Increased production of antioxidative sesaminol glucosides from sesame oil cake through fermentation by Bacillus circulans strain YUS-2

Bacillus circulans strain YUS-2 was isolated as the strongest antioxidant-producer in fermentation of sesame oil cake (SOC, defatted residue yielded from sesame seed oil production). Two major strong antioxidants from fermented SOC were purified and identified as known sesaminol triglucoside and sesaminol diglucoside, however, our results demonstrated that the fermentation process with B. circulans YUS-2 was highly effective to gain the extraction efficiency of the sesaminol glucosides.     

Detection of 1270 nm emission from singlet oxygen and photocytotoxic property of sugar-pendant 60 fullerenes

Sugar-pendant [60] fullerene derivatives have been prepared from carbohydrate-linked azides 1a-e. Both monosugar (4a-e) and bissugar derivatives (5a-e) produce singlet oxygen ((1)O(2)) under laser irradiation (355 nm) proved by the direct observation of (1)O(2) emission at 1270 nm. Monosugar derivatives exhibit photocytotoxicity varying by the attached sugar molecule.     

Alterations of gene expressions of preproET-1 and ET receptors in brains of endotoxemic Sprague-Dawley rats

During severe sepsis, several immunological defense mechanisms initiate a cascade of inflammatory events leading to multiorgan failure, including septic encephalopathy and ultimately death. Endothelin-1 (ET-1) has recently been investigated in different cerebral pathologies. Some reports suggest the involvement of ET-1 in sepsis. However, no study to date has reported the alterations in expression of the genes encoding preproET-1 and ET receptors in the frontal cortex of the septic brain. Male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats 8 weeks of age were administered either saline or 15 mg/kg lipopolysaccharide (LPS) at different time points (1, 3, 6, and 10 hrs). Rats that did not receive LPS were considered to be controls. The rats were sacrificed with ether, and the brain tissues were harvested. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure decreased 1 hr after LPS administration and then gradually returned to normal, without any change in the heart rate. We confirmed the induction of endotoxemia in the brains of SD rats by measuring the expression of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) mRNA induced in the cerebrum. The expression of inducible NOS (iNOS) mRNA in the brains of SD rat after LPS administration was 30-fold higher than that in the brains of control rats. mRNA expression of preproET-1 in the frontal cortex of SD rats after LPS administration was 2-fold higher than that in control rats. A time-dependent increase in the expression of the gene encoding the ET(A) receptor (vasoconstrictive property) after LPS administration was observed in SD rat brain, whereas expression of the gene encoding the ET(B) receptor (vasodilatatory property) showed an initial upregulation and then gradually decreased as sepsis progressed. In conclusion, we report for the first time that expressions of the genes encoding ET-1 and ET receptors are altered in the endotoxemic brain and that these alterations are time-dependent in SD rats. The alterations in the ET system in brain tissue observed in the present study may contribute to the understanding of the pathophysiological changes in the endotoxemic brain.     

Na+-driven Ca2+ transport in alkalophilic Bacillus

Ca²⁺ transport was studied in membrane vesicles of alkalophilic Bacillus. When Na⁺-loaded membrane vesicles were suspended in KHCO₃/KOH buffer (pH 10) containing Ca²⁺, rapid uptake of Ca²⁺ was observed. The apparent $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>m</mtext>}}$ value for Ca²⁺ measured at pH 10 was about 7 μM, and the $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>m</mtext>}}$ value shifted to 24 μM when measured at pH 7.4. The efflux of Ca²⁺ was studied with Ca²⁺-loaded vesicles. Ca²⁺ was released when Ca²⁺-loaded vesicles were suspended in medium containing 0.4 M Na⁺.Ca²⁺ was also transported in membrane vesicles driven by an artificial pH gradient and by a membrane potential generated by K⁺-valinomycin in the presence of Na⁺.These results indicate the presence of Ca²⁺/Na⁺ and H⁺/Na⁺ antiporters in the alkalophilic Bacillus A-007.     

Effect of a novel ascorbic derivative, disodium isostearyl 2-O-L-ascorbyl phosphate, on normal human dermal fibroblasts against reactive oxygen species

The novel amphiphilic vitamin C derivative disodium isostearyl 2-O-L-ascorbyl phosphate (VCP-IS-2Na), which has a C(18) alkyl chain attached to the stable ascorbate derivative sodium L-ascorbic acid 2-phosphate (VCP-Na), was evaluated for reduction of cell damage induced by oxidative stress, ultraviolet A (UVA), ultraviolet B (UVB), and H(2)O(2); stimulation of collagen synthesis against UVA irradiation; and inhibition of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) activity induced by UVA in human normal dermal fibroblasts. VCP-IS-2Na pretreatment resulted in significant protection against cell damage induced by UVB, UVA, and H(2)O(2). The amount of type I collagen following UVA irradiation was increased by treatment with VCP-IS-2Na in a concentration-dependent manner. These effects of VCP-IS-2Na were superior to those of L-ascorbic acid (vitamin C, VC) and VCP-Na. On the other hand, VCP-IS-2Na suppressed 65% of the excess MMP-1 irradiated UVA, and VC and VCP-Na slightly suppressed it.     

Rapid detection of Brucella spp. by the loop-mediated isothermal amplification method

Aims:  To develop a rapid and sensitive method for detecting Brucella spp.
Methods and Results:  Two sets of six Brucella -specific primers for loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) were designed from the sequence of the Brucella abortus BCSP31 gene. The specificity and sensitivity were examined for six Brucella species (22 strains) and 18 non- Brucella species (28 strains). The LAMP assay was specific to Brucella spp. in 35 min at 63°C and sensitive (detected 10 fg of genomic DNA). The assay was also applied for the detection of Brucella DNA in contaminated milk and infected mouse organs.
Conclusions:  We developed a sensitive and specific LAMP assay for Brucella spp., with the test appearing to be useful for the detection of the pathogen from clinical and food samples.
Significance and Impact of the Study:  This is the first report of the development of LAMP for the detection of Brucella spp. As the LAMP assay can be performed at a constant temperature and its reactivity is directly observed with the naked eye without electrophoresis, our assay should be useful for the diagnosis of brucellosis as well as the detection of the bacteria in environmental or food samples.     

Exogenous expression of claudin-5 induces barrier properties in cultured rat brain capillary endothelial cells

Claudins are thought to be major components of tight junctions (TJs), and claudin-5 and -12 are localized at TJs of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Claudin-5-deficient mice exhibit size-selective (<800 Da) opening of the BBB. The purpose of this study was to clarify the expression levels of claudin-5 and -12 in rat brain capillary endothelial cells, and to examine the ability of claudin-5 to form TJs in cultured rat brain capillary endothelial cells (TR-BBB). Expression of claudin-5 mRNA in rat brain capillary fraction was 751-fold greater than that of claudin-12. The level of claudin-5 mRNA in the rat brain capillary fraction (per total mRNA) was 35.6-fold greater than that in whole brain, while the level of claudin-12 mRNA was only 13.9% of that in whole brain, suggesting that expression of claudin-12 mRNA is not restricted to brain capillaries. Transfection of TR-BBB cells with the claudin-5 gene afforded TR-BBB/CLD5 cells, which showed no change in expression of claudin-12 or ZO-1, while the expressed claudin-5 was detected at the cell-cell boundaries. The permeability surface product of [(14)C]inulin at a TR-BBB/CLD5 cell monolayer was significantly smaller (P < 0.01) than that for the parental TR-BBB cells, and the values of the permeability coefficient (Pe) were 1.14 x 10(-3) and 11.6 x 10(-3) cm/min, respectively. These results indicate that claudin-5, but not claudin-12, is predominantly expressed in brain capillaries, and plays a key role in the appearance of barrier properties of brain capillary endothelial cells.     

Electrochemical study of the effect of nano-zinc oxide on microperoxidase and its application to more sensitive hydrogen peroxide biosensor preparation

Direct electron transfer reactions of microperoxidase were achieved with the help of semiconductive zinc oxide nanoparticles on a pyrolytic graphite electrode. The enzyme could also exhibit fine electrocatalytic activity towards the reduction of hydrogen peroxide. Thereby, a hydrogen peroxide biosensor was constructed based on the electrocatalysis of microperoxidase. Further studies revealed that after irradiating the microperoxidase/zinc oxide nanoparticles co-modified electrode with UV light for 4h, the catalytic ability of microperoxidase could be greatly promoted, which could be beneficial to developing more sensitive hydrogen peroxide biosensors. As comparison, it was found that the catalytic activity of the enzyme would be depressed if microperoxidase/agarose co-modified electrode was irradiated. We supposed it was the photovoltaic effect of the zinc oxide nanoparticles that improved the catalytic ability of microperoxidase.