Convergence zones of coastal waters as hotspots for floating microplastic accumulation.

This study examines microplastic (MP, 1-5 mm) densities in convergence zones in a coastal sea, the Seto Inland Sea, comparing them to those of non-convergence zones and other areas. Notably, Seto convergence zones exhibit MP densities 40 to 300 times higher than non-convergence zones, with an extraordinary density of 3.7 ± 6.

Combining 3D Magnetic Force Actuator and Multi-Functional Fluorescence Imaging to Study Nucleus Mechanobiology.

A fundamental question in mechanobiology is how living cells sense extracellular mechanical stimuli in the context of cell physiology and pathology. The cellular mechano-sensation of extracellular mechanical stimuli is believed to be through the membrane receptors, the associated protein complex, and the cytoskeleton. Recent advances in mechanobiology demonstrate that the cell nucleus in cytoplasm itself can independently sense mechanical stimuli simultaneously.

A comparative study of carbon-platinum hybrid nanostructure architecture for amperometric biosensing.

Carbon and noble metal nanomaterials exhibit unique properties that have been explored over the last few decades for developing electrochemical sensors and biosensors. Hybridization of nanometals to carbon nanomaterials such as graphene or carbon nanotubes produces a synergistic effect on the electrocatalytic activity when compared to either material alone. However, to date there are no comparative studies that directly investigate the effects of nanocarbon concentration and nanocomposite arrangement on electron transport.

Protocol for relative hydrodynamic assessment of tri-leaflet polymer valves.

Limitations of currently available prosthetic valves, xenografts, and homografts have prompted a recent resurgence of developments in the area of tri-leaflet polymer valve prostheses. However, identification of a protocol for initial assessment of polymer valve hydrodynamic functionality is paramount during the early stages of the design process. Traditional in vitro pulse duplicator systems are not configured to accommodate flexible tri-leaflet materials; in addition, assessment of polymer valve functionality needs to be made in a relative context to native and prosthetic heart valves under identical test conditions so that variability in measurements from different instruments can be avoided.

Determination of nicotianamine in soy sauce and other plant-based foods by LC-MS/MS.

Nicotianamine is a nonproteinogenic amino acid, known to be an important metal chelator in plants. Recently, the antihypertensive effect of nicotianamine was discovered. In this study, a simple method to determine nicotianamine was developed using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) with a multimode ODS column.

Antihypertensive mechanism of a peptide-enriched soy sauce-like seasoning: the active constituents and its suppressive effect on renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system.

We previously reported that a peptide-enriched soy sauce-like seasoning called fermented soybean seasoning (FSS) demonstrated antihypertensive effects both in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and Dahl salt-sensitive rats. Angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory substances (9 kinds of dipeptides and a nicotianamine) were identified from FSS. In the present study, we clarified the mechanisms underlying the antihypertensive effects of FSS in SHR.

Syntheses of structurally-simplified and fluorescently-labeled neovibsanin derivatives and analysis of their neurite outgrowth activity in PC12 cells.

The syntheses of several neovibsanin derivatives were carried out in order to elucidate the simple structure required for displaying neurite outgrowth activity. In addition, a fluorescent probe molecule was synthesized and the analysis of its behavior in the PC12 cell line showed that the neovibsanins accumulate on the outer edge of the cell at the site of formation of prominences.

Effect of temperature on the stability of various peptidases during peptide-enriched soy sauce fermentation.

We previously developed a peptide-enriched soy sauce-like seasoning called Fermented Soybean Seasoning (FSS) with high-temperature fermentation, and we have reported the antihypertensive effects of FSS. Seryl-tyrosine (Ser-Tyr) and glycyl-tyrosine (Gly-Tyr) were identified from FSS as active constituents in the antihypertensive effects. They were found to be particularly enriched in FSS; more so than in regular soy sauce.

Determination of 4(5)-methylimidazole in soy sauce and other foods by LC-MS/MS after solid-phase extraction.

A method for the determination of 4(5)-methylimidazole (4MeI) in naturally brewed soy sauce was developed for the first time using solid-phase extraction (SPE) and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). SPE on silica-based reversed-phase cartridges with heptafluorobutyric acid as an ion-pairing reagent was used for the efficient cleanup of 4MeI. A multimode ODS column was employed for the chromatographic separation.

Development of an alternating magnetic-field-assisted finishing process for microelectromechanical systems micropore x-ray optics.

X-ray astronomy research is often limited by the size, weight, complexity, and cost of functioning x-ray optics. Micropore optics promises an economical alternative to traditional (e.g.

Antihypertensive effect of peptide-enriched soy sauce-like seasoning and identification of its angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibitory substances.

We have developed a peptide-enriched soy sauce-like seasoning termed Fermented Soybean Seasoning (FSS), by modifying the process of soy sauce brewing. The FSS has a 2.7-fold higher concentration of total peptides than regular soy sauce.

An initial step of GAS-containing autophagosome-like vacuoles formation requires Rab7.

Group A streptococcus (GAS; Streptococcus pyogenes) is a common pathogen that invades non-phagocytic human cells via endocytosis. Once taken up by cells, it escapes from the endocytic pathway to the cytoplasm, but here it is contained within a membrane-bound structure termed GAS-containing autophagosome-like vacuoles (GcAVs). The autophagosome marker GFP-LC3 associates with GcAVs, and other components of the autophagosomal pathway are involved in GcAV formation.

Stereoselective reduction of carbonyl compounds with Actinomycete: purification and characterization of three alpha-keto ester reductases from Streptomyces avermitilis.

We achieved the purification of three alpha-keto ester reductases (Streptomyces avermitilis keto ester reductase, SAKERs-I, -II, and -III) from Streptomyces avermitilis NBRC14893 whole cells. The molecular masses of the native SAKERs-I, -II, and -III were estimated to be 72, 38, and 36 kDa, respectively, by gel filtration chromatography. The subunit molecular masses of SAKERs-I, -II, and -III were also estimated to be 32, 32, and 34 kDa, respectively, by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.

Immunomodulatory effect of halophilic lactic acid bacterium Tetragenococcus halophilus Th221 from soy sauce moromi grown in high-salt medium.

A halophilic lactic acid bacterium, Tetragenococcus halophilus, was found to possess an immunomodulatory activity that promotes T helper type 1 (Th1) immunity in addition to its important roles in soy sauce brewing. Strain Th221 was selected from 151 strains isolated from soy sauce (shoyu) moromi, since it induced strong interleukin (IL)-12 production by mouse peritoneal macrophages in vitro. The relationship between the salt concentration in the medium and the IL-12 production-inducing activity of this strain was investigated, and the activity was found to be strong when the bacteria were grown in medium containing > or =10% (w/v) salt.

Crystal structures of BchU, a methyltransferase involved in bacteriochlorophyll c biosynthesis, and its complex with S-adenosylhomocysteine: implications for reaction mechanism.

BchU plays a role in bacteriochlorophyll c biosynthesis by catalyzing methylation at the C-20 position of cyclic tetrapyrrole chlorin using S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) as a methyl source. This methylation causes red-shifts of the electronic absorption spectrum of the light-harvesting pigment, allowing green photosynthetic bacteria to adapt to low-light environments. We have determined the crystal structures of BchU and its complex with S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH).

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction study of BchU, a methyltransferase from Chlorobium tepidum involved in bacteriochlorophyll c biosynthesis.

The S-adenosylmethionine-dependent methyltransferase BchU is an enzyme involved in the bacteriochlorophyll c biosynthetic pathway and catalyzes methylation at the C-20 position of the chlorin moiety. Recombinant Chlorobium tepidum BchU overproduced in Escherichia coli was purified and crystallized by the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion method using ammonium sulfate as a precipitant. The crystals belonged to the hexagonal space group P6(1)22 or P6(5)22, with unit-cell parameters a = b = 81.

Changes in spatial and temporal localization of Dictyostelium homologues of TRAP1 and GRP94 revealed by immunoelectron microscopy.

TRAP1 (tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated protein 1) is a member of the molecular chaperone HSP90 (90-kDa heat shock protein) family. In this study, we mainly examined the behavior of Dictyostelium TRAP1 homologue, Dd-TRAP1, during Dictyostelium development by immunoelectron microscopy. In vegetatively growing D.

Autophagy defends cells against invading group A Streptococcus.

We found that the autophagic machinery could effectively eliminate pathogenic group A Streptococcus (GAS) within nonphagocytic cells. After escaping from endosomes into the cytoplasm, GAS became enveloped by autophagosome-like compartments and were killed upon fusion of these compartments with lysosomes. In autophagy-deficient Atg5-/- cells, GAS survived, multiplied, and were released from the cells.

A novel zinc-containing alpha-keto ester reductase from actinomycete: an approach based on protein chemistry and bioinformatics.

We have achieved the purification of an alpha-keto ester reductase (SCKER) from S. coelicolor A3(2) whole cells. SCKER proved to be a homotetramer of 132 kDa containing one equivalent of zinc ion per subunit.

The necessity of mitochondrial genome DNA for normal development of Dictyostelium cells.

Most unexpectedly, there is now increasing evidence that mitochondria have novel and crucial functions in the regulatory machinery of the growth/differentiation transition, cell-type determination, cellular movement and pattern formation. Here we created rho delta cells with a reduced amount (about 1/4) of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from Dictyostelium discoideum Ax-2 cells, by exposing Ax-2 cells to ca. 30 microg/ml of ethidium bromide (EtBr) in axenic growth medium.

Estimation of particulate organic carbon flux in relation to photosynthetic production in a shallow coastal area in the Seto Inland Sea.

Sediment trap experiments were carried out three times from 1999 to 2000, in the western part of the Seto Inland Sea (Suo-Sound), Japan. We investigated both the particulate flux and the composition of chemical substances in the sediment trap samples. Based on the results, we discuss the origin of particulate organic carbon (POC) collected by the sediment traps in a coastal area.

Purification and characterization of two alpha-keto ester reductases from Streptomyces thermocyaneoviolaceus IFO 14271.

Two NADPH-dependent alpha-keto ester reductases (Streptomyces thermocyaneoviolaceus keto ester reductase, STKER-II and -III) were purified from S. thermocyaneoviolaceus IFO 14271, one of thermophilic actinomycetes. The molecular masses of native STKER-II and -III were estimated to be 60 kDa and 70 kDa by gel filtration chromatography, respectively.