Enhancement of neural crest formation by mechanical force in Xenopus development.

In vertebrate development, ectoderm is specified into neural plate (NP), neural plate border (NPB), and epidermis. Although such patterning is thought to be achieved by molecular concentration gradients, it has been revealed, mainly by in vitro analysis, that mechanical force can regulate cell specification. During in vivo patterning, cells deform and migrate, and this applies force to surrounding tissues, shaping the embryo. However, the role of mechanical force for cell specification in vivo is largely unknown. In this study, with an aspiration assay and atomic force microscopy, we have demonstrated that tension on ectodermal cells decreases laterally from the midline in Xenopus early neurula. Ectopically applied force laterally expanded the neural crest (NC) region, a derivative of the NPB, whereas force relaxation suppressed it. Furthermore, force application activated both the FGF and Wnt pathways, which are required for NC formation during neuroectodermal patterning. Taken together, mechanical force is necessary for NC formation in order to regulate signaling pathways. Furthermore, molecular signals specify the NP and generate force on neighboring tissue, the NPB, with its closure. This force activates signals, possibly determining the appropriate width of a narrow tissue, the NC.

Poly(ethylene glycol)-lipase complexes that are highly active and enantioselective in ionic liquids.

Lipase-catalyzed alcoholysis between vinyl acetate and 2-phenyl-1-propanol was investigated in dialkylimidazolium-based ionic liquids. Although native lipase powder exhibited very low activity in an ionic liquid, forming a poly(ethylene glycol)(PEG)-lipase complex improved the lipase activity in the ionic liquid. The activity of the PEG-lipase complex was higher in ionic liquids than in common organic solvents (n-hexane, isooctane and dimethylsulfoxide). Fluorescence measurements using 4-aminophthalimide revealed that the ionic liquids were more hydrophilic than the organic solvents used for non-aqueous enzymology. A kinetic study of lipase-catalyzed alcoholysis in an ionic liquid ([Bmim][PF6]) revealed that the Michaelis constant (Km) for 2-phenyl-1-propanol in the ionic liquid was half that in n-hexane, suggesting that the ionic liquid stabilized the enzyme-substrate complex. Finally, we carried out enantioselective alcoholysis of 1-phenylethanol in ionic liquids employing the PEG-lipase complex, and obtained high enantioselectivity, comparable to that in n-hexane.

Poly(ethylene glycol)-lipase complexes catalytically active in fluorous solvents.

Lipase-catalyzed alcoholysis between vinyl cinnamate and benzyl alcohol in fluorous solvents was investigated. This is the first report of a lipase-catalyzed reaction in a fluorous solvent. Forming the poly(ethylene glycol)(PEG)-lipase PL complex enhanced lipase activity over 16-fold over that of native lipase powder. The PEG-lipase PL complex exhibited markedly higher alcoholysis activities in fluorous solvents than in conventional organic solvents such as isooctane and n-hexane. The optimum reaction temperature for FC-77 (perfluorooctane) was 55 [degree]C and the optimum pH for the preparation of the PEG-lipase complex was 9.0; similar to the conditions for lipase PL-catalyzed reaction in aqueous solution. The alcoholysis reaction in fluorous solvent requires the addition of a FC77-miscible organic solvent (isooctane) in order to dissolve non-fluorinated substrates. Lipase activity in the fluorous solvent was significantly influenced by the volume ratio of isooctane in the reaction medium. Vinyl cinnamate inhibition of the lipase-catalyzed reaction occurred at a much lower concentration in the fluorous solvent than in isooctane. These results can be explained by the localization of substrates around lipase molecules, induced by adsorption of the substrates to the PEG layer of the PEG-lipase complex.