Anisotropic lattice coherency of GaAs nanocrystals deposited on Si(100) surface by molecular beam epitaxy

Lattice coherency and morphology of GaAs nanocrystals grown on Si(100) substrate have been studied by transmission electron microscope in order to see growth mechanism of the nanocrystals. GaAs nanocrystals consisting of four {111} facet planes and a rectangular basal plane with four sides along [01 ] and [011] directions have grown on the Si surface. Either (011) or (01) lattice planes along the minor axis on the rectangular basal plane in the GaAs nanocrystal are completely-coherent with {011} lattice planes in the Si substrate. On the other hand, another (01) or (011) lattice planes along the major axis are partially-coherent with those in the Si substrate. When the lattice planes of the either (011) or (01), which is randomly determined by local atomic structures, become partially-coherent with those in the Si substrate to relax accumulated lattice strain, the growth rate of nanocrystal is remarkably increased along the direction parallel to unstrained (011) or (01) planes which prevents from each area of the strained {011} planes in the nanocrystals increasing. The anisotropic lattice coherency between the GaAs nanocrystals and the Si substrate causes the anisotropic morphology of the GaAs nanocrystals which is elongated the directions parallel to the strained {011} planes.     

A cytoplasmic xylanase (XynX) of Aeromonas caviae ME-1 is released from the cytoplasm to the periplasm by osmotic downshock

Aeromonas caviae ME-1 is a multiple xylanase-producing gram-negative bacterium which was isolated from the gut contents of a wild silkworm, Samia cynthia pryeri. One of the xylanases produced by A. caviae ME-1, XynX (38 kDa, family 10 xylanase), hydrolyzes xylan to xylobiose and xylotetraose as final degradation products. Generally, xylanases are extracellular or cell surface enzymes. However, XynX is not exported to the extracellular fluid by A. caviae ME-1 and an Escherichia coli transformant harboring the xynX gene. In this study, we investigated the intracellular localization of XynX in A. caviae ME-1 and an E. coli transformant. XynX was found in the cytoplasm when the cells were grown under normal culture conditions. However, XynX was released from the cytoplasm to the periplasm during osmotic downshock. This release of XynX in the E. coli transformant was blocked in the presence of gadolinium chloride, which has been reported to be an inhibitor of bacterial mechanosensitive channels.     

Optimal aerobic cultivation method for 1,4-dihydroxy-2-naphthoic acid production by Propionibacterium freudenreichii ET-3

To investigate the effects of oxygen supply on Propionibacterium freudenreichii ET-3 metabolism and 1,4-dihydroxy-2-naphthoic acid (DHNA) production in detail, the strain was cultured by switching from anaerobic condition to aerobic condition at 72 h (termed anaerobic-aerobic switching culture hereafter) employing different oxygen transfer rates (OTRs) in the range of 0.08-0.90 mg/(l.h). It was found that a 0.08 mg/(l.h) OTR could not change the metabolism or improve the DHNA production of P. freudenreichii ET-3. When the OTR was in the range of 0.23-0.66 mg/(l.h), propionate, which inhibits DHNA production significantly, was consumed during the aerobic phase. Final DHNA concentration increased to 0.22 mM, irrespective of OTR. When the OTR was 0.90 mg/(l.h), a sudden increase in dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration during the aerobic phase resulted in a sudden decrease in DHNA concentration. To attenuate the stresses caused by propionate and oxygen exposure, we designed an optimal cultivation in which the anaerobic and aerobic phases were repeated three times alternately. As a result, propionate concentration was maintained below the level that inhibits DHNA production, and no DO concentration was detected throughout the culture. The final DHNA concentration in this culture was 0.33 mM, which is 2.7-fold that in the anaerobic culture and 1.5-fold that in the anaerobic-aerobic switching culture.     

Enhanced bactericidal action and masking of allergen structure of soy protein by attachment of chitosan through maillard-type protein-polysaccharide conjugation

The soy protein-chitosan conjugate was formed by the Maillard reaction in dry state (relative humidity 65%) at 60 degrees C for 2 weeks to improve the functional properties. The antimicrobial activity of the Maillard-type soy protein-chitosan conjugates enhanced 2-3 times that of soy protein-chitosan mixture. The soy protein-chitosan conjugate showed excellent emulsifying property with the progress of Maillard-type conjugation. The allergenicity of soy protein was greatly decreased by the attachment of chitosan through Maillard reaction. The immonoblotting analysis with patient's sera revealed that soy protein-chitosan conjugate was more effective to mask the allergen structure of soy protein causing from 34 kDa-protein (Gly m Bd 30K) than soy protein-galactomannan conjugate. The Western blotting showed that allergen (34 kDa-protein) was completely masked by soy protein-chitosan conjugation, while it was not completely masked by soy protein-galactomannan conjugation.     

Changes in Endogenous Oxytocin Levels and the Effects of Exogenous Oxytocin Administration on Body Weight Changes and Food Intake in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Model Rats

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is frequently seen in females of reproductive age and is associated with metabolic disorders that are exacerbated by obesity. Although body weight reduction programs via diet and lifestyle changes are recommended for modifying reproductive and metabolic phenotypes, the drop-out rate is high. Thus, an efficacious, safe, and continuable treatment method is needed. Recent studies have shown that oxytocin (OT) reduces body weight gain and food intake, and promotes lipolysis in some mammals, including humans (especially obese individuals), without any adverse effects. In the present study, we evaluated the changes in endogenous OT levels, and the effects of acute and chronic OT administration on body weight changes, food intake, and fat mass using novel dihydrotestosterone-induced PCOS model rats. We found that the serum OT level was lower in PCOS model rats than in control rats, whereas the hypothalamic OT mRNA expression level did not differ between them. Acute intraperitoneal administration of OT during the dark phase reduced the body weight gain and food intake in PCOS model rats, but these effects were not observed in control rats. In contrast, chronic administration of OT decreased the food intake in both the PCOS model rats and control rats. These findings indicate that OT may be a candidate medicine that is efficacious, safe, and continuable for treating obese PCOS patients.     

Room Temperature Ambient Pressure (RTAP)‐Hydroformylation in Water Using a Self‐Assembling Ligand

We herein demonstrate a hydroformylation at room temperature and ambient pressure (RTAP) using our Rh/6‐DPPon ( 1 ) system in aqueous media. The hydrogen bonding network of the ligand backbone stays intact, exemplified by the excellent regioselectivity for the linear aldehyde. Various substrates with different functional groups (with some prone to hydrolysis) are stable under the applied conditions and can undergo hydroformylation resulting in good yields.     

Acyltransferase Domain Exchange between Two Independent Type I Polyketide Synthases in the Same Producer Strain of Macrolide Antibiotics

Streptomyces graminofaciens A-8890 produces two macrolide antibiotics, FD-891 and virustomycin A, both of which show significant biological activity. In this study, we identified the virustomycin A biosynthetic gene cluster, which encodes type I polyketide synthases (PKSs), ethylmalonyl-CoA biosynthetic enzymes, methoxymalony-acyl carrier protein biosynthetic enzymes, and post-PKS modification enzymes. Next, we demonstrated that the acyltransferase domain can be exchanged between the Vsm PKSs and the PKSs involved in FD-891 biosynthesis (Gfs PKSs), without any supply problems of the unique extender units. We exchanged the malonyltransferase domain in the loading module of Gfs PKS with the ethylmalonyltransferase domain and the methoxymalonyltransferase domain of Vsm PKSs. Consequently, the expected two-carbon-elongated analog 26-ethyl-FD-891 was successfully produced with a titer comparable to FD-891 production by the wild type; however, exchange with the methoxymalonyltransferase domain did not produce any FD-891 analogs. Furthermore, 26-ethyl-FD-891 showed potent cytotoxic activity against HeLa cells, like natural FD-891.