Suppressive Effects of Genistein on Oxidative Stress and NFκB Activation in RAW 264.7 Macrophages

This study was designed to investigate whether genistein may ameliorate oxidative stress and nuclear factor κB (NFκB) activation in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 murine macrophage cell line. Treatment of RAW 264.7 cells with genistein significantly reduced lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated nitric oxide (NO) production in a dose-dependent manner with an IC₅₀ of 69.4 μM. Genistein at 50 μM and 100 μM concentrations reduced thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) accumulation, increasing the GSH level and antioxidant enzyme activities, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase. The specific DNA-binding activities of nuclear factor κB (NFκB) on nuclear extracts from 50 μM and 100 μM genistein treatments were significanly suppressed. These results suggest that genistein has mild antioxidant activity to suppress intracellular oxidative stress and NFκB activation.     

Isolation of a Novel Carotenoid,OH-chlorobactene Glucoside Hexadecanoate,and Related Rare Carotenoids from Rhodococcus sp. CIP and Their Antioxidative Activities

In the course of screening for antioxidative carotenoids from bacteria, we isolated and identified a novel carotenoid, OH-chlorobactene glucoside hexadecanoate (4), and rare carotenoids, OH-chlorobactene glucoside (1), OH-γ-carotene glucoside (2) and OH-4-keto-γ-carotene glucoside hexadecanoate (3) from Rhodococcus sp. CIP. The singlet oxygen (¹O₂) quenching model of these carotenoids showed potent antioxidative activities IC₅₀ 14.6 μM for OH-chlorobactene glucoside hexadecanoate (4), 6.5 μM for OH-chlorobactene glucoside (1), 9.9 μM for OH-γ-carotene glucoside (2) and 7.3 μM for OH-4-keto-γ-carotene glucoside hexadecanoate (3).     

Development of an Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay System for the Determination of Asymmetric Dimethylarginine Using a Specific Monoclonal Antibody

We produced a monoclonal antibody (mAb) against N ^G,N ^G-dimethyl-L-arginine (asymmetric dimethylarginine: ADMA), an endogenous competitive inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase (NOS), and developed an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The competitive ELISA method using the mAb determined 5 nM–100 nM ADMA, and ADMA levels in human plasma and urine were found to be 0.78 μM and 51.3 μmol/g of creatinine respectively.     

Lignans from the Fruits of Forsythia suspensa (Thunb.) Vahl Protect High-Density Lipoprotein during Oxidative Stress

The objective of the present study was to investigate the beneficial properties lignan compounds obtained from the fruits of Forsythia suspensa (Thunb.) Vahl (Oleaceae) for protecting human high-density lipoprotein (HDL) against lipid peroxidation. The isolated compounds (1–8) inhibited the generation of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) in a dose-dependent manner with IC₅₀ values from 8.5 to 18.7 μM, since HDL oxidation mediated by catalytic Cu²⁺. They also exerted an inhibitory effect against thermo-labile radical initiator (AAPH)-induced lipid peroxidation of HDL with IC₅₀ values from 12.1 to 51.1 μM. Compounds 1 and 5 exerted inhibitory effects against the Cu²⁺-induced lipid peroxidation of HDL, as shown by an extended lag time prolongation at the concentration of 3.0 μM. These results suggest that the antioxidative effects of F. suspensa are due to its lignans and that these constituents may be useful for preventing the oxidation of HDL.     

Mutual Binding Inhibition of Tetrodotoxin and Saxitoxin to Their Binding Protein from the Plasma of the Puffer Fish,Fugu pardalis

The mutual binding inhibition of tetrodotoxin and saxitoxin to their binding protein from the plasma of Fugu pardalis was investigated by HPLC. The values for the half inhibitory concentration of tetrodotoxin (1.6 μM) binding to this protein (1.2 μM) for saxitoxin, and of saxitoxin (0.47 μM) binding to that (0.30 μM) for tetrodotoxin were 0.35±0.057 μM and 81±16 μM (n=2), respectively.     

6'-Hydroxyoxosorbicillinol,a New Lipoxygenase Inhibitor and PGD2/LTB4 Release Suppressor from Penicillium sp.

A new lipoxygenase inhibitor, 6'-hydroxyoxosorbicillinol (1, C₁₄H₁₆O₆), was identified from a culture of Penicillium sp. A known compound, oxosorbicillinol (2, C₁₄H₁₆O₅), was also isolated. Compound 1 showed an approximately 10 times greater inhibitory effect on soybean lipoxygenase (IC₅₀, 16 µM) than 2 (IC₅₀, 150 µM), and also showed prostaglandin D₂ (PGD₂) and leucotriene B₄ (LTB₄) release suppression activity (IC₅₀, 10 µM for PGD₂ and 100 µM for LTB₄).     

1,2-Di-O-α-linolenoyl-3-O-β-galactosyl-sn-glycerol as a Superoxide Generation Inhibitor from Perilla frutescens var. crispa

Using a superoxide (O₂ ^?) generation assay system with differentiated HL-60 cells, 1,2-di-O-α-linolenoyl-3-O-β-galactosyl-sn-glycerol (DLGG) was identified as an O₂ ^? generation inhibitor from Perilla frutescens var. crispa (a local variety, kida-chirimen shiso). DLGG suppressed the O₂ ^? level in a dose-dependent manner with an IC₅₀ value of 21 μM, comparable to those of rosmarinic acid (RoA, IC₅₀=29 μM) and caffeic acid (CA, IC₅₀=30 μM). While RoA and CA also dose-dependently inhibited O₂ ^? generation in a xanthine-xanthine oxidase system, DLGG had no effect in the same system. Thus DLGG appeared to decrease the O₂ ^? level in the HL-60 assay system by mechanisms different from those of RoA and CA, which appeared to act as O₂ ^? scavengers.     

Functional Characterization of D-Galacturonic Acid Reductase,a Key Enzyme of the Ascorbate Biosynthesis Pathway,from Euglena gracilis

D-Galacturonic acid reductase, a key enzyme in ascorbate biosynthesis, was purified to homogeneity from Euglena gracilis. The enzyme was a monomer with a molecular mass of 38–39 kDa, as judged by SDS–PAGE and gel filtration. Apparently it utilized NADPH with a Km value of 62.5±4.5 μM and uronic acids, such as D-galacturonic acid (Km=3.79±0.5 mM) and D-glucuronic acid (Km=4.67±0.6 mM). It failed to catalyze the reverse reaction with L-galactonic acid and NADP⁺. The optimal pH for the reduction of D-galacturonic acid was 7.2. The enzyme was activated 45.6% by 0.1 mM H₂O₂, suggesting that enzyme activity is regulated by cellular redox status. No feedback regulation of the enzyme activity by L-galactono-1,4-lactone or ascorbate was observed. N-terminal amino acid sequence analysis revealed that the enzyme is closely related to the malate dehydrogenase families.     

On the Fermenting Ability of Sand Cultures of Acetone-Butanol Organisms Stored for Long Years

β-N-Acetyl-D-hexosaminidase was isolated from the mid-gut gland of Patinopecten yessoensis. The enzyme was purifted by making an acetone-dried preparation of the mid-gut gland, extracting with 50 mM citrate-phosphate buffer (pH 4.0) (about 13% of the extracted proteins was β-N-acetyl-D-hexosaminidase), ammonium sulfate fractionation, and column chromatographies on CM-Sepharose and DEAE-Sepharose. The purifted β-N-acetyl-D-hexosaminidase was homogeneous on SDS–PAGE, and sufficiently free from other exo-type glycosidases. The molecular weight was 56,000 by SDS–PAGE. The enzyme hydrolyzed both p-nitrophenyl β-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminide and p-nitrophenyl β-N-acetyl-D-galactosaminide. For p-nitrophenyl β-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminide, the pH optimum was 3.7, the optimum temperature was 45°C, and the K_m was 0.24 mM. For p-nitrophenyl β-N-acetyl-D-galactosaminide, these were pH 3.4, 45°C, and 0.15 mM, respectively. The enzyme liberated non-reducing terminal β-Iinked N-acetyl-D-glucosamine or N-acetyl-D-galactosamine from various 2-aminopyridyl derivatives of oligosaccharides of N-glycan or glycolipid type except of G_M2-tetrasaccharide. As the enzyme was stable around pH 3.5–5.5, it may be useful for long time reactions around the optimum pH.     

Inhibitory Effect of Methyl Methanethiosulfinate on β-Glucuronidase Activity

Minced or cut-up leaves of Chinese chive (Allium tuberosum Rottler) contain thiosulfinates and their disproportionate reaction products. Among these organosulfur compounds, methyl methanethiosulfinate was found to be an uncompetitive inhibitor of β-glucuronidase. Approximately 80% of the enzyme activity was inhibited by methyl methanethiosulfinate at 50 µM, the IC₅₀ value being comparable to 3.6 µM.     

Identification of Antioxidants Produced by Lactobacillus plantarum

We identified two compounds that demonstrated 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity from cultures of Lactobacillus plantarum. Spectroscopic analyses proved these compounds to be L-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl) lactic acid (HPLA) and L-indole-3-lactic acid (ILA). The respective EC₅₀ values for HPLA and ILA were 36.6 ± 4.3 mM and 13.4 ± 1.0 mM.     

NADP-Specific Glutamate Dehydrogenase from Alkaliphilic Bacillus sp. KSM-635: Purification and Enzymatic Properties

An NADP-specific glutamate dehydrogenase [L-glutamate: NADP⁺ oxidoreductase (deaminating), EC 1.4.1.4] from alkaliphilic Bacillus sp. KSM-635 was purified 5840-fold to homogeneity by a several-step procedure involving Red-Toyopearl affinity chromatography. The native protein, with an isoelectric point of pH 4.87, had a molecular mass of approximately 315 kDa consisting of six identical summits each with a molecular mass of 52 kDa. The pH optima for the aminating and deaminating reactions were 7.5 and 8.5, respectively. The optimum temperature was around 60°C for both. The purified enzyme had a specific activity of 416units/mg protein for the aminating reaction, being over 20-fold greater than that for deaminating reaction, at the respective pH optima and at 30°C. The enzyme was specific for NADPH (K_m 44 μM), 2-oxoglutarate (K_m 3.13 mM), NADP⁺ (K_m 29 μM), and L-glutamate (K_m 6.06 mM). The K_m for NH₄Cl was 5.96 mM. The enzyme could be stored without appreciable loss of enzyme activity at 5°C for half a year in phosphate buffer (pH 7.0) containing 2 mM 2-mercaptoethanol, although the enzyme activity was abolished within 20 h by freezing at ?20°C.     

Purification and Characterization of Novel N-Acyl-D-aspartate Amidohydrolase from Alcaligenes xylosoxydans subsp. xylosoxydans A-6

Alcaligenes xylosoxydans subsp. xylosoxydans A-6 (Alcaligenes A-6) produced N-acyl-D-aspartate amidohydrolase (D-AAase) in the presence of N-acetyl-D-aspartate as an inducer. The enzyme was purified to homogeneity. The enzyme had a molecular mass of 56 kDa and was shown by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) to be a monomer. The isoelectric point was 4.8. The enzyme had maximal activity at pH 7.5 to 8.0 and 50°C, and was stable at pH 8.0 and up to 45°C. N-Formyl (K_m=12.5 mM), N-acetyl (K_m=2.52 mM), N-propionyl (K_m=0.194 mM), N-butyryl (K_m=0.033 mM), and N-glycyl (K_m =1.11 mM) derivatives of D-aspartate were hydrolyzed, but N-carbobenzoyl-D-aspartate, N-acetyl-L-aspartate, and N-acetyl-D-glutamate were not substrates. The enzyme was inhibited by both divalent cations (Hg²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺) and thiol reagents (N-ethylmaleimide, iodoacetic acid, dithiothreitol, and p-chloromercuribenzoic acid). The N-terminal amino acid sequence and amino acid composition were analyzed.     

Depletion of L-arginine induces autophagy as a cytoprotective response to endoplasmic reticulum stress in human T lymphocytes

L-arginine (L-Arg) deficiency results in decreased T-cell proliferation and impaired T-cell function. Here we have found that L-Arg depletion inhibited expression of different membrane antigens, including CD247 (CD3ζ), and led to an ER stress response, as well as cell cycle arrest at G₀/G₁ in both human Jurkat and peripheral blood mitogen-activated T cells, without undergoing apoptosis. By genetic and biochemical approaches, we found that L-Arg depletion also induced autophagy. Deprivation of L-Arg induced EIF2S1 (eIF2α), MAPK8 (JNK), BCL2 (Bcl-2) phosphorylation, and displacement of BECN1 (Beclin 1) binding to BCL2, leading to autophagosome formation. Silencing of ERN1 (IRE1α) prevented the induction of autophagy as well as MAPK8 activation, BCL2 phosphorylation and XBP1 splicing, whereas led T lymphocytes to apoptosis under L-Arg starvation, suggesting that the ERN1-MAPK8 pathway plays a major role in the activation of autophagy following L-Arg depletion. Autophagy was required for survival of T lymphocytes in the absence of L-Arg, and resulted in a reversible process. Replenishment of L-Arg made T lymphocytes to regain the normal cell cycle profile and proliferate, whereas autophagy was inhibited. Inhibition of autophagy by ERN1, BECN1 and ATG7 silencing, or by pharmacological inhibitors, promoted cell death of T lymphocytes incubated in the absence of L-Arg. Our data indicate for the first time that depletion of L-Arg in T lymphocytes leads to a reversible response that preserves T lymphocytes through ER stress and autophagy, while remaining arrested at G₀/G₁. Our data also show that the L-Arg depletion-induced ER stress response could lead to apoptosis when autophagy is blocked.     

Characterization of a Cellobiose Phosphorylase from a Hyperthermophilic Eubacterium,Thermotoga maritima MSB8

The cepA putative gene encoding a cellobiose phosphorylase of Thermotoga maritima MSB8 was cloned, expressed in Escherichia coli BL21-codonplus-RIL and characterized in detail. The maximal enzyme activity was observed at pH 6.2 and 80°C. The energy of activation was 74 kJ/mol. The enzyme was stable for 30 min at 70°C in the pH range of 6-8. The enzyme phosphorolyzed cellobiose in an random-ordered bi bi mechanism with the random binding of cellobiose and phosphate followed by the ordered release of D-glucose and α-D-glucose-1-phosphate. The K _m for cellobiose and phosphate were 0.29 and 0.15 mM respectively, and the k _cat was 5.4 s^-1. In the synthetic reaction, D-glucose, D-mannose, 2-deoxy-D-glucose, D-glucosamine, D-xylose, and 6-deoxy-D-glucose were found to act as glucosyl acceptors. Methyl-β-D-glucoside also acted as a substrate for the enzyme and is reported here for the first time as a substrate for cellobiose phosphorylases. D-Xylose had the highest (40 s^-1) k _cat followed by 6-deoxy-D-glucose (17 s^-1) and 2-deoxy-D-glucose (16 s^-1). The natural substrate, D-glucose with the k _cat of 8.0 s^-1 had the highest (1.1×10⁴ M^-1 s^-1) k _cat/K _m compared with other glucosyl acceptors. D-Glucose, a substrate of cellobiose phosphorylase, acted as a competitive inhibitor of the other substrate, α-D-glucose-1-phosphate, at higher concentrations.     

Blue Pigment Formation by Clerodendron trichotomum callus

Blue pigment-producing callus was induced from fruit of Clerodendron trichotomum Thunb. on Linsmaier and Skoog (LS) medium with 10 μM 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). Callus grew on LS medium with either 2,4-D or 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) on subculture. Callus growth and blue pigment formation were much improved by selection on LS gellan gum medium with 2 μM NAA. Kinetin and benzyladenine (1 μM) inhibited blue pigment formation. One of the blue pigments was confirmed to be trichotomine by HPLC, TLC, and NMR spectra; two others were presumed to be trichotomine G₁ and N,N′-di(D-glucopyranosyl)trichotomine on the basis of comparison with the blue pigments from C. trichotomum fruit on HPLC.     

Optimal Conditions for the Enzymatic Production of l-Aromatic Amino Acids from the Corresponding 5-Substituted Hydantoins

The reaction conditions for the production of l-tryptophan from dl-5-indolyl- methylhydantoin by Flavobacterium sp. AJ-3940, and the cultural conditions for the formation of the enzyme involved by this bacterium were investigated. The optimal pH of this reaction was around 8.5 and the optimal temperature was between 45 to 55°C. The amount of l-tryptophan produced was remarkably increased by the addition of inosine, which formed a water insoluble adduct with l-tryptophan, to the reaction mixture because of the release of end-product inhibition by l-tryptophan. This enzyme was inducibly and intracellularly produced by Flavobacterium sp. AJ-3940 in proportion to the increase in cell growth. Cells showing high activity were obtained using a medium containing 5 g glucose, 5 g (NH₄)₂SO₄, 1 g KH₂PO₄, 3 g K₂HPO₄, 0.1 g MgSO₄ · 7H₂O, 0.01 g CaCl₂ · 2H₂O, 50 ml corn steep liquor and 3.5 g dl-5-indolylmethylhydantoin in a total volume of 1 liter (pH 7.0). Under the best conditions, 43 mg/ml of l-tryptophan was produced from 50 mg/ml of dl-5-indolylmethylhydantoin with a molar yield of 97% in the presence of cells of Flavobacterium sp. AJ-3940. In addition, other l-aromatic amino acids such as l-phenylalanine, l-tyrosine, l-DOPA and related l-amino acids were also produced from the corresponding 5-substituted hydantoins by this bacterium containing the l-tryptophan-producing enzyme induced by dl-5-indolylmethylhydantoin.     

Antitumor Activities and Immunochemical Properties of the Cell-wall Polysaccharides from Aureobasidium pullulans

Delipidated cell walls from Aureobasidium pullulans were fractionated systematically.

The cell surface heteropolysaccharide contains D-mannose, D-galactose, D-glucose, and D-glucuronic acid (ratio, 8.5:3.9:1.0:1.0). It consists of a backbone of (1→6)-α-linked D-mannose residues, some of which are substituted at O-3 with single or β-(1→6)-linked D-galactofuranosyl side chains, some terminated with a D-glucuronic acid residue, and also with single residues of D-glucopyranose, D-galactopyranose, and D-mannopyranose.

This glucurono-gluco-galactomannan interacted with antiserum against Elsinoe leucospila, which also reacted with its galactomannan, indicating that both polysaccharides contain a common epitope, i.e., at least terminal β-galactofuranosyl groups and also possibly internal β-(1→6)-linked galactofuranose residues.

It was further separated by DEAE-Sephacel column chromatography to gluco-galactomannan and glucurono-gluco-galactomannan.

The alkali-extracted β-D-glucan was purified by DEAE-cellulose chromatography to afford two antitumor-active (1→3)-β-D-glucans. One of the glucans (M_r, 1–2 × 10⁵) was a O-6-branched (1→3)-β-D-glucan with a single β-D-glucosyl residue, d.b., 1/7, and the other (M_r, 3.5–4.5 × 10⁵) had similar branched structure, but having d.b., 1/5. Side chains of both glucans contain small proportions of β-(1→6)-and β-(1→4)-D-glucosidic linkages.     

Substrate Specificity of α-Glucosidase II in Rice Seed

The substrate specificity of rice α-glucosidase II was studied. The enzyme was active especially on nigerose, phenyl-α-maltoside and maltooligosaccharides. The actions on isomaltose and phenyl-α-glucoside were weak, and on sucrose and methyl-α-glucoside, negligible. The α-glucans, such as soluble starch, amylopectin, β-limit dextrin, glycogen and amylose, were also hydrolyzed.

The ratio of the maximum velocities for hydrolyses of maltose (G₂), nigerose (N), kojibiose (K), isomaltose (I), phenyl-α-maltoside (?M) and soluble starch (SS) was estimated to be 100: 94.4: 14.2: 7.1: 89.5: 103.1 in this order, and that for hydrolyses of malto-triose (G₃), -tetraose (G₄), -pentaose (G₅), -hexaose (G₆), -heptaose (G₇), -octaose (G₈), and amyloses ( and ), 113: 113: 113: 106: 113: 100: 106: 106. The Km values for N, K, I, ?M and SS were 2.4 mm, 0.58 mm, 20 mm, 1.6 mm and 5.0 mg/ml, respectively; those for G₂, G₃, G₄, G₅, G₆, G₇, G₈, and , 2.4 mm, 2.2 mm, 2.1 mm, 1.5 mm, 1.0 mm, 1.1 mm, 0.95 mm, 1.5 mm and 1.1 mm.

Rice α-glucosidase II is considered an enzyme with a preferential activity on maltooligosaccharides.     

A Facile Synthesis of ε-Pyridoxinyl-L-Iysines

The intracellular cadmium (Cd) content was measured with early stationary phase cells of a highly Cd-tolerant moderately halophilic bacterium Pseudomonas sp. No. 40 cultivated in 1M and 3M NaCl medium containing 0 to 2500 μg of CdCl₂/ml. It was found that the Cd contents were greatly affected by the NaCl concentration of the medium. When the bacterium was cultivated in the 1, 2, 3, and 4M NaCl medium containing 1500 μg of CdCl₂/ml, the intracellular Cd content was 25.0, 4.1, 3.1, and 2.0 mg Cd per g of dry cells, respectively. The intracellular Cd content decreased with increases of NaCl concentration of the medium. The fact seems to reflect Cd-tolerance of the bacterium towards the growth in the medium of different NaCl concentration. It is worthwhile to note that the bacterium showed the highest Cd-tolerance (in 3M NaCl) and the lowest Cd content among the bacteria so far known. The bacterial cells grown in the 1M NaNO₃ and 1M Na₂SO₄ medium accumulated 1.8–1.3 times as much Cd²⁺ as those in the 1M NaCl medium in the presence of 50–200 μg of CdCl₂/ml. It would also explain the difference in the Cd toxicity in the medium of NaNO₃, Na₂SO₄, or NaCl.