Free radical scavenging ability and structure of a 90-kDa protein from the scallop shell

We have previously reported that the scallop shell extract possesses free radical scavenging activity. In this study, we isolated a glycoprotein with a molecular weight of approximately 90 kDa (named 90-kDa protein) which showed 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical and superoxide anion radical scavenging, reducing, and ferrous ion-chelating activities. Amino acid composition analysis showed that the 90-kDa protein was rich in Asx (Asp or Asn), Ser and Gly residues. A BLAST search of partial amino acid sequences determined by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization tandem time-of-flight mass spectrometry revealed that the 90-kDa protein is a novel protein. The 90-kDa protein is a yellow protein that contains fluorescent substances. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a radical scavenging protein from the scallop shell.     

冰藏鲢的鲜度变化对其鱼糜凝胶作用的影响

通过比较不同冰藏时间的鲢所制鱼糜在各种加热温度下的凝胶化和凝胶劣化的特性,考察了鲢的鲜度变化与鱼糜凝胶作用能力的关系。实验结果表明：冰藏０￣９天鲢鱼糜,在３０℃低温一段加热时凝胶的形成与链鲜度关系不大;８５℃一段加热时,凝胶化能力随鲜度下降而降低;３０￣８５℃二段加热与３０℃一段加热相比,两者凝胶破断强度之间的差值随鲢鲜度的下降而减小;６０℃加热条件下,凝胶劣化程度随原料鲜度下降而明显加剧。据此可见：鲜度对鲢鱼糜凝胶作用能力的影响主要表现在凝胶劣化方面。８５℃高温一段加热和３０￣８５℃二段加热的凝胶强度之所以受鲜度下降而影响,都是由于加热时经过了易劣化的６０℃温度区所致。从总体上看,鲢肉蛋白质在冰藏条件下较为稳定,保持较强的凝胶化能力。     

Identification of a resistant protein from scallop shell extract and its bile acid-binding activity

In this study, we showed that feeding rats the organic extract of scallop shells (scallop shell extract) caused a decrease in the weights of white adipose tissues in rats fed a high-fat diet. In addition, the cholesterol concentration in the serum of rats that received a diet containing scallop shell extract was significantly lower than that in the serum of rats on the control diet. Feeding this scallop shell extract to rats increased the fecal weight as well as the fecal excretion of bile acids. The amino acid composition of the feces from rats fed the scallop shell extract was different from that of feces from rats fed the control diet, and treatment of the extract with pepsin and pancreatin identified a protein with a molecular weight of 90 kDa (90-kDa protein) as one of the indigestible proteins. Interestingly the 90-kDa protein was found to be identical to a free radical-scavenging protein we previously identified and showed the ability to bind bile acids. These results suggest that indigestible proteins (resistant proteins) in the scallop shell extract, including the 90-kDa protein, inhibit the absorption of bile acid by binding to it and cause increased excretion of fecal bile acid, which subsequently may decrease the serum cholesterol level.     

Age-related changes in bone mineral density, cross-sectional area and strength at different skeletal sites in male rats

Age-related changes in bone mineral density (BMD), cross-sectional area and strength strain index (SSI) of the long bones in the limbs and first lumbar vertebra of male Wistar rats were measured by a peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) method. One hundred and ten rats aged 2-30 months were used. The results indicate that the total (cortical + trabecular), cortical and trabecular BMD values of the metaphysis and cortical BMD values of the diaphysis in the long bones varied for each bone and differed from those of the first lumbar vertebra. The total BMD of long bones showed high values at 6-21 months and then decreased, but these did not always coincide with cortical and trabecular BMD. The values of SSI in the long bones varied. The values of total and cortical BMD and SSI of lumbar vertebra increased for 6-12 months and then decreased, but the trabecular BMD increased after 12 months. The total area in both the long bones and the first lumbar vertebra increased with the decrease in cortical area and the increase in the trabecular area with increasing age. It was concluded that age-related changes in bones, similar to those observed in humans, could be observed in some bones and parameters, although the age in rats when the so-called peak bone mass appears in the whole skeleton could not be clearly determined.     

Serum activities of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase and bone specific alkaline phosphatase as indices of bone metabolism in the cow

The correlation between the serum hydroxyproline concentration and serum activity levels of TRAP and BALP was examined in 41 cows. The correlated coefficient (r) was 0.6391 for TRAP and 0.3147 for BALP, respectively. Judging from the significant correlation to the serum hydroxyproline concentration, serum TRAP activity is an index for bone metabolism in cows. Serum TRAP activity was therefore measured in 205 healthy cows (2-9 years old) in order to observe the changes in bone resorption with aging and milk production. TRAP levels differed slightly between group A (< or =4 yrs) and B (5 yrs< or =) at the same stage of lactation. The activity levels rose slightly at the height of lactation stage and during the dry stage.     

Cultivation of shiitake in sugi wood meal II: effects of seasoning treatment for wood meal on mycelial growth

The effects of seasoning treatment for fresh sugi wood meal on the mycelial growth of shiitake was investi-gated. The mycelial growth of shiitake in sugi wood meal increased to the same level as that in extract-free sugi wood meal on the 12th day and to approximately 70% of that in konara wood meal on the 28th day of the seasoning treatment. A drastic decrease in extracts of fresh sugi wood meal occurred during the early stage of treatment, and the neutral fraction of methanol extracts decreased to less than 2%. The drainage of sugi wood meal media significantly increased during the later stage of treatment. No changes in the chemical components of sugi wood meal were detected during the seasoning treatment. The mycelial growth of shiitake in the fully seasoned sugi wood meal, which was prepared for commercial mushroom cultivation, was at almost the same level as that in the extract-free sugi wood meal. All of the seasoned sugi wood meals contained a neutral fraction of less than 1%. These results suggested that seasoning treatment can promote mycelial growth of shiitake in sugi wood meal by eliminating inhibitors and improving the physical properties of sugi wood.Part of this paper was presented at the 49th Annual Meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, Tokyo, April 1999     

The response of ectomycorrhizal fungi on Pinus densiflora seedling roots to liquid culture

Japanese red pine (Pinus densiflora) seedlings taken from a nursery were grown in liquid culture with all roots entirely submerged in water. The aims of the present study were to observe the reactions of preformed ectomycorrhizae to liquid culture and to examine new infections by ectomycorrhizal fungi on newly formed root tips in liquid culture. Inoculation levels were controlled by trimming the ectomycorrhizal roots to one of three selected root lengths. The results showed that the mantles of pre-formed ectomycorrhizae were lost during the 8 weeks of the liquid culture and that these preformed root tips became blackish and wrinkled, but Hartig nets remained in these blackish root tips. On the newly formed lateral root tips, no ectomycorrhizal mantles were formed, although Hartig nets were found. In addition, the level of inoculum did not affect the frequency of Hartig nets in newly formed root tips, suggesting that the density of inoculum was more important than the amount of inoculum for new infection. In conclusion, ectomycorrhizal fungi endured and infected new roots while submerged; however, only Hartig nets were formed and not mantles.     

Effect of board density on bending properties and dimensional stabilities of MDF-reinforced corrugated particleboard

We investigated the bending properties of composite boards produced by reinforcing both sides of corrugated particleboard with medium-density fiberboard (MDF). Thickness swelling and linear expansion (LE) were measured to assess the dimensional stabilities of the composite board. Although the apparent density of the composite board was 0.48g/cm³, its strength was found to be equivalent to that of 18-type particleboard as described in JIS A 5908. The boards parallel/perpendicular anisotropy in strength was 0.9. The modulus of rupture (MOR) of the composite board increased with board density only up to a certain density, beyond which the MOR was constant. On the other hand, the thickness swelling of both corrugated particleboard and the composite board was smaller than that of flat-type particleboard, satisfying the JIS A 5908 standard of 12%. Linear expansion (soaking in water of ordinary temperature for 24h) of corrugated particleboard was 0.7%–0.9% in the parallel direction and 2.1%–3.1% in the perpendicular direction; hence, anisotropy in linear expansion existed in the corrugated particleboard. The linear expansion of the composite board was 0.6%–0.9% in the parallel direction and 1.8%–2.5% in the perpendicular direction. Although the LE of the composite board was lower than that of corrugated particleboard, it is necessary to improve the LE of composite board for practical use.     

Changes in estrogen receptor expression in the chick thymus during late embryonic development

In chickens, although estrogen receptors (ER) are reported to be associated with the immunological processes, detailed information about the differences in ER expression in the tissues related to the development of lymphocytes is not fully known, especially during the developmental stage. To learn more about this immunological relationship, we used semi‐quantitative polymerase chain reaction method to detect the ER expression levels in the thymus tissues of chicks during the developmental stage. Furthermore, ER‐expressing cells were detected by immunohistochemistry. The results of this study show that the expression level of ER increased on embryonic day 16 and decreased on day 20. Furthermore, ER expression was significantly higher in male than in female chickens at day 16. The increased expression on day 16 and decreased level on day 20 were also reproduced in the incidence of immunoreactive cells, although there was a 1‐day delay in the elevated incidence of the cells. This study revealed the changes in ER expression and the incidence of ER‐positive cells in the thymus of chickens during the developmental stage.     

Characterization of a cDNA encoding a homolog of actin-related protein 4 from a marine red alga Porphyra yezoensis

ABSTRACT:   A cDNA ( PyARP4 ) containing an open reading frame for a protein of 573 amino acids was identified in the marine red alga Porphyra yezoensis . The conceptual PyARP4 protein exhibits significant similarity to actin-related protein (ARP) 4 in the terrestrial plant Arabidopsis . Comparison of the deduced amino acid sequence showed moderate sequence identity (30%) to a conventional actin in P. yezoensis , as seen in comparisons between ARP and conventional actins of other organisms. A putative bipartite nuclear localization signal and an actin motif were found within the PyARP4 amino acid sequence. In a phylogenetic analysis, the PyARP4 was found to cluster with the ARP4 of other organisms. The expression level of PyARP4 did not change significantly among four developmental stages of life cycle and was lower than that of a conventional actin. This cDNA therefore may serve as a useful internal standard in gene expression analyses of differentially expressed genes in P. yezoensis .