Differential binding with ERá and ERâ of the phytoestrogen-rich plant Pueraria mirifica

Variations in the estrogenic activity of the phytoestrogen-rich plant, Pueraria mirifica, were determined with yeast estrogen screen (YES) consisting of human estrogen receptors (hER) hERá and hERâ and human transcriptional intermediary factor 2 (hTIF2) or human steroid receptor coactivator 1 (hSRC1), respectively, together with the â-galactosidase expression cassette. Relative estrogenic potency was expressed by determining the â-galactosidase activity (EC50) of the tuber extracts in relation to 17â-estradiol. Twenty-four and 22 of the plant tuber ethanolic extracts interacted with hERá and hERâ, respectively, with a higher relative estrogenic potency with hERâ than with hERá. Antiestrogenic activity of the plant extracts was also determined by incubation of plant extracts with 17â-estradiol prior to YES assay. The plant extracts tested exhibited antiestrogenic activity. Both the estrogenic and the antiestrogenic activity of the tuber extracts were metabolically activated with the rat liver S9-fraction prior to the assay indicating the positive influence of liver enzymes. Correlation analysis between estrogenic potency and the five major isoflavonoid contents within the previously HPLC-analyzed tuberous samples namely puerarin, daidzin, genistin, daidzein, and genistein revealed a negative result.

Differential binding with ERalpha and ERbeta of the phytoestrogen-rich plant Pueraria mirifica.

Variations in the estrogenic activity of the phytoestrogen-rich plant, Pueraria mirifica, were determined with yeast estrogen screen (YES) consisting of human estrogen receptors (hER) hERalpha and hERbeta and human transcriptional intermediary factor 2 (hTIF2) or human steroid receptor coactivator 1 (hSRC1), respectively, together with the beta-galactosidase expression cassette. Relative estrogenic potency was expressed by determining the beta-galactosidase activity (EC(50)) of the tuber extracts in relation to 17beta-estradiol. Twenty-four and 22 of the plant tuber ethanolic extracts interacted with hERalpha and hERbeta, respectively, with a higher relative estrogenic potency with hERbeta than with hERalpha. Antiestrogenic activity of the plant extracts was also determined by incubation of plant extracts with 17beta-estradiol prior to YES assay. The plant extracts tested exhibited antiestrogenic activity. Both the estrogenic and the antiestrogenic activity of the tuber extracts were metabolically activated with the rat liver S9-fraction prior to the assay indicating the positive influence of liver enzymes. Correlation analysis between estrogenic potency and the five major isoflavonoid contents within the previously HPLC-analyzed tuberous samples namely puerarin, daidzin, genistin, daidzein, and genistein revealed a negative result.

Genome-wide identification of genes involved in tolerance to various environmental stresses in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

During fermentation, yeast cells are exposed to a number of stresses -- such as high alcohol concentration, high osmotic pressure, and temperature fluctuation - so some overlap of mechanisms involved in the response to these stresses has been suggested. To identify the genes required for tolerance to alcohol (ethanol, methanol, and 1-propanol), heat, osmotic stress, and oxidative stress, we performed genome-wide screening by using 4828 yeast deletion mutants. Our screens identified 95, 54, 125, 178, 42, and 30 deletion mutants sensitive to ethanol, methanol, 1-propanol, heat, NaCl, and H2O2, respectively. These deleted genes were then classified based on their cellular functions, and cross-sensitivities between stresses were determined. A large number of genes involved in vacuolar H(+)-ATPase (V-ATPase) function, cytoskeleton biogenesis, and cell wall integrity, were required for tolerance to alcohol, suggesting their protective role against alcohol stress. Our results revealed a partial overlap between genes required for alcohol tolerance and those required for thermotolerance. Genes involved in cell wall integrity and the actin cytoskeleton are required for both alcohol tolerance and thermotolerance, whereas the RNA polymerase II mediator complex seems to be specific to heat tolerance. However, no significant overlap of genes required for osmotic stress and oxidative stress with those required for other stresses was observed. Interestingly, although mitochondrial function is likely involved in tolerance to several stresses, it was found to be less important for thermotolerance. The genes identified in this study should be helpful for future research into the molecular mechanisms of stress response.

Cloning and nucleotide sequencing of a lipase gene from Bacillus subtilis WRRL-B558.

A lipase gene from B. subtilis WRRL-B558 was cloned in Escherichia coli JM109 using pBluescript as a vector plasmid. Two methods were combined to screen for the lipase-producing clone. The first was done by overlaying the screening plates with ß-naphthylacetate and Fast Blue BB dye. Positive clones were then confirmed by a second method using 1% (v/v) tributyrin agar plates. Positive clones which formed clear zones on the tributyrin agar plates were selected and analysed by restriction mapping, Southern blot hydridization and deletion studies to locate the lipase gene on a 2.2 kb HindIII fragment insert. A subclone harbouring a plasmid with a 0.9 kb DNA fragment between the HindIII and EcoRI sites that still exhibited lipase activity was used for sequencing. The nucleotide sequence showed a single open reading frame which contained 636 nucleotides (212 deduced amino acids). A conserved pentapeptide postulated to be the catalytic site was Ala-X-Ser-X-Gly instead of Gly-X-Ser-X-Gly. The deduced protein was found to have a molecular weight of 21 kDa which was similar to that obtained from the recombinant plasmid as determined by SDS-PAGE. Expression of the Bacillus lipase gene was found to be high in recombinant E. coli.

Determination of amino acid sequences involved in the processing of the ARG5/ARG6 precursor in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the ARG5/ARG6 locus encodes both acetylglutamate kinase and acetylglutamyl-phosphate reductase, localized in the mitochondria. Genetic analysis, determination of the nucleotide sequence of the ARG5/ARG6 gene and identification of the transcript indicate that it encodes a single translation product containing two enzyme activities. However, analysis of cellular extracts revealed that the activities are completely separable. In this work, we define different domains in the ARG5/ARG6 polypeptide; a mitochondrial target sequence and the acetylglutamate-kinase and acetylglutamyl-phosphate-reductase domains. We show that deletions in the N-terminal end of the protein and point mutations in the junction region between the acetylglutamate-kinase and acetylglutamyl-phosphate-reductase domains lead to the accumulation of large precursor. Our data support the idea that import of the ARG5/ARG6 precursor into the mitochondria is required for its processing into two mature enzymes.

Determination of the DNA-binding sequences of ARGR proteins to arginine anabolic and catabolic promoters.

ARGRI, ARGRII, and ARGRIII proteins regulate the expression of arginine anabolic and catabolic genes. The integrity of these three proteins is required to observe the formation of a DNA-protein complex with the different promoters of arginine coregulated genes. A study of deletions and point mutations created in the 5' noncoding region of ARG3, ARG5,6, CAR1, and CAR2 genes shows that at least two regions, called BoxA and BoxB, are required for proper regulation of these genes by arginine and ARGR proteins. By gel retardation assay and DNase I footprinting analysis, we have determined precisely the target of the ARGR proteins. Sequences in and around BoxA are necessary for ARGR binding to these four promoters in vitro, whereas sequences in and around BoxB are clearly protected against DNase I digestion only for CAR1. Sequences present at BoxA and BoxB are well conserved among the four promoters. Moreover, pairing can occur between sequences at BoxA and BoxB which could lead to the creation of secondary structures in ARG3, ARG5,6, CAR1, and CAR2 promoters, favoring the binding of ARGR proteins in vivo.

Characterization of the yeast ARG5,6 gene: determination of the nucleotide sequence, analysis of the control region and of ARG5,6 transcript.

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the ARG5,6 gene encodes acetylglutamyl-P reductase and acetylglutamate kinase, two arginine anabolic enzymes which are localized in the mitochondria. The synthesis of both enzymes is co-ordinately controlled by arginine and by three regulatory proteins (ARGRI, ARGRII, and ARGRIII). The ARG5,6 gene was cloned by complementation of an arg5 mutant strain. A subclone containing an EcoRI fragment of about 3.2 kb which complements the arginine requirement was sequenced. This 3163 bp sequence contains only one long open reading frame of 2589 nucleotides encoding a protein of 863 amino acids. The size of this protein is in agreement with the length of the unique transcript determined by Northern hybridization. The measurements of ARG5,6 mRNA under various regulatory conditions show no correlation with the enzyme levels. As in other arginine biosynthetic and catabolic genes, the regulation by arginine through the three ARGR proteins thus involves a post-transcriptional control mechanism. By in vitro mutagenesis we created point mutations and deletions in the 5' non-coding region of the ARG5,6 gene which allowed us to define the primary target of ARGR control. Specific regulation involves two regions: one located between the putative TATA element and the transcriptional initiation site and the second between this site and the first ATG.

In vitro antifungal activity of eugenol and vanillin against Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans.

Eugenol and vanillin were examined for in vitro antifungal activity against the medically important yeasts, Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans. Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and minimal fungicidal concentrations (MFC) were determined for each compound against 31 strains of C. albicans and 33 strains of C. neoformans. With eugenol, the mean MIC's for C. albicans and C. neoformans were 625 and 293 micrograms/mL, respectively, while the mean MFC's were 1209 and 521 micrograms/mL, respectively. With vanillin, the mean MIC's for C. albicans and C. neoformans were 1250 and 738 micrograms/mL, respectively, while the mean MFC's were 5000 and 1761 micrograms/mL, respectively. With C. albicans, inhibition and retardation of growth were similar for yeast and mycelial forms, but germ tube formation was inhibited at concentrations lower than those which inhibited growth. Short-term toxicity tests with mice using the intraperitoneal route gave maximum tolerated doses of 62.5 mg/kg for eugenol and 125 mg/kg for vanillin and excluded their use as therapeutic agents for systemic mycoses.