Cloning of Aspergillus oryzae Aovps5 gene, homologous to vacuolar protein sorting associated gene VPS5 and construction of the disruptant.

Aovps5 gene was isolated from Aspergillus oryzae as a homologue to S. cerevisiae VPS5 gene which encodes a polypeptide consisting of 451 amino acids that is nearly 32% homologous to Vps5p. Three Aovps5 gene disruptants were generated and they showed higher activity of tripeptidyl peptidase, which is mainly detected in vacuoles, in their culture medium.

Effect of Maillard reacted peptides on human salt taste and the amiloride-insensitive salt taste receptor (TRPV1t).

Maillard reacted peptides (MRPs) were synthesized by conjugating a peptide fraction (1000-5000 Da) purified from soy protein hydrolyzate with galacturonic acid, glucosamine, xylose, fructose, or glucose. The effect of MRPs was investigated on human salt taste and on the chorda tympani (CT) taste nerve responses to NaCl in Sprague-Dawley rats, wild-type, and transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) knockout mice. MRPs produced a biphasic effect on human salt taste perception and on the CT responses in rats and wild-type mice in the presence of NaCl + benzamil (Bz, a blocker of epithelial Na+ channels), enhancing the NaCl response at low concentrations and suppressing it at high concentrations.