Cleanup of food samples with pre-packed multi-layer silica gel column for the analysis of PCDDs,PCDFs and dioxin-like PCBs

The cleanup procedure for the determination of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in food samples using a disposable pre-packed multi-layer silica gel column (multi-layer dioxin tube; D-tube) was evaluated. The blank test showed the need for conditioning of the column with n-hexane. To compare the method with the D-tube and the conventional method for the analyses of actual food samples, seven food samples (spinach, komatsuna, rice, salmon, beef, egg and butter) were extracted by shaking with acetone-n-hexane or n-hexane after alkaline treatment, and then the extracts were cleaned up by use of the D-tube or the prepared conventional column, followed by several column chromatographic steps. Both cleanup procedures gave similar values at each isomeric concentration level and showed similar efficiency with favorable recoveries. The results suggest that the D-tube is applicable to cleanup for the analysis of PCDD/Fs and dioxin-like PCBs in foods.     

Development and evaluation of qualitative detection methods for unapproved genetically modified rice (LLRice)

We developed a specific method to extract DNA from rice grain samples and modified the qualitative real-time PCR method provided by Bayer Co., Ltd. for reliable detection of the genetically modified (GM) rice variety, LLRice601, which has not undergone safety assessment for regulatory approval in Japan. Moreover, we conducted a data analysis to confirm the results obtained with real-time PCR. The yields of DNA extracted from powdered samples of rice grains were almost equal among 5 different varieties of rice, and there was no significant difference in the yield over three days. Reliable results were obtained using 50 ng of the extracted DNA as the template for real-time PCR. To examine the adequacy of the methods, we organized an interlaboratory study with the participation of 2 laboratories, in which 80 test samples were analyzed in a blinded manner. The statistical analysis revealed no significant difference in the Ct value for the endogenous gene of the DNA samples and for the targeted DNA sequence of 0.1% samples. The limit of detection of the method was approximately 0.1%. Analysis of the fluorescence intensity of the PCR-amplified product of the construct-specific DNA sequence suggested that it may be reasonable to judge a sample as positive when a Ct value of less than 40 is obtained.     

Identification and characterization of two distinct truncated forms of gp130 and a soluble form of leukemia inhibitory factor receptor alpha-chain in normal human urine and plasma

Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) is a polyfunctional cytokine known to require at least two distinct receptor components (LIF receptor alpha-chain and gp130) in order to form a high affinity, functional receptor complex. In this report, we present evidence that there are two distinct truncated forms of gp130 in normal human urine and plasma: a large form with a molecular weight of approximately 100, 000, which is similar to a previously described form of soluble gp130 in human serum, and a previously undescribed small form with a molecular weight of approximately 50,000. Using a panel of monoclonal antibodies raised against the extracellular domain of human gp130, we were able to show that the small form of the urinary gp130 probably contained only the hemopoietin domain. Both forms of gp130 bound LIF specifically and were capable of forming heterotrimeric complexes with soluble human LIF receptor alpha-chain in the presence of human LIF. In addition to the soluble forms of gp130, a soluble form of LIF receptor alpha-chain was also detected in human urine and plasma.     

Determination of genotoxic phenylhydrazine agaritine in mushrooms using liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

A new method with good sensitivity and specificity for detecting and quantifying genotoxic hydrazines, agaritine and 4-(hydroxymethyl)phenylhydrazine (HMPH), was developed using liquid chromatography-electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (MS). Synthetic agaritine and HMPH were structurally assigned by ¹H-, ¹³C- and two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis (HMBC and HMQC), high-resolution fast-atom bombardment (HR-FAB) MS and time of flight (TOF) MS. The polar molecule agaritine was separated on an ODS column using 0.01% AcOH-MeOH (99:1, v/v) as an eluent with a simple solid-phase extraction cleanup. There were no interference peaks for any of the mushrooms. Agaricus spp. contained 1247 and 2017 µg g^-1 agaritine. Other species of mushroom had no agaritine. Recoveries of agaritine from spiked mushroom samples were 60.3-114%. Intra-day precision values were 5.5 and 4.2%, and the inter-day precision values were acceptable (15.0 and 23.0%), as agaritine is unstable. The limit of quantification was 0.003 µg g^-1. Even a trace amount of agaritine in mushrooms can, therefore, be determined using this method. We also directly analysed HMPH, an active free hydrazine form of genotoxic agaritine, and obtained direct evidence of its absence from mushrooms. A precursor ion scan confirmed that agaritine derivatives, which could exert similar toxicity, were absent. The results indicate that this specific and sensitive analytical method for detecting and quantifying agaritine and its derivatives could help evaluate the risk of mushroom hydrazines to humans.     

Maintenance of the pluripotential phenotype of embryonic stem cells through direct activation of gp130 signalling pathways

Bare alpha track detectors are sensitive to radon progeny as well as to radon gas. This paper reports the test results for two brands of bare alpha track detectors that received several radon exposures at three progeny concentrations. The results show a relationship that is a linear combination of both the radon gas and the radon progeny concentrations. The reported radon concentration depended on the equilibrium factor assumed by the processor. The sensitivity of bare alpha track detectors increases with altitude, but this is a minor, correctable effect compared to the equilibrium factor.     

A new method for the extracellular production of recombinant thermolysin by co-expressing the mature sequence and pro-sequence in Escherichia coli

Thermolysin, a representative zinc metalloproteinase from Bacillus thermoproteolyticus, is synthesized as inactive pre-proenzyme and receives autocatalytic cleavage of the peptide bond linking the pro- and mature sequences. The conventional expression method for recombinant thermolysin requires the autocatalytic cleavage, so that production of a mutant thermolysin is affected by its autocatalytic digestion activity. In this study, we have established a new expression method that does not require the autocatalytic cleavage. The mature sequence of thermolysin containing an NH(2)-terminal pelB leader sequence and the pre-prosequence of thermolysin were co-expressed constitutively in Escherichia coli as independent polypeptides under the original promoter sequences in the npr gene which encodes thermolysin. Unlike the conventional expression method, not only the wild-type thermolysin but also mutant thermolysins [E143A (Glu143 is replaced with Ala), N112A, N112D, N112E, N112H, N112K and N112R] were produced into the culture medium. The wild-type enzyme expressed in the present method was indistinguishable from that expressed in the conventional method based on autocatalytic cleavage, as assessed by hydrolysis of N-[3-(2-furyl)acryloyl]-glycyl-L-leucine amide and N-carbobenzoxy-L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester. The present method should be useful especially for preparation of active-site mutants of thermolysin, which might have suppressed autocatalytic digestion activity. The results also demonstrate clearly that the covalent linking between the pro- and mature sequences is not necessary for the proper folding of the mature sequence by the propeptide in thermolysin.     

Determination method for ractopamine in swine and cattle tissues using LC/MS

Simple and reliable methods using LC/MS have been developed for the determination of the beta-agonist ractopamine in swine and cattle tissues. Ractopamine was extracted with ethyl acetate from muscle and liver, and the ethyl acetate layer was evaporated to dryness. The residue was purified by partition with acetonitrile/n-hexane. In the case of fat, ractopamine was extracted and purified by partition with acetonitrile/n-hexane. The resulting acetonitrile solutions were evaporated to dryness. The residue was dissolved in methanol, and subjected to LC/MS. The LC separation was performed on a Wakosil-II 3C18HG column (150 x 3 mm i.d.) in isocratic mode with 0.05% trifluoroacetic acid-acetonitrile (80:20) as a mobile phase at a flow rate of 0.4 mL/min. The MS detection was performed in the selected ion recording (SIR) mode, with detection of the M + H+ ion of ractopamine (m/z 302) produced by electrospray ionization (ESI). The mean recoveries of the drug from swine muscle (0.01 microg fortified), fat (0.01 microg fortified) and liver (0.04 microg/g fortified) were 99.7%, 99.5% and 100.8%, and those from cattle samples were 108.3%, 97.0% and 109.4%, respectively. The relative standard deviations (RSDs) ranged from 0.1% to 9.5%. The limit of quantification (LOQ) of the drug was 1 ng/g.     

Realization of anti-slip/skid re-adhesion control for electric commuter train based on disturbance observer

Recently, disturbance observer has been used in many system and industry applications. This paper focus on the fine motion control technology based on disturbance observer for electric commuter train. The improvement of adhesion characteristics is important in electric commuter train. We propose the anti-slip/skid re-adhesion control system based on disturbance observer and sensor-less vector control. The effectiveness of the proposed method is confirmed by the experiment based on the actual electric commuter train, which is Series 205-5000 of East Japan Railway Company. Moreover, in order to extend the anti-slip/skid re-adhesion control considering the bogie vibration phenomenon, we propose a new anti-slip re-adhesion control based on the high order disturbance observer considering the resonant frequency of bogie system. Copyright © 2009 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Effect of non-genetically modified (non-GM) soy varieties on the measured value of GM soy by a quantitative PCR method

It is very important to examine the effect of non-genetically modified (non-GM) soy varieties, which constitute the matrix of the testing sample used to quantify GM soy (RRS), on the measured value of RRS by quantitative PCR methods. Therefore, we quantified the amount of RRS in powder-mixed samples containing 1 or 5% RRS prepared by using 10 different varieties of non-GM soy as the matrix. The results revealed that the measured values were not in agreement with the powder-mixing levels and that the extent of the difference depended on the variety of non-GM soy used as the matrix. The yields of DNA extracted differed among the soy varieties. On the other hand, analysis of DNA-mixed samples, that were prepared with the DNAs extracted from RRS and non-GM soy varieties, showed that the measured values of RRS were in agreement with the DNA-mixing levels. These results strongly suggest that the proportions of DNA derived from RRS and non-GM soy were not consistent with the powder-mixing ratio in the case of some non-GM soy varieties used as a matrix, resulting in the discrepancy between the measured values and the powder-mixing levels.     

DNA extraction method using a silica-base resin type kit for the detection of genetically modified papaya

Genetically modified (GM) papaya has not yet been approved for importation into, or cultivation in the European Union (EU) and Japan. A DNA extraction method using the Qiagen DNeasy Plant Mini Kit (PM method) and a method using a buffer containing cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB method) have been adopted as the official Japanese methods for detecting GM foods. However, the amounts of DNA extracted from papaya by these methods are very low. Therefore, we investigated an extraction method to obtain a high yield of DNA from raw or freeze-dried fresh papaya using the Promega Wizard DNA Clean-Up Resin System (WCR). The incubation for the extraction was carried out at 58 degrees C without proteinase K for 15 min. The extract was applied to a mini-column, then the column was washed with 80% isopropyl alcohol, and genomic DNA adsorbed on the column was eluted with TE buffer. The WCR method gave a higher yield of genomic DNA, and was simpler and faster than the PM method or CTAB method. In addition, it could be used to extract genomic DNA from fresh papaya at various stages of ripeness. Based on these results, we propose that the present method using WCR is the most practical and useful way to extract genomic DNA for the purpose of detecting GM papaya.