Protein Hydrolysate from Spirulina platensis Prevents Dexamethasone-Induced Muscle Atrophy via Akt/Foxo3 Signaling in C2C12 Myotubes.

Loss of muscle mass is the primary symptom of sarcopenia. Protein intake is recommended to prevent muscle mass loss, and Spirulina platensis, a microalga with high protein content, is a potential protein supplement. Here, we evaluated the differentiation ability of C2C12 cells and the inhibitory effect of Spirulina hydrolysates (SPH) prepared by Collupulin on dexamethasone (DEX)-treated C2C12 cells. SPH contained 578.27 mg/g protein and 92.30 mg/g branched-chain amino acids. SPH increased C2C12 myotube length and diameter, likely owing to increased MyoD1 and Myf5 expression. Inhibition of increased Atrogin-1, MuRF-1, and FoxO3 expression by SPH in DEX-treated C2C12 cells suppressed DEX-induced muscle atrophy. Moreover, SPH inhibited the DEX-induced increase in cytosolic p-Akt protein expression and suppressed the increase in nuclear FoxO3a protein expression, thereby suppressing the increase in the protein expression of the ubiquitin-proteasome-related factors Atrogin-1 and MuRF-1, which are involved in muscle atrophy. SPH suppressed DEX-induced muscle atrophy by activating the Akt/FoxO3a pathway. SPH promoted C2C12 myoblast differentiation into myotubes and inhibited DEX-induced myotube atrophy by suppressing Atrogin-1 and MuRF-1 expression and regulating the FoxO3a transcription factor. Collectively, SPH can be used as a functional food to inhibit muscle atrophy and promote muscle regeneration.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of novel purinyl quinazolinone derivatives as PI3Kδ-specific inhibitors for the treatment of hematologic malignancies.

Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinases (PI3Ks) mediate intracellular signal transduction. Aberrant PI3K signaling is associated with oncogenesis and disease progression in solid tumors and hematologic malignancies. Idelalisib (1), a first-in-class PI3Kδ inhibitor for the treatment of hematologic malignancies, was developed, but its sales were limited by black box warnings due to unexpected adverse effects. Therefore, to overcome these adverse events, various quinazolinone derivatives were synthesized and evaluated in vitro based on their inhibitory activity against the PI3K enzyme and the viability of cell lines such as MOLT and SUDHL. Among them, 6f (IC50 = 0.39 nM) and 6m (IC50 = 0.09 nM) showed excellent enzyme activity, and 6m displayed an approximately four-fold higher selectivity for PI3Kγ/δ compared with Idelalisib (1). Furthermore, in vivo PK experiments with 6f and 6m revealed that 6f (AUClast = 81.04 h*ng/mL, Cmax = 18.34 ng/mL, Tmax = 0.5 h, t1/2 = 10.2 h in 1 mpk dose) had improved PK compared with 1. Finally, further experiments will be conducted with 6f selected as a candidate, and the potential for it to be developed as a treatment with good efficacy for hematologic malignancies will be determined.

Correlations of Fat Content in Human Milk with Fat Droplet Size and Phospholipid Species.

Fat globule size and phospholipid (PL) content in human milk (HM) were investigated. HM was classified into three groups depending on fat content (A < B < C). PL content (mg/100 g HM) was significantly higher in the C group (p < 0.05), indicating its positive relationship with HM fat content. When the PL content was normalized (mg/g fat), that of group A was significantly higher (p < 0.05) and fat droplet size in group C was slightly larger, suggesting that HM fat content is affected by fat droplet numbers to a larger extent than by fat droplet size. A correlation between PC and SM content in HM was observed regardless of fat content, while correlation between PE and either PC or SM increased in the order of C > B > A, hence the composition and content of PL species in HM varied according to its fat content.

A new species of Gammarus (Crustacea, Amphipoda, Gammaridae) from South Korea.

A new species of freshwater gammarid, Gammarussomaemulensis sp. nov., was collected from Somaemuldo Island, South Korea. This new species is morphologically characterised by the absence of calceoli in antenna 2, absence of anteroproximal setae on bases in pereopods 6 and 7, outer ramus in uropod 3 with plumose setae on both margins, and a small terminal article of the outer ramus, which is shorter than adjacent spines. A description of the new species and morphological differences from related species are provided in the text. The new species was also compared to related species using partial sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene. Genetic distances of COI sequences between the new species and related species, consisting of 21.5-26.3% difference, support Gammarussomaemulensis sp. nov. as a valid species. Additionally, a key to identifying Gammarus species in South Korea is provided.

Three new species of subterranean amphipods (Pseudocrangonyctidae: Pseudocrangonyx) from limestone caves in South Korea.

Pseudocrangonyx Akatsuka & Komai, 1922 is the most diverse group of subterranean amphipods in the groundwater communities of Far East Asia. In Korea, the diversity of the group has been underestimated due to the records of morphological variants of Pseudocrangonyx asiaticus Uéno, 1934. To estimate the species diversity, we analyzed the morphological characteristics and conducted molecular analyses of specimens collected from Korean caves that we treated as morphological variants of P. asiaticus. We described three new subterranean pseudocrangonyctid amphipod species, P. deureunensis sp. nov., P. kwangcheonseonensis sp. nov. , and P. hwanseonensis sp. nov., from the groundwater of limestone caves in South Korea. Additionally, we determined sequences of the nuclear large subunit ribosomal RNA and the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene of the new species for molecular analyses. Molecular phylogenetic analyses revealed that the three new species formed a monophylum together with P. joolaei Lee et al., 2020 and P. wonkimi Lee, Tomikawa & Min, 2020, which are species that are endemic to Korean caves.

A new species of Hangangbathynella (Crustacea, Bathynellacea, Parabathynellidae) from South Korea.

A new parabathynellid bathynellacean species, Hangangbathynella mihoensis sp. nov., was found in the groundwater of the Geumgang River in South Korea. This is the first report of Hangangbathynella from a tributary of the Geumgang River. All previously-reported species were found in the Hangang River and the origins of the two rivers are distinct from each other. The new species can be distinguished from its congeners by the two-segmented mandibular palp and the absence of epipods on thoracopod II. In this study, we provide a description of the new species and an identification table for the genus Hangangbathynella. In addition, we obtained partial sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene for DNA barcoding.

A new cave amphipod, Pseudocrangonyx wonkimi sp. nov. (Crustacea, Amphipoda, Pseudocrangonyctidae), from the Korean Peninsula.

A new species of pseudocrangonyctid amphipod, Pseudocrangonyx wonkimi sp. nov., was found in the groundwater of a cave in the southwestern Korean Peninsula. Pseudocrangonyx wonkimi sp. nov. is morphologically most closely related to P. joolaeiLee et al., 2020. However, P. wonkimi is clearly distinguished from P. joolaei by lacking sternal gills, fewer setae on maxilla 1 inner plate, fewer serrate robust setae on the carpus of the gnathopods, lacking bifid setae on the inner ramus of pleopod 3, and fewer articles of rami on pleopod 3. We also determined sequences of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) of P. wonkimi sp. nov. for molecular diagnosis. From the molecular analysis based on COI sequences, P. wonkimi showed the closest relationship with P. joolaei with 15.1% genetic distance.

The complete mitochondrial genome of Jesogammarus (Jesogammarus) hinumensis (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Anisogammaridae).

We determined the mitogenome sequence of Jesogammarus (Jesogammarus) hinumensis Morino, 1993, which is the first complete mitogenome sequence in the family Anisogammaridae Bousfield, 1977. The complete mitogenome of J. (J.) hinumensis was 15,186 bp in length with the typical 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNAs (tRNAs), two ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs), and a control region (CR). The gene order of J. (J.) hinumensis was in accordance with the typical pan-crustacean ground pattern. A maximum-likelihood tree constructed using 25 eumalacostracan mitogenomes confirmed that J. (J.) hinumensis is most closely related to the family Micruropodidae, and supported the monophyly of the superfamily Gammaroidea.

Complete mitochondrial genome of Pseudocrangonyx joolaei (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Pseudocrangonyctidae).

The complete mitochondrial genome of a subterranean pseudocrangonyctid amphipod, Pseudocrangonyx joolaei, was determined in this paper. The complete mitogenome of P. joolaei was 14,814 bp in length with the typical 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNAs, two ribosomal RNAs, and a control region (CR). The gene order of P. joolaei was unique in that the CR was an inversion, and the gene order of Pseudocrangonyx was not concordant when compared to that of P. daejeonensis, a subterranean amphipod found in Korea. A maximum-likelihood tree, constructed based on 26 eumalacostracan mitogenomes, confirmed that P. joolaei supported monophyly in the family Pseudocrangonyctidae and is most closely related to the superfamily Crangonyctoidea.

A new species of the genus Pseudocrangonyx (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Pseudocrangonyctidae) from Simbok Cave, Korea.

A new subterranean species of pseudocrangonyctid amphipod, Pseudocrangonyx joolaei, is described from the groundwater of a cave in South Korea. Pseudocrangonyx joolaei sp. nov. can be distinguished from its congeners by the number of sternal gills as well as a combination of the antennal sinus, the accessory flagellum of antenna 1, and the terminal article of uropod 3. Molecular phylogenetic analyses based on nuclear 28S rRNA and histone H3, and mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I and 16S rRNA genes revealed that P. joolaei sp. nov. formed a clade with P. akatsukai Tomikawa Nakano, 2018 that inhabits limestone caves in the western Honshu island, Japan.

Changes in food intake and abnormal behavior using a puzzle feeder in newly acquired sub-adult rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta): a short term study.

The majority of newly acquired nonhuman primates encounter serious problems adapting themselves to new environments or facilities. In particular, loss of appetite and abnormal behavior can occur in response to environmental stresses. These adaptation abnormalities can ultimately have an affect on the animal's growth and well-being. In this study, we evaluated the affects of a puzzle feeder on the food intake and abnormal behavior of newly acquired rhesus monkeys for a short period. The puzzle feeder was applied to 47- to 58-month-old animals that had never previously encountered one. We found that there was no difference in the change of food intake between the bucket condition and the puzzle feeder condition. In contrast, the time spent for consumption of food was three times longer in the puzzle feeder condition than in the bucket condition. Two monkeys initially exhibited stereotypic behavior. One showed a decreasing, and the other an increasing pattern of abnormal behavior after introduction of the puzzle feeder. In conclusion, this result suggests that over a short period, the puzzle feeder can only affect the time for food consumption since it failed to affect the food intake and did not consistently influence stereotypic behaviors in newly acquired rhesus monkeys.

The complete mitochondrial genome of Pseudocrangonyx daejeonensis (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Pseudocrangonyctidae).

The complete mitogenome sequence of a subterranean pseudocrangonyctid amphipod, Pseudocrangonyx daejeonensis, was determined. The complete mitogenome of P. daejeonensis was 15,069 bp in length with the typical 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNAs (tRNAs), 2 ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs), and a control region (CR). This is the first complete mitogenome sequence in the family Pseudocrangonyctidae. Interestingly, gene arrangements of most amphipod species were almost identical to the typical pan-crustacean ground pattern, whereas two PCGs, both of rRNAs and CR were translocated in P. daejeonensis. A maximum-likelihood tree, constructed based on 30 eumalacostracan mitogenomes, confirmed that P. daejeonensis is closely related to the crangonyctid Stygobromus indentatus and S. tenuis potomacus and supported the monophyly of the superfamily Crangonyctoidea.

A new species of the genus Pseudocrangonyx (Crustacea, Amphipoda, Pseudocrangonyctidae) from Korea.

A new subterranean species of pseudocrangonyctid amphipod, Pseudocrangonyx daejeonensissp. n. is described from the interstitial waters in Daejeon, Korea. Pseudocrangonyx daejeonensissp. n. is distinguished from three morphologically similar congeners, P. coreanus Uéno, 1966, P. febras Sidorov, 2009, and P. gudariensis Tomikawa & Sato, 2016, by the characteristics of antenna 1, antenna 2, mandible, gnathopod 2, pleopods, uropods 1-2, and telson. Molecular phylogenetic analyses based on nuclear 28S rRNA and histone H3, and mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I and 16S rRNA genes revealed that P. daejeonensis is a sister species of the unnamed Pseudocrangonyx sp. 3 inhabiting central Japan.

First Insights into the Subterranean Crustacean Bathynellacea Transcriptome: Transcriptionally Reduced Opsin Repertoire and Evidence of Conserved Homeostasis Regulatory Mechanisms.

Bathynellacea (Crustacea, Syncarida, Parabathynellidae) are subterranean aquatic crustaceans that typically inhabit freshwater interstitial spaces (e.g., groundwater) and are occasionally found in caves and even hot springs. In this study, we sequenced the whole transcriptome of Allobathynella bangokensis using RNA-seq. De novo sequence assembly produced 74,866 contigs including 28,934 BLAST hits. Overall, the gene sequences were most similar to those of the waterflea Daphnia pulex. In the A. bangokensis transcriptome, no opsin or related sequences were identified, and no contig aligned to the crustacean visual opsins and non-visual opsins (i.e. arthropsins, peropsins, and melaopsins), suggesting potential regressive adaptation to the dark environment. However, A. bangokensis expressed conserved gene family sets, such as heat shock proteins and those related to key innate immunity pathways and antioxidant defense systems, at the transcriptional level, suggesting that this species has evolved adaptations involving molecular mechanisms of homeostasis. The transcriptomic information of A. bangokensis will be useful for investigating molecular adaptations and response mechanisms to subterranean environmental conditions.

The complete mitochondrial genome of squat lobster, Munida gregaria (Anomura, Galatheoidea, Munididae).

We determined the mitogenome sequence of Munida gregaria (Fabricius 1793) (Anomura, Galatheoidea, Munididae), which is the first complete mitogenome sequence in the family Munididae Ahyong et al., 2010. The mitogenome of M. gregaria is 16 326 bp in length and contains 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNAs (tRNAs), two ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs) and two control regions (CRs). Mitogenome analysis of M. gregaria showed an extra copy of the CR and rearrangements of two PCGs (nad2 and nad3) compared to the arthropod ground pattern. Additionally, it contains a tRNA (trnY) inversion and rearrangements of two PCGs (nad1 and nad3) when compared with that of Neopetrolisthes maculatus and Shinkaia crosnieri, respectively. The phylogenetic tree confirmed that M. gregaria belongs to the superfamily Galatheoidea within Anomura. Our results will be useful for the detailed study of mitogenome evolution and the phylogenetic relationships among the superfamily in the infraorder Anomura.

Development of a membrane strip immunosensor utilizing ruthenium as an electro-chemiluminescent signal generator.

A photometric immunosensor that can be used for on-site diagnosis has been constructed. The sensor system was assembled by partially superimposing a nitrocellulose membrane strip (the lower) containing an immobilized antigen on the surface with a glass fiber membrane strip (the upper) including two electrodes on the opposite surfaces. To amplify the signal, we introduced a liposome, containing ruthenium molecules trapped in the core, chemically coupled to an antibody specific to the analyte (e.g. Legionella antigen). In the presence of the analyte, immune complexes were formed by antigen-antibody reactions upon addition of the immuno-liposome into a sample. This mixture was then absorbed by the capillary action from the bottom of the membrane strip. The liposome particles in the complexes were carried by a medium through the antigen pad without interaction, while free immuno-liposome was trapped by immune reactions on the pad surfaces. The aqueous medium influx into the glass pad dissolved a detergent pre-located within the compartment and the liposome rupture thereby released ruthenium molecules into the solution. The molecules were oxidized on the electrode surfaces and produced an electro-chemiluminescence (ECL) in proportion to the analyte concentration. The signal generation based on ECL resulted in an exponential dose-response pattern and the analyte detection limit of 2 ng/ml was approximately 10-fold more sensitive than that obtained from a conventional system.

Effect of low-moisture anhydrous ammonia (LMAA) pretreatment on biomass quality and enzymatic hydrolysis for long-term storage.

Biomass storage is essential for effective utilization of lignocellulosic biomass. Although long-term storage of biomass is as important as the conversion process, no effective method has been developed. This study investigated the effects of low-moisture anhydrous ammonia (LMAA) pretreatment on biomass quality for long-term storage with moisture content from 30 to 70 %. Carbohydrate loss due to fungal growth was observed in the moisturized corn stover without ammonia loading, after 12 weeks of storage. This also resulted in reduced enzymatic digestibility. Both ammoniation and LMAA pretreatment reduced the decomposition of carbohydrates by fungal growth, during storage in the presence of moisture. LMAA pretreatment rendered 83 % of glucan and 67 % of xylan digestibility after 24 weeks of storage. Ammoniated corn stover also resulted in 63 % of glucan and 48 % of xylan digestibility at 0 week of storage, and hydrolysis yields increased to 78 % for glucan and 64 % for xylan, without pretreatment, after 12 weeks of storage.

Molybdenum, molybdenum oxides, and their electrochemistry.

The electrochemical behaviors of molybdenum and its oxides, both in bulk and thin film dimensions, are critical because of their widespread applications in steels, electrocatalysts, electrochromic materials, batteries, sensors, and solar cells. An important area of current interest is electrodeposited CIGS-based solar cells where a molybdenum/glass electrode forms the back contact. Surprisingly, the basic electrochemistry of molybdenum and its oxides has not been reviewed with due attention. In this Review, we assess the scattered information. The potential and pH dependent active, passive, and transpassive behaviors of molybdenum in aqueous media are explained. The major surface oxide species observed, reversible redox transitions of the surface oxides, pseudocapacitance and catalytic reduction are discussed along with carefully conducted experimental results on a typical molybdenum glass back contact employed in CIGS-based solar cells. The applications of molybdenum oxides and the electrodeposition of molybdenum are briefly reviewed.

Nanodiamonds as photocatalysts for reduction of water and graphene oxide.

Detonated nanodiamonds (NDs) exhibit remarkable photocatalytic activity towards the hydrogen gas generation upon 532 nm laser pulse irradiation. Hydrogenation dramatically increases the quantum yield, suggesting that hydrogen-terminated sites work as electron reservoirs. NDs can also be used as effective photocatalysts to reduce graphene oxide. The resulting composites exhibit high and stable photocurrent generation upon visible light irradiation.

Two-stage fractionation of corn stover using aqueous ammonia and hot water.

Hot water and aqueous ammonia fractionation of corn stover were used to separate hemicellulose and lignin and improve enzymatic digestibility of cellulose. A two-stage approach was used: The first stage was designed to recover soluble lignin using aqueous ammonia at low temperature, while the second stage was designed to recover xylan using hot water at high temperature. Specifically, the first stage employed a batch reaction using 15 wt.% ammonia at 60 °C, in a 1:10 solid:liquid ratio for 8 h, while the second stage employed a percolation reaction using hot water, 190-210 °C, at a 20 ml/min flow rate for 10 min. After fractionation, the remaining solids were nearly pure cellulose. The two-stage fractionation process achieved 68% lignin purity with 47% lignin recovery in the first stage, and 78% xylan purity, with 65% xylan recovery in the second stage. Two-stage treatment enhanced the enzymatic hydrolysis of remaining cellulose to 96% with 15 FPU/g of glucan using commercial cellulase enzymes. Enzyme hydrolyses were nearly completed within 12-24 h with the remaining solids fraction.