Seasonal variations in yields of Hwangchil lacquer and major sesquiterpene compounds from selected superior individuals of<Emphasis Type="Italic">Dendropanax morbifera</Emphasis> Lév.

We studied fluctuations in the production of Hwangchil lacquer and major essential oils byDendropanax morbifera Lev. Considerable seasonal as well as intraspecific (individual-tree) variations were observed. Yields of Hwangchil lacquer as well as ß-elemene, α-selinene, ß-selinene, germacrene D, and δ-cadinene also depended on harvesting time, with levels being generally higher in July and August.     

Insulin induces activation and translocation of protein kinase FA (a multifunctional protein phosphatase activator) in human platelet

Protein kinase FA (an activator of the ATP.Mg-dependent multifunctional protein phosphatase) has been identified in both cytosol and plasma membrane isolated from human platelets. The FA activity in the cytosol is active whereas the FA activity in the membrane is inactive. Quantitative analysis further indicates that approximately 90% of total FA is present in the membrane whereas only 10% of FA is localized in the cytosol, suggesting that the inactive membrane-associated FA might be regulated. This notion has subsequently been demonstrated that exposure of platelets to physiological concentrations of insulin for only 1 min resulted in an increase in cytosolic FA activity to about 300% of control values in the absence of insulin and in a corresponding decrease in FA activity in the membrane. It is concluded that the molecular basis for insulin action on cellular metabolism may partly be mediated through the activation and translocation of protein kinase FA in the membrane. It is suggested that redistribution of protein kinase FA may represent a transmembrane signal of insulin.     

Catalytic properties of X-prolyl dipeptidyl aminopeptidase from Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris nTR.

An X-prolyl dipeptidyl aminopeptidase (X-PDAP; EC 3.4.14.5) was identified to be loosely bound on the inner cell membrane fraction of Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris nTR. The biosynthesis of X-PDAP was continuously increased before the late-log growth phase of the bacteria. Both Gly-Pro-pNA and Ala-Ala-pNA were hydrolyzed by X-PDAP; the kcat/Km value of the former was about 10-fold that of the latter. The Ki of X-Pro and Pro-X were more specific to X-PDAP than those of X-Ala. The enzyme splitting a dipeptide sequentially from beta-casomorphin as a model catalytic pattern was identified and some properties of the enzyme were further characterized.     

Influence of ionic liquids as additives on sol–gel immobilized lipase

The immobilization of lipase from Candida rugosa, using ionic liquids as additives to protect the inactivation of lipase by released alcohol and shrinking of gel during sol–gel process, was investigated. The influence of various factors, such as structure of ionic liquids, content of ionic liquids and types of precursor in the sol–gel process on the activity and stability of immobilized lipase was also studied. The highest hydrolytic activity of immobilized lipase was obtained when the hydrophilic ionic liquid, [C₂mim][BF₄], was used as an additive, while the highest stability of immobilized lipase was obtained by using hydrophobic ionic liquid, [C₁₆mim][Tf₂N]. Therefore, the binary mixtures of these ionic liquids as additives were used to obtain the optimal immobilized lipase, which shows both high activity and stability. The hydrolysis and esterification activities of lipase co-immobilized with the mixture of 1:1 at molar ratio of [C₂mim][BF₄] and [C₁₆mim][Tf₂N] were 10-fold and 14-fold greater than in silica gel without ionic liquids (ILs), respectively. After 5 days incubation of this immobilized lipase in n-hexane at 50 °C, 84% of initial activity was remained, while the residual activity of the lipase immobilized without ILs was 28%.     

Identification of Staphylococcus xylosus isolated from C57BL/6J-Nos2(tm1Lau) mice with dermatitis

Coagulase negative staphylococci (CNS) are significant pathogens, particularly in medical device related infections and in immunocompromised patients. Five CNS strains were isolated from 5 NOS2 knockout mice with dermatitis. Histologically, granulomatous dermatitis was found in the skin around the ear with epidermal ulceration. Dermal lesions included pustules, necrosis, and accumulations of neutrophils and macrophages. Isolates of the bacterial strains were identified to be Staphylococcus xylosus by the API STAPH kit and 16S-23S intergenic transcribed spacer-PCR. These results demonstrate the potential of this organism to be an opportunistic pathogen in immunocompromised mice.     

Characterization of solute/proton cotransport in plasma membrane vesicles from Ricinus cotyledons,and a comparison with other tissues

Plasma membrane vesicles, purified by aqueous two-phase partitioning, were used to investigate the presence of sugar and amino acid carriers in cotyledons and roots of Ricinus communis L. and in roots of red beet (Beta vulgaris L.). Artificial pH and electrical gradients were generated across the plasma membrane, and [¹⁴C]acetate and [¹⁴C]tetraphenylphosphonium were used to demonstrate the presence of an internal alkaline pH gradient and an internal negative membrane potential, respectively. In Ricinus cotyledons, uptake of sucrose was more strongly inhibited than that of glutamine by p-chloromercuribenzenesulphonic acid, phlorizin and phenylglyoxal. The sucrose transport system showed a high degree of substrate specificity with only the presence of maltose and phenyl--glucoside significantly affecting sucrose uptake; in contrast, the glutamine transport system was inhibited by a number of other amino acids. pH+gD-driven glutamine uptake showed saturation kinetics with a K _m of 0.35 mol · m^–3. Sucrose and glutamine -driven uptake was pH dependent with an optimum in the acidic range (pH 6.25) and a decrease at higher pH values. Vesicles obtained from cotyledons and roots of Ricinus showed different transport properties. In the cotyledons, gDH+gD-driven transport for both sucrose and glutamine were observed at similar levels; however, in the root tissue, pH--driven glutamine transport was the dominant uptake process. Uptake rates for glucose and fructose were low in the cotyledons whereas, in the roots, glucose and sucrose transport were slightly higher than that of fructose. In vesicles from red beet tissue there was a different uptake profile, with evidence of proton-coupled cotransport systems for sucrose and glucose, but lower uptake of glutamine and fructose. The results are discussed in relation to the reported different pathways for loading and unloading of solutes in these tissues.Abbreviations CCCP carbonyl cyanide-m-chlorophyenyl hydrazone - DEPC diethyl pyrocarbonate - NEM N-ethylmaleimide - PCMBS p-chloromercuribenzenesulfonic acid - TPP tetraphenylphosphonium ion - gDH⁺ proton electrochemical potential gradient - membrane potential We would like to thank the SERC(UK) and the Royal Society for financial support.     

The Korean Twin Registry--methods, current stage, and interim results.

The Korean Twin Registry is the first nationwide twin study in Korea. We compiled 154,783 twin pairs from existing nation-wide data sources, mainly from address and national health insurance data. The coverage of this registry was almost complete for the twins born since 1970, but less complete as age increased, so that there were only 990 pairs who were born before 1930. The twins' health examination (N = 54,390 persons) and questionnaire (N = 44,546 persons) results were incorporated into the registry, yielding 12,894 and 9074 concordantly informative pairs. Morbidity and mortality outcomes have been followed up since 1990, for most diseases. For preliminary analysis of complex diseases, we selected ventricular septal defects (VSD) in young twins, stomach and colorectal cancers in adult twins. We identified 353 VSDs, 284 stomach cancers, and 116 colorectal cancers among twins. The prevalence rates of cancers, but not that of VSD, were lower in twins than those in population. The difference in the cancer prevalence was marked for twins born before 1926, implying some degree of selection. Like-sex (LS) twins showed familial recurrence risks (lambdaLS) of 41.2 for VSD and 22.4 for colorectal cancers, and 1.74 for stomach cancers. For opposite-sex (OS) twins, we could estimate lambdaOS of 19.8 for VSD only. These results were compatible with previous studies for VSD and colorectal cancers, but not for stomach cancers. Despite the strength in size, availability of health outcomes, and some lifestyle and basic laboratory data, we need accurate zygosity information to improve the validity of the results.