Complete Genome Sequence of Bifidobacterium longum subsp. longum JCM7052.

We report the complete genome sequence of Bifidobacterium longum subsp. longum JCM7052, isolated from human feces in Japan. This strain has the capability of growing on and utilizing gum arabic as an energy source. The complete genome is 2,273,627 bp long, with 1,929 protein-coding genes and 59.9 mol% G+C content.

Latent infection with Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus enhances retrotransposition of long interspersed element-1.

Kaposi's sarcoma (KS)-associated herpesvirus (KSHV), a gamma-2 herpesvirus, is the causative agent of KS, primary effusion lymphoma (PEL), and a plasma cell variant of multicentric Castleman's disease. Although KSHV latency is detected in KS-related tumors, oncogenic pathways activated by KSHV latent infection are not fully understood. Here, we found that retrotransposition of long interspersed element-1 (L1), a retrotransposon in the human genome, was enhanced in PEL cells. Among the KSHV latent genes, viral FLICE-inhibitory protein (vFLIP) enhanced L1 retrotransposition in an NF-κB-dependent manner. Intracellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), an NF-κB target, regulated the vFLIP-mediated enhancement of L1 retrotransposition. Furthermore, ICAM-1 downregulated the expression of Moloney leukemia virus 10 (MOV10), an L1 restriction factor. Knockdown of ICAM-1 or overexpression of MOV10 relieved the vFLIP-mediated enhancement of L1 retrotransposition. Collectively, during KSHV latency, vFLIP upregulates ICAM-1 in an NF-κB-dependent manner, which, in turn, downregulates MOV10 expression and thereby enhances L1 retrotransposition. Because active L1 retrotransposition can lead to genomic instability, which is commonly found in KS and PEL, activation of L1 retrotransposition during KSHV latency may accelerate oncogenic processes through enhancing genomic instability. Our results suggest that L1 retrotransposition may be a novel target for impeding tumor development in KSHV-infected patients.

Blockade of T-type calcium channels by 6-prenylnaringenin, a hop component, alleviates neuropathic and visceral pain in mice.

Since Cav3.2 T-type Ca2+ channels (T-channels) expressed in the primary afferents and CNS contribute to intractable pain, we explored T-channel-blocking components in distinct herbal extracts using a whole-cell patch-clamp technique in HEK293 cells stably expressing Cav3.2 or Cav3.1, and purified and identified sophoraflavanone G (SG) as an active compound from SOPHORAE RADIX (SR). Interestingly, hop-derived SG analogues, (2S)-6-prenylnaringenin (6-PNG) and (2S)-8-PNG, but not naringenin, also blocked T-channels; IC50 (µM) of SG, (2S)-6-PNG and (2S)-8-PNG was 0.68-0.75 for Cav3.2 and 0.99-1.41 for Cav3.1. (2S)-6-PNG and (2S)-8-PNG, but not SG, exhibited reversible inhibition. The racemic (2R/S)-6-PNG as well as (2S)-6-PNG potently blocked Cav3.2, but exhibited minor effect on high-voltage-activated Ca2+ channels and voltage-gated Na+ channels in differentiated NG108-15 cells. In mice, the mechanical allodynia following intraplantar (i.pl.) administration of an H2S donor was abolished by oral or i.p. SR extract and by i.pl. SG, (2S)-6-PNG or (2S)-8-PNG, but not naringenin. Intraperitoneal (2R/S)-6-PNG strongly suppressed visceral pain and spinal ERK phosphorylation following intracolonic administration of an H2S donor in mice. (2R/S)-6-PNG, administered i.pl. or i.p., suppressed the neuropathic allodynia induced by partial sciatic nerve ligation or oxaliplatin, an anti-cancer agent, in mice. (2R/S)-6-PNG had little or no effect on open-field behavior, motor performance or cardiovascular function in mice, and on the contractility of isolated rat aorta. (2R/S)-6-PNG, but not SG, was detectable in the brain after their i.p. administration in mice. Our data suggest that 6-PNG, a hop component, blocks T-channels, and alleviates neuropathic and visceral pain with little side effects.

Two-dimensional mapping using different chromatographic separations coupled with mass spectrometry for the analysis of ginsenosides in Panax ginseng root and callus.

Two-dimensional (2D) mapping using different chromatographic separations coupled with mass spectrometry is a rapid and simple method for the analysis of a mixture using conventional liquid chromatography mass spectrometry. The 2D map could be created from two different chromatograms obtained with the same detector and different columns or separation methods. In this study, 2D mapping was applied to the analysis of components contained in Panax ginseng, and was evaluated in terms of its effectiveness in the separation of these components. The several glycosides included in Panax ginseng could not be sufficiently separated by one-dimensional chromatography with a reverse phase or a hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC) column, but the components of Panax ginseng could be separated and visualized as a component pattern by 2D mapping. We showed that the components contained in the calli and their quantities were altered by the culture conditions in which the calli were grown by 2D mapping. 2D mapping is expected to be a useful method for visualizing complex component patterns found in glycosides and unknown compounds in foods.