The extraction of yacon [Smallanthus sonchifolius (Poepp. and Endl.) H. Robinson; Asteraceae] leaves and chromatographic separation yielded two new antibacterial melampolide-type sesquiterpene lactones, 8β-tigloyloxymelampolid-14-oic acid methyl ester and 8β-methacryloyloxymelampolid-14-oic acid methyl ester, as well as the four known melampolides, sonchifolin, uvedalin, enhydrin and fluctuanin. The newly identified compound, 8β-methacryloyloxymelampolid-14-oic acid methyl ester, exhibited potent antimicrobial activity against Bacillus subtilis and Pyricularia oryzae, while 8β-tigloyloxymelampolid-14-oic acid methyl ester showed lower activity. Fluctuanin exhibited the strongest antibacterial activity against B. subtilis among these six sesquiterpene lactones.

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  The stereocontrolled total synthesis of the non-chlorinated analog of cyanobacterin, a potent photosynthesis inhibitor, was achieved by 12 steps in a 10.0% overall yield. Its enantiomer was also synthesized from the same starting material. This synthetic strategy is expected to be applicable to prepare cyanobacterin and all its stereoisomers, together with other similar bioactive compounds.

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  A simple and efficient synthesis of (±)-massoilactone (1) as a key substance for the butter and milk flavor was accomplished from n-hexanal in only a few steps. Application of its racemic synthesis enabled natural (R)-(−)- and unnatural (S)-(+)-massoilactone (1a, 1b) to be synthesized by starting from commercially available (R)-(+)-1,2-epoxyheptane (5).

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  Stereocontrolled total syntheses of the (2S,3R)- and (2R,3S)-isomers of the non-chlorinated analog of cyanobacterin, a potent photosynthesis inhibitor, were achieved. Since both the (2R,3R)- and (2S,3S)-isomers of this compound had been previously synthesized from the same starting material, a systematic strategy for the synthesis of all stereoisomers could be established.

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  The enantiomers of 21-methyl-7-hentriacontanone (1), which might show weak bioactivity as the female sex pheromone of the screwworm fly (Cochliomyia hominivorax), were synthesized by starting from the enantiomers of citronellal. (±)-Citronellol was converted to a racemic and diastereomeric mixture of 5-acetoxy-19-methylnonacosane (2), which was considered to be a candidate for the female sex pheromone of C. hominivorax. Synthetic 2 exhibited no pheromone activity against male C. hominivorax.

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  Both the enantiomers as well as the racemate of 3-butyl-7-hydroxyphthalide (1) were synthesized, and the absolute configuration of the naturally occurring (−)-1 (a weakly cytotoxic metabolite of Penicillium vulpinum) was identified as S.

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  A tryptic [EC 3.4.21.4] digestion assay of 2-aminoisobutyric acid (Aib)-containing peptides was carried out to investigate the effect of α,α-dialkyl amino acid residues on the protease resistance. The introduction of Aib residues to the P1′ positions exhibited a 19-fold higher protease resistance than the peptide with Aib residues introduced to the P2 position or the non-Aib peptide. The peptide having Aib residues introduced to the P1′ and P2 positions resulted in complete resistance.

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  An efficient transformation system for the basidiomycete Coriolus hirsutus was developed. A double-auxotrophic mutant of C. hirsutus, deficient both in ornithine carbamoyltransferase (OCTase) and 3-isopropylmalate dehydrogenase (3-IPM dehydrogenase), was transformed to Arg⁺ with each allelic type of the C. hirsutus genomic OCTase gene (arg1) newly cloned. The transformation frequency of 10³-10⁴ transformants per μg DNA per 10⁶-10⁷ oidial protoplasts was reached. Southern blots showed that the transforming DNA was integrated into chromosomal DNA with multi-copies. The Arg⁺ phenotype of the transformants was stably inherited through mitosis.

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  A methanol extract from the flower heads of Chrysanthemum morifolium showed a suppressive effect on umu gene expression of the SOS response in Salmonella typhimurium TA1535/pSK1002 against the mutagen 2-(2-furyl)-3-(5-nitro-2-furyl)acrylamide (furylfuramide). The methanol extract was re-extracted with hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, butanol, and water. The ethyl acetate fraction showed a suppressive effect. Suppressive compounds in the ethyl acetate fraction were isolated by silica gel column chromatography and identified as the flavonoids acacetin (1), apigenin (2), luteolin (3), and quercetin (4) by EI-MS, IR, and ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. Compounds 1-4 suppressed the furylfuramide-induced SOS response in the umu test. Compounds 1-4 suppressed 60.2, 75.7, 90.0, and 66.6% of the SOS-inducing activity at a concentration of 0.70 μmol/ml. The ID₅₀ (50% inhibitory dose) values of 1-4 were 0.62, 0.55, 0.44, and 0.59 μmol/ml. These compounds had the suppressive effects on umu gene expression of the SOS response against other mutagens, 4-nitroquinolin 1-oxide (4NQO) and N-methyl-N′-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG), which do not require liver-metabolizing enzymes. These compounds also showed the suppression of SOS-inducing activity against the other mutagens aflatoxin B₁ (AfB₁) and 3-amino-1,4-dimethyl-5H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole (Trp-P-1), which require liver-metabolizing enzymes, and UV irradiation. In addition to the antimutagenic activities of these compounds against furylfuramide, Trp-P-1 and activated Trp-P-1 were also assayed by the Ames test using S. typhimurium TA100.

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  It was found that the partially purified β-ketoacyl-ACP synthase of Bacillus insolitus did not require the addition of FabD (malonyl-CoA:ACP transacylase, MAT) for the activity assay. This study therefore examined the necessity of FabD protein for in vitro branched-chain fatty acid (BCFA) biosynthesis by crude fatty acid synthetases (FAS) of Bacilli. To discover the involvement of FabD in the BCFA biosynthesis, the protein was removed from the crude FAS by immunoprecipitation. The His-tag fusion protein FabD of Bacillus subtilis was expressed in Escherichia coli and used for the preparation of antibody. The rabbit antibody raised against the expressed fusion protein specifically recognized the FabD in the crude FAS of B. subtilis. Evaluation of the efficacy of the immunoprecipitation showed that a trace of FabD protein was present in the antibody-treated crude FAS. However, this complete removal of FabD from the crude FAS did not abolish its BCFA biosynthesis, but only reduced the level to 50-60% of the control level for acyl-CoA primer and to 80% for α-keto-β-methylvalerate primer. Furthermore, the FabD concentration did not necessarily correlate with the MAT specific activity in the enzyme fractions, suggesting the presence of another enzyme source of MAT activity. This study, therefore, suggests that FabD is not the sole enzyme source of MAT for in vitro BCFA biosynthesis, and implies the existence of a functional connection between fatty acid biosynthesis and another metabolic pathway.

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  Several bacterial strains carrying quinoprotein quinate dehydrogenase (QDH) were screened through acetic acid bacteria and other bacteria. Strong enzyme activity was found in the membrane fraction of Gluconobacter melanogenus IFO 3294, G. oxydans IFO 3292, G. oxydans IFO 3244, and some strains of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus. Interestingly, in the membrane fraction of A. calcoaceticus AC3, which is unable to produce pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ), fairly large amounts of apo-QDH were formed, and were converted to holo-QDH only by the addition of PQQ. It was difficult to detach PQQ from the holo-QDH by EDTA treatment, and EDTA treatment with apo-QDH prior to PQQ addition gave no significant holo-QDH. For QDH purification, Gluconobacter strains were not suitable due to the presence of huge amounts of quinohemoprotein alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) in the same membrane, which was co-solubilized with QDH and disturbed purification of QDH. Purification of holo-QDH was done with Acinetobacter sp. SA1 instead, which contained no ADH. Apo-QDH was purified from A. aclcoaceticus AC3.

  This is the first report dealing with QDH purification, and two different criteria of QDH purification were given. A combination of two steps using butyl-Toyopearl and hydroxyapatite columns gave a highly purified holo-QDH which was monodispersed and showed enough purity, though the specific activity did not increase as much as expected. When QDH purification was done with A. calcoaceticus AC3 in the absence of PQQ, purified apo-QDH appeared to be a dimer, which was converted to the monomer on addition of PQQ. Since QDH was highly hydrophobic, one-step chromatography on a DEAE-Sepharose column was tried. Purified holo-QDH of higher specific activity was obtained with a higher yield. The molecular mass of QDH was estimated to be 88 kDa. There was no characteristic absorption spectrum with the purified QDH except for a small bump around 420 nm. QDH oxidized only quinate and shikimate so far examined. The optimal QDH activity was found at pH 6-7 when assayed with artificial electron acceptors. QDH was formed in the presence or absence of quinate in the culture medium, although stronger induction was usually observed in the presence of quinate.

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  Turkey pancreatic phospholipase (TPP) has been purified from delipidated pancreases. The purification included ammonium sulfate fractionation, acidic (pH 5) treatment, followed by sequencial column chromatographies on DEAE-cellulose, Sephadex G-75, and reverse phase high pressure liquid chromatography. The purified enzyme was found to be a monomeric protein with molecular mass of 14 kDa. The optimal activity was measured at pH 8 and 37°C using egg yolk emulsion as substrate. Our results show that the enzyme (TPP) was not stable for 1 h at 60°C, and that bile salt and Ca²⁺ were required for the expression of the purified enzyme. The sequence of the N-terminal amino acids of the purified enzyme shows a very close similarity between TPP and all other known pancreatic phospholipases.

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  Thiobacillus sp. strain KNK65MA, which produced an NAD-dependent formate dehydrogenase (FDH) highly resistant to α-haloketones, was newly isolated, i.e., the enzyme showed no loss of activity after a 5-h incubation with α-haloketones, such as ethyl 4-chloro-3-oxobutanoate. The enzyme was also resistant to SH reagents. The enzyme, purified to homogeneity, was a dimer composed of identical subunits. The specific activity was 7.6 u/mg, and the apparent K_m values for formate and NAD⁺ were 1.6 and 0.048 mM, respectively. The cloned gene of FDH contained one open reading frame (ORF) of 1206 base pairs, predicted to encode a polypeptide of 401 amino acids, with a calculated molecular weight of 44021; this gene was highly expressed in E. coli cells. The deduced amino acid sequence of this FDH had high identity to other bacterial FDHs.

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  We found a polyphenoloxidase (PPO) in the cell extract of Streptomyces lavendulae REN-7. About 0.8 mg of purified PPO was obtained from 200 g of the mycelia with a yield of 9.0%. REN-7-PPO showed broad substrate specificity toward various aromatic compounds. Moreover, this enzyme was capable of oxidation of syringaldazine, which is a specific substrate for laccase. Interestingly, REN-7-PPO retained its original activity after 20 min of incubation at even 70°C. The gene encoding the PPO was cloned. Four copper-binding sites characteristics of laccases were contained in the deduced amino acid sequence. We constructed a high-level expression system of this gene in Escherichia coli. The properties of the recombinant enzyme were identical that of wild-type. In conclusion, this PPO is a thermostable laccase.

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  Hemolytic streptococci are lacking in natural competence for uptake of DNA, and existing electrotransformation methods are still ineffective for most strains. By optimizing biological and electric parameters of electroporation, we established a simple, efficient, and reproducible transformation method for streptococcal cells. The major factor was an increase in the electric field strength. All tested streptococci (6 group A strains and one group C strain) were successfully transformed, and the maximal efficiency was higher than 1×10⁷ transformants per μg of plasmid DNA. Targeted inactivation of the chromosomal genes of group A and C streptococci was achieved, using the electrotransformation method. The slo^- or sagB^- mutants constructed by the gene-targeting showed elevated competence for electrotransformation. Availability of the electrotransfer system for cloning and analysis of streptococcal genes is discussed.

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  The pollen of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) is a strong allergen and causes severe pollinosis in Malaysia and Singapore. In the previous study (Biosci. Biotechnol. Biochem., 64, 820-827 (2002)), from the oil palm pollens, we purified an antigenic glycoprotein (Ela g Bd 31 K), which is recognized by IgE from palm pollinosis patients. In this report, we describe the structural analysis of sugar chains linked to palm pollen glycoproteins to confirm the ubiquitous occurrence of antigenic N-glycans in the allergenic pollen. N-Glycans liberated from the pollen glycoprotein mixture by hydrazinolysis were labeled with 2-aminopyridine followed by purification with a combination of size-fractionation HPLC and reversed-phase HPLC. The structures of the PA-sugar chains were analyzed by a combination of two-dimensional sugar chain mapping, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), and tandem MS analysis, as well as exoglycosidase digestions. The antigenic N-glycan bearing α1-3 fucose and/or β1-2 xylose residues accounts for 36.9% of total N-glycans: GlcNAc₂Man₃Xyl₁Fuc₁GlcNAc₂ (24.6%), GlcNAc₂Man₃Xyl₁GlcNAc₂ (4.4%), Man₃Xyl₁Fuc₁-GlcNAc₂ (1.1%), GlcNAc₁Man₃Xyl₁Fuc₁GlcNAc₂ (5.6%), and GlcNAc₁Man₃Xyl₁GlcNAc₂ (1.2%). The remaining 63.1% of the total N-glycans belong to the high-mannose type structure: Man9GlcNAc2 (5.8%), Man8GlcNAc2 (32.1%), Man7GlcNAc2 (19.9%), Man6GlcNAc2 (5.3%).

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  Lactoperoxidase (LPO) is a heme-containing oxidation-reduction enzyme present in milk. In this study, the gene encoding bovine lactoperoxidase (bLPO) was inserted into a baculovirus transfer vector, and a recombinant virus expressing bLPO was isolated. A bLPO-related recombinant baculovirus-expressed protein of 78 kDa was detected using anti-bLPO antibodies. After digestion with N-glycosidase F, the molecular weight of the recombinant bLPO (rbLPO) decreased. In addition, rbLPO reacted with lectin, indicating that the protein was glycosylated. The rbLPO activity and heme content in the culture supernatants increased upon addition of δ-aminolevulinic acid, which is a heme precursor. Differences in the δ-aminolevulinic acid-dependent circular dichroism spectrum and rbLPO pepsin hydrolysis were observed. These results suggest that the secondary structure and structural stability of rbLPO depends on the heme environment. Our data suggest that this bLPO expression system is useful for studying structure, catalytic mechanisms, and biological function.

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  Visceral adipocytes differ in various biochemical properties from adipocytes of subcutaneous origin. However, information on differences in gene expression between visceral and subcutaneous fat depots is limited. Expression of the genes for the nonmuscle and muscle isoforms of the actin-binding protein cofilin was examined in subcutaneous and visceral fat depots of mice, pigs, and cattle by semiquantative reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction analysis. The abundance of nonmuscle-type cofilin mRNA was markedly higher in visceral adipose tissue than in subcutaneous adipose tissue of mouse and pig. This difference was more pronounced in mice fed a high-fat diet than in those fed a standard diet. In cattle, however, the amount of nonmuscle-type cofilin mRNA was greater in subcutaneous fat than in visceral fat. Muscle-type cofilin mRNA was not detected in either adipose tissue of any of the three species. These results suggest that the nonmuscle isoform of cofilin, and therefore the cytoskeleton, may play a role in lipid accumulation in visceral adipose tissue.

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  Diphenyl 1-amino-2-phenylethylphosphonate was introduced to poly(ethylene glycol)s (PEGs) with average molecular masses of 300, 400, and 600 to prepare water-insoluble PEG-inhibitor conjugates. Interestingly, only the conjugate from PEG with an average molecular weight of 600 formed a precipitate with chymotrypsin but not with trypsin. The results demonstrated that the PEG-inhibitor conjugate is useful for separation of chymotrypsin.

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   A plasmid bearing a nucleotide sequence of fucose-specific lectin of Aleuria aurantia was constructed and expressed in a methylotrophic yeast, Pichia pastoris. The product showed almost the same hemagglutinating activity as the lectin produced in Escherichia coli, the properties of which were quite similar to the native one. Because of glycosylation of the product, the molecular mass was larger than that of the native one, and it acquired higher thermostability.

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  Eight transmembrane segments in the Arabidopsis Na⁺ transporter, AtHKT1, have been proposed to be arranged around the axis of the pore. We report here that the addition of a GFP or a FLAG tag to the C terminus of AtHKT1 impairs the Na⁺ transport in Xenopus ooytes as detected by electrophysiological measurements.

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  The substrate shape specificity of the Escherichia coli ribonuclease P (RNase P) ribozyme depends on the concentration of magnesium ion. At 10 mM or more, it can cleave a hairpin substrate as well as a cloverleaf pre-transfer RNA (tRNA). The results showed, however, that the holo enzyme cleaved the hairpin substrate at low concentrations of magnesium ion. Considering that the homologous E. coli tRNAs are resistant to internal cleavage by the RNase P, the phenomena suggest that this catalytic activity might take part in the removing the mis-folded RNAs in the cell.

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  A gene encoding an enzyme that is able to depolymerize the basic polysaccharide prepared from the sheath of Sphaerotilus natans was identified in a sheath-degrading bacterium, Paenibacillus koleovorans. The gene was constructed from 2217 bp coding for 738 amino acids, including the signal sequence of 34 amino acids. No closely related protein or gene was indicated by a homology search. The gene was expressed in Escherichia coli as a glutathione S-transferase fusion protein. The fusion protein depolymerized the sheath polysaccharide into an oligosaccharide, introducing an unsaturated sugar residue, suggesting that the gene codes for a polysaccharide lyase acting on a basic polysaccharide.

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  Two new RNase T2 Ribonucleases, RNase Le37 and Irp3, with a molecular mass of 45 kDa, have been isolated from Basidiomycetes fungi, Lentinus edodes and Irpex lacteus, respectively. The ribonucleases consisted of three domains: an RNase active domain, a Ser/Thr rich domain similar to that of many fungal glycanhydrolases, and a C-terminal 10 kDa domain similar to that of RNase Rny1 in yeast. The locations of hydrophobic amino acids and Pro in the 10 kDa domain of the two basidiomycetous enzymes are very similar to those of RNase Rny1, indicating that these domains may have similar roles.

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  After screening extensively factors in plant extracts that increase alkaline phosphatase activity, an osteoblastic differentiation marker protein in mouse calvarial osteoblast MC3T3-E1 cells, GnafC derived from Gnaphalium affine, was found to significantly enhance the alkaline phosphatase (ALPase) activity in a synergistic manner with ascorbate. GnafC was a polysaccharaide with an approximate molecular mass of 10,000 and comprised mannose, xylose, arabinose, galactose and glucose in a molar ratio of 1:2:4.3:2.5:2.7. Expression of the osteoblastic differentiation marker genes was examined by semiquantitative RT-PCR with RNAs prepared from cells at different developmental stages. With ascorbate in the culture, GnafC enhanced the expression of the ALPase and MMP13 genes from the early stage of differentiation, leading to maturation of the collagenous extracellular matrix (ECM), a prerequisite for mineralization.

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  This study was designed to investigate whether chlorella supplementation may ameliorate oxidative stress and nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB) activation in peritoneal macrophages and liver of C57BL/6 mice fed on an atherogenic diet. The animals were maintained on an atherogenic diet (control), or an atherogenic diet supplemented with 3% (w/w) chlorella or 5% (w/w) chlorella for 12 wks. The plasma and hepatic lipid levels were not affected by chlorella supplementation. Hepatic thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances and superoxide anion production in peritoneal macrophages were significantly lower in the 5% chlorella group (p<0.05), but the glutathione level was not altered by chlorella supplementation. The hepatic antioxidative enzyme activities of Cu, Zn-superoxide dismutase and catalase were higher in the mice fed on the 5% chlorella diet (p<0.05). The plasma aspartate aminotransferase activity was lower in the mice fed on the chlorella-containing diets (p<0.05), whereas the alanine aminotransferase activity was not affected by chlorella supplementation. The NFκB nuclear binding activities of peritoneal macrophages and liver were significantly lower in the 5% chlorella groups (p<0.05). These results suggest that chlorella supplementation may attenuate oxidative stress by reducing reactive oxygen production and increasing antioxidative processes, thus suppressing inflammatory mediator activation in peritoneal macrophages and liver.

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  Differences in the coagulation and fibrinolytic system of rats fed a fish oil based diet (fish oil diet) and fed a soybean oil based diet (control diet) were determined. Concentrations of plasma lipids were depressed in rats fed the fish oil diet. Prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) of rats fed the fish oil diet were longer than for the rats fed the control diet. Fish oil intake lowered the activities of most of the blood coagulation factors, and strongly depressed the factors involved in the intrinsic pathway. Fish oil also affected the fibrinolysis of rats. Plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI) activity was elevated in rats fed the fish oil diet. In this study, both blood coagulation and fibrinolysis were down-regulated by feeding the fish oil diet.

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  A diet containing different amounts of vitamin E (α-tocopherol; 0.5 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg or 50 mg per 100 g diet) was supplemented to BALB/c mice for 6 weeks. These mice were subcutaneously immunized twice with ovalbumin (OVA). A passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) analysis demonstrated that the mice fed on the diet containing 5 mg of vitamin E produced the highest level of the OVA-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibody. A lower level of serum IgE was found in the mice supplemented with 0.5 mg, 10 mg and 50 mg of vitamin E. A sandwich ELISA analysis showed that the pattern of the total IgE antibody level among these four groups was the same as that of the allergen-specific IgE. In a separate experiment, 5 mg of vitamin E and/or 50 mg of β-carotene was supplemented to the basal diet containing vitamin E as α-tocopherol acetate (5 mg) in order to evaluate the effect of their combination on OVA-specific and total IgE production in the mice. The supplementation with β-carotene alone had no effect on OVA-specific or total IgE production. In contrast, supplementation with vitamin E plus β-carotene effectively suppressed both the antigen-specific and total IgE antibodies. The serum vitamin E and β-carotene levels were increased by supplementation with the respective compounds. These results strongly suggest that the combination of dietary vitamin E and β-carotene suppressed IgE production and would therefore help to prevent the type-I allergic reaction.

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  The effects of Nannochloropsis were studied on rats consuming hypercholesterolemic diets. The whole biomass and the hexane/ethanol extract increased the plasma and hepatic eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids levels, and reduced the cholesterol levels. We also observed a higher level of propionate, and a lower ratio between acetate and propionate. These data suggest the efficacy of Nannochloropsis in reducing cholesterol levels.

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  In order to confirm the biosynthetic pathway to 1-octen-3-ol from linoleic acid, a crude enzyme solution was prepared from the edible mushroom, Lentinus decadetes. When the reaction was performed in the presence of glutathione peroxidase, which can reduce organic hydroperoxide to the corresponding hydroxide, the amount of 1-octen-3-ol formed from linoleic acid was decreased. At the same time, an accumulation of linoleic acid 10-hydroxide could be detected. The 10-hydroperoxide therefore seems to be an intermediate on the biosynthetic pathway.

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  The effects of more than 300 kinds of food extracts on intestinal permeability were investigated in Caco-2 cells with the use of model compounds: Lucifer Yellow (LY) for the paracellular pathway, Fluorescein (FC) for the monocarboxylic acid transporter-mediated pathway, and Rhodamine 123 (RH) for the p-glycoprotein-mediated efflux pathway. With several extracts of increasing or decreasing LY permeation, increasing FC or RH permeation was also observed, indicating modulation by dietary substances in several pathways for intestinal absorption.

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  The number of syntrophic butyrate-degrading bacte- ria in a flooded paddy field soil was 1.7×10³ MPN/g dry soil. Butyrate was degraded to acetate and methane when paddy soils were incubated anaerobically with the addition of butyrate. However, butyrate degradation was completely suppressed by the addition of the specific inhibitor of methanogenesis, 2-bromoethanesulfonate (BES) to the soil. A hydrogen-using methanogen, strain TM-8, was isolated from flooded paddy field soil. Strain TM-8 was identified as Methanobacterium formicicum based on its physiology and phylogeny. Syntrophic butyrate-degrading bacteria were enumerated and isolated using strain TM-8. A syntrophic butyrate-degrading bacterium, strain TB-6, was isolated in coculture with strain TM-8 from paddy soil. The strain was Gram-negative, had curved rods, and grew on crotonate. Sulfate was not used as an electron acceptor. Strain TB-6 was closely related to S. wolfei subsp. wolfei. The relation between strain TB-6 and the members of Syntrophomonas are discussed.

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  3-Dehydroquinate production from quinate by oxidative fermentation with Gluconobacter strains of acetic acid bacteria was analyzed for the first time. In the bacterial membrane, quinate dehydrogenase, a typical quinoprotein containing pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) as the coenzyme, functions as the primary enzyme in quinate oxidation. Quinate was oxidized to 3-dehydroquinate with the final yield of almost 100% in earlier growth phase. Resting cells, dried cells, and immobilized cells or an immobilized membrane fraction of Gluconobacter strains were found to be useful biocatalysts for quinate oxidation. 3-Dehydroquinate was further converted to 3-dehydroshikimate with a reasonable yield by growing cells and also immobilized cells. Strong enzyme activities of 3-dehydroquinate dehydratase and NADP-dependent shikimate dehydrogenase were detected in the soluble fraction of the same organism and partially fractionated from each other. Since the shikimate pathway is remote from glucose in the metabolic pathway, the entrance into the shikimate pathway from quinate to 3-dehydroquinate looks advantageous to produce metabolic intermediates in the shikimate pathway.

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  Endophytic Bacillus sp. CY22 was previously isolated from the root interior of the balloon flower (Platycodon grandiflorum) (Cho et al., Biosci. Biotechnol. Biochem., 66, 1270-1275 (2002)). Three-month-old balloon flower seedlings were inoculated with 10⁷ cfu/ml of strain CY22R3, a rifampicin-resistant strain of CY22, and external and internal root colonization was assessed 2 and 4 weeks later. After inoculation, large numbers of bacteria were observed on the root surface by scanning electron microscopy. More detailed studies using optical and transmission electron microscopy confirmed that Bacillus sp. CY22 was endophytically established within intercellular spaces, cortical cells, and aerenchymas of root. Also, Bacillus sp. CY22 showed antibiotic activities against several phytopathogens by producing the antibiotic iturin A. In the pot test, root rot of balloon flower seedlings caused by Rhizoctonia solani was suppressed when the Bacillus sp. CY22R3 was inoculated into the soil.

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  The α-galactosidase gene aga36A of Clostridium stercorarium F-9 was cloned, sequenced, and expressed in Escherichia coli. The aga36A gene consists of 2,208 nucleotides encoding a protein of 736 amino acids with a predicted molecular weight of 84,786. Aga36A is an enzyme classified in family 36 of the glycoside hydrolases and showed sequence similarity with some enzymes of family 36 such as Geobacillus (formerly Bacillus) stearothermophilus GalA (57%) and AgaN (52%). The enzyme purified from a recombinant E. coli is optimally active at 70°C and pH 6.0. The enzyme hydrolyzed raffinose and guar gum with specific activities of 3.0 U/mg and 0.46 U/mg for the respective substrates.

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  Aspergillus kawachii produces two kinds of α-amylase, one is an acid-unstable α-amylase and the other is an acid-stable α-amylase. Because the quality of the shochu depends strongly on the activities of the α-amylases, the culture conditions under which these α-amylases are produced were examined. In liquid culture, acid-unstable α-amylase was produced abundantly, but, acid-stable α-amylase was not produced. The acid-unstable α-amylase was produced significantly when glycerol or glucose was used as a carbon source, similarly to the use of inducers such as starch or maltose. In liquid culture, A. kawachii assimilated starch at pH 3.0, but no α-amylase activity was recognized in the medium. Instead, the α-amylase was found to be trapped in the cell wall. The trapped form was identified as acid-unstable α-amylase. Usually, acid-unstable α-amylase is unstable at pH 3.0, so its stability appeared to be due to its immobilization in the cell wall. In solid-state culture, both kinds of α-amylase were produced. The production of acid-stable α-amylase seems to be solid-state culture-specific and was affected by the moisture content in the solid medium.

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  A DNA microarray technique was used to demonstrate global changes in the transcription pattern of translation-associated genes that encode fifty-four ribosomal proteins including a putative ribosomal gene, and eleven translation factors in sporulating B. subtilis. We found that the mRNA levels of nine genes involved in the translation system, which include the genes for three ribosomal proteins (rpmA, rpmGB, and ctc) and two translation factors (efp, and frr), were maintained at a high level at the onset of sporulation. The ypfD gene, which encodes the ribosomal protein S1 homologue, was also found to be expressed significantly during the early sporulation stage. In order to demonstrate the significance of these genes for sporulation, mutants were constructed using the pMutinT3 disruption vector. We detected an impaired sporulation in the mutants of rpmA (gene for the ribosomal protein L27), efp (elongation factor P), frr (ribosome recycling factor), and ypfD. The effect was especially pronounced in the efp mutant, sporulation of which was entirely abolished without affecting growth. The reduced expression of rpmGB (ribosomal protein L33) resulted in an impaired sporulation only at a high temperature (47°C). Only the rplI mutant, which encodes the ribosomal protein L9, could not be obtained, implying that its function is essential for viability. Thus, we successfully demonstrated the significance of several translation-associated genes in sporulation by using the results of the gene expression profiling.

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  The antibiotic acivicin is a known inhibitor of γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (γGTP). We found that acivicin can induce filamentous growth in both diploid and haploid cells of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This phenomenon is not related to the inhibition of γGTP or interference in glutathione metabolism. Interestingly, yeasts used in the brewing industry are more sensitive to acivicin, suggesting that this dimorphological differentiation may be related to some characteristics of these particular strains.

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  In this study, we consider the use of hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria that degrade trans-stilbene as a novel approach for synthesizing potentially bioactive hydroxylated stilbenes. A trans-stilbene-degrading bacterium, MN2, was isolated from activated sludge through enrichment culture, and identified as Pseudomonas fluorescens using conventional techniques. Degradation of trans-stilbene by this strain yielded two metabolites that had significant antioxidant activity.

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  Approximately 260 mg/l of authentic recombinant human pleiotrophin (rhPTN) was expressed into the medium of high-cell density fermentation using a Pichia pastoris protein expression system. The prepro-sequence of yeast α-mating factor was used successfully. The recombinant hPTN was efficiently recovered from the medium by expanded bed adsorption, and purified using successive column chromatography steps. In the purified rhPTN preparation, modified rhPTN were scarcely detected. Circular dichroism measurement of the purified PTN showed the presence of the characteristic β-structures in the protein.

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  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.

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