Distribution of gamma-glutamyl-beta-alanylhistidine isopeptide in the macromolecular fractions of commercial meat extracts and correlation with the color of the macromolecular fractions

The measurement of gamma-glutamyl-beta-alanylhistidine isopeptide in the macromolecular fraction of various commercial meat extracts indicated that all of the commercial meat extracts tested contained the isopeptide, in concentrations ranging from 0.04 to 0.87 micromol/g of dry matter. This variation was suggested to be due to the differences between the processes of extraction and the differences in the initial amounts of carnosine. A positive correlation between the content of gamma-glutamyl-beta-alanylhistidine and the color of the macromolecular fraction was observed. These results suggested that gamma-glutamyl-beta-alanylhistidine is widely distributed in meat products and that the content can be used as an index of protein denaturation during the heating process.     

Sulfuric acid bleaching of kraft pulp 1: Bleaching of hardwood and softwood kraft pulps

To develop a new nonchlorine bleaching technology, hardwood and softwood kraft pulps, before and after oxygen-alkali predelignification, were treated with dilute sulfuric acid solutions (pH 1.0-1.8) at 100°C for 1 h and then extracted with aqueous sodium hydroxide at 70°C for l h. Hardwood kraft pulp was successfully bleached. The delignification selectivity was similar to that seen with oxygen-alkali bleaching; and it was greatly enhanced by the addition of sodium nitrate and sodium nitrite. The sulfuric acid bleaching can replace the presently adopted oxygen and chlorine stages if the additives are allowed. This bleaching process was also effective for oxygen-bleached hardwood kraft pulp, but it was less effective for softwood kraft pulp and oxygen-bleached softwood kraft pulp. The effectiveness of the addition of sodium nitrate and sodium nitrite was more apparent for softwood kraft pulp than for hardwood kraft pulp.Part of this report was presented at the 7th International Symposium on Wood and Pulping Chemistry, Beijing, July 1993     

Quantification of relative flying fish paste content in the processed seafood ago-noyaki using real-time PCR

Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis of the 3′-portion of the mitochondrial 16S RNA gene (rDNA) coding sequence was used to determine flying fish paste in ago-noyaki. We quantified the amount of flying fish paste in ago-noyaki samples using flying fish-specific primers (Tobi16SF3/Tobi16SR) and universal primers (Univ16SF2/Univ16SR2). Using real-time PCR of standard ago-noyaki, a standard equation was obtained (y = 1.08x − 3.20; R ² = 0.977). This equation was then used to estimate the relative flying fish paste contents of eight commercially available ago-noyaki and two similar products. These results verified that the ago-noyaki products that had already been labeled with the E-mark deserved this status.     

Daily ration of Japanese Spanish mackerel Scomberomorus niphonius larvae

SUMMARY: Diel successive samplings of Japanese Spanish mackerel Scomberomorus niphonius larvae were conducted throughout 24 h both in the sea and in captivity in order to estimate their daily ration. Using the Elliott and Persson model, the instantaneous gastric evacuation rate was estimated from the depletion of stomach contents (% dry bodyweight) with time during the night for wild fish (3.0–11.5 mm standard length) and from starvation experiments for reared fish (8, 10, and 15 days after hatching (DAH)). Japanese Spanish mackerel is a daylight feeder and exhibited piscivorous habits from first feeding both in the sea and in captivity. Feeding activity peaked at dusk. The estimated daily ration for wild larvae were 111.1 and 127.2% in 1996 and 1997, respectively; and those for reared larvae ranged from 90.6 to 111.7% of dry bodyweight. Based on the estimated value of daily rations for reared fish, the total number of newly hatched red sea bream Pagrus major larvae preyed by a Japanese Spanish mackerel from first feeding (5 DAH) to beginning of juvenile stage (20 DAH) in captivity was calculated to be 1139–1404.     

Residual activity of clomeprop and its downward movement under laboratory conditions

The relationship between the behavior of clomeprop ([ RS ]-2-[2,4-dichloro- m -tolyloxy]propionanilide) and its residual phytotoxic activity in the soil was investigated in the laboratory with special emphasis on the concentration in the soil water. The phytotoxic activity of clomeprop on radish seedlings ( Raphanus sativus L. var. radicula cv. Akamaruhatsukadaikon), as the test plant, became greater with time after application but the inhibition was different between the two soils, which had different properties. The amount of 2-(2,4-dichloro-3-methylphenoxy)propionic acid (DMPA), a hydrolyzed and active metabolite of clomeprop, in the soil water and total soil increased with time, corresponding to the decrease in the amount of clomeprop under non-water leakage conditions. The residual phytotoxic activity of clomeprop in the soil was more highly correlated with the concentration of DMPA in the soil water than with the amount of DMPA in the total soil. In addition, a leaching column test was conducted with clomeprop and DMPA. The DMPA easily moved downward and the concentration in the soil water in the upper layer decreased with time after application. It is supposed that the downward movement of DMPA was one of the factors influencing the lasting effect of clomeprop in the field.     

Cloning of cDNAs encoding multiple subtypes of feline interferon-alpha from the feline epitherial cell line

Mammalian interferon (IFN)-alpha consists of a 23-amino acid signal peptide and a 166-amino acid mature protein. Feline (Fe) IFN-alpha has an extra unique molecule consisting of a 171-amino acid mature protein with a 5-amino acid insertion. We cloned eight new subtypes of cDNA encoding FeIFN- alpha from a feline epithelial cell line. Among all the FeIFN-alpha subtypes, including six that have previously been reported, the variations were found to be far less than those of IFN-alphas of other animals.     

Beta-cyanoalanine synthase as a molecular marker for induced resistance by fungal glycoprotein elicitor and commercial plant activators

ABSTRACT The biocontrol agent Pythium oligandrum produces glycoprotein elicitor in the cell wall fraction, designated CWP, and induces resistance to a broad range of pathogens. To understand the mechanism of CWP-induced resistance to pathogens, gene expression at the early stage of CWP treatment in tomato roots was analyzed using a cDNA array. At 4 h after CWP treatment, 144 genes were up-regulated and 99 genes were down-regulated. In the 144 up-regulated genes, nine genes exhibited about eightfold increased expression. Analysis of the response of these nine genes to three commercial plant activators indicated that a high level of one gene, beta-cyanoalanine synthase gene (LeCAS) encoding hydrogen cyanide (HCN) detoxification enzyme, was stably induced in tomato roots by such treatment. However, expression of LeCAS was not significantly induced in tomato roots at 4 h by abiotic stresses, whereas only a very low level of induction of such expression by cold stress was observed. This LeCAS expression was also induced after exogenous treatment with a low level of 1-amino-cyclopropane-1-carboxylate as the precursor of ethylene, but not with either salicylic acid or methyl jas-monate. The induction of LeCAS expression in CWP-treated and plant activator-treated roots is likely to be caused by the detoxification of HCN during ethylene production. Transient activation of LeCAS expression caused by ethylene production in tomato roots may be a general phenomenon in fungal elicitor-induced and synthetic plant activator-induced resistance. LeCAS seems to be useful for screening possible novel plant activators for plant protection against pathogens.     

Effects of hypothalamic dopamine (DA) on salsolinol (SAL)‐induced prolactin (PRL) secretion in male goats

The aim of the present study was to clarify the effects of hypothalamic dopamine (DA) on salsolinol (SAL)‐induced prolactin (PRL) release in goats. The PRL‐releasing response to an intravenous (i.v.) injection of SAL was examined after treatment with augmentation of central DA using carbidopa (carbi) and L‐dopa in male goats under 8‐h (8 h light, 16 h dark) or 16‐h (16 h light, 8 h dark) photoperiod conditions. The carbi and L‐dopa treatments reduced basal PRL concentrations in the 16‐h photoperiod group (P < 0.05), while a reduction was not observed in the 8‐h photoperiod group. The mean basal plasma PRL concentration in the control group for the 8‐h photoperiod was lower than that for the 16‐h photoperiod (P < 0.05). SAL significantly stimulated the release of PRL promptly after the injection in both the 8‐ and 16‐h photoperiod groups (P < 0.05). PRL‐releasing responses for the 16‐h photoperiod were greater than those for the 8‐h photoperiod (P < 0.05). The carbi and L‐dopa treatments blunted SAL‐induced PRL release in both the 8‐ and 16‐h photoperiods (P < 0.05). These results indicate that hypothalamic DA blunts the SAL‐induced release of PRL in male goats, regardless of the photoperiod, which suggests that both SAL and DA are involved in regulating the secretion of PRL in goats.     

An antifungal agent inhibits an aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase by trapping tRNA in the editing site

Aminoacyl-transfer RNA (tRNA) synthetases, which catalyze the attachment of the correct amino acid to its corresponding tRNA during translation of the genetic code, are proven antimicrobial drug targets. We show that the broad-spectrum antifungal 5-fluoro-1,3-dihydro-1-hydroxy-2,1-benzoxaborole (AN2690), in development for the treatment of onychomycosis, inhibits yeast cytoplasmic leucyl-tRNA synthetase by formation of a stable tRNA(Leu)-AN2690 adduct in the editing site of the enzyme. Adduct formation is mediated through the boron atom of AN2690 and the 2'- and 3'-oxygen atoms of tRNA's3'-terminal adenosine. The trapping of enzyme-bound tRNA(Leu) in the editing site prevents catalytic turnover, thus inhibiting synthesis of leucyl-tRNA(Leu) and consequentially blocking protein synthesis. This result establishes the editing site as a bona fide target for aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase inhibitors.     

Effects of earthworm casts and compost on soil microbial activity and plant nutrient availability

Vermicomposting differs from conventional composting because the organic material is processed by the digestive systems of worms. The egested casts can be used to improve the fertility and physical characteristics of soil and potting media. In this study, the effects of earthworm casts (EW), conventional compost (CP) and NPK inorganic fertilizer (FT) amendments on N mineralization rates, microbial respiration, and microbial biomass were investigated in a laboratory incubation study. A bioassay with wheat (Triticum aestivium L.) was also conducted to assess the amendment effects on plant growth and nutrient uptake and to validate the nutrient release results from the incubation study. Both microbial respiration and biomass were significantly greater in the CP treatment compared to EW treatment for the initial 35 days of incubation followed by similar respiration rates and biomass to the end of the study at 70 days of incubation. Soil NO₃⁻ increased rapidly in the EW and CP treatments in the initial 30 days of incubation, attaining 290 and 400 mg N kg⁻¹ soil, respectively. Nitrate in the EW treatment then declined to 120 mg N kg⁻¹ soil by day 70, while nitrate in the CP treatment remained high. While ammonium levels decreased in the CP treatment as nitrate level increased with increasing incubation time, a low level of ammonium was maintained in the EW treatment throughout the incubation. The wheat bioassay study included two additional cast treatments (EW-N and EW2) to have treatments with higher levels of N input. Plants grown with CP or FT treatment had a lower shoot biomass and higher shoot N content than in EW-N and EW-2 treatments, and also showed symptoms of salinity stress. Ionic strength and other salinity indicators in the earthworm cast treatments were much lower than in the CP treatment, indicating a lower risk of salinity stress in casts than in compost. All cast and compost amendments significantly increased wheat P and K uptake compared to either the non-amended control or the mineral fertilizer treatment. The results show that casts are an efficient source of plant nutrients and that they are less likely to produce salinity stress in container as compared to compost and synthetic fertilizers.