Nattokinase, a Subtilisin-like Alkaline-Serine Protease, Reduces Mutacin Activity by Inactivating the Competence-Stimulating Peptide in .

is a major cariogenic organism because of its ability to form biofilms on tooth surfaces. Bacteriocins produced by (known as mutacins) are indirect pathogenic factors that play a role in the persistence of this microbe in the oral environment. Nattokinase, a subtilisin-like alkaline serine protease, potently inhibits biofilm formation without affecting growth.

Roles of membrane vesicles from Streptococcus mutans for the induction of antibodies to glucosyltransferase in mucosal immunity.

Glucosyltransferase (Gtf) B and GtfC from Streptococcus mutans are key enzymes for the development of biofilm-associated diseases such as dental caries. Gtfs are involved in membrane vesicles (MVs) and function in the formation of biofilms by initial colonizers such as Streptococcus mitis and Streptococcus oralis on the tooth surface. Therefore, MVs may be important virulence factors and targets for the prevention of biofilm-associated disease.

Neurochemical and behavioural impact of C18 fatty acids in male mice postweaning.

Dietary components, particularly essential fatty acids, affect the expression and maintenance of normal physiological phenotypes. However, the influence of C18 fatty acids that are abundantly present in the normal diet is unclear. We focused on the behavioural and neurochemical effects of C18 fatty acids during postweaning development in male mice.

Homozygous and heterozygous GH transgenesis alters fatty acid composition and content in the liver of Amago salmon (Oncorhynchus masou ishikawae).

Growth hormone (GH) transgenic Amago (Oncorhynchus masou ishikawae), containing the sockeye GH1 gene fused with metallothionein-B promoter from the same species, were generated and the physiological condition through lipid metabolism compared among homozygous (Tg/Tg) and heterozygous GH transgenic (Tg/+) Amago and the wild type control (+/+). Previously, we have reported that the adipose tissue was generally smaller in GH transgenic fish compared to the control, and that the Δ-6 fatty acyl desaturase gene was down-regulated in the Tg/+ fish. However, fatty acid (FA) compositions have not been measured previously in these fish.

Lipid and fatty acid composition of mesocarp and seed of avocado fruits harvested at northern range in Japan.

The lipid and fatty acid composition of the mesocarp and seed of avocado fruit grown and harvested in Japan, which is located at the northern range of the avacado, was investigated and compared to an imported avocado purchased commercially. The potential of the avocado mesocarp as an agricultural product in Japan was also explored. Total lipids (TL) accounted for approximately 20% of the mesocarp.

Hypoxia-induced changes in tight junction permeability of brain capillary endothelial cells are associated with IL-1beta and nitric oxide.

We examined whether hypoxia alone could produce changes in the permeability of brain capillary endothelial cells (EC) and whether a stimulation of hypoxic status alters the gene expression of occludin and glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1). Exposure of EC to hypoxia resulted in increased permeability, with the greatest decrease in transendothelial electrical resistance (TER) at 40 h. Moreover, hypoxia alone induced the expression of both mRNA in EC.

Sphingosine 1-phosphate induces the production of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor and cellular proliferation in astrocytes.

Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) is a platelet-derived bioactive sphingolipid that evokes a variety of biological responses. To understand the role of S1P in the central nervous system, we have examined the effect of S1P on the production of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and growth regulation of cortical astrocytes from rat embryo. Moreover, we examined the possibility that the expression of GDNF is regulated differently in cultured astrocytes from the stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHRSP) than in those from Wistar kyoto rats (WKY).