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.     

Photobromination of 1,5-Anhydro-2,3-O-isopropylidene-β-d-ribofuranose and Synthesis of (5R) and (5S)-(5-2H1)-d-Riboses

The photobromination of 1,5-anhydro-2,3-O-isopropylidene-β-d-ribofuranose gave the corresponding (5S)-5-bromo compound. The reduction of the bromide with triphenyltindeuteride gave (5S)-(5-²H₁)-1,5-anhydro-2,3-O-isopropylidene-β-d-ribofuranose, with a chiral purity of 76% at C-5, which was converted to (5R)- and (5S)-(5-²H₁)-d-riboses and other ribofuranose derivatives.     

Production of Nucleic Acid-Related Substances by Fermentative Processes

Brevibacterium insectiphilium KY 3446 (Steinhous, Breed AHU 1401) was found to accumulate IMP from hypoxanthine and UMP from uracil, respectively. This strain is thus considered to present the fourth example in salvage-type fermentation, in addition to Micrococcus sodonensis, Arthrobacter citreus and Brevibacterium ammoniagenes reported previously.

IMP from adenine and UMP from cytosine were also produced by KY 3446, respectively. Further, the addition of inosine and adenosine instead of the bases also caused IMP accumulation.

This strain grew well on sucrose medium, and produced IMP and UMP in higher yields on sucrose than on glucose medium.

Excessive amounts of Mn²⁺ stimulated growth, but markedly inhibited IMP production. The optimal concentration of Mn²⁺ for IMP accumulation induced morphogenetic alterations from normal and small to abnormal and large cells.     

Historical Biogeography and Diversification of Truffles in the Tuberaceae and Their Newly Identified Southern Hemisphere Sister Lineage

Truffles have evolved from epigeous (aboveground) ancestors in nearly every major lineage of fleshy fungi. Because accelerated rates of morphological evolution accompany the transition to the truffle form, closely related epigeous ancestors remain unknown for most truffle lineages. This is the case for the quintessential truffle genus Tuber, which includes species with socio-economic importance and esteemed culinary attributes. Ecologically, Tuber spp. form obligate mycorrhizal symbioses with diverse species of plant hosts including pines, oaks, poplars, orchids, and commercially important trees such as hazelnut and pecan. Unfortunately, limited geographic sampling and inconclusive phylogenetic relationships have obscured our understanding of their origin, biogeography, and diversification. To address this problem, we present a global sampling of Tuberaceae based on DNA sequence data from four loci for phylogenetic inference and molecular dating. Our well-resolved Tuberaceae phylogeny shows high levels of regional and continental endemism. We also identify a previously unknown epigeous member of the Tuberaceae – the South American cup-fungus Nothojafnea thaxteri (E.K. Cash) Gamundí. Phylogenetic resolution was further improved through the inclusion of a previously unrecognized Southern hemisphere sister group of the Tuberaceae. This morphologically diverse assemblage of species includes truffle (e.g. Gymnohydnotrya spp.) and non-truffle forms that are endemic to Australia and South America. Southern hemisphere taxa appear to have diverged more recently than the Northern hemisphere lineages. Our analysis of the Tuberaceae suggests that Tuber evolved from an epigeous ancestor. Molecular dating estimates Tuberaceae divergence in the late Jurassic (∼156 million years ago), with subsequent radiations in the Cretaceous and Paleogene. Intra-continental diversification, limited long-distance dispersal, and ecological adaptations help to explain patterns of truffle evolution and biodiversity.     

Rapid Fabricating Technique for Multi-Layered Human Hepatic Cell Sheets by Forceful Contraction of the Fibroblast Monolayer

Cell sheet engineering is attracting attention from investigators in various fields, from basic research scientists to clinicians focused on regenerative medicine. However, hepatocytes have a limited proliferation potential in vitro, and it generally takes a several days to form a sheet morphology and multi-layered sheets. We herein report our rapid and efficient technique for generating multi-layered human hepatic cell (HepaRG® cell) sheets using pre-cultured fibroblast monolayers derived from human skin (TIG-118 cells) as a feeder layer on a temperature-responsive culture dish. Multi-layered TIG-118/HepaRG cell sheets with a thick morphology were harvested on day 4 of culturing HepaRG cells by forceful contraction of the TIG-118 cells, and the resulting sheet could be easily handled. In addition, the human albumin and alpha 1-antitrypsin synthesis activities of TIG-118/HepaRG cells were approximately 1.2 and 1.3 times higher than those of HepaRG cells, respectively. Therefore, this technique is considered to be a promising modality for rapidly fabricating multi-layered human hepatocyte sheets from cells with limited proliferation potential, and the engineered cell sheet could be used for cell transplantation with highly specific functions.     

Cone-Beam Computed Tomography Correlates with Conventional Helical Computed Tomography in Evaluation of Lipiodol Accumulation in HCC after Chemoembolization

Background & Aims

The amount of drug-loaded lipiodol in an HCC tumor post-transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) correlates with the risk of local tumor recurrence. Lipiodol enhancement of a tumor on conventional CT, measured in Hounsfield units (HU), can predict tumor response. Here we investigate whether cone-beam CT (CBCT) can also be used to predict tumor response, providing the benefit of being able to optimize the patient’s treatment plan intra-procedurally.

Methods

A total of 82 HCC nodules (82 patients), ≤5 cm in diameter, were treated with balloon-occluded TACE using miriplatin between December 2013 and November 2014. For each patient, both CBCT and conventional CT images were obtained post-TACE. The degree of correlation between CBCT and conventional CT was determined by comparing identical regions of interest for each imaging modality using pixel values.

Results

The pixel values from conventional CT and CBCT were highly correlated, with a Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.912 (p<0.001). The location of the nodules within the liver did not affect the results; the correlation coefficient was 0.891 (p<0.001) for the left lobe and 0.926 (p<0.001) for the right lobe. The mean pixel value for conventional CT was 439 ± 279 HU, and the mean pixel value for CBCT was 416 ± 311 HU.

Conclusions

CBCT may be used as a substitute for conventional CT to quantitatively evaluate the amount of drug-loaded lipiodol within an HCC nodule and, hence, the efficacy of TACE treatment. The major benefit of using CBCT is the ability to predict the likelihood of local recurrence intra-procedurally, enabling subsequent treatment optimization.     

4-Vinylphenol production from glucose using recombinant <Emphasis Type="Italic">Streptomyces mobaraense</Emphasis> expressing a tyrosine ammonia lyase from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhodobacter sphaeroides</Emphasis>

Objectives

To find a novel host for the production of 4-vinylphenol (4VPh) by screening Streptomyces species.

Results

The conversion of p-coumaric acid (pHCA) to 4VPh in Streptomyces mobaraense was evaluated using a medium containing pHCA. S. mobaraense readily assimilated pHCA after 24 h of cultivation to produce 4VPh. A phenolic acid decarboxylase, derived from S. mobaraense (SmPAD), was purified following heterologous expression in Escherichia coli. SmPAD was evaluated under various conditions, and the enzyme’s k_cat/K_m value was 0.54 mM ^?1 s^?1. Using intergenetic conjugation, a gene from Rhodobacter sphaeroides encoding a tyrosine ammonia lyase, which catalyzes the conversion of l-tyrosine to p-coumaric acid, was introduced into S. mobaraense. The resulting S. mobaraense transformant produced 273 mg 4VPh l^?1 from 10 g glucose l^?1.

Conclusion

A novel strain suitable for the production of 4VPh and potentially other aromatic compounds was isolated.