Green tea polyphenol EGCg induces cell fusion reactive oxygen species.

Background: Osteoclasts are multinucleated cells formed by macrophage cell fusion that are responsible for bone resorption. Previously, we found that treating osteoclastic progenitor cells with (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg) increased cell fusion. In this study, we aimed to identify factors involved in the cell fusion induced by EGCg.

Cholesterol-lowering activity of adzuki bean (Vigna angularis) polyphenols.

Background: Adzuki beans (ABs; Vigna angularis) were reported to show potential for prevention of cholesterol absorption and lowering of the blood cholesterol level. However, the main active compounds and some cellular effects remain unknown. In this study, we evaluated the potential cholesterol-lowering effects of (+)-catechin 7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (C7G) and (+)-epicatechin 7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (E7G), identified as abundant polyphenols in ABs.

Tea extract increases cell fusion via regulation of cell surface DC-STAMP.

Mononuclear osteoclast precursor cells fuse with each other to become mature multinucleated osteoclasts, which is regulated by dendritic cell-specific transmembrane protein (DC-STAMP). We evaluated the effects of tea extract and catechins on cell-cell fusion and DC-STAMP expression to elucidate their relationship with osteoclast development. When tea extract or epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg) was applied to RAW264.

Isolation and Characterization of Antihyperglycemic Compounds from Vigna angularis Extracts.

Functional foods that inhibit α-amylase and α-glucosidase activity are effective for regulating the blood glucose level and preventing hyperglycemia. Extracts of adzuki beans (ABs, Vigna angularis), widely eaten in East Asia, can inhibit α-amylase and α-glucosidase activity. In this study, we identified and evaluated the components in an AB water extract (ABWE) after boiling, which is an essential process for cooking ABs.

Antiosteoporotic Effects of Extract on Osteoclastogenesis and Osteoblastogenesis.

Osteoporosis is a systemic skeletal disease that causes bone weakness and fragility. Consuming bone-beneficial nutrients through diet can prevent and treat osteoporosis. (Japanese maple) leaves are used to make tea, but there have been few reports of their health benefits, especially regarding bone homeostasis.

Identification of a catalytic residue of Clostridium paraputrificum N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase Nag3A by site-directed mutagenesis.

Clostridium paraputrificum M-21 beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase 3A (Nag3A) is an enzyme classified in family 3 of the glycoside hydrolases. To identify catalytic residues of this enzyme, mutations were introduced into highly conserved Glu and Asp residues. Replacement of Asp175 with Ala abolished the catalytic activity without change in the circular dichroism spectrum, strongly suggesting that this residue is a catalytic residue, a nucleophile/base or a proton donor.

Potential ability of hot water adzuki (Vigna angularis) extracts to inhibit the adhesion, invasion, and metastasis of murine B16 melanoma cells.

The 40% ethanol eluent of the fraction of hot-water extract from adzuki beans (EtEx.40) adsorbed onto DIAION HP-20 resin has many biological activities, for example, antioxidant, antitumorigenesis, and intestinal alpha-glucosidase suppressing activities. This study examined the inhibitory effect of EtEx.

Quantitative flow visualization of fluidized-bed heat exchanger by neutron radiography.

Quantitative flow visualization of a gas-solid fluidized-bed installed vertical tube-bank has been successfully conducted using neutron radiography and image processing technique. The quantitative data of void fraction distribution as well as the fluctuation data are presented. The time-averaged void fraction is well correlated by the drift-flux model.

Expression of two isoform mRNAs of nucleolar protein B23 during rat liver regeneration.

Nucleolar protein B23 exists in two isoforms designated as B23.1 and B23.2, differing only in their carboxy-terminal short sequences.

Tryptophans 286 and 288 in the C-terminal region of protein B23.1 are important for its nucleolar localization.

Nucleolar protein B23 can shuttle between the nucleolus and cytoplasm. However, the mechanism involved in the protein moving and staying in the nucleolus is not fully understood. To identify the nucleolar localization signal sequence of protein B23, we examined the subnuclear location of B23.

Specific interactions between cryogel components: role of extra domain A containing fibronectin in cryogelation.

Cryogel is a physical gel formed by heterophilic aggregation of extra domain A containing fibronectin [EDA(+)FN], plasma fibronectin (pFN), fibrinogen (Fbg) and heparin (Hep), which are found in high concentrations in the blood of patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. In this study, we clarify the specific interactions between cryogel components in terms of the affinity constant (K(A)), obtained by surface plasmon resonance (SPR). It is found that Fbg self-interactions occur at lower temperatures, and that K(A) of Fbg-Hep changes with temperature.

Phosphorylation-dependent migration of retinoblastoma protein into the nucleolus triggered by binding to nucleophosmin/B23.

Underphosphorylated retinoblastoma (Rb) protein inhibits progression around the cell cycle by binding to transcription factors like E2F; subsequent hyperphosphorylation of Rb protein releases E2F from the complex so that it can then drive the cell into S phase. We immunolocalized Rb protein in human cells during the cell cycle. Rb protein translocated into nucleoli after DNA replication completed, and the nucleolar Rb was shown to be in the hyperphosphorylated form by immunoblotting.

The carboxyl terminal sequence of nucleolar protein B23.1 is important in its DNA polymerase alpha-stimulatory activity.

The protein B23 is a major nucleolar phosphoprotein comprising two isoforms, B23.1 and B23.2, which differ only in their carboxyl-terminal short sequences, the N-terminal 255 residues being identical in both forms.

Inhibition of eukaryotic dna polymerase alpha by persimmon (Diospyros kaki) extract and related polyphenols.

The effects of persimmon extract (Diospyros kaki) and related polyphenols on eukaryotic DNA polymerase alpha were examined. It was found that persimmon extract, epigallocatechin gallate, and epicatechin gallate strongly inhibited the activity of DNA polymerase alpha purified from calf thymus. Among these polyphenols, persimmon extract had the most potent effect on DNA polymerase alpha activity and the concentration of persimmon extract producing 50% inhibition of the activity was 0.

Effects of dietary alpha- or gamma-linolenic acid on levels and fatty acid compositions of serum and hepatic lipids, and activity and mRNA abundance of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA reductase in rats.

The effects of diets containing equal amounts of alpha (alpha)- or gamma (gamma)-linolenic acid on lipid metabolism were compared in rats. Four groups of male Wistar rats were given the diets containing 20% perilla/corn mixed oil or borage oil in the absence (PO- and BO-diets, respectively) or presence (CPO- and CBO-diets) of cholesterol for 20 days. The PO-diet yielded lower serum cholesterol than the BO-diet, although the difference was not observed between the CPO and CBO groups.

Effects of castor oil on lipid metabolism in rats.

Weanling rats were given diets contained castor oil (CAO-diet), coconut oil (CO-diet), or high-oleic safflower oil (HO-diet) each 10% (wt). No growth retardations were observed on the CAO-diets. The CAO-diet group showed significantly lower serum cholesterol and hepatic triacylglycerols than the HO-diet group.

Nucleolar protein B23.1 binds to retinoblastoma protein and synergistically stimulates DNA polymerase alpha activity.

Phosphorylated retinoblastoma protein and nucleolar protein B23 are putative stimulatory factors for DNA polymerase alpha. We showed that these two factors interacted with each other and stimulated the activity of DNA polymerase alpha synergistically. B23 exists in two isoforms designated as B23.

Comparative effects of short- and long-term feeding of safflower oil and perilla oil on lipid metabolism in rats.

Diets high in linoleic acid (20% safflower oil contained 77.3% linoleic acid, SO-diet) and alpha-linolenic acid (20% perilla oil contained 58.4% alpha-linolenic acid, PO-diet) were fed to rats for 3, 7, 20, and 50 days, and effects of the diets on lipid metabolism were compared.

The delta isoform of protein phosphatase type 1 is localized in nucleolus and dephosphorylates nucleolar phosphoproteins.

The immunolocalization and substrates of protein phosphatases present in nucleolus were investigated using Swiss 3T3 cells and Novikoff hepatoma ascites cells. The protein phosphatase activity was detected in the extract of the isolated nucleoli and its activity was inhibited by okadaic acid with IC50 value of 160 nM. Immunoblotting assay indicated that PP1c delta but not PP1c alpha, PP1c gamma 1, and PP2Ac was localized in the isolated nucleoli.

Development of guanine analyzer to measure activity of guanylate cyclase.

A previous analyzer of adenine compounds by high-performance liquid chromatography was converted for the determination of guanine, its nucleoside and nucleotides by a post-column fluorescence derivatization with phenylglyoxal (PGO) in place of bromoacetoaldehyde. The gel filtration column (Asahipak GS-320H) was used for separation by a mobile phase consisting of 25 mM sodium citrate buffered (pH 4.0)-150 mM NaCl solution and CH3CN (85:15, v/v) containing 15 mM PGO.

A surface plasmon resonance assay for the binding of Amaranthus hypochondriacus var. Mexico lectin to glycoprotein.

We have used the analytical system based on surface plasmon resonance to monitor the interaction between Amaranthus hypochondriacus var. Mexico lectin and four different fetuins; fetuin, asialofetuin, agalactofetuin, and agalactosaminofetuin. Agalactofetuin and agalactosaminofetuin were prepared by enzymic digestion of asialofetuin using jack bean beta-galactosidase or endo-alpha-N-acetylgalactosaminidase from Diplococcus pneumoniae.

Purification and characterization of a lectin from Amaranthus hypochondriacus var. Mexico seeds.

A lectin from Amaranthus hypochondriacus var. Mexico (AHML) was purified by affinity chromatography using asialofetuin-Sepharose 4B. AHML is specific for N-acetyl-D-galactosamine as are the other Amaranthus lectins.

Characterization of a lectin from the leaves of great northern bean, Phaseolus vulgaris L.

A novel lectin (GNLL) was isolated from the leaves of the Great Northern bean, Phaseolus vulgaris. GNLL was purified by affinity chromatography on ovomucoid-Sepharose 4B. GNLL had a molecular mass of 135 kDa on gel filtration and gave two bands on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE)(band A of 34.

Purification and characterization of a pod lectin from Great Northern bean, Phaseolus vulgaris L.

The pods of the Great Northern bean plant contain a lectin (GNpL) that highly resembles seed lectins (GNLs) of the same plant. Purification of GNpL from pod extracts was achieved by ion-exchange chromatographies on CM- and DEAE-celluloses and gel filtration chromatography on Sephacryl S-300 HR. GNpL has a similar SDS-PAGE pattern to that of GNLs.

Purification and characterization of three mitogenic lectins from the roots of pokeweed (Phytolacca americana).

Three mitogenic lectins, designated PL-A, PL-B, and PL-C, were purified from the roots of pokeweed (Phytolacca americana) using Q-Sepharose column chromatography followed by gel filtration on Sephadex G-75, hydrophobic chromatography on Butyl-Toyopearl, and FPLC on a Mono-Q column. PL-A, PL-B, and PL-C are acidic proteins having isoelectric points of 4.35 and their apparent molecular masses were 22, 48, and 21 kDa by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of 2-mercaptoethanol, respectively.