<b>Effect of Fermented Okara Feeding on Cecum Microflora in Rat</b> / 日本補完代替医療学会誌

<b>Objective:</b> The purpose of this study was to confirm the effect of feeding Okara fermented by <i>Bacillus coagulans</i> on cecum microflora in rat. <b>Method:</b> Three groups of SD rat of 8 weeks old were used in the experiment. The experimental animals were fed control diet, 2% okara diet, 2% fermented okara diet in each group for two weeks. The experimental diet and water were provided <i>ad libitum</i>. Food intake was measured every day. After 24 hours fast, we performed drawing blood with heparin after the experimental period. After drawing blood, several organs were removed for measuring their weight. In addition, we removed cecum after drawing blood about each three groups and studied their microflora. We also measured about plasma albumin, ALT, AST, ALP, LDH, total cholesterol, triacylglycerol, glucose, and cytokine level. <b>Result:</b> Bifidobacteria of cecum and blood IFN-g levels significantly increased in the fermented okara group. The total cholesterol level in blood significantly decreased. <b>Conclusion:</b> Okara fermented by <i>Bacillus coagulans</i> had an influence on not only intestinal microflora but also the immune system in rat, suggesting that the fermented okara can expect development as functional materials.

Identification of a xylitol dehydrogenase gene from Kluyveromyces marxianus NBRC1777.

Xylitol dehydrogenase (XDH) (EC 1.1.1.9) is one of the key enzymes in the xylose fermentation pathway in yeast and fungi. A xylitol dehydrogenase gene (XYL2) encoding a XDH was cloned from Kluyveromyces marxianus NBRC 1777, and the in vivo function was validated by disruption and complementation analysis. The highest activity of KmXDH could be observed at pH 9.5 during 55°C. The values of k(cat)/K(m) indicate that KmXDH prefers NAD(+) to NADP(+) (k(cat)/K(m NAD)(+) 3681/min mM and k(cat)/K(m NADP)(+) 1361/min mM). The different coenzyme preference between KmXR and KmXDH caused an accumulation of NADH in the xylose utilization pathway. The redox imbalance may be one of the reasons to cause the poor xylose fermentation under oxygen-limited conditions in K. marxianus NBRC1777.