Protocol for detecting threonine deaminase activity in fission yeast cell lysates.

Threonine deaminase catalyzes the first step of isoleucine biosynthesis from threonine. In this protocol, we describe the process of measuring the enzymatic activity of threonine deaminase in the fission yeast cell lysate, which is catalyzed by Tda1. First, we describe the process of preparing cell lysates from fission yeast cell cultures.

Etiology, Severity, Audiogram Type, and Device Usage in Patients with Unilateral Moderate to Profound Sensorineural Hearing Loss in Japan.

Background: Few studies have reported on the etiology, severity, or device usage of unilateral sensorineural hearing loss (UHL) compared to bilateral hearing loss. Therefore, this study investigated the characteristics of UHL in adults and children.

Methods: We performed a survey using questionnaires for secondary and tertiary otolaryngology institutions.

A set of vectors and strains for chromosomal integration in fission yeast.

The expression of heterologous genes is an important technique in yeast genetics. In fission yeast, the leu1 and ura4 genes have been used mainly as selectable markers for heterologous expression. To expand the repertoire of selection markers available for heterologous expression of genes, here we developed new host-vector systems employing lys1 and arg3.

FK506-binding protein, FKBP12, promotes serine utilization and negatively regulates threonine deaminase in fission yeast.

FK506-binding protein with a molecular weight of 12 kDa (FKBP12) is a receptor of the immunosuppressive drugs, FK506 and rapamycin. The physiological functions of FKBP12 remain ambiguous because of its nonessentiality and multifunctionality. Here, we show that FKBP12 promotes the utilization of serine as a nitrogen source and regulates the isoleucine biosynthetic pathway in fission yeast.

Ferrichrome, a fungal-type siderophore, confers high ammonium tolerance to fission yeast.

Microorganisms and plants produce siderophores, which function to transport environmental iron into cells as well as participate in cellular iron use and deposition. Their biological functions are diverse although their role in primary metabolism is poorly understood. Ferrichrome is a fungal-type siderophore synthesized by nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS).

Genome-based discovery and total synthesis of janustatins, potent cytotoxins from a plant-associated bacterium.

Host-associated bacteria are increasingly being recognized as underexplored sources of bioactive natural products with unprecedented chemical scaffolds. A recently identified example is the plant-root-associated marine bacterium Gynuella sunshinyii of the chemically underexplored order Oceanospirillales. Its genome contains at least 22 biosynthetic gene clusters, suggesting a rich and mostly uncharacterized specialized metabolism.

Anhydrous Fast Proton Transport Boosted by the Hydrogen Bond Network in a Dense Oxide-Ion Array of α-MoO.

Developing high-power battery chemistry is an urgent task to buffer fluctuating renewable energies and achieve a sustainable and flexible power supply. Owing to the small size of the proton and its ultrahigh mobility in water via the Grotthuss mechanism, aqueous proton batteries are an attractive candidate for high-power energy storage devices. Grotthuss proton transfer is ultrafast owing to the hydrogen-bonded networks of water molecules.

Differential Biosynthesis and Roles of Two Ferrichrome-Type Siderophores, ASP2397/AS2488053 and Ferricrocin, in .

Ferrichromes are a family of fungal siderophores with cyclic hexapeptide structures. Most fungi produce one or two ferrichrome-type siderophores. MF-347833 produces ferrichrome-like potent Trojan horse antifungal antibiotics ASP2397 and AS2488053, the aluminum- and iron-chelating forms of AS2488059, respectively.

Toward the Creation of Induced Pluripotent Small (iPS) Molecules: Establishment of a Modular Synthetic Strategy for the Heronamide C-type Polyene Macrolactams and Their Conformational and Reactivity Analysis.

A highly modular synthetic strategy for the heronamide C-type polyene macrolactams was established by synthesizing 8-deoxyheronamide C (). The developed strategy enabled not only the total synthesis of 8-deoxyheronamide C () but also the unified synthesis of four heronamide-like molecules named "heronamidoids" (-). Conformational and reactivity analysis of the heronamidoids clarified that (1) the C19 stereochemistry mainly affected the conformation of the amide linkage, resulting in the change of alignment of two polyene units and reactivity toward photochemical [6Ï€ + 6Ï€] cycloaddition, and (2) the C8,C9-diol moiety is important for the conversion to the heronamide A-type skeleton from the heronamide C skeleton.

Design, Synthesis, and Antifungal Activity of 16,17-Dihydroheronamide C and -Heronamide C.

16,17-Dihydroheronamide C () and -heronamide C (-) were designed as probes for the mode-of-action analysis of heronamide C (). These molecules were synthesized by utilizing a highly modular strategy developed in the preceding paper. The evaluation of the antifungal activity of these compounds revealed the exceptional importance of the C16-C17 double bond for the antifungal activity of heronamide C and the existence of chiral recognition between heronamide C () and cell membrane components.

Infrafloccular approach effectively prevents hearing complication in microvascular decompression surgery for hemifacial spasm.

Objective: The infrafloccular approach in microvascular decompression (MVD) surgery for hemifacial spasm (HFS) was investigated for the prevention of hearing complications.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of 136 patients who underwent MVD for HFS in 2019. The infrafloccular approach for MVD was adopted to resolve the symptom and protect hearing function.

Marine natural products targeting the eukaryotic cell membrane.

The cell membrane, with high fluidity and alternative curvatures, maintains the robust integrity to distinguish inner and outer space of cells or organelles. Lipids are the main components of the cell membrane, but their functions are largely unknown. Even the visualization of lipids is not straightforward since modification of lipids often hampers its correct physical properties.

Healthcare resource utilization and economic burden of antifungal management in patients with hematologic malignancy in Japan: a retrospective database study.

Objective: To examine treatment patterns of real-world antifungal management of patients at high risk of invasive fungal infections (IFI) and evaluate healthcare resource utilization and costs associated with antifungal management of IFIs in Japan.

Methods: This retrospective, observational study extracted data from a hospital-based claims database for patients in Japan who either (a) underwent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT), or (b) were hospitalized with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) or myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and received chemotherapy during the study period of January 2010 to January 2019.

Results: 863 patients were included in the allo-HSCT cohort and 4498 patients were included in the AML/MDS cohort.

Amphiol, an Antifungal Fungal Pigment from sp. PF1464.

An antifungal metabolite, designated amphiol (), was isolated from the culture broth of the fungus sp. PF1464. It exists as a mixture of inseparable tautomers, an acetal form and a keto form.

Retro-aza-Michael reaction of an o-aminophenol adduct in protic solvents inspired by natural products.

α,β-Unsaturated carbonyls are reactive group often found in bioactive small molecules. Their non-specific reaction with biomolecules can be the cause of the low efficacy and unexpected side-effects of the molecule. Accordingly, unprotected α,β-unsaturated carbonyls are not often found in drugs.

The disease burden of mucormycosis in Japan: results from a systematic literature review and retrospective database study.

Objective: To evaluate outcomes, healthcare resource utilization, and costs associated with mucormycosis in inpatient settings in Japan.

Methods: We performed a systematic literature review, followed by a retrospective database study using hospital health claims for patients in Japan hospitalized with a diagnosis of mucormycosis between January 2010 and January 2019. Outcomes assessed included duration of index hospitalization; index stay mortality; hospital readmission within 30, 60, and 90 days after index hospitalization discharge; drug/treatment utilization and patterns; number of patients examined for mucormycosis during the index hospitalization; and index stay inpatient costs.

Serine catabolism produces ROS, sensitizes cells to actin dysfunction, and suppresses cell growth in fission yeast.

Serine is an essential component in organisms as a building block of biomolecules, a precursor of metabolites, an allosteric regulator of an enzyme, etc. This amino acid is thought to be a key metabolite in human diseases including cancers and infectious diseases. To understand the consequence of serine catabolism, we screened natural products to identify a fungal metabolite chaetoglobosin D (ChD) as a specific inhibitor of fission yeast cell growth when cultivated with serine as a sole nitrogen source.

Chemical diversity and mode of action of natural products targeting lipids in the eukaryotic cell membrane.

Covering: up to 2019Nature furnishes bioactive compounds (natural products) with complex chemical structures, yet with simple, sophisticated molecular mechanisms. When natural products exhibit their activities in cells or bodies, they first have to bind or react with a target molecule in/on the cell. The cell membrane is a major target for bioactive compounds.

HPO as a building unit for sodium-ion battery cathodes: 3.1 V operation of NaFe(HPO) (0 < x < 1).

We report NaFe(HPO) as the first HPO-based iron(ii) cathode material for sodium-ion batteries, which delivers a reversible capacity of approximately 100 mA h g at an average reaction voltage of 3.1 V. In situ X-ray diffraction and ex situFe Mössbauer spectroscopy clarify reversible (de)sodiation associated with the Fe/Fe redox reaction.

Stabilization of a 4.5 V Cr/Cr redox reaction in NASICON-type NaCr(PO) by Ti substitution.

The development of high-voltage cathode materials composed of abundant metals for rechargeable batteries is a crucial task to realize higher energy density in large-scale electrical energy storage systems. Here we report a reversible Cr4+/Cr3+ redox reaction at 4.5 V vs.

Isolation, Structure Elucidation, and Conformational Regulation of Myropeptins, Lipopeptides from the Fungus .

Myropeptins, novel lipopeptides, were isolated from the culture broth of a fungus F27113. Myropeptin A comprises a linear 20 amino acid-peptide chain and a lauric acid capping the -terminus. Myropeptin A formed a helix structure and showed biological activities including antifungal and hemolysis.

Chemical Interactions of Cryptic Actinomycete Metabolite 5-Alkyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinolines through Aggregate Formation.

Organisms often produce secondary metabolites as a mixture of biosynthetically related congeners. However, why are metabolites with minor chemical variations produced simultaneously? 5-Alkyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinolines (5aTHQs) are small, lipophilic metabolites produced by Streptomyces nigrescens HEK616 when cultured with Tsukamurella pulmonis TP-B0596. A mixture of 5aTHQs forms aggregates that show enhanced membrane affinity and biological activity.

The clinical and economic burden of cytomegalovirus management post allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in Japan - a retrospective database study.

Reactivation of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is a major threat and it causes significant morbidity and mortality after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). There remains, however, a paucity of evidence regarding the economic burden of current CMV management in Japan. The aim of this study is to characterize the healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) and cost incurred for CMV management post allo-HSCT, using a Japanese hospital claims database.

Coulombic self-ordering upon charging a large-capacity layered cathode material for rechargeable batteries.

Lithium- and sodium-rich layered transition-metal oxides have recently been attracting significant interest because of their large capacity achieved by additional oxygen-redox reactions. However, layered transition-metal oxides exhibit structural degradation such as cation migration, layer exfoliation or cracks upon deep charge, which is a major obstacle to achieve higher energy-density batteries. Here we demonstrate a self-repairing phenomenon of stacking faults upon desodiation from an oxygen-redox layered oxide NaRuO, realizing much better reversibility of the electrode reaction.