Synthesis of oxidative metabolites of CRA13 and their analogs: Identification of CRA13 active metabolites and analogs thereof with selective CB2R affinity

CRA13; a peripheral dual CB₁R/CB₂R agonist with clinically proven analgesic properties, infiltrates into CNS producing adverse effects due to central CB₁R agonism. Such adverse effects might be circumvented by less lipophilic compounds with attenuated CB₁R affinity. Metabolism produces less lipophilic metabolites that might be active metabolites. Some CRA13 oxidative metabolites and their analogues were synthesized as less lipophilic CRA13 analogues. Probing their CB₁R and CB₂R activity revealed the alcohol metabolite 8c as a more potent and more effective CB₂R ligand with attenuated CB₁R affinity relative to CRA13. Also, the alcohol analogue 8b and methyl ester 12a possessed enhanced CB₂R affinity and reduced CB₁R affinity. The CB₂R binding affinity of alcohol analogue 8b was similar to CRA13 while that of methyl ester 12a was more potent. In silico study provided insights into the possible molecular interactions that might explain the difference in the elicited biological activity of these compounds.     

Generation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Vibrio anguillarum</Emphasis> Ghost by Coexpression of PhiX 174 Lysis <Emphasis Type="Italic">E</Emphasis> gene and Staphylococcal Nuclease <Emphasis Type="Italic">A</Emphasis> Gene

Vibrio anguillarum ghosts (VAG) were generated, for the first time, using a conjugation vector containing a ghost bacteria inducing cassette, pRK-λP_R-cI-Elysis, in which the expression of PhiX174 lysis gene E was controlled by the P _R /cI regulatory system of lambda phage. By scanning electron microscopy, holes ranging 80–200 nm in diameter were observed in the VAG. To avoid the presence of bacterial genomic DNA and an antibiotic resistance gene in the final VAG product, we constructed a new dual vector, pRK-λP_R-cI-E-SNA, containing the E-mediated lysis cassette and the staphylococcal nuclease A (SNA)-mediated DNA degradation cassette, and generated safety-enhanced VAG for use as a fish vaccine.     

Informative characteristics of 12 divergent domains in complete large subunit rDNA sequences from the harmful dinoflagellate genus, Alexandrium (Dinophyceae)

The genus Alexandrium includes organisms of interest, both for the study of dinoflagellate evolution and for their impacts as toxic algae affecting human health and fisheries. Only partial large subunit (LSU) rDNA sequences of Alexandrium and other dinoflagellates are available, although they contain much genetic information. Here, we report complete LSU rDNA sequences from 11 strains of Alexandrium, including Alexandrium affine, Alexandrium catenella, Alexandrium fundyense, Alexandrium minutum, and Alexandrium tamarense, and discuss their segmented domains and structure. Putative LSU rRNA coding regions were recorded to be around 3,400 bp long. Their GC content (about 43.7%) is among the lowest when compared with other organisms. Furthermore, no AT-rich regions were found in Alexandrium LSU rDNA, although a low GC content was recorded within the LSU rDNA. No intron-like sequences were found. The secondary structure of the LSU rDNA and parsimony analyses showed that most variation in LSU rDNA is found in the divergent (D) domains with the D2 region being the most informative. This high D domain variability can allow members of the diverse Alexandrium genus to be categorized at the species level. In addition, phylogenetic analysis of the alveolate group using the complete LSU sequences strongly supported previous findings that the dinoflagellates and apicomplexans form a clade.     

Scale-up of recombinant hirudin production fromSaccharomyces cerevisiae

Scale-up of hirudin production fromSaccharomyces cerevisiae from bench-scale to pilot-scale was carried out based on constant volumetric oxygen transfer coefficient (K _L a). Fed-batch mode of cultivation using step-wise feeding strategy of galactose was employed for the production of hirudin in a 30-L and a 300-L pilot-scale fermentor. The final hirudin concentrations were achieved 390 mg/L and 286.1 mg/L, and the volumetric productivities were 80.4% and 90.7% with the 30-L and 300-L fermentors, respectively, compared to the productivity of the 5-L bench-scale fermentor.     

A set of epitope-tagging integration vectors for functional analysis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Functional analysis of genes from Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been the major goal after determination of genome sequences. Even though several tools for molecular-genetic analyses have been developed, only a limited number of reliable genetic tools are available to support functional assay at protein level. Epitope tagging is a powerful tool for detecting, purifying, and functional studying of proteins. But systematic tagging systems developed with integration vectors are not available. Here, we have constructed a set of integration vectors allowing a translational fusion of interested proteins to the four different epitope tags (HA, Myc, Flag, and GFP). To confirm function and expression of C-terminal-tagged proteins, we used Cdc11, a component of the septin filament that encircles the mother bud neck and consists of five major proteins: Cdc3, Cdc10, Cdc11, Cdc12, and Sep7. The tagged version of Cdc11 expressed under its endogenous promoter was found to be physiologically functional, as evidenced by localization at the neck and suppression of the growth defect associated with the temperature-sensitive mutation of cdc11-6. The expressed proteins were efficiently detected with antibodies against Cdc11 or the epitopes. When immunoprecipitated with anti-Myc antibody, each septin protein tagged with Myc was effectively copurified with other septin components, indicating formation of a stable septin complex. Because the modules of the tags were located under the same array of eighteen restriction sites on integration vectors containing four different markers (HIS3, TRP1, LEU2, or URA3), this tagging system provides efficient multiple tagging and stable expression of a gene of interest.     

Diffusive transport in Stokeslet flow and its application to plankton ecology

In this paper we consider the advective/diffusive transport of a solute near a hovering zooplankter. We approximate the fluid flow with that of a Stokeslet, corresponding to the plankter exerting a point force on the water, and assume that the plankter acts as a point source for the transported solute, located at the same point as the force. We find an analytical expression in closed form for the steady-state concentration of the solute. We also discuss the situation where the plankter performs Brownian motion. Finally we apply the results to the courtship of the marine copepod Pseudocalanus elongatus, where the male performs a mating dance below the hovering female. For this situation, our model supports the hypothesis that the mating dance is guided by the plume of a signalling pheromone.     

Complete mitochondrial genome sequence of the Arctic gammarid,Onisimus nanseni (Crustacea; Amphipoda): Novel gene structures and unusual control region features

To analyze the mitogenome of the amphipod Onisimus nanseni, we amplified the complete mitogenome of O. nanseni using long-PCR and genome walking techniques. The mitogenome of O. nanseni is circular and contains all the typical mt genes (2 rRNAs, 22 tRNAs, and 13 protein-coding genes). It has two peculiar non-coding regions of 148 bp and 194 bp. The latter can be involved in replication and termination processes. The total length of the pooled protein-coding, rRNA, and tRNA genes is shorter than those of other crustaceans. In addition, the intergenic spacers of the O. nanseni mitogenome are considerably shorter in length than those of other crustaceans. Fourteen adjacent genes overlap, resulting in a compact mitogenomic structure. In the O. nanseni mitogenome, the AT composition is elevated, particularly in the control regions (78.9% AT), as has been demonstrated for two other amphipods. The tRNA order is highly rearranged compared to other arthropod mitogenomes, but the order of protein-coding genes and rRNAs is largely conserved. The gene cluster between the CO1 and CO3 genes is completely conserved among all amphipods compared. This provides insights into the evolution and gene structures of crustacean mitochondrial genomes, particularly in amphipods.     

Binding characteristics of a bacterial expansin (BsEXLX1) for various types of pretreated lignocellulose

BsEXLX1 from Bacillus subtilis is the first discovered bacterial expansin as a structural homolog of a plant expansin, and it exhibited synergism with cellulase on the cellulose hydrolysis in a previous study. In this study, binding characteristics of BsEXLX1 were investigated using pretreated and untreated Miscanthus x giganteus in comparison with those of CtCBD3, a cellulose-binding domain from Clostridium thermocellum. The amounts of BsEXLX1 bound to cellulose-rich substrates were significantly lower than those of CtCBD3. However, the amounts of BsEXLX1 bound to lignin-rich substrates were much higher than those of CtCBD3. A binding competition assay between BsEXLX1 and CtCBD3 revealed that binding of BsEXLX1 to alkali lignin was not affected by the presence of CtCBD3. This preferential binding of BsEXLX1 to lignin could be related to root colonization in plants by bacteria, and the bacterial expansin could be used as a lignin blocker in the enzymatic hydrolysis of lignocellulose.     

Association between Hypertension and the Prevalence of Low Back Pain and Osteoarthritis in Koreans: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background

Hypertension and musculoskeletal disorders are highly prevalent in adult populations. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between hypertension and prevalence of low back pain (LBP) and osteoarthritis in Koreans.

Methods

A total 17,128 participants (age ≥20 years) who answered low back pain and osteoarthritis items in the 4th Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2007–2009) were analyzed. Odds ratios were calculated using logistic regression and were adjusted for age, sex, income level, education, occupation, BMI, smoking status, alcohol consumption, and physical activity.

Results

Lifetime prevalence of LBP in hypertensive subjects was 34.4%, and that of osteoarthritis 26.2%. LBP prevalence was significantly lower in hypertensives (fully adjusted OR 0.79; 95% CI 0.70–0.90), and both LBP and osteoarthritis prevalence was significantly lower in participants with systolic blood pressure ≥140mmHg than those with <120mmHg (fully adjusted OR 0.81; 95% CI 0.70–0.94, and 0.81; 95% CI 0.68–0.96, respectively). Prevalence of LBP in subjects with diastolic blood pressure ≥90mmHg was also significantly lower than those with <80mmHg (fully adjusted OR 0.73; 95% CI 0.63–0.85). LBP and osteoarthritis prevalence did not differ by systolic or diastolic blood pressure interval in respondents taking antihypertensive medication. LBP and osteoarthritis prevalence increased with longer hypertension duration (fully adjusted p for trend 0.028, and 0.0008, respectively).

Conclusions

Hypertension showed an inverse relationship with LBP and osteoarthritis prevalence, which may be ascribed to hypertension-associated hypalgesia, and antihypertensive medication intake and longer hypertension duration attenuated this association.