Glycosylation of genistin into soluble inclusion complex form of cyclic glucans by enzymatic modification

The enzymatic modification of genistin to enhance its water solubility was studied using two glycosyltransferases, cyclodextrin glucanotransferase from alkalophilic Bacillus sp. I-5 and 4-alpha-glucanotransferase from Thermus scotoductus. Two different catalytic reactions, the transglycosylation and cyclization activities, were observed when the reaction was performed with soluble starch as a donor and genistin as an acceptor. The reaction products were isolated and identified as [Glc(alpha1-4)](1-22)-Glc(beta1-7)-genisteins and cycloamylose with DP 8-12 by HPLC and MALDI-TOF MS. A beta-amylase treatment revealed inclusion complexes composed of Glc(alpha1-4)-Glc(beta1-7)-genistein/Glc(alpha1-4)-Glc(alpha1-4)-Glc(beta1-7)-genistein and cycloamylose with DP 8-12. The results indicated that the cycloamylose formed by the cyclization reaction of the enzyme included Glc(alpha1-4)-Glc(beta1-7)-genistein/Glc(alpha1-4)-Glc(alpha1-4)-Glc(beta1-7)-genistein. The presence of cycloamylopectin, in which the Glc(alpha1-4)-Glc(beta1-7)-genistein/Glc(alpha1-4)-Glc(alpha1-4)-Glc(beta1-7)-genistein was enclosed, was also observed with HPLC, HPSEC-MALLS, and MALDI-TOF MS analyses. The solubility of genistin was highly improved, and the solution containing glycosylated genistin and the inclusion complex demonstrated excellent properties of transparency and stability during storage at 4 degrees C.     

Seismostratigraphy and thermal structure of Earth's core-mantle boundary region

We used three-dimensional inverse scattering of core-reflected shear waves for large-scale, high-resolution exploration of Earth's deep interior (D') and detected multiple, piecewise continuous interfaces in the lowermost layer (D') beneath Central and North America. With thermodynamic properties of phase transitions in mantle silicates, we interpret the images and estimate in situ temperatures. A widespread wave-speed increase at 150 to 300 kilometers above the coremantle boundary is consistent with a transition from perovskite to postperovskite. Internal D' stratification may be due to multiple phase-boundary crossings, and a deep wave-speed reduction may mark the base of a postperovskite lens about 2300 kilometers wide and 250 kilometers thick. The core-mantle boundary temperature is estimated at 3950 +/- 200 kelvin. Beneath Central America, a site of deep subduction, the D' is relatively cold (DeltaT = 700 +/- 100 kelvin). Accounting for a factor-of-two uncertainty in thermal conductivity, core heat flux is 80 to 160 milliwatts per square meter (mW m(-2)) into the coldest D' region and 35 to 70 mW m(-2) away from it. Combined with estimates from the central Pacific, this suggests a global average of 50 to 100 mW m(-2) and a total heat loss of 7.5 to 15 terawatts.     

Fiber formation model for PVP (polyvinyl pyrrolidone) electrospinning. I. Critical voltage

The major concern in electrospinning process is the occurrence of jet formation. In order to study the physical properties of the solution and process parameters, critical voltage models in electrospinning are presented. Critical voltage models are developed to predict the onset of electrospinning. Rayleigh’s instability phenomena at the moment of droplet shape change, Zeleny’s research for relationship between surface tension and electric field, and Taylor’s critical voltage model are the theoretical backgrounds of this proposition. SIC 1, SIC 2, GSP models are suggested to calculate the critical voltage according to the shapes of polymer drop. This newly developed critical voltage model for polymer jet during electrospinning could predict other processing parameters, such as, TCD, radius and length of nozzle, and is verified by comparing experimental values using polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) solution through electrospinning.     

Fiber formation model for electrospinning. III. Critical fiber formation

The major concern on this study is the possibilities of polymer solution being continuous fiber form or separate small polymer bid form under the high electric field. Former case is the electrospinning and latter is the electrospraying. A formability model for electrospinning is suggested considering physical properties of the polymer solution and process parameters. This formability model is developed to predict onset of electrospinning. Formability is based on spinnability theories of C. D. Han and Ziabicki’s works. The results show that formability is determined by surface tension, viscosity of solution and radius of nozzle. The fiber diameters calculated through this newly developed formability model is presented and compared with the experimental data using electrospun PVP polymer solution.     

Fiber formation model for electrospinning. II. Stable jet voltage

The major concern in electrospinning process is the occurrence of jet formation. In order to study physical properties of the solution and process parameters, stable jet voltage model is developed to predict the stabilized jet in electrospinning. Break-up frequency model, that predicts behavior of drop breaking, is the theoretical background for stable jet voltage model. This newly developed model based on the previous work gives a clue to produce stable nano thickness fibers and the results are compared with the experimental data by PVP electrospinning. The result of stable jet voltage modeling shows that surface tension is the most important factor and molecular weight and concentration are both negligible for surface tension of solutions. Surface tension of the solution depends on the types of solvent. Therefore, surface tension of solution has different values of stable jet voltage. The stable jet voltage model that predicts the most similar experimental value is SIC hemispherical model under force mode.     

Alleviating neuropathic pain hypersensitivity by inhibiting PKMzeta in the anterior cingulate cortex

Synaptic plasticity is a key mechanism for chronic pain. It occurs at different levels of the central nervous system, including spinal cord and cortex. Studies have mainly focused on signaling proteins that trigger these plastic changes, whereas few have addressed the maintenance of plastic changes related to chronic pain. We found that protein kinase M zeta (PKMζ) maintains pain-induced persistent changes in the mouse anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). Peripheral nerve injury caused activation of PKMζ in the ACC, and inhibiting PKMζ by a selective inhibitor, ζ-pseudosubstrate inhibitory peptide (ZIP), erased synaptic potentiation. Microinjection of ZIP into the ACC blocked behavioral sensitization. These results suggest that PKMζ in the ACC acts to maintain neuropathic pain. PKMζ could thus be a new therapeutic target for treating chronic pain.     

Effect of β-phenylethyl isothiocyanate from cruciferous vegetables on growth inhibition and apoptosis of cervical cancer cells through the induction of death receptors 4 and 5

Cruciferous vegetables have been shown to have the possibility to protect against multistep carcinogenesis. β-Phenylethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC) is one component of these vegetables demonstrated to help fight many types of cancer. The present study examined the apoptotic effects of PEITC and its molecular mechanism in human cervical cancer cell lines (HEp-2 and KB). PEITC induced apoptosis to inhibit cell proliferation. According to the protein chip assay, PEITC increased the expression of the death receptors (DR4 and DR5) and cleaved caspase-3 compared to the DMSO treatment group. PEITC also induced caspase-8 and truncated BID. PEITC down-regulated the phosphorylation of extracellular-related kinase (ERK)1/2, whereas neither phospho-c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinases (JNK) nor phospho-p38 MAPK was changed. The role of ERK in PEITC-induced apoptosis was also investigated using MEK inhibitor (PD98059). PD98059 increased the expression of DR4 and DR5, activated caspase-3, and cleaved PARP. In addition, PEITC decreased the phosphorylation of MEK. Therefore, the apoptotic mechanism of PEITC in cervical cancer cells involves the induction of DR4 and DR5 through the inactivation of ERK and MEK.     

Application of multibounce attenuated total reflectance fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and chemometrics for determination of aspartame in soft drinks

Aspartame is a low-calorie sweetener commonly used in soft drinks; however, the maximum usage dose is limited by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy with attenuated total reflectance sampling accessory and partial least-squares regression (PLS) was used for rapid determination of aspartame in soft drinks. On the basis of spectral characterization, the highest R2 value, and lowest PRESS value, the spectral region between 1600 and 1900 cm(-1) was selected for quantitative estimation of aspartame. The potential of FTIR spectroscopy for aspartame quantification was examined and validated by the conventional HPLC method. Using the FTIR method, aspartame contents in four selected carbonated diet soft drinks were found to average from 0.43 to 0.50 mg/mL with prediction errors ranging from 2.4 to 5.7% when compared with HPLC measurements. The developed method also showed a high degree of accuracy because real samples were used for calibration, thus minimizing potential interference errors. The FTIR method developed can be suitably used for routine quality control analysis of aspartame in the beverage-manufacturing sector.     

Antibacterial activity of xanthorrhizol from Curcuma xanthorrhiza against oral pathogens

The antibacterial activity of xanthorrhizol, isolated from the methanol extract of Curcuma xanthorrhiza roots, was evaluated against oral microorganisms in comparison with chlorhexidine.