Preparation of β-1,3-glucan mimics via modification of polymer backbone, and evaluation of cytokine production using the polymer library in immune activation

β-1,3-Glucans possess therapeutic potential owing to their ability to exhibit immunostimulating activity. β-1,3-Glucans, isolated from various organisms, differ in their chemical structures, molecular weight, and branching degree, potentially forming particulate, helix, or random coil conformations in water. Therefore, this study used synthesized β-1,3-glucan mimic polymers to investigate the difference in binding affinity for dectin-1 and induced cytokine productions based on polymer structures. The β-1,3-glucan mimic polymers were synthesized using β-1,3-glucan tetrasaccharyl monomer, with subsequent modifications to the polymer backbones through the introduction of hydrogen or a hydroxy group. Polymers with different structures in both ligands and polymer backbones were utilized to comprehensively investigate their binding affinity to dectin-1 and cytokine-inducing in macrophages. Hydroxylated polymers exhibited a high binding affinity for dectin-1, similar to that of schizophyllan, whereas the polymer composed of only saccharyl monomers did not bind to dectin-1. Further, when administered to macrophage RAW264 cells, polymers with branched and hydrophobic polymer backbones exhibited strong cytokine-inducing activities. Moreover, the results revealed that the essential factors for cytokine induction include the branches of β-1,3-glucans, high (tens of thousands) molecular weights, and hydrophobicity. The results suggests that artificial polymers comprising these factors exhibit immunostimulating activity and could be developed as therapeutic agents.

Identification of a tomato UDP-arabinosyltransferase for airborne volatile reception

Volatiles from herbivore-infested plants function as a chemical warning of future herbivory for neighboring plants. (Z)-3-Hexenol emitted from tomato plants infested by common cutworms is taken up by uninfested plants and converted to (Z)-3-hexenyl β-vicianoside (HexVic). Here we show that a wild tomato species (Solanum pennellii) shows limited HexVic accumulation compared to a domesticated tomato species (Solanum lycopersicum) after (Z)-3-hexenol exposure. Common cutworms grow better on an introgression line containing an S. pennellii chromosome 11 segment that impairs HexVic accumulation, suggesting that (Z)-3-hexenol diglycosylation is involved in the defense of tomato against herbivory. We finally reveal that HexVic accumulation is genetically associated with a uridine diphosphate-glycosyltransferase (UGT) gene cluster that harbors UGT91R1 on chromosome 11. Biochemical and transgenic analyses of UGT91R1 show that it preferentially catalyzes (Z)-3-hexenyl β-D-glucopyranoside arabinosylation to produce HexVic in planta.

UDP-Glucose: A Cereblon-Dependent Glucokinase Protein Degrader

We previously reported that glucokinase is ubiquitinated and degraded by cereblon with an unknown endogenous glucokinase protein degrader. Here, we show that UDP-glucose is a glucokinase protein degrader. We identified that both glucose and UDP-glucose bind to glucokinase and that both uridine and UDP-glucose bind to cereblon in a similar way to thalidomide. From these results, UDP-glucose was identified as a molecular glue between cereblon and glucokinase. Glucokinase produces glucose-6-phosphate in the pancreas and liver. Especially in β-cells, glucokinase is the main target of glucose for glucose-induced insulin secretion. UDP-glucose administration ubiquitinated and degraded glucokinase, lowered glucose-6-phosphate production, and then reduced insulin secretion in β-cell lines and mice. Maturity-onset diabetes of the young type 2 (MODY2) glucokinase^E256K mutant protein was resistant to UDP-glucose induced ubiquitination and degradation. Taken together, glucokinase ubiquitination and degradation signaling might be impaired in MODY2 patients.

Antimicrobial activities of amphiphilic cationic polymers and their efficacy of combination with novobiocin

Today, drug-resistant bacteria represent a significant problem worldwide. In fact, bacteria are becoming resistant even to newly developed antibiotics. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop antibiotics to which bacteria cannot become resistant. In this study, antimicrobial polymers to which bacteria cannot develop resistance were prepared from 6-aminohexyl methacrylamide and N-isopropyl acrylamide. The polymers with molecular weights of the order of 10⁵ showed little antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli as well as low toxicity. On the other hand, polymers with lower molecular weights (of the order of 10⁴) did show antimicrobial activity against S. aureus and E. coli. These polymers were combined with novobiocin to investigate the combined usage effects against E. coli. The combined usage of novobiocin and the low-molecular-weight polymers reduced the minimum inhibitory concentration, which was less than 0.0625 μg/mL against E. coli. This result indicates that the combination is useful for increasing the efficacy of antibiotics and broadening their antimicrobial spectrum. Furthermore, the results showed the possibility that the antimicrobial polymers serve not only as antibiotics to which bacteria have not developed resistance but also as adjuvants for other antibiotics.

Antibacterial Activity of Membrane-Permeabilizing Bactericidal Cyclodextrin Derivatives

Antimicrobial peptides that act by disrupting bacterial membranes are attractive agents for treating drug-resistant bacteria. This study investigates a membrane-disrupting peptide mimic made of a cyclic oligosaccharide cyclodextrin scaffold that can be chemically polyfunctionalized. An antibacterial functional group on the peptide was simplified to an alkylamino group that combines cationic and hydrophobic moieties, the former to interact with the anionic bacterial membrane and the latter with the membrane interior. The cyclodextrins equipped with eight alkylamino groups on the molecules using a poly-click reaction exhibited antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, including drug-resistant pathogens such as carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae. Several lines of evidence showed that these agents disrupt bacterial membranes, leading to rapid bacterial cell death. The resulting membrane perturbation was directly visualized using high-speed atomic force microscopy imaging. In Gram-negative bacteria, the membrane-permeabilizing action of these derivatives allowed the entry of co-treated traditional antibiotics, which were then active against these bacteria.

One-Step Synthesis of Sugar Nucleotides

The chemical synthesis of sugar nucleotides requires a multistep procedure to ensure a selective reaction. Herein, sugar nucleotides were synthesized in one step using 2-chloro-1,3-dimethylimidazolinium chloride as the condensation reagent. The products were obtained in yields of 12-30%, and the yields were increased to 35-47% by the addition of a tuning reagent. NMR identification of the sugar nucleotides showed that mainly 1,2-trans-glycosides were present. The reported method represents a one-step route to sugar nucleotides from commercially available materials.

Synthesis of β-1,3-glucan mimics by β-1,3-glucan trisaccharyl monomer polymerization

β-1,3-Glucans are important as immunostimulating agents in living organisms. The multivalent binding of β-1,3-glucans to dectin-1, a cell surface receptor, activates immunological defenses. To study artificial immunostimulating agents, glycopolymers carrying β-1,3-glucan trisaccharides as artificial ligands were synthesized. The β-1,3-glucan trisaccharide, defined as an active unit of β-1,3-glucan, was constructed from D-glucose by glycosylation. A norbornene group was introduced as a polymerizable group into the trisaccharide derivative at the aglycone. The prepared endo/exo norbornene stereoisomers of the monomers were separated by silica gel chromatography and identified by NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. The synthesized glycosyl monomers were polymerized and copolymerized with norbornene using 2^nd generation Hoveyda-Grubbs catalyst, deprotected, and purified by gel filtration to prepare water-soluble glycopolymers of varied compositions and high molecular weights. These polymers will have the potential for multivalent binding to dectin-1 to activate immune response and facilitate studies to understand the binding mechanisms of β-1,3-glucans with dectin-1.

Gramicidin S-inspired antimicrobial cyclodextrin to disrupt gram-negative and gram-positive bacterial membranes

A membrane-active antimicrobial peptide gramicidin S-like amphiphilic structure was prepared from cyclodextrin. The mimic was a cyclic oligomer composed of 6-amino-modified glucose 2,3-di-O-propanoates and it exhibited antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, together with no resistance development and low haemolytic activity against red blood cells.

Transglycosylation Activity of Catalytic Domain Mutant of Endo-1,3-β-glucanase from Cellulosimicrobium cellulans

BACKGROUND

Oligosaccharides are of great value in drug discovery programs which address a wide range of therapeutic strategies in medical specialties. However, owing to difficulties in oligosaccharide synthesis by conventional methods, oligosaccharide assembly using enzymes has been explored. The transglycosylases have been demonstrated to be effective for the oligosaccharide synthesis. Further studies are required to improve the specificity and activity of transglycosylases. There is an additional approach to use mutated glycosidase which transforms into glycosyltransferase with a decreased hydrolytic activity. The substitution of catalytic residue in glycosidase results in the loss of hydrolytic activity. During the reaction with glucanase, reaction of water with the substrate - enzyme intermediate results in the production of a hydrolyzed sugar. When the water molecule is replaced by a competing sugar, a new glycoside linkage is formed as a result of transglycosylation.

OBJECTIVE

In this article, we evaluated the transglycosylation activity of endo-1,3-β-glucanase mutant, E119G, toward laminarioligosaccharides under various pH and temperature conditions, in comparison with those of the wild-type enzyme. We also analyzed the effect of glucose and laminaribiose on the transglycosylation activity.

METHOD

In this article, we generated the E119G mutant of endo-1,3-β-glucanase from Cellulosimicrobium cellulans DK-1. The residue, Glu119, would act as a nucleophile in the reaction and affect the balance between hydrolysis and transglycosylation. The enzymatic activities of wild-type and E119G were estimated by detecting the products obtained from laminarioligosaccharides as substrates. We also analyzed the effect of reaction conditions such as temperature and pH on the enzymatic activity of E119G toward laminaritriose. We further analyzed the enzymatic activity of E119G toward laminaritriose in the presence of glucose or laminaribiose to investigate whether these additional molecules could accelerate the transglycosylation activity.

RESULTS

The purified E119G mutant of endo-1,3-β-glucanase was properly folded, and exhibited the secondary structure, similar to that of wild-type. The E119G mutant exhibited enhanced transglycosylation activity and decreased hydrolytic activity, relative to the wild-type. The hydrolytic as well as transglycosylation activities of E119G decreased with the decrease in temperature, however, the ratio of transglycosylation products increased. The temperature-dependent degree of reduction in hydrolytic activity was higher than that in the transglycosylation activity. The enzymatic activities were similar within the range of pH 4.0 - 7.4, while those at pH 8.0 and 8.5 were slightly decreased. The enzymatic activity of E119G toward laminaritriose in the presence of glucose was ineffective, while the addition of laminaribiose evidently increased the transglycosylation products such as laminaritetraose and laminaripentaose.

CONCLUSION

A mutation of catalytic residue, Glu119 to Gly, in endo-1,3-β-glucanase from Cellulosimicrobium cellulans exhibited transglycosylation activity on laminarioligosaccharides. The combination of laminaribiose and laminaritriose as a substrate enhanced the transglycosylation activity. According to the structural information previously reported, laminaritriose mainly binds to the enzyme at the subsites from -1 to -3 and forms a link with laminaribiose, which transiently binds to the subsites +1 and +2. To increase the amount of transglycosylation product, the reaction was found to be effective at low temperature.

Membrane-active antimicrobial poly(amino-modified alkyl) β-cyclodextrins synthesized via click reactions

The emergence of drug-resistant bacteria has led to the high demand for new antibiotics. In this report, we investigated membrane-active antimicrobial β-cyclodextrins. These contain seven amino-modified alkyl groups on a molecule, which act as functional moieties to permeabilize bacterial cell membranes. The polyfunctionalization of cyclodextrins was achieved through a click reaction assisted by microwave irradiation. A survey using derivatives with systematically varied functionalities clarified the unique correlation of the antimicrobial activity of these compounds with their molecular structure and hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity balances. The optimum hydrophobicity for the compounds being membrane-active was specific to bacterial strains and animal cells; this led to specific compounds having selective toxicity against bacteria including multidrug-resistant pathogens. The results demonstrate that cyclodextrin is a versatile molecular scaffold for rationally designed structures and can be used for the development of new antibiotics.

Chemical Modification of Cyclodextrin and Amylose by Click Reaction and Its Application to the Synthesis of Poly-alkylamine-Modified Antibacterial Sugars

Cyclodextrin (CD) can be chemically modified into desired and sophisticated functional molecules. However, poly-modification often produces complicated mixtures, resulting in a low yield of the desired product. As the most promising procedure to solve such problems and to achieve poly-modification of the CD molecule, we present here the Huisgen 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition, known as a click reaction. This review will describe the results of our microwave-assisted click reaction for the poly-modification of CD and amylose molecules, and its application to the study of synthetic membrane active antibacterial derivatives.

Characteristics of meso-particles formed in coagulation process causing irreversible membrane fouling in the coagulation-microfiltration water treatment

In coagulation-membrane filtration water treatment processes, it is still difficult to determine the optimal coagulation condition to minimize irreversible membrane fouling. In microfiltration (MF), meso-particles (i.e., 20 nm-0.5 μm) are thought to play an important role in irreversible membrane fouling, especially their characteristics of particle number (PN) and zeta potential (ZP). In this study, a new nanoparticle tracker combined a high-output violet laser with a microscope was developed to identify the physicochemical characteristics of these microscopic and widely dispersed meso-particles. The effects of pH and coagulant dose on ZP and PN of micro-particles (i.e., >0.5 μm) and meso-particles were investigated, and then coagulation-MF tests were conducted. As the result, irreversible membrane fouling was best controlled for both types of membranes, while meso-particle ZP approached zero at around pH 5.5 for both types of natural water. Since PN was greatest under these conditions, ZP is more important in determining the extent of irreversible membrane fouling than PN. However, the acidic condition to neutralize meso-particles is not suitable for actual operation, as considering residual aluminum concentration, pipe corrosion, and chlorination efficiency. It is therefore necessary to investigate coagulants or other methods for the appropriate modification of meso-particle characteristics.

ID: 72: INHIBITION OF NICOTINAMIDE PHOSPHORIBOSYLTRANSFERASE (NAMPT) ATTENUATES EXPERIMENTAL PULMONARY HYPERTENSION

Rationale

We have previously shown that Nampt, which regulates intracellular NAD levels and cellular redox state, regulates histone deacetylases and inhibits apoptosis, is significantly upregulated in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The aims of this study were to determine (1) whether Nampt+/− mice are protected from hypoxia-mediated pulmonary hypertension (HPH), (2) whether pharmacological inhibition of Nampt could attenuate monocrotaline (MCT)-induced pulmonary hypertension (PH) in rats. In addition, we hypothesized that Nampt secreted from pulmonary artery endothelial cells (PAECs) or overexpressing Nampt in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) may promote PASMC proliferation via upregulation of calcium signaling pathway, which plays a role in cell proliferation and vascular constriction.

Methods

Nampt+/− mice and their WT siblings (male, 7-wk old) were exposed to a hypoxia chamber with 10% O2 for four weeks. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n=6 per group) received one dose of MCT (60 mg/kg), IP. They were administrated with FK866 (an inhibitor of Nampt enzymatic activity) (2.5 mg/kg, IP, twice daily for 2wks) two weeks after MCT. Right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) was determined with a pressure transducer catheter. The right ventricle: left ventricle+septum (RV/LV+S) ratio was calculated. In a cell culture model, hPASMCs were stimulated with recombinant Nampt (25 mg/ml) for 6 hrs and 48 hrs. [Ca2+]cyt was measured in PASMC loaded with flura-2/AM (4mM) in a fluorescence microscope and cyclepiazonic acid (CPA, a specific Ca2+-ATPase inhibitor) was used to induce store-operated calcium entry (SOCE). In addition, BrdU assays were conducted to examine rNampt or overexpressing Nampt can promote PASMC proliferation or Nampt secreted from PAECs isolated from PAH patients stimulates more PASMC proliferation than from healthy controls.

Results

Administration of FK866 reversed established PH (RVSP [mm Hg] 19.77±0.80 [control] vs 51.24±4.35 [MCT] vs 34.45±3.49 [MCT+FK866], p<0.05 ) and RVH (0.25±0.0013 vs 0.60±0.019 vs 0.43±0.022, p<0.01). In PASMCs, short (6 hrs) and long (48 hrs) treatment with recombinant PBEF enhanced SOCE which is involved in sustained pulmonary vasoconstriction and PASMC proliferation. rNampt promotes PASMC proliferation in a dose dependent manner. PAECs from PAH patients secreted more Nampt which stimulates more PASMC proliferation compared to healthy controls. Overexpressed Nampt promotes PASMC proliferation. Inhibition of Nampt via FK866 attenuates rNampt-, Nampt overexpressed or PAEC-secreted Nampt – mediated PASMC proliferation.

Conclusion

Inhibition of Nampt attenuates hypoxia-mediated PH in mice or MCT-induced PH in rats. Nampt may play a role in vascular remodeling via regulation of calcium signaling pathway. These data suggest that Nampt inhibition could be a potential therapeutic target for PH.

Chemical approach for the syntheses of GM4 isomers with sialic acid to non-natural linkage positions on galactose

Cell-surface glycans containing sialic acid are involved in various biological phenomena. However, the syntheses of GM4 derivatives with (2 → 2) and (2 → 4) linkages have not been investigated to date. In this study, sialylation of all of the hydroxyl groups on galactose were investigated for the syntheses of GM4 isomers. Regioselective sialylation was achieved via protection of galactosyl acceptors using electron-rich benzyl groups. These synthetic sialylated glycans will prove to be useful tools for studying unidentified carbohydrate-mediated biological roles.

Expression of smooth muscle calponin in synovial sarcoma

Purpose. Histogenesis of synovial sarcoma remains controversial and reliable molecular markers for diagnosis are necessary. Expression of basic calponin, a smooth muscle differentiation-specific actin-binding protein, was studied in synovial sarcoma.Subjects and Methods. The basic calponin gene and the gene product were analyzed by reverse transcription PCR analysis (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry in 14 synovial sarcomas and a human synovial sarcoma cell line (HS-SY-II).Results and Discussion. Immunoreactivity for basic calponin was detected in the cytoplasm of 6 synovial sarcomas (43% positive). In the basic calponin-positive tumors and the HS-SY-II cells, expression for smooth muscle-specific genes, including basic calponin and SM22alpha , was detected by RT-PCR, suggesting a lineage relationship between synovial sarcoma cells and smooth muscle-like mesenchymal cells.Conclusions. A subset of synovial sarcomas expressing the basic calponin gene and the gene product were identified. The basic calponin may have potential utility as a novel molecular marker identifying certain synovial sarcomas.

Negative MRI findings in a case of degenerative myelopathy in a dog

An 11-year-old male Rough collie was submitted with paraparesis, but did not respond to medical treatment. Clinical signs worsened and the dog displayed paralysis, inability to stand and loss of voluntary bladder control, whereupon magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed. No significant abnormalities were identified from MRI, blood tests, cerebrospinal fluid tests or radiography. After MRI, the dog developed dyspnoea and died. Autopsy and subsequent histopathological examination led to a diagnosis of degenerative myelopathy.

Proline residue-modified polycationic analogs of gramicidin S with high antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and low hemolytic activity*

Novel polycationic analogs of the cyclic decapeptide antibiotic, gramicidin S, possessing NH(2), D/L-Phe-NH or L-Lys-NH groups at the 4alpha- or 4beta-positions of the L-Pro residues, were synthesized. While L-Pro(4alpha/beta-NH(2))-containing analogs exhibited much weaker antibacterial activity, the D/L-Phe and L-Lys-substituted analogs exhibited higher antibacterial activity against Gram-negative bacteria than the parent gramicidin S. All of these additional amino group-containing analogs showed substantially reduced toxicity against human blood cells.

Sequence recognition and self-sorting of a dipeptide by cucurbit[6]uril and cucurbit[7]uril

Cucurbit[7]uril forms very strong complex with zwitterionic dipeptide Phe-Gly with affinity exceeding 10(7) M(-1) and effectively recognizes peptide sequence of Phe-Gly over Gly-Phe as well as Tyr-Gly over Gly-Tyr and Trp-Gly over Gly-Trp with relative affinities of 23 000, 18 000 and 2000, respectively.

Chiral Recognition in Cucurbituril Cavities

For the first time, achiral cucurbiturils (CBs) were endowed with significant enantiomeric and distereomeric discrimination by incorporating a strong chiral binder. Calorimetric, nuclear magnetic, light-scattering, and mass spectral studies revealed that (S)-2-methylbutylamine (as a strong binder) can be discriminated by two enantiomeric supramolecular hosts, composed of CB[6] and (R)- or (S)-2-methylpiperazine, with an unprecedented 95% enantioselectivity in aqueous NaCl solution. This is the highest enantioselectivity ever reported for a supramolecular system derived from an achiral host. Similarly, CB[7], with a larger cavity, exhibited diastereoselectivities up to 8 times higher for diastereomeric dipeptides, as demonstrated for L-Phe-L-Leu-NH3+ versus L-Phe-D-Leu-NH3+.

MRI findings of haematomyelia in a dog with spontaneous systemic haemorrhage

A 7-year-old female cross-breed dog was brought to Nihon University Animal Medical Center for investigation of tetraplegia. Lameness in the pelvic limbs, that had developed 2 weeks previously, had progressed to tetraplegia. On magnetic resonance imaging of the spinal cord, isointensity was detected from C2 to C4 and T12 to T13, isointensity and hyperintensity were intermingled from L3 to L4, and hyperintensity was detected from L5 to L7 by T1-weighted imaging. On T2-weighted imaging, hyperintensity was detected in all regions described above. The dog recovered from anaesthesia, but died during the day from systemic bleeding as the result of a coagulopathy of unknown aetiology. Histopathological examination revealed haematomyelia in these regions of the spinal cord. This is the first report of magnetic resonance imaging findings of haematomyelia in canine spontaneous systemic haemorrhage. It appeared that the differences in the findings of T1-weighted imaging along the spinal regions reflected time-lags in the occurrence of bleeding.

Sequential Formation of a Ternary Complex among Dihexylammonium, Cucurbit[6]uril, and Cyclodextrin with Positive Cooperativity

A unique ternary 1:1:1 cucurbit[6]uril (CB[6])-cyclodextrin (CD)-dihexylammonium (DHA) complex was designed and noncovalently synthesized in stepwise fashion: first, CB[6] interacts strongly with DHA to form a 1:1 complex; second, addition of CD into the solution of the 1:1 complex leads to the exclusive formation of the 1:1:1 ternary complex. The ternary complex was characterized by various experimental techniques including ITC, NMR, and ESI-MS.

Electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry determined regioisomeric structures of disubstituted beta-cyclodextrin derivatives

Electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry was applied to the analysis of regiospecifically disubstituted beta-cyclodextrins. Each disubstituted regioisomer showed unique fragmentation, distinguishing each of them unambiguously. These results demonstrate that mass spectrometry is the most straightforward method among those reported in the assignment of regioisomeric structures of these oligosaccharides.

CD spectral study of Dnp derivatives of amino acids and peptides for their configurational and conformational analysis

Rules relating the stereochemistry of N-Dnp (Dnp: 2,4-dinitrophenyl) derivatives of alpha-amino acids and peptides and the sign of the Cotton effects at the longest wavelength band (ca. 400 nm) are surveyed. Some new data and insights concerning the CD spectra of Dnp-alpha-amino acids are included: i.e., the spectra of Dnp derivatives as the composite of the corresponding o-nitrophenyl and p-nitrophenyl derivatives; the crystal structure of Dnp-I-phenylalanine and its solid-state CD spectra; the CD spectra of Dnp-alpha-amino acids containing sulfur atom on their side chains; and the theoretical approach to the CD spectra using molecular orbital method-based calculation. Conformational analyses of cyclic and linear peptides by the CD spectra of their Dnp derivatives are also discussed.

Factors Controlling the Complex Architecture of Native and Modified Cyclodextrins with Dipeptide (Z-Glu-Tyr) Studied by Microcalorimetry and NMR Spectroscopy: Critical Effects of Peripheral Bis-trimethylamination and Cavity Size

Complex stability constant (K), standard free energy (DeltaG degrees ), reaction enthalpy (DeltaH degrees ), and entropy change (TDeltaS degrees ) for 1:1 inclusion complexation of the diastereomeric dipeptides Z-d/l-Glu-l-Tyr (Z = benzyloxycarbonyl) and its component amino acids (Z-d/l-Glu and N-Ac-Tyr) with native alpha-, beta-, and gamma-cyclodextrins (CDs) and A,X-modified bis(6-trimethylammonio-6-deoxy)-beta-CDs (AX-TMA(2)-beta-CDs) were determined in buffer solution (pH 6.9) at T = 298.15 K by isothermal titration microcalorimetry. Concurrent NMR spectral examinations revealed that the penetration mode and the resulting complex architecture are dramatically altered by the peripheral modification and also by the CD's cavity size. Upon complexation of the ditopic Z-Glu-Tyr guest, native alpha- and beta-CDs preferentially bind the Z's phenyl group, whereas AX-TMA(2)-beta-CDs predominantly include the Tyr's phenol moiety. In contrast, native gamma-CD includes both of the aromatic moieties simultaneously in the same cavity. Furthermore, for isomeric AB-, AC, and AD-TMA(2)-beta-CDs, an inversion of enantioselectivity and a switching of the penetration mode were observed, critically depending on the position of TMA substituents.

Application of sucrose-gradient centrifugation for selective isolation of Nocardia spp. from soil

AIMS

To devise and evaluate a method for selective isolation of the less abundant actinomycetes, Nocardia spp. in soil.

METHODS AND RESULTS

This newly developed method is based on differentiating Nocardia from other actinomycete taxa by centrifugation. A water suspension of air-dried soil is centrifuged through a gradient consisting of 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50% sucrose at 240 x g for 30 min. The 20% sucrose layer, which is enriched with Nocardia spp., is then diluted and plated on humic acid-vitamin agar supplemented with antibacterial agents. The proposed method consistently achieved selective isolation of Nocardia spp. in all 14 soil samples tested, which accounted for 5-89% of the total microbial population recovered. Tentative taxonomic characterization based on a restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of the 16S ribosomal DNA suggested that many of the soil isolates could belong to N. asteroides, N. salmonicida or N. uniformis.

CONCLUSIONS

Differential centrifugation can successfully and efficiently isolate soil Nocardia populations that are suppressed by conventional dilution plating approaches.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

The development and application of new methodologies with which to isolate less-explored actinomycete taxa is important for improving our knowledge about their taxonomy, ecology and industrial applications.