Total Synthesis of Nodakenetin and Marmesin

Nodakenetin and marmesin were synthesized from β-resorcylaldehyde through 2-(α-hy-droxyisopropyl)-6-hydroxycoumaran.     

Streptomyces Pepsin Inhibitor-Insensitive Carboxyl Proteinase from Lentinus edodes

A Streptomyces-pepsin inhibitor (S-PI or Pepstatin Ac), and DAN-insensitive carboxyl proteinase was found in a still culture filtrate of Lentinus edodes. The new carboxyl proteinase was purified, and about 9 mg purified enzyme was obtained from 19 liters of culture filtrate, with 11% recovery. The enzyme showed a single band on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The molecular weight and isoelectric point were 40,000 and pH 4.2, respectively. The enzyme did not contain histidine and was composed of 387 amino acid residues. The enzyme was most active between pH 2.7 ~ 2.9, and stable over a pH of 3.2 ~ 5.2 for 3 hr at 37°C. The enzyme was not inhibited by S-PI or synthetic pepsin inhibitors such as DAN and EPNP. The physicochemical and enzymological properties were very similar to those of Scytalidium lignicolum carboxyl proteinase A, which was reported to be an S-PI-, and DAN-insensitive carboxyl proteinase.     

The Dissociation of Wax Bean Hemagglutinin by Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis in Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate

(+)-Biotin was synthesized from D-glucosamine in a sequence of 13 reactions.     

Establishment and characterization of a novel ovarian clear cell carcinoma cell line,TU-OC-2, with loss of ARID1A expression

A new cell line of human ovarian clear cell carcinoma (CCC), TU-OC-2, was established and characterized. The cells were polygonal in shape, grew in monolayers without contact inhibition and were arranged in islands like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. The chromosome numbers ranged from 41 to 96. A low rate of proliferation was observed and the doubling time was 37.5 h. The IC₅₀ values of cisplatin, 7-ethyl-10-hydroxycamptothecin (SN38), which is an active metabolite of camptothecin, and paclitaxel were 7.7 μM, 17.7 nM and 301 nM, respectively. The drug sensitivity assay indicated that TU-OC-2 was sensitive to SN38, but resistant to cisplatin and paclitaxel. Mutational analysis revealed that TU-OC-2 cells have no mutations of PIK3CA in exons 9 and 20 and of TP53 in exons 4–9. We observed the loss of ARID1A protein expression in TU-OC-2 cells by western blot analysis and in the original tumor tissue by immunohistochemistry. This cell line may be useful for studying the chemoresistant mechanisms of CCC and exploring novel therapeutic targets such as the ARID1A-related signaling pathway.     

Wasabi leaf extracts attenuate adipocyte hypertrophy through PPARγ and AMPK

Hypertrophy of adipocytes in obese adipose tissues causes metabolic abnormality by adipocytokine dysregulation, which promotes type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. We investigated the effects of wasabi (Wasabia japonica Matsum) leaf extracts on metabolic abnormalities in SHRSP.Z-Leprfa/IzmDmcr rats (SHRSP/ZF), which are a model of metabolic syndrome. Male SHRSP/ZF rats aged 7 weeks were divided into two groups: control and wasabi leaf extract (WLE) groups, which received water or oral treatment with 4 g/kg/day WLE for 6 weeks. WLE improved the body weight gain and high blood pressure in SHRSP/ZF rats, and the plasma triglyceride levels were significantly lower in the WLE group. Adipocyte hypertrophy was markedly prevented in adipose tissue. The expression of PPARγ and subsequent downstream genes was suppressed in the WLE group adipose tissues. Our data suggest that WLE inhibits adipose hypertrophy by suppressing PPARγ expression in adipose tissue and stimulating the AMPK activity by increased adiponectin.