Anti-fungal sesquiterpenoid from the root exudate of Solanum abutiloides

The Solanum abutiloides plant is highly resistant to soil-borne pathogens such as Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melongenae, Verticillium dahliae, and Ralstonia solanacearum. This species is utilized as a mating source of resistant cultivars and is also used as a rootstock. The root exudate of Solanum abutiloides was extracted from a soil system composed of charcoal and vermiculite. Anti-fungal activity was found in the extract, and an active ingredient was isolated. The chemical structure of the active compound was determined to be 3-beta-acetoxysolavetivone, a new sesquiterpenoid. The anti-fungal activity of 3-beta-acetoxysolavetivone examined by the inhibition of spore germination of Fusarium oxysporum was close to that of lubimin, and higher than that of solavetivone.     

Mitochondrial genomes and phylogeny of the ocean sunfishes (Tetraodontiformes: Molidae)

We determined the complete nucleotide sequences of the mitochondrial genomes for the three currently recognized species of ocean sunfish: Mola mola, Masturus lanceolatus, and Ranzania laevis (Tetraodontiformes: Molidae). Each genome contained the 37 genes as found in teleosts, with the typical gene order in teleosts. Bayesian, maximum-likelihood, and maximum-parsimony analyses were conducted with the data set comprising concatenated nucleotide sequences from 36 genes (excluding the ND6 gene) of three molids and four outgroups (three tetraodontiforms plus a caproid). The resultant trees supported monophyly of the Molidae and its intrarelationships ((Mola, Masturus), Ranzania), which were congruent with previous morphology-based hypotheses.     

Proteasome activator PA28gamma-dependent nuclear retention and degradation of hepatitis C virus core protein

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) core protein plays an important role in the formation of the viral nucleocapsid and a regulatory protein involved in hepatocarcinogenesis. In this study, we have identified proteasome activator PA28gamma (11S regulator gamma) as an HCV core binding protein by using yeast two-hybrid system. This interaction was demonstrated not only in cell culture but also in the livers of HCV core transgenic mice. These findings are extended to human HCV infection by the observation of this interaction in liver specimens from a patient with chronic HCV infection. Neither the interaction of HCV core protein with other PA28 subtypes nor that of PA28gamma with other Flavivirus core proteins was detected. Deletion of the PA28gamma-binding region from the HCV core protein or knockout of the PA28gamma gene led to the export of the HCV core protein from the nucleus to the cytoplasm. Overexpression of PA28gamma enhanced the proteolysis of the HCV core protein. Thus, the nuclear retention and stability of the HCV core protein is regulated via a PA28gamma-dependent pathway through which HCV pathogenesis may be exerted.     

Activation of hydrogen peroxide in horseradish peroxidase occurs within approximately 200 micro s observed by a new freeze-quench device

To observe the formation process of compound I in horseradish peroxidase (HRP), we developed a new freeze-quench device with approximately 200 micro s of the mixing-to-freezing time interval and observed the reaction between HRP and hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)). The developed device consists of a submillisecond solution mixer and rotating copper or silver plates cooled at 77 K; it freezes the small droplets of mixed solution on the surface of the rotating plates. The ultraviolet-visible spectra of the sample quenched at approximately 1 ms after the mixing of HRP and H(2)O(2) suggest the formation of compound I. The electron paramagnetic resonance spectra of the same reaction quenched at approximately 200 micro s show a convex peak at g = 2.00, which is identified as compound I due to its microwave power and temperature dependencies. The absence of ferric signals in the electron paramagnetic resonance spectra of the quenched sample indicates that compound I is formed within approximately 200 micro s after mixing HRP and H(2)O(2). We conclude that the activation of H(2)O(2) in HRP at ambient temperature completes within approximately 200 micro s. The developed device can be generally applied to investigate the electronic structures of short-lived intermediates of metalloenzymes.     

Selection based on the folding properties of proteins with ribosome display

Ribosome display is a powerful tool for selecting and evolving protein functions through ligand-binding. Here, this in vitro system was used to perform selection based on the folding properties of proteins, independent of specific ligand-binding. The selection is based on two properties of misfolded proteins: (1) increased sensitivity to proteolysis and (2) greater exposure of hydrophobic area. By targeting these properties, we show that compactly folded and soluble proteins can be enriched over insoluble and random coil proteins. This approach may be especially useful for selection and evolution of folded proteins from random sequence libraries.     

Comparison of the effect of ATP on intracellular calcium ion dynamics between rat testicular and cerebral arteriole smooth muscle cells

Adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP), when released from neuronal and non-neuronal tissues, interacts with cell surface receptors produces a broad range of physiological responses. The goal of the present study was to examine the issue of whether vascular smooth muscle cells respond to ATP. To this end, the dynamics of the intracellular concentration of calcium ions ([Ca(2+)](i)) in smooth muscle cells in testicular and cerebral arterioles was examined by laser scanning confocal microscopy. ATP produced an increase in [Ca(2+)](i) in arteriole smooth muscle cells. While P1 purinoceptor agonists had no effect on this process, P2 purinoceptor agonists induced a [Ca(2+)](i) increase and a P2 purinoceptor antagonist, suramin, completely inhibited ATP-induced [Ca(2+)](i) dynamics in both arteriole smooth muscle cells.In testicular arterioles, Ca(2+) channel blockers and the removal of extracellular Ca(2+), but not thapsigargin pretreatment, abolished the ATP-induced [Ca(2+)](i) dynamics. In contrast, Ca(2+) channel blockers and the removal of extracellular Ca(2+) did not completely inhibit ATP-induced [Ca(2+)](i) dynamics in cerebral arterioles. Uridine 5'-triphosphate caused an increase in [Ca(2+)](i) only in cerebral arterioles and alpha,beta-methylene ATP caused an increase in [Ca(2+)](i) in both testicular and cerebral arterioles.We conclude that testicular arteriole smooth muscle cells respond to extracellular ATP via P2X purinoceptors and that cerebral arteriole smooth muscle cells respond via P2X and P2Y purinoceptors.     

Dietary-fiber-degrading enzymes from a human intestinal Clostridium and their application to oligosaccharide production from nonstarchy polysaccharides using immobilized cells

The secretion of nonstarchy polysaccharide-degrading enzymes from an anaerobic human intestinal bacterium, Clostridium butyricum- beijerinckii (isolated from human feces), was investigated. Growth of the bacterium was found when laminarin, konjac glucomannan, and pectic acid were added separately to the culture media as sole carbon source. The corresponding degrading enzymes for these dietary fibers, laminarinase (endo-1,3- beta-glucanase), endo-1,4-beta-mannanase, endo- and exo-pectate lyases, and pectin methylesterase, were then purified and characterized. These extracelluar enzymes, which were secreted by the bacterium in the human large intestine, were considered to contribute to digestion of the ingested dietary fibers to their oligosaccharides, following by short-chain fatty acid fermentation by the bacterium. We have developed cell immobilization techniques of the bacterium on cellulose-foam carriers that are effective for continuous production of the oligosaccharides from the dietary fibers in a fed-batch reactor system. From 9 g of pectic acid, a total of 3.96 g of 4,5-unsaturated digalacturonic acid was produced over 40 h in four 500-ml batchcultures. In the same manner, the corresponding oligosaccharides were obtained from konjac glucomannan and laminarin with average conversion rates of around 30-40%.     

Structural analysis of an insect lysozyme exhibiting catalytic efficiency at low temperatures

Bombyx mori lysozyme (BmLZ), from the silkworm, is an insect lysozyme. BmLZ has considerable activity at low temperatures and low activation energies compared with those of hen egg white lysozyme (HEWLZ), according to measurements of the temperature dependencies of relative activity (lytic and glycol chitin) and the estimation of activation energies using the Arrhenius equation. Being so active at low temperatures and low activation energies is characteristic of psychrophilic (cold-adapted) enzymes. The three-dimensional structure of BmLZ has been determined by X-ray crystallography at 2.5 A resolution. The core structure of BmLZ is similar to that of c-type lysozymes. However, BmLZ shows some distinct differences in the two exposed loops and the C-terminal region. A detailed comparison of BmLZ and HEWLZ suggests structural rationalizations for the differences in the catalytic efficiency, stability, and mode of activity between these two lysozymes.