Monitoring transcription initiation activities in rat and dog.

The promoter landscape of several non-human model organisms is far from complete. As a part of FANTOM5 data collection, we generated 13 profiles of transcription initiation activities in dog and rat aortic smooth muscle cells, mesenchymal stem cells and hepatocytes by employing CAGE (Cap Analysis of Gene Expression) technology combined with single molecule sequencing. Our analyses show that the CAGE profiles recapitulate known transcription start sites (TSSs) consistently, in addition to uncover novel TSSs.

New spirostanol glycosides from Solanum nigrum and S. jasminoides.

A new characteristic steroidal glycoside possessing a hydroxyl group at C-23, inunigroside A (1), was isolated from the withered berries of Solanum nigrum L. On the basis of spectroscopic analysis, the structure of 1 was characterized as (5α,22S,23S,25R)-3β,23-dihydroxyspirostane 3-O-β-lycotetraoside. Next, a major steroidal sapogenol, (22R, 25S)-3β,15α-dihydroxy-spirost-5-ene (3), was obtained from the acid hydrolysate of the methanolic extract of the aerial parts of Solanum jasminoides L.

Efficient improved extraction of tomato saponin using shock waves.

In the conventional method of mixer blending extraction, the yields of the tomato-saponin, esculeoside A, in the mini and middy tomatoes were found to be 0.043% and 0.046%, respectively.

New solanocapsine-type tomato glycoside from ripe fruit of Solanum lycopersicum.

A new solanocapsine-type tomato glycoside, a novel and interesting natural steroidal glycoside, was isolated from a mini tomato, Solanum lycopersicum L. The chemical structure of the new minor glycoside, esculeoside B-5 (3), was determined to be (5S,22R,23S,24R,25S)-22,26-epimino-16β,23-epoxy-3β,23,24-trihydroxycholestane 3-O-β-lycotetraoside.