Protein characterizations and immunological properties of the low-molecular-mass protein A isolated from Staphylococcus aureus KS 1034.

The extracellular low-molecular-mass protein A isolated from Staphylococcus aureus KS 1034 was analyzed for its amino acid contents and terminal amino acid sequences. The C-terminal and the N-terminal amino acid sequences of the low-molecular-mass protein A were -Asn-Ala-Phe and Ala-Gln-His-Asp-Glu-Ala-Gln-, respectively. For immunochemical properties, the low-molecular-mass protein A was similar to protein A isolated from S. aureus Cowan I. Extracellular protease activity of KS 1034 strain was considerably lower than S. aureus C-30 isolated from chicken that produced the extracellular low-molecular-mass protein A.     

Carotenoid Nostoxanthin Production by Sphingomonas sp. SG73 Isolated from Deep Sea Sediment

Carotenoids are used commercially for dietary supplements, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals because of their antioxidant activity. In this study, colored microorganisms were isolated from deep sea sediment that had been collected from Suruga Bay, Shizuoka, Japan. One strain was found to be a pure yellow carotenoid producer, and the strain was identified as Sphingomonas sp. (Proteobacteria) by 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis; members of this genus are commonly isolated from air, the human body, and marine environments. The carotenoid was identified as nostoxanthin ((2,3,2′,3′)-β,β-carotene-2,3,2′,3′-tetrol) by mass spectrometry (MS), MS/MS, and ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy (UV-Vis). Nostoxanthin is a poly-hydroxy yellow carotenoid isolated from some photosynthetic bacteria, including some species of Cyanobacteria. The strain Sphingomonas sp. SG73 produced highly pure nostoxanthin of approximately 97% (area%) of the total carotenoid production, and the strain was halophilic and tolerant to 1.5-fold higher salt concentration as compared with seawater. When grown in 1.8% artificial sea salt, nostoxanthin production increased by 2.5-fold as compared with production without artificial sea salt. These results indicate that Sphingomonas sp. SG73 is an efficient producer of nostoxanthin, and the strain is ideal for carotenoid production using marine water because of its compatibility with sea salt.     

Atresia in temperate basses: cloning of hatching enzyme (choriolysin) homologues from atretic ovaries

Partial cDNAs encoding homologues of choriolysin were cloned from striped bass embryos and from atretic ovaries of white perch. Among these clones, one of the ovarian homologues may be a candidate bio-marker for detecting onset of atresia. Early detection of atresia may allow affected broodfish to be reproduced before they undergo complete reproductive failure.     

Carbon and Nitrogen Transport during Grain Filling in Rice Under High-temperature Conditions

Rice ( Oryza sativa cv. Koshihikari) seedlings were grown in a sandy dune soil in pots with a basal dressing of N (0.5 g N), P and K. Two N treatments were applied, a +N treatment in which a top dressing of ¹⁵N-labeled 0.5 g N was supplied on July 20 and a −N treatment in which no additional fertilizer was supplied. During the grain-filling stage from August 6 to 13, plants were subjected to one of three temperature treatments; controlled low temperature, LT (day/night 28/23 °C), controlled high temperature, HT (35/30 °C) and uncontrolled glasshouse temperature, UT (day/night averages, 38/26 °C). All plants were then exposed to ¹³CO₂ for 1 h on August 11 in a growth chamber at 25 °C. On August 13, all plants were harvested and the ¹³C and ¹⁵N abundances and starch and sugar concentrations in the ears, shoots and roots were determined. The ¹³C content of the ear was lower in UT than in LT irrespective of the +N or −N treatment. The translocation of ¹⁵N to the ears was also slightly depressed in UT compared with LT. Under high-temperature conditions (HT and UT), the starch content per plant was reduced for −N, but for +N, it was not significantly different among the temperature treatments. A high accumulation of sucrose was observed in all plant parts under UT conditions. It is suggested that extreme high day temperatures during the grain-filling period may reduce starch synthesis in the grains and, especially so under N-deficient conditions. High temperatures also induce an accumulation of sucrose and a decrease in carbon and nitrogen transport from the shoots to the ears via the phloem.     

The relative importance of lunar phase and environmental conditions on striped marlin (Tetrapturus audax) catches in sport fishing

We used generalized additive mixed models to analyze data on striped marlin (Tetrapturus audax) catches in Baja California sport fisheries (1987–1989) to investigate the relative importance of lunar phase, sea surface temperature (SST), El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) index, and vessel effects on catch per unit effort (CPUE). The results indicate that the moon phase has no or little (<1% of variance explained) influence on CPUE. In contrast, both SST (10%) and ENSO (6%) influenced CPUE positively. While most of the variation in CPUE remains unexplained (53%), the vessel identity explained small (ca. 1.5%) but significant amount of variance in CPUE. Hence, sport fishermen wishing to maximise their striped marlin catches would best plan their trips on the basis of weather conditions and boat/crew identities, rather than on the basis of lunar phase.     

Myofibrillar proteolysis by myofibril-bound serine protease from white croaker <Emphasis Type="Italic">Argyrosomus argentatus</Emphasis>

ABSTRACT:   The modori phenomenon is defined as heat-induced myofibrillar degradation caused by endogenous serine protease(s) of fish muscle during Kamaboko fish meat gel production. This study was undertaken to analyze myofibrillar proteolysis of white croaker Argyrosomus argentatus muscle, which is an ingredient of high quality Kamaboko, by myofibril-bound serine protease (MBSP) under conditions corresponding to the modori phenomenon. White croaker MBSP was stable between pH 2–11 and below 65°C, and about 60% of its initial activity remained after incubation for 2 h under the conditions at 65°C and pH 7.5. About 60% of the enzyme activity was suppressed by 0.5 M NaCl. White croaker MBSP degraded various myofibrillar proteins between 40 and 70°C and pH 6.0–9.0, and preferentially degraded myosin heavy chain rather than other myofibrillar proteins. The enzyme degraded the myosin heavy chain most strongly at 55°C and pH 7.0, and a major part of the bands of myosin heavy chain and its degradation products disappeared for a period of 2 h. These degradation characteristics are very similar to those observed during the modori phenomenon, indicating that MBSP could be a modori-inducing protease involved in the modori phenomenon of white croaker Kamaboko production.     

Cortisol induces masculinization of XX medaka through gonadal soma-derived growth factor (GSDF) and anti-Müllerian hormone receptor type 2 (AMHR2)

The medaka Oryzias latipes is a teleost fish with an XX/XY sex determination system similar to that of mammals. However, under high-temperature conditions, XX medaka are masculinized by an elevation of the key teleost glucocorticoid, cortisol. Cortisol inhibits female-type proliferation of germ cells and induces masculinization of XX medaka during gonadal sex differentiation. To identify masculinization mechanisms downstream of cortisol, we analysed the functions of gonadal soma-derived growth factor (gsdf) and anti-Müllerian hormone receptor type 2 (amhr2); these genes are known to play important roles in the inhibition of germ cell proliferation and male differentiation. We investigated the impact of gsdf and amhr2 on the proliferation of germ cells using gsdf knockout (KO) and amhr2 KO medaka. At hatching stage, loss of gsdf or amhr2 function recovered female-type proliferation in germ cells under cortisol treatment. Moreover, cortisol treatment of gsdf KO or amhr2 KO medaka did not induce masculinization of XX medaka. These results suggest that cortisol inhibits female-type proliferation of germ cells and induces masculinization of XX medaka through GSDF and AMHR2. This study thereby provides the first evidence that GSDF and AMHR2 are involved in cortisol-induced masculinization.

     

Variation in Amylase Activities in Radish (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Raphanus sativus</Emphasis>) Cultivars

The radish (Raphanus sativus) is a root vegetable of the Brassicaceae family which shows amylolytic activity in the taproot. However, there is little information about differences in these amylolytic activities among radish cultivars. We analyzed the amylase activities and starch contents of 7 kinds of radish cultivars. The Koshin cultivar showed the highest amylase activity, with a level approximately 6 times higher than that of the Sobutori cultivar, which had the lowest. Cultivars with higher amylase activities showed higher starch contents. These results suggest that there are intraspecies variations in amylolytic activities in radishes, and positive correlations between amylase activity and starch content.     

儿茶素抗氧化作用的协同增效效应

用电子自旋共振(ESR)和化学发光技术,研究了(-)-EGCG、(-)-ECG、(-)-EC、(-)-EGC 4种儿茶素及其不同组合,对超氧阴离子自由基(O(?))的清除作用。结果表明,单一儿茶素以(-)-EGCG 的清除能力最强,其纳摩尔清除率为316.3,其次为(-)-ECG,纳摩尔清除率为262.9;两两不同组合对O(?)的清除率以(-)-EGCG+(-)-ECG 效果最佳,比各自单独存在时要增效,三三组合时以(-)-EGCG+(-)-ECG+(-)-EC 组合效果最佳,增效效果明显,且强于两两组合。这些组合的增效效果与体系中存在的儿茶素的摩尔浓度呈高度的线性正相关。4种儿茶素组成不同的比例,以茶叶天然组成增效效果最明显。用伏安法测得的各儿茶素第一还原电位由高到低的次序为:(-)-EGCG>(-)-ECG>(-)-EGC≈(-)-EC,这一电位次序是儿茶素构成抗氧化循环的根本所在。