Structure-activity relationship studies of ME1111, a novel antifungal agent for topical treatment of onychomycosis.

Onychomycosis is a prevalent disease in many areas of the world, affecting approximately 5.5% of the global population. Among several subtypes of onychomycosis, distal-lateral-subungual onychomycosis is the most common, and topical onychomycosis agents effective against this pathogenesis require properties such as high nail penetration and low affinity for keratin, the main component of the nail.

An Enzyme Assay Kit for GABA Quantification in Plant Tissues.

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is an amino acid that has a role as a signaling molecule. In plants, its involvement in stress responses is widely investigated. A newly developed method of quantification of GABA is described in this chapter.

Facile Synthesis of Both Enantiomers of (Z)-1,5-Octadien-3-ol (Oyster Alcohol) and Its Identification from the Pacific Oyster Crassostrea gigas.

The aim of this study was to present a facile protocol for preparation of both enantiomerically pure forms of (Z)-1,5-octadien-3-ol with lipases and to identify the stereochemistry of oyster alcohol from Crassostrea gigas. The asymmetric hydrolysis of (±)-(Z)-1,5-octadien-3-yl acetate with CHIRAZYME L-2 afforded the (R)-alcohol with ≧99% ee in 37.8% conversion.

Characterization of 5'-nucleotidases secreted from Streptomyces.

To study the ability of Streptomyces to utilize environmental nucleotides, we screened for strains exhibiting extracellular 5'-inosine monophosphate (IMP)-dephosphorylating activity in our collection of soil isolates and obtained two producers: NE5-10 and Y2F8-2. The enzyme responsible for the activity was purified from the culture supernatant of each strain, and its mass spectral data were used to identify the coding sequence. The gene was successfully identified in the whole genome sequence of each strain; it was located in a conserved gene cluster of phosphate-related functions and encoded an approximately 600-amino acid long protein containing an N-terminal secretion signal.

Class II LitR serves as an effector of "short" LOV-type blue-light photoreceptor in Pseudomonas mendocina.

PmlR2, a class II LitR/CarH family transcriptional regulator, and PmSB-LOV, a "short" LOV-type blue light photoreceptor, are adjacently encoded in Pseudomonas mendocina NBRC 14162. An effector protein for the "short" LOV-type photoreceptor in Pseudomonas has not yet been identified. Here, we show that PmlR2 is an effector protein of PmSB-LOV.

A New Approach to Prepare Chiral Aroma: Asymmetric Oxidation of Ionols with a Heme Acquisition System A Derived from Symbiotic Fluorescent Bacteria.

The aim of this study was to propose an alternative route for preparing chiral β- and α-ionols by asymmetric oxidation with a heme acquisition system A (HasA) derived from symbiotic fluorescent bacteria as a biocatalyst. The HasA (6 g) in distilled water (300 mL) was stirred at 1150 rpm for 1 day at 40°C. Subsequently, a secondary alcohol (0.

Organocatalytic activity of granaticin and its involvement in bactericidal function.

We previously discovered that actinorhodin, a benzoisochromanequinone antibiotic produced by Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2), serves as a catalyst facilitating the oxidation of ascorbic acid and cysteine (PNAS 48:17,152, 2014). In the present study, we screened for similar ascorbic acid-oxidizing activity in the culture broth of various Streptomyces spp., and discovered marked activity in the culture broth of Streptomyces vietnamensis.

Distribution and genome structures of temperate phages in acetic acid bacteria.

Acetic acid bacteria (AAB) are industrial microorganisms used for vinegar fermentation. Herein, we investigated the distribution and genome structures of mitomycin C-inducible temperate phages in AAB. Transmission electron microscopy analysis revealed phage-like particles in 15 out of a total 177 acetic acid bacterial strains, all of which showed morphology similar to myoviridae-type phage.

Calibration of coherence imaging spectroscopy using spectral line sources.

Coherence imaging spectroscopy (CIS) measures the two-dimensional profiles of both ion temperature and ion velocity in plasmas. The interferometric technique is realized by a certain relation between the phase and the wavelength of light emerging from a birefringent crystal. The calibration for the CIS system requires monochromatic and tunable light sources near the He II line (468.

Light Response of KT2440 Mediated by Class II LitR, a Photosensor Homolog.

KT2440 retains three homologs (PplR1 to PplR3) of the LitR/CarH family, an adenosyl B-dependent light-sensitive MerR family transcriptional regulator. Transcriptome analysis revealed the existence of a number of photoinducible genes, including , (encoding DNA photolyase), (furan-containing fatty acid synthase), (GTP cyclohydrolase I), (cryptochrome-like protein), and multiple genes without annotated/known function. Transcriptional analysis by quantitative reverse transcription-PCR with knockout mutants of to showed that a triple knockout completely abolished the light-inducible transcription in , which indicates the occurrence of ternary regulation of PplR proteins.

Whole-Genome Sequence of Bacterium NBRC 112778, Isolated from a Mesophilic Methanogenic Bioreactor.

Here, we report the draft genome sequence of bacterium NBRC 112778. This anaerobic bacterium, isolated from a sweet potato-digesting mesophilic methanogenic bioreactor, represents a new genus related to the genus The 4.52-Mb circular genome harbored many genes involved in carbohydrate utilization, suggesting its adaptation to a saccharolytic environment.

GABA enzymatic assay kit.

We developed an enzymatic assay system enabling easy quantification of 4-aminobutyric acid (GABA). The reaction of GABA aminotransferase obtained from NBRC 13977 was combined to those of the previously developed glutamate assay system using glutamate oxidase and peroxidase. The three-enzyme system allowing GABA-dependent dye formation due to the oxidative coupling between 4-aminoantipyrine and Trinder's reagent enabled accurate quantification of 0.

Light-inducible carotenoid production controlled by a MarR-type regulator in Corynebacterium glutamicum.

Carotenoid production in some non-phototropic bacteria occurs in a light-dependent manner to protect cells from photo-oxidants. Knowledge regarding the transcriptional regulator involved in the light-dependent production of carotenoids of non-phototrophic bacteria has been mainly confined to coenzyme B-based photo-sensitive regulator CarH/LitR family proteins belonging to a MerR family transcriptional regulator. In this study, we found that bacteria belonging to Micrococcales and Corynebacteriales exhibit light-dependent carotenoid-like pigment production including an amino acid-producer Corynebacterium glutamicum AJ1511.

Genome Features and Secondary Metabolites Biosynthetic Potential of the Class .

The prevalence of antibiotic resistance and the decrease in novel antibiotic discovery in recent years necessitates the identification of potentially novel microbial resources to produce natural products. , a class of deeply branched bacterial lineage in the ancient phylum , are ubiquitous in terrestrial environments and characterized by their large genome size and complex life cycle. These characteristics indicate as a potential active producer of bioactive compounds.

The male gamete membrane protein DMP9/DAU2 is required for double fertilization in flowering plants.

All flowering plants exhibit a unique type of sexual reproduction called 'double fertilization' in which each pollen tube-delivered sperm cell fuses with an egg and a central cell. Proteins that localize to the plasma membrane of gametes regulate one-to-one gamete pairing and fusion between male and female gametes for successful double fertilization. Here, we have identified a membrane protein from generative cells using proteomic analysis and have found that the protein is an ortholog of DUF679 DOMAIN MEMBRANE PROTEIN 9 (DMP9)/DUO1-ACTIVATED UNKNOWN 2 (DAU2).

Compositional and Functional Shifts in the Epibiotic Bacterial Community of Shinkaia crosnieri Baba & Williams (a Squat Lobster from Hydrothermal Vents) during Methane-Fed Rearing.

The hydrothermal vent squat lobster Shinkaia crosnieri Baba & Williams harbors an epibiotic bacterial community, which is numerically and functionally dominated by methanotrophs affiliated with Methylococcaceae and thioautotrophs affiliated with Sulfurovum and Thiotrichaceae. In the present study, shifts in the phylogenetic composition and metabolic function of the epibiont community were investigated using S. crosnieri individuals, which were reared for one year in a tank fed with methane as the energy and carbon source.

Role and Function of Class III LitR, a Photosensor Homolog from Burkholderia multivorans.

The LitR/CarH protein family is an adenosyl B (AdoB)-dependent photoreceptor family with DNA-binding activity, and its homologs are widely distributed in the genomes of diverse bacterial genera. In this investigation, we studied the role and functions of a LitR homolog from a Gram-negative soil bacterium, , which does not possess an AdoB-binding domain. Transcriptome analysis indicated the existence of 19 light-induced genes, including , , , photolyase gene , and , located in the region flanking Disruption of caused constitutive expression of all the light-inducible genes, while mutation in the light-induced sigma factor gene, , abolished the transcription of the operon and the operon, indicating that LitR and LitS play a central role in light-inducible transcription.

Comparative Biochemical Analysis of Cellulosomes Isolated from Clostridium clariflavum DSM 19732 and Clostridium thermocellum ATCC 27405 Grown on Plant Biomass.

The cellulosome is a supramolecular multienzyme complex formed via species-specific interactions between the cohesin modules of scaffoldin proteins and the dockerin modules of a wide variety of polysaccharide-degrading enzymes. Here, we report a comparative analysis of cellulosomes prepared from the thermophilic anaerobic bacteria Clostridium (Ruminiclostridium) clariflavum DSM 19732 and Clostridium (Ruminiclostridium) thermocellum ATCC 27405 grown on delignified rice straw. The results indicate that the isolated C.

Screening, Isolation, and Identification of Zeaxanthin-Producing Bacteria.

Zeaxanthin is a yellow xanthophyll, dihydroxy-carotenoid, that is naturally found in some of the green, orange, and yellow vegetables and fruits and has a powerful antioxidant activity. Epidemiological evidences suggest that increasing the consumption of zeaxanthin in the diet is associated with a lower risk of age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) and cataracts, two of the leading causes of blindness in the world. Zeaxanthin is a promising nutraceutical/colorant with many applications in feed, food, and pharmaceutical industries.

Purification and Identification of Astaxanthin and Its Novel Derivative Produced by Radio-tolerant Sphingomonas astaxanthinifaciens.

The red diketocarotenoid, astaxanthin, exhibits extraordinary health-promoting activities such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, and immune booster, which may potentially protect against many degenerative diseases such as cancers, heart diseases, and exercise-induced fatigue. These numerous health benefits and consumer interest in natural products have therefore increased the market demand of astaxanthin as a nutraceutical and medicinal ingredient in food, aquaculture feed, and pharmaceutical industries. Consequently, many research efforts have been made to discover novel microbial sources with effective biotechnological production of astaxanthin.

Rapid and Selective Screening Method for Isolation and Identification of Carotenoid-Producing Bacteria.

Carotenoids are naturally occurring yellow to red pigments with many biological activities including antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, membrane stabilizers, and precursors for vitamin A. These biological activities are linked with many health benefits (e.g.

Extracytoplasmic diaphorase activity of Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2).

Metabolism and utilization of plant-derived aromatic substances are fundamental to the saprophytic growth of Streptomyces. Here, we studied an enzyme activity reducing 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol and nitroblue tetrazolium in the culture supernatant of Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2). N-terminal amino acid sequencing of a nitroblue tetrazolium-reducing enzyme revealed that the enzyme corresponds to the SCO2180 product.

Screening and profiling of natural ketocarotenoids from environmental aquatic bacterial isolates.

Ketocarotenoids are high-value natural pigments. The red diketocarotenoid astaxanthin particularly exhibits an extraordinary antioxidant activity, which raises its market demand for foods and nutraceuticals. We screened for ketocarotenoid-producing bacteria from both marine and freshwater environments.

Enrichment and characterization of a bacterial mixture capable of utilizing C-mannosyl tryptophan as a carbon source.

C-Mannosylation, a protein-modification found in various eukaryotes, involves the attachment of a single mannose molecule to selected tryptophan residues of proteins. Since C-mannosyl tryptophan (CMW) was detected in human urine, it is generally thought that CMW is not catabolized inside our body and instead is excreted via the urine. This paper reports enrichment of a bacterial consortium from soil that degrades CMW.