Expanded roles of lactate-sensing LldR in transcription regulation of the Escherichia coli K-12 genome: lactate utilisation and acid resistance.

LldR is a lactate-responsive transcription factor (TF) that transcriptionally regulates the lldPRD operon consisting of lactate permease and lactate dehydrogenase. The lldPRD operon facilitates the utilisation of lactic acid in bacteria. However, the role of LldR in whole genomic transcriptional regulation, and the mechanism involved in adaptation to lactate remains unclear. We used genomic SELEX (gSELEX) to comprehensively analyse the genomic regulatory network of LldR to understand the overall regulatory mechanism of lactic acid adaptation of the model intestinal bacterium Escherichia coli. In addition to the involvement of the lldPRD operon in utilising lactate as a carbon source, genes related to glutamate-dependent acid resistance and altering the composition of membrane lipids were identified as novel targets of LldR. A series of in vitro and in vivo regulatory analyses led to the identification of LldR as an activator of these genes. Furthermore, the results of lactic acid tolerance tests and co-culture experiments with lactic acid bacteria suggested that LldR plays a significant role in adapting to the acid stress induced by lactic acid. Therefore, we propose that LldR is an l-/d-lactate sensing TF for utilising lactate as a carbon source and for resistance to lactate-induced acid stress in intestinal bacteria.

Investigation of Physiological Properties of Transglycosylated Stevia with Cationic Surfactant and Its Application To Enhance the Solubility of Rebamipide.

The poor water solubility of rebamipide was enhanced by the mixed micelles of transglycosylated stevia (Stevia-G) and trimethylammonium chloride with varying carbon chain length (C nTAC, n = 14, 16, and 18). Fluorometry, isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) and dynamic light scattering techniques examined the aggregation properties of Stevia-G and C nTAC. Synergism was found between Stevia-G and C nTAC using the approaches of Clint and Rubingh. The negative interaction parameter (average ßm = -4.17, -5.47, and -7.07) and excess free energy (average ΔG°ex = -2.47, -3.06, and -3.88 kJ mol-1) increased with increasing chain length of C nTAC. The negative B1 values by the Maeda approach suggested that chain-chain interactions contribute to the formation of a mixed micelle. The solubilization of rebamipide in the mixed micelle was evaluated in the term of the molar solubilization ratio (MSR) and partition coefficient ( Km). The Km from the Stevia-G/C16TAC system was highest at a low mole fraction of C nTAC (0.2-0.6). In conclusion, the solubilization of rebamipide was more favorable between Stevia-G and C16TAC, although the stability of the mixed micelle was enhanced by an increase in hydrophobicity of the longer chain lengths used in C nTAC.

Mixed Micelle System Produced by Interaction Between Transglycosylated Stevia and an Ionic Surfactant Improves Dissolution Profile of Mefenamic Acid.

Transglycosylated stevia (stevia-G) can effectively improve the dissolution and bioavailability of poorly water-soluble drugs. Furthermore, addition of an ionic surfactant to stevia-G solution has been shown to enhance the dissolution effect of stevia-G on flurbiprofen. Herein, 4 surfactants, namely sodium dodecyl sulfate, sodium N-dodecanoylsarcosinate, sodium monododecyl phosphate, and lauryltrimethylammonium chloride (LTAC) were screened to investigate their synergistic effect with stevia-G in enhancing the solubility of mefenamic acid (MFA). The ternary formulation containing LTAC produced the highest increase in solubility, whereas the binary MFA/LTAC formulation did not increase the solubility of MFA. Surface tension was evaluated to analyze the interaction between stevia-G and each ionic surfactant, wherein the Rubingh model was applied to predict mixed micelle formation between stevia-G and LTAC. Interaction parameters calculated by the Rubingh model reflected mixed micelle formation between stevia-G and LTAC relative to the self-interactions of the 2 individual surfactants. All interaction parameters in this system showed negative values, indicating a favorable interaction (e.g., hydrogen bond or electrostatic and dipole) between binary components in the mixed micelles. Spray-dried particles of ternary formulations (MFA/stevia-G/LTAC) were prepared to evaluate the dissolution profile and physicochemical properties. Dissolution profiling showed that the concentration of MFA released from spray-dried particles was significantly higher than untreated MFA.

Low hygroscopic spray-dried powders with trans-glycosylated food additives enhance the solubility and oral bioavailability of ipriflavone.

The improvement in the solubility and dissolution rate may promote a superior absorption property towards the human body. The spray-dried powders (SDPs) of ipriflavone, which was used as a model hydrophobic flavone, with trans-glycosylated rutin (Rutin-G) showed the highest solubilizing effect of ipriflavone among three types of trans-glycosylated food additives. The SDPs of ipriflavone with Rutin-G have both a significant higher dissolution rate and solubility enhancement of ipriflavone. This spray-dried formulation of ipriflavone with Rutin-G exhibited a low hygroscopicity as a critical factor in product preservation. In addition, an improvement in the oral absorption of ipriflavone was achieved by means of preparing composite particles of ipriflavone/Rutin-G via spray drying, indicating a 4.3-fold increase in the area under the plasma concentration-time curve compared with that of untreated ipriflavone. These phenomena could be applicable to food ingredients involving hydrophobic flavones for producing healthy food with a high quality.

Absorption improvement of tranilast by forming highly soluble nano-size composite structures associated with α-glucosyl rutin via spray drying.

Tranilast (TL) composite particles with α-glucosyl rutin (Rutin-G) were developed to improve the solubility and oral bioavailability of TL. Composite formulation of TL/Rutin-G was prepared using the spray-drying method, and their physicochemical properties were evaluated with respect to the morphology, particle size distribution, solubility and crystallinity. The nanostructure formation of Rutin-G was characterized by dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy when Rutin-G or TL/Rutin-G spray-dried particles (SDPs) were introduced into water. A pharmacokinetic study was also performed to assess the improvement of oral absorption in rats. TL/Rutin-G SDPs were spherical particles with a diameter of 5.5µm. Even in the acidic condition, the remarkable improvement in solubility of TL was achieved, as evidenced by a 32.2-fold increase in solubility compared with untreated TL. The median size of Rutin-G nanostructures in water was 2nm. The formation of Rutin-G nanostructures and their drug inclusion properties may enhance the solubility and dissolution behavior of TL. A drastic increase was found in the exposure of TL in rats, with an increase in Cmax and AUC values of 114- and 36.4-fold, respectively, compared with those of untreated TL. These findings indicated that a TL formulation spray-dried with Rutin-G could enhance its solubility and absorption and thus its therapeutic properties.