Continuously Distributed Glass Transition of Maca (Lepidium meyenii Walpers) Powder and Impact on Caking Properties

Food Biophysics - Water sorption isotherm, glass transition temperature (Tg), and caking properties of maca (Lepidium meyenii Walpers) powder were investigated. A broad endothermic shift reflecting...     

Enhanced glucose tolerance in the Brattleboro rat

[Arg⁸]-vasopressin (AVP) plays a crucial role in regulating body fluid retention, which is mediated through the vasopressin V₂ receptor in the kidney. In addition, AVP is involved in the regulation of glucose homeostasis via vasopressin V_1A and vasopressin V_1B receptors. Our previous studies demonstrated that vasopressin V_1A receptor-deficient (V_1AR−/−) and V_1B receptor-deficient (V_1BR−/−) mice exhibited hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia with hypoinsulinemia, respectively. These findings indicate that vasopressin V_1A receptor deficiency results in decreased insulin sensitivity whereas vasopressin V_1B receptor deficiency results in increased insulin sensitivity. In addition, vasopressin V_1A and vasopressin V_1B receptor double-deficient (V_1ABR−/−) mice exhibited impaired glucose tolerance, suggesting that the effects of vasopressin V_1B receptor deficiency do not influence the development of hyperglycemia promoted by vasopressin V_1A receptor deficiency, and that the blockage of both receptors could lead to impaired glucose tolerance. However, the contributions of the entire AVP/vasopressin receptors system to the regulation of blood glucose have not yet been clarified. In this study, to further understand the role of AVP/vasopressin receptors signaling in blood glucose regulation, we assessed the glucose tolerance of AVP-deficient homozygous Brattleboro (di/di) rats using an oral glucose tolerance test (GTT). Plasma glucose and insulin levels were consistently lower in homozygous di/di rats than in heterozygous di/+ rats during the GTT, suggesting that the blockage of all AVP/vasopressin receptors resulting from the AVP deficiency could lead to enhanced glucose tolerance.     

Catalysis by polymer complexes. I. Enhanced esterolytic reactivity of hydroxamate–polymer complexes

N-methylmyristohydroxamic acid (1) bound to polymer micelles of laurylated poly(2- and 4-vinylpyridines) (lauryl group contet: 2VP-L, 30 mol%; 4VP-L, 33 mol%) quantitatively reacted with p-nitrophenyl acetate (NpAc) within a few seconds at 30°C, pH 8.95. Second order rate constants k_a were 34,000 M^?1 sec^?1 for 1–2VP-L and 11,400 M^?1 sec^?1 for 1–4VP-L at μ = 0.5, and they were pronouncedly improved by a decrease in ionic strength (k_a = 27,500–80,200 M^?1 sec^?1 at μ = 0.08). In contrast, poly(N-ethyl-4-vinylpyridinium bromide) hardly affected the nucleophilicity of the hydroxamate ion. Therefore, the enhancement was considered to be associated with some micellar characteristics. Typical saturation phenomena of the reaction rate were observed for p-nitrophenyl hexanoate (NpOCOPe) and 3-nitro-4-acetoxybenzoic acid (NpAcCOOH). It was suggested that binding of NpOCOPe is caused by the hydrophobic interaction, while that of NpAcCOOH is probably induced by the electrostatic interaction. It is demonstrated that the cationic polymer micelle enormously activates the bound hydroxamate anion, and these complexes would be of much interest as a biomimetic system for enzyme catalysis.     

Food vibrations: Asian spice sets lips trembling

Szechuan pepper, a widely used ingredient in the cuisine of many Asian countries, is known for the tingling sensation it induces on the tongue and lips. While the molecular mechanism by which Szechuan pepper activates tactile afferent fibres has been clarified, the tingling sensation itself has been less studied, and it remains unclear which fibres are responsible. We investigated the somatosensory perception of tingling in humans to identify the characteristic temporal frequency and compare this to the established selectivity of tactile afferents. Szechuan pepper was applied to the lower lip of participants. Participants judged the frequency of the tingling sensation on the lips by comparing this with the frequencies of mechanical vibrations applied to their right index finger. The perceived frequency of the tingling was consistently at around 50 Hz, corresponding to the range of tactile RA1 afferent fibres. Furthermore, adaptation of the RA1 channel by prolonged mechanical vibration reliably reduced the tingling frequency induced by Szechuan pepper, confirming that the frequency-specific tactile channel is shared between Szechuan pepper and mechanical vibration. Combining information about molecular reactions at peripheral receptors with quantitative psychophysical measurement may provide a unique method for characterizing unusual experiences by decomposing them into identifiable minimal units of sensation.     

A Kinetic Analysis on the Enhancement of Superoxide Generation from Rice Leaf Disks Stimulated with Proteoglucomannan after Pretreatment with Concanavalin A

We have identified by differential plaque hybridization, human cDNA clones encooding a member of a heat-shock protein family (hsp 90α) in the cDNA library of Adenovirus Type 12 E1A transfected HeLa cells. The complete nucleotide sequence of one of the clones (pHB76–114A) was identified. The sequence of 2912 base pairs had a single reading frame with a coding potential for an 84,672-Da protein. The amino acid sequence was highly homologous, but not identical, to that of the human hsp 90α gene isolated from human peripheral blood lymphocytes [M. Yamazaki, K. Akaogi, T. Miwa, T. Imai, E. Soeda and K. Yokoyama, Nucleic Acids Res., 17, 7108 (1989)]. This cDNA hybridized with RNA species which increased 5- to 20-fold upon heat shock and more than 5-fold in the differentiation stage of human Tera 2 cells.     

Somatic DNA recombination in a mouse genomic region, BC-1, in brain and non-brain tissue

The genomic region BC-1 (GenBank acc. No. AB075899) on mouse chromosome 16 has been reported as a genomic region undergoing somatic DNA recombination producing circular DNA and genomic deletion in brain during late embryogenesis. The present study shows that the BC-1 circular DNA production had already started on the 13th day of embryonic age, earlier than the previous observation that the circular DNA production started on the 15th through 17th embryonic day. The BC-1 deletion was also observed in the spleen and ocular lens. In situ hybridization analysis indicated that a human-homologous region in the BC-1 sequence was expressed in the lens at a perinatal period. These data suggest that the somatic DNA recombination in the BC-1 region is not restricted to brain tissue, and that the BC-1 DNA recombination relates to lens development.     

Solubilization and functionalization of sulfuric acid lignin generated during bioethanol production from woody biomass

Sulfuric acid lignin (SAL), which is formed as a by-product during the production of bioethanol from woody biomass, was solubilized and functionalized by hydrothermal reaction. SAL could be easily dissolved in an alkaline medium, especially sodium hydroxide solution, by this reaction. The soluble part of the reaction products (S-HSAL) could be dissolved at neutral pH. IR spectrometric analysis of SAL revealed that hydrophilic groups were introduced in it during the reaction. The dispersibility of S-HSAL was increased by sulfonation (SS-HSAL), and it was found to be an effective dispersant for gypsum paste.     

Direct positive chronotropic action by angiotensin II in the isolated mouse atrium

We observed the direct positive chronotropic effect of angiotensin II in mouse atria and characterized its pharmacological property. C57BL/6J mice were anesthetized with pentobarbital and hearts were quickly excised. Atrial preparations including right and left atrium were isolated and suspended in the organ bath filled with Krebs-Henseleit solution gassed with 95% O2 and 5% CO2. Angiotensin II at concentrations of 10(-10) to 10(-6) M caused concentration-dependent increase in heart rate, and the maximal response was about 13% of that by isoproterenol. The effect was blocked by the selective AT1-receptor antagonist, losartan at concentrations of 10(-6) M, but not by the selective beta-blocker, nadolol at concentration of 10(-5) M. Furthermore, angiotensin I also caused concentration-dependent increase in heart rate, and the effect was blocked by angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, captopril at concentrations of 10(-6) M. These results suggested that angiotensin I is converted to angiotensin II via ACE system in mice atria, and regulate heart rate through AT1-receptor stimulation, not by beta-adrenergic receptor.