. Both breaks were not cytocidal. Some physiological alterations were observed to follow the strand breaks.     

Quantification of extracellular α-acetolactate oxidative decarboxylation in diacetyl production by an α-acetolactate overproducing strain of Lactococcus lactis sp. lactis bv. diacetylactis

The quantification of -acetolactate (AAL) extracellular oxidative decarboxylation during an AAL overproducing strain culture shows that this reaction is at the origin of about 90% of the diacetyl production and that only a small proportion of extracellular AAL is readily transformed to diacetyl. These results, compared with previous ones obtained with a non AAL accumulating strain, allow research options to be put forward for the improvement of microbiological diacetyl production.     

Production of L-2,3-butanediol by a new pathway constructed in Escherichia coli

AIMS: A metabolic pathway for L-2,3-butanediol (BD) as the main product has not yet been found. To rectify this situation, we attempted to produce L-BD from diacetyl (DA) by producing simultaneous expression of diacetyl reductase (DAR) and L-2,3-butanediol dehydrogenase (BDH) using transgenic bacteria, Escherichia coli JM109/pBUD-comb. METHODS AND RESULTS: The meso-BDH of Klebsiella pneumoniae was used for its DAR activity to convert DA to L-acetoin (AC) and the L-BDH of Brevibacterium saccharolyticum was used to reduce L-AC to L-BD. The respective gene coding each enzyme was connected in tandem to the MCS of pFLAG-CTC (pBUD-comb). The divided addition of DA as a source, addition of 2% glucose, and the combination of static and shaking culture was effective for the production. CONCLUSIONS: L-BD (2200 mg l(-1)) was generated from 3000 mg l(-1) added of DA, which corresponded to a 73% conversion rate. Meso-BD as a by-product was mixed by 2% at most. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: An enzyme system for converting DA to L-BD was constructed with a view to using DA-producing bacteria in the future.     

Alkaloids of Aconitum ferox

From the roots of Aconitum ferox four alkaloids have been isolated. Pseudaconitine is the major constituent and the other three minor alkaloids are identified as bikhaconitine, veratroyl pseudaconine and diacetyl pseudaconitine. Veratroyl pseudaconine and diacetyl pseudaconitine have not been previously found in nature.     

Juvenile hormone–stimulated synthesis of acyl‐glycerols and vitamin E in female accessory sexual glands of the fire bug,Pyrrhocoris apterus L.

Secretory cells of the female accessory sexual glands (AG) of P. apterus grow and produce yellow oily exocrine secretion in response to stimulation by endogenous juvenile hormone (JH) or exogenous treatments by JH analogues. The secretion determines the property of future egg shells by coating the chorion surface of the oocytes that are passing individually through the common uterus during oviposition. Diapausing females with a physiologically inhibited endocrine system or females with artificially removed hormonal sources show inactive ovaries and empty AG without the secretory products. Ovary‐ectomised females with the intact neuroendocrine system develop hypertrophic AG loaded with the oily secretion. This shows that there is no direct dependence between formation of the oily secretion in AG and ovarian growth. Chemical analysis of the secretory products revealed the presence of acetylated glycerols, with the most abundant stearoyl‐diacetyl‐glycerol, stearoyl‐acetyl‐propionyl‐glycerol, and the corresponding derivatives of arachidonic acid. In addition to this, the JH‐activated secretory cells of AG also produced γ‐ and δ‐tocopherols. The possible antioxidant or antimutagenic action of these vitamin E compounds in insect reproduction has been emphasized. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Diacetyl for Blocking the Histochemical Reaction for Arginine

Two different histochemical methods for blocking the guanidinium group of arginine in formalin fixed, paraffin embedded material are reported here. One procedure uses diacetyl with short incubation times and high pH, the other uses the trimer of the diacetyl reagent and requires longer incubation times but moderate pH. The diacetyl reagent is recommended despite its high pH because the preparation of the diacetyl trimer is laborious and time-consuming.     

低双乙酰啤酒酵母菌株BEZ112的选育

以啤酒酿造生产菌株啤酒酵母(Saccharomyces cerevisiae)FB作为出发菌株,用甲基磺酸乙酯(EMS)诱变,经分离筛选得到一株优良的啤酒酵母菌株BEZ112。该菌株的絮凝性、发酵度、酒精度、发酵液的总酯和总高级醇的含量等特性保持了亲株的优良性状。但以12°Bx麦芽汁为培养基用500mL三角瓶在12℃下发酵,该菌株发酵至第4d,发酵液中的双乙酰含量达到峰值(0.291mg/L),比出发菌株FB发酵4d的峰值降低了30％,发酵至第8d,BEZ112发酵液中的双乙酰含量比出发菌株FB的降低了23％。以12°Bx麦芽汁为培养基用500L罐在12℃下发酵8d,BEZ112发酵液中的双乙酰含量(0.091mg/L)比出发菌株FB的(0.124mg/L)降低了27％。发酵得到的啤酒口感纯正清爽。     

双乙酰还原酶的分离纯化研究

比较了５种细菌、４种酵母菌和鸡肝中双乙酰还原酶含量,其中粪肠杆菌（Ｅｎｔｅｒｏ－ｃｏｃｃｕｓｆａｅｃａｌｉｓ）ＡＳ１．５９５中含量较高,为９．６ＩＵ／ｇ湿菌体。并对ＡＳ１．５９５菌酶和鸡肝酶进一步经ＳｅｐｈａｄｅｘＧ－１００和ＤＺＡＥ柱分离纯化,提纯倍数分别为４５、８９３,最后收率分别为１８．５％、５．１％。     

Metabolic engineering of sugar catabolism in lactic acid bacteria

Lactic acid bacteria are characterized by a relatively simple sugar fermentation pathway that, by definition, results in the formation of lactic acid. The extensive knowledge of traditional pathways and the accumulating genetic information on these and novel ones, allows for the rerouting of metabolic processes in lactic acid bacteria by physiological approaches, genetic methods, or a combination of these two. This review will discuss past and present examples and future possibilities of metabolic engineering of lactic acid bacteria for the production of important compounds, including lactic and other acids, flavor compounds, and exopolysaccharides.