Acetylcholine is a neuromodulator critical for learning and memory. The cholinesterase inhibitor donepezil increases brain acetylcholine levels and improves Alzheimer's disease (AD)-associated learning disabilities. Acetylcholine activates striatal/nucleus accumbens dopamine receptor D2-expressing medium spiny neurons (D2R-MSNs), which regulate aversive learning through muscarinic receptor M1 (M1R). However, how acetylcholine stimulates learning beyond M1Rs remains unresolved. Here, we found that acetylcholine stimulated protein kinase C (PKC) in mouse striatal/nucleus accumbens. Our original kinase-oriented phosphoproteomic analysis revealed 116 PKC substrate candidates, including Rac1 activator beta-PIX. Acetylcholine induced beta-PIX phosphorylation and activation, thereby stimulating Rac1 effector p21-activated kinase (PAK). Aversive stimulus activated the M1R-PKC-PAK pathway in mouse D2R-MSNs. D2R-MSN-specific expression of PAK mutants by the Cre-Flex system regulated dendritic spine structural plasticity and aversive learning. Donepezil induced PAK activation in both accumbal D2R-MSNs and in the CA1 region of the hippocampus and enhanced D2R-MSN-mediated aversive learning. These findings demonstrate that acetylcholine stimulates M1R-PKC-beta-PIX-Rac1-PAK signaling in D2R-MSNs for aversive learning and imply the cascade's therapeutic potential for AD as aversive learning is used to preliminarily screen AD drugs.
The nucleus accumbens (NAc) plays critical roles in emotional behaviors, including aversive learning. Aversive stimuli such as an electric foot shock increase acetylcholine (ACh) in the NAc, and muscarinic signaling appears to increase neuronal excitability and aversive learning. Muscarinic signaling inhibits the voltage-dependent potassium KCNQ current which regulate neuronal excitability, but the regulatory mechanism has not been fully elucidated. Phosphorylation of KCNQ2 at threonine 217 (T217) and its inhibitory effect on channel activity were predicted. However, whether and how muscarinic signaling phosphorylates KCNQ2 in vivo remains unclear. Here, we found that PKC directly phosphorylated KCNQ2 at T217 in vitro. Carbachol and a muscarinic M1 receptor (M1R) agonist facilitated KCNQ2 phosphorylation at T217 in NAc/striatum slices in a PKC-dependent manner. Systemic administration of the cholinesterase inhibitor donepezil, which is commonly used to treat dementia, and electric foot shock to mice induced the phosphorylation of KCNQ2 at T217 in the NAc, whereas phosphorylation was suppressed by an M1R antagonist. Conditional deletion of KCNQ2 in the NAc enhanced electric foot shock-induced aversive learning. Our findings indicate that muscarinic signaling induces the phosphorylation of KCNQ2 at T217 via PKC activation for aversive learning.
OBJECTIVE: Enhancement of LCAT (lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase) activity has possibility to be beneficial for atherosclerosis. To evaluate this concept, we characterized our novel, orally administered, small-molecule LCAT activator DS-8190a, which was created from high-throughput screening and subsequent derivatization. We also focused on its mechanism of LCAT activation and the therapeutic activity with improvement of HDL (high-density lipoprotein) functionality. Approach and Results: DS-8190a activated human and cynomolgus monkey but not mouse LCAT enzymes in vitro. DS-8190a was orally administered to cynomolgus monkeys and dose dependently increased LCAT activity (2.0-fold in 3 mg/kg group on day 7), resulting in HDL cholesterol elevation without drastic changes of non-HDL cholesterol. Atheroprotective effects were then evaluated using Ldl-r KOxhLcat Tg mice fed a Western diet for 8 weeks. DS-8190a treatment achieved significant reduction of atherosclerotic lesion area (48.3% reduction in 10 mg/kg treatment group). Furthermore, we conducted reverse cholesterol transport study using Ldl-r KOxhLcat Tg mice intraperitoneally injected with J774A.1 cells loaded with [(3)H]-cholesterol and confirmed significant increases of [(3)H] count in plasma (1.4-fold) and feces (1.4-fold on day 2 and 1.5-fold on day3) in the DS-8190a-treated group. With regard to the molecular mechanism involved, direct binding of DS-8190a to human LCAT protein was confirmed by 2 different approaches: affinity purification by DS-8190a-immobilized beads and thermal shift assay. In addition, the candidate binding site of DS-8190a in human LCAT protein was identified by photoaffinity labeling. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates the potential of DS-8190a as a novel therapeutic for atherosclerosis. In addition, this compound proves that a small-molecule direct LCAT activator can achieve HDL-C elevation in monkey and reduction of atherosclerotic lesion area with enhanced HDL function in rodent.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) are frequently unaware of their cognitive symptoms and medical diagnosis. The term "anosognosia" is used to indicate a general lack of awareness of one's disease or disorder. The neural substrate underlying anosognosia in AD is unclear. Since anosognosia for memory disturbance might be an initial sign of AD, it is important to determine the neural correlates. This study was designed to investigate the characteristics and neural correlates of anosognosia for memory disturbance in patients with mild AD. METHODS: The subjects were 49 patients with mild AD who participated in a retrospective cross-sectional study. None of the patients had been treated with cholinesterase inhibitors, memantine, or psychotropic drugs. All patients underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Anosognosia for memory disturbance was assessed based on the discrepancy between questionnaire scores of patients and their caregivers. Structural MRI data were analyzed to explore the association between anosognosia and brain atrophy, using a voxel-based approach. Statistical parametric mapping software was used to explore neural correlations. In image analysis, multiple regression analysis was performed to examine the relationship between anosognosia score and regional gray matter volume. Age, years of education, and total intracranial volume were entered as covariates. RESULTS: The anosognosia score for memory disturbance was significantly negatively correlated with gray matter volume in the left superior frontal gyrus. CONCLUSION: The left superior frontal gyrus was involved in anosognosia for memory disturbance, while the medial temporal lobe, which is usually damaged in mild AD, was not associated with anosognosia. The left superior frontal gyrus might be an important region for anosognosia in mild AD.
Title: Visceral adipose tissue-derived serine protease inhibitor augments acetylcholine-induced relaxation via the inhibition of acetylcholine esterase activity in rat isolated mesenteric artery Kameshima S, Yamada K, Morita T, Okada M, Yamawaki H Ref: Acta Physiol (Oxf), 216:203, 2016 : PubMed
AIM: Visceral adipose tissue-derived serine protease inhibitor (vaspin) is an adipocytokine with insulin-sensitizing activity originally identified in visceral adipose tissues of obesity-related type II diabetic rats. We previously showed that vaspin inhibits vascular cell migration and apoptosis as well as inflammatory responses, which are crucial for the development of hypertension. However, little is known about the effects of vaspin on vascular reactivity. The aim of this study was thus to explore the effects of vaspin on contraction and relaxation of isolated blood vessel. METHODS: After mesenteric arteries were isolated from male Wistar rats, the effects of pretreatment with vaspin (3 ng mL(-1) , 30 min) on concentration-contraction and concentration-relaxation relationships for each agent were examined. The effects of vaspin on acetylcholine (ACh)-induced phosphorylation of endothelial nitric oxide (NO) synthase (eNOS) and ACh esterase (AChE) activity were also examined using Western blotting and colorimetric method respectively. RESULTS: Vaspin did not affect noradrenaline- or 5-hydroxytryptamine-induced contraction. In contrast, vaspin augmented ACh- but not histamine-, A23187- or carbachol-induced NO-mediated relaxation. Vaspin significantly increased ACh-induced eNOS phosphorylation and inhibited AChE activity. CONCLUSION: We for the first time demonstrate that vaspin augments the ACh-induced NO-mediated endothelium-dependent relaxation via the inhibition of AChE activity.
Two strains of Pseudomonas sp., Os17 and St29, were newly isolated from the rhizosphere of rice and potato, respectively, by screening for 2,4-diacetylphloroglucinol producers. These strains were found to be the same species and were the closest to but different from Pseudomonas protegens among the sequenced pseudomonads, based on 16S ribosomal RNA gene and whole-genome analyses. Strain Os17 was as effective a biocontrol agent as reported for P. protegens Cab57, whereas strain St29 was less effective. The whole-genome sequences of these strains were obtained: the genomes are organized into a single circular chromosome with 6,885,464 bp, 63.5% G+C content, and 6,195 coding sequences for strain Os17; and with 6,833,117 bp, 63.3% G+C content, and 6,217 coding sequences for strain St29. Comparative genome analysis of these strains revealed that the complete rhizoxin analog biosynthesis gene cluster (approximately 79 kb) found in the Os17 genome was absent from the St29 genome. In an rzxB mutant, which lacks the polyketide synthase essential for the production of rhizoxin analogs, the growth inhibition activity against fungal and oomycete pathogens and the plant protection efficacy were attenuated compared with those of wild-type Os17. These findings suggest that rhizoxin analogs are important biocontrol factors of this strain.
Epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) are known to have beneficial pharmacological effects on various cardiovascular events. However, EETs are biologically metabolized by soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) to less active metabolites. In our search for potent sEH inhibitors, we optimized a series of cyclopropyl urea derivatives and identified compound 38 as a potent sEH inhibitor with minimal CYP inhibition and good oral absorption in rats. Administration of 38 to DOCA-salt rats suppressed urinary albumin and MCP-1 excretion without affecting systolic blood pressure.
We report the complete and annotated genome sequence of Bacillus cereus NC7401, a representative of the strain group that causes emetic-type food poisoning. The emetic toxin, cereulide, is produced by a nonribosomal protein synthesis (NRPS) system that is encoded by a gene cluster on a large resident plasmid, pNCcld.
We have recently found that the combination of ovariectomy (OVX) and chronic restraint stress (CS) causes hippocampal pyramidal cell loss and cognitive dysfunction in female rats and that estrogen replacement prevents the OVX/CS-induced morphological and behavioral changes. In this study, to clarify the mechanisms underlying the OVX/CS-mediated memory impairment further, we examined the roles of cholinergic systems in the OVX/CS-induced memory impairment in mice. Female Slc:ICR strain mice were randomly divided into two groups: OVX and sham-operated groups. Two weeks after the operation, the mice of each group were further assigned to CS (6 h/day) or non-stress group. Following the 3-week-stress period, all mice were subjected to contextual fear conditioning, and context- and tone-dependent memory tests were conducted 1 or 24 h after the conditioning. Overburden with 3 weeks of CS from 2 weeks after OVX impaired context- and tone-dependent freezing and the OVX/CS caused significant Nissl-stained neuron-like cell loss in the hippocampal CA3 region, although OVX and CS alone did not cause such behavioral and histological changes. Replacement of 17beta-estradiol for 5 weeks after OVX suppressed OVX/CS-induced memory impairment and hippocampal Nissl-positive cell loss. Furthermore, the OVX/CS mice exhibited a significant decrease in choline acetyltransferase in the hippocampus compared with other groups. The cholinesterase inhibitors donepezil and galantamine ameliorated OVX/CS-induced memory impairment. These data suggest that cholinergic dysfunction may be involved in the OVX/CS-induced conditioned fear memory impairment. Overall, our findings suggest that the OVX/CS mouse model is useful to study the mechanisms underlying estrogen loss-induced memory deficits.
The cholinesterase inhibitor, rivastigmine, ameliorates cognitive dysfunction and is approved for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Rivastigmine is a dual inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE); however, the impact of BuChE inhibition on cognitive dysfunction remains to be determined. We compared the effects of a selective BuChE inhibitor, N1-phenethyl-norcymserine (PEC), rivastigmine and donepezil (an AChE-selective inhibitor) on cognitive dysfunction induced by amyloid-beta peptide (Abeta(1-40)) in mice. Five-week-old imprinting control region (ICR) mice were injected intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.) with either Abeta(1-40) or the control peptide Abeta(40-1) on Day 0, and their recognition memory was analyzed by a novel object recognition test. Treatment with donepezil (1.0mg/kg), rivastigmine (0.03, 0.1, 0.3mg/kg) or PEC (1.0, 3.0mg/kg) 20min prior to, or immediately after the acquisition session (Day 4) ameliorated the Abeta(1-40) induced memory impairment, indicating a beneficial effect on memory acquisition and consolidation. In contrast, none of the investigated drugs proved effective when administrated before the retention session (Day 5). Repeated daily administration of donepezil, rivastigmine or PEC, on Days 0-3 inclusively, ameliorated the cognitive dysfunction in Abeta(1-40) challenged mice. Consistent with the reversal of memory impairments, donepezil, rivastigmine or PEC treatment significantly reduced Abeta(1-40) induced tyrosine nitration of hippocampal proteins, a marker of oxidative damage. These results indicate that BuChE inhibition, as well as AChE inhibition, is a viable therapeutic strategy for cognitive dysfunction in AD.
The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is a site for the production of secretory proteins. Plants have developed ER subdomains for protein storage. The ER body is one such structure, which is observed in Brassicaceae plants. ER bodies accumulate in seedlings and roots or in wounded leaves in Arabidopsis. ER bodies contain high amounts of the beta-glucosidases PYK10/BGLU23 in seedlings and roots or BGLU18 in wounded tissues. These results suggest that ER bodies are involved in the metabolism of glycoside molecules, presumably to produce repellents against pests and fungi. When Arabidopsis roots are homogenized, PYK10 formed large protein aggregates that include other beta-glucosidases (BGLU21 and BGLU22), GDSL lipase-like proteins (GLL22) and cytosolic jacalin-related lectins (PBP1/JAL30, JAL31, JAL33, JAL34 and JAL35). Glucosidase activity increases by the aggregate formation. NAI1, a basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor, regulates the expression of the ER body proteins PYK10 and NAI2. Reduced expression of NAI2, PYK10 and BGLU21 resulted in abnormal ER body formation, indicating that these components regulate ER body formation. PYK10, BGLU21 and BGLU22 possess hydrolytic activity for scopolin, a coumaroyl glucoside that accumulates in the roots of Arabidopsis, and nai1 and pyk10 mutants are more susceptible to the symbiotic fungus Piriformospora indica. Therefore, it appears that the ER body is a unique organelle of Brassicaceae plants that is important for defense against pests and fungi.
The predominant risk factor of metabolic syndrome is intra-abdominal fat accumulation, which is determined by waist circumference and waist-hip ratio measurements and visceral fat area (VFA) that is measured by computed tomography (CT). There is evidence that waist circumference and waist-hip ratio in the Caucasian population are associated with variations in several genes, including neurexin 3 (NRXN3), transcription factor AP-2beta (TFAP2B), methionine sulfoxide reductase A (MSRA), lysophospholipase-like-1 (LYPLAL1), fat mass and obesity associated (FTO) and melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) genes. To investigate the relationship between VFA and subcutaneous fat area (SFA) and these genes in the recruited Japanese population, we genotyped 8 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in these 6 genes from 1228 subjects. Multiple regression analysis revealed that gender, age, and rs1558902 and rs1421085 genotypes (additive model) in FTO were significantly associated with body mass index (BMI; P=0.0039 and 0.0039, respectively), SFA (P=0.0027 and 0.0023, respectively) and VFA (P=0.045 and 0.040, respectively). However, SNPs in other genes, namely, NRXN3, TFAP2B, MSRA, LYPLAL1 and MC4R were not significantly associated with BMI, SFA or VFA. Our data suggest that some SNPs, which were identified in genome-wide studies in the Caucasians, also confer susceptibility to fat distribution in the Japanese subjects.
Title: Galantamine ameliorates the impairment of recognition memory in mice repeatedly treated with methamphetamine: involvement of allosteric potentiation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and dopaminergic-ERK1/2 systems Noda Y, Mouri A, Ando Y, Waki Y, Yamada SN, Yoshimi A, Yamada K, Ozaki N, Wang D, Nabeshima T Ref: Int J Neuropsychopharmacol, 13:1343, 2010 : PubMed
Galantamine, a drug used to treat Alzheimer's disease, inhibits acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and allosterically modulates nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) resulting in stimulation of catecholamine neurotransmission. In this study, we investigated whether galantamine exerts cognitive-improving effects through the allosteric modulation of nAChRs in an animal model of methamphetamine (Meth) psychosis. The mice treated with Meth (1 mg/kg.d) for 7 d showed memory impairment in a novel object recognition test. Galantamine (3 mg/kg) ameliorated the memory impairment, and it increased the extracellular dopamine release in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of Meth-treated mice. Donepezil, an AChE inhibitor (1 mg/kg) increased the extracellular ACh release in the PFC, whereas it had no effect on the memory impairment in Meth-treated mice. The nAChR antagonist, mecamylamine, and dopamine D1 receptor antagonist, SCH 23390, blocked the ameliorating effect of galantamine on Meth-induced memory impairment, whereas the muscarinic AChR antagonist, scopolamine, had no effect. The effects of galantamine on extracellular dopamine release were also antagonized by mecamylamine. Galantamine attenuated the defect of the novelty-induced activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2). The ameliorating effect of galantamine on recognition memory in Meth-treated mice was negated by microinjection of an ERK inhibitor, PD98059, into the PFC. These results suggest that the ameliorating effect of galantamine on Meth-induced memory impairment is associated with indirect activation of dopamine D1 receptor-ERK1/2 following augmentation with dopaminergic neurotransmission in the PFC through the allosteric activation of nAChRs. Galantamine could be a useful therapeutic agent for treating cognitive deficits in schizophrenia/Meth psychosis, as well as Alzheimer's disease.
Putative esterase genes were isolated from environmental DNA by using pre-amplified inverse PCR. The sequence analysis of the isolated genes showed 32-80% amino acid sequence identities to known esterases/lipases in public databases. The isolated genes were subsequently expressed in recombinant Escherichia coli. Insoluble proteins were noted in the expression of the majority of the isolated genes. The findings suggest that it is difficult to isolate these genes by using activity-based screening with construction of metagenome library. For the enzymes characterized, we examined substrate specificity, optimal temperature, optimal pH, and thermal stability. The substrate specificity of all the enzymes was high for p-nitrophenyl acetate, but almost undetectable for p-nitrophenyl decanoate. The results indicate that the obtained enzymes are defined as esterases. The enzymes were active in a broad range of temperature. The optimum activity was observed at 25-70 C and at pH 8.0-9.0. Some enzymes have moderate thermostability and would be useful for industrial enzymes. This study illustrates that pre-amplified inverse PCR, which is one of the sequence-based approach, is potentially applicable to the isolation of diverse genes from environmental DNA.
An 80% acetone extract of Monarda punctata showed an inhibitory effect on lipase activity in isolated mouse plasma in vitro and carvacrol was obtained as the active constituent. It had an IC(5)(0) value of 4.07 mM invitro and suppressed elevations in blood triacylglycerol levels in olive oil-loaded mice. Furthermore, from the whole plant, 22 compounds were isolated. Six monoterpene glycosides, a flavone glucuronide, and other known compounds were identified based on the results of spectroscopic analyses.
Natural flavonoids ameliorate amyloid-beta peptide (Abeta)-induced neurotoxicity. We examined whether the fustin flavonoid affects Abeta-induced learning impairment in mice. Repeated treatment with fustin significantly attenuated Abeta (1-42)-induced conditioned fear and passive avoidance behaviors. This effect was comparable to that of EGb761, a standard extract of ginkgo. Fustin treatment significantly prevented decreases in acetylcholine (ACh) levels, choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activity, and ChAT gene expression induced by Abeta (1-42). Fustin also consistently suppressed increases in acetyl cholinesterase (AChE) activity and AChE gene expression induced by Abeta (1-42). In addition, fustin significantly attenuated Abeta (1-42)-induced selective decreases in muscarinic M1 receptor gene expression and muscarinic M1 receptor binding activity (as determined by [(3)H]pirenzepine binding) by modulating extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK 1/2) and cAMP response-element binding protein (CREB) phosphorylation and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression. These effects of fustin were reversed by treatment with dicyclomine, a muscarinic M1 receptor antagonist, and SL327, a selective ERK inhibitor, but not by chelerythrine, a pan-protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor. Taken together, our results suggest that fustin attenuates Abeta (1-42)-impaired learning, and that the ERK/CREB/BDNF pathway is important for the M1 receptor-mediated cognition-enhancing effects of fustin.
Title: Growth hormone-releaser diet attenuates beta-amyloid(1-42)-induced cognitive impairment via stimulation of the insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 receptor in mice Shin EJ, Chae JS, Park SJ, Kim SC, Koo KH, Yamada K, Nabeshima T, Kim HC Ref: J Pharmacol Sci, 109:139, 2009 : PubMed
We previously demonstrated that the growth hormone (GH)-releaser diet ameliorated beta-amyloid (A beta) (1-42)-induced memory impairment, but the underlying mechanism remained to be characterized. We show here that the GH-releaser diet significantly attenuated A beta(1-42)-induced impairment in context-dependent conditioned fear, with a reduction in GH levels and changes in hippocampal acetylcholine, acetylcholinesterase, choline acetyltransferase, insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1, and IGF-1-receptor activity in mice. JB-1, an IGF-1-receptor antagonist, significantly blocked GH-releaser diet-mediated pharmacological actions. Our results suggest that the GH-releaser diet prevents A beta(1-42)-induced cognitive deficits via stimulation of the hippocampal IGF-1 receptor.
As a methanol extract of the rhizome of Rhodiola rosea inhibits the activity of lipase in isolated mouse plasma in vitro and in the mouse gastrointestinal tube in vivo, the active components in this plant were investigated. After fractionation and separation processes, rhodionin and rhodiosin were isolated as active ingredients. Their IC50 values were 0.093 mM and 0.133 mM in vitro, respectively. Both compounds significantly suppressed the elevation of the postprandial blood triglyceride level, e.g., by 45.6 % (150 mg/kg, 60 min after oral administration) and 57.6 % (200 mg/kg, 180 min after oral administration), respectively. Consequently, we anticipate the application of this plant and its constituents to the treatment of lifestyle-related diseases such as hyperlipidemia and exogeneous obesity and to health foods.
As a base for human transcriptome and functional genomics, we created the "full-length long Japan" (FLJ) collection of sequenced human cDNAs. We determined the entire sequence of 21,243 selected clones and found that 14,490 cDNAs (10,897 clusters) were unique to the FLJ collection. About half of them (5,416) seemed to be protein-coding. Of those, 1,999 clusters had not been predicted by computational methods. The distribution of GC content of nonpredicted cDNAs had a peak at approximately 58% compared with a peak at approximately 42%for predicted cDNAs. Thus, there seems to be a slight bias against GC-rich transcripts in current gene prediction procedures. The rest of the cDNAs unique to the FLJ collection (5,481) contained no obvious open reading frames (ORFs) and thus are candidate noncoding RNAs. About one-fourth of them (1,378) showed a clear pattern of splicing. The distribution of GC content of noncoding cDNAs was narrow and had a peak at approximately 42%, relatively low compared with that of protein-coding cDNAs.
We confirmed that cholesterol esterase accelerated the incorporation of unesterified cholesterol solubilized in bile salt micelles into differentiated Caco-2 cells under various experimental conditions. Rat pancreatic juice and bovine cholesterol esterase increased the incorporation of micellar cholesterol into rat intestinal brush border membranes. The incorporation of micellar cholesterol was not changed in the brush border membranes enriched in and depleted of cholesterol esterase. The results suggest that the accelerated incorporation of micellar cholesterol by cholesterol esterase into absorptive cells is not mediated by the enzyme bound to the brush border membranes.
The complete nucleotide sequence of the large linear plasmid pSLA2-L in Streptomyces rochei strain 7434AN4 has been determined. pSLA2-L was found to be 210 614 bp long with a GC content of 72.8% and carries 143 open reading frames. It is especially noteworthy that three-quarters of the pSLA2-L DNA is occupied by secondary metabolism-related genes, namely two type I polyketide synthase (PKS) gene clusters for lankacidin and lankamycin, a mithramycin synthase-like type II PKS gene cluster, a carotenoid biosynthetic gene cluster and many regulatory genes. In particular, the lankacidin PKS is unique, because it may be a mixture of modular- and iterative-type PKSs and carries a fusion protein of non-ribosomal peptide synthetase and PKS. It is also interesting that all the homologues of the afsA, arpA, adpA and strR genes in the A-factor regulatory cascade in Streptomyces griseus were found on pSLA2-L, and disruption of the afsA homologue caused non-production of both lankacidin and lankamycin. These results, together with the finding of three possible replication origins at 50-63 kb from the right end, suggest that the present form of pSLA2-L might have been generated by a series of insertions of the biosynthetic gene clusters into the left side of the original plasmid.
Functional analysis of a genome requires accurate gene structure information and a complete gene inventory. A dual experimental strategy was used to verify and correct the initial genome sequence annotation of the reference plant Arabidopsis. Sequencing full-length cDNAs and hybridizations using RNA populations from various tissues to a set of high-density oligonucleotide arrays spanning the entire genome allowed the accurate annotation of thousands of gene structures. We identified 5817 novel transcription units, including a substantial amount of antisense gene transcription, and 40 genes within the genetically defined centromeres. This approach resulted in completion of approximately 30% of the Arabidopsis ORFeome as a resource for global functional experimentation of the plant proteome.
Mechanisms of acceleration of cholesterol absorption by cholesterol esterase were investigated in various experimental conditions. Lymphatic recovery of cholesterol intubated as a micellar solution containing phosphatidylcholine (PC) into the duodenum was enhanced by the co-administration of cholesterol esterase in rats drained of bile and pancreatic juice. However, no accelerated incorporation was observed when cholesterol was solubilized in PC-depleted micelles. Cholesterol esterase dose-dependently accelerated the incorporation of cholesterol into differentiated Caco-2 cells, only when cholesterol was solubilized in PC-containing micelles. The accelerated incorporation of cholesterol into Caco-2 cells by cholesterol esterase disappeared when the enzyme was preincubated with a suicide inhibitor of cholesterol esterase. Cholesterol esterase has an activity as phospholipase A(2). When 10% of PC in bile salt micelles was replaced by lysophosphatidylcholine (lysoPC), the incorporation of cholesterol into Caco-2 cells was significantly accelerated. Cholesterol esterase enhanced the incorporation of micellar cholesterol into brush border membranes prepared from the rat jejunum. The addition of cholesterol esterase to bile salt micelles accelerated the release of micellar cholesterol in a dose-dependent manner, only when the micelles contained PC. These observations strongly suggest that cholesterol esterase hydrolyzes PC in bile salt micelles and thereby, accelerating the release of cholesterol from bile salt micelles. This may be a major cause of the acceleration of cholesterol absorption by cholesterol esterase.
Title: Therapeutic approaches to the treatment of Alzheimer's disease Yamada K, Toshitaka N Ref: Drugs Today (Barc), 38:631, 2002 : PubMed
Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of progressive decline of cognitive function in aged humans and is characterized by the presence of numerous senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles accompanied by neuronal loss. The only treatment currently available for the disease is pharmacotherapy with acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, a palliative strategy aimed at the temporary improvement of cognitive function. Other strategies with disease-modifying potential may include the use of antiinflammatory drugs, estrogen replacement therapy and antioxidants. Recent progress in understanding the molecular and cellular pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease has suggested possible pharmacological interventions that could modify the development and progress of the disease (disease-modifying therapy), such as treatment with secretase inhibitors, transition metal chelators, HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors and amyloid-b immunization. Inhibitors of tau hyperphosphorylation may also modulate the development and progress of the disease.
The present experiments were performed to investigate the potential role of central adrenergic neurons in regulating occurrence of yawning in rats. Intraperitoneal injection of tacrine (THA) or 9-amino-2,3,5,6,7,8-hexahydro-1H-cyclopenta(b)-quinoline monohydrate HCl (NIK-247), cholinesterase inhibitors, induced yawning, which was markedly increased by pretreatment with the beta-adrenoceptor antagonist, pindolol. The yawning evoked by tacrine or NIK-247 given alone or in combination with pindolol was inhibited by pretreatment with scopolamine but not by mecamylamine or spiperone. Treatment with tacrine or NIK-247 increased acetylcholine content of the striatum, but this effect was not enhanced by pindolol, which per se did not affect basal acetylcholine content. Moreover, pretreatment with the central adrenaline synthesis inhibitors, (+-)-2,3-dichloro-alpha-methylbenzylamine HCl (LY-78335) and 2-cyclooctyl-2-hydroxyethylamine HCl (UK-1187A), increased tacrine-induced yawning. Subcutaneous injection of talipexole (B-HT 920), a dopamine D2 receptor agonist, evoked yawning, which was also increased by pindolol, LY-78335, and UK-1187A. These receptors antagonists and synthesis inhibitors per se did not cause yawning responses. The results suggest that the beta-adrenoceptor blockade and the inhibition of adrenaline synthesis facilitate the occurrence of yawning induced by cholinergic and dopaminergic agonists, and thus the central adrenergic neuronal systems may be implicated in the regulation of yawning responses.
Title: Extracellular poly(hydroxyalkanoate) depolymerases and their inhibitor from Pseudomonas lemoignei Mukai K, Yamada K, Doi Y Ref: Int J Biol Macromol, 14:235, 1992 : PubMed
Enzymatic degradation processes of microbial copolyesters, poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate): P(3HB-co-3HV) and poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate): P(3HB-co-4HB), were studied by the weight loss (erosion) of copolyester films. These studies employed three extracellular depolymerases which degrade poly(3-hydroxybutyrate): P(3HB). Two enzymes were purified from the culture supernatant of Pseudomonas lemoignei and one from Alcaligenes faecalis T1. The rate of enzymatic degradation of microbial copolyester films with various compositions showed an almost similar tendency to three different P(3HB) depolymerases, and decreased in the following order: P(3HB-co-4HB) greater than P(3HB) greater than P(3HB-co-3HV). An inhibitory protein of P(3HB) depolymerases in the succinate culture medium of P. lemoignei was isolated and characterized. The molecular weight of P(3HB) depolymerase inhibitor was 35,000 as determined by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulphate. This inhibitor of a single polypeptide chain may reversibly bind the serine residues at the active site of P(3HB) depolymerase. This inhibitory protein was not induced in the culture medium when P. lemoignei was grown on P(3HB) as the sole carbon source.
