Distribution of Deoxynivalenol and Nivalenol in Milling Fractions from Fusarium-Infected Japanese Wheat Cultivars

Reprinted with permission from the Journal of Food Protection. Copyright held by the International Association for Food Protection, Des Moines, Iowa, U.S.A.The fate of the Fusarium mycotoxins deoxynivalenol and nivalenol during the milling of Japanese wheat cultivars artificially infected with Fusarium was investigated. Grain samples with different mycotoxin concentrations were milled using a laboratory-scale test mill to produce eight fractions: three breaking flours (1B, 2B, and 3B), three reduction flours (1M. 2M, and 3M), wheat bran, and wheat shorts. Patent flour for human consumption was made from the I B, 2B, I M. and 2M flours, and low-grade flour was made from 3B and 3M flours. The four resulting samples (patent flour, low-grade flour, bran, and shorts) were analyzed for deoxynivalenol and/or nivalenol with an in-house validated analytical method using high-performance liquid chromatography with UV absorbance detection. In samples with different mycotoxin concentrations, the distribution of those toxins differed among the milling fractions. Grains with a lower level of contamination produced bran and shorts samples with a high relative concentration of nivalenol. A high percentage of nivalenol was found in patent flour, followed by bran. Contrary to the less-contaminated sample, the concentration of nivalenol in moderately contaminated grain was high only in the shorts sample. The highest percentage of deoxynivalenol and nivalenol was observed in the patent flour. The results of this study indicate that the distribution of deoxynivalenol and nivalenol in milled Japanese wheat could be influenced by the contamination level of the original grain, and the milling process is not always effective for removal of toxins from wheat grains.ArticleJOURNAL OF FOOD PROTECTION. 73(10):1817-1823 (2010)journal articl

A Novel Type I Receptor Serine-Threonine Kinase Predominantly Expressed in the Adult Central Nervous System*

Receptor serine-threonine kinases (RSTK) mediate inhibitory as well as stimulatory signals for growth and differentiation by binding to members of the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) superfamily. Over 12 different RSTKs have been isolated so far, displaying wide expression in peripheral tissues and in the nervous system. Here we report the isolation and characterization of a novel type I RSTK termed activin receptor-like kinase-7 (ALK-7) that, unlike other members of this receptor family, is predominantly expressed in the adult central nervous system. The ALK-7 gene encodes a 55-kDa cell-surface protein that exhibits up to 78% amino acid sequence identity in the kinase domain to previously isolated type I receptors for TGF-beta and activin. In the extracellular domain, however, ALK-7 is more divergent, displaying comparable similarities with all members of the ALK subfamily. RNase protection and in situ hybridization studies demonstrated a highly specific mRNA distribution restricted to neurons in several regions of the adult rat central nervous system, including cerebellum, hippocampus, and nuclei of the brainstem. Receptor reconstitution and cross-linking experiments indicated that ALK-7 can form complexes with type II RSTKs for TGF-beta and activin in a ligand-dependent manner, although direct binding of ALK-7 to ligand in these complexes could not be demonstrated. The specific expression pattern of ALK-7, restricted to the postnatal central nervous system, indicates that this receptor may play an important role in the maturation and maintenance of several neuronal subpopulations

New developments in the GDIS simulation package: Integration of VASP and USPEX

A popular first principles simulation code, the Vienna Ab initio Simulation Package (VASP), and a crystal structure prediction (CSP) package, the Universal Structure Predictor: Evolutionary Xtallography (USPEX) have been integrated into the GDIS visualization software. The aim of this integration is to provide users with a unique and simple interface through which most of the steps of a typical crystal optimization or prediction work. This involved, for the latter, not only setting up a CSP calculation with complete support for the latest version of USPEX, but also displaying the many structure results by linking each structure geometry and its energy via interactive graphics. For the optimization part, any structure displayed by GDIS can now be the starting point for VASP calculations, with support for its most commonly used parameters. Atomic and electronic structures can be displayed as well as dynamic properties such as total energy, force, volume, and pressure for each ionic step. It is not only possible to start calculations from the GDIS visualization software, using an in-place task manager, but a running calculation can also be followed, allowing a greater control of the simulation process. The GDIS software is available under the GNU public license in its second version

Distribution of Deoxynivalenol and Nivalenol in Milling Fractions from Fusarium-Infected Japanese Wheat Cultivars

Reprinted with permission from the Journal of Food Protection. Copyright held by the International Association for Food Protection, Des Moines, Iowa, U.S.A.The fate of the Fusarium mycotoxins deoxynivalenol and nivalenol during the milling of Japanese wheat cultivars artificially infected with Fusarium was investigated. Grain samples with different mycotoxin concentrations were milled using a laboratory-scale test mill to produce eight fractions: three breaking flours (1B, 2B, and 3B), three reduction flours (1M. 2M, and 3M), wheat bran, and wheat shorts. Patent flour for human consumption was made from the I B, 2B, I M. and 2M flours, and low-grade flour was made from 3B and 3M flours. The four resulting samples (patent flour, low-grade flour, bran, and shorts) were analyzed for deoxynivalenol and/or nivalenol with an in-house validated analytical method using high-performance liquid chromatography with UV absorbance detection. In samples with different mycotoxin concentrations, the distribution of those toxins differed among the milling fractions. Grains with a lower level of contamination produced bran and shorts samples with a high relative concentration of nivalenol. A high percentage of nivalenol was found in patent flour, followed by bran. Contrary to the less-contaminated sample, the concentration of nivalenol in moderately contaminated grain was high only in the shorts sample. The highest percentage of deoxynivalenol and nivalenol was observed in the patent flour. The results of this study indicate that the distribution of deoxynivalenol and nivalenol in milled Japanese wheat could be influenced by the contamination level of the original grain, and the milling process is not always effective for removal of toxins from wheat grains.ArticleJOURNAL OF FOOD PROTECTION. 73(10):1817-1823 (2010)journal articl

Liver Parenchyma Perforation following Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography

Although endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is an effective modality for the diagnosis and treatment of biliary and pancreatic diseases, it is still related with several severe complications. We report on the case of a female patient who developed liver parenchyma perforation following ERCP. She underwent ERCP with sphincterotomy and extraction of a common bile duct stone. Shortly after ERCP, abdominal distension was identified. Abdominal computed tomography revealed intraabdominal air leakage and leakage of contrast dye penetrating the liver parenchyma into the space around the spleen. Since periampullary perforation related to sphincterotomy could not be denied, she was referred for immediate surgery. Obvious perforation could not be found at surgery. Cholecystectomy, insertion of a T tube into the common bile duct, placement of a duodenostomy tube and drainage of the retroperitoneum were performed. She did well postoperatively and was discharged home on postoperative day 28. In conclusion, as it is well recognized that perforation is one of the most serious complication related to ERCP, liver parenchyma perforation should be suspected as a cause

リンゴ青カビ病菌Penicillium expansum O-385-10によるペクチン分解酵素の生産とその酵素化学的性質

リンゴ果実青カビ病菌Penicillium expansumの酵素の生産とペクチン分解酵素を精製し、酵素化学的性質を調べた。供試菌株は、ペクチンー無機塩類培地で、比較的短時間に、培養濾液の中に、ポリガラクツロナーゼを生産した。本菌株を窒素源としてリン酸アンモニウム(0.5%)、ペクチン(2.0%)含む無機塩類培地を用いて30℃において、4日間振とう培養した場合、培養液中の総ポリガラクツロナーゼの活性が最大(1.56U/ml)に達した。培養濾液中からDEAE-セルロースクロマトグラフィーで2つの活性画分(ポリガラクツロナーゼI、II)を精製した。それぞれポリガラクツロナーゼIとIIの活性の最適pHは4.8と5.5、最適温度は同じく40℃であった。両酵素とも0～40℃、pH3～7.5の範囲で安定であった。両酵素の活性は1mM Ca^、1mM Mg^によってそれぞれ約50～60%と約70～80%までに阻害された。The productivity of pectin degrading enzyme in an apple fruit blue mold, Penicillium expansion and properties of the partially purified enzymes were examined. In the pectin-inorganic salt medium, the organism produced extracellular polygalacturonases. The activity of total polygalacturonase in the culture solution was achieved largest (1.56 U/ml), when it was incubated in the medium containing pectin (2.0%) and ammonium phosphate (0.5%) at 30℃ for 4 days. Two active fractions (polygalacturonase I and II) were purified from the culture filtrate by DEAE-cellulose chromatography. The optimum pHs for the activities of I and II were 4.8 and 5.5, and the optimum temperatures were about 40℃. Both enzymes were stable within 0～40℃ and pH 3～7.5. Their activities were remarkably inhibited by 1 mM Ca^ and 1 mM Mg^

テンペ製造菌Rhizopus oligosporusによる加水分解酵素の生産

Rhizopus oligosporusは、大豆発酵食品、テンペの主要な製造菌である。本菌による大豆の発酵過程における軟化に関わる繊維素分解酵素についての情報は少ない。R. oligosporusによる加水分解酵素の細胞外生産性が調べられた。R. oligosporus IFO 32002は、小麦フスマを唯一の炭素源とする固体培地において、セルラーゼ(CMCase, 1.7U/ml)、β-グルコシダーゼ(0.1U/ml)、キシラナーゼ(0.8U/ml)、アミラーゼ(3.9U/ml)、酸性プロテアーゼ(0.01U/ml)を生産した。β-キシロシダーゼとアルカリプロテアーゼはほとんど生産されなかった。CMCの生産は、他の酵素と比較して、培養の早い時期に最大に達した。CMCaseの生産は、酵母エキスの添加で1.5倍に、β-グルコシダーゼはペプトンによって3.1倍、キシラナーゼは硫酸アンモニウムによって1.4倍、アミラーゼは硫酸アンモニウムによって2.3倍に増加した。フスマと脱脂大豆粉末を含む培地で本菌を培養した場合に、酸性プロテアーゼの生産は4.7倍に増加した。Rhizopus oligosporus is the main manufacturing fungus of a soybean fermented food, tempeh. Informations are limited on cellulolitic enzymes related to the softening of soybean in the fermentation process. The extracellular productivity of various hydrolases by R. oligosporus is examined. R. oligosporus IFO 32002 produced cellulase (CMCase, 1.7U/ml), β-glucosidase (0.1U/ml), xylanase (0.8U/ml), amylase (3.9U/ml) and acid protease (0.01U/ml) in the solid medium using wheat bran as a sole carbon source. β-Xy-losidase and alkaline protease hardly were produced. In comparison with other enzymes, the production of CMCase was achieved largest in the early time of the culture. The productions of CMCase, β-glucosidase, xylanase and amylase increased to 1.5 times by the addition of yeast extract, 3.1 times by peptone, 1.4 times by ammonium sulfate and 2.3 times by ammonium sulfate, respectively. The production of acid protease increased to 4.7 times, when this fungus was cultivated on the solid medium containing both wheat bran and defated soymeal

玄米粉を用いた発酵パンの製造について

玄米は、精白米に対してビタミンB_1、ビタミンE、脂肪酸、食物繊維などの含有量が多く、保健効果が大きい。また精米のためのコストも抑えられる。そこで、玄米粉を使用した製パンについて検討した。1.生地の発酵温度は25℃より30℃で行った方が良好な結果を得た。2.加水量は小麦粉製造パンより多く、玄米粉に対して90%が適当であった。3.グルテン添加量15%で良好に膨らんだパンが出来た。また、グルテンの存在はパンの焼き色にも大きく影響を与えた。4.グルテン添加と同時にグルコマンナン(0.5%)を粉末状態で添加することにより、さらに良好に膨らみ、保存状態が安定したパンを作ることが出来た。また、グルコマンナンの添加は、玄米粉特有の臭いや味を消去し、風味を改善した。Brown rice contains vitamin B_1, vitamin E, fatty acids and dietary fiber further than polished rice at the high concentration, and it is called having the high health effect. In the manufacturing, it is possible to hold the cost low by using brown rice. Therefore, the breadmaking using brown rice flour was examined. 1.On the fermentation temperature of dough, 30℃ was more suitable than 25℃. 2.The hydration quantity was more abounding than the breadmaking from wheat flour, and 90% was adequate for brown rice flour. 3.It was possible to make the good bread by adding gluten at the 15% concentration to the flour. And, gluten also greatly affected the burn color of the bread. 4.It was possible to obtain stabilized and swollen form, when glucomannan is added with gluten. Furthermore, glucomannan removed the peculiar smell and taste of brown rice flour, and the flavor was improved

EphB6 Receptor Modulates Micro RNA Profile of Breast Carcinoma Cells

Breast carcinoma cells have a specific pattern of expression for Eph receptors and ephrin ligands. EphB6 has previously been characterized as a signature molecule for invasive breast carcinoma cells. The transcription of EphB6 is silenced in breast carcinoma cells and its re-expression leads to decreased invasiveness of MDA-MB-231 cells. Such differences in phenotypes of native and EphB6 expressing MDA-MB-231 cells relate to an altered profile of micro RNAs. Comparative hybridization of total RNA to slides containing all known miRNAs by using locked nucleic acid (LNA) miRCURY platform yielded a significantly altered profile of miRNAs in MDA-MB-231 cells stably transfected with EphB6. After applying a threshold of change and a p-value of <0.001, the list of significantly altered miRNAs included miR-16, miR-23a, miR-24, miR-26a, miR-29a, miR-100, miRPlus-E1172 and miRPlus-E1258. The array-based changes were validated by real-time qPCR of miR-16, miR-23a, miR-24 and miR-100. Except miRPlus-E1172 and miRPlus-E1258, the remaining six miRNAs have been observed in a variety of cancers. The biological relevance of target mRNAs was predicted by using a common-target selection approach that allowed the identification of SMARCA5, SMARCC1, eIF2C2, eIF2C4, eIF4EBP2, FKABP5, FKBP1A, TRIB1, TRIB2, TRIB3, BMPR2, BMPR1A and BMPR1B as important targets of a subset of significantly altered miRNAs. Quantitative PCR revealed that the levels of SMARCC1, eIFC4, eIF4EB2, FKBP1a, FKBP5, TRIB1, TRIB3, BMPR1a and BMPR2 transcripts were significantly decreased in MDA-MB-231 cells transfected with EphB6. These observations confirm targeting of specific mRNAs by miR-100, miR-23a, miR-16 and miR-24, and suggest that the kinase-deficient EphB6 receptor is capable of initiating signal transduction from the cell surface to the nucleus resulting in the altered expression of a variety of genes involved in tumorigenesis and invasion. The alterations in miRNAs and their target mRNAs also suggest indirect involvement of EphB6 in PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathways