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Biomedical subjects

M Nogawa

Publications and source records attributed to M Nogawa.

29 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Cloning and characterization of mycovirus double-stranded RNA from the plant pathogenic fungus, Fusarium solani f. sp. robiniae.

A mycovirus (named FusoV) from the phytopathogenic fungus, Fusarium solani f. sp. robiniae SUF704, has two kinds of double-stranded (ds) RNA genomes, designated M1 and M2. The cDNAs were constructed from FusoV genomic dsRNAs. The sequences of M1 and M2 cDNAs comprised 1645 and 1445bp, respectively. Sequence analysis showed that each dsRNA had a single long open reading frame (ORF) on only one of the strands. M1 ORF encodes a 519-amino acid residue polypeptide with a predicted molecular mass of 60 kDa. RNA-dependent RNA polymerase-conserved motifs were identified in the predicted amino acid sequence, and the polymerase synthesized dsRNA in vitro. The M2 ORF encodes a polypeptide of 413 amino acid residues with a predicted molecular mass of 44 kDa. The predicted amino acid sequence contained the sequence corresponding to those found in the purified 44-kDa capsid protein of FusoV.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Production of Two Chitosanases from a Chitosan-Assimilating Bacterium, Acinetobacter sp. Strain CHB101.

A bacterial strain capable of utilizing chitosan as a sole carbon source was isolated from soil and was identified as a member of the genus Acinetobacter. This strain, designated CHB101, produced extracellular chitosan-degrading enzymes in the absence of chitosan. The chitosan-degrading activity in the culture fluid increased when cultures reached the early stationary phase, although the level of activity was low in the exponential growth phase. Two chitosanases, chitosanases I and II, which had molecular weights of 37,000 and 30,000, respectively, were purified from the culture fluid. Chitosanase I exhibited substrate specificity for chitosan that had a low degree of acetylation (10 to 30%), while chitosanase II degraded colloidal chitin and glycol chitin, as well as chitosan that had a degree of acetylation of 30%. Rapid decreases in the viscosities of chitosan solutions suggested that both chitosanases catalyzed an endo type of cleavage reaction; however, chitosan oligomers (molecules smaller than pentamers) were not produced after a prolonged reaction.

Journal Article↗

Serum-free cultivation of anchorage-dependent cells on microcarrier: effective production of human macrophage colony-stimulating factor.

For the purpose of establishing a large scale production process of biologically active substances by cultivation of anchorage-dependent mammalian cells, basic studies were carried out on the following items; establishment of a new cell line and derivation of high productivity; construction of optimal serum-free medium; optimization of cultivation method using microcarrier in serum-free medium; and establishment of purification process. The cell line, TRC-29SF, used in this study was newly established from human renal carcinoma with a function of producing macrophage colony-stimulating factor constitutively. Improvement of M-CSF productivity upon TRC-29SF cell line was performed by M-CSF gene amplification with dhfr-MTX system and by truncation of membrane-binding amino acid sequence by recombinant DNA technique. Two kinds of serum-free media, IPEG-85 and IREG-89, were formulated for the growth of TRC-29SF cell and its transformant, respectively. A new cell-adhesion method which permits homogeneous attachment to microcarrier in short term was developed by equalizing the sedimentation velocity between cells and microcarrier by addition of 7% Ficoll into the medium. High cell density perfusion culture of TRC-29SF cells was achieved by microcarrier method using IPEG-85 medium, and final cell density reached over 10(7) cells/ml. Based on the results obtained, long-term perfusion cultures were performed using Mn10-5 and Mn10-5/R600 cell lines, which were created by M-CSF gene transfection and amplification. We found that the productivity of M-CSF per cell began to decrease from the end of logarithmic growth phase. Long-term cultivation with high productivity was accomplished by perfusing medium containing 2 mM sodium butyrate. Purification process for M1-CSF from the culture supernatant of transformed cell line was also established.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Eruptive vellus hair cysts--a facial variant.

A 29-year-old man and a 29-year-old woman developed over fifty asymptomatic, slate-colored macules disseminated mainly on the forehead. Histologic study revealed keratinous cysts in the dermis, lined by a few layers of epithelial cells with rudimentary hair bulb-like structures. The cysts' contents were vellus hair fragments and laminated horny material. Ultrastructural studies of the second case disclosed that the keratinization of the cyst wall was similar to that of the infundibular portion of the outer root sheath. It is suggested that our two cases are a type of follicular hamartoma. Similar follicular hamartomas, eruptive vellus hair cysts have been reported previously. The cysts were located in the chest and/or extremities and had a tendency to be eliminated transepidermally. Although these clinical features were different from ours, the characteristic histologic features were the same; therefore, our cases might be a variant of eruptive vellus hair cysts.

Adult↗

Synthesis of novel polyampholyte comb-type copolymers consisting of a poly(L-lysine) backbone and hyaluronic acid side chains for a DNA carrier.

The polyampholyte comb-type copolymers consisting of a poly(L-lysine) (PLL) main chain, a DNA binding site, and hyaluronic acid (HA) side chains, cell-specific ligands, have been prepared as the DNA carrier targeting sinusoidal endothelial cells of liver. The reducing end of HA and epsilon-amino groups of PLL were covalently coupled by reductive amination to obtain the resulting comb-type copolymers (PLL-graft-HA). The chain length of HA was controlled by the enzymatic hydrolysis of high-molecular weight HA. Since HA formed polyion complexes with PLL, the coupling reaction was carried out with high-ionic strength media to suppress polyion complex formation. The reaction proceeded in a homogeneous system, leading to a high efficiency of coupling (>70%) of HA onto the PLL backbone. By using the enzymatic hydrolysis of HA and the reductive amination reaction between HA and PLL with high-ionic strength media, it is possible to prepare the various comb-type copolymers with a defined density and a defined length of HA side chains. Furthermore, we also find that these polyampholyte comb-type copolymers vary their assembling structure in water in response to two kinds of environmental factors, i.e., ionic strength and pH. Finally, a 1H NMR study reveals that the PLL backbone efficiently interacts with DNA molecules despite the presence of HA side chains having negative charges.

Carbohydrate Sequence↗

Comb-type copolymers for controlled DNA delivery.

Various comb-type copolymer containing a polycation as a main chain was design to construct delivery systems of DNAs. The comb-type copolymers having cell-specific polysaccharides were proved to be useful to deliver DNA to the target cells in vivo. Of interest, the copolymers with abundant side chains of hydrophilic polymers are capable of stabilizing DNA triplex. Further, injectable nanoparticles for controlled releases of DNAs were fabricated from the copolymer and a biodegradable polymer.

Biocompatible Materials↗