Sequential Oxidation and Reduction of Mono Methyl Ethers of Methyl 4,6-O-Benzylidene-α- and β-d-Glucopyranosides

(1) Both glutaminases A and B of Pseudomonas aeruginosa are inactivated by urea and guanidine hydrochloride, and the activities are partially restored by removal of the denaturants, while sodium lauryl sulfate denatured irreversibly the isozymes. (2) Glutaminase A consists of 4 identical subunits (mol. wt, 35,000) and B is composed of one polypeptide chain (mol. wt., 67,000). (3) Glutaminase A, which catalyzes the hydrolysis and also the hydroxylaminolysis of L and D isomers of glutamine and asparagine, does not act on γ-N-substituted glutamine e.g., γ-glutamylhydrazide. Some l- and d-γ-glutamyl derivatives, e.g., l- and d-γ-glutamyl-hydrazide, l- and d-γ-glutamylmethylester, and l-γ-glutamyl-l-alanine are substrates for glutaminase B, which does not catalyze the hydrolysis and hydroxylaminolysis of asparagine. α-Amino adipamic acid and α-amino substituted amino acids are inert for both the isozymes. (4) The acylation step is rate-limiting in the catalytic reactions by both the isozymes.     

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.     

Partial methylation of carbohydrates : Part I. Methyl β-D-xylopyranoside

Partial methylation of methyl β-D-xylopyranoside by the Haworth, Purdie, or Kuhn procedures gave mainly the 2,4-dimethyl ether and revealed the reactivity sequence HO-2>HO-4>HO-3. The 4-O-methyl derivative preponderated when Hakomori's method was used, and the reactivity sequence was HO-4>HO-2>HO-3.     

Disparity estimation through Green’s functions of matching equations

Binocular disparities arise from positional differences of scene features projected in the two retinae, and constitute the primary sensory cue for stereo vision. Here we introduce a new computational model for disparity estimation, based on the Green’s function of an image matching equation. When filtering a Gabor-function-modulated signal, the considered Green’s function yields a similarly modulated but shifted version of the original signal. Since a Gabor function models the receptive field of a cortical simple cell, the Green’s kernel thus allows the simulation of relative shifts between the cell’s left and right binocular inputs. A measure of the local degree of matching of such shifted inputs can then be introduced which affords disparity estimation in a similar manner to the energy model of the complex cortical cells. We have therefore effectively reformulated, in physiologically plausible terms, an image matching approach to disparity estimation. Our experiments show that the Green’s function method allows the detection of disparities both from random-dot and real-world stereograms. Partially supported by CNPq-Brazil.     

Screening of Microorganisms Producing D-β-Acetylthioisobutyric Acid from Methyl DL-β-Acetylthioisobutyrate

Microorganisms producing D-β-acetylthioisobutyric acid from methyl D-β-acetylthioisobutyrate were screened from stock cultures. The D-β-acetylthioisobutyric acid-producing ability was found in 15 strains belonging to the genera Pseudomonas, Agrobacterium, Enterobacter, Cellulomonas, Rhodococcus, Brevibacterium, and Torulopsis. A strain of Pseudomonas fluorescens, IFO 3081, was selected as the best microorganism. The cells having activity (558 units/g of dry cells) could be easily prepared by cultivation at 25°C at pH 6.6 for 24 hr in a glucose-containing medium. The D-form of methyl DL-β-acetylthioisobutyrate was selectively hydrolyzed with the cells so that D-β-acetylthioisobutyric acid (97.2% enantiomeric excess) was produced in a high yield.     

Purification and Properties of Three Types of Xylanases Induced by Methyl β-Xyloside from Streptomyces sp.

When mycelia of Streptomyces sp. No. 3137 were cultivated in a medium containing methyl β-xyloside, xylanases (EC 3.2.1.8) were inductively produced into the medium. Three types of enzyme from the culture filtrate have been purified by ultrafiltration with DIAFLO UM-10, chromatography on DEAE-Sephadex A-25, gel filtration on Bio Gel P-100, and isoelectric focusing with Servalyt 6~8 or 9~11. The three purified enzymes, tentatively named X-I, X-II-A, and X-II-B, were homogeneous by Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis at pH 4.3. The molecular weight of X-I was about 50,000 by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis or gel filtration on Bio Gel P-100. The molecular weight of X-II-A and X-II-B were both approximately 25,000 by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and that of X-II-B was 25,680 by the sedimentation-equilibrium method. X-I had an isoelectric point at 7.10, and X-II-A and X-II-B had different isoelectric points, 10.06 and 10.26, respectively. The three enzymes were optimally active at 60~65°C and stable to 55°C. The optimal pH of X-I, X-II-A, and X-II-B were pH 5.5~6.5, 5.0~6.0, and 5.0~6.0, respectively. The ranges of two X-I’s pH stability (pH 1.5 ~ 11.5) were wider than that of X-I’s (pH 3.0 ~ 10.5). These purified preparations hydrolyzed xylotriose, xylotetraose, and xylan but not xylobiose, cellobiose, maltose, carboxymethyl cellulose, or soluble starch. Their actions were inhibited by Hg²⁺ and Fe³⁺ ions, sodium dodecyl sulfate, and N-bromosuccinimide.     

Utilization of Methyl Proton Resonances in Cross-Saturation Measurement for Determining the Interfaces of Large Protein–Protein Complexes

Cross-saturation experiments allow the identification of the contact residues of large protein complexes (MW>50 K) more rigorously than conventional NMR approaches which involve chemical shift perturbations and hydrogen-deuterium exchange experiments [Takahashi et al. (2000) Nat. Struct. Biol., 7, 220–223]. In the amide proton-based cross-saturation experiment, the combined use of high deuteration levels for non-exchangeable protons of the ligand protein and a solvent with a low concentration of ¹H₂O greatly enhanced the selectivity of the intermolecular cross-saturation phenomenon. Unfortunately, experimental limitations caused losses in sensitivity. Furthermore, since main chain amide protons are not generally exposed to solvent, the efficiency of the saturation transfer directed to the main chain amide protons is not very high. Here we propose an alternative cross-saturation experiment which utilizes the methyl protons of the side chains of the ligand protein. Owing to the fast internal rotation along the methyl axis, we theoretically and experimentally demonstrated the enhanced efficiency of this approach. The methyl-utilizing cross-saturation experiment has clear advantages in sensitivity and saturation transfer efficiency over the amide proton-based approach. Electronic supplementary material Electronic supplementary material is available for this article at and accessible for authorised users.     

New Scheme of the Biosynthesis of Formononetin Involving 2,7,4′-Trihydroxyisoflavanone but Not Daidzein as the Methyl Acceptor

Glycyrrhiza echinata cell-free extract produced isoformononetin by the 7-O-transmethylation of daidzein from S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM). When the yeast microsome expressing 2-hydroxyisoflavanone synthase was mixed with the cell-free extract and incubated with liquiritigenin and SAM, formononetin emerged. Furthermore, the cell-free extract yielded formononetin on incubation with 2,7,4′-trihydroxyisoflavanone and SAM. We propose a novel pathway of formononetin biosynthesis involving 2,7,4′-trihydroxyisoflavanone as the methyl acceptor.     

Green synthesis,inhibition studies of yeast α-glucosidase and molecular docking of pyrazolylpyridazine amines

An efficient and environmentally benign simple fusion reaction of 3-chloro-6-(3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)pyridazine (1a) or 3-chloro-6-(3,5-dimethyl-4-nitro-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)pyridazine (2a) with different aliphatic/aromatic amines have produced a series of novel pyrazolylpyridazine amines (4a–4c & 5a–5m). All compounds exhibited moderate in vitro yeast α-glucosidase inhibition except m-chloro derivative 5g, which was found potent inhibitor of this enzyme with IC₅₀ value of 19.27 ± 0.005 µM. The molecular docking further helped in understanding the structure activity relationship of these compounds including 5g.     

Methyl β-cyclodextrin reduces accumulation of reactive oxygen species and cell death in yeast

Stabilized F-actin structures have been shown to be detrimental to both mammalian and yeast cells. In yeast, stabilization of actin caused by addition of jasplakinolide, by point mutations in the act1 gene, or by deletion of certain genes that regulate F-actin leads to cell death with hallmarks of apoptosis. In particular, there is an elevation in the levels of reactive oxygen species, and we have shown the importance of the Ras/cAMP pathway for this effect. Here we show that in yeast cells deleted for end3, which functions to regulate actin organization during endocytosis, treatment of cells with methyl β-cyclodextrin reduces levels of reactive oxygen species and inhibits cell death progression. Methyl β-cyclodextrin is widely used to disrupt lipid rafts that contain cholesterol. The mechanism through which the rescue is achieved was investigated and we demonstrate that methyl β-cyclodextrin reduces accumulation of Ras2 at the plasma membrane in Δend3 cells. We use FRAP and live cell imaging to determine the possible mechanism through which methyl β-cyclodextrin functions to elicit this effect on Ras2 localization. Finally, we demonstrate that addition of methyl β-cyclodextrin to wild-type cells can act to protect cells from acute oxidative stress caused by addition of hydrogen peroxide.     

Development,Optimization, and Anti-diabetic Activity of Gliclazide-Loaded Alginate–Methyl Cellulose Mucoadhesive Microcapsules

The purpose of this work was to develop and optimize gliclazide-loaded alginate–methyl cellulose mucoadhesive microcapsules by ionotropic gelation using central composite design. The effect of formulation parameters like polymer blend ratio and cross-linker (CaCl₂) concentration on properties of gliclazide-loaded alginate–methyl cellulose microcapsules like drug encapsulation efficiency and drug release were optimized. The optimized microcapsules were subjected to swelling, mucoadhesive, and in vivo studies. The observed responses coincided well with the predicted values from the optimization technique. The optimized microcapsules showed high drug encapsulation efficiency (83.57 ± 2.59% to 85.52 ± 3.07%) with low T _50% (time for 50% drug release, 5.68 ± 0.09 to 5.83 ± 0.11 h). The in vitro drug release pattern from optimized microcapsules was found to be controlled-release pattern (zero order) with case II transport release mechanism. Particle sizes of these optimized microcapsules were 0.767 ± 0.085 to 0.937 ± 0.086 mm. These microcapsules also exhibited good mucoadhesive properties. The in vivo studies on alloxan-induced diabetic rats indicated the significant hypoglycemic effect that was observed 12 h after oral administration of optimized mucoadhesive microcapsules. The developed and optimized alginate–methyl cellulose microcapsules are suitable for prolonged systemic absorption of gliclazide to maintain lower blood glucose level and improved patient compliance.     

Characterization of the Main Light-Harvesting Chlorophyll a／b-Protein Complex of Green Alga, Bryopsis corticulans

The main light-harvesting chlorophyll a/b -protein complex (LHC Ⅱ) has been isolated directly from thylakoid membranes of shiphonous 8Teen alga, Bryopsis corticulans Setch. by using two consecutive runs of anion exchange and gel-filtration chromatography. Monomeric and trimeric subcomplexes of LHC Ⅱ were obtained by using sucrose gradient ultracentrifugation. Pigment analysis by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography showed that chlorophyll a (Chl a), chlorophyll b (Chl b), neoxanthin, violaxanthin and siphonaxanthin were involved in LHC Ⅱ from B. corticulans. The properties of electronictransition of monomeric LHC Ⅱ showed similarities to those of trimeric LHC Ⅱ. Circular dichroism spectroscopy showed that strong intramolecular interaction of excitonic dipoles between Chl a and between Chl b exist in one LHC Ⅱ apoprotein, while the intermolecular interaction of these dipoles can be intensified in the trimeric structure. The monomer has high efficient energy transfer from Chl b and siphonaxanthin to Chl a similarly to that of the trimer. Our results suggest that in B. corticulans, LHC Ⅱ monomer has high ordered pigment organization that play effective physiological function as the trimer, and thus it might be also a functional organization existing in thylakoid membrane of B.corticulans.     

Impact of Surface Active Compounds on Iron Catalyzed Oxidation of Methyl Linolenate in AOT–Water–Hexadecane Systems

Edible oils contain minor surface active components that form micro-heterogeneous environments, such as reverse micelles, which can alter the rate and direction of chemical reactions. However, little is known about the role of these micro-heterogeneous environments on lipid oxidation of bulk oil. Our objective was to evaluate the ability of water, cumene hydroperoxide, oleic acid, and phosphatidylcholine to influence the structure of reverse micelles in a model oil system: sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate (aerosol-OT; AOT) in n-hexadecane. The influence of reverse micelle structure on iron catalyzed lipid oxidation was determined using methyl linolenate as an oxidizable substrate. The size and shape of the reverse micelle were investigated by small-angle x-ray scattering, and water contents was determined by Karl Fischer titrations. Lipid hydroperoxides and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances were used to follow lipid oxidation. Our results showed that AOT formed spherical reverse micelles in hexadecane. The size of the reverse micelles increased with increased water or phosphatidylcholine concentration, but decreased upon addition of cumene hydroperoxide or oleic acid. Iron catalyzed oxidation of methyl linolenate in the reverse micelle system decreased with increasing water concentration. Addition of phosphatidylcholine into the reverse micelle systems decreased methyl linolenate oxidation compared to control and reverse micelles with added oleic acid. These results indicate that water, cumene hydroperoxide, oleic acid, and phosphatidylcholine can alter reverse micelle size and lipid oxidation rates. Understanding how these compounds influence reverse micelle structure and lipid oxidation rates could provide information on how to modify bulk oil systems to increase oxidative stability.     

Structural Analysis of Peptides of PSⅡ Light-harvesting Complexes in Siphonous Green Algae,Codium fragile

Peptide composition and arrangement of 4 major light harvesting complexes LHCP1-3 and LHCP3′isolated from siphonous green algae （Codium fragile (Sur.) Hariot.） were investigated. LHCP1 showed five main peptides, 34.4, 31.5, 29.5, 28.2 and 26.5 kD in SDS PAGE, the 34.4 and 31.5 kD peptides were never found in higher plants. LHCP3 contained the other four kinds of LHCP1 peptides except 34.4 kD, while LHCP3′consisted of only 28.2 and 26.5 kD peptides. We found that 34.4, 28.2 and 26.5 kD peptides were easy to decompose from LHCP 1 when subjected to SDS PAGE without pretreatment. They might be located at the exterior of LHCP1, while the 31.5 and 29.5 kD peptides were at the central part. The 28.2 and 26.5 kD peptides often occurred in CPa, the center complex of PSⅡ. They are possibly the LHCⅡ peptides tightly associated with CCⅡ. According to the results described above, a peptide map of LHCP1 was sketched.     

Sequential Oxidation and Reduction of Some Methyl 4,6-O-Benzylidene-α- and β-d-Glucopyranoside Derivatives

Reduction of methyl 4,6-O-benzylidene-α- and β-d-glycopyranosidulose derivatives with sodium borohydride was carried out. From the yield of the axial and equatorial epimers, a possible mechanism of the borohydride reduction and factors determining the directions of the reagent’s attack to a carbonyl group are discussed.