Publications by authors named "Masakuni Tako"

A novel α-glucan substituted rare 6-deoxy-D-altropyranose was isolated from edible fruiting bodies of a mushroom (Lactarius lividatus) grown in Okinawa, Japan. The polysaccharide consists of D-glucose, D-galactose and 6-deoxy-D-altrose in a molar ratio of 3.0:1.

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6-Deoxy-L-altrose is well known as a constituent sugar moiety of lipopolysaccharides in Gram-negative bacteria. However, its isomer, 6-deoxy-D-altrose, is little known. Identification of 6-deoxy-D-altrose isolated from a polysaccharide extracted from an edible mushroom (Lactarius lividatus), its comparison with chemically synthesized 6-deoxy-D-altrose using (1)H and (13)C NMR including COSY, HMQC spectroscopy, and investigation of its specific optical rotation were all conducted in this study.

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The flow behavior, dynamic viscoelasticity, and optical rotation of aqueous solutions of wheat amylose were measured using a rheogoniometer and a polarimeter. The amylose solutions, at 25 °C, showed shear-thinning behavior at a concentration of 1.2%, but plastic behavior at 1.

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We investigated macrophage activation by fucoidan from Laminaria angustata var. longissima in a murine macrophage cell line, RAW 264.7.

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A galactomannan isolated from seeds of Delonix regia was investigated. The specific rotation of the galactomannan was +15 degrees at 25 degrees C. The molecular mass of the galactomannnan was estimated to be 2.

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We investigated a structural characteristics of acetyl fucoidan (CAF) isolated from commercially cultured Cladosiphon okamuranus. The CAF-induced macrophage activation and its signaling pathways in murine macrophage cell line, RAW 264.7 were also investigated.

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The Okinawan folks in Japan use Ficus pumila L. as a beverage or herbal medicine to treat diabetes and high blood pressure. Four flavonoid glycosides were isolated and identified as rutin (1 and 3), apigenin 6-neohesperidose (2), kaempferol 3-robinobioside (4) and kaempferol 3-rutinoside (5).

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A pectin was extracted from the peel of Citrus tankan with a yield of 2.75%. The uronic acid content was 80.

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Article Synopsis
  • * NMR analysis revealed different types of sulfate groups in the native and oversulfated fucoidan, suggesting that the position and amount of sulfation influence its biological activity.
  • * The oversulfated fucoidan was found to significantly reduce the proliferation of U937 cells and induced apoptosis through the activation of caspase-3 and -7, while the native fucoidan showed much weaker effects.
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