sn-Glycerol-1-Phosphate-Forming Activities in Archaea: Separation of Archaeal Phospholipid Biosynthesis and Glycerol Catabolism by Glycerophosphate Enantiomers

In Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum, sn-glycerol-1-phosphate (G-1-P) dehydrogenase is responsible for the formation of the Archaea-specific backbone of phospholipids, G-1-P, from dihydroxyacetonephosphate (DHAP). The possible G-1-P-forming activities were surveyed in cell-free extracts of six species of Archaea. All the archaeal cell-free homogenates tested revealed the ability to form G-1-P from DHAP. In addition, activities of G-3-P-forming glycerol kinase and G-3-P dehydrogenase were also detected in four heterotrophic archaea, while glycerol kinase activity was not detected in two autotrophic methanogens. These results show that G-1-P is produced from DHAP by G-1-P dehydrogenase in a wide variety of archaea while exogenous glycerol is catabolized via G-3-P.     

Simple and efficient knockdown of His-tagged proteins by ternary molecules consisting of a His-tag ligand,a ubiquitin ligase ligand,and a cell-penetrating peptide

We designed and synthesized hybrid molecules for a protein knockdown method based on the recognition of a His-tag fused to a protein of interest (POI). The synthesized target protein degradation inducers contained three functional moieties: a His-tag ligand (nickel nitrilotriacetic acid [Ni-NTA]), an E3 ligand (bestatin [BS] or MV1), and a carrier peptide (Tat or nonaarginine [R9]). The designed hybrid molecules, BS-Tat-Ni-NTA, MV1-Tat-Ni-NTA, BS-R9-Ni-NTA, and MV1-R9-Ni-NTA, efficiently degraded His-tagged cellular retinoic acid binding protein 2 via the ubiquitin–proteasome system (UPS). This system will become a useful tool for research into selective protein degradation inducers that act via the UPS.     

Development of an ON/OFF switchable fluorescent probe targeting His tag fused proteins in living cells

The fluorescent labeling of target proteins is useful for analyzing their functions and localization in cells, and several fluorescent probes have been developed. However, the fusion of tags such as green fluorescent protein (GFP) to target proteins occasionally affects their functions and/or localization in living cells. Therefore, an imaging method that uses short peptide tags such as hexa-histidine (the His tag) has been attracting increasing attention. Few studies have investigated ON/OFF switchable fluorescent probes for intracellular His-tagged proteins. We herein developed a novel ON/OFF switchable probe for imaging targeted intracellular proteins fused with a CH6 tag, which is composed of one cysteine residue and six histidine residues.     

Flavonoid compounds related to seed coat color of wheat

In red wheat, reddish-brown pigments accumulate in testa of mature seeds. Half-cut wheat seeds were immersed in p-dimethylaminocinnamaldehyde (DMACA) reagent that stains flavanol structures blue. Testa of 10–40 days after flowering (DAF) in red wheat (“Norin 61” and “Satonosora”) seeds were stained blue and the reagent color changed to blue with 10–25 DAF seeds. No blue staining was observed in white wheat (“Tamaizumi”) seeds during maturation. “Norin 61” seed coats at 10 DAF contained dihydroquercetin, dihydromyricetin, (+)-catechin, procyanidin B3, and prodelphinidin B3, which were identified by HPLC-diode array detector and LC-MS/MS analyses. These five components began accumulating 7 DAF, reached maxima at 10 or 15 DAF, and then decreased in red wheat seeds, but were not detected in white wheat seeds. These results suggest that flavanol and proanthocyanidins are possible precursors of the reddish-brown pigments of red wheat seeds, and are converted to insoluble compounds as the seeds mature.     

Preparation of polymers containing Fe(0)-coordinated 2,5-diethynylsilole units

UV irradiation of poly(organosilanylene-2,5-diethynylenesiloles) in benzene with an excess of Fe(CO)₅ led to the formation of Fe(CO)₃-coordinated silole units in the polymer backbone. The Fe(CO)₃-coordinated polymers exhibited suppressed π-conjugation, relative to the parent non-coordinated polymers. Hole-transporting properties of poly(organosilanylene-2,5-diethynylenesiloles) were examined by the performance of EL devices containing the polymer layer as the hole-transport and Alq3 layer as the electron-transporting emitter.     

Sport-specific characteristics of trunk muscles in collegiate wrestlers and judokas

This study evaluated the sport-specific characteristics of the cross-sectional areas (CSAs) of trunk muscles and trunk muscle strength in wrestlers and judokas. We also examined whether their trunk muscles and muscle strength depended on athletic performance levels in each sport. The subjects comprised 14 male collegiate wrestlers and 14 judokas. Magnetic resonance imaging was used to assess the trunk muscle CSAs at the L3-4 level parallel to the lumbar disc space. A Biodex System3 was used to measure isokinetic trunk flexor and extensor muscle strength of peak torque, work, average torque, and average power. The absolute and relative CSAs of the trunk muscles in the wrestlers and judokas were significantly different (rectus abdominis: wrestling > judo, P < 0.05; obliques: wrestling < judo, P < 0.05; quadratus lumborum: wrestling < judo, P < 0.01). We confirmed that the absolute and relative trunk extensor and flexor strength of peak torque, work, and average torque were significantly higher in the collegiate wrestlers than in judokas. On athletic performance, the tendency of the CSAs and muscular strength of trunk muscles was not consistent with athletic performance levels in each sport. Our findings indicated that the sport-specific characteristics of the CSAs of the trunk muscles and trunk muscle strength obviously differed between the 2 similar sports. Athletes should practice the sport-specific training of trunk muscles and develop sport specificity in their sports. Particularly, wrestlers have to train in trunk flexion and extension motions, and judokas need to strengthen trunk rotation and lateral flexion motions. This information will be available for athletes as well as strength and technical training coaches in wrestling, judo, and the other sports.     

Sucutiniranes A and B, new cassane-type diterpenes from Bowdichia nitida

Two new cassane-type diterpenes, sucutiniranes A (1) and B (2), have been isolated from the seeds of Bowdichia nitida together with 6alpha-acetoxyvouacapane (3) and 6alpha,7beta-diacetoxyvouacapane (4), and the structures of 1 and 2 were elucidated by using 2D NMR data and chemical correlations. Sucutinirane A (1) and 3 showed a moderate cytotoxicity against human colon carcinoma COLO201 cells, and 6alpha,7beta-diacetoxyvouacapane (4) showed in vitro antiplasmodial activity against parasite Plasmodium falciparum 3D7.