Nucleotide sequence of the gene encoding novel delta-endotoxin from Bacillus thuringiensis serovar japonensis strain Buibui specific to scarabaeid beetles

A new isolate of Bacillus thuringiensis serovar japonensis strain Buibui, which was specific to scarab beetles (M. Ohba et al., Lett. Appl. Microbiol. 14:54, 1992), was shown to have a 130-kDa insecticidal crystal protein (ICP) (H. Hori et al., J. Appl. Bacteriol. 76:307, 1994). ClaI restriction enzyme fragments of total cell DNA of the isolate were cloned into E. coli (Sato et al., Curr. Microbiol. 28:15, 1994). Whole 3480-bp nucleotide sequence of the gene encoding 130-kDa ICP was determined, and the molecular weight of the ICP was estimated to be 130,424. The strongly conserved five blocks that occur in almost all ICP genes of B. thuringiensis were detected in the ORF with the same order and almost the same intervals as elsewhere. The amino acid sequence homologies of the whole ICP or N-terminus half portion to that of the CryIIIA, B, C, D, and CryV were about 35%.

Acylated anthocyanins from fruits of Sambucus canadensis

Two new acylated anthocyanin glycosides were isolated from fruits of Sambucus canadensis. The structures were determined to be cyanidin 3-O-(6-O-Z-p-coumaroyl-2-O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl)- beta-D-glucopyranoside)-5-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside and cyanidin 3-O-(6-O-E-p-coumaroyl-2-O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl)-beta-D- glucopyranoside.

[A case of congenital ventricular diverticula]

Congenital ventricular diverticula are classified into muscular type and fibrous type. Muscular diverticula may be associated with congenital midline thoracoabdominal malformations. Fibrous diverticula, also called congenital ventricular aneurysm, are often seen in black american and South African Bantus, but very few such cases have been reported in our country. A 33-year-old Japanese male was admitted to our hospital for evaluation of chest X-ray and ECG abnormalities. UCG and cineangiography revealed an outpouching of the left ventricle. As it increased in size during the four-year follow-up, surgical resection was performed. The left ventricular diverticulum was multilobular and had a thin wall, which was excised and reconstructed with a patch. There was another small diverticulum on the free wall of the right ventricle, which was directly closed with a mattress suture. A rare case of multiple congenital fibrous ventricular diverticula with successful surgical resection was reported.

Pharmacological characterisation of NK1 receptor antagonist, [D-Trp7]sendide, on behaviour elicited by substance P in the mouse

An analogue of sendide, [D-Trp7]sendide, was newly synthetized and evaluated as a putative NK1 receptor antagonist in a mouse behavioural test. Effects of [D-Trp7]sendide on the scratching, biting and licking response induced by substance P (SP), neurokinin A (NK A) and neurokinin B (NK B) was studied after intrathecal injections. When administered simultaneously with SP, an endogenous agonist for NK1 receptors, [D-Trp7]sendide inhibited the behavioural response to this tachykinin in a dose-dependent manner with ID50 value of 11.0 pmol/mouse. The behavioural response elicited by other NK1 receptor agonists, septide and physalaemin, was reduced significantly by a small dose (32.0 pmol) of [D-Trp7]sendide. Large doses (nmol order) of [D-Trp7]sendide were needed to reduce the characteristic behaviour of NK A, an NK2 agonist, NK B, an NK3 agonist and eledoisin, an NK2/NK3 agonist. The duration of the antagonistic effect of [D-Trp7]sendide was relatively longer. In a [3H]labeled SP binding assay using mouse spinal cord membranes, [D-Trp7]sendide potently displaced [3H] labeled SP binding with a Ki value of 0.023 +/- 0.007 nM, which was approximately 140 and 9400 times more potent than that of unlabeled SP and CP-96,345, respectively. These findings suggest that [D-Trp7]sendide interacts selectively with the NK1 receptor in the mouse spinal cord as assayed by the receptor binding and SP-induced behavioural tests.

A 70-kDa heat shock cognate protein suppresses the defects caused by a proteasome mutation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

An allele of mutation in the proteasome subunit gene Y7, y7-1, caused a temperature-sensitive growth in S. cerevisiae. One of the multi-copy suppressor genes for this growth defect was identical to SSB1, which encodes a 70-kDa heat shock cognate protein of the yeast. Introduction of the multi-copy SSB1 gene into the y7-1 mutant cells suppressed defects in the degradation of X-beta-galactosidase (X = Arg or Pro) observed in the mutant cells. Thus, the SSB1 protein, one of the chaperons of the yeast, facilitated intracellular protein degradation.

Comparison of antagonistic effects of sendide and CP-96,345 on a spinally mediated behavioural response in mice

Intrathecal administration of the tachykinin NK1 receptor agonists, substance P, physalaemin, septide and [Sar9, Met(O2)11]substance P, elicited a characteristic behavioural response consisting of scratching, biting and licking in mice. The behavioural response induced by substance P was significantly inhibited by simultaneous intrathecal injection of a tachykinin NK1 receptor antagonist, [Tyr6,D-Phe7,D-His9]substance P-(6-11) (sendide), and a non-peptide antagonist, [(2S,3S)-cis-2-(di-phenylmethyl)-N-[(2- methoxyphenyl)-methyl]-1-azabicyclo[2.2.2]octan-3-amine](CP-96,345). The duration of the antagonistic effect of sendide was similar to that of CP-96,345. The antagonistic effect of sendide on the response induced by tachykinin NK1 receptor agonists was approximately 1000 times more potent than that of CP-96,345. Neither antagonist inhibited neurokinin A-, D-septide-, neurokinin B- and eledoisin-induced scratching, biting and licking responses. Sendide was without effect on motor performance as measured by the rotarod test, while motor incoordination was elicited only 2 min after intrathecal injection of CP-96,345. These results indicate that sendide and CP-96,345 are selective antagonists of tachykinin NK1 receptors with a long duration of action.

Production of hydrogen peroxide by transforming growth factor-beta 1 and its involvement in induction of egr-1 in mouse osteoblastic cells

TGF-beta 1 controls the expression of numerous genes, including early response and cellular matrix genes. However, the signal-transducing mechanism underlying this regulation of gene expression is not fully understood. In this study, we investigated whether redox regulation plays a role in the TGF-beta 1 signal transduction in the mouse osteoblastic cell line (MC3T3-E1). The overall intracellular oxidized state of the cells, when measured using 2',7'-dichlorofluorescin diacetate by laser-scanning confocal microscopy, was increased transiently after the addition of TGF-beta 1. This increase was abolished by the addition of oxygen radical scavengers such as catalase and N-acetylcysteine. In a variant cell line lacking the TGF-beta 1 receptor, the intracellular oxidized state was not modulated by treatment with TGF-beta 1. We then examined the expression of early growth response-1 (egr-1) gene, which is inducible by TGF-beta 1 and H2O2. Radical scavengers inhibited the induction of egr-1 by TGF-beta 1, but not that by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13 acetate. A nuclear run-on assay indicated that this inhibition was at the transcriptional level. From transient expression experiments using chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene linked to serially deleted egr-1 gene 5'-upstream region, the CArG element in the 5' flanking region of egr-1 was identified as an essential sequence in the transcriptional activation for both TGF-beta 1 and H2O2 stimulation. These findings suggest that H2O2 acts as a mediator for the TGF-beta 1-induced transcription of egr-1 gene.

[Stability studies on L-ascorbic acid dl-alpha-tocopherol phosphoric acid diester potassium salt (EPC-K)]

A compound having structures of both vitamins E and C, L-ascorbic acid dl-alpha-tocopherol phosphoric acid diester potassium salt (EPC-K), which was proven to have both anti-oxidative3%!d moisturizing effects, has been formulated in the quasi drug hair growing products to mainly prevent dandruff and itching which may be one of the causes for the hair loss. Stabilities of EPC-K in 75% ethanolic solutions with various pHs (2-10) were examined extensively by storing them at 50 degrees C for 30 d and by sunlight exposure for 30 d. Decomposition of EPC-K was only observed under pH 2 at a level of 50% and under sunlight exposure at 25% level. A main decomposition product was identified as tocopheryl phosphate (EP), suggesting that a decomposition route was through hydrolysis. EPC-K was found to decompose by as much as 20% under 30 d storage at 50 degrees C when the concentration of the aqueous ethanolic solution was 0-30%. 1H, 13C and 31P-NMR studies in addition to a micelle formation test using pyrene fluorescent probe revealed that EPC-K formed a micelle at such low concentration of ethanol, which was assumed to be a cause for unstableness of EPC-K in that range. Hydrolytic decomposition of EPC-K was found by the reaction rate study to be a pseudo first order reaction with activation energy of 16.98 kcal/mol.

Differential antinociceptive effects of sendide, a NK1-receptor antagonist, and morphine in the capsaicin test

The peptide NK1-receptor antagonists, sendide and [D-Trp7]sendide, have been evaluated for antinociceptive activity in the capsaicin test. Both peptides, injected intrathecally (i.t.) 5 min prior to intraplantar capsaicin, produced a dose-dependent reduction of the capsaicin-induced paw licking response. Naloxone (4.0 mg/kg) pretreatment did not affect sendide- and [D-Trp7]sendide-induced antinociception, whereas naloxone at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg antagonized the antinociceptive effect of i.t. administered morphine. Conversely, the antinociceptive action induced by both NK1-receptor antagonists was reduced significantly by i.t. co-administration of substance P. Morphine-induced antinociception was not antagonized by co-administration of substance P. These results led us to the understanding of differential action mechanism of NK1-receptor antagonist- and morphine-induced antinociception as assayed by the capsaicin test.

Purines. LXII. Both enantiomers of N6-(1,3-dimethyl-2-butenyl)adenine and their 9-beta-D-ribofuranosides: synthesis and cytokinin activity

Both enantiomers [(1'R)-6 and (1'S)-6] of N6-(1,3-dimethyl-2-butenyl)adenine and their 9-beta-D-ribofuranosides [(1"R)-16 and (1"S)-16] have been synthesized for the first time from both enantiomers of alanine (15) in nine steps. These aglycones and nucleosides, together with N6-(3-methyl-2-butenyl)adenine (5) and its 9-beta-D-ribofuranoside (18) as well as 9-beta-D-ribofuranosyl-cis-zeatin (20) and 9-(2-deoxy-beta-D-ribofuranosyl)-cis-zeatin (19), were tested for cytokinin activity in the tobacco callus bioassay. The order of their activity was 5 > (1'R)-6 > (1"R)-16 approximately 18 > (1'S)-6 > (1"S)-16 > 20 > 19. The bioassay results are compared with those obtained previously for the derivatives modified analogously in the N6-substituent in the cis- and trans-zeatin series.

Characterization of larvicidal toxin protein from Bacillus thuringiensis serovar japonensis strain Buibui specific for scarabaeid beetles

The delta-endo toxin proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis which kill the larvae of various scarabaeid beetles such as Anomala cuprea, A. rufocuprea and Popillia japonica were purified by DEAE ion exchange chromatography. A protein with a molecular size of 130 kDa was purified. During the purification a minor peak was also detected which was estimated to be 67 kDa by SDS-PAGE. Both 130 and 67 kDa proteins showed larvicidal activity against A. cuprea. The lethal concentration of the 130 kDa protein which killed 50% of the larvae tested (LC50) against A. cuprea was 2 micrograms g-1 compost. A comparison by SDS-PAGE of the V8 protease digestion pattern of the 130 and 67 kDa larvicidal proteins showed that proteolytic resistant core peptides of approximately 60 kDa molecular size were resulted. The N-terminus amino acid sequence of the 130 and 67 kDa proteins was determined to be NH2-XXPNNQNEYEIIDAL and NH2-XSRNPGTFI, respectively, which is not identical to the sequence of CryIA, CryIB, CryIC and CryIII proteins.

Hydrophobic interaction at the subunit interface contributes to the thermostability of 3-isopropylmalate dehydrogenase from an extreme thermophile, Thermus thermophilus

We cloned and sequenced the leuB gene encoding 3-isopropylmalate dehydrogenase from Escherichia coli K-12 (JM103). Errors (33 residues) were found and corrected in the sequence previously reported for the leuB gene of Thermus thermophilus. The three-dimensional structure of the thermophile enzyme and the amino acid sequence comparison suggested that a part of the high stability of the T. thermophilus enzyme is conferred by increased hydrophobic interaction at the subunit-subunit interface. Two residues at the interface of the T. thermophilus enzyme, Leu246 and Val249, are substituted with less hydrophobic residues, Glu and Met, respectively, in the E. coli enzyme, whereas other residues in this region are highly conserved. The mutated T. thermophilus enzyme [L246E, V249M]IPMDH had reduced stability to heat. Two residues of the E. coli dehydrogenase, Glu256 and Met259, were replaced with the corresponding residues from the thermophile sequence. The resulted mutant enzyme was more resistant to heat than the wild-type enzyme.

Haemolytic activity associated with parasporal inclusion proteins of mosquito-specific Bacillus thuringiensis soil isolates: a comparative neutralization study

Solubilized parasporal inclusions of the three mosquito-specific Bacillus thuringiensis isolates belonging to three different H serovars, co-isolated from a single soil microhabitat, showed haemolytic activity towards mammalian erythrocytes. Neutralization tests with antibodies against whole inclusion proteins resulted in crossed neutralization of haemolytic activity among the isolates and the type strain of B. thuringiensis serovar kyushuensis, indicating that the three soil isolates produce toxins related to the CytB toxin. No cross-neutralization occurred between the type strain of B. thuringiensis serovar israelensis and the three soil isolates.

Cloning, heterologous expression, and localization of a novel crystal protein gene from Bacillus thuringiensis serovar japonensis strain buibui toxic to scarabaeid insects

Recombinant Escherichia coli strains harboring pAG1, pAG2, pKBB100, and pKBB101 were cloned by using antiserum constructed against 130-kDa crystal protein antigen of Bacillus thuringiensis serovar japonensis strain Buibui. DNAs in the recombinant strains hybridized to the 26-base oligonucleotide probe corresponding to N-terminal amino acids of the 130-kDa crystal protein of strain Buibui. Cultures of the recombinant strains were toxic to larvae of the cupreous chafer, Anomala cuprea. Furthermore, the production of the 130-kDa polypeptide was demonstrated in the cells harboring pAG1 and pAG2 by immunoblot analysis with antiserum against the 130-kDa crystal protein. Southern hybridization analysis showed that the 130-kDa crystal protein gene is located on the chromosomal DNA of strain Buibui. On the other hand, DNA probes derived from cryIA(a) and cryIIIA genes did not hybridize to the DNA of strain Buibui.

Contractility of alpha-toxin permeabilized ventricular muscle of guinea pig

This study explored whether Staphylococcus aureus alpha-toxin can permeabilize the ventricular muscle and whether the treatment can leave cardiac membrane receptors, intracellular Ca2+ stores and the Ca2+ sensitivity of myofilament without damage. After alpha-toxin treatment, the trabeculae from guinea-pig ventricles developed tension at very low Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]) (approximately 0.6 microM) in high K+ solution. The trabeculae could contract transiently with 20 mM caffeine after incubating the muscle in a solution containing 0.5 microM [Ca2+]. Phenylephrine (20 microM) with or without GTP gamma S, a non-hydrolyzable analogue of GTP, in the incubating solution did not change the caffeine-induced tension transient. After loading intracellular Ca2+ stores with Ca2+, Ca2+ could be released from the stores by the [Ca2+] of 1.6 microM since the caffeine-induced tension transient was smaller than without Ca2+ releasing protocol. Phenylephrine with or without 100 microM GTP in the releasing solution did not modify the caffeine-induced tension transient. When the muscle was bathed in 1.6 microM Ca2+ solution containing 5 mM EGTA, the developed tension was maintained stably for more than 2 h. Phenylephrine with or without GTP, GTP alone, or 20 microM inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP3) did not change the maintained tension. The amplitude and the rate of spontaneous contractions, induced at the free [Ca2+] around 0.5 microM, were not modified by phenylephrine, with or without GTP, and InsP3. These results show that alpha-toxin is useful at least to permeabilize the cardiac muscle to ions and small molecules without damaging the internal membrane and contractile machinery.

[The effectiveness of the Faden operation on the superior rectus muscle combined with recession of the muscle for the treatment of dissociated vertical deviation]

We made a retrospective study of the effectiveness of the Faden operation on the superior rectus muscle in combination with recession of the muscle for the treatment of dissociated vertical deviation (DVD). A follow-up period of at least one year was required for inclusion in this study. Fourteen patients met this criterion, and two of them had received bilateral surgery. The average preoperative DVD was 31.2 +/- 9.5 delta (range 14 to 45 delta). The surgical procedure was the Faden operation on the superior rectus muscle 11 to 14 mm posterior to its initial insertion in combination with a 2-to 5-mm recession of the muscle, except in one case. The average of the muscle, except in one case. The average hyperdeviation of the operated eyes was 5.6 +/- 11.4 delta (range 0 to 16 delta), and 12 eyes (75%) had satisfactory results (0 to 9 delta) at the last visit. The average reduction of hyperdeviation was 26.5 +/- 11.4 delta (range 8 to 45 delta), The long-term effect of the Faden operation was relatively stable. The hyperdeviation of operated eyes before surgery was clearly larger than that of unoperated eyes at the last visit (p < 0.001).

Mechanical properties in dysthyroid myopathy

Isometric active force and passive load were measured quantitatively in five patients with dysthyroid myopathy during the alert state, to analyze the mechanism of ocular motor disturbance. The results were as follows: (1) the active forces in both agonist and antagonist muscles working in the direction of ocular limitation showed normal values and functioning according to Hering's laws; (2) increasing the passive load of the antagonist muscles consistently demonstrated a close correlation to ocular motor disturbance, but some other muscles also showed abnormal stiffness without clinical signs, and (3) muscle enlargement identified by coronal computed tomography scan was not necessarily related to increased passive load.

Diversity of Bacillus thuringiensis environmental isolates showing larvicidal activity specific for mosquitoes

Seven mosquito-specific strains of Bacillus thuringiensis isolated in Japan were examined for their flagellar (H) antigenicities and the properties of parasporal inclusion proteins. They were assigned to six H serovars: serovar fukuokaensis (H 3ade); serovar canadensis (H 5ac); serovar darmstadiensis (H 10); serovar kyushuensis (H 11ac); serovar shandongiensis (H 22); and an undescribed serovar belonging to H serotype 20. Purified parasporal inclusions exhibited moderate mosquito larvicidal activities with LC50 values ranging from 1 microgram ml-1 to 10 micrograms ml-1. The inclusions of these strains consisted of highly heterogeneous multiple protein components, and five distinct patterns were evident in their SDS-PAGE profiles. Antibodies against kyushuensis inclusion proteins were reactive with all strains to varying degrees, while israelensis antibodies gave only relatively weak reactions with the seven strains. Similarity in antibody-binding profiles was associated with similarity in SDS-PAGE profiles. In a given strain, different antisera gave altered immunoblot profiles. Haemolytic activity was shown by solubilized parasporal inclusion proteins of five of the seven strains.

Antinociceptive effects in the formalin and capsaicin tests after intrathecal administration of substance P analogues in mice

The antinociceptive effect of substance P- and substance P-(6-11) analogues containing D-histidine (D-His) in position 9 was examined in mice in the formalin and capsaicin tests. [D-Arg1,D-Trp7,9,Leu11]substance P (spantide) was used as reference drug. Intrathecal injections of the [D-His9]substance P and substance P-(6-11) analogues at 4.0 nmol resulted in no significant antinociception as measured in the 2.0% formalin test, although spantide was antinociceptive in the early and late phases. The early response induced by 0.0625% formalin was reduced significantly by the [D-His9]substance P and substance P-(6-11) analogues at 4.0 nmol, which were less potent than spantide. The antinociception induced by spantide and a few analogues of substance P and substance P-(6-11) containing D-His was reversed significantly by pretreatment with 2 mg/kg naloxone, an opioid antagonist. The nociceptive response to capsaicin was inhibited significantly by lower doses (2.0 nmol) of the analogues. The antinociception evoked by the analogues was not reversed by naloxone in the capsaicin test. Co-injection of the [D-His9]substance P and substance P-(6-11) analogues at 2.0 nmol selectively decreased substance P-induced licking, biting and scratching without affecting the behavioural responses to NK2 and NK3 receptor agonists. Spantide non-selectively inhibited the behavioural responses produced by not only substance P, but also neurokinin A, D-septide, neurokinin B and eledoisin. The data show that the capsaicin test may be a better method for evaluating neurokinin antagonists than the formalin test.

Implication of ATP released from atrial, but not papillary, muscle segments of guinea pig by isoproterenol and forskolin

Effects of isoproterenol and forskolin, which increases intracellular cyclic AMP, on contraction and ATP release in atrial and papillary muscles of guinea pig were evaluated. In the electrically driven-left atrial muscle segments, isoproterenol and forskolin at 0.1 microM produced an ATP release coupled with a positive inotropic effect, the values of net ATP release at 5 min after these drugs being 5.20 +/- 0.59 and 5.37 +/- 0.55 nmoles/g wet weight, respectively. The forskolin evoked-ATP release was unaffected by prazosin plus propranolol or by guanethidine, implying that ATP is released from non-neuronal origin. In contrast, in papillary muscle segments, the test cardiotonics did not elicit any ATP release despite producing contractile response similar to that in atrial preparations. However, there is no difference in ectoATPase activities of both tissues. Adenosine added exogenously inhibited electrically evoked-contraction of the atrium, but not that of the papillary, although inhibitions by verapamil of the contractions were approximately equal in these preparations. These findings suggest that cardiotonics such as isoproterenol produce a liberation of ATP from auricle muscles, but not from ventricle muscles, and that the liberated ATP may mainly be catabolized to adenosine by ectoenzymes and the resultant nucleoside may serve as a functional modulator through stimulation of pre or postsynaptic A1-receptors.