Production of Antibacterial Compounds Analogous to Chloramphenicol by a n-Paraffin-grown Bacterium

Corynebacterium sp. KY 4339, when grown on n-paraffin (a mixture of C–12 to C–14 fractions) as the sole carbon source, produced three kinds of antibacterial compounds which were tentatively named Corynecins. These compounds were isolated by the extraction from the culture broth with ethyl acetate and by the chromatographies on silicic acid and alumina columns. Each component demonstrated some similarity to chloramphenicol on thin-layer chromatogram. Although their biological activities were not so remarkably as that of chloramphenicol, the patterns of antibacterial spectra against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria resembled to it.

For the production of corynecins, n-paraffin was a preferable carbon source. By controlling the pH of the medium in the neutral range and keeping the aeration at a high level during the fermentation, approximately 3 g of corynecins per liter of the medium were produced after 72-hr incubation.     

Release of 6-keto-prostaglandin F1α and thromboxane B2 from mouse peritoneal macrophages during their adhesion and spreading on a glass surface

The release of 6-keto-prostaglandin F_1α (6KF_1α)_and of thromboxane B₂ (TXB₂) from cells were investigated using mouse peritoneal exudate cells (PECs) and non-cultured peritoneal macrophages. They were prepared by adhesion to glass dishes and incubated for 1 hr at 37°C in 5% Co₂ in air. Both the percentage of spreading macrophages and the release of 6KF_1α and TXb₂ increased in proportion to the incubation time. 6KF_1α and TXB₂ were released from the macrophages, not from the non-adherent cells. When PECs were incubated in silicon-coated glass dishes, the spreading of macrophages was hardly detected and lower amounts of 6KF_1α and TXB₂ were released from these cells compared with cells incubated in non-treated glass dishes. These findings suggest that adhesion with the correlated spreading of macrophages on glass dishes serve as a considerable physical factor for the release of 6KF_1α and TXB₂.     

Redescription of Lepadichthys coccinotaenia Regan 1921 and description of Lepadichthys trishula sp. nov. from southern Japan (Gobiesocidae: Diademichthyinae)

Ichthyological Research - Lepadichthys coccinotaenia Regan 1921 (Gobiesocidae: Diademichthyinae) is redescribed on the basis of 60 specimens, including the holotype, and a new species of...     

miR-34a-5p might have an important role for inducing apoptosis by down-regulation of SNAI1 in apigenin-treated lung cancer cells

Molecular Biology Reports - Apigenin is a flavonoid with antioxidant and anticancer effects. It has been reported that apigenin inhibits proliferation, migration, and invasion and induces apoptosis...     

Studies on Nucleoside Analogs. XXV.1) Synthesis of 5, 7-Dioxopyrimido[5,4-e]-AS-Triazine Glycosides

Abstract

The reaction of glycosyl isothiocyanates (la, b, c, d, e) with 5,6-diamino-1-3-dimethyluracil gave the respective 1-glycosyl-3-(6-amino-1, 3-dimethyl-2, 4-dioxopyrimidine-5-yl) thioureas (2a, b, c, d, e) in excellent yields. Treatment of these thioureas with NBS afforded the respective 5,7-dioxopyrimido-[5,4-e]-as-triazine glycosides (4a, b, c, d, e) in good yields.     

Methamphetamine Increases Locomotion and Dopamine Transporter Activity in Dopamine D5 Receptor-Deficient Mice

Dopamine regulates the psychomotor stimulant activities of amphetamine-like substances in the brain. The effects of dopamine are mediated through five known dopamine receptor subtypes in mammals. The functional relevance of D5 dopamine receptors in the central nervous system is not well understood. To determine the functional relevance of D5 dopamine receptors, we created D5 dopamine receptor-deficient mice and then used these mice to assess the roles of D5 dopamine receptors in the behavioral response to methamphetamine. Interestingly, D5 dopamine receptor-deficient mice displayed increased ambulation in response to methamphetamine. Furthermore, dopamine transporter threonine phosphorylation levels, which regulate amphetamine-induced dopamine release, were elevated in D5 dopamine receptor-deficient mice. The increase in methamphetamine-induced locomotor activity was eliminated by pretreatment with the dopamine transporter blocker GBR12909. Taken together, these results suggest that dopamine transporter activity and threonine phosphorylation levels are regulated by D5 dopamine receptors.     

Genetic Diversity and Distribution of the Ciguatera-Causing Dinoflagellate Gambierdiscus spp. (Dinophyceae) in Coastal Areas of Japan

Background

The marine epiphytic dinoflagellate genus Gambierdiscus produce toxins that cause ciguatera fish poisoning (CFP): one of the most significant seafood-borne illnesses associated with fish consumption worldwide. So far, occurrences of CFP incidents in Japan have been mainly reported in subtropical areas. A previous phylogeographic study of Japanese Gambierdiscus revealed the existence of two distinct phylotypes: Gambierdiscus sp. type 1 from subtropical and Gambierdiscus sp. type 2 from temperate areas. However, details of the genetic diversity and distribution for Japanese Gambierdiscus are still unclear, because a comprehensive investigation has not been conducted yet.

Methods/Principal Finding

A total of 248 strains were examined from samples mainly collected from western and southern coastal areas of Japan during 2006–2011. The SSU rDNA, the LSU rDNA D8–D10 and the ITS region were selected as genetic markers and phylogenetic analyses were conducted. The genetic diversity of Japanese Gambierdiscus was high since five species/phylotypes were detected: including two reported phylotypes (Gambierdiscus sp. type 1 and Gambierdiscus sp. type 2), two species of Gambierdiscus (G. australes and G. cf. yasumotoi) and a hitherto unreported phylotype Gambierdiscus sp. type 3. The distributions of type 3 and G. cf. yasumotoi were restricted to the temperate and the subtropical area, respectively. On the other hand, type 1, type 2 and G. australes occurred from the subtropical to the temperate area, with a tendency that type 1 and G. australes were dominant in the subtropical area, whereas type 2 was dominant in the temperate area. By using mouse bioassay, type 1, type 3 and G. australes exhibited mouse toxicities.

Conclusions/Significance

This study revealed a surprising diversity of Japanese Gambierdiscus and the distribution of five species/phylotypes displayed clear geographical patterns in Japanese coastal areas. The SSU rDNA and the LSU rDNA D8–D10 as genetic markers are recommended for further use.