Development of an amperometric flow analysis sensor for specific detection of D-psicose

The aim of this study was to develop a simple, rapid and highly sensitive sensor for measuring the rare sugar d-psicose. The proposed system adopts amperometric flow analysis and two consecutive enzyme reactions consisting of a reactor packed with d-tagatose 3-epimerase (DTE)-immobilized beads, which converts d-psicose to d-fructose, and a carbon-paste electrode containing d-fructose dehydrogenase (DFDH). In order to fabricate a robust sensor system, various experimental parameters were optimized including the buffer composition, flow rate for the two enzyme reactions and the size of micro-flow cell. The developed sensor responded linearly to d-psicose concentration in the range from 0.08 to 50mM (R(2)=0.988). The signal/noise ratio was 3.0 for the 0.08 mM d-psicose solution, and the relative standard deviations were 1.7 (n=20) and 2.6% (n=20) for the 10 and 20mM d-psicose solutions, respectively. One round of assay was completed within 8 min. Our results suggest that the sensor can be used not only for the detection of d-psicose in food samples but also for monitoring d-psicose within the environment. Moreover, the sensor system can be applied to the detection of many other rare sugars by using the same measurement principle.     

An enzyme family reunion — similarities,differences and eccentricities in actions on <Emphasis Type="Italic">α</Emphasis>-glucans

α-Glucans in general, including starch, glycogen and their derived oligosaccharides are processed by a host of more or less closely related enzymes that represent wide diversity in structure, mechanism, specificity and biological role. Sophisticated three-dimensional structures continue to emerge hand-in-hand with the gaining of novel insight in modes of action. We are witnessing the “test of time” blending with remaining questions and new relationships for these enzymes. Information from both within and outside of ALAMY_3 Symposium will provide examples on what the family contains and outline some future directions. In 2007 a quantum leap crowned the structural biology by the glucansucrase crystal structure. This initiates the disclosure of the mystery on the organisation of the multidomain structure and the “robotics mechanism” of this group of enzymes. The central issue on architecture and domain interplay in multidomain enzymes is also relevant in connection with the recent focus on carbohydrate-binding domains as well as on surface binding sites and their long underrated potential. Other questions include, how different or similar are glycoside hydrolase families 13 and 31 and is the lid finally lifted off the disguise of the starch lyase, also belonging to family 31? Is family 57 holding back secret specificities? Will the different families be sporting new “eccentric” functions, are there new families out there, and why are crystal structures of “simple” enzymes still missing? Indeed new understanding and discovery of biological roles continuously emphasize value of the collections of enzyme models, sequences, and evolutionary trees which will also be enabling advancement in design for useful and novel applications.     

Induction of immune response against NY-ESO-1 by CHP-NY-ESO-1 vaccination and immune regulation in a melanoma patient

BACKGROUND: NY-ESO-1 is a cancer/testis antigen highly immunogenic in cancer patients. Cholesterol-bearing hydrophobized pullulan (CHP) is a nanoparticle-forming antigen-delivery vehicle and CHP complexed with NY-ESO-1 protein (CHP-NY-ESO-1) efficiently activates CD4 and CD8 T cells in vitro. AIM: In this study we report on a 50-year-old male melanoma patient with multiple skin and organ metastases (T4N3M1c) who was vaccinated with CHP-NY-ESO-1 at biweekly intervals and who had an unusual disease course. We characterized in this patient humoral and cellular immune responses, immune regulatory cells, and cytokine profiles in the peripheral blood and at local tumor sites. RESULTS: Ten days after the second CHP-NY-ESO-1 vaccination (day 25), blisters appeared on the skin at the metastatic lesions associated with inflammatory changes. A skin biopsy showed the presence of many NY-ESO-1-expressing apoptotic melanoma cells as determined by a terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick end labeling (TUNEL) test. However, the tumors continued to grow, and the patient died of pulmonary failure due to multiple metastases on day 48. Serum antibody responses were detected after the second CHP-NY-ESO-1 vaccination and antibody titer increased with subsequent vaccinations. Th1 dependent IgG1 was the predominant immunoglobulin subtype. Both, NY-ESO-1-specific CD4 and CD8 T cell responses were detected in PBMC by IFN-gamma secretion assays. After CHP-NY-ESO-1 vaccination a slight decrease in CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) Tregs was observed in PBMC but significantly increased numbers of CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) Tregs and CD68(+) immunoregulatory macrophages were detected at the local tumor sites. CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) Tregs were also increased in the blister fluid. Cytokines in the serum suggested a polarization towards a Th1 pattern in the PBMC and those in the blister fluid suggested a Th2-type response at the tumor site. CONCLUSIONS: Our observations indicate induction of specific humoral and cellular immune responses against NY-ESO-1 after CHP-NY-ESO-1 vaccination in a melanoma patient. The concomitant appearance of regulatory T cells and of immune regulatory macrophages and cytokines at the local tumor sites in this patient may explain immune escape.     

Uptake of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine and its related compounds by a proton-coupled transport system in Caco-2 cells

3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is an illegal amphetamine-type stimulant (ATS) that is abused orally in the form of tablets for recreational purposes. The aim of this work is to investigate the absorption mechanism of MDMA and other related compounds that often occur together in ATS tablets, and to determine whether such tablet components interact with each other in intestinal absorption. The characteristics of MDMA uptake by the human intestinal epithelial Caco-2 cell line were investigated. The Michaelis constant and the maximal uptake velocity at pH 6.0 were 1.11 mM and 13.79 nmol/min/mg protein, respectively, and the transport was electroneutral. The initial uptake rate was regulated by both intra- and extracellular pH. MDMA permeation from the apical to the basolateral side was inferior to that in the reverse direction, and a decrease in apical pH enhanced MDMA permeation from the basolateral to the apical side. These facts indicate that this transport system may be an antiporter of H⁺. However, under physiological conditions, the proton gradient cannot drive the MDMA uptake because it is inwardly directed. Large concentration differences of MDMA itself drive this antiporter. Various compounds with similar amine moieties inhibited the uptake, but substrates of organic cation transporters (OCT1-3) and an H⁺-coupled efflux antiporter, MATE, were not recognized.     

Amyloid nucleation triggered by agitation of beta2-microglobulin under acidic and neutral pH conditions

Amyloid nucleation through agitation was studied with beta2-microglobulin, which is responsible for dialysis-related amyloidosis, in the presence of salt under acid and neutral pH conditions. First, the aggregation of beta2-microglobulin in NaCl solutions was achieved by mildly agitating for 24 h at 37 degrees C protein solutions in three different states: acid-unfolded, salt-induced protofibrillar, and native. The formation of aggregates was confirmed by an increase in light scattering intensity of the solutions. Then, the aggregated samples were incubated without agitation at 37 degrees C for up to 25-45 days. The structural changes in the aggregated state during the incubation period were examined by means of fluorescence spectroscopy with thioflavin T, circular dichroism spectroscopy, and electron microscopy. The results revealed that all the samples in the different states produced a mature amyloid nucleus upon agitation, after which the fibrils elongated without any detectable lag phase during the incubation, with the acid-unfolded protein better suited to undergoing the structural rearrangements necessary to form amyloid fibrils than the more structured forms. The amount of aggregate including the amyloid nucleus produced by agitation from the native conformation at neutral pH was estimated to be about 9% of all the protein by an analysis using ultracentrifugation. Additionally, amyloid nucleation by agitation was similarly achieved for a different protein, hen egg-white lysozyme, in 0.5 M NaCl solution at neutral pH. Taken together, the agitation-treated aggregates of both proteins have a high propensity to produce an amyloid nucleus even at neutral pH, providing evidence that the aggregation pathway involves amyloid nucleation under entirely native conditions.     

Monooxygenase activity of Octopus vulgaris hemocyanin

Octopus vulgaris hemocyanin ( Ov-Hc) and one of its minimal functional units ( Ov-g) have been purified, and their spectroscopic features and monooxygenase (phenolase) activity have been examined in detail. The oxy forms of both Ov-Hc and Ov-g are stable in 0.5 M borate buffer (pH 9.0) even in the presence of a high concentration of urea at 25 degrees C; approximately 90 and approximately 75% of the (mu-eta (2):eta (2)-peroxo)dicopper(II) species of Ov-Hc and Ov-g, respectively, remained unchanged after argon (Ar) gas flushing of the sample solutions for 1 h. The catalytic activity of Ov-g in the oxygenation reaction (multiturnover reaction) of 4-methylphenol ( p-cresol) to 4-methyl-1,2-dihydroxybenzene (4-methylcatechol) was higher than that of Ov-Hc, and its catalytic activity was further accelerated by the addition of urea. Kinetic deuterium isotope effect analysis and Hammett analysis using a series of phenol derivatives under anaerobic conditions (single-turnover reaction) have indicated that the monooxygenation reaction of phenols to catechols by the peroxo species of oxyhemocyanin proceeds via electrophilic aromatic substitution mechanism as in the case of tyrosinase. The effect of urea on the redox functions of oxyhemocyanin is discussed on the basis of the spectroscopic analysis and reactivity studies.     

Effects of isometric training on the elasticity of human tendon structures in vivo.

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of isometric training on the elasticity of human tendon structures. Eight subjects completed 12 wk (4 days/wk) of isometric training that consisted of unilateral knee extension at 70% of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) for 20 s per set (4 sets/day). Before and after training, the elongation of the tendon structures in the vastus lateralis muscle was directly measured using ultrasonography while the subjects performed ramp isometric knee extension up to MVC. The relationship between the estimated muscle force and tendon elongation (L) was fitted to a linear regression, the slope of which was defined as stiffness of the tendon structures. The training increased significantly the volume (7.6+/-4.3%) and MVC torque (33.9+/-14.4%) of quadriceps femoris muscle. The L values at force production levels beyond 550 N were significantly shorter after training. The stiffness increased significantly from 67.5+/-21.3 to 106.2+/-33.4 N/mm. Furthermore, the training significantly increased the rate of torque development (35.8 +/- 20.4%) and decreased electromechanical delay (-18.4+/-3.8%). Thus the present results indicate that isometric training increases the stiffness and Young's modulus of human tendon structures as well as muscle strength and size. This change in the tendon structures would be assumed to be an advantage for increasing the rate of torque development and shortening the electromechanical delay.     

Hepatic iron accumulation is not directly associated with induction of DNA strand breaks in the liver cells of Long-Evans Cinnamon (LEC) rats.

Effects of accumulation of copper and iron on induction of DNA strand breaks were investigated in Long-Evans Cinnamon (LEC) rats that spontaneously develop fulminant hepatitis. Copper and iron accumulated in the liver of LEC rats in an age-dependent manner from 4 to 15 weeks. Low-iron diet prevented the accumulation of iron in the liver, but did not prevent accumulation of copper. The amounts of DNA strand breaks that were estimated by comet assay in the liver cells of rats fed standard diet increased with age from 4 to 15 weeks. No significant differences were observed in the proportions of LEC rat liver cells without tail and the average lengths of tail momentum in the comet images between LEC rats that had been fed standard MF diet and low-iron diet. These results support the idea that accumulation of iron is not directly associated with the induction of DNA damage in the liver cells of LEC rats.     

Invertebrate Community Associated with the Macroalga Halimeda kanaloana Meadow in Maui,Hawaii

An expansive meadow of the native macroalga Halimeda kanaloana has been found in west Maui, Hawaii. This study examined the invertebrate community associated with the H. kanaloana meadow. Analyses of samples collected by SCUBA divers found that the meadow supports a diverse and unique benthic community. The meadow provides a suitable habitat for a variety of epibenthic and epifaunal invertebrates in the otherwise homogeneous sandy habitat. Infaunal polychaete abundances, species richness and Shannon‐Wiener diversity index were also higher inside the meadow. Abundances of epibenthic organisms, and dissimilarities of the polychaete assemblage, inside and outside the meadow were greater at deeper stations. This might be due to an effect of the Halimeda density rather than depth, suggesting that the macroalgal density might play an important role in shaping the benthic community. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Rapid detection of cytotoxicity of food additives and contaminants by a novel cytotoxicity test, menadione-catalyzed H2O2 production assay

Menadione-catalyzed H₂O₂ production by viable animal cells was proportional to the viable cell number, and H₂O₂ production decreased with increasing cytotoxic effects after the incubation of cells with cytotoxic compounds. The cytotoxic effects of food additives, pesticides, antibiotics, heavy metals, phytotoxins, mycotoxins, and marine toxins were estimated using the above test employingNIH/3T3 and Neuro-2a cells. Synergistic effects of the toxin mixture were observed and acute cytotoxicity detected 1 h after the incubation of cells with toxins. This menadione-catalyzed H₂O₂production assay is rapid and simple compared to other popular cytotoxicity tests such as the MTT reduction assay and Neutral red inclusion test, requiring4 h. The menadione-catalyzed H₂O₂ production assay is expected to be a useful food safety test for rapidly detecting toxic compounds having a basic cytotoxic effect on common animal cells. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.