Design and biological activity of a novel fungicide,quinofumelin

Developed by Mitsui Chemicals Agro, Inc. (Tokyo, Japan), quinofumelin is a novel fungicide with a distinct chemical structure including 3-(isoquinolin-1-yl) quinoline, demonstrating fungicidal activity against a variety of fungi, including rice blast and gray mold. We screened our compound library to identify curative compounds for rice blast and evaluated the effect of fungicide-resistant strains of gray mold. Our research demonstrated that quinofumelin has curative effects against rice blast and is not cross-resistant to existing fungicides. Accordingly, the use of quinofumelin can be considered a novel approach for disease control in agricultural production. In this report, the discovery of quinofumelin from the initial compound is described in detail.     

Centrifuged Liquid and Breadmaking Properties of Frozen‐and‐Thawed Bread Dough

Breadmaking properties (bread height, mm, and specific volume, cm³/g ) showed marked deterioration when bread dough was frozen and stored at ‐20°C for one day. However, these properties of bread dough baked after storage for three to six days were not further deteriorated as compared with that baked after one day of storage. A large amount of liquid was oozed from the frozen‐and‐thawed bread dough. The liquid was separated from the bread dough by centrifugation (38,900 × g for 120 min at 4°C), and collected by tilting the centrifuge tube at an angle of 45° for 30 min. There was a strong correlation between the amount of centrifuged liquid and breadmaking properties (bread height and specific volume). The mechanism responsible for the oozing of liquid in frozen‐and‐ thawed bread dough was studied. The presence of yeast and salt in bread dough was suggested to be closely related to the amount of centrifuged liquid, and fermented products particularly had a large effect on the amount of centrifuged liquid.     

Mechanism of visceral fat reduction in Tsumura Suzuki obese, diabetes (TSOD) mice orally administered β-cryptoxanthin from Satsuma mandarin oranges (Citrus unshiu Marc)

The carotenoid β-cryptoxanthin (β-CRX) is abundant in Satsuma mandarins (Citrus unshiu Marc). Several studies have shown a relationship between Satsuma mandarin consumption and a low risk of several diseases, for example, diabetes, gout, and hypertension, suggesting β-CRX involvement in disease prevention. We investigated the effect of β-CRX on mildly obese males. β-CRX administration reduced visceral adipose tissue, body weight, and abdominal circumference. However, the detailed mechanism by which β-CRX mediates these changes remains unknown. To identify this mechanism, we used an obese model mouse (TSOD). Oral β-CRX administration repressed body weight, abdominal adipose tissue weight, and serum lipid concentrations in TSOD; these results are identical to previous human trial results. β-CRX administration significantly repressed adipocyte hypertrophy. Gene expression analysis strongly indicated that β-CRX can alter cytokine secretion and cell proliferation. These results suggest that β-CRX derived from Satsuma mandarins can help prevent obesity by repressing hypertrophy of abdominal adipocytes.     

Spleen-Specific Development of Germinal Centers in Rats Treated with Antithyroid Drugs

The antithyroid drugs (ATDs) methimazole (MMI) and propylthiouracil (PTU) have been used for treatment of hyperthyroidism for more than several decades, despite the fact that they are associated with adverse drug reactions that are thought to be autoimmune mediated. We therefore examined histopathologic responses in the immune system in male and female rats given MMI (2, 20 and 200 mg/kg/day, p.o., in experiment 1; 200 mg/kg/day, p.o., in experiment 3) or PTU (25 and 250 mg/kg/day, p.o., in experiment 2; 200 mg/kg/day, p.o., in experiment 3) for two weeks. In experiments 1 and 2, highest doses of MMI and PTU induced histopathologic changes in the spleen consistent with those in experiment 3 without any changes in the other peripheral lymphoid organs and tissues. In experiment 3, histopathological evaluation of the spleen along with hematological and bone marrow examinations were performed. In both male and female rats, MMI or PTU induced histopathological changes in the spleen characterized by development of germinal centers and an increase in the number of IgG-positive plasma cells in the red pulp; these changes were most prevalent in the MMI-treated female rats. Total red and white blood cell counts were decreased in the MMI-treated male and female rats; lymphocytes and monocytes were lower in male and female rats, respectively. Bone marrow nucleated cells were significantly lower in the MMI-treated males. This is the first study to demonstrate that ATDs induce spleen specific B-cell reactions in rats     

Restoration of Breadmaking Properties to Frozen Dough by Addition of Sugar and Yeast and Subsequent Processing

We prepared bread dough A (a mixture of wheat flour, sugar, salt, and water), bread dough B (a mixture of bread dough A and yeast), and bread dough C (first‐proofed, molded, and second‐proofed bread dough B) and froze them at –20°C for six days. They were thawed at 4°C for 16 hr and subjected to their breadmaking processes. The results indicated that breadmaking properties (bread height [mm] and specific volume [cm³/g]) after bread dough A and B processes were the same as those of control bread dough (unfrozen dough). However, in the case of bread dough C, the resulting bread showed depression of the properties. The amount of centrifuged liquid from thawed bread dough C increased. Sugar was added to thawed bread dough C (bread dough C‐1), and then yeast was further added to bread dough C‐1 (bread dough C‐2), and they were subjected to the breadmaking process. The results showed that the breadmaking properties of bread dough C‐2 were the same as those of the control. It was further found that when the first proof step in the bread dough C‐2 process was omitted, the breadmaking properties were depressed. Frozen and thawed bread dough C was packed into a plastic tube, and extension of the dough was compared with that of control dough under reduced pressure. Bread dough C extended to 50 mm, compared with 70 mm for control dough. First proof, mold, and second proof steps of dough C‐2 caused it to extend to the same height as control dough. It was concluded that the increased amount of the separated liquid in thawed dough C caused depression of breadmaking properties resulting from lack of water in the appropriate places to provide the expected properties, but these properties could be restored to the levels of control bread dough by the addition of sugar and yeast following the first proof, mold, and second proof steps.     

Chemotactic activity of hemocytes derived from a brackish-water clam, Corbicula japonica, to Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Escherichia coli strains.

Hemocytes from adult and juvenile specimens of a brackish-water clam, Corbicula japonica, were attracted chemotactically to live cells of Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Escherichia coli strains in a balanced salt solution, which was enhanced significantly in the presence of respective C. japonica plasma. Chemotactic attractions of adult's and juvenile's hemocytes were seen also in artificial seawater at a similar level to those in the balanced salt solution. Chemotactic attractions of juvenile's hemocytes to these strains were lower in level than those of adult's hemocytes. C. japonica plasma seems to facilitate for C. japonica hemocytes to recognize these organisms.     

Effect of the application of polluted wheat (Triticum aestivum L. Thell.) straw during plowing on the transfer of radiocesium from the soil to komatsuna (Brassica rapa L. var. perviridis)

Radioactive substances were released into the environment after the nuclear accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station; this led to the contamination of the soil at Fukushima Prefecture. Mixing of organic matter with soil during plowing is known to influence radiocesium (¹³⁴Cs and ¹³⁷Cs) absorption by crops. However, the effect of mixing organic matter polluted by radioactive substances during plowing on radiocesium absorption by plants is not yet known. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect on the radiocesium absorption by komatsuna (Brassica rapa L. var. perviridis) cultivated in a 45-L container containing Andosol (14,300 Bq kg^?1) or Gray Lowland soil (33,500 Bq kg^?1) mixed with polluted wheat (Triticum aestivum L. Thell.) straw (2080 Bq kg^?1). The radiocesium concentration of the plants and the soil and the amount of exchangeable radiocesium in the soil were determined using a germanium semiconductor. The transfer of radiocesium from the soil to plants decreased by 53 and 27% in Andosol and Gray Lowland soil, respectively, after the application of 10 t ha^?1 polluted wheat straw. This reduction in the level of radiocesium transfer might be attributed to potassium contained in the wheat straw, which might compete with cesium during membrane transport and thereby block the transport of cesium from the soil solution to the roots and from the roots to the shoots. Alternatively, the applied wheat straw probably absorbed radiocesium and decreased the amount of exchangeable radiocesium in the soil. Our findings suggest that the mixing of polluted wheat straw with contaminated soil might influence the absorption of radiocesium content by agricultural products. Further studies are warranted to determine the long-term effects of the application of polluted wheat straw on the rate of radiocesium transfer to crops.     

Chemotactic activity of hemocytes derived from two marine neritid gastropod molluscs, Nerita albicilla and Heminerita japonica, to Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Escherichia coli strains.

Hemocytes of two marine neritid gastropods, Nerita albicilla and Heminerita japonica, were attracted chemotactically to live Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Escherichia coli strains. Chemotactic attraction of N. albicilla hemocytes was enhanced in the presence of N. albicilla plasma, while that of H. japonica hemocytes was not enhanced in the presence of H. japonica plasma. Chemotactic activity of the hemocytes seems to participate in the rapid elimination of V. parahaemolyticus from these gastropods.