Elastin peptide receptor-directed monocyte chemotactic polysaccharides derived from seaweed sporophyll and from infectious fungus.

We discovered that a seaweed sporophyll-derived polysaccharide of brown alga, Wakame (Undaria pinnatifida) bound to monocytes and attracted them in vitro and in vivo. Physicochemical properties, affinity to a lectin-bead column and sugar composition of the chemotactic polysaccharide indicated this molecule to be a highly sulfated fucogalactan. We then identified the monocyte receptor of the sulfated fucogalactan as the elastin peptide receptor by prophylactic inhibition of the binding and the chemoattraction with lactose and the synthetic elastin peptide, Val-Gly-Val-Ala-Pro-Gly. We assume that the galactose-binding lectin, which is a component of the elastin peptide receptor complex, would recognize a Gal residue of the sulfated fucogalactan. We also observed a similar chemoattracting polysaccharide in a pathogenic fungus, Candida albicans, although the content of it was much lower than in the case of seaweed sporophyll. We speculate that the chemotactic response of monocytes to the sulfated fucogalactan is part of the innate immune system to fungal infection.

[Online-conference using JGN.].

Telemedicine and online conference systems have some benefits so that equalizing medical level, improving efficiency of medical care and improving service for patients. It is possible to give advice and to support its medical projects stationed in other facility and to provide the same quality treatments for patients. In this paper, we set up an experimental network system to teleconference using JGN (Japan Gigabit Network) and tried to discussion alternatively for case study between Kanazawa university and Fukui red cross hospital, 70 km away. The JGN used in this study is an ultra-high-speed network for the purpose of research and development. Kanazawa university, and Fukui red cross hospital are connected by a 10 Mbps communication link of the JGN. We tried online conference on the experimental network using video chat system. In result, using video chat system, the average transmission rate of MRI images (256 X 256pixel, 16bit) is 0.2 s/frame.

Inhibitory effects of extracts from peels of Citrus natsudaidai encapsulated in hybrid liposomes on the growth of tumor cells in vitro.

Inhibitory effects of extracts from peels of Citrus natsudaidai (natsumikan) encapsulated in hybrid liposomes (HL) composed of L-alpha-dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine and polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monolaurate on the growth of tumor cells were examined. The extracts with lower polar solvents inhibited the growth of B-16 mouse melanoma and human lung carcinoma cells, although the extracts with higher polar solvents showed no antitumor activity. In particular, the inhibitory effects of extracts with lower polar solvents encapsulated in HL were enhanced as compared with those of free extracts. Fluorescence microscopic analysis indicated that the HL including petroleum ether extracts induced apoptosis in B-16 mouse melanoma cells. On the other hand, the viability of normal human fibroblast cells was even less affected by the extracts of natsumikan. These results suggest that hydrophobic antitumor agents should be present in peels of natsumikan.

Compatible solutes protect against chaotrope (ethanol)-induced, nonosmotic water stress.

Water stress is one of the major stresses experienced by cellular systems and can take a number of distinct forms. In response to turgor-related osmotic stress, cells produce compatible solutes that are macromolecule protectants and also counteract the outflow of water from stressed cells. In this report we show that the germination of conidia of Aspergillus nidulans, a sensitive indicator of water stress, in the presence of ethanol is correlated with the intracellular concentration of the compatible solutes glycerol and erythritol, which protect against both osmotic and nonturgor forms of water stress.

Acetic Acid Production by an Electrodialysis Fermentation Method with a Computerized Control System.

In acetic acid fermentation by Acetobacter aceti, the acetic acid produced inhibits the production of acetic acid by this microorganism. To alleviate this inhibitory effect, we developed an electrodialysis fermentation method such that acetic acid is continuously removed from the broth. The fermentation unit has a computerized system for the control of the pH and the concentration of ethanol in the fermentation broth. The electrodialysis fermentation system resulted in improved cell growth and higher productivity over an extended period; the productivity exceeded that from non-pH-controlled fermentation. During electrodialysis fermentation in our system, 97.6 g of acetic acid was produced from 86.0 g of ethanol; the amount of acetic acid was about 2.4 times greater than that produced by non-pH-controlled fermentation (40.1 g of acetic acid produced from 33.8 g of ethanol). Maximum productivity of electrodialysis fermentation in our system was 2.13 g/h, a rate which was 1.35 times higher than that of non-pH-controlled fermentation (1.58 g/h).