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Biomedical subjects

T Yoshida

Publications and source records attributed to T Yoshida.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Purification and characterization of glycerate kinase from a serine-producing methylotroph, Hyphomicrobium methylovorum GM2.

The glycerate kinase of a serine-producing methylotroph, Hyphomicrobium methylovorum GM2, was purified to complete homogeneity and characterized, the first time for an enzyme from a methylotroph. The enzyme was a monomer with a molecular mass about 41-52 kDa. The enzyme was stable against heating at 35 degrees C for 30 min at pH values over 6-10. Maximum activity was observed at pH 8.0 and around 50 degrees C. The Km values for D-glycerate and ATP were 0.13 mM and 0.13 mM, respectively. The enzyme showed high specificity for D-glycerate, and was activated by potassium and ammonium ions. The reaction product of the enzyme was identified as 2-phosphoglycerate.

Bacteria

de novo synthesis of calmodulin binding protein in substance P-induced steroidogenesis in bovine adrenocortical cells.

In order to clarify the mechanism of substance P (SP)-induced cortisol secretion from bovine adrenocortical (BAC) cells, protein synthesis at the early stage of SP-stimulation in BAC cells was investigated. Both SP and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) increased [3H]leucine uptake into BAC cells in a dose-dependent fashion. Although the SP-induced [3H]leucine uptake precedes the cortisol secretion, ACTH was slower in inducing [3H]leucine uptake and cortisol secretion. Protein synthesis inhibitors, actinomycin D and cycloheximide, were potent in inhibiting the SP-induced cortisol secretion. SDS-PAGE analysis, revealed that a 240 kDa protein is newly synthesized in BAC cells in response to SP but not ACTH. It was also indicated that the production of this 240 kDa protein was elicited about 30 min after stimulation by SP. Moreover, A23187 and 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) also caused a rapid [3H]leucine uptake and production of 240 kDa protein. In contrast, dibutyryl cAMP did not induce the synthesis of this 240 kDa protein. Calmidazolium, a calmodulin inhibitor, effectively inhibited not only [3H]leucine uptake but also 240 kDa protein production due to SP. On the other hand, KT-5720, an inhibitor of protein kinase A, had no effect on [3H]leucine uptake or 240 kDa production. Using the [125I]calmodulin-membrane overlay method, it was found that the 240 kDa protein was a newly synthesized calmodulin binding protein. From the present study, it was concluded that the de novo synthesis of this 240 kDa protein may be intimately related to the cortisol secretion in SP-stimulated BAC cells associated with an activation of the Ca-calmodulin pathway.

Adrenal Cortex

Recombinant mouse tumor necrosis factor expressed in mammalian cells: effect of glycosylation on cytotoxic activity.

A mouse tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) expression vector, pTNFNeo, was constructed by inserting a 1.3 kb cDNA coding for a full structural region of mouse TNF into an expression plasmid BCMGSNeo. COS7 cells were transfected with the pTNFNeo and a G418-resistant transfectant, BK-2, which stably secreted lytic activity to L929 cells was cloned. The lytic activity in the BK-2 culture spent medium reached up to 6000 U/ml, and was completely and specifically inhibited with antiserum to mouse TNF. Gel filtration chromatography and Western blot analysis indicated that the recombinant TNF in the medium existed in associated forms composed of a mixture of 22 kDa and 17.5 kDa components. Glycopeptidase F digestion indicated that the 22 kDa species was an N-glycosylated form of the 17.5 kDa species. Specific activities of the 22 kDa and the 17.5 kDa species isolated were 6.9 x 10(5) U/mg and 8.1 x 10(6) U/mg, respectively, suggesting that carbohydrate moiety impaired the lytic activity.

Animals

Induction by bufalin of differentiation of human leukemia cells HL60, U937, and ML1 toward macrophage/monocyte-like cells and its potent synergistic effect on the differentiation of human leukemia cells in combination with other inducers.

We have recently demonstrated that bufalin is a new potent inducer of the differentiation of human myeloid leukemia cells. The present work was carried out to examine further the effect of bufalin on the growth and characteristics of human leukemia-derived cell lines U937, ML1, and HL60. At concentrations of 5-10 nM, bufalin decreased the growth of ML1 cells preferentially at the G2 phase and U937 cells at the S and G2 phases of the cell cycle. Bufalin, under these conditions, induced the differentiation of U937, ML1, and HL60 cells to monocyte/macrophage-like cells by measuring the expression of various differentiation markers, as assessed by morphology and histochemistry, and ability to phagocytose latex particles, to reduce nitroblue tetrazolium, and to develop Fc receptors. U937 and ML1 cells started to differentiate at 4 and 6 h, respectively, after treatment with 10 nM bufalin and showed maximum differentiation 72 h later. At present, a mechanism for the bufalin-mediated induction of the differentiation of these human leukemia cells remains to be determined. The combination of bufalin with all-trans retinoic acid, 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, 4'-demethylepipodophyllotoxin ethylidene-beta-D-glucoside (VP16), or human gamma-interferon synergistically induced the differentiation of HL60 and U937 cells. A similar effect on ML1 cells was observed with the combination of bufalin with VP16 or human rTNF-alpha. These results suggest that bufalin in combination with VP16, all-trans retinoic acid, 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, rTNF-alpha, or gamma-interferon may be very useful in the differentiation of human leukemia.

Antineoplastic Agents

Sulfated alkyl oligosaccharides with potent inhibitory effects on human immunodeficiency virus infection.

Compounds with medium relative molecular masses active against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) were synthesized. Sulfated alkyl oligosaccharides such as sulfated octadecyl maltohexaoside, sulfated dodecyl laminaripentaoside and sulfated dodecyl laminari-oligomer caused 50% inhibition of virus infection in the EC50 range of 0.4-0.7 microgram/mL in vitro using the MT-4 cell line and HIV-1HTLV-IIIB virus isolate, though sulfated oligosaccharides without alkyl groups showed low anti-HIV activities. This anti-HIV activity was close to the EC50 of 0.43 microgram/mL for a highly active sulfated polysaccharide curdlan sulfate which was reported to inhibit completely the HIV infection at a concentration as low as 3.3 micrograms/mL. These compounds were also active against HIV-2 and a clinically isolated HIV-1 with reduced AZT sensitivity. For such sulfated alkyl oligosaccharides, the mechanism of inhibition of HIV infection was assumed to be the inhibition of HIV binding to the cell and to some extent the interaction of the alkyl portion with the lipid bilayer of the virus.

Amino Acid Sequence

Induction and identification of mast cells from long-term culture of mouse spleen cells without conditioned medium.

A simple method is described for the preparation of large numbers of mast cells from mouse spleen cells in vitro. Mouse spleen cells were cultured with RPMI 1640 medium supplemented with 10% FCS and 2-ME. Half of the total volume of the medium was changed every 4-5 days. Mast cell numbers increased with the culture time and reached a peak between 16 and 20 days. Using this method, 2 x 10(6) mast cells could be induced from 1 x 10(7) nucleated normal spleen cells. T cells and supernatant derived from ConA-stimulated T cells were unnecessary for mast cell induction. Phenotype analysis by FACS showed that Thy1,2, L3T4, Ly-2, Ig, B220, Asialo GM1, and WGA receptors were all negative but functional IgE receptors were positive. The granules in the cells could be stained by alcian blue but not by safranin. There was 1.632 +/- 0.024 micrograms stored histamine in 1 x 10(6) of the cells. Histamine was released from the cells in an antigen-induced and IgE-mediated process. Compound 48/80 and A23187 induced degranulation of the cells, and the mast cells were able to respond to ConA.

Animals

Occurrence of differentiated keratin peptide(K1) in cultured human squamous cell carcinomas.

To date, the largest keratin peptide(K1, 68 KD) has been absent in cultured human squamous cell carcinomas. Using a low salt aqueous solution, not containing high salt and Triton X-100, as a washing buffer for keratin extraction, followed by two dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, immunological techniques and Northern blot analysis, we demonstrated K1 peptide in two kinds of cultured human squamous cell carcinomas. Until now keratin extraction has been done using high salt/Triton X-100 solution during which K1 peptide may be removed together developed an affinity with the buffer. Many investigators may have therefore overlooked K1.

Amino Acid Sequence

Cortisol secretion induced by substance P from bovine adrenocortical cells and its inhibition by calmodulin inhibitors.

When primary cultured bovine adrenocortical cells were treated with substance P (SP) at concentrations higher than 10 pM, cortisol output increased in a dose-dependent fashion. Although other neurokinins, such as neurokinin A (NKA) and neurokinin B (NKB), were also effective in secreting cortisol, SP was the most potent among the tested neurokinins, the potency order being SP greater than NKA much greater than NKB. This suggests that the NK-1 type receptor on adrenocortical cells may be the site of action of SP on cortisol secretion. The maximal response in SP-induced cortisol secretion was comparable to that elicited by adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). SP-induced cortisol secretion was dependent upon extracellular Ca2+ concentrations, and 45Ca2+ uptake into adrenocortical cells treated with SP was long-lasting. While, in the case of ACTH, 45Ca2+ uptake proceeded transiently, the increase in intracellular cAMP content was much greater compared with that of SP. Although KT-5720, an inhibitor of protein kinase A, inhibited potently ACTH-induced cortisol secretion, SP-induced secretin was not affected by this inhibitor at all. On the other hand, calmodulin inhibitors, such as calmidazolium, trifluoperazine and N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthalenesulfonamide, were not more effective in inhibiting SP-induced cortisol secretion than secretion induced by ACTH. The present study indicates that SP may be one of the physiological stimulants of cortisol secretion and that an increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration and the subsequent activation of calmodulin may precede SP-induced cortisol secretion.

Adrenal Cortex

Expression of high affinity binding sites for erythropoietin on L8057 cells, a mouse megakaryoblastic cell line, associated with cell differentiation.

In this study, specific binding sites were examined for erythropoietin (EPO) on the mouse leukemic cell line, L8057. This cell line is megakaryoblastic in origin as evidenced by an enlargement of cell size, multinuclearity, intense activity of acetylcholinesterase, more expression of glycoprotein IIb and IIIa antigen, and higher ploidy distribution after the treatment with 12-o-tetradecanoylphorbor-13-acetate (TPA). The original undifferentiated cells possessed a single class of low affinity binding sites for recombinant human (rh) EPO with a Kd of 3.5 nM. Following the treatment with TPA, high affinity binding sites (Kd; 440 pM) were expressed in addition to the low affinity sites. EPO stimulated the incorporation of 3H-leucine into TPA-treated L8057 cells, and the maximal effect of EPO was observed at the same order as the Kd value of high affinity sites. The present data demonstrates that the expression of high affinity binding sites for EPO is associated with the differentiation of L8057 cells which have megakaryocytic characteristics. Furthermore, protein synthesis stimulated by EPO may be mediated through the high affinity sites.

Acetylcholinesterase

Heme oxygenase is a heat shock protein and PEST protein in rat astroglial cells.

Cultured rat forebrain astrocytes contained significant amounts of immunostainable heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) isozyme, whereas HO-1 was undetectable in spontaneously transformed rat astroglial cells (ATs). HO-1 was inducible in both cell types by heat shock and by submicromolar amounts of H2O2. Inhibition of RNA synthesis with actinomycin D or protein synthesis with cycloheximide resulted in the rapid loss of immunostainable heme oxygenase in astrocytes. Analysis of the primary structure of heme oxygenase suggests that it is a PEST protein, i.e., targeted for rapid turnover.

Animals

Pharmacologically active tannins isolated from medicinal plants.

Starting with the isolation of a crystalline tannin (geraniin) of mild property from a popular herb medicine (Geranii herba), various polyphenolic compounds including those belonging to new classes of tannins (oligomeric hydrolyzable tannins, complex tannins, and other metabolites and condensates) have been isolated from various medicinal plants. Noticeable biological and pharmacological activities (inhibition of carcinogenesis, host-mediated antitumor activity, antiviral activity, and inhibition of active oxygen, such as inhibition of lipid peroxidation and lipoxygenase, xanthine oxidase, and monoamine oxidase) have been found for several of these polyphenolic compounds.

Animals

Modulation of monocytic differentiation of HL-60 cells by inhibitors of protein tyrosine kinases.

We showed previously that the expressions of various src family protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs) were induced independently during the monocytic differentiation of HL-60 cells. The role of PTKs was further assessed in the present study by investigating the effects of PTK inhibitors on the differentiation. It was demonstrated that PTK inhibitors such as genistein and herbimycin A modulated monocytic differentiation of HL-60 cells; they inhibited the differentiation induced by TPA, while promoting that induced by vitamin D3 (D3). Immunoblotting analysis of protein molecules which had been phosphorylated on their tyrosine residues demonstrated that TPA induced phosphorylation of certain molecules different from those induced by D3 in HL-60 cells. PTK inhibitors blocked the phosphorylation and modulated differentiation driven by the inducers. These data suggest that PTKs are involved both promotively and suppressively in signaling events that induce monocytic differentiation of HL-60 cells.

Antibiotics, Antineoplastic

Silicone-immobilized biocatalysts effective for bioconversions in nonaqueous media.

A hydrophobic silicone polymer could be effectively applied to immobilization of two kinds of biocatalysts operating in organic media. Horse liver alcohol dehydrogenase, which was solubilized in a small amount of water, or deposited on water-filled hydrophilic particles, was immobilized in this material. This configuration of the preparation involving finely dispersed aqueous phase permitted a simple packed-bed operation for the enzymatic oxidation of alcohol and reduction of aldehyde with a coupled-substrate NAD(H) recycling in n-hexane. Another example was the immobilization of Nocardia corallina which catalysed epoxidation of liquid alkenes such as 1-tetradecene, 1-octene, and styrene in the presence of n-hexadecane. In order to adjust the hydrophobicity-hydrophilicity balance of the support, it was effective to immobilize the cells in a mixed matrix composed of silicone polymer and Ca-alginate gel. The optimum composition of the mixed matrix, which yielded the highest productivity of epoxide, was 80-90% silicone + 20-10% alginate for the production of 1,2-epoxytetradecane, 40-50% silicone + 60-50% alginate for 1,2-epoxyoctane, and almost 0% silicone + 100% alginate for styrene oxide. This significant change of the optimum composition was primarily associated with the degree of substrate inhibition.

Alcohol Dehydrogenase

Inhibition of human immunodeficiency viral replication by tannins and related compounds.

Among 87 chemically defined tannins and related compounds, several hydrolyzable tannins, but not condensed tannins or other lower molecular weight polyphenols, significantly inhibited both the cytopathic effect of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the expression of HIV antigen in human lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-1)-positive MT-4 cells. The 50% effective concentrations (2.0-4.8 micrograms/ml) of the active compounds were 13- to 15-fold lower than their 50% cytotoxic concentrations. Their anti-HIV activity was demonstrated to be mediated, at least in part, by inhibition of HIV adsorption to the cells.

Adsorption

The way to adequate control of microbial processes passes via real-time knowledge-based supervision.

Knowledge-based supervision is viewed as a major tool for achieving high-performance control of microbial processes. By providing an adequate insight into the integral state of the cell culture, knowledge-based supervisory systems allow for monitoring and handling various important phenomena which usually remain outside the scope of the conventional control approach. The present paper focuses on the development of a computer system for knowledge-based supervision of bioprocesses. Its application to the control of fed-batch cultivation of recombinant Escherichia coli for phenylalanine production is also discussed.

Biotechnology

T cell maturation stage-linked heterogeneity of the glycosylphosphatidylinositol membrane anchor of Thy-1.

We showed that some of Thy-1 molecules on murine thymocytes are resistant to phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC) derived from Bacillus thuringiensis. Both immature thymocytes with low CD3 expression and mature thymic T lymphocytes with high CD3 expression carried the PI-PLC-resistant Thy-1, and the PI-PLC-sensitivity of Thy-1 extensively varied among thymocyte subpopulations. In contrast, the same PI-PLC fully hydrolysed the anchor of Thy-1 on peripheral T lymphocytes. When the latter cells were activated with mitogen in vitro, however, some Thy-1 on them became resistant to PI-PLC. We then found that virtually all Thy-1 molecules on thymocytes became sensitive to PI-PLC when they were treated with hydroxylamine that should cleave ester-linked lipids. The result ruled out the possibility that the PI-PLC-resistant Thy-1 had a transmembranous peptide sequence, and suggested the presence of an additional fatty acyl group on the inositol ring of the Thy-1 anchor. In addition, the molecular size of the PI-PLC-resistant membrane-bound Thy-1 was only marginally larger than that of the PI-PLC-sensitive solubilized Thy-1 in detergent-partitioning SDS-PAGE analysis.

Animals