Large-scale preparation of sialyl-Tn antigen-containing peptides from mucin-like glycoproteins in boar seminal gel.

Sialyl-Tn antigen, a tumor antigen, is a valuable ligand for the purification of proteins that specifically bind to it. Here, we developed a new method for the preparation of large amounts of sialyl-Tn antigen-containing peptides from an unused resource, boar seminal gel. The glycopeptides were prepared from the actinase E digests by a combination of gel filtration and hydrophilic partitioning.

N-Acetyl-d-Glucosamine-Binding Lectin in Acropora tenuis Attracts Specific Symbiodiniaceae Cell Culture Strains.

Many corals establish symbiosis with Symbiodiniaceae cells from surrounding environments, but very few Symbiodiniaceae cells exist in the water column. Given that the N-acetyl-d-glucosamine-binding lectin ActL attracts Symbiodiniaceae cells, we hypothesized that corals must attract Symbiodiniaceae cells using ActL to acquire them. Anti-ActL antibody inhibited acquisition of Symbiodiniaceae cells, and rearing seawater for juvenile Acropora tenuis contained ActL, suggesting that juvenile A. tenuis discharge ActL to attract these cells. Among eight Symbiodiniaceae cultured strains, ActL attracted NBRC102920 (Symbiodinium tridacnidorum) most strongly followed by CS-161 (Symbiodinium tridacnidorum), CCMP2556 (Durusdinium trenchii), and CCMP1633 (Breviolum sp.); however, it did not attract GTP-A6-Sy (Symbiodinium natans), CCMP421 (Effrenium voratum), FKM0207 (Fugacium sp.), and CS-156 (Fugacium sp.). Juvenile polyps of A. tenuis acquired limited Symbiodiniaceae cell strains, and the number of acquired Symbiodiniaceae cells in a polyp also differed from each other. The number of Symbiodiniaceae cells acquired by juvenile polyps of A. tenuis was correlated with the ActL chemotactic activity. Thus, ActL could be used to attract select Symbiodiniaceae cells and help Symbiodiniaceae cell acquisition in juvenile polyps of A. tenuis, facilitating establishment of symbiosis between A. tenuis and Symbiodiniaceae cells.

Molecularly imprinted polymer nanogel-based fluorescence sensing of pork contamination in halal meat extracts.

Pork contamination is a serious concern for the global halal food market because many manufacturers commonly use pork instead of beef to reduce production costs. In this study, a highly sensitive fluorescent molecularly imprinted polymer nanogel (F-MIP-NG)-based sensor was developed for rapid porcine serum albumin (PSA) detection to investigate pork contamination in halal meat extracts. F-MIP-NGs were prepared via molecular imprinting and conjugation with ATTO 647N as the fluorescent reporter molecule for the post-imprinting modification (PIM) and then immobilized on gold-coated sensor chips. For achieving rapid and easy measurement, the fluorescence response was measured using a custom-made liquid handling robot equipped with a fluorescence microscope. The fluorescence response increased with increasing PSA concentration. Under optimal conditions, the F-MIP-NG-based sensors exhibited high sensitivity, a detection limit of 40 pM, a linear range of 0.25-5 nM, and excellent affinity and selectivity towards PSA, compared to potentially interfering proteins. Moreover, it was more efficient to detect beef contamination in 1 wt% pork contamination compared to the real-time polymerase chain reaction. Collectively the good analytical performance, high rates of recovery in real meat extract samples, fast detection, and a low detection limit of pork contamination (0.1 wt%) indicated the potential of the proposed sensor for detecting PSA as a marker of pork contamination in halal meat samples. The proposed sensing system based on the MIPs would open a way to establish highly sensitive and rapid sensing systems (<5 min/sample) for food analysis.

A Bioassay for Determining Symbiotic Zooxanthellae Shape Control Using Lectin SLL-2 from the Octocoral Sinularia lochmodes.

Symbiosis with zooxanthellae is essential for survival of corals. Using a bioassay, we report the H-type lectin SLL-2 purified from the octocoral Sinularia lochmodes to restrict zooxanthellae form to spherical cells. However, the factor for initiating or maintaining a symbiotic relationship between a host and zooxanthellae has not been found in many corals. This bioassay is useful for evaluating the role of a lectin as a symbiosis-related factor.

Phosphate Enrichment Hampers Development of Juvenile Acropora digitifera Coral by Inhibiting Skeleton Formation.

Coral reef degradation due to various local stresses, such as nutrient enrichment and terrestrial run-off into coastal waters, is an increasing global concern. Inorganic phosphates have been considered to possibly inhibit skeleton formation in corals. Despite many studies available on the effects of nutrients on corals, a clear consensus on how nutrients exert deteriorative effects on corals has not been established satisfactorily. In this study, we examined the effects of phosphates and nitrates on in vitro aragonite CaCO3 formation by using biogenic polyamines and in vivo aragonite formation in the skeleton of juvenile Acropora digitifera corals. We showed that the phosphates at similar concentrations clearly inhibited both in vitro and in vivo CaCO3 formation. In contrast, nitrates inhibited neither in vitro aragonite CaCO3 formation nor in vivo aragonite formation in juvenile coral skeleton. Furthermore, our findings showed that inhibition of coral skeleton formation was due to absorption of phosphate on the skeleton, which inorganically inhibited normal development of juvenile coral skeleton.

Effects of green light on the growth of spotted halibut, Verasper variegatus, and Japanese flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus, and on the endocrine system of spotted halibut at different water temperatures.

We have previously shown that the somatic growth of barfin flounder, Verasper moseri, was promoted by green light. The present study was undertaken to elucidate whether growth-promoting effect of green light can be observed in other flatfishes and to understand the roles of endocrine systems in green light-induced growth. Herein, we demonstrated facilitation of growth by green light in the spotted halibut, Verasper variegatus, and Japanese flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus. Blue and blue-green light showed potencies that were similar to that of green light, while the potencies of red and white light were equivalent to that of ambient light (control). We also examined the effects of green light on growth and endocrine systems of V. variegatus at various water temperatures. Growth of the fish was facilitated by green light at four different water temperatures examined; the fish were reared for 31 days at 12 and 21 °C, and 30 days at 15 and 18 °C. Increase in condition factor was observed at 15 and 18 °C. Among the genes encoding hypothalamic hormones, expression levels of melanin-concentrating hormone 1 (mch1) were enhanced by green light at the four water temperatures. Expression levels of other genes including mch2 increased at certain water temperatures. No difference was observed in the expression levels of pituitary hormone genes, including those of growth hormone and members of proopiomelanocortin family, and in plasma levels of members of the insulin family. The results suggest that green light may generally stimulate growth of flatfishes. Moreover, it is conceivable that MCH, production of which is stimulated by green light, is a key hormone; it augments food intake, which is intimately coupled with somatic growth.

Crystal structure of octocoral lectin SLL-2 complexed with Forssman antigen tetrasaccharide.

A symbiosis-related lectin, SLL-2, from the octocoral Sinularia lochmodes, distributes densely on the cell surface of microalgae, Symbiodinium sp., an endosymbiotic dinoflagellate of the coral, and is also shown to be a chemical cue that transforms dinoflagellates into a nonmotile (coccoid) symbiotic state. SLL-2 binds to the sugar chain of the molecule similar to Forssman antigen pentasaccharide (GalNAcα1-3GalNAcß1-3 Galα1-4 Galß1-4Glc) on the surface of microalgae with high affinity. Here we report the crystal structure of the complex between SLL-2 and Forssman antigen tetrasaccharide (GalNAcα1-3GalNAcß1-3 Galα1-4 Galß) at 3.4 Å resolution. In an asymmetric unit of the crystal, there are two hexameric molecules with totally 12 sugar recognition sites. At 9 in 12 sites, the first and second saccharides of the Forssman antigen tetrasaccharide bind directly to galactopyranoside binding site of SLL-2, whereas the third and fourth saccharides have no interaction with the SLL-2 hexameric molecule that binds the first saccharide. The sugar chain bends at α-1,4-glycosidic linkage between the third and fourth saccharides toward the position that we defined as a pyranoside binding site in the crystal structure of the complex between SLL-2 and GalNAc. The structure allowed us to suggest a possible binding mode of the Forssman antigen pentasaccharide to SLL-2. These observations support our hypothesis that the binding of SLL-2 to the cell surface sugars of zooxanthella in a unique manner might trigger some physiological changes of the cell to adapt symbiosis with the host coral.

Local Drug-Drug Interaction of Donepezil with Cilostazol at Breast Cancer Resistance Protein (ABCG2) Increases Drug Accumulation in Heart.

Clinical reports indicate that cardiotoxicity due to donepezil can occur after coadministration with cilostazol. We speculated that the concentration of donepezil in heart tissue might be increased as a result of interaction with cilostazol at efflux transporters such as P-glycoprotein (P-gp, ABCB1) and breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP, ABCG2), which are expressed in many tissues including the heart, and our study tested this hypothesis. First, donepezil was confirmed to be a substrate of both BCRP and P-glycoprotein in transporter-transfected cells in vitro. Cilostazol inhibited BCRP and P-glycoprotein with half-inhibitory concentrations of 130 nM and 12.7 µM, respectively. Considering the clinically achievable unbound plasma concentration of cilostazol (about 200 nM), it is plausible that BCRP-mediated transport of donepezil would be affected by cilostazol in vivo. Indeed, in an in vivo rat study, we found that coadministration of cilostazol significantly increased the concentrations of donepezil in the heart and brain, where BCRP functions as a part of the blood-tissue barrier, whereas the plasma concentration of donepezil was unaffected. In addition, in vitro accumulation of donepezil in heart tissue slices of rats was significantly increased in the presence of cilostazol. These results indicate that donepezil-cilostazol interaction at BCRP may be clinically relevant in heart and brain tissues. In other words, the tissue distribution of drugs can be influenced by drug-drug interaction (DDI) at efflux transporters in certain tissues (local DDI) without any apparent change in plasma concentration (systemic DDI).

Solid-supported reagents composed of a copolymer possessing 2-O-sulfonyl mannosides and phase-transfer catalysts for the synthesis of 2-fluoroglucose.

We described the synthesis of a solid-supported co-polymer possessing mannosides and phase-transfer catalysts and synthesis of 2-fluoroglucoside from it. We first prepared a soluble copolymer from two allene monomers possessing a precursor for the synthesis of 2-fluoroglycose and a crown ether. The copolymerization of the monomers via the π-ally nickel-catalyst smoothly proceeded at room temperature to provide a desired copolymer without decomposition of the sulfonate esters. The copolymer exhibited high reactivity towards fluorination in comparison with a conventional precursor. We next synthesized the solid-supported copolymer by using the solid-supported initiator attached with TentaGel® resins. TentaGel® enabled polymerization under stirring with stirring bar without decomposition. The solid-supported copolymer exhibited comparable reactivity towards fluorination in comparison with the soluble copolymer. In addition, it can be easily separated from the reaction vessel by filtration.

Antitumor effect of degalactosylated gc-globulin on orthotopic grafted lung cancer in mice.

BACKGROUND: Group-specific component (Gc)-globulin-derived macrophage-activating factor (GcMAF) generated by a cascade of catalytic reactions with deglycosidase enzymes exerts antitumor activity. We hypothesized that degalactosyl Gc-globulin (DG3), a precursor of GcMAF, also plays a role in recovery from cancer as well as GcMAF due to progression of deglycosylation by generally resident sialidases and mannosidases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We prepared the subtypes of DG3, such as 1f1f and 1s1s and its 22 homodimers, by using vitamin D3-binding Sepharose CL-6B and examined their antitumor activity in mice bearing Lewis lung carcinoma cells, by counting the number of nodules formed in their lungs. RESULTS: Antitumor activity of DG3 was observed regardless of its subtype, being equivalent to that of GcMAF. The injection route of DG3 affected its antitumor activity, with subcutaneous and intramuscular administration being more favorable than the intraperitoneal or intravenous route. In order to obtain significant antitumor activity, more than 160 ng/kg of DG3 were required. CONCLUSION: DG3 proved to be promising as an antitumor agent, similarly to GcMAF.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of the Forssman antigen pentasaccharide and derivatives by a one-pot glycosylation procedure.

The synthesis and biological evaluation of the Forssman antigen pentasaccharide and derivatives thereof by using a one-pot glycosylation and polymer-assisted deprotection is described. The Forssman antigen pentasaccharide, composed of GalNAcα(1,3)GalNAcß(1,3)Galα(1,4)Galß(1,4)Glc, was recently identified as a ligand of the lectin SLL-2 isolated from an octocoral Sinularia lochmodes. The chemo- and α-selective glycosylation of a thiogalactoside with a hemiacetal donor by using a mixture of Tf(2)O, TTBP and Ph(2)SO, followed by activation of the remaining thioglycoside, provided the trisaccharide at the reducing end in a one-pot procedure. The pentasaccharide was prepared by the α-selective glycosylation of the N-Troc-protected (Troc=2,2,2-trichloroethoxycarbonyl) thioglycoside with a 2-azide-1-hydroxyl glycosyl donor, followed by glycosidation of the resulting disaccharide at the C3 hydroxyl group of the trisaccharide acceptor in a one-pot process. We next applied the one-pot glycosylation method to the synthesis of pentasaccharides in which the galactosamine units were partially and fully replaced by galactose units. Among the three possible pentasaccharides, Galα(1,3)GalNAc and Galα(1,3)Gal derivatives were successfully prepared by the established method. An assay of the binding of the synthetic oligosaccharides to a fluorescent-labeled SLL-2 revealed that the NHAc substituents and the length of the oligosaccharide chain were both important for the binding of the oligosaccharide to SLL-2. The inhibition effect of the oligosaccharide relative to the morphological changes of Symbiodinium by SLL-2, was comparable to their binding affinity to SLL-2. In addition, we fortuitously found that the synthetic Forssman antigen pentasaccharide directly promotes a morphological change in Symbiodinium. These results strongly indicate that the Forssman antigen also functions as a chemical mediator of Symbiodinium.

Facile synthesis of 4-O-ß-N-acetylchitooligosyl 2-acetamido-2,3-dideoxydidehydro-gluconolactone based on the transformation of chitooligosaccharide and its suppressive effects against the furylfuramide-induced SOS response.

A facile synthesis method is described for transforming the reducing-end residue of chitooligosaccharides (DP 2-4) into lactone. The desired 4-O-ß-N-acetylchitooligosyl lactones (GN(n)L) were conveniently prepared from chitooligosaccharides by consecutive dehydration and oxidation reactions to afford 4-O-ß-tri-N-acetylchitotriosyl 2-acetamido-2,3-dideoxydidehydro-gluconolactone (GN(3)L), 4-O-ß-di-N-acetylchitobiosyl 2-acetamido-2,3-dideoxydidehydro-gluconolactone (GN(2)L), and 4-O-ß-2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucopyranosyl 2-acetamido-2,3-dideoxydidehydro-gluconolactone (GNL). The resulting lactone derivatives exhibited considerable suppression (42.6-54.3% at a concentration of 400 µM) in umu gene expression of the SOS response in Salmonella typhimurium TA1535/pSK1002 against the mutagen, 2-(2-furyl)-3-(5-nitro-2-furyl)acrylamido (AF-2). Lactonization of the chitooligosaccharides was found to be essential for their suppression of the SOS-inducing activity.

ß-Galactosidase treatment is a common first-stage modification of the three major subtypes of Gc protein to GcMAF.

BACKGROUND: The 1f1f subtype of the group-specific component (Gc) protein is converted into Gc protein-derived macrophage-activating factor (GcMAF) by enzymatic processing with ß-galactosidase and sialidase. We previously demonstrated that preGc(1f1f)MAF, a full Gc(1f1f) protein otherwise lacking a galactosyl moiety, can be converted to GcMAF by treatment with mouse peritoneal fluid. Here, we investigated the effects of the ß-galactosidase-treated 1s1s and 22 subtypes of Gc protein (preGc(1s1s)MAF and preGc22MAF) on the phagocytic activation of mouse peritoneal macrophages. RESULTS: We demonstrated the presence of Gal-GalNAc disaccharide sugar structures in the Gc(1s1s) protein by western blotting using peanut agglutinin and Helix pomatia agglutinin lectin. We also found that preGc(1s1s)MAF and preGc22MAF significantly enhanced the phagocytic activity of mouse peritoneal macrophages in the presence and absence of mouse peritoneal fluid. CONCLUSION: We demonstrate that preGc(1s1s)MAF and preGc22MAF proteins can be used as effective macrophage activators.

Stereoselective synthesis of 1-nitrobicyclo[3.1.0]hexanes and fused isoxazoline-N-oxides from primary nitro compounds.

The one-step preparation of 1-nitrobicyclo[3.1.0]hexane and bicycloisoxazoline-N-oxide was readily achieved from conjugate adducts of nitro alkenes and allylmalonates by treatment with Ag(2)O and iodine under basic conditions. We observed that when a primary alkyl group was present at the ß-position of the nitro group, bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane was preferentially formed, whereas if a secondary alkyl group occupied that position, isoxazoline-N-oxide was predominantly produced. High cis-selectivity was observed for the formation of cyclopentane units for both reactions. An iodomethyl adduct, considered an intermediate of the cyclization, was isolated, and its conversion to isoxazoline-N-oxide was successfully achieved. The isoxazoline-N-oxide underwent 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition with alkenes to yield tricycloheterocyclic compounds, which were readily converted to spirolactam in good yield by reductive cleavage of N-O bonds using Raney-Ni. On the other hand, 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of the isoxazoline-N-oxide to terminal alkynes yielded tricyclic aziridines stereoselectively.

Effect of the Gc-derived macrophage-activating factor precursor (preGcMAF) on phagocytic activation of mouse peritoneal macrophages.

BACKGROUND: The 1f1f subtype of the Gc protein (Gc(1f1f) protein) was converted into Gc-derived macrophage-activating factor (GcMAF) by enzymatic processing in the presence of ß-galactosidase of an activated B-cell and sialidase of a T-cell. We hypothesized that preGc(1f1f)MAF, the only Gc(1f1f) protein lacking galactose, can be converted to GcMAF in vivo because sialic acid is cleaved by residual sialidase. Hence, we investigated the effect of preGc(1f1f)MAF on the phagocytic activation of mouse peritoneal macrophages. RESULTS: We examined the sugar moiety of preGc(1f1f)MAF with a Western blot using peanut agglutinin (PNA) and Helix pomatia agglutinin (HPA) lectin. We also found that preGc(1f1f)MAF significantly enhanced phagocytic activity in mouse peritoneal macrophages but only in the presence of the mouse peritoneal fluid; the level of phagocytic activity was the same as that observed for GcMAF. CONCLUSION: PreGc(1f1f)MAF can be used as an effective macrophage activator in vivo.

A retrospective study of a calcium agent (E-Ca) using data on bone mineral density obtained by DXA method.

AIM: We performed a retrospective analysis of a calcium hydroxide-containing calcium agent (TACHIKAWA DENKAI CALCIUM™: E-Ca) based on data of bone mineral density obtained by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) to clarify the relationship between bone mineral density and E-Ca intake on an empty stomach in those who regularly use E-Ca. RESULTS: We found the percentage of volunteers with their age-matched (AM) values of above 100% to be 89%, and also a moderate positive correlation between AM values and the intake period of E-Ca. CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrate that AM values can be used as an effective indicator assessing osteogenesis by regularly administrated calcium agents which exert their effects after long-term use.

Novel and facile synthesis of furanodictines A and B based on transformation of 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucose into 3,6-anhydro hexofuranoses.

A novel synthesis of furanodictines A [2-acetamido-3,6-anhydro-2-deoxy-5-O-isovaleryl-D-glucofuranose (1)] and B [2-acetamido-3,6-anhydro-2-deoxy-5-O-isovaleryl-D-mannofuranose (2)] is described starting from 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucose (GlcNAc). The synthetic protocol is based on deriving the epimeric bicyclic 3,6-anhydro sugars [2-acetamido-3,6-anhydro-2-deoxy-D-glucofuranose (4) and 2-acetamido-3,6-anhydro-2-deoxy-D-mannofuranose (5)] from GlcNAc. Reaction with borate upon heating led to a facile transformation of GlcNAc into the desired epimeric 3,6-anhydro sugars. The C5 hydroxyl group of the 3,6-anhydro compounds 4 and 5 was regioselectively esterified with the isovaleryl chloride to complete the synthesis of furanodictines A and B, respectively. The targets 1 and 2 were synthesized in only two steps requiring no protection/deprotection.