Mutagenicity of 2-[2-(acetylamino)-4-[bis(2-hydroxyethyl)amino]-5-methoxyphenyl]-5-amino-7-bromo-4-chloro-2H-benzotriazole (PBTA-6) and benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) in the gill and hepatopancreas of rpsL transgenic zebrafish

We examined the in vivo mutagenicity of 2-[2-(acetylamino)-4-[bis(2-hydroxyethyl)amino]-5-methoxyphenyl]-5-amino-7-bromo-4-chloro-2H-benzotriazole (PBTA-6) and benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) by using transgenic (Tg) zebrafish carrying the mutational target gene rpsL. PBTA-6 is one of the PBTA-type compounds that were recently identified in highly mutagenic river water in Japan. BaP is a well-known contaminant that is frequently found in polluted water. Both compounds are potent mutagens, as determined by using the Ames test employing S9 mix and Salmonella. Adult rpsL Tg zebrafish were exposed to 0, 7, or 10 mg/L PBTA-6 or 0, 1.5, or 3 mg/L BaP for 96 h in a water bath and the mutations in their gills and hepatopancreata were measured 2-4 weeks later. At 3 weeks after exposure, 3 mg/L BaP significantly increased the rpsL mutant frequency (MF) in the gill and hepatopancreas by 5- and 2.3-fold, respectively, as compared to control fish. Sequence analysis showed that BaP mainly induced G:C to T:A and G:C to C:G transversions, which is consistent with the known mutagenic effects of BaP. In contrast, despite its extremely high mutagenic potency in Salmonella strains, PBTA-6 did not significantly increase the MF in the zebrafish gill or hepatopancreas. Although PBTA-6 is 300 times more mutagenic than BaP in the Ames test [T. Watanabe, H. Nukaya, Y. Terao, Y. Takahashi, A. Tada, T. Takamura, H. Sawanishi, T. Ohe, T. Hirayama, T. Sugimura, K. Wakabayashi, Synthesis of 2-phenylbenzotriazole-type mutagens, PBTA-5 and PBTA-6, and their detection in river water from Japan, Mutat. Res. 498 (2001) 107-115], calculation of the mutagenicity per mole of compound indicated that PBTA-6 was 33- and <3.7-fold less mutagenic in the zebrafish gill and hepatopancreas, respectively, than BaP.     

Molecular Composition of the 16S Toxin Produced by a Clostridium botulinum Type D Strain, 1873

The 16S toxin was purified from a Clostridium botulinum type D strain 1873 (D-1873). Furthermore, the entire nucleotide sequences of the genes coding for the 16S toxin were determined. It became clear that the purified D-1873 16S toxin consists of neurotoxin, nontoxic nonhemagglutinin (NTNH), and hemagglutinin (HA), and that HA consists of four subcomponents, HA1, HA2, HA3a, and HA3b, the same as type D strain CB16 (D-CB16) 16S toxin. The nucleotide sequences of the nontoxic components of these two strains were also found to be identical except for several bases. However, the culture supernatant and the purified 16S toxin of D-1873 showed little HA activity, unlike D-CB16, though the fractions successively eluted after the D-1873 16S toxin peak from an SP-Toyopearl 650S column showed a low level of HA activity. The main difference between D-1873 and D-CB16 HA molecules was the mobility of the HA1 on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Therefore it was presumed that the loss of HA activity of D-1873 16S toxin might be caused by the differences of processing HA after the translation.     

Inhibitory effects of beer on heterocyclic amine-induced mutagenesis and PhIP-induced aberrant crypt foci in rat colon

Anti-mutagenic and anti-carcinogenic effects of beer on heterocyclic amine (HCA)-induced carcinogenesis were studied in vitro and in vivo. Four commercial beers (two pilsner-type, black, and stout) showed inhibitory effects against five HCAs, 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo [4,5-f]quinoxaline (MeIQx), 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP), 3-amino-1-methyl-5H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole (Trp-P-2), 2-amino-6-methyldipyrido[1,2-a:3',2'-d]imidazole (Glu-P-1) and 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]-quinoline (IQ), in the Ames assay using Salmonella typhimurium TA98 in the presence of rat S9 mix. The inhibitory effects of dark-colored beers (stout and black beer) were greater than those of pilsner-type beers. Dark-colored beers suppressed CYP1A2 activity in a dose-dependent manner, suggesting that inhibition of HCA activation is partly responsible for their strong anti-mutagenic effects. Anti-mutagenic effects were also observed when the pooled human S9 mix or activated IQ was used in the assay. The micronucleus test using Chinese hamster lung CHL/IU cells showed that the addition of freeze-dried samples of pilsner-type and stout beer to the culture medium significantly reduced the number of cells with micronuclei induced with PhIP or Trp-P-2. Single-cell gel electrophoresis assay (comet assay) revealed that oral ingestion of pilsner-type and stout beers for 1 week significantly inhibited DNA damage in the liver cells of male ICR mice exposed to MeIQx (13 mg/kg, i.p.). A decrease in the formation of DNA adducts was also observed using a 32P-postlabeling method. Male Fischer 344 rats orally received PhIP (75 mg/kg, five times a week for 2 weeks) and aberrant crypt foci (ACF) formation in the colon was analyzed after 5 weeks. The number of ACF was significantly reduced in rats fed a diet containing freeze-dried beer. These results suggest that beer inhibits the genotoxic effects of HCAs and may reduce the risk of carcinogenesis caused by food borne carcinogens.     

The design and optimization of a series of 2-(pyridin-2-yl)-1H-benzimidazole compounds as allosteric glucokinase activators

The optimization of a series of benzimidazole glucokinase activators is described. We identified a novel and potent achiral benzimidazole derivative as an allosteric GK activator. This activator was designed and synthesized via removal of the chiral center of the lead compound, 6-(N-acylpyrrolidin-2-yl)benzimidazole. The activator exhibited good PK profiles in rats and dogs, and significant hypoglycemic efficacy at 1 mg/kg po dosing in a rat OGTT model. The binding site and binding mode of the benzimidazole class of GKA with GK protein was confirmed by X-ray crystallographic analysis.     

A one step genotypic identification of Lactococcus lactis subspecies at the species/strain levels

A Lactococcus lactis subspecies-specific primer was designed based on their repetitive genome sequences. This primer enabled L. lactis subspecies to be identified simultaneously at both the species level and also the strain level. Based on studies using 70 strains of L. lactis and 60 strains of other non-target bacteria, the identification completely matched that obtained by the sequence of the 16S rRNA gene. However, inconsistency between phenotypic and genotypic characteristics was observed in some strains isolated from milk.     

Adhesion-mediated self-renewal abilities of Ph+ blastoma cells

The Philadelphia chromosome-positive blastoma, maintained by serial subcutaneous transplantation in nude mice, is a highly proliferating biological mass consisting of homogenous CD34⁺CD38⁻ myeloblastoid cells. These cells newly evolved from pluripotent leukemia stem cells of chronic myeloid leukemia in the chronic phase. Therefore, this mass may provide a unique tool for better understanding cellular and molecular mechanisms of self-renewal of leukemia stem cells. In this paper, we demonstrated that intravenously injected blastoma cells can cause Ph+ blastic leukemia with multiple invasive foci in NOD/SCID mice but not in nude mice. In addition, using an in vitro culture system, we clearly showed that blastoma cell adhesion to OP9 stromal cells accelerates blastoma cell proliferation that is associated with up-regulation of BMI1 gene expression; increased levels of β-catenin and the Notch1 intra-cellular domain; and changed the expression pattern of variant CD44 forms, which are constitutively expressed in these blastoma cells. These findings strongly suggest that adhesion of leukemic stem cells to stromal cells via CD44 might be indispensable for their cellular defense against attack by immune cells and for maintenance of their self-renewal ability.     

Enhancement of bone formation ex vivo and in vivo by a helioxanthin-derivative

To effectively treat serious bone defects using bone-regenerative medicine, a small chemical compound that potently induces bone formation must be developed. We previously reported on the osteogenic effect of 4-(4-methoxyphenyl)pyrido[40,30:4,5]thieno[2,3-b]pyridine-2-carboxamide (TH), a helioxanthin-derivative, in vitro. Here, we report on TH’s osteogenic effects ex vivo and in vivo. TH-induced new bone formation in both calvarial and metatarsal organ cultures. A novel monitoring system of osteoblastic differentiation using MC3T3-E1 cells revealed that TH was released from α-TCP bone cement and this release continued for more than one month. Lastly, the implantation of the α-TCP carrier containing TH into defects in mouse skull resulted in increased new bone areas within the defects after 4 weeks. A TH-containing scaffold may help establish a more efficient bone regeneration system.     

Immunolocalization of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase and cinnamate-4-hydroxylase in differentiating xylem of poplar

Phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL; EC 4.3.1.5) and cinnamate-4-hydroxylase (C4H; EC 1.14.13.11) are pivotal enzymes involved in lignification. We synthesized peptides as the epitopes according to the amino acid sequences of these enzymes, coupled them with hemocyanin, and injected them into mice. The antiserums against peptides of PAL and C4H specifically detected PAL and C4H in the crude enzymes extracted from differentiating xylem of poplar, respectively. PAL and C4H were localized in differentiating xylem of poplar. PAL labeling was mainly localized in the cytosol, and somewhat localized on the rough-endoplasmic reticulum (r-ER) and the Golgi apparatus. In contrast, C4H was mainly observed on r-ER and the Golgi apparatus. These findings suggest that conversion of phenylalanine to cinnamic acid occurs in the cytosol and the following reaction occurs near the membrane of r-ER and the Golgi apparatus. The possibility of coordinated localization of PAL and C4H is discussed.     

Novel polyamine-dialkyl phosphate conjugates for gene carriers. Facile synthetic route via an unprecedented dialkyl phosphate

To develop a novel nonviral gene carrier, three types of polyamine-dialkyl phosphates conjugates were synthesized via an unprecedented synthetic intermediate, dimerized dicetyl phosphate (DCP) anhydride, and the transfection efficiency and the complexation properties of the conjugate-DNA were evaluated. Condensation of DCP by 1,3,5-triisopropylbenzenesulfonyl chloride, TPSCl, gives the dimerized anhydride, which is stable enough to isolate by column chromatography in approximately 90% yield. The anhydride is reactive with various amines, i.e., spermidine, spermine, and polyethylenimine (PEI(1800)), providing corresponding polyamine-DCP conjugates via phosphoramidate linkage. The polyamine-DCP conjugates exhibited moderate transfection efficacy evaluated by beta-galactosidase assay. The conjugate-DNA complex was observed by using an atomic force microscope (AFM), revealing that the PEI(1800)-DCP conjugate, which showed the most efficient transfection, enables the formation of the more compact complex with DNA.