Systemic depletion of WWP1 improves insulin sensitivity and lowers triglyceride content in the liver of obese mice.

Obesity is a metabolic disorder associated with many diseases. WW domain-containing E3 ubiquitin protein ligase 1 (WWP1) is a HECT-type E3 ubiquitin ligase involved in several diseases. Recently, we found that the level of WWP1 is increased in white adipose tissue in a mouse model of obesity and that obese Wwp1 knockout (KO) mice exhibit improved whole-body glucose metabolism.

A cryo-TSEM with temperature cycling capability allows deep sublimation of ice to uncover fine structures in thick cells.

The scanning electron microscope (SEM) has been reassembled into a new type of cryo-electron microscope (cryo-TSEM) by installing a new cryo-transfer holder and anti-contamination trap, which allowed simultaneous acquisition of both transmission images (STEM images) and surface images (SEM images) in the frozen state. The ultimate temperatures of the holder and the trap reached - 190 °C and - 210 °C, respectively, by applying a liquid nitrogen slush. The STEM images at 30 kV were comparable to, or superior to, the images acquired with conventional transmission electron microscope (100 kV TEM) in contrast and sharpness.

Brightness evaluation of pulsed electron gun using negative electron affinity photocathode developed for time-resolved measurement using scanning electron microscope.

Temporal changes in carrier relaxations, magnetic switching, and biological structures are known to be in the order of ns. These phenomena can be typically measured by means of an optical-pump & electron-probe method using an electron microscope combined with a pulsed electron source. A photoemission-type pulsed electron gun makes it possible to obtain a short-pulsed electron beam required for high temporal resolution.

Mutagenicity from ozonation of humic substances.

Eight structural components of humic substances were ozonated. Mutagenic activity was found using TA100 with and without S9 mix for all ozonated components. p-Hydroxybenzaldehyde was chosen as an important component and ozonation products were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS).

Generation of mutagenicity by ozonation of humic substances' components.

Components of humic substances, such as vanillin, syringaldehyde, vanillic acid and di-n-butylphtalate, were ozonated and subjected to the mutagenicity assay using Salmonella typhimurium TA 98 and 100 with and without S9 mix. The strong mutagenic activity was found on all components except di-n-butylphtalate by strain TA 100 with and without S9 mix. Substances with strong mutagenic activity in ozonated vanillin were water-soluble and were slightly extracted with benzene, dichloromethane and ethyl acetate.

Aldehydes as mutagens formed by ozonation of humic substances.

Humic substances and p-hydroxybenzaldehyde, one of their components, were ozonated and quantitative analysis of the mutagenic aldehydes (formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, glyoxal, glyoxylic acid and methylglyoxal) was performed. Glyoxal and glyoxylic acid were the main mutagenic compounds. The ozone-treated solutions were flowed through a granular activated carbon (GAC) column and the KMnO4 consumed of the effluent decreased to about 40-50%.

Modulating effect of tanshinones on mutagenic activity of Trp-P-1 and benzo[a]pyrene in Salmonella typhimurium.

The modulating effects of the Chinese medicinal plant 'Tan-shen', the radix of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, on the mutagenic activities of Trp-P-1 (3-amino-1,4-dimethyl-5H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole) and B(a)P (benzo[a]pyrene) were investigated using Salmonella typhimurium TA98. Ether- and hot water-extracted 'Tan-shen' enhanced both mutagens at low concentrations, but suppressed them at high concentrations. Extracts by ether treatment were more effective than those extracted by hot water.

Mutagenicity of ozonation and chlorination products from p-hydroxybenzaldehyde.

p-Hydroxybenzaldehyde, a component of soil humic substances, was ozonated and chlorinated. The ether extract and the residue were subjected to the Ames assay; mutagenic activities were identified. The non-ionic resin CSP800 and the anion exchange resin CHPA25 were used for separation of mutagenic compounds.

Mutagenicity of the components of ozonated humic substance.

Eight components of humic substances were ozonated. Mutagenic activity was found with TA100 with and without S9 mix for all ozonated components. Ozonated products of p-hydroxybenzaldehyde were separated into five fractions by silica gel chromatography and each fraction subjected to mutagenicity assay.

Evaluation of the SOS chromotest for the detection of antimutagens.

The SOS chromotest was applied for the detection of antimutagens. To raise SOS induction, the bacteria were treated with the mutagens, UV, 4-nitroquinoline N-oxide (4NQO), N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitroso-guanidine (MNNG), or benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]p). The inhibitory effects of L-ascorbic acid, glutathione, vanillin, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), 5-chlorouracil (5-CU), cobaltous chloride, sodium selenite and sodium arsenite, which are known as antimutagens, were investigated with their addition either simultaneously or post treatment time.

Enhancement of the mutagenicity of Trp-P-1, Trp-P-2 and benzo[a]pyrene by bupleuri radix extract.

Boiling-water extract of Korean-Saiko (Bupleuri Radix, from South Korea, Bupleurum falcatum L.) enhanced the mutagenic activity of Trp-P-1, Trp-P-2 and benzo[a]pyrene with S9mix. The boiling-water extract was fractionated with ether and then n-BuOH.

Mechanism of antimutagenicity of aquatic plant extracts against benzo[a]pyrene in the Salmonella assay.

The mechanism of antimutagenicity of water extracts of grass-wrack pondweed (Potamogeton oxyphylus Miquel), curled pondweed (Potamogeton crispus L.) and smartweed (Polygonum hydropiper L.) towards benzo[a]pyrene mutagenicity in Salmonella typhimurium was investigated.

Inhibitory action of peony root extract on the mutagenicity of benzo[a]pyrene.

The inhibitory effects of peony root extract on the mutagenicity of benzo[a]pyrene (B [a]p) have been investigated in the Salmonella typhimurium reversion test. Four kinds of experiments were performed: direct chemical reaction (1) between peony root extract and B [a]p, and (2) between peony root extract and active metabolite(s) of B [a]p, (3) inhibition of metabolic processes of B[a]p with S9 mix, and (4) inhibition of activation on mutagenicity. Peony root extract interfered with the action of enzymes in the S9 mix, and inactivated the activity of B[a]p metabolites.

Mechanism of resistance to benzalkonium chloride by Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

The mechanisms of resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to benzalkonium chloride (BC) were studied. The effluence of cell components was observed in susceptible P. aeruginosa by electron microscopy, but resistant P.

Differential inhibitory effects of various herb extracts on the activities of reverse transcriptase and various deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) polymerases.

Forty preparations of the extracts from 28 kinds of Asian herbs were tested for ability to inhibit the activities of murine retroviral reverse transcriptase and human deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) polymerases. Among the 40 extracts, 35 inhibited reverse transcriptase activity and 29 inhibited DNA polymerase alpha activity. The inhibitory potencies of these extracts were expressed as the 50% inhibition concentrations (IC50), at which the enzyme activities were inhibited by 50%.

The mutagenicity of refuse leachate from a municipal incinerator.

The mutagenicity of refuse leachate from a municipal incinerator was studied by liquid rec-assay and Ames assay. Volatile components were found to be negative, and nonvolatile components positive, in the Ames assay and the leachate was found to have DNA-damaging capacity in the liquid rec-assay with S-9 mix. PAHs derived from tobacco ash and carbonyl compounds generated by the putrefaction of foods were confirmed to be main contributors to DNA-damaging capacity and mutagenicity in refuse leachate.

The evaluation of genotoxic activities of disinfectants and their metabolites by umu test.

The genotoxic potential of 6 disinfectants and their 9 metabolites was investigated by umu test. In the tested disinfectants, glutaraldehyde showed positive genotoxicity independent of metabolic activation system and acrinol was positive only in the presence of S9 mixture. Alkylaminoethylglycine, benzalkonium chloride, chlorhexidine digluconate and methylrosaniline chloride were negative in the presence or absence of S9 mixture.

Effects of medicinal plant extracts from Chinese herbal medicines on the mutagenic activity of benzo[a]pyrene.

The effects of medicinal plants on the mutagenicity of benzo[a]pyrene were studied with Salmonella typhimurium tester strains. The chosen medicinal plants are very frequently used as Chinese herbal medicines. Each medicinal plant was extracted with hot water, which is similar to the method used in Chinese medicinal treatment.

Possible methylation of inorganic mercury by silicones in the environment.

Organosiloxanes (silicones) are being released to the environment in increasing quantities, and there are questions concerning the reactivity of silicones as methylating agents under environmental conditions. Specifically, the interaction of inorganic mercury and polydimethylsiloxanes, and other silicones, to give methylmercury is important in this content. To this end a series of laboratory experiments, in which inorganic mercury, short and long chain silicones, cyclic siloxanes, oxidized silicone gums, and industrial formulations containing silicones, were conducted.

Distribution of silicones in water, sediment and fish in Japanese rivers.

A new analytical method for assaying polyorganosiloxanes (silicones) in environmental samples is presented. The method utilizes petroleum for solvent extraction of the sample (water, sediment, biological tissue) together with inductively coupled plasma detection of the extracted organic silicones. The detection limit for silicones in the final methyl isobutyl ketone sample/extract is approximately 0.

Isolation of dinitropyrene in emission gas from a municipal incinerator and its formation by a photochemical reaction.

In a previous paper, direct-acting mutagenicity was reported in emission gas from incomplete municipal incineration using Salmonella typhimurium TA-98 and TA-100. This paper reports the detection of dinitropyrene (DNP) as a direct-acting mutagen using nitrogen selective gas chromatography. The gas-phase photochemical reaction of pyrene with nitrogen dioxide was examined in a quartz vessel with various reaction times and temperatures.

DNA repair test of disinfectants by liquid rec-assay.

The DNA-damaging capacity and the mutagenicity of 6 disinfectants were studied by liquid rec-assay and Ames test. 5 disinfectants were found to be positive in DNA-damaging capacity while only one of them showed clear mutagenicity in the Ames test. Liquid rec-assay by direct incubation with S9 mix was the most sensitive method and gave the best correlation between the growth ratio (R 50) and the time lag, both of which compared Rec+ and Rec-.

Study of the behaviour of mutagens in wastewater and emission gas from a municipal incinerator evaluated by means of the Ames assay.

We have investigated the mutagenic activity of extracts from the wastewater of sewage treatment plants in municipal waste incinerators and evaluated the relative contribution of various routes of emission from the incinerator to the total output of mutagens. The mutagenicity of wastewater extracts from a complete combustion incinerator was 10% of that from an incomplete combustion unit. About 90% of all the mutagens produced in a municipal incinerator are discharged into the atmosphere as emission gases, and 10% are disposed of in the wastewater treatment plants.