Enhanced activity of 3alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase by addition of the co-solvent 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium (L)-lactate in aqueous phase of biphasic systems for reductive production of steroids.

The enzyme activity of 3alpha-hydrosteroid dehydrogenase (HSDH) was enhanced by the addition of the co-solvent 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium (L)-lactate ([Bmim][lactate]) to 50 mM Tris-HCl buffer. When utilizing [Bmim][lactate], the reaction velocity of HSDH increased. Also, reductive production of androsterone was investigated in an aqueous-organic solvent biphasic system containing 5% [Bmim][lactate] as the co-solvent of aqueous phase.

Enhanced accumulation of anthocyanin in cultured strawberry cells by repetitive feeding of L-phenylalanine into the medium.

L-Phenylalanine (Phe), biosynthetic precursor of anthocyanin, was repetitively added into a suspension culture of strawberry cells, constantly producing anthocyanins. In the repetitive feeding culture, the maximum anthocyanin accumulation per culture was 30% and 81% higher than those in a single Phe-feeding culture and non-feeding culture, respectively. This means that the inhibitory effect of Phe on cell growth was successfully avoided and its intracellular free-state concentration was maintained at a higher level by the repetitive feeding of L-phenylalanine at relatively lower intra-medium concentration.

Catalytic activity of laccase hosted in reversed micelles.

Nanostructured reversed micelles induce a high laccase activity in organic solvents, because enzymes can maintain their highly dimensional structure in water pools of reversed micelles [RMs]. Laccase attracts considerable attention as a novel industrial enzyme due to its high capability to catalyze the oxidation of aromatic compounds. The catalytic activities of lyophilized laccase and laccase entrapped in RMs were compared using an oxidative reaction.

Refolding of cytochrome c using reversed micelles.

A novel protein refolding method using reversed micelles has been developed, which could replace the conventional dilution method using a buffer solution. The novel refolding method enables efficient refolding at a high protein concentration. In the present study, denatured bovine heart cytochrome c was directly solubilized in AOT reversed micelles using the solid-liquid extraction technique.

Lanthanoid element recognition on surface-imprinted polymers containing dioleylphosphoric acid as a functional host.

Surface-imprinted polymers have been newly developed for the separation of lanthanoid elements: i.e. La(III), Ce(III), and Dy(III).