Multiple proteases from Streptomyces moderatus: I. Isolation and purification of five extracellular proteases

The presence of multiple proteases in the culture filtrate of Streptomyces moderatus was detected. After preliminary purification by ammonium sulfate precipitation and decolorization using DEAE-cellulose, the fractionation of various proteases was carried out using CM-trisacryl cation-exchange chromatography. By this procedure, four different protease fractions (Fr.) were separated (Fr. I, II, III, and IV). The first fraction was further separated into two different proteolytically active fractions (Fr. Ia and Fr. Ib) by DEAE-trisacryl anion-exchange chromatography. Fraction Ia was purified further by affinity chromatography on N-carbobenzoxy-d-phenylalanyl triethylenetetramine-Sepharose 4B. The second fraction (Fr. Ib) was purified by gel filtration on Ultrogel AcA 44. For the purification of the other protease fractions (Fr. II, III, and IV) single-step affinity chromatography methods were employed. Protease fractions II and III were purified by ϵ-aminocaproyl-4-(4-aminophenylazo)phenylarsonic acid Sepharose 4B and protease fraction IV was purified on ϵ-aminocaproyl trialanine-Sepharose 4B. All five proteases purified were found to be apparently homogeneous by gel electrophoretic methods.     

Immune-stimulating properties of polysaccharides from Phellodendri cortex (Hwangbek)

Heteropolysaccarides were isolated from the Korean medicinal plant, Phellodendri cortex (Hwangbek), by hot water and alkali extractions. The extracted polysaccharides were fractionated into eight fractions and they are mainly composed of D-N-acetylglucosamine, D-galactose, D-mannose, and D-glucose. Among the polysaccharide fractions, Fr.-2 showed a potent B-lymphocyte-stimulating activity in a system using polyclonal antibody forming cells in C57BL/6XC3H mice at dosages of 2–10 mg. On the basis of their solubility in aqueous ethanol, four fractions of Fr.-2-1 to Fr.-2-4 were further obtained from the Fr.-2, and Fr.-2-3 was divided into Fr.-2-3-1, 2, 3, and 4 by DEAE cellulose chromatography. The main activity was found in Fr.-2-3-2, which contained 100% (w/w) of carbohydrates and further purified to Fr.-2-3-2-2 by gel filtration chromatography using TSK Gel HW50S. Fr.-2-3-2-2, having a molecular weight of about 230 kDa, showed the highest B-cell-stimulating activity and the half-maximal concentration for B-lymphocyte-stimulating activity was ca. 2.2 µg/ml.     

Investigations of Antibacterial,Antioxidant, and Antidiabetic Potential of Extract and Its Active Fractions from the Leaves of Horsfieldia spicata (Roxb.) J. Sinclair

This study was undertaken to analyse the potential bioactivities including antibacterial, antioxidant and antidiabetic derived from the methanolic extract and the column chromatography ethyl acetate fraction (AcOEt Fr) of Horsfieldia spicata leaves. Methanolic extract and 4 other fractions was calculated for total phenol and flavonoid contents along with tested for antibacterial, antioxidant and antidiabetic properties. Interestingly, the AcOEt Fr had the highest value for total flavonoid content and the best antioxidant, and antidiabetic activities. Therefore, the AcOEt Fr was further separated using column chromatography technique for obtaining 9 selected fractions namely fraction 1 (F1) - fraction 9 (F9) which were further tested. The results showed that the AcOEt column chromatography fractions namely F2, F3, F4 and F6 had the best clear inhibition antibacterial value against all bacterial tested. In addition, these fractions also exhibited better Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentrations (MBC) values than others. Antioxidant, 2,2-diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assayed indicated that AcOEt Fr had the strongest IC₅₀ value of 47.30 μg/mL. Further, F4 column chromatography fraction showed the best inhibition against α-Glucosidase enzyme related to antidiabetic activity with an IC₅₀ value of 6.11 μg/mL. Liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) analysis identified that F4 derived from AcOEt fraction had several compounds belonging to the flavonoid and phenolics such as 3′,5-dihydroxy-7,4′-dimethoxyflavone, 5,7-dihydroxy-3-(4′-hydroxybenzyl)chromone, and Kadsurenin I.     

Ultrasonic Degradation of Biologically Active Polysaccharide Produced by Serratia piscatorum

Changes in chemical, physicochemical and biological properties of Serratia piscatorum polysaccharide, PLS N–I, by ultrasonic irradiation were investigated. Ultrasonication decreased the viscosity of an aqueous solution of PLS N–I to give two degraded polysaccharide fractions, PLS F–I and PLS F-II, as separated each other by column chromatography on Sepharose 4B. PLS F–I was different from PLS F–II in their physicochemical and biological properties as well as in their chemical compositions.     

Cytotoxic activity and constituents of the volatile oil from the roots of Patrinia scabra Bunge

The volatile oil from the roots of Patrinia scabra Bunge was isolated by steam distillation, and separated into four major fractions (Fr. A-D) by means of column chromatography. A total of 39 compounds (1-39) were identified by GC/MS analysis, and evaluated for their in vitro cytotoxic activities against human ovarian carcinoma cells (HO-8910) and human hepatoma cells (Bel-7402) (Table 1). Fr. A showed the strongest inhibitory effect on HO-8910 (IC50 = 21 microg/ml) and Bel-7402 cells (16 mcirog/ml), whereas Fr. B was the least active (>100 microg/ml). By comparison of the constituents of the four fractions, we assume that the cytotoxicity of the volatile oil of P. scabra is mainly due to the lignans and azulenes, rather than to caryophyllene oxide I (18). Our results suggest that the volatile oil of P. scabra possesses potent and tumor-specific cytotoxicity, and could serve as a possible candidate for future cancer chemotherapy.     

Immunomodulating activities of water-soluble exopolysaccharides obtained from submerged culture of Lentinus lepideus

Immunomodulating activities of water-soluble exopolysaccharides (LL-EX) obtained from submerged mycelial culture of Lentinus lepideus were studied and their effectiveness was compared with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The influence of the LL-EX on macrophage cellular lysosomal enzyme activity was to stimulate up to 267%, 392%, and 464% at the level of 10, 50, and 100 mug/ml, respectively. When the LL-EX was further fractionated into LL-Fr.I and Fr.II by Sepharose CL-6B gel chromatography, the cellular lysosomal enzyme activity of LL-Fr.II (2.1- fold) was higher than Fr.I (1.2-fold). Moreover, both LL-Fr.I and Fr.II stimulated the cytokines IL-1beta, TNF-alpha, and IL-6 in macrophages. In mixed lymphocyte reaction, LL-Fr.I and Fr.II enhanced the splenocyte proliferation up to 1.2-fold and 1.4-fold (50 mg/ml), respectively, stimulating only T lymphocytes. The fractions of LL-EX not show any direct toxicity against human gastric adenocarcinoma cell (AGS). The molecular masses of LL-Fr.I and Fr.II were estimated to be about 1,986 kDa and 21 kDa, respectively. The total sugar and protein contents of the two fractions were 84.97% and 69.88% and 15.03% and 30.12%, respectively. The sugar and amino acid compositions of the LL-Fr.I and Fr.II were also analyzed in detail.     

Studies on the oxidation products from 2,4-diaminotoluene by hydrogen peroxide and their mutagenicities. II.

2,4-Diaminotoluene (DAT) was reacted with hydrogen peroxide at room temperature for 2 days, and the resulting red precipitates were separated into 5 fractions on silica gel column chromatography. On the gas chromatographic (GC) study, the first fraction (Fr. 1), which is mutagenic (1425 and 1391 revertants/μg in the absence and presence of S9 respectively) in Salmonella typhimurium TA98, contained several peaks. Fr. 1 was further separated into 4 subfractions (Fr. 1-I-Fr. 1-IV) by silica gel column chromatography. The red crystals were separated from Fr. 1-III and the structure of the compound was determined to be 1,8-diamino-2,7-dimethylphenazine from physicochemical and chemical evidence.Further, o-nitro-p-toluidine, p-nitro-o-toluidine, 3,3′-diamino-4,4′-dimethylazobenzene and 3,3′ diamino-4,4′-dimethylazoxybenzene were identified with authentic and synthesized samples by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. These compounds without nitrotoluidines were mutagenic, and phenazine, azo and azoxy compounds induced 49, 301 and 245 revertants/nmole in Salmonella typhimurium TA98 with 25 μl S9 per plate, respectively.     

Structural characterization and in vitro inhibitory activities in P-selectin-mediated leukocyte adhesion of polysaccharide fractions isolated from the roots of Physalis alkekengi

Selectin-mediated leukocyte initial attachment and rolling over vessel endothelial surface are crucial steps for inflammatory responses. As P-selectin is a promising target for anti-inflammation therapeutic strategy, recent works have focused on searching for more potent and non-toxic P-selectin antagonists among various natural carbohydrate products. Here, we isolated three water-soluble polysaccharide fractions (PPS-1, PPS-2 and PPS-3) from the roots of Physalis alkekengi by DEAE-cellulose and Sephacryl S-200 chromatography. Their physicochemical and structural characterizations were determined by chemical methods, GC (gas chromatography), HPLC (high performance liquid chromatography), FT-IR (Fourier transform infrared spectrometry), partial acid hydrolysis, methylation and GC-MS (gas chromatography-mass spectrometry) analyses. The inhibitory capacity of the polysaccharide fractions in P-selectin-mediated leukocyte adhesion was evaluated by flow cytometric, static adhesion and laminar flow assays. Results showed that different polysaccharide fractions possess distinct physicochemical and structural properties, including carbohydrate, protein and uronic acid contents, molecular weight, monosaccharide composition and glycosidic linkage type. Among the polysaccharide fractions, PPS-2 could effectively block the interaction between P-selectin and its native ligand.     

Polysaccharides of the cellular slime mold II. Change of intra- and extracellular polysaccharides during growth phase of Dictyostelium discoideum NC-4

The three intra- and extracellular polysaccharide fractions were isolated during the growth phase of Dictyostelium discoideum NC-4, and the change in content of component sugars of four fractions during the culture period was examined. Myxamoebae most extensively contain a polysaccharide fraction extracted with phenol-water (polysaccharide fraction I) in a quantity of about 15–23% per dry cell. After 15 h the uronic acid formed in the polysaccharide fraction I, and the cell, could be aggregated. The glucosamine content in the polysaccharide fraction I reached a maximum as the myxamoebae entered the exponential phase, and a large amount of galactose was produced as the cell entered the stationary phase. The phenol-water extract from the cells of the stationary phase was reacted with concanavalin-A.     

Characterization and antioxidant activity of Ginkgo biloba exocarp polysaccharides

Ginkgo biloba exocarp polysaccharide (GBEP) was obtained by hot water extraction, the crude polysaccharide was deproteinized by Sevag method and fractionized by a DEAE Sepharose fast flow anion-exchange column. Five fragments were obtained, including neutral polysaccharide (GBEP-N) and four acidic polysaccharides (GBEP-A1, GBEP-A2, GBEP-A3 and GBEP-A4). GBEP-N and GBEP-A3 were further purified by Superdex 200 gel column chromatography. The resulted two fractions GBEP-NN, and GBEP-AA were characterized by FT-IR, and HPGFC (high pressure gel filtration chromatography). Monosaccharide composition was determined by RP-HPLC method of precolumn derivatization with 1-phenyl-3-5-pyrazolone. GBEP-NN was mainly composed of rhamnose, arabinose, mannose, glucose and galactose, while GBEP-AA was mainly made up of mannose, rhamnose, glucuronic acid, galacturonic acid, galactosamine, glucose, galactose, xylose, arabinose, and fucose. The crude GBEP exhibited certain antioxidant activity. At the concentration of 5 mg/mL, the hydroxyl radical scavenging effect of GBEP was 90.52%, greater than 77.37% for the positive control ascorbic acid.     

Antioxidant activities of polysaccharides from Lentinus edodes and their significance for disease prevention

The crude polysaccharide (LEP) was extracted by hot water from the fruiting bodies of Lentinus edodes, and further purified by DEAE-cellulose and Sepharose CL-6B chromatography, giving three polysaccharide fractions coded as LEPA1, LEPB1 and LEPC1. In this study, their chemical and physical characteristics of polysaccharide fractions and antioxidant capacities, including scavenging activity against hydroxyl radicals, superoxide radicals and Fe²⁺-chelating ability, were valuated. The results showed that LEPC1 exhibited significantly antioxidant activity at a concentration-dependent manner. Therefore these results indicated that the water-extractable polysaccharide fraction was a potent antioxidant and could be developed to be new health medicine for fighting against various human diseases.     

Branched glucan from the fruiting bodies of Piptoporus betulinus (Bull.:Fr) Karst.

A new glucan, namely, piptoporane I, with a molecular mass of 270 kDa was isolated from fruiting bodies of Piptoporus betulinis (Bull.:Fr.) Karst. (Fomitopsidacaeae). Using a combination of physicochemical methods, it was established that piptoporane I was a branched glucan with a backbone consisting of α-(1 → 3)-glucopyranose residues substituted at the C-6 position by single residues of β-D-glucopyranose by 17.3%. A polysaccharide with such a structure was isolated for the first time from the fungus genus Piptoporus.     

Characterization of a polysaccharide-protein complex from Ganoderma tsugae mycelium by size-exclusion chromatography combined with laser light scattering

A water-soluble polysaccharide-protein complex (GM3) extracted from the mycelium of Ganoderma tsugae was characterized using size-exclusion chromatography combined with laser light scattering (SEC-LLS). Two peaks coded as fractions I and II appeared in the SEC pattern of GM3 in 0.5 M NaCl aqueous solution, corresponding to the weight-average molecular mass (M(w)) of 355 x 10(4) and 6.3 x 10(4), respectively. The relationship between the radius of gyration ((z)(1/2)) and M(w) showed that molecules of fraction I exhibited more compact coil conformation than that of fraction II in 0.5 M NaCl aqueous solution at 25 degrees C. To clarify the component of polysaccharide and protein in each fraction, the sample GM3 was treated with 0.2 M NaOH aqueous solution to degrade polysaccharide and trypsin to hydrolyze protein. The obtained products were analyzed by SEC combined with detectors such as UV, differential refractive index (DRI) and LLS. The results indicated that both the fractions I and II were protein-bound polysaccharide, but had different protein content and degree of branching, resulting in the difference of the chain conformation.     

芦苇叶水提物的化感活性分析及潜在化感成分的筛选

采用不同溶剂对芦苇﹝Phragmites australis ( Cav.) Trin. ex Steud.﹞叶片水提物进行萃取,并以小麦( Triticum aestivum Linn.)和萝卜( Raphanus sativus Linn.)种子为实验材料对不同萃取物的化感效应进行检测;采用薄层层析和柱层析对抑制作用最强的正丁醇萃取物进行进一步分离,并采用GC-MS法对生物活性较高的组分进行组成成分分析;在此基础上,选择相对含量高并具有代表性的潜在化感成分进行生物活性检测,以期筛选出芦苇叶中的潜在化感成分。结果显示：随质量浓度(20、100和500 mg·L-1)提高,芦苇叶水提物的石油醚、二氯甲烷、乙酸乙酯、正丁醇和水萃取物对小麦和萝卜种子萌发的抑制作用均逐渐增强,其中正丁醇萃取物的抑制作用最强。在正丁醇萃取物的11个组分中,Fr.5、Fr.6、Fr.7、Fr.9和Fr.10组分均能显著抑制萝卜或小麦幼苗的生长,经质量浓度500 mg·L-1各组分处理液处理后萝卜或小麦幼苗的株高、根长及单株鲜质量均显著低于对照(P<0.05)。采用GC-MS法从Fr.5、Fr.6、Fr.7、Fr.9和Fr.10组分中分别鉴定出11、15、15、12和22种成分,分别占各组分总相对含量的83.02%、91.31%、87.36%、97.92%和94.34%,主要成分包括糖类、醇类、有机酸类、酮类、酰胺类和酯类。对14种潜在化感成分生物活性的检测结果显示这些成分对小麦幼苗生长有明显的抑制作用,其中,经质量浓度20 mg·L-1油酸酰胺、棕榈酸甲酯、亚油酸、2-苯乙胺、2-甲基烯丙醇和4-羟基-3-甲氧基苦杏仁酸处理后,小麦幼苗的株高、根长及单株鲜质量显著低于对照。综合分析结果显示：芦苇叶水提物具有较强的化感活性,其潜在的化感成分为油酸酰胺、棕榈酸甲酯、亚油酸、2-苯乙胺、2-甲基烯丙醇和4-羟基-3-甲氧基苦杏仁酸。     

Antigenic polysaccharides of bacteria of the genus Shigella. Determination of the structure of polysaccharide chains of Shigella boydii type 9 lipopolysaccharide and detection of unusually high molecular weight glycolipid

Specific acidic polysaccharide has been isolated from the Shigella boydii type 9 antigenic lipopolysaccharide after mild hydrolysis followed by chromatography on Sephadex G-50. The polysaccharide consists of D-glucose, D-glucuronic acid, 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucose, and L-rhamnose. From the results of methylation analysis, partial acid hydrolysis and 13C NMR data the structure of the repeating unit of the polysaccharide was deduced as follows: [----4)DGlcp(alpha 1----4)DGlcAp(beta 1----3)DGlcNAcp(alpha 1----3)LRhap(alpha 1----]n. The lipopolysaccharide from Sh. boydii 9 was fractionated by gel chromatography on the Sephadex G-200 column in a buffer containing sodium deoxycholate into three fractions. PAGE-SDS of the fractions obtained, 13C NMR- and chromato-mass-spectrometry data indicated that the three fractions contained the O-specific polysaccharide as the only carbohydrate component. The substance from the most high-molecular weight fraction contained unusually long O-specific chains (60,000 dalton). In the fat acid composition this fraction differed from other lipopolysaccharides by absence of beta-hydroxymyristic acid.     

Purification by sucrose density gradient zonal centrifugation and affinity column chromatography of antigenic substances from the livers of mice infected with Tyzzer's disease

Antigenic substances from livers of mice infected with Tyzzer's disease were purified by means of sucrose density gradient zonal centrifugation and affinity column chromatography using antiserum and checking antigenicity with the complement fixation test. Fractions obtained from zonal centrifugation fell into three main groups with different molecular weights, two of which (Fr. I and Fr. II) positively reacted with antiserum in the complement fixation tests. Both fractions were further purified by affinity column chromatography. The molecular weights of the main antigenic substances derived from Fr. I and Fr. II were determined to be about 52 000 and 66 000, respectively, by means of SDS-PAGE.     

Isolation of phosphorylated polysaccharides from algae: the immunostimulatory principle of Chlorella pyrenoidosa

The major immunostimulatory principle in the hot aqueous extract of Chlorella pyrenoidosa has been isolated by a sequence of ethanol precipitation, precipitation with a cationic surfactant (CTAB), size exclusion chromatography, and anion exchange chromatography. A series of phosphorylated polysaccharides were obtained having different molecular masses but with similar structures. The higher molecular mass fractions showed considerable activity in the stimulation of mouse peritoneal macrophages to synthesize nitric oxide. The structure of the major polysaccharide was established by sugar analysis, configurational analysis, and 1D and 2D NMR experiments at 500 and 800 MHz on the parent polysaccharide, the de-O-acetylated polysaccharide, and on the components obtained after hydrolysis of the phosphate diesters. It had a β-d-Galp-(1→3)-β-d-Galp-(1→3)-backbone with half of the Galp units substituted at O-6 by terminal β-d-Glcp units. The remaining Galp units were substituted on O-6 by about equal amounts of α-d-Manp-1-phosphate and 3-O-Me-α-Manp-1-phosphate diesters. The substituents were not located in a regularly alternating fashion on the backbone. The O-acetyl groups were largely located on O-2 and O-4 of Galp and 35% of the Galp residues were O-acetylated. This is the second observation of a phosphorylated polysaccharide in an alga and the first where it is present to a significant extent.     

ON ARABINOSE AS A CONSTITUENT OF HYALURONIC ACID FROM BOVINE BRAIN

(1) Wardi , Allen , Turner and Stary (1966) and Margolis (1967) have reported that arabinose is a component of hyaluronic acid from mammalian brain. (2) In the present study, total acidic polysaccharide and hyaluronic acid fractions were isolated from lipid-extracted and proteolysed bovine brain by precipitation with cetyltri-methylammonium bromide. These fractions were analysed for arabinose by paper chromatography of deionized hydrolysates and by gas-liquid chromatography of per(trimethylsilyl)ated methanolysates. (3) Two pentoses, xylose and ribose, were detected. Arabinose was analytically undetectable in both polysaccharide fractions, but was easily detected in a control polysaccharide containing 0-1% (w/w) arabinose. Arabinose, if present in hyaluronic acid from bovine brain, constitutes less than 0.1 mol per mol of hyaluronic acid (molecular weight 1.5 x 10⁶ daltons).     

Branched glucan from the fruiting bodies of Piptoporus betulinus (Bull.:Fr.) Karst

A new glucan, namely, piptoporane I, with a molecular mass of 270 kDa was isolated from fruiting bodies of Piptoporus betulinis (Bull.:Fr.) Karst. (Fomitopsidacaeae). Using a combination ofphysicochemical methods, it was established that piptoporane I was a branched glucan with a backbone consisting of alpha-( 1->3)-glucopyranose residues substituted at the C-6 position by single residues of beta-D-glucopyranose by 17.3%. A polysaccharide with such a structure was isolated for the first time from the fungus genus Piptoporus.     

Composition analysis and antioxidant activity of polysaccharide from Dendrobium denneanum

Three polysaccharide fractions (DDP1-1, DDP2-1 and DDP3-1) were successfully purified from the crude polysaccharide of Dendrobium denneanum by DEAE-Cellulose and Sephadex G-200 column chromatography. The average molecular weights (Mws) of these fractions were 51.5, 26.1 and 6.95 kDa, respectively. Monosaccharide components analysis indicated that DDP1-1 and DDP2-1 were composed of arabinose, xylose, mannose, glucose and galactose in a molar ratio of 1.00:2.82:57.11:140.82:7.76 and 1.00:1.62:1.18:77.5:7.79. DDP3-1 was composed of arabinose, mannose, glucose and galactose in a molar ratio of 1.00:1.03:8.84:2.00. On the basis of antioxidant test in vitro, DDP2-1 exhibited the highest antioxidant ability among these samples.