Title: Transcriptome analysis of the brown rot fungus Gloeophyllum trabeum during lignocellulose degradation Umezawa K, Niikura M, Kojima Y, Goodell B, Yoshida M Ref: PLoS ONE, 15:e0243984, 2020 : PubMed
Brown rot fungi have great potential in biorefinery wood conversion systems because they are the primary wood decomposers in coniferous forests and have an efficient lignocellulose degrading system. Their initial wood degradation mechanism is thought to consist of an oxidative radical-based system that acts sequentially with an enzymatic saccharification system, but the complete molecular mechanism of this system has not yet been elucidated. Some studies have shown that wood degradation mechanisms of brown rot fungi have diversity in their substrate selectivity. Gloeophyllum trabeum, one of the most studied brown rot species, has broad substrate selectivity and even can degrade some grasses. However, the basis for this broad substrate specificity is poorly understood. In this study, we performed RNA-seq analyses on G. trabeum grown on media containing glucose, cellulose, or Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) as the sole carbon source. Comparison to the gene expression on glucose, 1,129 genes were upregulated on cellulose and 1,516 genes were upregulated on cedar. Carbohydrate Active enZyme (CAZyme) genes upregulated on cellulose and cedar media by G. trabeum included glycoside hyrolase family 12 (GH12), GH131, carbohydrate esterase family 1 (CE1), auxiliary activities family 3 subfamily 1 (AA3_1), AA3_2, AA3_4 and AA9, which is a newly reported expression pattern for brown rot fungi. The upregulation of both terpene synthase and cytochrome P450 genes on cedar media suggests the potential importance of these gene products in the production of secondary metabolites associated with the chelator-mediated Fenton reaction. These results provide new insights into the inherent wood degradation mechanism of G. trabeum and the diversity of brown rot mechanisms.
The single-crystal structure of anagliptin, N-[2-({2-[(2S)-2-cyanopyrrolidin-1-yl]-2-oxoethyl}amino)-2-methylpropyl]-2-methyl pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine-6-carboxamide, was determined. Two independent molecules were held together by intermolecular hydrogen bonds, and the absolute configuration of the 2-cyanopyrrolidine ring delivered from l-prolinamide was confirmed to be S. The interactions of anagliptin with DPP-4 were clarified by the co-crystal structure solved at 2.85 A resolution. Based on the structure determined by X-ray crystallography, the potency and selectivity of anagliptin were discussed, and an SAR study using anagliptin derivatives was performed.
The prognostic factors for the overall survival (OS) of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) patients treated with nephrectomy are not well defined. In the present study, we investigated the prognostic significance of preoperative butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) levels in 400 ccRCC patients undergoing radical or partial nephrectomy from 1992 to 2013 at our institution. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine the clinical factors associated with OS. Among the enrolled patients, 302 were diagnosed with organ-confined disease only (T1-2N0M0), 16 with lymph node metastases, and 56 with distant metastases. The median preoperative BChE level was 250 U/L (normal range, 168-470 U/L), and median follow-up period was 36 months. The 3-year OS rate in patients with preoperative BChE levels of >/=100 U/L was significantly higher than in those with levels of <100 U/L (89.3% versus 77.7%, P = 0.004). On univariate analysis, performance status; anemia; hypoalbuminemia; preoperative levels of BChE, corrected calcium, and C-reactive protein; and distant metastasis status were significantly associated with OS. Multivariate analysis revealed that preoperative BChE levels and distant metastasis status were significantly associated with OS. Our findings suggest a possible role of preoperative BChE levels as an independent predictor of OS after nephrectomy in ccRCC patients.
Previous studies have shown that targeted deletion of endothelial lipase (EL) markedly increases the plasma high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) level in mice. However, little is known about the functional quality of HDL particles after EL inhibition. Therefore, the present study assessed the functional quality of HDL isolated from EL(-/-) and wild-type (WT) mice. Anti-inflammatory functions of HDL from EL(-/-) and WT mice were evaluated by in vitro assays. The HDL functions such as PON-1 or PAF-AH activities, inhibition of cytokine-induced vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 expression, inhibition of LDL oxidation, and the ability of cholesterol efflux were similar in HDL isolated from WT and EL(-/-) mice. In contrast, the lipopolysaccharide-neutralizing capacity of HDL was significantly higher in EL(-/-) mice than that in WT mice. To evaluate the anti-inflammatory actions of HDL in vivo, lipopolysaccharide-induced systemic inflammation was generated in these mice. EL(-/-) mice showed higher survival rate and lower expression of inflammatory markers than WT mice. Intravenous administration of HDL isolated from EL(-/-) mice significantly improved the mortality after lipopolysaccharide injection in WT mice. In conclusion, targeted disruption of EL increased HDL particles with preserved anti-inflammatory and anti-atherosclerotic functions. Thus, EL inhibition would be a useful strategy to raise 'good' cholesterol in the plasma.
AIMS: In addition to their cholesterol-lowering effect, statins increase high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels. Endothelial lipase (EL) is a regulator of plasma HDL-C levels. In the present study, the effects of statins on EL expression were investigated. METHODS AND RESULTS: The 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase inhibitor pitavastatin suppressed basal and cytokine-treated EL expression in endothelial cells. Concomitant treatment with mevalonate or geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate completely reversed the inhibitory effect of pitavastatin, suggesting that geranylgeranylated proteins are involved in the inhibition of EL expression by statins. Inhibition of RhoA activity by overexpression of a dominant-negative mutant of RhoA or a Rho kinase inhibitor decreased EL levels. Pitavastatin reduced phospholipase activities of endothelial cells, and concomitant treatment with mevalonate reversed its inhibitory effect. Pitavastatin reduced RhoA activity and EL expression in mouse tissues. Furthermore, plasma EL concentrations in human subjects were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Plasma EL levels were negatively associated with plasma HDL levels in 237 patients with cardiovascular diseases, and pitavastatin treatment reduced plasma EL levels and increased HDL-C levels in 48 patients with hypercholesterolaemia. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that statins can reduce EL expression in vitro and in vivo via inhibition of RhoA activity. The inhibition of EL expression in the vessel wall may contribute to the anti-atherogenic effects of statins.
Retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) is a recently identified adipokine that is elevated in the blood in several insulin-resistant states. We investigated the association between plasma RBP4 and histological and biochemical characteristics of chronic hepatitis C (CHC), as well as changes in RBP4 levels following interferon therapy. Eighty-one patients with CHC infected with genotype 1 received treatment with peginterferon plus ribavirin. Histological data were available for 41 out of 81 patients before treatment, and the degree of fibrosis, inflammation and steatosis was assessed. Plasma levels of RBP4 were determined in serial samples (before, at the end of treatment, and at 6 months post-treatment). RBP4 levels were lower in CHC patients than in control subjects (34.6 +/- 12.3 microg/mL vs 46.2 +/- 10.5 microg/mL; P
AIM: Hypertriglyceridemia is the most common cause of low plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels; however, the correlation between high triglyceride (TG) and low HDL-C remains unclear. Endothelial lipase (EL) is a determinant of plasma HDL levels. We investigated the role of EL in HDL metabolism in a murine model of acute hypertriglyceridemia. METHODS AND RESULTS: To establish TG-dominant hyperlipidemia, EL-/- and wild-type (WT) mice were injected with Poloxamer-407 (P-407, 0.5 g/kg, i.p.). A single injection of P-407 resulted in a marked increase in plasma TG and cholesterol levels together with a decrease in HDL-C levels. Although plasma TG levels were similar in EL-/- and WT mice after P-407 injection, HDL-C levels were 80% higher and the HDL particle size was significantly larger in EL-/- mice than in WT mice. P-407 treatment inhibited plasma lipoprotein lipase activity and EL phospholipase activity, without decreasing their expressions. Adenovirus-mediated overexpression of EL in the liver reduced plasma HDL-C levels in both normo- and hyperlipidemic mice, while overexpression of catalytically inactive EL reduced HDL-C levels in hyperlipidemic mice. Cell culture experiments revealed that both catalytically active and inactive EL promoted cellular HDL uptake to the same extent. CONCLUSION: EL regulates plasma HDL levels in mice in the normolipidemic as well as the acute hypertriglyceridemic state. EL can modulate plasma HDL-CHOL levels through both its lipolytic and ligand-binding functions in hypertriglyceridemic mice, while lipolytic activity appears to be the main determinant for its effects on HDL metabolism in normolipidemic mice.
BACKGROUND/AIMS: A recent study suggests that inflammation and malnutrition are strongly associated with cardiovascular disease in dialysis patients. Endothelial lipase (EL) is a newly cloned physiological regulator of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), which is associated with the progression of atherosclerosis. To clarify the role of EL in dialysis patients, we evaluated serum markers on the basis of the presence of hypoalbuminemia and inflammation. METHODS: We divided the 97 study patients into two groups on the basis of serum albumin (Alb) and high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels, and measured serum EL levels. Serum EL levels were significantly correlated with Alb, cholinesterase, log hsCRP, and log tumor necrosis factor-alpha. They were also assigned to one of three groups on the basis of hypoalbuminemia and inflammatory status. RESULTS: Serum EL levels were significantly higher and serum HDL levels were lower in patients with low serum Alb and/or high hsCRP levels than in those without these abnormalities. Furthermore, when patients were classified into two groups on the basis of the EL levels measured, cardiovascular disease events during the 2-year follow-up period were significantly greater in the group with higher EL levels. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that the link between EL, hypoalbuminemia and inflammation may play an important role in atherogenesis in dialysis patients.
AIM: Endothelial lipase (EL) is a member of the lipoprotein lipase family that regulates HDL metabolism. EL is known to act as a bridging molecule for monocytes or lipoproteins in vascular endothelial cells. We investigated the role and regulatory mechanisms of EL expression in macrophages. METHODS: Macrophages originating from wild-type (EL+/+) and EL-deficient (EL-/-) mice were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The expression of EL mRNA was evaluated by northern blotting. DiI-LDL was used to measure the uptake of native low-density lipoprotein (nLDL). RESULTS: LPS increased EL mRNA levels by increasing intracellular oxidative stress in the macrophages. LPS did not affect EL expression in macrophages derived from Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) gene mutant mice, C3H/HeJ. The uptake of nLDL after LPS-treatment was significantly lower in macrophages from EL-/- mice than those from EL+/+ mice. Simvastatin suppressed the LPS-induced upregulation of EL expression and uptake of nLDL. CONCLUSIONS: EL expression is upregulated by LPS via TLR4 and promotes the uptake of nLDL by macrophages. Simvastatin inhibits the LPS-induced up-regulation and uptake in macrophages. Thus, our findings provide a novel role for EL in lipoprotein metabolism and would expand the range of anti-atherogenic effects of statins.
Title: Acidolysis and glyceride synthesis reactions using fatty acids with two Pseudomonas lipases having different substrate specificities Kojima Y, Sakuradani E, Shimizu S Ref: J Biosci Bioeng, 102:179, 2006 : PubMed
Enzymatic acidolysis and glyceride synthesis using polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) with lipases from Pseudomonas fluorescens HU380 (HU-lipase), P. fluorescens AK102 (AK-lipase), and Candida rugosa (CR-lipase) were studied. The acidolysis of triolein with eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) or docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in n-hexane was evaluated with lipases immobilized on Celite 545. HU-lipase showed the highest incorporation rate at a low temperature (10 degrees C) with either EPA or DHA as the acyl donor, and the rate decreased with increasing reaction temperature. At 45 degrees C, the rates for EPA and DHA were 7.1 and 0.5 relative to those at 10 degrees C, respectively. The EPA incorporation rate was even higher at a low temperature (10 degrees C), and the DHA incorporation rate increased with decreasing temperature. Although AK-lipase showed the reverse tendency for incorporation rate, the DHA incorporation rate increased with increasing reaction temperature with both PUFAs. HU-lipase reacted well with PUFAs such as DHA, EPA, arachidonic acid (AA), mead acid (MA), and dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (DGLA) on acidolysis and glyceride synthesis. The reactivities of AK-lipase toward these PUFAs except for DGLA, i.e., MA, AA, EPA, and DHA, were low for both reactions. The unique substrate specificities of the lipases from the Pseudomonas strains will enable us to use these lipases for the modification of fats and oils containing PUFAs such as fish oil.
Title: Different specificity of two types of Pseudomonas lipases for C20 fatty acids with a Delta5 unsaturated double bond and their application for selective concentration of fatty acids Kojima Y, Sakuradani E, Shimizu S Ref: J Biosci Bioeng, 101:496, 2006 : PubMed
Two kinds of lipases, AK-lipase and HU-lipase, produced by two different Pseudomonas fluorescens strains, AK102 and HU380, respectively, were evaluated as to fatty acid hydrolysis specificity using six types of oil containing higher amounts of C20 fatty acids such as arachidonic acid (5,8,11,14-eicosatetraenoic acid, AA, or 20:4omega6), dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (8,11,14-eicosatrienoic acid, DGLA, or 20:3omega6), 5,8,11,14,17-eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA or 20:5omega3), mead acid (5,8,11-eicosatrienoic acid, MA, or 20:3omega9), 8,11-eicosadienoic acid (20:2omega9) and 8,11,14,17-eicosatetraenoic acid (20:4omega3). Although HU-lipase did not show any specificity for C20 fatty acids with respect to the presence or absence of a Delta5 unsaturated bond, it exhibited comparatively low reactivity for 4,7,10,13,16,19-docosahexaenoic acid (DHA or 22:6omega3). In contrast, AK-lipase was less reactive for C20 fatty acids with a Delta5 unsaturated bond. However, the specificity of hydrolysis of AK-lipase gradually decreased as the reaction proceeded. Utilizing this fatty acid specificity, we concentrated either EPA or DHA from fish oils containing both EPA and DHA by means of lipase-catalyzed hydrolysis and urea adduction. Hydrolysis and urea adduction of refined cod oil including 12.2% EPA and 6.9% DHA with HU-lipase provided free fatty acids with 43.1% EPA and 7% DHA, respectively. The resulting yield of concentrated total fatty acids comprised 2.6% of the fatty acids from the cod oil. Thus, EPA was particularly concentrated in the fatty acids derived from refined cod oil on partial hydrolysis with HU-lipase followed by urea adduction. On the other hand, hydrolysis of cuttlefish oil with AK-lipase followed by urea adduction increase slightly the EPA composition from 14.2% to 16.8%, and markedly enhanced the composition of DHA from 16.3% to 44.6% in the hydrolyzed fatty acids. The yield of purified total fatty acids by urea concentrate was 9.4% of the fatty acids from the cuttlefish oil. Thus, DHA was particularly concentrated in the fatty acids derived from on partial hydrolysis with AK-lipase followed by urea adduction. We concluded that EPA and DHA concentrates can be easily and inexpensively obtained using HU-lipase and AK-lipase, respectively. Furthermore, it might be possible to separate and concentrate C20 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) with or without a Delta5 double bond from PUFAs rich oils including both fatty acids.
Title: [Development of analysis of drugs and toxic substances that can play an immediate role in emergency medical service: what is to be analyzed?] Fukuda A, Ishida H, Kubota M, Kojima Y Ref: Rinsho Byori, 53:26, 2005 : PubMed
Our laboratory was capable of analyzing less than 20 drugs and toxic substances at the time of the establishment of the Center in 1994. Since the poisoning crimes in 1998, such as the curry poisoning with arsenic in Wakayama, the sodium azide poisoning in Niigata, and the potassium cyanide poisoning in Nagano, we have introduced methods for rapid qualitative analysis of arsenic compounds, cyanides and azides, and developed methods for qualitative analysis of three types of surfactants (cationic, anionic, and nonionic) on the basis of the statistics for intoxication patients transferred to the Center. In 1999, the Analysis Method Investigation Committee of the Japanese Society for Clinical Toxicology requested individual medical institutions to analyze 15 selected intoxicating substances, focusing on the following three aspects. 1. Intoxication with a high degree of fatality. 2. Intoxication where analysis plays an immediate role in treatment. 3. Intoxication with a high frequency of requests by clinical physicians for analysis. The selected substances included methanol, barbital drugs, benzodiazepines, tricyclic or tetracyclic antidepressants, methamphetamine, acetaminophen, salicylic acid, bromovalerylurea, organophosphorus pesticides, carbamate pesticides, paraquat, glufosinate, cyanides, arsenic, and theophylline. Responding to the Committee's request, out laboratory has been making efforts so that analysis of drugs and intoxicating substances can play an immediate role in emergency medical service, giving the highest priority to the aforementioned 15 substances. As a result, anyone of us can now rapidly analyze about 35 substances, including those listed by the Society, day and night.
OBJECTIVE: To gain a better understanding of the involvement of endothelial lipase (EL) in vascular disease, we examined whether the EL expression is regulated in animal models of hypertension. METHODS: The rat cDNA homologue of EL was identified using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Cultured rat aortic smooth muscle cells were stimulated with angiotensin II (Ang II) and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), and EL mRNA expression was analyzed by Northern blotting. EL mRNA levels in tissues from stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR-SP) and Ang II-induced hypertensive rats were evaluated using RNase protection assays. RESULTS: Rat EL cDNA encoded a protein containing 493 amino acid residues including a signal peptide, and shares 91.9% and 80.9% sequence homology with murine and human EL, respectively. Northern blotting revealed that EL was expressed in a wide range of rat tissues. In cultured rat aortic smooth muscle cells, Ang II and PMA increased EL mRNA levels by 2.9- and 3.3-fold, respectively. In Ang II-induced hypertensive rats, EL expression was upregulated in the aorta, heart, and lung. In SHR-SP, EL expression was upregulated in the aorta and heart. CONCLUSION: EL expression is increased in rat models of hypertension. Thus, EL might have a role in the local pathophysiology of vascular diseases.
Title: A novel lipase from Pseudomonas fluorescens HU380: gene cloning, overproduction, renaturation-activation, two-step purification, and characterization Kojima Y, Kobayashi M, Shimizu S Ref: J Biosci Bioeng, 96:242, 2003 : PubMed
The extracellular lipase gene (lipA) from Pseudomonas fluorescens HU380 was cloned from a genomic library constructed in pBluescript SK+. Nucleotide sequence analysis revealed an open reading frame of 1854 by encoding the lipase. Its deduced amino acid sequence included internal amino acid sequences of the lipase from this strain: The lipase showed significant sequence similarity to lipases of Serratia marcescens strains and P. fluorescens strains. In Escherichia coli, lipA was expressed in the form of inclusion bodies, which were subsequently solubilized by urea followed by dialysis. The refolded protein was soluble and biologically active. The lipase purified from the E. coli transformant by this denaturation-renaturation procedure followed by only two steps of column chromatographs exhibited the same electrophoretic mobility as did the enzyme purified from P. fluorescens HU380, and both enzymes were quite similar in physicochemical properties such as specific activity, suggesting that the recombinant lipase protein has an intrinsic folding capability in vitro. The function of its C-terminal region is also discussed.
Title: Purification and characterization of the lipase from Pseudomonas fluorescens HU380 Kojima Y, Shimizu S Ref: J Biosci Bioeng, 96:219, 2003 : PubMed
A lipase, which markedly splits polyunsaturated fatty acid ester (PUFA) bonds, from newly isolated Pseudomonas fluorescens HU380 was purified. The purification procedure included Phenyl-Toyopearl fractionation, DEAE-Sepharose chromatography, and Superdex-200HR chromatography. The enzyme was purified 24.3-fold with a yield of 14% and a specific activity of 9854 U/mg. Its molecular weight was estimated on SDS-PAGE to be 64,000. The optimum pH and temperature were 8.5 and 45 degrees C, respectively. The lipase was stable over the pH range of 6.0-7.0 at 30 degrees C for 24 h, and up to 40 degrees C at pH 7.0 for 60 min, when 0.1% Triton X-100 was present. The lipase preferably acted on short to middle-chain fatty acid simple methyl-esters and triglycerides, and cleaved mainly 1,3-ester bonds and to a lesser extent the 2-position ester bond of triolein. The lipase was inhibited by Co2+, Ni2+, Fe3+, Fe2+, and EDTA, and activated by Ca2+. Its N-terminal amino acid sequence was determined to be GVYDYKNFGTADSKALFSDAMAITLY, which exhibited considerable similarity with those of the lipases from other P. fluorescens strains, but no significant homology with other lipases. This lipase was able to decompose fats and oils that contained eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) without significantly affecting the contents of these fatty acids. The results suggest that the lipase may be useful when applied to the processing of industrial fats and oils containing EPA and DHA, such as fish oil splitting.
Title: Acetylcholinesterase-positive afferent axons in mucosa of urinary bladder of adult cats: retrograde tracing and degeneration studies Wakabayashi Y, Kojima Y, Makiura Y, Tomoyoshi T, Maeda T Ref: Histol Histopathol, 10:523, 1995 : PubMed
Acetylcholinesterase (AchE)-positive afferent axons in the mucosa of the cat urinary bladder were examined in the present experiments. Small-sized dorsal root ganglion cells containing AchE enzyme activity were labelled by injection of retrograde tracer (wheat germ agglutinin conjugated to enzymatically inactive horseradish peroxidase gold complex) into the bladder mucosa of adult cats. Results show that 48.9% (90/184) of the labelled ganglion cells possessed AchE enzyme activity. Following unilateral dorsal root ganglionectomy (L2-5, S1-3), a total of 6619 unmyelinated axon terminals were examined in the bladder mucosa, including 691 degenerating axon terminals. Percentages (8.;6-16.1%) of degenerating axon terminals in the ganglionectomized animals (1, 2, 3, 10 and 21 days post-operated) were significantly higher than those of controls (3.1%) and the 60-day post-operated animals (3.2%). Approximately one-half (47.9%) of the degenerating axon terminals observed in the 1-21 day post-operated animals were AchE-positive. Further examination also disclosed that the population of the intact (not affected by ganglionectomy) AchE-positive axon terminals at 60 days (59.3%) was significantly greater than that of controls (45.6%). The AchE-positive terminals containing few synaptic vesicles were significantly increased in number in the 60 day post-operated cats. In conclusion the present study demonstrates that one half of afferent axons in the mucosa were AchE-positive. The increase in AchE-positive afferent axon terminals containing few synaptic vesicles may be derived from contralateral dorsal root ganglia resulting from sprouting following dorsal root ganglionectomy.
Title: Purification and characterization of an alkaline lipase from Pseudomonas fluorescens AK102 Kojima Y, Yokoe M, Mase T Ref: Biosci Biotechnol Biochem, 58:1564, 1994 : PubMed
An extracellular, novel alkaline lipase produced by Pseudomonas fluorescens AK102 was purified by ultrafiltration, ammonium sulfate precipitation, and DEAE-Toyopearl 650M and Phenyl-Toyopearl 650M column chromatographies. The purified enzyme was homogeneous on SDS-PAGE. The molecular weight was estimated to be about 33,000 by SDS-PAGE. The isoelectric point was pH 4.0 by isoelectric focusing. The pH stability was 4 to 10 and the optimum pH was 8 to 10. The optimum temperature was 55 degrees C and the enzyme was stable below 50 degrees C. The enzyme unspecifically liberated short chain to long chain fatty acids from p-nitrophenyl esters, methyl esters, and triglycerides. In the presence of an anionic surfactant, the enzyme was characteristically stable. These results suggested that the enzyme can be used as a home laundry product ingredient.
