Development of a highly efficient solubilization method for mass spectrometric analysis of phospholipids in living single cells

Phospholipids are vital constituents of the cell membrane and aid in signal transduction. Phospholipid profiles vary distinctively with the cell type. Notably, specific phospholipid molecules are present in significantly higher or lower concentrations in cancer cells versus normal cells. In this study, live single-cell mass spectrometry (MS) was developed for analyzing phospholipids at the single-cell level. This method facilitates rapid molecular analysis of cells under microscopic observation. For nanoelectrospray ionization, phospholipids were extracted from single cells isolated in a glass capillary through a high-efficiency process. Cell-derived phosphatidylcholines were detected with high sensitivity when trehalose C14 was added as a solubilizing reagent. Trehalose C14 can solubilize cells at low concentrations owing to its low critical micelle concentration, and exerts minimal matrix effects (such as suppressing ionization and causing peak overlap) in the MS analysis of cellular molecules. Analyses of phospholipids in Raji and HEV0070 cells using the developed method revealed specific peaks of phosphatidylcholine and sphingomyelin in the respective cells. The developed technique not only affords phospholipid profiles at the single-cell level, but also holds promise for identifying biomarkers associated with various diseases, particularly cancer.

Genome sequence of Enterococcus gallinarum AH4, a milk oligosaccharide-degrading strain isolated from suckling rats

We had previously isolated Enterococcus gallinarum AH4, a strain capable of degrading rat milk oligosaccharides. In this study, we determined the whole-genome sequence of AH4. This whole-genome information will expand our understanding of milk oligosaccharide-mediated symbioses between bacteria and host mammals.

H2-induced transient upregulation of phospholipids with suppression of energy metabolism

Molecular hydrogen (H₂) is an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying its biological effects are largely unknown. Similar to other gaseous molecules such as inhalation anesthetics, H₂ is more soluble in lipids than in water. A recent study demonstrated that H₂ reduces radical polymerization-induced cellular damage by suppressing fatty acid peroxidation and membrane permeability. Thus, we sought to examine the effects of short exposure to H₂ on lipid composition and associated physiological changes in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells. We analyzed cells by liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry to define changes in lipid components. Lipid class analysis of cells exposed to H₂ for 1 hour revealed transient increases in glycerophospholipids including phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol, and cardiolipin. Metabolomic analysis also showed that H₂ exposure for 1 hour transiently suppressed overall energy metabolism accompanied by a decrease in glutathione. We further observed alterations to endosomal morphology by staining with specific antibodies. Endosomal transport of cholera toxin B to recycling endosomes localized around the Golgi body was delayed in H₂-exposed cells. We speculate that H₂-induced modification of lipid composition depresses energy production and endosomal transport concomitant with enhancement of oxidative stress, which transiently stimulates stress response pathways to protect cells.

Isolation, identification, and impact on intestinal barrier integrity of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum from fresh tea leaves (Camellia sinensis)

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are safe microorganisms that have been used in the processing of fermented food for centuries. The aim of this study was to isolate Lactobacillus from fresh tea leaves and examine the impact of an isolated strain on intestinal barrier integrity. First, the presence of Lactobacillus strains was investigated in fresh tea leaves from Kagoshima, Japan. Strains were isolated by growing on De Man, Rogosa and Sharpe (MRS) agar medium containing sodium carbonate, followed by the identification of one strain by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and pheS sequence analysis, with the strain identified as Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and named L. plantarum LOC1. Second, the impact of strain LOC1 in its heat-inactivated form on intestinal barrier integrity was investigated. Strain LOC1, but not L. plantarum ATCC 14917^T or L. plantarum ATCC 8014, significantly suppressed dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced decreases in transepithelial electrical resistance values of Caco-2:HT29-MTX 100:0 and 90:10 co-cultures. Moreover, in Caco-2:HT29-MTX co-cultures (90:10 and 75:25), levels of occludin mRNA were significantly increased by strain LOC1 compared with untreated co-cultures, and strain LOC1 had higher mRNA levels of MUC2 and MUC4 mucins than L. plantarum ATCC 14917^T and L. plantarum YT9. These results indicate that L. plantarum LOC1 may be used as a safe probiotic with beneficial effects on the intestinal barrier, suggesting that fresh tea leaves could be utilized as a safe source for isolating probiotics.

Identification of genes encoding a novel ABC transporter in Lactobacillus delbrueckii for inulin polymers uptake

Lactobacillus delbrueckii JCM 1002^T grows on highly polymerized inulin-type fructans as its sole carbon source. When it was grown on inulin, a > 10 kb long gene cluster inuABCDEF (Ldb1381-1386) encoding a plausible ABC transporter was suggested to be induced, since a transcriptome analysis revealed that the fourth gene inuD (Ldb1384) was up-regulated most prominently. Although Bacillus subtilis 168 is originally unable to utilize inulin, it became to grow on inulin upon heterologous expression of inuABCDEF. When freshly cultured cells of the recombinant B. subtilis were then densely suspended in buffer containing inulin polymers and incubated, inulin gradually disappeared from the buffer and accumulated in the cells without being degraded, whereas levan-type fructans did not disappear. The results imply that inuABCDEF might encode a novel ABC transporter in L. delbrueckii to "monopolize" inulin polymers selectively, thereby, providing a possible advantage in competition with other concomitant inulin-utilizing bacteria.

Rapid chiral discrimination of oncometabolite dl-2-hydroxyglutaric acid using derivatization and field asymmetric waveform ion mobility spectrometry/mass spectrometry

2-Hydroxyglutaric acid is a chiral metabolite whose enantiomers specifically accumulate in different diseases. An enantiomeric excess of the d-form in biological specimens reflects the existence of various pathogenic mutations in cancer patients, however, conventional methods using gas or liquid chromatography and capillary electrophoresis had not been used for large clinical studies because they require multiple analytical instruments and a long run time to separate the enantiomers. Here, we present a rapid separation method for dl-2-hydroxyglutaric acid using a chiral derivatizing reagent and field asymmetric waveform ion mobility spectrometry/mass spectrometry, which requires a single analytical instrument and <1 s for the separation. We compared three derivatization methods and found that a method using (S)-1-(4,6-dimethoxy-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)pyrrolidin-3-amine enables the separation. In addition, we were able to detect dl-2-hydroxyglutaric acid in standard solution at lower concentrations than that previously reported for the serum. These results show the potential of the method to be used in clinical analysis.

Development of a selective and sensitive analytical method to detect isomerized aspartic acid residues in crystallin using a combination of derivatization and liquid chromatography mass spectrometry

The isomerization of amino acids in peptides and proteins induces structural changes and aggregation. The isomerization rate of aspartic acid (Asp) is high and causes various serious diseases including Alzheimer's disease and cataract. Herein, a method for the comprehensive separation and sensitive detection of isomerized crystallin containing Asp (l-α-Asp, l-β-Asp, d-α-Asp, and d-β-Asp) was developed using chiral derivatization and reversed-phase UHPLC separation. Of three candidate derivatization reagents tested for the separation of peptides containing isomerized aspartic acid, 2,5-dioxopyrrolidin-1-yl-1-(4,6-dimethoxy-1,3,5-triazine-2-yl) pyrrolidine-2-carboxylate (DMT-(R)-Pro-OSu) was the most suitable reagent for separating isomerized peptides and improved the sensitivity of mass spectrometry by 50-fold. This method was applied to analyze heat-denatured crystallin. Asp58 and Asp151 residues in αA-crystallin (AAC) exhibited the highest isomerization rate in heated crystallin. Furthermore, the analysis of α-crystallin extracted from bovine eye lens identified isomerized Asp residues (Asp24/35, Asp58, and Asp151 in AAC and Asp140 in αB-crystallin (ABC)). These results indicate that the newly developed method using chiral derivatization provides selective and sensitive analysis of isomerized Asp sites in α-crystallin protein. This novel method will allow for the identification and quantification of isomerized amino acids in crystallin proteins.

Direct metabolomics for plant cells by live single-cell mass spectrometry

Live single-cell mass spectrometry (live MS) provides a mass spectrum that shows thousands of metabolite peaks from a single live plant cell within minutes. By using an optical microscope, a cell is chosen for analysis and a metal-coated nanospray microcapillary tip is used to remove the cell's contents. After adding a microliter of ionization solvent to the opposite end of the tip, the trapped contents are directly fed into the mass spectrometer by applying a high voltage between the tip and the inlet port of the spectrometer to induce nanospray ionization. Proteins are not detected because of insufficient sensitivity. Metabolite peaks are identified by exact mass or tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) analysis, and isomers can be separated by combining live MS with ion-mobility separation. By using this approach, spectra can be acquired in 10 min. In combination with metabolic maps and/or molecular databases, the data can be annotated into metabolic pathways; the data analysis takes 30 min to 4 h, depending on the MS/MS data availability from databases. This method enables the analysis of a number of metabolites from a single cell with rapid sampling at sub-attomolar-level sensitivity.

Black Tea Theaflavins Suppress Dioxin-Induced Transformation of the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor

Dioxins cause various adverse effects through transformation of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR). In this study, we investigated whether black tea extract and its components, theaflavins, suppress AhR transformation in vitro. First, we confirmed that black tea extract strongly suppressed AhR transformation compared to green and oolong tea, although the catechin contents did not change significantly among the extracts. Then we isolated four theaflavins as active compounds from black tea leaves. They suppressed 1 nM 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)-induced AhR transformation in a dose-dependent manner. The IC(50) values of theaflavin, theaflavin-3-gallate, theaflavin-3'-gallate, and theaflavin-3,3'-digallate (Tfdg) were 4.5, 2.3, 2.2, and 0.7 muM, respectively. The suppressive effect of Tfdg was observed not only by pre-treatment but also by post-treatment. This suggests that theaflavins inhibit the binding of TCDD to the AhR and also the binding of the transformed AhR to the specific DNA-binding site as putative mechanisms.

Determination of mechanism of flock sediment formation in tea beverages

The mechanism of sediment formation during the storage of green tea beverage was investigated. Green tea extract was separated by Diaion HP-20 column chromatography, and a sediment-formation test was performed. Results showed that at least one compound of the substance causing flock sediment was contained in each of the HP-20 nonadsorbed and adsorbed fractions. From the following fractionations and structure analyses, the substance in the HP-20 adsorbed fraction was determined to be 1-O-galloyl-4,6-O-(S)-hexahydroxydiphenoyl-beta-D-glucose (strictinin), which is one of the ellagitannins. Strictinin was hydrolyzed to ellagic acid by heat-sterilization processes such as retort sterilization or the ultra-high temperature processing used during the manufacturing of tea beverages. Ellagic acid combined with proteins in the HP-20 nonadsorbed fraction to form an irreversible sediment of green tea beverage; ellagic acid and proteins were confirmed to be present in that sediment. The HP-20 adsorbed fraction contained little strictinin and formed hardly any sediment, suggesting that control of the strictinin content is significant in avoiding sediment formation during the manufacturing process of tea beverages.

Pigments in green tea leaves (Camellia sinensis) suppress transformation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor induced by dioxin

Environmental contaminants such as dioxins enter the body mainly through diet and cause various toxicities through transformation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR). We previously reported that certain natural flavonoids at the dietary level suppress the AhR transformation induced by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). In this study, we identified lutein and chlorophyll a and b from green tea leaves as the novel antagonists for AhR. These active compounds suppressed AhR transformation dose-dependently with the 50% inhibitory concentration (IC(50)) values against 0.1 nM TCDD-induced AhR transformation at 3.2, 5.0, and 5.9 microM, respectively. (-)-Epigallocatechin gallate, which is the most abundant flavonoid in green tea leaves, also showed stronger suppressive effects than did other major tea components, with the IC(50) value of 1.7 microM. Thus, these pigments of green tea leaves have the potential to protect from dioxin toxicity through the suppression of AhR transformation.

Black tea extract suppresses transformation of aryl hydrocarbon receptor induced by dioxin

Dioxins cause various adverse effects through binding to an aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) and transformation of the receptor. In this study, we investigated whether black tea extract suppresses AhR transformation. Dried black tea leaves were extracted with 75% ethanol, and the extract was pretreated to the rat liver cytosol fraction 10 min prior to addition of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). Transformed AhR was detected by electrophoretic gel mobility shift assay. Black tea extract suppressed AhR transformation in a dose-dependent manner, and the IC50 value against 1 nM TCDD-induced AhR transformation was 8.9 microg/ml. The result suggests that intake of black tea has a potential to suppress the AhR transformation, leading protection from dioxin toxicity.

[Isolation and quantitative analysis of the alpha-amylase inhibitor in Lagerstroemia speciosa (L.) Pers. (Banaba)]

Banaba [Lagerstroemia speciosa (L.) Pers.] has been used as a folk medicine for diabetes in the Philippines. Using bioassay-guided separation, valoneaic acid dilactone (1) was isolated from the leaves as a potent alpha-amylase inhibitor. A simple and efficient method for the quantitative determination of valoneaic acid and its derivatives in Banaba extract was established. Valoneaic acid exists as the structural part of the polyphenols, which like flosin A, reginin A, and lagerstroemin, are characteristic constituents of Banaba. These derivatives were hydrolyzed to valoneaic acid by HCl and extracted with 2-butanone. This extract was subjected to HPLC analysis, and the contents of valoneaic acid determined as the whole valoneaic acid contents. Using this method, the whole valoneaic acid contents were measured in eight Banaba leaf decoctions. The alpha-amylase-inhibiting activities of the decoctions were dependent on the whole valoneaic acid contents. In addition, a strong linear correlation was observed between the whole valoneaic acid contents and total polyphenol contents. This analytical procedure is applicable to the chemical evaluation of Banaba.

[Isolation and determination of an antidote for botulinum neurotoxin from black tea extract]

The botulinum neurotoxin produced by Clostridium botulinum exhibits the strongest neurotoxicity, and causes botulism in mammals. We have found an inactivator for clostridial neurotoxins in black tea extract (thearubigin fraction) as a natural foodstuff. In this study, we have isolated and identified the inactivators. The activity against the neuromuscular blocking action of botulinus neurotoxin type A was examined in mouse phrenic nerve diaphram preparation. The purification procedure of the inactivators was as follows. Tea was extracted with aqueous acetone, and then filtrated and lyophilized. It was also extracted with n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, n-butylalchol and water, so the activity of the antidote was recognized to be in the n-butylalchol layer (named the thearubigin fraction). A two-step reversed phase HPLC was developed for the thearubigin fraction. Three flavonoids were found to have the major activity. The structural elucidation of the compounds by means of NMR spectrascopy revealed, kaempfenol-3-O-[glc-(6-1)-rha-(3-1)-glc];keampfetrin, kaempferol-3-O-[glc-(6-1)-rha];nicotiflorin and quercetin glycoside.

Pulse-front-matched optical parametric amplification for sub-10-fs pulse generation tunable in the visible and near infrared

A noncollinear optical parametric amplifier is presented that generates transform-limited sub-10-fs pulses that are tunable in both the visible and the near infrared (NIR). The pulse-front-matched pump geometry realizes tilt-free signal amplification, and pulses as short as 6.1 fs can be obtained from 550 to 700 nm. The large angular dispersion of the idler specific to the group-velocity-matching interaction is effectively eliminated by a grating-telescope compensator, and 9-fs NIR pulses are also successfully obtained from 900 to 1300 nm. This is believed to be the first tunable sub-10-fs light source.

Effects of tea (Camellia sinensis) chemical compounds on ethanol metabolism in ICR mice

The effects of a green tea (Camellia sinensis) extract on ethanol metabolism in ICR male mice were studied. A crude green tea extract (GTE) and the tea components as (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg), (-)-epigallocatechin (EGC), and caffeine were administered before the tests. One hour later, the mice were orally given 2g/kg body weight (b.w.) of ethanol (20% ethanol w/v). The results show that the levels in the blood and liver of ethanol and acetaldehyde were lower, and that the levels of acetate and acetone were higher than in the controls orally given 500 mg/kg b.w. of GTE. After the administration of 75 mg/kg b.w. and 225 mg/kg b.w. of EGCg, the acetate and acetone concentrations in the blood and liver were lower than in the controls. The mice given caffeine at the same dose as that in GTE showed almost the same effects as the group treated with GTE. This suggests that EGCg and caffeine, the principal components of GTE, both had an effect on ethanol metabolism.

Hypoglycemic effect of extracts from Lagerstroemia speciosa L. leaves in genetically diabetic KK-AY mice

The hypoglycemic effects of Lagerstroemia speciosa L., known by the Tagalog name of banaba in the Phillipines, were studied using hereditary diabetic mice (Type II, KK-AY/Ta Jcl). The mice were fed a test diet containing 5% of the hot-water extract (HWE) from banaba leaves, 3% of the water eluent of the partial fraction unadsorbed onto HP-20 resin of HWE (HPWE), and 2% of the methanol eluent of the partial fraction adsorbed onto HP-20 resin of it (HPME) for a feeding period of 5 weeks. The elevation of blood plasma glucose level in non-insulin dependent diabetic mice fed the cellulose as control (CEL) diet were almost entirely suppressed by addition of either HWE or HPME in place of cellulose in the CEL diet. Water intakes were inclined to increase gradually in the group fed either CEL or HPWE, but lower in the mice fed either HWE or HPME than in the animals given either CEL or HPME. The level of serum insulin and the amount of urinary excreted glucose were also lowered in mice fed HWE. Plasma total cholesterol level was also lowered in mice fed the either HWE or HPME. It is suggested that HWE, especially HPME, obtained from banaba leaves have beneficial effects on control of the level of plasma glucose in non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus.