Induction of Maltose Release by Light in the Endosymbiont Chlorella variabilis of Paramecium bursaria.

The endosymbiotic green algae of Paramecium bursaria are known to release a photosynthate to the host cells. The endosymbiont Chlorella variabilis F36-ZK isolated in Japan releases maltose under acidic conditions, and such release requires both light and low pH. However, whether photosynthate release is due to light sensing by photoreceptors or is merely a consequence of active photosynthesis is unclear.

Cloning and identification of saprolmycin biosynthetic gene cluster from Streptomyces sp. TK08046.

Saprolmycins A-E are anti-Saprolegnia parasitica antibiotics. To identify the gene cluster for saprolmycin biosynthesis in Streptomyces sp. TK08046, polymerase chain reaction using aromatase and cyclase gene-specific primers was performed; the spr gene cluster, which codes for angucycline biosynthesis, was obtained from the strain.

Borrelidin Isolated from Streptomyces sp. Inhibited Adipocyte Differentiation in 3T3-L1 Cells via Several Factors Including GATA-Binding Protein 3.

An inhibitor of 3T3-L1 adipocyte differentiation was isolated from Streptomyces sp. TK08330 and identified by spectroscopy as the 18-membered macrolide borrelidin. Treatment with 1.

Cineromycin B isolated from Streptomyces cinerochromogenes inhibits adipocyte differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells via Krüppel-like factors 2 and 3.

Aims: 3T3-L1 cells are preadipocytes and often used as a model for cellular differentiation to adipocytes; however, the mechanism of this differentiation is not completely understood even in these model cells. In this study, we sought to identify a unique anti-adipogenesis agent from microorganisms and to examine its mechanism of action to gain knowledge and create a tool and/or seed compound for anti-obesity drug discovery research.

Main Method: Screening for anti-adipogenesis agents from microorganisms was performed using a 3T3-L1 cell differentiation system, and an active compound was isolated.

A Compound Inhibits Biofilm Formation of Staphylococcus aureus from Streptomyces.

Biofilm is one virulence factor of bacteria. It contributes not only to bacterial adherence to many kinds of infection-establishing surfaces, but also to bacterial resistance against antimicrobial agents and antiseptic agents. Thus, inhibitors of bacterial biofilm formation should be useful in the prevention of infections.

Probable novel MEP pathway inhibitor and its binding protein, IspG.

A second isoprene unit biosynthetic pathway, via 2-C-methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate (MEP), was discovered in the 1990s. We screened and isolated the cyclic dipeptide, maculosin, which is a probable novel MEP pathway inhibitor, from the culture broth of Bacillus subtilis strain KN07. To identify the target enzyme of maculosin, we applied an avidin-biotin complex method using biotinylated maculosin and the lysates of seven Escherichia coli strains, each overexpressing one enzyme of the MEP pathway, and performed quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) experiments using maculosin and each enzyme.

Saprolmycins A-E, new angucycline antibiotics active against Saprolegnia parasitica.

Saprolmycins A-E, five new anti-Saprolegnia parasitica antibiotics were isolated from the culture broth of Streptomyces sp. strain TK08046. As determined using a combination of NMR and spectroscopic analyses, the structures of these compounds were elucidated as a new group of angucycline compounds closely related to saquayamycin.

Identification of an algal carbon fixation-enhancing factor extracted from Paramecium bursaria.

The green ciliate Paramecium bursaria contains several hundred symbiotic Chlorella species. We previously reported that symbiotic algal carbon fixation is enhanced by P. bursaria extracts and that the enhancing factor is a heat-stable, low-molecular-weight, water-soluble compound.

Isolation and characterization of a virus (CvV-BW1) that infects symbiotic algae of Paramecium bursaria in Lake Biwa, Japan.

Background: We performed an environmental study of viruses infecting the symbiotic single-celled algae of Paramecium bursaria (Paramecium bursaria Chlorella virus, PBCV) in Lake Biwa, the largest lake in Japan. The viruses detected were all Chlorella variabilis virus (CvV = NC64A virus). One of them, designated CvV-BW1, was subjected to further characterization.

Oridamycins A and B, anti-Saprolegnia parasitica indolosesquiterpenes isolated from Streptomyces sp. KS84.

Oridamycins A (1) and B (2) were isolated from the fermentation broth of Streptomyces sp. strain KS84 as selective anti-Saprolegnia parasitica antibiotics. Their structures were elucidated as pentacyclic indolosesquiterpenes by the combination of NMR and spectroscopic analyses.

Synthesis and structure-activity relationship of botryllamides that block the ABCG2 multidrug transporter.

In previous work, botryllamides discovered from the marine ascidian Botryllus tyreus were characterized as selective inhibitors of the ABCG2 multidrug transporter. However, the structural basis for this activity could not be established. In this study, botryllamide F, the core botryllamide structure, and botryllamide G, the most potent botryllamide ABCG2 inhibitor, were synthesized along with a series of structural variants for evaluation of structure-activity relationships.

Microbulbifer variabilis sp. nov. and Microbulbifer epialgicus sp. nov., isolated from Pacific marine algae, possess a rod-coccus cell cycle in association with the growth phase.

Phylogenetic and taxonomic characterization was performed for 14 strains of bacteria that produce anticancer antibiotics (pelagiomicins) (represented by strain Ni-2088(T)) and one strain that produces UV-absorbing substances (strain F-104(T)), isolated from marine algae and seagrass collected from coastal areas of tropical Pacific islands and a subtropical island of Japan. All 15 isolates were Gram-negative, strictly aerobic, non-motile and non-spore-forming. Sequence analysis of the 16S rRNA gene showed that the isolates occupied positions in the phylogenetic radiation of the genus Microbulbifer, with similarities of 93.

Phylogenetically close group I introns with different positions among Paramecium bursaria photobionts imply a primitive stage of intron diversification.

Group I introns are a distinct RNA group that catalyze their excision from precursor RNA transcripts and ligate the exons. Group I introns have a sporadic and highly biased distribution due to the two intron transfer mechanisms of homing and reverse splicing. These transfer pathways recognize assigned sequences even when introns are transferred beyond the species level.

Effect of sugars on amino acid transport by symbiotic Chlorella.

Symbiotic Chlorella F36-ZK isolated from Paramecium bursaria F36 has constitutive amino acid transport systems, whereas free-living Chlorella does not. We found that in symbiotic algae, the rate of serine (Ser) uptake increased in the presence of glucose (Glc) and non-metabolisable analogues, whilst incorporation of Ser into protein was not affected. The activation did not involve new protein synthesis and was enhanced under alkaline conditions.

Multiple origins of the symbioses in Paramecium bursaria.

Many organisms have symbioses with photosynthetic algae as typified by corals, clams, lichens, and some protozoa. Paramecium bursaria contains green algal symbionts and this unicellular ciliate is a textbook example used for microscopic observation in junior high school science projects. We have determined molecular phylogenies for the green algal symbionts.

Effect of Japanese Paramecium bursaria extract on photosynthetic carbon fixation of symbiotic algae.

To investigate the relationship between the Japanese Paramecium bursaria host and its symbiont, we studied the effect of a host cell-free extract on carbon fixation and photosynthate release of the symbiont. The host extract enhanced symbiotic algal carbon fixation about 3-fold at an increased concentration; however, release of photosynthate hardly changed. Since the enhancing effect was not affected by elimination of carbon dioxide from the host extract, the existence of a host factor that stimulates algal carbon fixation was made clear.

NK-cell neoplasms in Japan.

Neoplasms putatively originating from precursor and mature natural killer (NK) cells are rare, and their clinical features are unclear. A nationwide survey was performed in Japan to clarify the clinical features of these neoplasms diagnosed between 1994 and 1998, and data for 237 patients who met the criteria for putative NK cell-lineage neoplasms were analyzed. Among them, 11 had myeloid/NK-cell precursor acute leukemia, 15 blastic NK-cell lymphoma, 21 precursor NK-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, 22 aggressive NK-cell leukemia/lymphoma, 149 nasal-type NK-cell lymphoma (123 nasal and 26 extranasal) and 19 chronic NK lymphocytosis.

Malignant diseases of hematopoietic and lymphoid tissues in Chernobyl clean-up workers.

Introduction: The question as to whether the incidence of leukemias and malignant lymphomas among the clean-up workers increased in 18 years after the catastrophe is still a point of much controversy. Precise diagnosis of the main forms of hematopoietic malignancies and comparison of these data with those in the general population will be helpful in estimating thr relative contribution of the radiation factor to the overall incidence of such pathologies.

Materials And Methods: In all, 187 consecutive cases of malignant diseases of hematopoietic and lymphoid tissues in Chernobyl clean-up workers were analyzed in Ukrainian Reference Laboratory in 1996-2003.

[Drug-resistant B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia safely treated with rituximab to control leukemic cell increment and platelet transfusion dependence].

A 61-year-old man was found to have mild lymphocytosis during a medical checkup and was referred to our hospital in 1993. Physical examination showed a mild hepatomegaly, and bone marrow examination revealed the proliferation of monoclonal mature B cells. He was diagnosed with B-CLL.

Action mechanism of a selective anti-cyanobacterial compound, argimicin A.

Argimicin A is a potent anti-cyanobacterial compound produced by one of algae-lysing bacteria, Sphingomonas sp. M-17. Since the compound seemed to exhibit selective activities against cyanobacteria and such selectivity were considered to be quite rare, the mode of action of argimicin A was investigated.