Subcellular localization and function of alternatively spliced Noxo1 isoforms

Nox organizer 1 (Noxo1), a p47(phox) homolog, is produced as four isoforms with unique N-terminal PX domains derived by alternative mRNA splicing. We compared the subcellular distribution of these isoforms or their isolated PX domains produced as GFP fusion proteins, as well as their ability to support Nox1 activity in several transfected models. Noxo1alpha, beta, gamma, and delta show different subcellular localization patterns, determined by their PX domains. In HEK293 cells, Noxo1beta exhibits prominent plasma membrane binding, Noxo1gamma shows plasma membrane and nuclear associations, and Noxo1alpha and delta localize primarily on intracellular vesicles or cytoplasmic aggregates, but not the plasma membrane. Nox1 activity correlates with Noxo1 plasma membrane binding in HEK293 cells, since Noxo1beta supports the highest activity and Noxo1gamma and Noxo1alpha support moderate or low activities, respectively. In COS-7 cells, where Noxo1alpha localizes on the plasma membrane, the activities supported by the three isoforms (alpha, beta, and gamma) do not differ significantly. The PX domains of beta and gamma bind the same phospholipids, including phosphatidic acid. These results indicate that the variant PX domains are unique determinants of Noxo1 localization and Nox1 function. Finally, the overexpressed Noxo1 isoforms do not affect p22(phox) localization, although Nox1 is needed to transport p22(phox) to the plasma membrane.     

Antibacterial activity of a virgatusin-related compound

The relationship between antibacterial activity of tetra-substituted tetrahydrofuran lignans (1-4) and their absolute configurations was tested. Only compound 4 among two virgatusins and two related compounds exhibited growth inhibitory activity against the Gram-positive bacteria Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria denitrificans. Compound 4 affected the growth of B. subtilis in a bactericidic manner, and its ability to dissipate the cytoplasmic membrane potential was investigated using the fluorescence probe 3,3'-dipropylthiadicarbocyanine iodide. These results suggested that compound 4 damages cells by causing the loss of the proton motive force and disruption of the cellular integrity of the membrane, leading to cell death. In addition, it was shown that the antibacterial activity of a lignan was closely related to its absolute configuration and functional groups.     

Isolation of antioxidative phenolic glucosides from lemon juice and their suppressive effect on the expression of blood adhesion molecules

Phenolic glucosides having radical scavenging activity were examined from the fraction eluted with 20% methanol on Amberlite XAD-2 resin applied to lemon (Citrus limon) juice by using reversed phase chromatography. Four phenolic glucosides were identified as 1-feruloyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside, 1-sinapoyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside, 6,8-di-C-glucosylapigenin and 6,8-di-C-glucosyldiosmetin by (1)H-NMR, (13)C-NMR, and MS analyses. They exhibited radical scavenging activity for 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and superoxide, although the activity was low in comparison with eriocitrin, a potent antioxidant in lemon fruit, and the eriodictyol of its aglycone. The phenolic compounds in lemon juice were examined for their suppressive effect on the expression of blood adhesion molecules by measuring the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) induced by necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). 6,8-Di-C-glucosylapigenin, apigenin, and diosmentin of the flavones were found to significantly suppress the expression of ICAM-1 at 10 muM (P<0.05). The phenolic glucosides isolated in this study were contained in comparative abundance in daidai (Citrus aurantium) and niihime (Citrus unshiu x Citrus tachibana) among the sour citrus juices.     

Effects of dipeptides having a C-terminal lysine on the cholesterol 7alpha-hydroxylase mRNA level in HepG2 cells

Inducing expression of the cholesterol-catabolizing enzyme cholesterol 7alpha-hydroxylase (CYP7A1) in the liver can be an effective strategy in preventing hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis. We used HepG2 cells to investigate the effects of 1 mM dipeptides having a C-terminal lysine group on the CYP7A1 mRNA level. We found that the dipeptides Asp-Lys, Glu-Lys, and Trp-Lys significantly increased the CYP7A1 mRNA level.     

Establishment and characterization of a cisplatin-resistant cell line (IGSK-1) from a poorly differentiated gastric adenocarcinoma

We successfully established a spontaneously cisplatin-resistant tumor cell line (designated as IGSK-1) derived from original gastric carcinoma. The patient was a 75-year-old Japanese woman. The histopathological diagnosis was gastric poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma accompanied with metastatic foci in lymph nodes, pT3, N2 M0, stage IIIB. The IGSK-1 cells grew as adhesive and monolayered cultures on the bottom of dishes. The susceptibility of the IGSK-1 cells to anti-cancer drugs was examined using oxygen electrode apparatus (Daikin, Tsukuba, JPN), and the results suggested TXL was effective, and CDDP, CPT-11 and 5-FU were not effective. Gastrin and somatostatin secretions were confirmed by immunohistochemical staining and also radioimmunoassay. Immunohistochemistry and radioimmunoassay for serotonin suggested the IGSK-1 cells might incorporate serotonin from the growth media. Spontaneously cisplatin-resistant gastric carcinoma cell line secreted gastrin and somatostatin is very important material for chemotherapy.     

Plural light chains in a single plasma cell of a monoclonal gammopathy undetermined significance case: An ultrastructural study

A 44-year-old man was found to have M-proteins of IgG consisting of kappa- and lambda-chains in serum without lymphadenopathy or splenomegaly. The serum concentrations of IgG, IgA and IgM were within normal limits. Bone marrow examination showed normal cellular marrow containing 6.3% of plasma cells with no abnormal features. No chromosomal abnormality was observed at all. The patient was diagnosed as having monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance. The bone marrow plasma cells possessed free kappa- and lambda-chains in Golgi apparatus, rough endoplasmic reticula and cytoplasmic matrices. Plural light chains were simultaneously produced with the same heavy chain in a plasma cell by immunoelectron microscopy. This is the first report in the world of a monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance producing plural light chains with the same heavy chain.     

Evaluation of nutritional availability and anti-tumor activity of selenium contained in selenium-enriched Kaiware radish sprouts

We estimated the nutritional availability of selenium (Se) in Se-enriched Kaiware radish sprouts (SeRS) by the tissue Se deposition and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activity of rats administered the sprouts, and examined the effect of SeRS on the formation of aberrant crypt foci (ACF) in the colon of mice administered 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH) to evaluate anti-tumor activity. Male weanling Wistar rats were divided into seven groups and fed a Se-deficient basal diet or the basal diet supplemented with 0.05, 0.10, or 0.15 microg/g of Se as sodium selenite or SeRS for 28 d. Supplementation with Se dose-dependently increased serum and liver Se concentrations and GPX activities, and the selenite-supplemented groups showed a higher increase than the SeRS-supplemented groups. The nutritional availability of Se in SeRS was estimated to be 33 or 64% by slope ratio analysis. Male 4-week-old A/J mice were divided into seven groups and fed a low Se basal diet or the basal diet supplemented with selenite, SeRS, or selenite + non-Se-enriched radish sprouts (NonSeRS) at a level of 0.1 or 2.0 microg Se/g for 9 weeks. After 1 week of feeding, all mice were given six subcutaneous injections of DMH (20 mg/kg) at 1-week intervals. The average number of ACF formed in the colon of mice fed the basal diet was 4.3. At a supplementation level of 0.1 mug Se/g, only SeRS significantly inhibited ACF formation. At a supplementation level of 2.0 microg Se/g, both selenite and SeRS significantly inhibited ACF formation. The addition of NonSeRS to the selenite-supplemented diets tended to inhibit ACF formation, but this was not statistically significant. These results indicate that SeRS shows lower nutritional availability but higher anti-tumor activity than selenite.     

FliK regulates flagellar hook length as an internal ruler

The mechanism of length control of the flagellar hook is under debate between two theories. One claims that the FliK directly measures the hook length as a molecular ruler, while the other claims that the cytoplasmic substructure measures the amount of hook subunits to determine the hook length. Both agree that the FliK C-terminal domain catalyses the substrate-specificity switch to terminate hook elongation. In this study, we systematically created fliK mutants with deletions and insertions at various sites within the FliK N-terminal domain and analysed their effects on the final hook length. Insertions of peptide fragments from the Yersinia YscP into FliK gave rise to hooks with defined lengths, which was proportional to the molecular size of the FliK-YscP chimeras. Among fliK deletion mutants, only those with small truncations in three specific sites of FliK produced hooks of a defined, shortened length. For the majority of deletion mutants, FliK was secreted, but hook length was not controlled. On the other hand, for some deletion mutants FliK was not secreted, but the hook length was controlled, indicating that FliK secretion is not necessary for hook-length control. We conclude that FliK regulates hook length as an internal molecular ruler.