New prodigiosin-like pigment from Alteromonas rubra.

The red prodigiosin-like pigment from Alteromonas rubra was shown to be a mixture of prodigiosin (pigment 1) and a new cyclic isomer (pigment 2). The new structure was elucidated by mass and nuclear magnetic resonance spectra. Careful examinations of the prodigiosins produced by Serratia marcescens, Vibrio psychoerythrus, and an unidentified red bacterium (LL-100-6) failed to disclose any of the new pigment, pigment 2.     

红龙草红色素稳定性的研究

分析了pH值、温度、光、过氰化氢、亚硫酸钠、Vc、葡萄糖、蔗糖和苯甲酸钠等对红龙草（Altemanthera dentate ‘Ruliginosa’）红色素稳定性的影响。结果表明,红龙草红色素对热的耐受性较强,但耐光照和耐氧化性较差,且还原剂亚硫酸钠对其也有微弱的影响;在不同的pH值条件下,其吸收峰没有改变,最大吸收波长为530nm;Vc和蔗糖对该色素没有破坏作用,并有一定的护色效果;葡萄糖和苯甲酸钠对该色素也无明显影响。     

Red pigment-concentrating hormone induces a calcium-mediated retraction of distal retinal pigments in the crayfish

The octapeptide red pigment-concentrating hormone is capable of eliciting the aggregation of intracellular pigment granules in distal retinal pigment cells of isolated retinas of the crayfish Procambarus clarkii (Girard). The final level and the time course of pigment aggregation are dose dependent within a range of 10(-10) mol l(-1) to 10(-4) mol l(-1). The effect of red pigment-concentrating hormone is prevented by previous incubation with an anti- red pigment-concentrating hormone antibody; however, application of the antibody after the onset of the red pigment-concentrating hormone effect, does not prevent its full development. A similar effect to that elicited by red pigment-concentrating hormone is induced by the calcium ionophores ionomycin and A-23187. Red pigment-concentrating hormone evokes entry of 45Ca2+ to retinal cells. However, the red pigment-concentrating hormone-induced pigment aggregation persists in the presence of the calcium channel blocker verapamil and in Ca2+-free solutions. Caffeine and thapsigargin, known to release calcium from intracellular stores, elicit distal pigment aggregation, while ryanodine and dantrolene, blockers of intracellular calcium release, as well as the intracellular calcium chelator bapta-AM suppress the effect of red pigment-concentrating hormone. These results suggest that red pigment-concentrating hormone elicits distal retinal pigment aggregation by increasing intracellular calcium concentration, acting via a dual mechanism: (1) promoting calcium entry, and (2) releasing intracellular calcium.     

A new mechanism in blue cone monochromatism

Blue cone monochromatism (BCM) is a rare X-linked colour vision disorder characterized by the absence of both red and green cone sensitivity. Most mutations leading to BCM fall into two classes of alterations in the red and green pigment gene array at Xq28. In one class the red and green pigment genes are inactivated by deletion in the locus control region. In the second class genetic rearrangements have created an isolated pigment gene that carries an inactivating point mutation. Here we describe a clinical case of BCM caused by a new mutation where exon 4 of an isolated red pigment gene has been deleted. The finding represents the first intragenic deletion yet described among red and green pigment genes. Received: 29 December 1995 / Revised: 30 May 1996     

Red Pigment Formation by the Reaction of Oxidized Ascorbic Acid and Protein in a Food Model System of Low Moisture Content

Ascorbic acid-protein mixtures of low moisture content stored for 2~3 days in aerobic conditions at 60°C produced a red coloration, which was shown to have resulted from an amino-carbonyl reaction of oxidized ascorbic acid (dehydroascorbic acid, DHA) by the facts that DHA-casein or ovalbumin systems yielded a rapid red coloration in low moisture conditions as well as in an ethanol suspension. Zein showed only a weak red coloration with DHA. An apparent decrease in the free amino group, as determined by the TNBS method, was observed to be associated in parallel with the red pigment formation. The electrophoretic pattern of ovalbumin changed significantly upon incubation with DHA, together with the formation of the red pigment. The red pigment extracted from a DHA-casein system showed an absorption spectrum, TLC Rf value, and hydrolyzed products (DHA and scorbamic acid) identical to those of 2,2′-nitrilo di-2(2)-deoxy-l-ascorbic acid mono ammonium salt, produced from DHA and amino acid. Formation of the red pigment was also observed in the reaction of DHA with N_α-acetyl lysine. These results indicate that the ε-amino group of lysine in protein can be attributed to the formation of a red pigment identical with NDA.     

A combined solid-state and submerged cultivation integrated with adsorptive product extraction for production of Monascus red pigments

A process taking advantages of combined solid-state and submerged cultivation of Monascus for red pigment production and integration of a product removal unit was developed. The solid-state cultivation was carried out in a 5 l fermentor, with rice being used not only as the substrate but also the support for Monascus. The inclusion of rice submergence and integration of product separation were achieved by intermittently rinsing the rice with monosodium glutamate (MSG) solutions every 12 h followed by an adsorptive extraction of the red pigment dissolved in the rinsing solution. With this new process, the Monascus red pigment production was increased by 24% as compared with that by the plain fixed-bed cultivation.     

膜技术提取玫瑰茄红色素工艺的初步研究

初步研究了用膜分离技术提取玫瑰茄红色素的工艺过程。选用微滤膜对浸提液进行精滤,再用纳滤膜浓缩滤液,确定微滤、纳滤膜的操作条件。研究表明,膜法提取玫瑰茄红色素是一种颇有前途的新技术。     

一株新粘质沙雷氏菌发酵产红色素及其结构的研究

通过对从土壤中筛选得到的一株产红色素的新粘质沙雷氏菌Serratia marcescens subsp.H31发酵条件的研究,确定最优的碳源、氮源和无机盐分别为蔗糖、牛肉膏和CaCl2,最终发酵液中红色素的OD535和生物量分别达到142.638和15.29g/L,并由UV和TOFMS等方法确定该色素为灵菌红素(prodigiosins,简写PG)。     

Water-Soluble Red Pigment Production by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Paecilomyces sinclairii</Emphasis> and Biological Characterization

Natural pigments have several advantages over synthetic colorants. In this study, the production of red pigment produced by Paecilomyces sinclairii in microbial fermentation was demonstrated and the pigment was purified and characterized. The red pigment was produced from submerged fungal fermentation and fractionated by medium pressure flash chromatography. After fractionation, the spectrophotometric characterization of the red pigment revealed an λ_max at 520 nm. Antimicrobial activity of the red pigment fraction was also studied against Escherichia coli O157 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1. The fraction (F2-F6) of the red pigment exhibited broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity in both bacteria. These results demonstrate the potential of this pigment in inhibiting bacterial growth and in food processing and other foodrelated applications.     

Leucine interference in the production of water-soluble red Monascus pigments

The formation of soluble Monascus red pigments is strongly positively and negatively regulated by different amino acids. Leucine, valine, lysine, and methionine had strong negative effects on pigment formation. Leucine supported poor pigment formation when used as sole nitrogen source in fermentations, yet it neither repressed pigment synthase(s) nor inhibited its action. The new pigments derived from the hydrophobic leucine were more hydrophilic than the conventional red pigments (lacking an amino acid side-chain) and were extracellularly produced. Therefore, the low level of red pigments produced when leucine was the nitrogen source was not due to feed-back regulation by cell-bound leucine pigments. The negative effect of leucine was caused by enhanced decay of pigment synthase(s). The enhanced decay was not due simply to de novo synthesis of a leucine-induced protease.Abbreviations mSG Monosodium glutamate - MOPS 3-(N-morpholine)propane sulfonic acid - DCW dry cell weight     

不产氧光合细菌光合色素的光氧调控机制

[目的]为不产氧光合细菌光合色素研究提供可行的较系统规范的研究方法和数据,揭示固氮红细菌(Rhodobacter azotoformans 134K20)光合色素光氧适应性机制.[方法]采用光谱法和色谱法对光和氧调控下的类胡萝卜素和细菌叶绿素合成代谢进行了研究.[结果]134K20菌株光照好氧时细胞得率最高.光照厌氧时主要合成3黄、1红、1紫、2绿、2蓝9种色素,黄色素大量表达.有氧时红色素大量表达,且启动2种新的红色素和1种新的紫色素表达,而黄色和蓝绿色素则受氧抑制.黑暗好氧主要合成2黄、3红、2紫、1绿、1蓝9种色素,但不同于光照厌氧.光照好氧时黄色素减少到1种,紫色素含量增加,其余同黑暗好氧.[结论]固氮红细菌(Rhodobacter azotoformans 134K20)是通过PpsR调节途径来调节光合基因表达的.黄色和红色素属于类胡萝卜素.黄色素1属于球形烯系列,其余两种黄色素是新的类胡萝卜素组分.红色素为新的球形烯酮组分,3种红色素极性、峰形和峰位差别显著,正己烷能显示其精细结构.紫色为极性较大的细菌脱镁叶绿素,绿色和蓝色为4种极性不同的细菌叶绿素a中间产物.乙醚甲醇法适合类胡萝卜素的提取,丙酮甲醇冰冻研磨法能快速有效完全提取光合色素.溶剂效应可有效鉴别细菌叶绿素a中间产物.     

Studies of fluorescence inDrosophila compound eyes: changes induced by intense light and vitamin A deprivation

Summary Ultraviolet light excites a red fluorescence fromDrosophila R1–6 rhabdomeres which is superimposed on a blue background emission. Metarhodopsin (M570) pigment generates some or all of the vitamin A dependent red emission. However, the excitation spectrum for red emission peaks in the UV. This suggests that the pigment which sensitizes R1–6's visual pigment to UV light (sensitizing pigment) absorbs the UV light, sensitizing metarhodopsin's fluorescence by energy transfer. Blue emission is neither from sensitizing pigment nor from visual pigment as shown by vitamin A deprivation studies.Very intense UV or blue stimulation causes these changes: (1) conversion of visual pigment into a fluorescent product; (2) destruction of this fluorescent product; (3) a decrease in the blue background fluorescence (even in vitamin A deprived flies); and (4) a permanent destruction of visual pigment and retinal degeneration. The first effect requires intensities 3 log units brighter than needed to interconvert rhodopsin and metarhodopsin 1/2 way to photoequilibrium. UV light is about 5 times as effective as blue light for the conversion of visual pigment into fluorescent product.     

The Effects of Auxins, Amino Acids, and Catechols on the Formation of Red Pigment in Helianthus tuber slices

The mechanism of red pigment formation in tuber slices of Helianthus tuberosus during incubation with auxins has been studied and the following results were obtained. 1. The degree of expansion of the tissue slices in the presence of indole-acetic acid (IAA), 2,4-dichloropbenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), or α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) was not parallel to the colour intensity which developed during incubation. 2. The pigment solutions which were extracted by pyridine. ethanol, or dioxane commonly showed a peak at around 515 nm in the absorption spectrum. 3. The o-diphenol oxidase activity in the tissue slices was increased by incubation with 2.4-D. 4. I.-Proline or hydroxy-L-proline as reactants in the formation of red pigment by the o-diphenol oxidase system could not be replaced by L-arginine, L-histidine and L-tryptophan. 5. The red pigment may resemble 4-(4′-hydroxy-2′-carbethoxy -1′-pyrrolidyl)-5-methyl-o-benzoquinone, formed by the o-diphenol oxidase system in the presence of homocatechol and hydroxy-L-proline.     

雪白白僵菌红色素的初步鉴定及其与环孢菌素A对底物缬氨酸的竞争

【目的】分离鉴定雪白白僵菌红色素,分析红色素与环孢菌素A对底物缬氨酸的竞争和相互影响。【方法】对红色素进行分离纯化,利用UV、IR和ESI-MS对红色素进行初步鉴定。采用缬氨酸分批补料培养,通过控制溶氧水平,以及添加红色素,分析红色素与环孢菌素A合成之间的竞争关联及相互影响。【结果】经鉴定,雪白白僵菌红色素分子式为C15H10O5,推测为含有芳环结构的蒽醌类化合物。在补加缬氨酸和高DO条件下,环孢菌素的产量高于低DO水平,相反红色素在低DO条件下合成量大于高DO水平。在不补加缬氨酸条件下,实验结果与补加缬氨酸培养一致,但是红色素和环孢菌素A的产量都显著降低。进一步添加外源纯化的红色素时,随着添加量的增加出现了环孢菌素A合成先减弱后增加的变化。【结论】发现并证实了雪白白僵菌红色素与环孢菌素A合成都以缬氨酸为共同底物,但两者的途径又相互独立。     

圆叶洋苋红色素稳定性研究

研究了温度、光照(可见光、紫外光)、酸碱溶液、维生素C、氧化剂(过氧化氢)、还原剂(亚硫酸钠)、防腐剂(苯甲酸钠)等对圆叶洋苋红色素稳定性的影响。结果表明,此色素是抗氧化还原、耐酸碱、耐糖、耐光热的天然色素,具有良好的开发价值。     

Pigmentation and Antibacterial Activity of Fast Neutron- and X-Ray-induced Strains of Monascus purpureus Went

Seven new strains of Monascus purpureus Went were induced by neutron and x-ray irradiation. The quantity and quality of pigments produced by these strains differed. Strains N4S and N11S produced twice as much pigment as normal, while another strain, N14S, was albino. An unknown orange pigment was found in young colonies of the N11S strain. This orange pigment reacted with alcohols and malt extract medium to form red pigments. Strains N4S, N11S, X2P, and wild type inhibited the growth of certain bacteria, especially the Bacillus species. Strain N11S had more antibacterial activity than wild type. A major active compound was isolated with an ultraviolet absorption spectrum that was related to those of the red pigments found in this fungus. The active compound(s) was named monascidin.     

天然落葵红色素稳定性实验研究

从落葵科落葵属植物落葵(Basella rubra L.)成熟果实中提制的落葵红色素,其着色力极好,在pH3—7范围内呈较鲜艳的紫红色。光照、加热和Fe~(2 )。Fe~(3 )、Cu~(2 )等金属离子的加入,有使该色素受到破坏的趋势。当添加适量的抗坏血酸后其光稳定性可以得到改善。     

Effect of red pigment on amyloidization of yeast

Amyloid-bound thioflavin T fluorescence was studied in lysates of yeast strains that carry mutations in the ADE1 or ADE2 genes and accumulate red pigment as a result of the polymerization of aminoimidazole ribotide (an intermediate of adenine biosynthesis). The fluorescence is drastically enhanced in cells grown in media with high concentrations of adenine (100 mg/l), which suppresses the accumulation of red pigment. Mutations that block the first stages of purine biosynthesis de novo also impede the accumulation of red pigment and produce the same effect on thioflavin fluorescence. Mutations in ADE1 or ADE2 genes in originally white prototrophic strains considerably suppress fluorescence. The fraction of protein polymers was studied by agarose gel electrophoresis, which permitted us to conclude that reduced fluorescence intensity was associated with decreased amyloid content in cells that accumulate red pigment. Model experiments with insulin fibers demonstrate that red pigment binds fibrils and blocks their interaction with thioflavin T. A comparison of lysate pellet proteins from red and white isogenic strains separated by 2D electrophoresis followed by MALDI analysis allowed us to identify 23 pigment-dependent proteins. These proteins mostly belong to functional classes of chaperones and proteins involved in glucose metabolism, which closely correspond to the prion-dependent proteins that we characterized previously. We suppose that the binding of red pigment with amyloid fibrils prevents the generation of prion aggregates and impedes prion propagation by blocking fibril contact with chaperones.     

Prodigiosin-25 C

A water-insoluble red antibiotic pigment was isolated from mycelia of a strain of Streptomyces. It was found that the pigment is a new C₂₅-prodigiosin-analogue and the authors propose to designate it prodigiosin-25 C. The chemical structure (XI) has been deduced from visible absorption spectra, NMR spectra, mass spectra and analysis of degradation products of the pigment.